A love letter to community and the power of activism, from the author of Ginger and Me and Graffiti Girls.

Germaine only accepted the job at the Kenmar allotments for a fresh start. Far from anyone who knows her history she can focus on work and tending to her own plot. Most of the other plot-holders keep to themselves and that suits her just fine.

But when the local council announces plans to turn the allotments into luxury housing, Germaine finds herself leading a battle to save the place that has become a sanctuary for fractured souls.

Amidst crumbling sheds and overgrown paths, the rag-tag band plan protests, forge alliances and uncover long-buried secrets. Soon they'll learn that the allotments aren't just plots of land but a place to belong.

Praise for Common Ground

'A warm and tender portrait of a community coming together in crisis - and learning to fight back. Humanity glows from every page' Karen Campbell

'Common Ground is a book like a warm hug. A comforting story of coming together, friendship and the strength of community. A book to reassure' Catherine Simpson

'Common Ground is shot through with seriousness, warmth & wit, and confirms that Elissa Soave is one of the surest and clearest voices in Scottish fiction.' Andrew Meehan

'What a group of beautifully depicted, perfectly flawed and deeply engaging characters' Helen Paris

'A heartwarming, empowering neighbourhood adventure about growing ourselves and one another, nurturing our public spaces and being so much stronger together than we can ever be apart. I loved spending time with these characters' Emma Styles

The captivating, powerful and unforgettable literary novel of community and connection for 2026

About the Author

ELISSA SOAVE won the inaugural Primadonna Prize in 2019. She is the author of two previous novels: Ginger and Me (2022), which was shortlisted for the Saltire Society Scottish First Book Award, and Graffiti Girls (2025). Elissa has been a judge on the Primadonna Prize and the Curae Prize. She currently lives in South Lanarkshire.

Reviews

Praise for Common Ground:

'A warm and tender portrait of a community coming together in crisis - and learning to fight back. Humanity glows from every page' Karen Campbell

'Common Ground is a book like a warm hug. A comforting story of coming together, friendship and the strength of community. A book to reassure' Catherine Simpson

'Common Ground is shot through with seriousness, warmth & wit, and confirms that Elissa Soave is one of the surest and clearest voices in Scottish fiction.' Andrew Meehan

'What a group of beautifully depicted, perfectly flawed and deeply engaging characters' Helen Paris

'A heartwarming, empowering neighbourhood adventure about growing ourselves and one another, nurturing our public spaces and being so much stronger together than we can ever be apart. I loved spending time with these characters' Emma Styles

Praise for Elissa Soave:

'A delicious tale of female rebellion and a glorious tribute to female friendship. Warm, funny, and uplifting with genuine insight into women's lives. I adored every page' Caron McKinlay

'A rebellious and uplifting tale of punkish, middle-aged, feminist defiance, told with wit, warmth and energy. I was rooting for Soave's tenderly drawn characters on every page' Lucy Ribchester

'Stingingly observed, expertly executed, Graffiti Girls is a laugh-out-loud, relatably painful, feminist rage-induced tour de force' Claire Wilson

'Graffiti Girls drips with feminine rage, a story for any woman of a certain age who's ever felt invisible.' My Weekly, Books to Read in 2025

'Vivid, funny, sad, thought-provoking, acutely observed and full of compassion' Helen Sedgwick

'A debut novel to treasure, by turns funny, dark and heartbreaking and I didn't want it to end!' Louise Mumford

'A fascinating and poignant take on friendship and obsession' Caron McKinlay

'Startling, sly and full of suspense. Not your ordinary coming of age novel' Catherine Mayer

'Full of charm, insight and wit - with the power to break your heart' C. E. Riley

Book Information
ISBN 9780008673369
Author Elissa Soave
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint HQ
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 580g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 159mm * 32mm