Being a teen’s a tough gig, but what if one gig could save your family?

‘Gorgeous and sensitive, incredibly thoughtful to its characters who are full of life and colour and vivid detail … a truly special debut.’ MARGARET MCDONALD

‘… has a subtle power. Honest, engaging and warm, Elias’s story will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.’ SARAH CROSSAN

‘The most gorgeously written and heartfelt debut in years. Breaks your heart into a million tiny pieces all at once and then puts it back together again – a marvel.’ PIERS TORDAY

Elias’s brain is a swamp of fears and bad things. His once-loving brother Bo has become a stranger, and his parents are at breaking point.

When Bo falls in with dangerous people, Elias decides he’s the only one who can bring his family back together. But what begins as a simple pizza-night plan quickly spirals into chaos.

Can Elias find a way to reach the people he loves the most before it’s too late?

• The stunning debut novel from Lucas Maxwell, winner of the Times/Chicken House Competition 2024
• Set in wintry Nova Scotia, Canada and inspired by the author’s childhood, this special novel explores themes of family addiction and growing up neurodivergent
• Perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and Orbiting Jupiter
• For readers aged 13 and up

‘Emotional gut punch, beautiful setting, and HD real characters’ NATHANIEL LESSORE

‘Very occasionally I read a book which I know is going to stay with me for a very long time … I loved it very much.’ SIMON JAMES GREEN

‘I was gripped from the very first line. Wonderful.’ LISA THOMPSON

‘I read it in pretty much one sitting … flawless’ JASBINDER BILAN

‘Unimaginably good … a work of utter genius’ TIA FISHER

‘I highly recommend this lovely read’ SUSIN NIELSEN