A candid portrayal of first love and self-discovery, from the author of the 'instant queer classic', Isaac. Reminiscent of Edouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's fiction in its blend of grit and tenderness, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave...

A candid portrayal of first love and self-discovery, from the author of the 'instant queer classic', Isaac.

Cornwall, 2018. In the quiet fishing village of Portscatho, sixteen-year-old Daniel and seventeen-year-old Jago form an unexpected connection - something neither of them can name. What unfolds is transformative, particularly for Daniel, who for the first time feels truly seen.

East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten himself: sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.

Reminiscent of douard Louis and Douglas Stuart's fiction in its blend of grit and tenderness, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.

Details

ISBN13: 9780857309402
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 288
Edition:
Publication Date: 01 May 2026
Publisher: Verve Books
Publication City, Country: United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Curtis Garner was born in Cornwall in 1996. When he was eighteen, he moved to London to study Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Greenwich. He graduated in 2017 and has been working in publishing since. In 2020, he also received an MA with Distinction from Manchester School of Creative Writing, where much of Isaac was written. In his spare time, he reviews novels on Instagram (@queer_novels). He lives in Hackney.

Reviews

An effective exploration of how we live and experience different pressures together and apart * Dazed (Most Anticipated Novels of 2026) *
If you're a fan of the tenderness of nuanced relationships found in Sally Rooney, you'll want to pick up a copy of Orange * Radio Times (Best Books Released in 2026) *
[A] masterful book... Garner is the king of the contemporary coming out story -- Attitude
An examination of varying degrees of youth and love, vices and virtues, and identity's connection to geography, Orange intertwines romantic idealism with real-life grit while remaining nonetheless hopeful about human beings and the relationships they foster * V Magazine *
A gorgeous, heart-wrenching novel about the search for belonging, the struggle between past and present and the courage it takes to hold onto love when everything else feels uncertain. One of the most emotionally resonant and beautifully written books you'll read this year, Orange is an unforgettable meditation on what it truly means to find home -- Andrew Porter, author of The Imagined Life