The Little Clothes (Deborah Callaghan, Viking)

At 38 years old, Sydney lawyer Audrey—single, childless, unseen and undervalued—is the protagonist of Deborah Callaghan’s debut novel, The Little Clothes. As we follow her struggles at work and in her personal life, it becomes clear that the book’s subject matter is darker and more complex than its pastel cover implies; its discussion of generational responses to sexual assault is particularly affecting. The motif referred to in the novel’s title (the baby clothes Audrey buys as a coping mechanism, but never uses) is another gripping throughline with a strong payoff by the story’s conclusion. There are a lot of plot threads here for a novel under 300 pages, and sadly, not all receive the attention they deserve. For example, the purpose of some threads, such as Audrey’s strange new neighbour, remained unclear to me. Others, such as her new habit of stealing from acquaintances, are fascinating as a premise but ultimately feel underexplored. While side characters are often overly critical of Audrey and her life, the few who are on her side are lovingly drawn and a joy to spend time with. Callaghan has a sharp eye for details that instantly convey the mood of a scene, from clothes and food choices to the objects that clutter a home or office. This wry, well-observed portrait of a woman’s journey to reclaiming her life is one for fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

The National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line is available at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732), for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Megan Koch is a writer and bookseller based in Adelaide. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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