Explore the complexities of close relationships and a nation on the brink of change in this compelling contemporary novel by Alexander McCall Smith. Set against the backdrop of 1988, the story revisits the halcyon days of 1984 when six friends from diverse backgrounds shared a vibrant Edinburgh idyll.

Featured on BBC Radio 4's Take Four Books, this novel delves into the unspoken rules of flat sharing and the distant echoes of major political shifts, such as the nearby Miners' Strike. Discover how these six strangers navigate their bonds, challenge each other's perspectives, and test the limits of friendship.

• Focuses on six friends living together in Edinburgh during the mid-1980s.
• Examines the dynamics of close friendships and the challenges of differing backgrounds.
• Set against the backdrop of significant national events, including the Miners' Strike.
• Explores questions about perspective, intimacy, and the boundaries of love between friends.

• Author: Alexander McCall Smith
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: New in Paperback
• Language: English
• Print Length: 272 pages
• ISBN-10: 184697741X
• ISBN-13: 978-1846977411
• Dimensions: 129 x 19 x 198mm
• Weight: 252g
• Publisher: Polygon (An Imprint of Birlinn Limited)
• Release Date: June 4, 2026

If you enjoy Literary Fiction or Humorous Fiction, discover the intimate story of six lives intersecting during a pivotal time in the UK. Add this new paperback edition by Alexander McCall Smith to your collection today.