The In-Between: From the Booker Prize-longlisted author of THE SLAP

'[Tsiolkas's] most heartfelt novel to date' Financial Times 'A love story par excellence...he's simply one of the great writers of our time' Irish Times 'Warm and rewarding...it triumphantly succeeds' Guardian It's been a long time since I've been on a date,' he says, pocketing his own phone. 'Please ignore anything I say for at least the first ten minutes.' Ivan's laugh is loud, delighted. 'I know, mate, I'm bloody terrified.' Two middle-aged men meet on an internet date. Each has been scarred by a previous relationship; each has his own compelling reasons for giving up on the idea of finding love. But still they both turn up for the dinner, feel the spark and the possibility of something more. How can they take the risk of falling in love again. How can they not? A tender, affecting novel of love, of hope, of forgiveness by one of today's most fearless and truthful interpreters of the human heart, the acclaimed bestselling author of The Slap and Damascus.

About the Author :
Christos Tsiolkas is the author of eight novels, including the international bestseller The Slap, which won Overall Best Book in the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and was longlisted for the Man Booker Prize among other honours. In 2021 he won the Melbourne Prize for Literature for his body of work. Christos is also a playwright, essayist and screen writer. He lives in Melbourne.

Review :
A love story par excellence...written with wisdom, humour, and a lot of raw sexuality that is never titillating but always powerful...He's simply one of the great writers of our time and The In-Between is a formidable addition to his list of works The gay community has been accused - not without reason - of being obsessed with youth, beauty and physical fitness. Gay novelists, from EM Forster onwards, have often followed suit. Tsiolkas is to be commended for bucking the trend. In doing so, he has given us his most heartfelt novel to date. There is just too much past in the present. Tsiolkas evokes this skilfully...The effect is reminiscent of Robert Altman's films, in which long unbroken shots give the thrilling impression of life-as-it-is, richly detailed, nuanced, fleeting, unedited A thoroughly grown-up portrayal of grown-up love - tender, candid and seriously moving [A] novel that feels transgressive in its hope, rather than its bitterness. A humble book. A generous book. Perhaps his best. A scorching, mythic work with a heart of the sweetest intimacy A powerful testament to spiritual yearning and the human desire to transcend the physical world This is the work of a superb writer who has completely mastered his craft but lost nothing of his fiery spirit in so doing Confirms Christos Tsiolkas's reputation as one of the most significant contemporary storytellers at work today Warm and rewarding...for all its socially conscious and contemporary twists and turns, this unashamedly emotional novel is working on a very deep level, striving to embody in its storytelling the assertion that, regardless of culture or sexuality, in the end - and in the beginning, and in between - only love matters. In this endeavour, it triumphantly succeeds.