I had real fun with EXCITING TIMES. It is a very funny, spiky, Marxist, feminist comedy and it's really mean. ― Zadie Smith
'Droll, shrewd and unafraid - a winning debut' Hilary Mantel, author of WOLF HALL
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.
Fiercely intelligent, brutally funny and written with such heart, EXCITING TIMES announces an impressive new voice in literature.
Witty, compelling and with a razor-sharp social commentary. I guzzled it. -- Pandora Sykes
A modern love story ... astute, sardonic and highly emotionally aware ... Heralding for sure a new star in Irish writing ― Irish Times
EXCITING TIMES more than lives up to the hype ... Likely to fill the Sally-Rooney-shaped hole in many readers' lives. ― Irish Times
Dazzling ... So brilliantly executed ... Coming-of-age love is told in technicolour ... Banging lines follow banging lines. Your underlining pen destroys the pages ... With EXCITING TIMEScomes a rare and indeed exciting talent, a cacophony of our times, a treat for the socially distanced ― Irish Independent
Lucky us ... EXCITING TIMESwill brighten lockdown ... Very funny ... Extremely sharp ... Insightful and raw ― Observer
A funny, smart, contemporary love story. Perfect for fans of Sally Rooney and Emma Jane Unsworth ― Sunday Times Style
The funniest writer you will read this year... Every page crackles ... Very funny ... Ultimately a very moving story, one that occupies a small sliver of time and space, but manages a lasting emotional tinnitus ... Naoise Dolan is not the new anyone. She's entirely herself, and that's plenty ― Sunday Life, Irish Independent
