Hard Place

‘An impeccable rendering of modern queer life, Hard Place is a closely-held mirror to the tenderness and brutality of what it means to be young, gay and trying today - in all its unflinching, and sometimes unflattering, glory. Torr is a new champion of the form.’ Rebecca K Reilly, author of Greta and Valdin

‘Hard Place is somehow ruthless yet tender, funny yet devastating, with language sharp enough to cut. An essential read for our times.’ Amy Twigg, author of Spoilt Creatures

‘Hard Place is a stunning debut, a beautifully observed, darkly funny exploration of modern relationships and London life. So savage and so tender, it marks Gab Torr as one of the brightest new talents in British writing’ Tom Newlands, author of Only Here, Only Now

‘Brutal, nuanced, compassionate and critical all at once, Hard Place shows the messy, human hypocrisy of existing in the current moment— but it also shows the necessity of creating imperfect connections and allowing ourselves to both change and be changed. Funny, heartwarming and socially aware all at once, it signals the arrival of a major new talent.’ Heather Parry, author of Carrion Crow

‘Viciously funny and hilariously vicious, Hard Place is a triumph of contemporary queer satire. Torr’s lines are biting and sharp, and each character is perfectly, astutely rendered. Beneath the humour is a moving portrait of loneliness and disassociation, and the whole book thrums with the complicated grief of a difficult childhood. Hard Place deserves a spot on every bookshelf in 2026.’ Jodie Matthews, author of Meet Me at the Surface

‘Hard Place is a many-layered feast of a novel – biting, witty and unexpectedly tender at the same time. I hugely enjoyed it!’ Hannah Beer, author of I Make My Own Fun

‘Compulsively readable prose that feels like you’re having a chat with your best mate’ Jake Hall, author of Shoulder to Shoulder

‘Surprising and strange investigation of queer housemate life!’ Andrea Lawlor, author of Paul Takes the Form of A Mortal Girl

Gab Torr is a 2021 London Writers Award winner and the debut author of Hard Place. Gab lives in Sheffield with their wife and no pets.

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