Mongrel

‘Sensational books transcend the very form they elevate by delivering a purity of thought with seeming effortlessness and here, in Mongrel, Hanako Footman conveys the truth of the world in lucid but spinning, transcendental sentences. It’s so beautiful that I became lost in it, and I can’t find the right words because they are all in this book. Simply, it must be read‘ – Lisa Taddeo, author of THREE WOMEN and ANIMAL

‘Mongrel is a hypnotic, haunting exploration of identity and womanhood. A darkly lush tale of three women in search of connection‘ – Charmaine Wilkerson, author of BLACK CAKE

‘Mongrel is a stunning read. A brilliant explosion of writing and storytelling with one of the most unique and powerful voices I’ve come across in an author. This feels like reading an Oscar-winning film’ – Aisling Bea

‘MONGREL is an unforgettable novel that is raw and thought-provoking with exceptional poetic prose. It explores identity and belonging in a way that speaks to your soul and makes you feel seen. I absolutely loved it – it’s nothing short of exquisite.’ – Josie Ferguson, author of THE SILENCE IN BETWEEN

‘Fearless and deeply felt. Footman’s writing is raw and spiky, yet lyrical and tender – underpinned by bold questions of grief, race, and what it means to live a life on one’s own terms. A devastating and compassionate novel, in which every page brims with complex, beautiful life‘ – Ian Russell-Hsieh, author of I’M NEW HERE

‘Heart-shatteringly visceral and precise, Mongrel gives voice to generations of women living on the margins. An urgent story of sexual politics, identity and knowledge but ultimately a triumphant tribute to the self‘ – Wiz Wharton, author of GHOST GIRL, BANANA

‘A sublime and deeply moving mediation on belonging and home, Mongrel resonates with poetic clarity, offering in each line searing and yet familiar truths. Read it now. This compulsive, engrossing, and gorgeous debut will utterly consume you‘ – Stephanie Scott, author of WHAT’S LEFT OF ME IS YOURS, shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award

‘Dark, sometimes tender, sometimes visceral, Mongrel draws on the complications that arise from power imbalance and cultural collisions. Footman draws us into the devastating worlds of three young women, illuminating their stories with her simple, clear words, while unflinchingly exploring the way identity and belonging shapes them. A beautiful debut‘ – Helena Lee, editor of EAST SIDE VOICES

‘A beautiful, haunting debut. Hanako Footman’s writing is sensuous and evocative. Her characters are vividly sketched and complex. This book will stay with you‘ – Nell Hudson, author of JUST FOR TODAY

‘An engrossing tale about living in between identities’ – ‘Fiction to Be Excited for in 2024’, i-D

‘An exploration of that fragile intersection between grief and desire. Poetic and razor-sharp, Mongrel is about longing in all forms; to be seen, to be known and to be loved’ – Eliza Moss

‘A Spring must-read!’ – Sunday Times Style Section

‘At once witty, honest and dark, Mongrel helps widen the canon of debut British writing’ – Harper’s Bazaar

‘grapple[s] with how we belong anywhere with sharp precision and lyrical introspection’ – Service95

‘An enthralling, gorgeous debut that brings us Mei, Yuki and Haruka’s tales of young love, desire and sexuality and their often-painful searches for identity and belonging. Oscillating between England and Japan, Mongrel springs from the barbed but deeply fertile ground in the space between worlds. Sensual, outraged, observant and hopeful.’ – Priscilla Morris, author of BLACK BUTTERFLIES

‘With verve and poetry, Hanako Footman chronicles the yearnings and ghosts haunting three memorable women – Mei, Yuko, and Hakura – who each are finding their footing in worlds of estrangement. A mosaic composed from shards of mystery, grit, and sensuality, this is a work that unveils the complexities of lineage and racial identity from the deepest chambers of the soul, with visceral prose full of ache and beauty’ – Aube Rey Lescure, author of RIVER EAST, RIVER WEST

‘Stunning . . . A book I’ve always wished existed, to have company in my experience of growing up part Japanese. It’s relatable, true, honest, funny, and beautifully and elegantly written’ – Claire Kohda, author of WOMAN, EATING

‘Delicious storytelling that sucks you in with its almost cinematic writing style and visceral character depiction. One of the few things I’ve read recently that just ‘gets’ the nuance of illustrating mixed heritage characters onto the page authentically’ – Emma Slade Edmondson, author of THE HALF OF IT

‘A staggeringly beautiful and devastatingly honest search for self. It broke my heart and I cried with joy. Every delicate moment and seemingly simple detail unfurls and coalesces into a profoundly familiar sense of being. A novel that holds you close, and invites you to love who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming.’ – Jassa Ahluwalai, author of BOTH NOT HALF