This was a really interesting way to examine motherhood from all sorts of angles. I felt for Jules and Nim and I loved their entwined storyline.

Gunk by Saba Sams is a poignant exploration of love, relationships, and the complexities of family. Jules, who has been divorced from her ex-husband Leon for five years, still works alongside him at his grimy nightclub, Gunk, in the heart of Brighton. While she spends her nights serving drinks and watching Leon flirt with students, she quietly endures the emotional toll of her situation, pacing home in the early hours of the morning. The arrival of nineteen-year-old Nim, with her shaved head, mysterious distance, and quiet sweetness, disrupts Jules’s routine. As the two women become closer, Nim reveals that she is pregnant, and Jules agrees to help. Over time, their bond deepens in unexpected ways, leading to a surprising twist. When Nim gives birth to a baby and disappears, leaving Jules to care for the newborn, Jules is left with a future full of uncertainty, grappling with the unanswered questions about Nim’s whereabouts and what lies ahead for her and the child. Gunk is a deeply emotional story about the fragility of relationships and the intricate dynamics of friendship. The narrative beautifully portrays Jules’s journey of longing for a family while coming to terms with the stark reality of infertility. The novel captures the rawness of human connections, the quiet ache of unspoken feelings, and the bond between two women who, despite their differences, share something profound. This book is a bittersweet reflection on the choices we make, the lives we create, and the people we let into our hearts. It’s a moving, heartfelt exploration of what it means to find family in the most unexpected of places. Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I must confess I spent the first third of Gunk thinking it was probably not the right book for me. I was wrong. It got under my skin and really made me care, for Jules and for Nim. It is set in Brighton. This is always a winner for me, as I lived there for 14 years and love it. The descriptions of the seedy student nightclub were excellent and very familiar. Mostly, it was a story of unlikely friendship, the impact of trauma, and the power of love. A quick and easy read, that will challenge you and grab your heart. I definitely recommend it.

If you’re feeling like a proper student night out, get yourself down to Junk, a grotty nightclub down in Brighton. Carlos watches the door, and behind the bar, ice cool Jules and charismatic Nim work as a seamless team to keep you supplied with shots or Dark Fruits. Meanwhile, Leon the seedily handsome, and generally wrecked owner can supply you with a different type of high, and a hook-up if you are sweet, young and soft-looking. In the strobe lights you won’t even notice the damaged paintwork or the rot in the stairs, and the DJ will drown out the sounds of the rats in the walls! This is such a compelling read, written in first person narrative from the perspective of Jules, and beginning as she has literally been left with a new born baby in hospital. Nim is nowhere to be seen, and Jules is prompted to explore what has brought her to this place in her life. The story has recurring themes of single mothers and children, of co-dependent relationships, of the ways in which love and families can be formed. There is also what is possibly the best description I have read of how it must feel to watch a baby be born - both visceral and tender. Jules is such a fascinating character, apparently so self-sufficient and independent, but of course she has depths and insecurities, and her relationship with her ex-husband Leon has a believable toxicity. The arrival of Nim prompts her to question herself, and acts as a catalyst for her self-discovery. Jules’s narrative shows how she changes, and there are so many little moments of tenderness, and snapshots of her life with Nim. The writing flows beautifully providing clear pictures of Brighton - I was with bold and brave Nim swimming in the sea on Christmas Day and gulping down a piece of fruitcake! Subtle, and nuanced with so many layers and a deeper thoughtfulness, this is such a lovely exploration of love and motherhood of all types. Many thanks @bloomsburypublishing for my proof copy, published on 8th May.

Clear and concise storytelling that redefines what relationships can be. I found myself unable to put this one down.