Exciting Times

Waterstones Fiction Book of the Month for March 2021

Longlisted for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2021

Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021

Longlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize 2021

Shortlisted for the Sunday Times / University of Warwick Young Writer of the Year Award 2020

When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. When Ava leaves Ireland aged 22 to make her own money, she's not sure what to call it, but it involves:

• A badly-paid job in Hong Kong, teaching English grammar to rich children;

• Julian, who likes to spend money on Ava and lets her move into his guest room;

• Edith, who Ava meets while Julian is out of town and actually listens to her when she talks;

• Money, love, cynicism, unspoken feelings and unlikely connections.

Exciting times ensue.