Victoria Park
‘Things pass. Return to the ground. Become new again.’
Mona and Wolfie have lived on Victoria Park for over fifty years. Now they must decide how to navigate Mona's declining health. Bookended by the touching exploration of their love, Victoria Park follows the disparate lives of twelve people over the course of a single year. Told from their multiple perspectives, as the months unfold, ordinary days give way to extraordinary moments. A young man finds more than he bargains for when he breaks into a house. An unlikely affair develops as a woman rediscovers the identity she lost years ago. A mother struggles with the morality of reading her daughter’s diary. Meanwhile, the lingering memory of an acid attack in the park touches each resident. By the end of the novel, their carefully interwoven tales create a rich tapestry of resilience, love and loss.
With sharply observed insight into contemporary urban life, and characters we take to our hearts, Gemma Reeves has written a moving, uplifting debut which reflects those universal experiences that connect us all.
Atlantic, 2021
‘With shades of Elizabeth Strout, Gemma Reeves's riveting portrait of intertwining lives in London is what makes literary fiction great. Tackling life moments we can all recognise and relate to (from identity to longing), it's a portrait of a community underscored with genuine warmth for humans.’
Francesca Brown, Stylist
‘A kaleidoscopic debut’
Madeleine Feeny, Mail on Sunday
‘A sharply observed debut novel that looks at the lives of 12 people over the course of a year. Big themes, such as dementia and the trials of IVF, are told with great sensitivity and insight.’
Zoe West, Woman's Weekly
‘A complete joy of a debut… beautifully eloquent. The variety of characters, in age, personality, and beliefs crackle with energy. Thought-provoking and emotionally intelligent.’
Liz Robinson, Love Reading
‘A beautiful read about a diverse community.’
Nina Pottell, Prima
‘[Reeves is] a writer who exudes a generous playful intelligence, such bright, wise wit. Everything on the page is alive, each paragraph a fresh adventure - her writing gives a pure and rare pleasure.’
Samantha Harvey, author of Orbital
‘Hugely empathetic, utterly absorbing and beautifully told.’
Naomi Ishiguro, author of Escape Routes
‘I was thoroughly enthralled with the inhabitants of Victoria Park, and couldn't help myself from curtain twitching into each one of their intriguing, moving, and complex lives.’
Nick Bradley, author of The Cat and the City