Sloan Slater has a system. It used to work.

Back in her childhood home, juggling a demanding job and a mother who doesn't need help, thank you very much, and would like everyone to stop fussing — Sloan is running out of options. Gloria has seen off seventeen carers, so far. She considers this an achievement.

Enter Matty Bradford. Roller skates, no filter, completely unqualified, and utterly unbothered by Gloria's attempts to get rid of her.

Sloan tells herself she's keeping Matty around because Gloria actually tolerates her. Because for the first time in months things aren't falling apart. Because it's practical.

It's definitely practical.

It has absolutely nothing to do with how quickly quiet moments with Matty have started to feel like the best part of her day.

Art of Denial is a warm, funny, slow burn to steamy, Sapphic romance about a woman who's brilliant at looking after everyone except herself — and the woman who notices.