Imaginary Forces

Robin is unreliable, unstable and utterly devoted to his oldest friend Henry. So when Henry's beloved mother, the novelist Marian Finch, dies unexpectedly, Robin is there to pick up the pieces. Henry comes into possession of an antiquarian bookshop and there, for a time, they build a life together.

But grief can send us down unexpected paths. For Henry, it leads him to the theory of multiple universes and to Yolanda, a brilliant scientist who can help him understand it.

Robin and Yolanda have three things in common: they are in love with the same man, they despise each other, and they are oblivious to the fact that Henry is spiralling into a dangerous obsession that will irrevocably change them all.

Imaginary Forces is a luminous portrait of love in its many forms—yearning, obsession, addiction—and just how messy and destructive it can be.

For readers of Alice Winn and Tomasz Jedrowski, Imaginary Forces is a debut novel about a love triangle surrounding Henry: a young man who becomes obsessed with the theory of parallel worlds because he cannot face the reality of his own grief.

"A stunning story that hurt my heart." - Heather Darwent.

"With shades of Patricia Highsmith, Imaginary Forces is a cut above. With a chilling story and an unforgettable voice and characters, this is an extraordinarily accomplished debut." - Jennie Godrey.

"What an immense talent! This is a book that will get people talking... It's sophisticated, cleverly plotted and beautifully written. I couldn't put it down." - Kate Kemp.