Abacus snares ‘wickedly funny’ debut novel by Newman

Abacus has signed How to Leave the House, the “wickedly funny” debut novel by Nathan Newman, written under the mentorship of Zadie Smith at New York University. 

Publishing director Anna Kelly acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Charlie Brotherstone at Brotherstone Creative Management, for publication in spring 2024. US rights were acquired by Patrick Nolan at Viking.

How to Leave the House follows Natwest, an intelligent, anxious 23-year-old who orders an embarrassing package to his house on the eve of his departure for university, the publisher’s synopsis reads.

The synopsis continues: “When it doesn’t arrive, he’s forced on a 24-hour odyssey around his small town to retrieve it, meeting a whole spectrum of characters along the way, each explored in alternating chapters, each with their own lives and problems. But it all comes back to Natwest – a literary hero for his generation. By the time he finally gets his hands on the package, everything has changed.”

Kelly said: “How to Leave the House is wickedly funny, irreverent and thought-provoking, full of ideas about identity and choice, about sex, gender, binaries and difference, and the paths our lives take and what we can and cannot change.

“But for all its beguiling and virtuoso cleverness, it’s also at heart a tender and moving story about connection, empathy and our ongoing – often faltering – attempts to understand each other.

“Nathan’s talent and ambition are inspiring, and I feel privileged to be working with them right at the beginning of what I am confident is going to be a dazzling career. I am particularly pleased as Nathan is the first new author I am welcoming to the Abacus imprint in its new life as a hardback imprint.”

Newman said: “I’m very excited to be joining Abacus in publishing How To Leave The House. It’s a privilege to appear on a list which has published so many of my favourite novelists and thinkers — I hope my inclusion doesn’t lower the tone.

“I’m especially thrilled to be working with Anna, who vibes with the novel so acutely. I can’t wait to work with her and the rest of the team at Abacus, as well as Patrick Nolan and everyone at Viking Penguin in the US. And as always, super grateful to my agent Charlie.”