Sad Girl Hours

Out September 4th!

Available to preorder now from Waterstones, Amazon or Bookshop.org.

When Nell and Saffron met at a New Year’s Eve party and bonded over their respective loves of poetry and astrophysics, they both felt something beginning, and by the following autumn, their friendship is well established. But Saffron’s struggling with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), something she’s determined to keep hidden as past relationships have taught her she’s too hard to love, at least until spring comes again.

So when Nell comes up with a bucket list of seasonal activities for her and Saffron to do together, things get complicated. As they visit orchards, carve pumpkins and get lost in a maze, Saffron starts to wonder what it would be like to let herself be truly seen by Nell – who is so busy trying to find the ‘right’ words to describe her feelings, she hasn’t noticed that leaves aren’t the only things falling this autumn…

What people are saying about it…

A tender and funny exploration of love, mental health and acceptance, perfect for fans of Heartstopper. - Lex Croucher, author of Gwen and Art are Not in Love

A wildly charming novel full of vulnerability, humour, poetry and heart. I fell in love with Saffron and Nell, two characters who add light to each other's lives and will do the same to yours. - Abdi Nazemian, author of Like a Love Story

Raw, poetic, and thought-provoking. Sad Girl Hours will hit you where it hurts with its poignant depiction of mental health and queerness while at the same time comforting you with its vivid descriptions of the seasons and the joy that can be found within each of them. - Anika Hussain, author of This is How You Fall in Love

Effortlessly charming, heartfelt and uplifting - this is a book to reach for on the dark nights of winter. - Wren James, author of Last Seen Online

The book I wish I could have read as a drowning uni student overwhelmed not just by SAD itself, but also the feeling of isolation it creates. The authenticity of the mental health representation is chord-strikingly real - Quirke approaches her characters with a tenderness and compassion which are sure to resonate with both struggling teens, and those who want to support them. As we continue to expand the world of YA representation it was so exciting to see demisexuality included and validated within the queer family of this story too. - Rowan Ellis, author of Here and Queer: A Queer Girl’s Guide To Life

A wonderful coming of age with stunning, complex characters finding themselves and their place in the world. - Margaret McDonald, author of Glasgow Boys

This novel unfolds like a poem, revealing depth and beauty in every line. It's affirming, affecting, amazing. - Sinéad O’Hart, author of The Time Tider

A book like a warm hug on a stormy autumn day. - Kai Spellmeier, author