I like reading about writing, publishing and the book world in general so, was eager to give this a try - it's a debut novel about a ghostwriter.

And, although the central character is rather doomed and despairing, it was a very enjoyable read. I found I couldn't put it down. Were the fates conspiring against him, or did he need to pull himself together and get his life back on track?

Luca has dropped out of college in America where he was pursuing a PhD and thought he had found the love of his life. With the failure of the relationship and a lack of direction with his studies, he decides to give up and move back home to Manchester.

But there's little here for him - his father died tragically years previously and his mother now lives in Spain. Luca has a got friend in Tom, though, so begs some lodgings with him and his girlfriend Mel.

The young couple recognise that Luca is drifting so find him some temporary accommodation and a job writing the memoir of Andy who is suffering from motor neurone disease, which was what ultimately killed Luca's father. 

Taking on the job with Andy gives Luca a purpose again. He can still define himself as a writer and perhaps he can process something of his father's illness and last days, through learning about Andy's experience.

But writing someone else's story is never easy so how will he respond to Andy's direction, and what will he learn about himself in the process?

Though Luca is a frustrating young man, he's also beguiling in his melancholy, and I found his struggles with his writing to be authentic! I very much enjoyed this book and will be looking out for this author again.