Two books by Jodie Benveniste displayed against a purple background. The first book titled "Never, Not Ever" with colorful illustrations and a woman on the cover. The second book titled "Everything's Absolutely Fine" with illustrations of people and objects on the cover.

MINDFUL ROMANCE

STORIES THAT HELP YOU TRUST YOURSELF MORE

TWO FRIENDS. TWO UNFORGETTABLE STORIES. ONE JOURNEY TO TRUST YOURSELF MORE.

An illustration of a young woman with brown hair and a neutral expression, wearing a beige collared shirt, against a pink background.

MEET TILLY

She's been waiting her whole life for her dad to show up. She's also been pretending she hasn't.

Digital illustration of a woman with strawberry blonde hair, wearing a black top, against a purple background.

MEET ELIZA

She has a plan for everything. But when everything falls apart? She has no plan for that.

Book cover with illustrated portraits of a woman and a man, colorful background, and bold black text that reads "NEVER, NOT, EVER."

BOOK 01

NEVER, NOT EVER

A summer of secrets and second chances

Every year, Tilly dreams of the dad she’s never known showing up for her birthday. But he never does. When she wakes up on the morning of her sixteenth birthday dadless yet again, she knows it’ll never happen.

In fact, it’s her worst birthday ever because her grandmother died a few months ago, her mum is working again, and the boy she’s in love with—the ridiculously gorgeous Josh—refuses to break up with his drama-queen girlfriend and notice her instead.

Then Tilly’s dad does show up, shocking everyone, and she works out an awful truth: Her mum and her grandma lied to her. For sixteen years! Tilly is drowning in her family’s lies. Worse, these feelings for her neighbour Zack—these stupid, flustering, more-than-friends feelings she’s been trying to ignore—mean she’s also lying to herself.

Never, not ever… the story she expected

Every order includes your free Mindful Romance Ritual Pack to go deeper into the story world and your inner world.

Book cover titled "Everything's Absolutely Fine" with colorful illustrated portraits and icons, including a woman's face, a house, a person holding a phone, and abstract geometric designs.

BOOK 02

EVERYTHING’S ABSOLUTELY FINE

When perfect plans are perfectly ruined

This is Eliza’s year.

She’s got a hot new situationship with gorgeous Seb, she’s primed to win the national debating championships (wiping out last year’s epic fail), and she’s finally, finally going to make her mum proud.

But then her domineering grandmother moves in. She’s taking over Eliza’s bedroom, making toxic judgements at the dinner table and giving her opinions on everything.

Worse, her sister Ivy is acting weird, Seb missed the memo about the perfect relationship, and then there’s Declan, an intriguing new debater who’s way too distracting.

With her social life in upheaval and a storm of family traumas brewing, Eliza struggles to keep it all from erupting, including the secret she’s been hiding from everyone—including herself.

Everything’s absolutely fine… until it’s not.

Every order includes your free Mindful Romance Ritual Pack to go deeper into the story world and your inner world.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“I LOVE THIS BOOK!!!!! (Yes, all caps shouting with glee and minimum five exclamation marks). Deep compassion. I’m so hungry for more.”

— Reader

“Aww y’all this book was so endearing! I found myself falling in love with Tilly and rooting for her family. Such a heartfelt, coming of age story.”

— Reader

“I just wanted to thank you for your book. My daughter hasn’t read all morning for a while now, but it’s almost lunchtime and she’s still going!!”

— Mum

“This is a great read for older teens and adults who love a good family drama. I loved how carefully Jodie handled the hard things teenagers deal with. It was deep and sweet and makes you feel.”

— Reader

“It was the perfect way to combine the students’ love of books with covert personal development conversations based on issues they can relate to.”

— High School Principal

“Such an amazingly well written book- 10/10 recommend!”

— Reader

A woman with shoulder-length light brown hair, wearing a pink dress, sitting in a black chair in a cozy room with bookshelves, a white brick wall, and green plants around her, smiling and holding a notebook and pen.

HELLO, I’M JODIE!

AUTHOR-PSYCHOLOGIST

I write Mindful Romance: stories for teen and adult readers about family, first love and the beautiful complexity of becoming who we are.

I've been on both sides of the couch and I know what it's like to doubt yourself. What I've learnt is that self-doubt doesn't mean you're broken. It's where self-trust begins.

My hope is that these stories and rituals help you trust what comes up within you so you can be the author of your own becoming.

YOUR INNER-READ RITUAL

Trust yourself more

Download your free guide to the 4-step Inner-Read Ritual. Ten minutes and a journal to trust yourself more.

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