Description

A best book of the year for the Guardian, Economist and Daily Express
An Observer debut of the year
‘Exceptionally touching . . . A terrific reminder that what binds us to our loved ones isn’t blood but the care we take to keep them close, and our ability to show up for them when we screw it up on the first go-round’
NEW YORK TIMES

‘Gently comic, bittersweet’
GUARDIAN, Books of the year

‘A poignant and generous story’
TESSA HADLEY, DAILY EXPRESS Books of the Year

‘In an unsentimental evocation of fatherhood and male friendship, this novel explores the glory and sacrifice involved in learning to love’
ECONOMIST, Books of the year

‘Pepped up and gorgeous, just bristling with life’
OLIVIA LAING, GUARDIAN

‘Brilliantly observed’
NEW YORKER

‘A beautiful, funny tale of lives new and old’
SUNDAY TIMES

‘I loved it . . . word-perfect’
INDIA KNIGHT

‘A spirit-lifting debut’
DAVID MITCHELL

‘I adored every moment. The characters have stayed with me ever since’
BELLA MACKIE

Teo Erskine might have a steady job and a brand-new London flat, but underneath the surface, he’s still the boy seeking approval from his father, Vic; the young man playing late-night poker with his best friend, Ben; the one still in love with the enigmatic Lia, now a single mum to a young boy, Joel.

When the unthinkable happens, two-year-old Joel finds himself at the centre of this odd constellation of men – Teo, Vic, Ben. None of them is fully equipped to look after him, but their tentative attempts at love might just be enough to offer him a new place to call home.

Publisher Review

A meltingly warm comedy centred on two old school pals recently turned 30 . . . While the testy male bonds at the book’s heart supply plenty of laughter, the book owes its generous humour not to gags, but tone, which gives it an equally light hand with any number of unfunny subjects — 10 best new novelists for 2024 * Observer * A beautiful, funny tale of London and lives new and old — Jonathan Dean * Sunday Times * A spirit-lifting debut novel of friendship, fatherhood, growth and forgiveness. A bluff song of praise to north London, peopled by engaging, fallible characters, and rich in glinting turns of phrase — David Mitchell, author of CLOUD ATLAS I will never forget these characters: so pained and funny, so brilliantly drawn, wrestled with and forgiven — Helen Garner, author of THE SPARE ROOM A poignant yet very funny novel about three men taking turns at shouldering responsibility and shrugging it off, at worrying and causing worry, at giving care and needing it. Tom Lamont writes in clear, swift prose about the power struggles that exist in even the most loving of families and the longest of friendships. A lyrical, hypnotic delight — Katherine Heiny, author of GAMES AND RITUALS Bittersweet, funny and moving, Going Home is all this but also has a bright ring of truth which chimes on every page — Claire Fuller, author of UNSETTLED GROUND A debut which skilfully and tenderly explores male relationships, belonging and what we leave behind. I adored every moment. The characters have stayed with me ever since — Bella Mackie, author of HOW TO KILL YOUR FAMILY I enjoyed this sharp, tender novel of love and loss set in a scrupulously observed London suburb. From tragic beginnings it builds a slow fire of hope as its characters learn new ways to live and care for each other — Adam Foulds, author of THE QUICKENING MAZE Deftly written, Going Home is one of the best debuts I’ve read in a long time. Joel and Teo crept into my heart and I did not want to let them go. Lamont’s impressive skill as a writer spills out of every page — Anne Griffin, author of THE ISLAND OF LONGING A remarkably assured, moving, melancholy and funny debut — John Banville, author of THE SINGULARITIES Explores parenthood, responsibility, freedom and faith… Immersive and finely observed. — Bookseller, Editor’s Choice