Colourful, funny, joyful and compelling

There's little doubt that this young writer is going to be a star... In the course of this picaresque and haunting tale, Hudson achieves something rare and remarkable. While comparison will inevitably be made between her work and that of Irvine Welsh or Alan Warner, she is wholly individual

Kerry Hudson’s fine, eloquent debut novel traces the peripatetic childhood of Janie Ryan...her tale is full of warmth and bittersweet humour

Real and heartfelt... Hudson avoids the usual sentimental clichés and gives us, without a shred of hipster cynicism, the hope and tough warmth for which she has such a sharp eye

A gritty, tough, sweet , sad, funny story of urban survival. Recommended

A sympathetic coming-of-age tale and a valuable counterpoint to widespread social attitudes to women in poverty

Concurrently very funny and incredibly sad. The writing sizzles, and the words jump off the page as Hudson describes a world of fags, booze, bingo and worse. We watch our heroine Janie Ryan struggle through it all with humour and a will to survive. I was cheering her on all the way, and I'm sure you will, too

A laugh out loud read

Told with such an honest and engaging voice that you can’t help but turn the page

This is a remarkable debut novel of love and loyalty, of fierce passion and scabrous wit, full of characters whose broad vernacular is direct and expressive. This is about a culture with just as much right to be called British as that of middle-class suburbia

Refreshing originality… Hudson’s achievement is the creation of a strong, working-class, female voice in her protagonist – filling a hole in contemporary literature

Definitely one to watch

What really drives all this is Wolfe’s extraordinary style.

As broad and panoramic as ever.

There are some dazzling satirical riffs and politically incorrect laughs.

Wolfe’s prose is as punchy as ever.

Energetically set against the deco licentiousness of Florida’s steamiest party capital.

Class, family, wealth and corruption are all themes in this examination of life in Miami.

[Tells] us about the way we live now... enjoyable.

Classic Wolfe. A delight

Epic, hectic, satirical… It’s scathing, funny, and has great set-piece scenes

Contemporary Miami gets the Wolfe treatment in a grand, sweeping satire on race, class, lust and immigration

Wonderful

Parks is one of the best living writers of English, and this book is so good you don't want it to end

If, like me, you relish Italy, railways and grumbling, this is the most transporting book

A fun, informative and detailed journey