A Sense of Occasion

£16.99

Mary’s death is bad news – for her daughter Patch, ex-partner Robin, and niece Jude. It will mean a funeral. But Patch can barely keep track of her mother’s journey from the hospital to the mortuary, let alone host a wake in her childhood home. Robin wants to support her, but instead of assuming the role of responsible father, he heads to his former haunt: the lay-by where he used to meet farmers for sex. Jude’s on her way from Naples, worrying less about Patch, her estranged cousin, and more about whether there’s a medicinal bag of cocaine in the boot. She hasn’t told the family she’s en route. This way, any lingering acrimony will be forgotten, and Jude’s past behaviour will be forgiven. Thrown together in Mary’s tiny house, each of them is trying to feel something: to grieve, atone, join in, be better.

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Scheduled for publication on 4th June, 2026
The book will be available on or after this date. If you would like to preorder a copy, we will notify you when it is ready to collect.

SKU: 9781787335868 Category: Tag: Publisher/imprint : Jonathan Cape
Page count : 320
Published on 4th June, 2026

Description

A death in the (dysfunctional) family – can they hold it together long enough to organise the funeral?

‘Sexy, terrifying, keen and startling’ DAISY JOHNSON
‘At once shrewd and ethereal’ CHRIS KRAUS
‘A rare, funny novel’ NICOLA DINAN

When Mary dies, Patch can barely keep track of her mother’s journey from the hospital to the mortuary, let alone host a wake in her childhood home.

Mary’s ex Robin wants to support his daughter but, but instead of acting like a responsible father, he heads to his former haunt: the lay-by where he used to meet farmers for sex.

Jude is en route. She hasn’t spoken to her cousin Patch in almost a year, and would rather stay in Naples, but she’s hoping that her attendance will mean that past behaviour is forgiven.

Thrown together in Mary’s tiny house, each of them is trying to feel something: to grieve, atone, join in, be better. But they rarely have one another’s best interests at heart, and as the connections between them twist and contort, they lose sight of the rules and grasp towards anything that might make it all less painful.

‘Sexy and intelligent’ MERVE EMRE

‘Immensely fun’ LIZZY STEWART

‘I can’t remember the last time I read something so bold, tender, sexy and funny’ CAMILLA GRUDOVA

‘Crellin explores the boundless complications of sexuality, desire and love’ RACHEL CONNOLLY

‘Immersive, visceral, tender’ HARRIET ARMSTRONG

Additional information

Weight 0.4 kg
Dimensions 22.2 × 13.8 × 2.5 cm
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