Graham Norton's 'most ambitious' novel coming from Coronet

Graham Norton’s fourth and "darkest, funniest" novel is scheduled from Coronet for this September.

Hannah Black, publisher of Coronet, bought world rights from Melanie Rockcliffe at YMU. Forever Home will be published in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audio narrated by Norton himself, in the UK and Ireland on 29th September. In Australia and New Zealand it is slated for publication on 27th September.   

Coronet said: “In his tense and darkly comic new novel Norton casts a light on the relationship between mothers and daughters, and truth and self-preservation with unnerving effect.”  

The blurb reads: “Carol is a divorced teacher living in a small town in Ireland, her only son now grown up. A second chance at love brings her unexpected connection and belonging. But her relationship with Declan sparks local speculation: What does a woman like her see in a man like him? What happened to his wife who abandoned them all those years ago? But the gossip only serves to bring the couple closer. 

“When Declan becomes ill, things start to fall apart. His children are untrusting and cruel, and Carol is forced to leave their beloved home and its worn oak floors and elegant features and move back in with her parents. Carol’s mother is determined to get to the bottom of things, she won’t see her daughter suffer in this way. It seems there are secrets in Declan’s past, strange rumours that were never confronted and suddenly the house they shared takes on a more sinister significance.”  

Norton’s previous three novels, Holding, A Keeper and Home Stretch (Coronet), became instant bestsellers both in the UK and Ireland. Holding won the Irish book Award for Popular Fiction and was made into a major ITV drama, directed by Kathy Burke, scheduled for this spring, while A Keeper was shortlisted for both the Specsavers Popular Fiction Award and the Irish Book Award. Home Stretch won the Irish Book Award for Popular Fiction. Norton has sold 477,009 books sold for £4.1m, with A Keeper (Coronet) his bestseller, on 83,037 copies sold in paperback, according to Nielsen BookScan.

Norton said: "There was a time in my life when I thought I would never manage to write a novel, so to be publishing my fourth feels a little surreal and very special. Forever Home is both the funniest and the darkest story I’ve tackled so far, with a cast of characters all trying their best to cope with the extraordinary challenges life has confronted them with. I really hope readers enjoy losing themselves in the twists and turns of this tale as much as I have." 

Black said: “Forever Home is Graham’s most ambitious novel to date. An exquisitely tense look beneath the  surface of everyday life, revealing that dangerous place where hidden desires, resentments and tucked away fears still lurk. This is masterful storytelling, with all the trademark qualities we have come to expect from Graham’s fiction: clear, compassionate insight, perfectly-observed characters and that sucker-punch emotional clout. It’s a pleasure and privilege to publish him.” 

Norton has also written a Quick Reads story called The Swimmer which is published on 14th April. Run by the Reading Agency, Quick Reads supports less confident readers to enjoy books.