HarperCollins snaps up Lauren Ho's 'heartfelt and hilarious' debut

HarperCollins has snapped up Lauren Ho’s "hilarious, heartfelt and relatable" debut novel, Last Tang Standing.

Editor Ore Aggbje-Williams acquired UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from Penguin Random House rights director Tom Dussell. The book will publish in paperback, e-book and audio on 11th June 2020.

Last Tang Standing is about "33-year-old Singapore resident Andrea Tang, whose life looks like the dream but doesn’t feel like it. Despite her great job, apartment, friends and family, there’s more than one thing missing in her life—including (according to her mother) a husband. So, when the last single cousin in her family gets engaged, Andrea is left exposed to romantic meddling on all sides," according to the book’s synopsis.

Ho said: "I wrote Last Tang Standing for my younger self, the one who was searching for stories written in English featuring protagonists like her, women in flux who are trying to forge their own path in life while simultaneously dealing with intense familial scrutiny and cultural expectations. I am excited to be working with the fabulous folks at HarperFiction in the UK to bring my protagonist, Andrea's comedic voice to a global audience."

Agbaje-Williams added: "From the moment I saw the pitch for Lauren’s novel I knew I’d love it, and the book absolutely delivers. It’s sharp, funny but also insightful about careers, family, friendship, love and deciding what you want in life. Last Tang Standing is the perfect summer read and I can’t wait to put it into the hands of readers!"