A subtle and entertaining tragicomic love story. Julian as a small boy is taken on the perfect Cornish holiday. When glamorous American cousins unexpectedly swell the party, however, emotions run high and events spiral out of control.

Though he has been brought up in the forbidding shadow of the prison his father runs, though his parents are neither as normal nor as happy as he supposes, Julian's world view is the sunnily selfish, accepting one of boyhood. It is only when he becomes a man -- seemingly at ease with love, with his sexuality, with his ghosts -- that the traumatic effects of that distant summer rise up to challenge his defiant assertion that he is happy and always has been.

If you would like to review this book, please start a thread below.

Portsmouth City Council take your online safety very seriously. If you find any content on this wiki disturbing or inappropriate, or receive a message from somebody that is threatening, abusive or suspicious, please report it immediately to portsmouthlibraries or email libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Voted Book of the Year 2008 by Cosham Reading Group.