Jacqueline Wilson brings adult novel 'Picture Imperfect' to Wirral launch this September

The author behind Tracy Beaker is back in Wirral — this time for grown‑ups

Jacqueline Wilson will return to the Wirral this September to launch her second adult novel, Picture Imperfect, with an evening event hosted by The West Kirby Bookshop. The Merseyside launch takes place on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at West Kirby Grammar School on Graham Road. Doors open at 6:15 pm for a 7 pm start, with an in‑conversation interview followed by audience questions.

Tickets are £25 and include a pre‑signed hardback of Picture Imperfect (retail price £22). Organisers have set the event as 18+ to reflect the adult themes in Wilson’s new work. The venue is a short walk from The West Kirby Bookshop, which is coordinating the evening and advising would‑be attendees to check event FAQs before booking. Queries can be sent to [email protected].

This is a local homecoming of sorts. Wilson’s previous adult novel launch in West Kirby sold out and drew national attention, with readers praising the shift in tone and the familiar clarity of her storytelling. Picture Imperfect continues the narrative from her adult debut, Think Again, bringing back characters that resonated with a mature audience.

For many readers, the draw is seeing an author they grew up with writing for the stage of life they’re in now. Wilson, a former Children’s Laureate (2005–2007), is best known for The Story of Tracy Beaker and Hetty Feather — books that never shied away from tough topics. That same honesty has been a hallmark of her move into adult fiction, swapping school corridors for more complicated grown‑up terrain while keeping the pace and empathy that made her a fixture on British bookshelves.

What should attendees expect on the night? A relaxed conversation about the new novel’s journey from idea to page, a discussion of how it links back to Think Again, and a Q&A shaped by the audience’s curiosity. The pre‑signed book included with each ticket means less time queueing and more time engaging with the discussion. Given the sold‑out history of her previous appearance, demand is likely to be brisk.

• Date and time: Wednesday, September 10, 2025; doors 6:15 pm, start 7 pm
• Location: West Kirby Grammar School, Graham Road, West Kirby
• Tickets: £25, including a pre‑signed copy of Picture Imperfect (RRP £22)
• Format: In‑conversation talk plus audience Q&A
• Age restriction: 18+ only

West Kirby has become a small but reliable stop on the author‑event circuit, thanks in part to the energy of its independent bookshop. These ticketed evenings do more than sell copies: they knit together a local community of readers who want to hear authors discuss the decisions behind the page — why a character returns, how a story grows across books, what changes when you write for adults instead of children.

Wilson’s move into adult fiction has been watched closely because of the scale of her children’s readership and her longevity. She has written well over a hundred books, sold millions of copies, and influenced how generations talk about friendship, family, and resilience. The adult turn isn’t a detour so much as a continuation — the same clear‑eyed look at ordinary lives, just tilted toward grown‑up dilemmas.

Picture Imperfect is billed as a continuation of the characters introduced in Think Again, which means returning readers can expect long‑running threads to move forward rather than reset. That’s part of the appeal: the promise of narrative momentum, not just a one‑off experiment in a new genre. While specific plot details are under wraps for the launch, the framing suggests Wilson is building an adult series with the same staying power as her best‑known children’s worlds.

If you’re going, plan the basics: arrive early for seating, keep your booking confirmation handy, and check the organiser’s FAQs for any last‑minute changes. Because the event is strictly 18+, consider that when booking for groups. The school venue offers a straightforward setup — hall seating, a stage chat, and a clear line of sight for most of the audience — designed for a clean, on‑time start.

The timing also dovetails with the autumn publishing cycle, when major titles start to roll out and author tours gather pace. For the book trade, these appearances are a bellwether for reader appetite. For fans, they’re a chance to hear an author explain why certain characters return, why a storyline continues, and how the writing process shifts when aimed at adults rather than children.

West Kirby Grammar School’s location on Graham Road makes for an easy walk from the town’s centre and the bookshop itself. That proximity should keep the evening moving smoothly: collect your wristband or check in, take your seat, hear the talk, and leave with a signed copy already sorted. It’s a tidy format that worked the last time Wilson came to town — and the bookshop is betting it will work again.

Given the last event’s sell‑out, booking sooner rather than later looks wise. And for readers who first met Wilson as kids and now turn up as adults, this night is a neat full circle: the same voice, a new chapter, and a story that hasn’t finished telling itself.