Simon & Schuster UK acquires Lucy Ashe's 'page-turning' novel in two-book deal

Simon & Schuster UK has acquired Lucy Ashe’s new "page-turning" novel in a two-book deal. The Simon & Schuster UK team agreed the deal for UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to The Model Patient and a second upmarket thriller with Antony Topping at Greene & Heaton.

Charlotte Osment, commissioning editor, Adult Fiction, will be leading publication. North American rights were sold to Claire Wachtel, Union Square & Co. The Model Patient will be published in hardback, e-book and audio in April 2026.

The new novel follows Evelyn Westbrook in the quiet hush of her therapist’s office, where she finds herself revealing secrets she would prefer to keep hidden. The synopsis continues: "As her sessions with the enigmatic Dr Daley unearth more questions than answers, her interest in him turns into obsession. But is her therapist finally providing the care she needs, or is she being manipulated? A compelling novel about identity, power and the cost of playing the roles we never chose."

Ashe said: "It is wonderful to be working with such a superb team at Simon & Schuster. The spark of an idea for The Model Patient came from a personal experience in therapy, and I am deeply moved by the team’s enthusiasm for the novel. I wanted to write about a patient’s vulnerability in therapy, as well as about complex power dynamics, their danger and their seduction, and I’m delighted that The Model Patient is in the hands of such a passionate publisher."

Osment said: "I am so excited to be working with Lucy on her wonderfully twisty novel, The Model Patient, which is an addictive read all about toxic obsession and how costly the roles we take on in our lives can be."