Leeds Author Holly Waterworth releases unflinching debut novel this Christmas

Twin I Twin II, adapted from Holly's university dissertation, confronts the long shadow of childhood abuse through an unflinching portrayal of trauma, healing, and the complex bond between siblings.

The novel follows twins Daisy and Jakob, who are navigating their early twenties while grappling with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD).

As they attempt to build adult lives in the wake of an abusive upbringing, their shared yet unequal past pulls them together and tears them apart in equal measure. The story offers a raw, psychological exploration of survival, one that refuses to sanitise the messy realities of living with trauma.

Holly began the earliest version of the story five years ago, during her undergraduate dissertation. After graduating, she spent years expanding, reshaping, and refining the narrative into the novel it is today.

The project became deeply personal: during exposure therapy, Holly was encouraged to write about her own flashbacks, using words as a tool to confront them and become less reactive towards them. Many of those therapy writings formed the basis for the novel’s flashback scenes.

Holly explains, Holly explained: “Twin I Twin II is for survivors of physical and emotional childhood abuse to relate to, resonate with, and see themselves reflected in, and for non-survivors to gain valuable insight into what living with C-PTSD entails.

"While Christmas is often portrayed as a time of joy, it can also be a difficult period for many people. My book is written for adult readers, particularly those navigating early adulthood, who may be carrying unseen experiences into this season.”

Unlike many fictionalised portrayals of trauma, Twin I Twin II avoids exaggeration and metaphor in favour of stark authenticity.

Holly cites books such as Coming Undone by Terri White, How to Hide in Plain Sight by Emma Noyes and Euphoric Recall by Aidan Martin as influences, works that similarly approach trauma without romanticising it.

In addition to her personal journey, Holly credits her professional experience as a bid writer with sharpening her editorial instincts.

“Writing bids taught me structure, conciseness, and flow,” she shared. “Those skills became invaluable when turning a dissertation piece into a publishable novel.”

With Twin I Twin II, Holly hopes to encourage more open conversations about abuse, trauma, and the long road to recovery.

“I want people to feel less alone,” said the 25-year-old with a degree in English and Creative Writing.

“Talking and writing about these experiences shouldn’t come with shame.”

Twin I Twin II is now available in print and digital formats, offering readers a meaningful, thought-provoking read this Christmas season.

Photography by Hannah Lunn: https://www.hannahlunn.co.uk/