Orange: A candid portrayal of first love and self-discovery

A candid portrayal of first love and self-discovery, from the author of the 'instant queer classic', Isaac.

Cornwall, 2018. In the quiet fishing village of Portscatho, sixteen-year-old Daniel and seventeen-year-old Jago form an unexpected connection - something neither of them can name. What unfolds is transformative, particularly for Daniel, who for the first time feels truly seen.

East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten himself: sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.

Reminiscent of Édouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's writing, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.

'An effective exploration of how we live and experience different pressures together and apart' - Dazed (Most Anticipated Novels of 2026)

'If you're a fan of the tenderness of nuanced relationships found in Sally Rooney, you'll want to pick up a copy of Orange' - Radio Times (Best Books Released in 2026)

'One of the most emotionally resonant and beautifully written books you'll read this year, Orange is an unforgettable meditation on what it truly means to find home' - Andrew Porter, author of The Imagined Life

'A love letter to London and all its flaws and excesses... Written with the flair of Ocean Vuong and the narrative excellence of Alexander Chee... An extremely accomplished sophomore novel' - Alex Allison, author of Greatest of All Time

‘Richly humane, wholly original, beautifully crafted, probing and sharply insightful’ – Niamh Campbell, author of This Happy

‘A beautiful and incredibly moving love story that explores queerness and identity, home and belonging, and the different people we become in different places’ – Margaret McDonald, author of Glasgow Boys

‘Vivid, moving and artfully observed, Orange perfectly captures the bittersweetness of leaving one home to build another’ – Grace Flahive, author of Palm Meridian

‘Perfectly captures the exhilaration of first love... It's hilarious, sexy and messy’ – Jake Hall, author of Shoulder to Shoulder

'I devoured this... Moving and absorbing... A great exploration of modern queer life' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Wow, what a mesmerising book... Full of beautiful and vivid descriptions of both places and people' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A very worthy successor to Isaac... An extraordinary piece of writing' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Garner has a true gift and a way with words that just captivates you... I found myself wanting to live in this story forever' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

PRAISE FOR CURTIS GARNER

'So vivid and real, it brought a thousand memories rushing back' - Russell T Davies, writer of It's A Sin and Queer As Folk

'A wryly honest tale... It stirred bittersweet memories of wanting to astonish the world even while hating the skin I was in. Garner is clearly one to watch' - Patrick Gale, author of Mother's Boy

'An instant queer classic' - Jon Ransom, author of The Gallopers

'Garner writes like a queer twenty-first-century Richard Yates: honest, uncompromising, fearless, and completely engrossing' - Alex Pheby, author of Playthings

'The dating scenes crackle with energy' - Financial Times

'Delivered with wit, honesty and tenderness' - Attitude

'Bold and unflinching' - Telegraph

'Fast-paced, raw and emotionally intelligent'- Daily Mail

This novel contains depictions of domestic abuse, sex, and alcohol/drug use.

© 2026 Verve Books (E-bog): 9780857309419

Udgivelsesdato

E-bog: 5. februar 2026