Reviews 

'Spurr delivers a haunting account of a young girl grappling with abandonment in this excellent debut...Through Rae’s devastating yet hopeful interior dialogue, Spurr delicately illustrates the complexity of loss and isolations.'

'Spurr deftly slides into Rae’s 10-year-old consciousness, expertly balancing the innocence and maturity of a child grown up too soon.'

‘A remarkable book: beautifully written, tender, loving, humorous, heart-breaking, but all those other things as well, which is what we all love to read in the best of fiction.’

'Spurr expertly transforms an unlikely cast of loners into a set of profoundly connected individuals...there are moments in which the reader will laugh out loud. However, anyone who has experienced grief is likely to cry at least once before the covers close on this story.'

'It is not hard to see why A Million Things was shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award Unpublished Manuscript Prize last year. Spurr is a subtle writer, and though she writes genuinely dramatic incidents, the story is not overblown, and actions and reactions are written with a light touch…Spurr does a deft job of showing that people can surprise in good ways as well as bad.’

​‘Beautifully written, equally heart-warming and heart-wrenching novel about family, friendship, love and resilience…An absorbing, wonderful read that showcases the importance of having even one special person to turn to and unconditional love. Keep the tissues close by.’

‘A powerful and challenging read from a new writer to watch.’

‘An enthralling, devastating debut… A Million Things is a shattering novel that perfectly captures the fractured moments between loss and letting go; between childhood and growing up, in which anything could change once the pieces fall.’

‘An absolutely fantastic novel.’

'In this excellent debut…Spurr delicately illustrates the complexity of loss and isolation. Fans of Liane Moriarty should take a look.’.

'An intense, atmospheric work of fiction about love, grief and resilience.'

'Spurr's gut-punch of a debut details 55 days in the life of 10-year-old Rae, who must look after herself and her beloved dog after her mother disappears. Warning: Stock up on Kleenex and prepare to feel all the feelings in this heartfelt story of resilience.'

​‘Amazing debut.’

'Emily Spurr’s first novel is written with depth and heart and a plangent simplicity; her characters have a warmth and feisty resilience that she makes utterly believable, and the inevitable tricky ending is handled with confidence and flair.'

'A Million Things draws the reader into an intimate world of unforgettable characters and heartfelt expressions of love and grief. This is a great selection for book clubs who are looking for a... genuinely touching read.'

‘My Tissues came out very readily! ' 

​‘Author Emily Spurr tells a tale of grief and resilience with refreshing simplicity.’

‘For book clubs who know honest friendship is the light in darkness.’

‘Really good. There are moments in the book where your heart stops.’

‘Poignant, uplifting and beautifully written.’

‘Direct, assured writing, hard-hitting emotion and a wonderful sense of optimism. A Million Things is a debut to treasure, with characters whose dignity shines through their struggles.’

'An original and impressively assured debut. A gem of a novel.’

'Swept me into its thrall so immediately that I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until I reached the end…Fresh and slim, this novel pierces like a bullet and soothes like a psalm.'