Description
'A total gem from Charlotte Levin. I love her writing so much.' Ruth Jones
'Fresh, hopeful, and quietly devastating.' Caroline Hulse
'Very few books make me cry - this did, in the very best way.' Louise Fein
'An absolute triumph.' Nikki Smith
Is love strong enough to open it?
Following a tragic incident, rising-star Beatrice is struggling. Having retreated from life entirely, she finds herself unable to leave the house. With her acting career now over, (Though don't tell her agent), and discovering who her real friends aren't, her world has shrunk-its only inhabitants, an elderly Polish neighbour, the world's most boring postman, her therapist with issues of her own, and Piano Bitch from across the road. Thank God for Matisse, her beloved, foul-mouthed parakeet.
When she hires Irish gardener, Finn, to tame the overgrown garden that she cannot even enter, things take an unexpected turn. Their connection blossoms, and she's no longer isolated and alone. But can a relationship survive the restrictions that control her, or will love enable Beatrice to confront her fears and step outside again?
Your next reading obsession, the poignant and darkly funny new novel from the bestselling author of If I Can't Have You, perfect for fans of Sorrow and Blissand Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
'I was laughing and crying in the same chapter ... it gave me all the feels.'Reader Review
'Charlotte Levin has written her best book so far with this.'Reader Review
'An absolute delight from beginning to end.Reader Review
'Emotionally immersive and quietly devastating.'Reader Review
'Utterly captivating.'Reader Review
A funny, warm yet tragic exploration of a fragile mind from the bestselling author of If I Can't Have You. Perfect for fans of Joanna Cannon and Gail Honeyman
About the Author
Charlotte Levin is the bestselling author of If I Can't Have You and the Richard & Judy Book Club pick If I Let You Go. She writes emotional yet darkly humorous character-led novels that centre on the morally grey, the outsiders, and those who could probably do with some therapy. She has been shortlisted for the Andrea Badenoch Award and the Mslexia Short Story Competition, as well as writing for publications, including The Observer and Marie Claire. She lives in Manchester, England.
Reviews
'I adored this immersive, empathetic exploration of agoraphobia, nepotism and identity... wry and moving.' Joanna Nadin, author of The Queen of Bloody Everything
'Outside is pared back, fresh, hopeful, and quietly devastating. Charlotte Levin has such a distinctive voice, and Outside cements her position of one of my favourite contemporary writers.' Caroline Hulse, author of Reasonable People
'A poignant yet darkly funny story of flawed people and imperfect relationships, Outside asks the time-honoured question: can love really conquer all?' Frances Quinn, author of The Last Passenger
'I cried and laughed out loud while reading this. So sharply observed with a wonderful dark sense of humour, Outside is an absolute triumph. My favourite of Charlotte Levin's books so far.' Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
'Heartbreaking, darkly funny and all kinds of wonderful. I loved it.' Nicola Gill, author of Swimming for Beginners
'Another brilliant dispatch from the borderlands by Charlotte Levin, who has a rare talent for capturing the isolation, wonder and quiet heroism of seemingly ordinary lives with a deftness of touch many writers would kill for.' Tom Benjamin, author of A Quiet Death in Italy
'I absolutely adored this book! Suffused with equal measures of pain and humour, Outside is a triumph. Levin masterfully pulls the reader into the complicated mind of her glorious protagonist, Beatrice, so that we feel, viscerally, all of her loss and love, her agony and joy. A wonderful, compassionate and real exploration of the tragedy and triumph of being human. Very few books make me cry - this did, in the very best way.' Louise Fein, author of Daughter of the Reich
'Cool, funny, smart and heartbreaking - this is the perfect summer novel. I was rooting for Beatrice and Matisse, her foul-mouthed parakeet, from the very start. Packed with sharp dialogue and poignant truths about love and loss, Outside is honest and raw, and yet it's also joyful and packed with hope. A stunning achievement.' Eleni Kyriacou, author of The Unspeakable Acts of Zina Pavlou
'Outside is a delight! Not only is it a sensitive examination of the pain that grief can inflict on us, it's also heartwarming, tender, laugh-out-loud funny and a testament to love in all its forms. Sure to be an absolute smash hit.' Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street
Praise for If I Can't Have You:
'I IMPLORE you to read (or listen to) it. It's SO many things - dark, sweet, odd, moving, credible, tender, BEAUTIFULLY written & at times funny.' Marian Keyes
'So beautifully written, such a devastatingly compelling story.' Ruth Jones
Book Information
ISBN 9781836431855
Author Charlotte Levin
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Oneworld Publications
Publisher Oneworld Publications
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 34mm
