A heartbreakingly moving and hilariously funny novel about marriage, parenting, love, desire and betrayal.
'Captivating' Ruth Jones, author of Us Three
'Tremendous' William Boyd author of Any Human Heart
'Funny, wry, unsettling' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
Emily should be happy. She has a nice husband (even if they rarely speak to each other, let alone sleep in the same bed), two little boys she loves (even if a full night's sleep is a distant memory) - and now, a brand-new house in which they can live out all of the bourgeois fantasies she knows she should be ashamed of. But still she aches for something more.
Enter Alathea and Elliott, their new neighbours, and also parents of two young boys. Alathea is intimidatingly confident and beautiful, but also disarmingly open and friendly. And Elliott ... Elliott is intriguing. Dishevelled, talented, charming and a little lost, he seems as fascinated by Emily as she is by him, and soon their friendship has reached an intensity neither of them seem able to control.
As riotously funny as it is painfully moving, this is a novel about disappointment and yearning; about parenting and growing up; and the search for love, meaning and connection.
"The sort of book that cuts you off from your family and has you walking blindly through seven lanes of traffic with your face pressed obliviously to the page." -James Marriott, The Times (London)
From acclaimed British poet Luke Kennard comes The Transition: an intriguing and mysterious debut audiobook.
Do you or your partner spend more than you earn? Have your credit card debts evolved into collection letters? Has either of you received a court summons? Has either of you considered turning to a life of a crime? You are not alone. We know. We can help.
Welcome to the Transition.
While taking part in the Transition, you and your partner will spend six months living under the supervision of your mentors, two successful adults of a slightly older generation. Freed from your financial responsibilities, you will be coached through the key areas of the scheme-Employment, Nutrition, Responsibility, Relationship, Finances, and Self-respect-until you are ready to be reintegrated into adult society.
At the end of your six months, who knows what discoveries you'll have made about yourself? The "friends" you no longer need. The talents you'll have found time to nurture. The business you might have kick-started. Who knows where you'll be?
LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE
What's standing between you and success?
What do you do with a generation who've had everything, but still can't grow up?
Welcome to The Transition.
While taking part in The Transition you and your partner will spend six months living under the supervision of your mentors, two successful adults of a slightly older generation. Freed from your financial responsibilities, you will be coached through the key areas of the scheme - Employment, Nutrition, Responsibility, Relationship, Finances and Self-Respect - until you are ready to be reintegrated into adult society.
At the end of your six months - who knows what discoveries you'll have made about yourself? The 'friends' you no longer need. The talents you'll have found time to nurture. The business you might have kick-started.
Who knows where you'll be?
'Very funny' William Boyd, Guardian best summer reads 2018
'A fresh, funny and gripping vision of the near future that rings frighteningly true' Joe Dunthorne, author of Submarine
'Terrific. Clever and funny and a total page-turner to boot' Nathan Filer, author of The Shock of the Fall
'Utterly vital' Paul Murray, author of Skippy Dies
'Essential reading for generation rent' Jenn Ashworth, author of Fell
