An elegant, dreamlike tale of a woman’s self-realisation in contemporary Beijing. Yu’s writing has an arresting, unadorned lyricism

A seductive, sharply observed tale of love, loss and hope that moves from high-rise Beijing to rural Tibet and the mysterious, magical ‘world of water’

A startlingly original imagination... Braised Pork is a sensitive portrait of alienated young womanhood as it is set free

Rich and strange … Braised Pork is a debut that gets under your skin

Braised Pork is mesmerising, incisive and utterly disarming. An Yu writes beautifully about loneliness, the experience of isolation — from others, from one’s own past — and the possibility of human connection, however fragile.

So elegant and poised, so tuned to the great mysteries of love and loss. Like a breeze on a still day, An Yu’s is a voice I didn't know I needed until I felt it. Braised Pork is a major debut

Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer.

What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before.

Yu’s novel has a cool, poised elegance that only adds to its enigmatic allure

A dizzying read… An Yu writes with style and in a way that is hard to resist

Richly associative, the book’s imagery insinuates itself into the reader’s consciousness long after it’s finished

This exquisite novel is many things: a detective story in which the real object of pursuit is how one makes meaning of a sometimes ineffable existence; a meditation on the talismanic power of art and the indefatigability of the human spirit; and a many-faceted, perfectly cut gem of psychological portraiture set in well-wrought sentences burnished to a gorgeous luster. The emotions in this book keep pace with you, shadowing you with a quiet intensity, until in the last stretch they overtake you completely.

What a singular, slippery, transfixing novel this is. An Yu achieves a hypnotizing emotional clarity as she takes her narrator ever further from a stifling life in Beijing into a watery realm unlike any I've read before.

Bold yet understated, Braised Pork is the debut of a supremely confident and gifted writer.'

'A moving tale about loneliness, parenthood, addiction and the importance of living the best life you can'

'A heartening story about the importance of truth and friendship, with characters that spring to life on the page'

'A superb, life-affirming book . . . this is both funny and heartbreakingly sad'

'This is the feel-good story, full of hope, that we all need to read right now'

In this joyous read, we learn what it means to embrace who we really are

'A moving tale about living the best life you can'

'A wonderfully warm, feel-good novel about the power of friendship and connection'

A stirring and warm-hearted read

In a heartfelt and ultimately joyous read, we learn what it means to open up to who we really are

I loved this uplifting, original tale

This is a reminder of the importance of friendships and reaching out to others

'Pooley handles her cast with brio as new relationships are formed and lives are changed in this poignant and uplifting read'

It's full of life's truths, funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting. I thoroughly enjoyed it

I loved The Authenticity Project. I powered through it and it was such a joy. It gave me that warm fuzzy feeling that I've so missed (since the days of Love Actually etc). It really reminded me of those classic Richard Curtis films... Fab characters and just the right amount of romance, humour and weepy moments

'Reading the book was like hanging out with a rowdy, affectionate bunch of friends where you don't want the party to stop. A joyous, funny read that leaves you all warm inside'

'One of the best books I've read in a long time. Original, engaging and unforgettable'

Beautifully written, thought provoking and uplifting, The Authenticity Project is a warm and endearing tale about truth, friendship and the power of connection. Pooley's characters will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It was a joy to read