An enthralling and significant novel, authentic in its gritty documentary detail... This raw honesty, along with Michael Hofmann’s masterly translation... makes the book so contemporary and vital

An astonishing novel, every bit as astonishing in a different way as Fallada's Alone in Berlin, and deserves to have the same success

The characters are engaging, and multidimensional. You care what happens to them

Like a karate chop: hard and direct, but true

A real discovery

An enjoyable and worthwhile read, which I heartily recommend

not only a good read, but an important piece of literature

Michael Hofmann’s translation eloquently conveys the pungent fragility of life on the Berlin streets

The staccato beat of Haffner’s short and concise narrative arches, deftly rendered into English by Michael Hofmann’s typically dexterous translation, is never anything but gripping… Had Blood Brothers been rediscovered earlier, it should have found its rightful place next to Erich Kästner’s Emil and the Detectives and Fritz Lang’s film M: a City Looks for a Murderer.

His novel thoroughly deserves its second life.

Told in stark, unsparing detail, Haffner’s story delves into the illicit underworld of Berlin on the eve of Hitler’s rise to power.

A visceral, raw, no-holds-barred account of the assault on the self that is first-time motherhood, this had me wincing (and laughing) in recognition. It’s very, very funny

Outrageous, funny and visceral

This book takes your essay about 'likeable female characters', writes FUCK YOU on it in menstrual blood, then sets it on fire. Then sets YOU on fire! Then giggles, then makes s'mores over your smouldering corpse.

With After Birth, Elisa Albert has proven herself to be not only one of our most important novelists, but one of our most honest feminists. Darkly funny and impossibly wise, Albert creates a visceral sense of entrapment, a spot-on account of life as a woman. After Birth is dangerous, gripping, and essential - The Bell Jar of our time.

Challenging, humorous and – tentatively – uplifting, it goes far beyond the usual explorations of what it is to be a mother

Albert has made a novel that approaches depression and maternal anxiety with candid honesty, transforming writing on motherhood forever

A hilarious, honest, and eye-opening book, this is a must have for any new mum or mum-to-be

Funny and heartfelt

Really good books have a way of transporting the reader to places they'd never normally go to, opening their eyes to experiences and isssues they wouldn't otherwise consider. Meera Syal does all this and more. A beautifully written novel about female friendship, surrogacy and the problems of late parenthood.

Rich, sensual, earthy and utterly unforced. I was transported.

Alive with malice and grace, this is a taut tale reminiscent of the nightmares of Patricia Highsmith

Prey and predators circle in lush southeast Asian settings that gleam with Osborne’s dazzling skill as a travel-writer

It shines with intrigue, with investigations into the nature of the non-rational, and evil, wrapped up in taught plotting

One of Britain’s most accomplished novelists.

An ingenious and atmospheric novel.

Lawrence Osborne is an experienced, competent author with an impressive knowledge of Asia… Comparisons with Graham Greene seem to be generously offered by other reviewers and I’ve already alluded to Conrad and a Patricia Highsmith yet my impression is that Mr. Osborne has a style all of his own.

McCarthy has put his finger on something, and he’s nailed it very precisely. It’s how we live now. All the information we process every day. What it’s doing to us.