SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2015
SHORTLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN FIRST BOOK AWARD 2015
LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZE 2016

'Unsettling, deeply moving and very, very readable. I loved it' NATHAN FILER, The Shock of the Fall

'A striking and highly enjoyable debut' SOPHIE HANNAH

Yasmin would give anything to have a friend . . .

And do anything to keep one.

The first time I saw you, you were standing at the far end of the playing field. You were looking down at your brown straggly dog, but then you looked up, your mouth going slack as your eyes clocked her. Alice Taylor. I was no different. I used to catch myself gazing at the back of her head in class, at her silky fair hair swaying between her shoulder blades.

If you'd glanced just once across the field you'd have seen me standing in the middle on my own, looking straight at you, and you'd have gone back through the trees to the path quick, tugging your dog after you. You'd have known you'd given yourself away, even if only to me.

But you didn't. You only had eyes for Alice.

Now available as a paperback, this dark and utterly addictive debut is the perfect word-of-mouth read 'The next Gone Girl success story' Independent

About the Author
Tasha Kavanagh worked in film editing for ten years, on features including Twelve Monkeys, Seven Years in Tibet and The Talented Mr Ripley. She has an MA in Creative Writing from UEA. She has published several children's books under her maiden name, Tasha Pym. She lives in Hertfordshire with her family. Her first novel Things We Have in Common has been shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2015 and the Guardian Not the Booker Prize.

Reviews

The next Gone Girl success story

* * Independent on Sunday * *
A pitch-black comedy thriller. This is a novel you read half covering your eyes, willing it not to venture where you fear it might. But of course it does, with great panache * * Guardian * *
Kavanagh's command of raw suspense ensures that it grips from the very beginning * * Mail on Sunday * *
The most chilling last line you'll read this year * * Independent on Sunday * *
A brilliantly twisted coming-of-age tale . . . the story chillingly, compulsively unravels * * Sunday Express * *
Kavanagh captures the voice of her troubled teen protagonist with clarity * * i * *
A striking and highly enjoyable debut -- SOPHIE HANNAH
A tale of loneliness and teenage obsession which could be the next Gone Girl success story * * Independent * *
I love it. The voice is perfect, the writing sublime . . . beautifully endearing, a stunning book -- KEVIN BROOKS
A highly compelling, truly excellent plot that will absolutely surprise you all the time, it is one of those stories that will leave you emotionally on edge - the final sentence is definitely going to come back to haunt me * * LivLovesBooks Blog * *
Unsettling, deeply moving and very, very readable. I loved it -- NATHAN FILER * * The Shock of the Fall * *

Genuinely chilling, this is one of the best books I've read this year

* * Independent * *
A first-person narrative that poignantly captures the loneliness of an unlovable teenager . . . There are moments of real poignancy . . . Kavanagh expertly brings out the pathos * * Guardian * *
Insightful, compellingly plotted -- Costa First Novel Award 2015 judges
Tipped as the next cult hit * * Daily Telegraph * *


Awards
Short-listed for Costa First Novel Award 2015 (UK) and Guardian Not the Booker Prize 2015 (UK). Long-listed for The Desmond Elliott Prize 2016 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781782115977
Author Tasha Kavanagh
Format Paperback
Page Count 272
Imprint Canongate Books
Publisher Canongate Books
Weight(grams) 191g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 17mm