Hard Place

A sharp, contemporary debut about survival and selling out, for fans of Oisín McKenna and Torrey Peters

‘An impeccable rendering of modern queer life, Hard Place is a closely-held mirror to the tenderness and brutality of what it means to be young, gay and trying today – in all its unflinching, and sometimes unflattering, glory. Torr is a new champion of the form.’ Rebecca K Reilly, author of Greta and Valdin

‘Ruthless yet tender, funny yet devastating, with language sharp enough to cut. An essential read for our times.’ Amy Twigg, author of Spoilt Creatures

‘A triumph of contemporary queer satire.’ Jodie Matthews, author of Meet Me at the Surface

'Brutal, nuanced, compassionate and critical all at once, Hard Place shows the messy, human hypocrisy of existing in the current moment – but it also shows the necessity of creating imperfect connections and allowing ourselves to both change and be changed. Funny, heartwarming and socially aware all at once, it signals the arrival of a major new talent' Heather Parry, author of Carrion Crow

‘Hard Place is a stunning debut, a beautifully observed, darkly funny exploration of modern relationships and London life. So savage and so tender, it marks Gab Torr as one of the brightest new talents in British writing' Tom Newlands, author of Only Here, Only Now

Everyone's healing. No-one's happy.

For years, Billy’s decisions have been made for her by long-term girlfriend Rose, leaving her free not to think for – or about – herself. But when they break up and Billy is left without anywhere to live, she’s forced to take up an unappealing but affordable SpareRoom ad. Her new flatmates, Sid and Rhoda, are the kinds of people who talk very seriously about taking accountability, adhering to the flat’s community guidelines and holding space for one another. Meals are communal by force, polyamory is assumed, and whatever the problem, capitalism’s usually to blame. Yes, Rhoda’s parents own the flat, but that doesn’t matter: they’re unapologetically political and loudly queer, and slowly Billy becomes enmeshed in their radical, vulnerable world. But as Billy’s past starts to catch up with her, and all of their boundaries begin to crumble, each of them must reckon with what they truly stand for – and what they’ll sacrifice to hold onto it.

‘Hard Place is a many-layered feast of a novel – biting, witty and unexpectedly tender at the same time. I hugely enjoyed it!’ Hannah Beer, author of I Make My Own Fun