Shortlisted for the Gordon Burn Prize 2021

'Exceptional...' Observer

'Unforgettable...' TLS

'Outstanding...' Irish Times

Sam Byers's mastery of tone and attentiveness to every psychological shift confirms him as one of the most accomplished novelists of his generation.' Sunday Times

The new novel from the author of Perfidious Albion—a darkly comic and profoundly affecting novel about resistance, radicalism, and redemption.

Maya is homeless. When her site is razed by ruthless authorities, she's detained. But then, Maya is given a lifeline; a chance to re-enter society again. A tech company—angling to raise its philanthropic profile—offers her a job and a flat. There's one caveat: Maya must document her inspiring progress on Instagram to show that anyone can be productive; perfect.

Yet Maya realises that sickness is a kind of revolution. With other outcasts, Maya starts a movement: billboards promoting wellness are defaced all over London and her media feed is flooded with obscene, filthy images. Suddenly, questions arise about the forces unleashed: liberation and madness, protest and anarchy, rebellion and chaos.