The Agency would like to pass on our congratulations to our wonderful, exceptionally talented writer client Louisa Reid whose new adult novel, The Poet, has been published today by Doubleday Books.
Best known for her incredible young adult fiction (Gloves Off, Wrecked, Black Heart Blue, Lies Like Love), Louisa’s superb book is an impressive and bold debut from one of fiction’s most exciting new voices. The book is inspired by the female poets neglected by the English literary cannon, in particular, Charlotte Mew; Louisa has penned a mesmerizing, provocative and pacey novel-in-verse about a young writer, her abusive older lover, and what happens when she is pushed to her limit.
As the publisher puts it it is “set in the charged world of Oxford University, it is on the one hand a portrait of a toxic relationship, about coercive control, class and privilege; on the other–a passionate, page-turning tale of female solidarity, survival and revenge.”
It is available now to buy in hardback.
Reviews:
The novel has landed to startlingly excellent critical reviews with the Irish Times saying it was ‘a beautiful, biting page-turner.‘ and The Daily Mail as ‘brisk, disturbing and very satisfying’.
Hush included it in its ‘Five Unmissable Books of The Year’ and said it was ‘superb… Raw, angry and utterly compelling. The writing is stunning.’ Cosmopolitan named it as its ‘hottest new beach read for summer 2022′ and said ‘We’ve never read anything quite like this before… you’ll be completely submerged’.
Waterstones put The Poet as the ‘Best Fiction Title for June’ and said that it was ‘stark, intensely powerful…scalpel-sharp meditation on coercive control and toxic relationships.’
Fellow authors have taken to social media and other outlets to praise the novel for its style and elegance.
Poet, playwright, writer and illustrator Nikita Gill (Wild Embers, Great Goddesses) wrote: ‘This is the book I have always needed. It’s f****** brilliant and everyone should read it’.
‘Brilliant and beautifully written’ said multi-award winning children’s author Manjeet Mann (The Crossing)
‘It weeps, rages and triumphs in words as exquisite as emotion. Loved it.’– says is a bestselling, award-winning novelist, Julie Cohen (Spirited, Louis & Louise).
‘The Poet is going to explode in to 2022 and leave us split and shuddering. Astounding book.’- says Helen Paris, author of hit book, Lost Property.
‘A thunderstorm of female power… drop everything and read.’- says award winning blogger, columnist and author Ericka Waller (Dog Days).
Louisa Reid is represented by Hila犀利士 ry Delamere and Jessica Hare at The Agency (London) Ltd.