FLYWEIGHT
In the wake of the Great War, two female boxers defy society’s standards to fight for their place in the ring
East London, 1921: Lucy Cotter is unemployed, unskilled, and down to her last shilling. Before the Great War she never had to work, relying on her husband, Robin, to support her and their young daughter with his successful boxing career. Now, though, Robin is unemployed and nursing battle wounds, so it’s up to Lucy to keep the leaking roof over their heads. Tired of rejection and nostalgic for better days, Lucy enters Robin’s former boxing club on a whim–and discovers that a place which once barred women is now run by one.
In the wake of the Great War, two female boxers defy society’s standards to fight for their place in the ring
East London, 1921: Lucy Cotter is unemployed, unskilled, and down to her last shilling. Before the Great War she never had to work, relying on her husband, Robin, to support her and their young daughter with his successful boxing career. Now, though, Robin is unemployed and nursing battle wounds, so it’s up to Lucy to keep the leaking roof over their heads. Tired of rejection and nostalgic for better days, Lucy enters Robin’s former boxing club on a whim–and discovers that a place which once barred women is now run by one.
Siobhan McCarthy is the niece of Robin’s late coach and a pugilist herself. She’s delighted Lucy stumbled in; it’s hard to find another woman who knows the sport. Siobhan offers her work as a cleaner–with a few bob more if Lucy trains alongside her. Tempting as the offer sounds, Lucy is skeptical, sharing the opinion of society that boxing is a sport unbecoming of a woman.
Days later, an unexpected expense leaves Lucy and her family facing eviction. Desperate, she returns to the club and reluctantly dons the gloves. As Lucy’s love for her husband’s sport is rekindled, she discovers a new joy in her own prowess, but when Siobhan asks her to spar in a public match, Lucy hesitates. Backlash will be certain and swift, risking her family’s future. How much is she willing to sacrifice to earn her place in the ring?
Inspired by true events, Flyweight is a story of the strength and resilience of two women and the lengths they’re willing to go for their families–and equality.
- Blackstone Publishing
- Hardcover
- October 2026
- 320 Pages
- 9798228532649
Buy the Book
$29.99
About Courtney Ellis
Courtney Ellis is the author of At Summer’s End and The Forgotten Cottage. Flyweight is her third novel. She lives in Western New York with her rescue dog.
Praise
“A beautifully crafted and inspiring story, Flyweight highlights a fascinating slice of history that might have been lost to old newspapers otherwise. A quiet grit runs beneath the story and, while paired with Lucy’s infinite love for her family, creates exquisite emotional layers in Courtney Ellis’s trademark style. These women are going to make readers want to jump out of their seats and cheer right to the very last thrilling page. A must-read!” —Brianna Labuskes, USA Today bestselling author of The Librarian of Burned Books
“A captivating debut…Ellis’s lyrical, emotional writing brings the beauty of Braemore alive while revealing the complexity of the richly drawn characters…Historical fiction fans will appreciate this.” —Publisher’s Weekly on At Summer’s End
“A fascinating historical novel about women in sports and overcoming both outer and inner prejudices.” —Cakes, Tea and Dreams
“A superb character study of women and their aspirations in the early 20th century and the long-term effects of World War I on soldiers, nurses, and those left behind…Readers will be filled with suspense, sometimes even anxiousness, but also cheer for Bertie’s boldness, her sense of accomplishment, and the decision she makes at summer’s end.” —Historical Novel Society on At Summer’s End
“Based on the real-life story of the 1926 London boxing match between two women that sparked a public uproar, Flyweight is an inspiring tale of family, loss, and hope that asks how far a woman will go to protect those she loves–and how hard she’ll fight for her place in the world.” —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau and The Book of Lost Names
Discussion Questions
1. What was your perception of boxing before reading Flyweight? Did the book change that perception? If so, how?
2. Although Flyweight is set over one hundred years ago, many of the hurdles that Lucy faces are still prevalent today. Where in current times—whether in terms of women’s sports or society as a whole—do you see similarities?
3. To marry Robin, Lucy had only minutes to decide to leave her old life behind, yet it takes years for her to let go of her parents’ expectations. Why do you think this was the greater struggle for her? How did this struggle drive her decisions throughout the novel? Have you ever experienced a similar internal conflict?
4. Lucy and Siobhan bond over motherhood and their love of boxing, but they are very different women. How do you think their backgrounds influenced these differences? Did you relate to one character more than the other?
5. At the start of the novel, Lucy decides to lie to Robin about her visit to Whitecross Boxing Club because she believes she’s protecting him from heartache. Do you think a lie like this is ever justified? How do you think the story would have changed if she had told him the truth from the beginning?
6. Lucy and Siobhan caused a national response with the announcement of their boxing match—the equivalent of “going viral” today. How would you feel in a similar situation? Would you embrace your newfound fame like Siobhan, or shy from it like Lucy? Can you think of a modern controversy that compares?
7. Boxing is incredibly important to the lives of the characters, in particular to Lucy and Robin’s marriage. Is there a hobby or a passion in your life that seems to hold everything together? Why is it so important to you?
8. Siobhan is initially just a friend to Lucy, but she becomes a mentor, a teacher, and an inspiration. In what ways did Siobhan’s boxing lessons teach Lucy about herself? Is there a person who has played a similar role in your life?
9. Lucy, Siobhan, and Robin all deal with grief at the loss of loved ones. How do you see each of them dealing with this grief in different ways? What does it say about them?
10. In the end, Siobhan tells Lucy that their boxing match was never about money for her. Though Lucy was certainly motivated by money at the start, do you think her motivations shifted by the end of the novel? What do you think the women’s final boxing match meant to each of the characters who were involved in putting it together?
11. Take a look at the Author’s Note that explains the true story behind Flyweight. Did anything revealed here surprise you? What will you take away from this novel?