Holy F*ck

LoveReading Says

Fair warning, this is just a little outrageous, and I absolutely loved it! 19 year-old American, Stella, is a prostitute and when certain leaders in the Catholic Church learn she is performing miracles for gravely ill men they determine that she has to die by the hands of two very experienced assassins.

There is of course the potential to divide with this somewhat (!) irreverent view of the church, however as well as the provocative humour, this novel has the ability to pierce thoughts with its sharp insightful observations. Award-winning Swiss author Joseph Incardona has included himself in the novel, occasionally commenting and engaging with the reader which made me smile.

I would like to add a round of applause for the translator Sam Taylor as well as the author, as it would be all too easy to forget its source as you follow this story around the USA. I loved the continuing high-wire balancing act that is performed throughout, where shocking subjects are handled with thoughtful attention.

There are some truly wonderful characters on show, Santa and Tarzan were a revelation, the Bronski brothers gruesomely marvellous, and Stella and Father Brown made a perfectly imperfect team. I had absolutely no idea where this twisted road trip was going to end which was fabulous, I threw myself in with abandon and gave myself up to the wild ride.

This just had to join our LoveReading Star Books as it encourages thought and feelings to crash and explode into being. Oh, and hats off to whoever came up with the title! Hugely entertaining, Holy F*ck slays with its slicing humour, smart social observations, and superbly observed characters. It deserves its whopping thumbs up from the LoveReading team.

Reviewed by Liz Robinson
Liz has been an Editorial Expert writing reviews for LoveReading since 2014.
More reviews by Liz Robinson

About Holy F*ck

Stella works miracles. Literally. She heals the sick and the paralysed.

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