Sceptre scoops Qureshi’s ‘remarkable’ debut novel

Sceptre has acquired Playing Games, the “remarkable” debut novel by Huma Qureshi, author of the memoir How We Met (Elliott & Thompson) and short story collection, Things We Do Not Tell the People We Love (Sceptre).

Senior commissioning editor Charlotte Humphery acquired UK and Commonwealth (excluding Canada) rights from Laurie Robertson at PFD. Publication is scheduled for 9th November 2023.

Playing Games is described as “a poignant and lyrical story of art and sisterhood, family, marriage and betrayal".

The synopsis reads: “Hana has a perfect job, a perfect home, a perfect marriage. It is her younger sister Mira who is a mess. But Hana wants children and her husband is hesitating, and perhaps her control is slipping. Mira dreams of a creative life but she’s stuck working at a local café. She hates her flatmate and Hana’s dismissal of her writing but she can’t find the right inspiration. One night, a fight between Hana and her husband sparks something in Mira: the words ring in her head and she starts typing. But what can you borrow from your sister? And what can be forgiven?”

Qureshi said: “I always wanted to write a book about sisters, and I’ve loved writing these characters, with their messy lives and flawed relationships. They’ve lived in my head for so long, I can’t wait for readers to meet them. I feel very lucky to have had first Things We Do Not Tell The People We Love and now Playing Games published by Sceptre; their books are always so elegant and beautiful and I’m thrilled to be joining forces with them again.”

Humphery said: “Huma is such a special writer. She sees into the hearts of her characters and brings them to life on the page. Readers have already fallen for her memoir and short stories and they are going to love her debut novel! As someone with a sister, I have been overwhelmed reading Hana and Mira’s fraught and loving relationship and their tenderly told story in Playing Games and I can’t wait to share it.”