Irvine Welsh's 'blazing' sequel to Trainspotting goes to Jonathan Cape

Jonathan Cape has signed Irvine Welsh’s "blazing" sequel to Trainspotting, entitled Men In Love. 

Alex Russell, senior commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights directly from the author for publication on 3rd July 2025.

A music album of the same name by Welsh and The Sci-Fi Soul Orchestra will be released simultaneously.

Men In Love reunites the cast of Trainspotting – Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie – as they "leave heroin behind and find joy, and the hope of redemption, on the dance floor". Opening in the late 1980s, the novel follows the crew in the closing years of Thatcher’s Britain taking in Edinburgh, London, Amsterdam and Paris as they move towards Sick Boy’s wedding day.

Welsh commented: "I’m delighted to be revisiting this story, which takes place immediately after Trainspotting, and also thrilled to have the book published by Cape, where I’ve been for all these years."

Russell said: "Welsh is a master storyteller. It is three decades since we first met the Trainspotting crew and they are raring to return next summer."