In Her Defense (A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick): A Novel
Philippa Malicka
Feb 2026 · Sold by Simon and Schuster
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A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION
“You’re going to lose your mind over this one…it is so, so, so good. I couldn’t put it down.” —Reese Witherspoon
A young woman at the periphery of a high-stakes celebrity trial is the only one with the evidence that can make or break the case—but spilling her secret could ruin her life in this twisty psychological thriller.
The whole country has been riveted by the high-profile celebrity trial: Beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow standing in court, accusing her daughter’s therapist Jean Guest of brainwashing her daughter, Mary, for her own financial gain. Jean insists Mary’s traumatic memories arise from her upbringing and her time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome—wounds only Jean’s therapy can heal. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee—a seemingly insignificant bystander, a nobody—who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of family secrets, lies, and deceit.
What really happened to Mary in Rome? And, if her memories can’t be trusted, how will anyone ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Twisty and propulsive, In Her Defense is a compulsively readable psychological suspense debut for fans of Lucy Foley and Laura Dave.
“You’re going to lose your mind over this one…it is so, so, so good. I couldn’t put it down.” —Reese Witherspoon
A young woman at the periphery of a high-stakes celebrity trial is the only one with the evidence that can make or break the case—but spilling her secret could ruin her life in this twisty psychological thriller.
The whole country has been riveted by the high-profile celebrity trial: Beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow standing in court, accusing her daughter’s therapist Jean Guest of brainwashing her daughter, Mary, for her own financial gain. Jean insists Mary’s traumatic memories arise from her upbringing and her time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome—wounds only Jean’s therapy can heal. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee—a seemingly insignificant bystander, a nobody—who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of family secrets, lies, and deceit.
What really happened to Mary in Rome? And, if her memories can’t be trusted, how will anyone ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Twisty and propulsive, In Her Defense is a compulsively readable psychological suspense debut for fans of Lucy Foley and Laura Dave.
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB SELECTION
“You’re going to lose your mind over this one…it is so, so, so good. I couldn’t put it down.” —Reese Witherspoon
A young woman at the periphery of a high-stakes celebrity trial is the only one with the evidence that can make or break the case—but spilling...
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2 reviews
Sarah McBurney
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March 18, 2026
Just couldn't care about the characters or identity with them. I like Lucy Foley books.
About the author
Philippa Malicka was born in Essex and now lives in London. She is an alumnus of the Prose Fiction MA at the University of East Anglia. Her nonfiction has appeared in The Sunday Times (London), The Sunday Telegraph (London), and Grazia among others. In Her Defense is her first novel and has been longlisted for the Bridport First Novel Award.
Philippa Malicka was born in Essex and now lives in London. She is an alumnus of the Prose Fiction MA at the University of East Anglia. Her nonfiction has appeared in The Sunday Times (London), The Sunday Telegraph (London), and Grazia among others. In Her Defense is her first novel and has been ...
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