Douglas Stuart was born and raised in Glasgow. After graduating from the Royal College of Art in London, he moved to New York City, where he began a career in fashion design. Shuggie Bain is his first novel.
The Living Realm (2026) Jordan Tannahill "At once an unflinchingly beautiful novel about queer desire, summer days, and casual sex, that is also an elegy to friendship, grief, and lovers lost ... The Living Realm belongs in the firmament of great gay fiction."
American Hagwon (2026) Min Jin Lee "A profoundly generous and humane novel about duty, family, and the dream of a better life ... I was fully absorbed by the fates of the Koh family."
Almost Life (2026) Kiran Millwood Hargrave "A heart-rending tale of missed chances. Millwood Hargrave is a wonderful writer and what a pleasure it is to be in the company of such a deft, enchanting storyteller."
Seascraper (2025) Benjamin Wood "A quiet, unassuming book about honest work and modest dreams, about sons and their duty, and those brief, wonderful moments when we glimpse the possibility of living a different life. Benjamin Wood is a magnificent writer and I intend to read everything he has written."
Brightly Shining (2024) Ingvild Rishøi "There is real magic in this charming novel about care, community, and the kindness of strangers. It is a deeply affecting story, beautifully told, that is sure to touch the hearts of many readers."
The God of the Woods (2024) Liz Moore "A riveting tale of a missing child that widens into a vast, acute portrait of youth, friendship, family secrets, and conflicting social circles. Intelligently done, and with a gimlet eye for telling detail, it's a brilliant trap full of secrets and lies."
Hagstone (2024) Sinéad Gleeson "This is a wild, singular story that gripped me from the start."
All the World Beside (2024) Garrard Conley "A gorgeous, spellbinding work of historical fiction that conjures up a society wrestling with faith, love, and a sense of belonging. It is a heartbreaking account of forbidden passions and lost innocence told with intimate, lyrical beauty. It is truly sublime. I loved it."
Pity (2024) Andrew McMillan "Tender and true. It explores with brilliance and deep empathy how our lives - and our secrets - are always intertwined with those who went before us."
Glorious Exploits (2024) Ferdia Lennon "Bold and totally unexpected, I loved this book. A brilliant novel about friendship, the healing power of art, and why we must fight for our dreams. I was hooked from the first page."
The Happy Couple (2023) Naoise Dolan "A sophisticated character study of a young couple coming to terms with their relationship, in this biting, whip-smart look at modern love and the tangled messes we leave behind us. I am fully in awe of Dolan's talent. And so glad my twenties are over."
How to Build a Boat (2023) Elaine Feeney "One of those rare books that leaves you feeling less lonely. An uplifting tale of community, healing and the small connections that can change a life. A gorgeous gift of a novel, hopeful and full of humanity."
Small Things Like These (2021) Claire Keegan "A book that makes you excited to discover everything its author has ever written… Absolutely beautiful."
The Octopus Man (2021) Jasper Gibson "What a brilliant and necessary book. A funny, heart-expanding story of a man trapped between the God-like voice in his head and society's desire for him to be 'normal.' It's a deeply compassionate portrait and I felt the frustration of battling a broken mental healthcare system, and the guilt and hope of everyone who loves poor, cheeky, troubled Tom and wants so badly for him to get better."
