The Closed Circle

Nov 14, 2025 2:50 AM

Author:Jonathan Coe,Nicholas Burns

The Closed Circle

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Closed Circle by Jonathan Coe, read by Nicholas Burns.

On Millennium night, with Blair presiding over a superficially cool, sexed-up new version of the country, Benjamin Trotter finds himself watching the celebrations on his parents' TV. Watching, in fact, his younger brother, Paul, now a bright young New Labour MP who has bought wholeheartedly into the Blairite dream. Neither of them can know that their lives are about to implode.

Set against the backdrop of a changing Britain and the country's increasingly compromised role in America's 'war against terrorism', the characters struggle to make sense of the perennial problems of love, vocation and family.

Reviews

I love having the opportunity to escape with a Sophie Kinsella book, and I OWE YOU ONE came just when I needed it. Fixie’s story is one of missed cues, mistakes, and the realization that you can’t fix someone else’s mess until you fix your own — a smart lesson, wrapped in a gem of a novel.

—— Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of A SPARK OF LIGHT and SMALL GREAT THINGS

Compulsively readable . . . I adored it.

—— Sara Lawrence, Daily Mail

This book is a shot of pure joy.

—— Jenny Colgan

Another clever, witty story of love and empowerment

—— Scotsman

A humorous exploration of family life, finding love and the difficulties of coming into one’s own as a young professional woman . . . Will certainly remind readers why 19 years after her first hit Kinsella remains one of the reigning queens of women’s fiction.

—— Washington Post

Heartwarming . . . Once again, Kinsella creates a sweet, relatable lead you can’t help rooting for.

—— Heat

Cute, funny and life-affirming

—— Fabulous magazine, Sun on Sunday

This is the funniest book Sophie Kinsella has ever written

—— Jenny Colgan

In a month when romance takes centre stage, Sophie Kinsella can always be relied upon to deliver a story that will warm the cockles of any tired old heart but never lapses into saccharine sweet sentiment.

—— Red magazine

Kinsella at her put-a-smile-on-your-face best

—— Good Housekeeping

I'm a huge fan of Kinsella . . . Highly enjoyable

—— Sara Lawrence, Daily Mail

A hilariously funny, yet emotionally deep, novel

—— Sunday Express

Enchanting and clever . . . whip-smart and brilliantly done, with a lightness of touch that disguises a lot of real wisdom.

—— Amanda Craig

Sophie Kinsella writes with a warm wit and this clever, funny and emotional novel will make you laugh and cry. *****

—— Daily Express

A funny, addictive story that shines with real emotion

—— Fabulous Magazine

A delight . . . Joyful, great fun and with quite a few twists along the way

—— Catherine Alliott

This book . . . has a touch of real wisdom [and] will satisfy Kinsella diehards as well as new readers.

—— Washington Post

Fizzingly fresh and can't fail to lift your spirits

—— Sunday Post

What an absolute treat – sheer joy from start to finish.

—— Lucy Diamond

Fast, furious and fabulous fun

—— Woman & Home

Another heart-warming story from the Queen of feel-good fiction

—— The Lady

A joy to read

—— USA Today

This fun, super-readable breath of fresh air had us completely hooked

—— Fabulous magazine, Sun on Sunday

An enjoyable read, funny and moving

—— Sunday Post

A fun, frothy good-hearted read

—— Sunday Mirror

A tale of long-term love and friendship told with Sophie’s blend of warmth and humour

—— Sun

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