How to Leave the House
 US 1st edition cover | |
| Author | Nathan Newman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Literary fiction, Comic novel |
| Publisher | Abacus (UK) Viking Penguin (US) |
Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom United States |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback), ebook |
| Pages | 320 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0349145631 (UK 1st ed) |
How to Leave the House is the 2024 debut novel by British author Nathan Newman. It follows a young man who crosses paths with the residents of a Midlands town while searching for a missing package. The novel was published by Little, Brown in the UK,[1] and Viking Penguin in the US[2] and received critical acclaim.[3]
Background
[edit]The book was completed whilst Newman attended New York University remotely, under the mentorship of Zadie Smith.[4] Before the novel was published, the television rights were acquired by Fremantle, after a competitive auction.[5]
Plot summary
[edit]How to Leave the House centres on 23-year old Natwest, as he embarks on a quest around a Midlands town to find a missing package on the eve of his departure for university. The novel alternates between Natwest's point of view and the perspectives of the various residents of the town he meets, including a local dentist obsessed with painting mouths, an Imam involved in a complex relationship with a Vicar, a teacher recovering from cancer, and a red-pilled teenage girl.[6]
Reception
[edit]The novel received critical acclaim.[7] Writing for The New York Times, critic Bobby Finger writes that "Newman weaves the analytical and the absurd with a raucous grace" praising the "audacious two-part conclusion, which I instantly flipped back and reread upon finishing."[8] The Washington Post similarly applauded the novel, observing that "this entertaining debut feels fresh and young, portraying modern life with a mixture of humor and reflection."[9] Reviewing for The Associated Press Rob Merrill noted that "Newman certainly has something to say about the up-and-coming generation" calling them "a bold new voice, and one to watch."[10]
References
[edit]- ^ How to Leave the House. 2023-11-02. ISBN 978-0-349-14562-4.
- ^ "How to Leave the House by Nathan Newman: 9780593654903 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "All Book Marks reviews for How to Leave the House by Nathan Newman". Book Marks. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Acree, Cat (2024-08-05). "Interview with Nathan Newman, author of How to Leave the House". BookPage | Discover your next great book!. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (2022-12-16). "'How To Leave The House': Passenger & Sinestra To Adapt Nathan Newman's Novel For TV". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Finger, Bobby (2024-08-13). "Bumping Into Eccentrics on Every Small-Town Corner". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "All Book Marks reviews for How to Leave the House by Nathan Newman". Book Marks. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ Finger, Bobby (2024-08-13). "Bumping Into Eccentrics on Every Small-Town Corner". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "10 noteworthy books for July and August". Washington Post. 2024-07-21. Archived from the original on 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2025-04-01.
- ^ "Book Review: 'How to Leave the House' by Nathan Newman marks the debut of a bold new fiction voice". AP News. 2024-08-12. Retrieved 2025-04-01.