Exciting Times

Books | Fiction / Literary

3.1

(377)

Naoise Dolan

“This debut novel about an Irish expat millennial teaching English and finding romance in Hong Kong is half Sally Rooney love triangle, half glitzy Crazy Rich Asians high living—and guaranteed to please.” —Vogue A RECOMMENDED BOOK FROM:The New York Times Book Review * Vogue * TIME * Marie Claire * Elle * O, the Oprah Magazine * The Washington Post * Esquire * Harper's Bazaar * Bustle * PopSugar * Refinery 29 * LitHub * DebutifulAn intimate, bracingly intelligent debut novel about a millennial Irish expat who becomes entangled in a love triangle with a male banker and a female lawyerAva, newly arrived in Hong Kong from Dublin, spends her days teaching English to rich children.Julian is a banker. A banker who likes to spend money on Ava, to have sex and discuss fluctuating currencies with her. But when she asks whether he loves her, he cannot say more than "I like you a great deal."Enter Edith. A Hong Kong–born lawyer, striking and ambitious, Edith takes Ava to the theater and leaves her tulips in the hallway. Ava wants to be her—and wants her. And then Julian writes to tell Ava he is coming back to Hong Kong... Should Ava return to the easy compatibility of her life with Julian or take a leap into the unknown with Edith?Politically alert, heartbreakingly raw, and dryly funny, Exciting Times is thrillingly attuned to the great freedoms and greater uncertainties of modern love. In stylish, uncluttered prose, Naoise Dolan dissects the personal and financial transactions that make up a life—and announces herself as a singular new voice.

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More Details:

Author

Naoise Dolan

Pages

256

Publisher

HarperCollins

Published Date

2020-06-02

ISBN

0062968777 9780062968777

Community ReviewsSee all

"I’m halfway through, and still bored. Probably won’t finish. "

Emily Calleja

"This was a slow burn. Actually there was no burn, it was just slow. It felt like how accrual humans experience life and relationships. True human emotion. Not my favorite book ever but nice for what it is."

Aubrey

"Yessss! This authors first book, which is insane, because the story was captivating and addictive and intriguing and juicy all at once"

Kathryn Wilson

"Ava (the main character) is relatable and insufferable, you feel yourself wanted to tell her to stop making horrible life decisions, but all you can do it watch. Overall, a good and reflective, but frustrating read, that makes you want to not ever do anything Ava does throughout the book. Also at points makes you wish it was Edith’s story instead. "