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He’s The Friend I’d Like To Have
The Onionologist follows a flight attendant who is disenchanted with her career and love life, who meets a handsome new man and now she has to choose what path her future will take. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I was a long-haul flight attendant myself, based in London for several years. It was such a big part of my life. I made some very special friends there, and I wanted to pay homage to that in my first book. It was such a unique experience and one many people wouldn’t be able to relate to. My friends went on to do some really interesting things in life, and it’s from them that I got my inspiration.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I adore Angus. He’s the friend I’d like to have. I struggled with Alex. I’m eternally disappointed in bad people.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It started as a message to my daughters that a woman should find out who she is and establish herself before compromising to fit into someone else’s life. After I wrote it, I suddenly realised they were all over it!
More generally, we see a lot of mental health struggles in younger generations, and I worry that they absorb these perfect online lives and feel their own are lacking. I hope The Onionologist explains that life is random, and bad things happen to all of us daily—how you deal with it is what matters! Lastly, I wanted to explore the domino effect that one person can have on many lives. In this book, Elle, without realising it, profoundly impacts every other character’s life.
What will your next novel be about, and what will the whole series encompass?
My current work in progress is a love story between two singers who’s worlds don’t seem compatible. I’m quite excited about it.
Before I launched into the sequel of The Onionologist, I wanted to test the waters and see if readers are eager for more. It’s outlined and ready to be started. I’d be escatitic to have a reason to get reaquanted with the characters.
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Elle, a long-haul flight attendant, has the kind of day at work she’d rather forget, but she doesn’t wait for everything to come crashing down; when life sends her champagne problems, she decides to become someone else entirely.
On her new path, she meets Jude, a handsome Californian, and she has to choose between the life she craves and the love she feels deep in her heart.
Her journey is shared with her two best friends and the true loves of her life, Lucy and Angus, as they navigate the obstacles and miscalculations of life.
Elle is the glue that holds the trio together as she stumbles and falters through life as an unlikely TikTok sensation called ‘La Fille Maladroit.’
The Onionologist
M.J. Parfitt’s The Onionologist delivers an emotional rollercoaster wrapped in sharp humor, heartfelt relationships, and a protagonist you can’t help but root for despite her self-sabotaging tendencies. At its heart, this book explores Elle’s tumultuous life as a flight attendant, where each day feels like a race to survive the chaos. Caught between a career she’s falling out of love with and a relationship riddled with cracks, Elle stumbles her way through existential questions, snarky passengers, and mishaps that are as absurd as they are relatable. Parfitt doesn’t hold back on the messy, unglamorous side of modern life, using Elle’s world as a mirror to reflect universal themes of self-worth, ambition, and the yearning for something more.
Parfitt’s writing style is vivid, irreverent, and unrelenting. The humor sneaks up on you, sometimes like a sharp jab and other times like a warm nudge. For example, Elle’s description of her weighted blanket as a potential weapon against burglars had me laughing out loud. These bursts of comedy are balanced with moments of raw vulnerability like Elle staring at her engagement ring and questioning why she feels trapped rather than elated. Parfitt paints a world where humor becomes a coping mechanism, and you feel the weight of Elle’s disillusionment in her every flippant comment.
Elle’s relationships are the novel’s beating heart, especially her dynamic with Angus and Lucy. Angus is a scene-stealer, with his sharp wit and loyal heart serving as Elle’s safety net. Their banter, whether dissecting clouds or navigating work dramas, feels authentic and hilarious. Lucy, meanwhile, brings warmth and resilience to Elle’s life, showing her how to persevere even when a literal ceiling falls on you. The trio’s drunken escapades in New York, capped by Elle drunkenly declaring her ambition to become an “Onionologist,” encapsulate the joy and chaos of true friendship. These relationships are what keep Elle afloat, even as her engagement to the controlling and hypocritical Hunter begins to unravel.
Parfitt’s critique of toxic workplaces and societal expectations also shines through, especially in moments like the crew office debacle, where Lucy’s safety is dismissed for the sake of avoiding flight delays. It’s infuriating and all too familiar for anyone who’s faced indifferent management. Similarly, the passengers Elle serves—from entitled, wine-demanding business class travelers to clueless tourists—offer sharp commentary on how people treat service workers. The novel doesn’t preach, but it does nudge you to rethink your own behavior next time you’re on a plane.
The Onionologist is more than a quirky romp through Elle’s misadventures. It’s a story about finding your passion, reclaiming your agency, and learning to laugh at life’s absurdities along the way. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven novels with humor and heart, especially fans of authors like Marian Keyes or Sophie Kinsella. It’s perfect for anyone feeling stuck in a rut, questioning their choices, or simply looking for a good laugh.
Pages: 422 | ASIN : B0DK9SYC1S
LITERARY TITAN 