"Louise Hare''s debut novel pairs a poignant tale of young love and shameful prejudice with a twisting mystery, all embedded in a historical moment with keen contemporary resonance. Tantalizing ingredients to be sure, yet it''s her steady, calm prose, and the animating authenticity of her material that make [This Lovely City] so hard to resist." -- Guardian "Poignant and authentic . [Louise Hare''s] steady, calm prose and the animating authenticity of her material make it so hard to resist." -- Observer "Tenderly evokes the experiences of the Windrush generation in postwar London." -- Independent "This Lovely City tells the story of a group of people searching for a place to belong and discovering the power of persistence and hope to carry them through." -- Booklist "Hare''s absorbing narrative builds a compelling portrait of immigrants struggling to belong to a country that needs but doesn''t really want them . A must read for fans of Zadie Smith and Call the Midwife.
" -- Kirkus Reviews "Full of life and love, This Lovely City is a tender, at times heart-breaking depiction of a city at once familiar and unrecognizable. It made my heart soar." -- Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars "Superb, compelling storytelling, beautifully drawn characters and atmosphere that''s deeply immersive." -- Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange "In this riveting and incisive murder mystery set in postwar London, Louise Hare looks at race and belonging with a poignancy that is reminiscent of Samuel Selvon and other émigré writers of the Windrush generation. A brilliant debut." -- Rabindranath Maharaj, author of Fatboy Fall Down "I loved, loved, loved it, and desperately wanted things to work out for Lawrie and Evie." -- Cathy Rentzenbrink, author of The Last Act of Love "This Lovely City is a beguiling, atmospheric, and important novel, with wonderful, memorable characters and a vital message about love, loyalty, and hope." -- Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman "A compelling account of starting over.
" -- Sun"[A] mistress of suspense, Hare keeps us guessing to the last page. I loved the postwar atmosphere: bombed, broken London as a visual metaphor for the story''s violence and racism." -- Daily Mail "A timely first novel of real promise. Confidently written, compellingly plotted and atmospheric in its portrayal of postwar London . A twisty delight, offering a timely illumination of enduring cultural tensions" -- Mail on Sunday "Paints a vivid picture of what life was really like for the Windrush generation. Fans of Andrea Levy''s Small Island will love it." -- Red "This debut is a joy to devour. The characters are beautifully drawn.
The tender, compelling storytelling is immersive and atmospheric. I believe Hare is a major new talent who delivers a vital message about love, loyalty, and hope." -- Platinum "This hotly anticipated debut offers a vivid portrait of the immigrant experience in postwar London." -- Sunday Times "Beautifully told . heartwarming, heartbreaking, and wonderfully atmospheric . This Lovely City is truly one lovely book." -- Heat "You''ll root for Lawrie and Evie and won''t fail to notice the timely message of Hare''s beautifully-told tale." -- Cosmopolitan "Hare''s enthralling novel pulls off the rare trick of being a clever murder mystery, an evocative portrayal of Windrush London, and a genuinely touching love story.
" -- I "An exciting ride . I demolished it in two sittings." -- Daily Record "Heartfelt . brimming with nostalgia." -- Prima "You''ll be rooting for the pair from start to finish." -- Glamour "Poignant and compelling." -- Hello! "A top-notch book in every way." -- NB Magazine "Expect to be obsessed .
[A book] you need to know about." -- Good Housekeeping "A tale to wring the heart and make the blood boil, swirling with postwar gloom, illuminated by the shining lights of Lawrie and Evie." -- SAGA "A thought-provoking and imaginative debut that conjures up the experiences of the Windrush generation in postwar London. Heartbreaking but full of hope." -- Woman&Home "Louise Hare writes so effortlessly. [This Lovely City] was a joy to read." -- Woman''s Weekly.