I have been wanting to read Dolly Alderton for a while and I finally bought my copy of her fiction debut – Ghosts. And oh my god, what an experience. And just by the way, it’s exactly the kind of book that gets you out of a reading slump. It’s hard to make a book immersive from the first couple of pages, and ‘Ghosts’ does that.
Nina Dean is a food writer who’s seen success, been in stable, nurturing relationships, and is mostly confident about who she is. Not much there, then, tu right? ‘Ghosts’, as the name suggests, is about ghosting, yes, but also about haunting nostalgia and a past that refuses to let go of the present. Nina’s celebrating her 30th birthday and simultaneously coming to terms with fading friendships and her dad’s onset of dementia. Then, she meets Max, who, on their very first date, tells Nina that he is going to marry her. That’s where ‘Ghosts’ begin – a telling of the strangest year of Nina’s life yet.
I loved the book, and everyone who’s met me in the past three days knows that by now. It’s so cheeky and self-aware, and Dolly Alderton’s writing is the best character in the novel. It speaks to you, and it feels like you’re in on the story. The writing is funny but has so many underlining moments throughout the book; it often surprises you with wit and depth without making them seem like the big deal they are. I have been telling my friends that Dolly Alderton is the kind of writer I want to be – there are tons of storytelling lessons ‘Ghosts’ sits on. She knows what engaging writing is and runs with it.
The book has a quote that says: “I had never met a woman surer of her own thoughts and instincts, and it was an invigorating thing to behold.” I think I feel the same for Dolly Alderton’s writing.
‘Ghosts’ is thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m so getting all the remaining Alderton books! It’s a definite 5-star for me – pick it up maybe?
This book has been published by Penguin. Follow them on YKA here.
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