Zaffre, the flagship adult fiction imprint of Bonnier Books UK has announced Jesse’s Wish, the brand-new unforgettable contemporary novel of family, love and heartbreak, from multi-million international bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Heather Morris.
Co-CEO of Bonnier Books UK Sarah Benton agreed World All Languages rights for Jesse’s Wish directly with Heather Morris. It will be published this September, supported by a major publicity and marketing campaign, and will be simultaneously published in Australia by Echo, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK.
Morris’s new novel revolves around Jesse and Alex. Jesse is 15 and loves her family, friends, and video games—even from her hospital bed. Alex is 29, a VR game designer, he doesn’t love a lot of things and at times his life feels quite empty. But when Jesse makes a wish – for a video experience to be made from her memories – Alex is the only one who can make it come true. Their worlds collide, and a beautiful and unexpected friendship blossoms that will change both their – and their families – lives forever.
Heather Morris said: ‘The past several years have been unexpected and absolutely amazing, reaching so many readers through my books and culminating in the SKY TV adaptation of The Tattooist of Auschwitz last year, which was an incredibly special experience. I’ve always been drawn to powerful stories that find hope even in the darkest of times and now I feel like I’m coming full circle revisiting one of my early screenplays. It’s been locked away for some time, waiting for the perfect moment, so I’m thrilled that now this very special story will be my new novel, Jesse’s Wish. It’s particularly poignant as it’s inspired by my time working in a busy Melbourne hospital with families going through the toughest times. It was heart-breaking to see so many young lives wrought with tragedy but, amongst the pain, there were also amazing moments of joy as families came together. At the heart of this story are two characters, Jesse and Alex, whose friendship is so beautiful, so unexpected, that I have adored bringing them to life. I can’t wait to share my new book with readers and to visit the UK in September.’
Co-CEO of Bonnier Books UK, Sarah Benton said: ‘Bonnier Books UK has been proud to publish and work with Heather over the last seven years and we couldn’t be more excited to publish Heather’s phenomenal new novel this autumn. As Heather has shown time and again, her powerful and emotional writing transports readers into the lives of her characters, allowing us to experience their struggles and triumphs alongside them, and her new novel is no different. Jesse’s Wish is an uplifting story of courage, family, hope and resilience. Through Heather’s heartfelt storytelling, she reminds us that no matter what challenges we face, there is always hope for a brighter future. I fell in love with these characters the moment I read the original screenplay, and I know readers all over the world will fall in love with this story, too.’
Heather Morris is an international no.1 bestseller and has sold over 18 million books worldwide. Her debut novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of the bestselling books of the 21st century.
Jesse’s Wish will be published by Zaffre on 11th September 2025 in hardback, trade paperback, eBook and audiobook.
