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No Filters

No Filters

a mother and teenage daughter love story

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

How can we communicate when things are so painful? How can we connect when generational differences are extreme? How do parents and teenagers - and all of us - have real conversations?


When Rowan was sixteen, she only tolerated communication from her mother in the form of Snapchat. Desperate to be closer to her daughter, Christie sent daily selfies of her face superimposed onto a chicken nugget. It took serious illness for them to finally talk – and truly listen.

Rowan's mental health struggles revealed the chasm between their generations. They started being more honest with each other than they had ever been before: discussing identity, race and gender; opening up about disordered eating and self-harm; navigating the perils of social media.

In an age of polarisation, this is how a mother and daughter find humour in the things that divide them and become more hopeful about the future of our world.

A book for all parents and teenagers going through a tough time, for friends, grandparents, teachers and healthcare professionals who want to help, its bare honesty will have you laughing – and possibly crying – out loud as it shows that you are not alone.

'Psychologically astute, totally honest and beautifully written' JULIA SAMUEL
'Incredibly brave, generous and important' CLOVER STROUD
'It made me cry, laugh and hug my daughter extra tightly' BRYONY GORDON

© Christie Watson and Rowan Egberongbe 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Reviews

  • I loved this book and I know it will help many families during difficult times. No Filters is psychologically astute, totally honest, and beautifully written
    JULIA SAMUEL

About the authors

Christie Watson

Christie Watson is Professor of Medical Humanities at UEA and worked as an NHS nurse for over twenty years. She has written seven books, including her first novel Tiny Sunbirds Far Away, which won the Costa First Novel Award, and memoir, The Language of Kindness which was a number one Sunday Times bestseller. Christie is a contributor to The Times, Sunday Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph and TEDx, and her work has been translated into 23 languages and adapted for theatre.
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Rowan Egberongbe

Rowan Egberongbe wrote this book between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. She is now studying Classics at university and spent the summer volunteering in Borneo.
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