Ruins

At a crossroads in their lives, a couple arrives in Greece to house-sit for a friend. Emma is searching for a meaningful next step beyond work or motherhood, and Julian is struggling to come to terms with the failure of his academic career. Their visions for the future seem to be pulling them in different directions, and they hope that this summer away will help them to mend their frayed connection.

Emma and Julian's plans take an unexpected turn when they meet Lena, an enigmatic young Greek woman, who presents an opportunity for them to explore their relationship in uncharted and excitingly risky ways. However, as the heat in the city grows stifling, they find themselves increasingly entangled in Lena's life. Engaged in a struggle for control, the three of them are suddenly faced with consequences far greater—and far more explosive—than they could have predicted.

Voyeuristic and thrilling, Ruins delivers the drama of a modern Greek tragedy while exposing the tensions between privilege, power, and desire.

'Reading this book felt like watching a train-wreck in slow motion, which I mean as the highest possible compliment. I loved Amy Taylor's debut, Search History. Ruins has cemented her as an author whose every book I will read.' – Allee Richards, author of A Light in the Dark

Ruins is a sensory feast. Thrilling, yet overwhelmingly human, it's the kind of book you can't help but eat up in one sitting. Amy Taylor is at the top of her game.' – Chloe Elisabeth Wilson, author of Rytual

'Wow! Amy Taylor has somehow managed to combine both a whip-smart interrogation of class and privilege and a darkly sexy summer page-turner in one book. I'm not sure how she pulled it off, but I'm impressed. I could not put this down!' – Emily Bitto, author of Wild Abandon

'Compelling, daring, and darkly atmospheric, Ruins delivers a riveting dramatic performance to match its scorching Athenian setting.' – Katherine Brabon, author of Body Friend

'An atmospheric, deftly-paced novel of longing, lust, and ill-fated adventure, offering a compelling portrait of a couple straining under the mounting pressure of competing visions of the future.' – Ruby Todd, author of Bright Objects