A young boy discovers the ambiguity of adult affection. A camp comedian cracks up on stage. A picture-restorer learns to accept her husband's true nature. A travel agent tastes the mysterious power of the Internet. A honeymoon couple take an unconventional route to love ...This dazzling collection of stories employs a host of remarkable characters and a range of original voices to provide a witty, compassionate yet uncompromising look at love and loss, desire and defiance, in the twenty-first century.

'A simply outstanding collection . . . Elegant, tender, shocking, full of wit and insight – these stories are never less than beautifully executed' Manchester City Life

'Arditti imbues his stories of loneliness, confusion and the uncertainties of sexual neophytes with genuine pathos and . . . humour' The Times

'At his best when he . . . allows his characters to seduce us with nothing more than the ordinariness of their lives' TLS

'The diverse, urbane stories here ARE good, some of them are fun, and others are far from clean' Shena Mackay

'These are grown-up stories for grown-up people . . . presented in often extreme and dramatic narratives' Michael Langan, Attitude

'[These stories] simply and elegantly break your heart. They deserve a wide audience, and will create a wiser one.' Amanda Craig, Literary Review