"Making emotions sing, this is an eloquent, thoughtful yet provocative novel about what people do for love and family."
A beautifully poignant, thought-provoking and special novel that really does travel to the heart of what it is to be human. 20 year old Sebastian knows exactly what he wants, his hormones are raging and he is desperate for sex however his autism limits his ability to meet girls. When Sebastian’s mother Veronica contacts escort Violetta, the lives of all three change forever. The novel focuses on the three main characters, each is vividly realised and I positively ached for and adored all three. Their individual stories weave through and under and around each other, the short chapters tying them together, creating one whole tale. Louise Beech often crosses genres in her novels, and has explored crime through to relationship stories. Her particular skill, on display in all of her novels, is allowing us to connect and sink in to what it means to be human, she takes us below the surface, below the obvious, and allows us to explore. My emotions sang throughout this novel, I balanced the exquisite tightrope that swings from the pages, stepped out, and fell in love with the words, the feelings they evoked. The title is absolutely perfect, and when I had finished, I just sat pondering its meaning. The Author’s Note at the end shows just how connected Louise is to this story, how she was inspired by her experience of autism as ‘an outsider’ and she also talks about #OwnVoices. This is How we are Human is bold and provocative, thoughtful and warmhearted, and I declare it is completely gorgeous!
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
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Closing date: 04/07/2026
Sebastian James Murphy is twenty years, six months and two days old. He loves swimming, fried eggs and Billy Ocean.
Sebastian is autistic. And lonely. Veronica wants her son Sebastian to be happy ... she wants the world to accept him for who he is. She is also thinking about paying a professional to give him what he desperately wants.
Violetta is a high-class escort, who steps out into the night thinking only of money. Of her nursing degree. Paying for her dad’s care. Getting through the dark.
When these three lives collide –intertwine in unexpected ways –everything changes. For everyone. A topical and moving drama about a mother’s love for her son, about getting it wrong when we think we know what’s best, about the lengths we go to care for family ... to survive ...This Is How We Are Human is a searching, rich and thought-provoking novel with a emotional core that will warm and break your heart
This is How we are Human features in the following genres: Family Drama, Fiction, Book Club Recommendations, Recommendations, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Sharing Diverse Voices, Relating to people on the autism spectrum, Relating to early adulthood, Narrative theme: Coming of age, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Social issues, General Fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories, Relating to people with visible or hidden disabilities, impairments or conditions, Relating to specific groups and cultures or social and cultural interests, Interest qualifiers, Relating to adulthood, Relating to the stages of life, Fiction: narrative themes, Books of the Month, Star Books
This is How we are Human is available in Paperback, Ebook
This is How we are Human was written by Louise Beech and published by Orenda Books
This is How we are Human has 289 pages
£8.09
