Maria, Maria

A transporting, romantic, immensely generous novel about love in its many forms. Jennifer Galvão is a writer of the highest order, one to be spoken of alongside Amy Bloom and Colm Tóibín and Maggie Shipstead. and her debut, Maria, Maria, is simply a marvel.

Jenny Jackson, author of PINEAPPLE STREET

Sweeping yet intimate, heart-breaking yet hopeful, Maria, Maria made me gasp and cry more than once. This is a story to be completely swept up in, with writing so tender it hurts.

Jennie Godfrey, author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

Maria, Maria is a wondrous novel; I completely lost myself inside its pages. The dazzling prose and vivid, evocative storytelling made me think of Elena Ferrante - it’s that good. I adored it.

Clare Leslie Hall, author of BROKEN COUNTRY

A truly extraordinary novel. I loved the rich storytelling, the emotional and psychological depth of her characters, and the unputdownable, page-turning quality.

Julia Samuel

A beautiful, tender story of love, grief and penmanship' Pandora Sykes

Pandora Sykes

Maria, Maria is a gorgeous, joy of a novel about the complicated ways in which we love one another, often from unthinkable distances. I cannot believe this is Jennifer Galvao’s first book; it’s a tremendous achievement.

Ann Napolitano, author of HELLO BEAUTIFUL

I was completely lost in this novel, caught between trying to dwell as long as possible in every sentence and racing breathlessly to the end. It is a feast for all of the senses, evoked in such exquisite detail I could not believe it was a debut. Now more than ever I rejoice when I encounter novels that draw us completely out of the world and into their pages. This is one. Tender, sensual, thrilling - simply exquisite.

Sara Collins, author of THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON (winner of the Costa Book Awards)

Such an astonishingly vivid evocation of a particular time and of an impoverished rural community. Jennifer Galvão's lust for detail is quite something and yet she deftly allows her research to imbue and not dominate.

Rebecca Frayn

I found Maria, Maria to be a beautifully written, atmospheric novel. Jennifer has such a keen ear for the humour, tragedy and tenderness in the small, profound events that shape our lives. I really loved how she never takes the easy route as a storyteller, but holds fast to the complexity of the truth - as a result the book is both subtly told and entirely transporting, a balance it's not easy to find.

Emily Howes, author of THE PAINTER'S DAUGHTERS