Spring

A brave and intelligent novel... This is one of those books that leaves you not only with admiration for the novelist, but also with a sense of wonder about the precision of the novel form itself

Chris Cleave, Guardian

A texture of truthfulness quite unlike that of any other fiction about London that I know...a very beautifully poised novel

David Sexton, Evening Standard

The forensic scrutiny of every aspect of a fledgling relationship, from both points of view, is one of the many delights of Spring... Devastatingly powerful...also extremely funny, in that understated, unexpected way that makes you burst into sudden noise in public places and alarm those around you. Szalay's dialogue is pithy and sharp; his peripheral characters lip-smackingly delicious

Leyla Sanai, Independent on Sunday

The lives of two disconsolately unfulfilled people start to blaze, thanks to Szalay's often brutal honesty...formidable ear for dialogue - which transforms the most mundane exchanges into comedy, a la Mike Leigh - and seductively sensuous descriptions

Siobhan Murphy, Metro

A brave venture...psychologically realistic

Melissa McClements, Financial Times

A sharp, truthful, funny portrait of contemporary manners that is also unexpectedly moving

Kate Saunders, The Times

Highly unusual in its realism and astuteness about the way we live now...in its understated way, a very beautifully poised novel

David Sexton, Scotsman

Szalay is certainly a writer to look out for... The writer [he] most puts me in mind of is a young Julian Barnes

Thebookbag.co.uk

Szalay is immensely talented... [he] gets everything right: the atmosphere, the suspense, the inner lives of his characters. Absolutely superb

William Leith, Evening Standard