A best book of the year for the Guardian Economist and Daily Express An Observer debut of
the year 'Exceptionally touching . . . A terrific reminder that what binds us to our loved ones
isn't blood but the care we take to keep them close and our ability to show up for them when
we screw it up on the first go-round' NEW YORK TIMES 'Gently comic bittersweet' GUARDIAN
Books of the year 'A poignant and generous story' TESSA HADLEY DAILY EXPRESS Books of the
Year 'In an unsentimental evocation of fatherhood and male friendship this novel explores
the glory and sacrifice involved in learning to love' ECONOMIST Books of the year 'Pepped
up and gorgeous just bristling with life' OLIVIA LAING GUARDIAN Téo Erskine might have a
steady job and a brand-new London flat but underneath the surface he's still the boy seeking
approval from his father Vic the young man playing late-night poker with his best friend Ben
the one still in love with the enigmatic Lia now a single mum to a young boy Joel. When the
unthinkable happens two-year-old Joel finds himself at the centre of this odd constellation of
men - Téo Vic Ben. None of them is fully equipped to look after him but their tentative
attempts at love might just be enough to offer him a new place to call home. 'Brilliantly
observed' NEW YORKER 'A beautiful funny tale of lives new and old' SUNDAY TIMES 'I
loved it . . . word-perfect' INDIA KNIGHT 'A spirit-lifting debut' DAVID MITCHELL 'I
adored every moment. The characters have stayed with me ever since' BELLA MACKIE
