Exciting Times

Exclusive Edition - a standard edition is available here. Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021 Longlisted for the Desmond Elliot Prize 2021 Longlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize 2021 Shortlisted for the Sunday Times / University of Warwick Young Writer of the Year Award 2020 Shortlisted for the British Book Awards Debut Book of the Year 2021 Ava, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children. When you leave Ireland aged 22 to spend your parents' money, it's called a gap year. When Ava leaves Ireland aged 22 to make her own money, she's not sure what to call it, but it involves: A badly-paid job in Hong Kong, teaching English grammar to rich children; Julian, who likes to spend money on Ava and lets her move into his guest room; Edith, who Ava meets while Julian is out of town and actually listens to her when she talks; Money, love, cynicism, unspoken feelings and unlikely connections. Exciting times ensue.