Exciting Times: Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2021

'The book of the summer' The Times

'A sharp, smart, witty modern love story. I loved it' David Nicholls

'Likely to fill the Sally-Rooney-shaped hole in many readers' lives' Irish Times

'Droll, shrewd and unafraid' Hilary Mantel

'I've been pushing Exciting Times on everyone I know' Observer

'A frankly sensational book' Pandora Sykes

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.

'I found myself purring with pleasure. ...This is comic writing at the highest level' Craig Brown, Daily Mail

'Very funny, extremely sharp, insightful and raw' Observer

Fiercely intelligent, brutally funny and written with such heart' Nathan Filer

'As brilliant as everyone says! I devoured it' Marian Keyes

'A dazzling debut' Evening Standard

'The funniest writer you will read this year' Irish Independent

'Fantastic' Metro

'Constant fun' Telegraph

'I savoured every shrewd line' Dazed