Description
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2015
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2016
'Unsettling, deeply moving and very, very readable. I loved it' NATHAN FILER, The Shock of the Fall
'A striking and highly enjoyable debut' SOPHIE HANNAH
Yasmin would give anything to have a friend . . .
And do anything to keep one.
The first time I saw you, you were standing at the far end of the playing field. You were looking down at your brown straggly dog, but then you looked up, your mouth going slack as your eyes clocked her. Alice Taylor. I was no different. I used to catch myself gazing at the back of her head in class, at her silky fair hair swaying between her shoulder blades.
If you'd glanced just once across the field you'd have seen me standing in the middle on my own, looking straight at you, and you'd have gone back through the trees to the path quick, tugging your dog after you. You'd have known you'd given yourself away, even if only to me.
But you didn't. You only had eyes for Alice.
Trade ReviewThe next Gone Girl success story
* * Independent on Sunday * *
A
pitch-black comedy thriller. This is a novel
you read half covering your eyes, willing it not to venture where you fear it might. But of course it does, with
great panache * * Guardian * *
Kavanagh's command of raw suspense ensures that it
grips from the very beginning * * Mail on Sunday * *
The most chilling last line you'll read this year * * Independent on Sunday * *
A
brilliantly twisted coming-of-age tale . . . the story
chillingly, compulsively unravels * * Sunday Express * *
Kavanagh captures the voice of her troubled teen protagonist with clarity * * i * *
A
striking and
highly enjoyable debut -- SOPHIE HANNAH
A tale of loneliness and teenage obsession which could be
the next Gone Girl success story * * Independent * *
I love it. The voice is perfect, the writing sublime . . .
beautifully endearing, a stunning book -- KEVIN BROOKS
A highly compelling, truly excellent plot that will absolutely surprise you all the time, it is one of those stories that will leave you emotionally on edge - the final sentence is definitely going to come back to haunt me * * LivLovesBooks Blog * *
Unsettling,
deeply moving and very,
very readable.
I loved it -- NATHAN FILER * * The Shock of the Fall * *
Genuinely chilling, this is one of the best books I've read this year
* * Independent * *
A first-person narrative that poignantly captures the loneliness of an unlovable teenager . . . There are moments of real poignancy . . . Kavanagh expertly brings out the pathos * * Guardian * *
Insightful, compellingly plotted -- Costa First Novel Award 2015 judges
Tipped as the next cult hit * * Daily Telegraph * *
