Bold, cheeky, delicate: Fragile intimacy and female self-discovery in a world full of uncertainties. A young woman meets her first boyfriend – and his dog Petal, who soon only listens to her. Another slowly recovers from an abortion while her friend lounges on Instagram. And a girl does everything, jumping off cliffs at twelve and lying for her stepsister, just to impress her best friend. Bold and laconic, Sams explores the treacherous terrain of growing up, telling stories of love and vulnerability, motherhood and first abysses. And she celebrates the small victories that women achieve in a world that seeks to consume them every day.

“Outstandingly, Sams highlights the smallest shifts in our relationships: infatuations, rivalries, hierarchies. In concise, rhythmic sentences, she captures the light and dark of our engagement with relationships, loneliness, sexuality, and loss.” – The Guardian

“A fresh literary voice – profound, insightful, and raw.” – Emma Cline

“I fell head over heels in love with this stunning collection.” – Megan Nolan

“A remarkably perceptive, intelligent author.” – Nicole Flattery

Awarded the BBC National Short Story Award 2022 and the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2022, shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize 2023.