Exciting Times: Droll, Shrewd and Unafraid - A Winning Debut by Hilary Mantel - Fiction - Hardcover
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Title:
Exciting Times
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Hardcover
Overview:
Set against the glittering yet restless backdrop of Hong Kong and a city of gleaming temptations, Exciting Times follows Ava, a young Irish woman who strikes out on her own and discovers that independence can be exhilarating, exhausting, and endlessly complicated. The job she takes—teaching English grammar to wealthy expatriates’ children—pays modestly but throws her into the orbit of people who embody the city’s bright surfaces and hidden fractures. Julian arrives first: charismatic, generous, and used to buying comfort with money and charm. When Julian travels, Ava meets Edith, a perceptive listener who doesn’t shy away from the hard questions about love, power, and personal boundaries. Naoise Dolan’s debut novel is a confident, razor-sharp exploration of desire and agency in a world where affection is entangled with money and status. Its crisp, intimate prose moves with the pace of a modern romance and the precision of a social study, delivering a refreshing, brave portrait of a generation learning to navigate intimacy on their own terms.
What Makes This Book Stand Out:
Dolan’s voice is both witty and piercing, delivering sly social satire without sacrificing emotional honesty. Exciting Times bristles with observational wit as Ava negotiates dating, class, and identity in environments that sparkle on the surface while revealing brittle undercurrents beneath. The novel’s compact structure creates a brisk, page-by-page tension that mirrors Ava’s heartbeat as she weighs desire against autonomy. It’s not just a coming-of-age story; it’s a sensuous, contemporary meditation on what it means to choose for yourself when desire collides with obligation. The book also benefits from a fearless, unflinching lens on gender dynamics and power—delivered with a style that is at once polished and fearless. As Hilary Mantel aptly praised, it is “Droll, shrewd and unafraid – a winning debut.” This blend of sharpness and tenderness makes Exciting Times feel both novel and essential, a conversation starter that lingers long after the final page.
Who This Book Is Perfect For:
Ideal for readers who crave contemporary literary fiction with a razor-edged social eye. If you enjoy witty, emotionally honest voices and stories about love, money, and independence in an urban setting, this is for you. It will resonate with fans of smart, character-driven narratives, readers exploring modern relationships, and anyone who appreciates a brisk, stylish read that rewards careful attention to nuance. Suitable for adults seeking a standalone, provocative, beautifully written novel, it also appeals to readers who love sharp dialogue and sociocultural insights wrapped in a stylish, offbeat romance.
Key Highlights:
- Witty, incisive narration with a contemporary, intimate voice
- Provocative exploration of money, power, and desire
- Vivid Hong Kong setting that doubles as character in its own right
- Standalone novel with a complete arc and memorable, flawed characters
- Debut from a now-celebrated contemporary author
- Fast-paced yet emotionally insightful; great for fans of BookTok and contemporary lit
- Sharp social commentary wrapped in a stylish, modern romance
About the Author:
Naoise Dolan is an Irish author whose debut novel, Exciting Times, captured readers with its crisp, intimate voice and fearless examination of love, class and identity in the urban milieu. Dolan’s writing blends razor-sharp wit with compassionate insight, drawing readers into Ava’s world of glittering surfaces and vulnerable realities. The book’s reception highlighted Dolan’s ability to balance irony with tenderness, delivering a nuanced portrait of a young woman carving out autonomy in a cosmopolitan landscape. Dolan’s work speaks to a generation negotiating desire, independence, and self-definition with honesty and charm, establishing her as a standout voice in contemporary literary fiction.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
Exciting Times offers a fresh, fearlesstake on modern romance and self-discovery. Its voice is both cool and intimate, inviting readers to lean in and witness Ava’s evolving understanding of herself and her relationships. The book’s crisp prose, moral clarity, and unabashed honesty make it a standout gift for readers who enjoy intelligent, character-driven stories about love’s complexities. It’s the kind of title that earns a place on a bookshelf for its stylish flair, enduring themes, and the lasting impression of a debut that feels both timely and timeless.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
