When school teacher Rose loses her dream job, her self-confidence takes a knock. An unexpected phone call, and an elderly aunt hospitalised, means she must drop everything – including her fiancé – and return to Sussex. But when Rose’s London life finally comes calling, she is faced with an impossible choice.

Chelmsford author, Julie Haworth, has WON the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award with her novel, Always by Your Side, for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s (RNA) annual Romantic Novel Awards for 2023. The awards celebrate excellence in romantic fiction in all its forms.

Julie writes uplifting stories about friendship and community, bursting with romance and charm, from the city of Chelmsford, Essex. Her debut novel, Always By Your Side, was published by Simon & Schuster in August 2022. When she’s not busy writing or running her copywriting business, Julie can mainly be found shopping, drinking ridiculous amounts of coffee and hanging out with her two rescue cats.

She commented, ‘It’s an honour to have won such a prestigious award and I’m hugely grateful to the RNA for their New Writers’ Scheme and to my publisher, Simon & Schuster, for all their encouragement and support in my debut year.’