The Lock In: The Laugh-Out-Loud Romcom Shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction

Description

You've heard of a locked-room mystery, now dive into a locked room rom-com! An old love. A stuck door. And the morning after the night before . . . One Saturday morning a flooded kitchen leads best mates Ellen and Alexa into their attic. But when Ben - Alexa's date from the night before - walks in, the handle breaks, and all are trapped. While Ellen nurses her hangover, she watches her best friend fall for this gorgeous stranger. Only to come to the horrifying realisation that she knows him from somewhere. Frantically searching her memories, Ellen wonders- is Ben really who she thinks he is? And more importantly, what on earth is she going to do about it . . . ?

Phoebe Luckhurst was born in London and brought up in Glasgow. She is a Senior Commissioning Editor at The Sunday Times Magazine, and has written features and interviews for the Guardian, Sunday Times Style, Elle, ES Magazine, Grazia, the Telegraph and Vogue. Phoebe has had the theme tune to The OC stuck in her head since 2003 and once almost spent her student loan on a micro-pig. She no longer shops online when drunk. The Lock In was her debut novel, and her second, The Back Up Man, will be published in 2023.

Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity -- Emma Gannon, bestselling author of Olive The year's most original romcom * ELLE * Hilarious * Evening Standard, 'Best New Books in 2021' * David Nicholls for millennials . . . The Lock In is a dream read: an immaculately plotted romcom which vividly captures both late teenagehood and twentysomething houseshares * i * A high-concept romcom that's stuffed full of belly laughs and nostalgia * Red * Such a fun, clever, original and massively entertaining read . . . I love it, you'll love it -- Lindsey Kelk I LOVED this book . . . I highly recommend The Lock In if you fancy a fun summer time read -- Carrie Hope Fletcher Beautifully written, warm and fun with a dose of early noughties nostalgia, The Lock In is a perfect summer read -- Laura Kay, author of The Split I loved this book. Brilliantly written and so perceptive on the trials and tribulations of Generation Rent, it's also screamingly funny, deliciously nostalgic and really just a very fun time. I almost wish they'd stayed locked in for longer -- Lauren Bravo An immensely readable, witty and well-crafted debut . . . a very millennial tale of love, loneliness and friendship * i * This will have you both cringing and crying with laughter * Woman's Weekly * On one hand a feel-good, laugh out loud funny escapist read, and on another a blistering critique of twentysomethings' experience of renting in the capital * Evening Standard * This hilarious debut will give you all the lols you need this summer. A highly relatable comedy about flatmates, hangovers and terrible landlords * Evening Standard * Funny and compelling from page one and so well written. Such a brilliant premise and really well executed. Officially a huge fan of Phoebe Luckhurst! -- Lucy Vine, bestselling author of Hot Mess A funny, joyful hug of a book! A nostalgic, pitch perfect ode to the awkwardness and hilarity of yearning teenage years and house sharing in your twenties -- Cressida McLaughlin Loved the concept and characters. . . it's very funny -- Sarra Manning Proper laugh-out-loud stuff * Fabulous Magazine * 'Best new good book to read' * Cosmopolitan * Irresistible premise . . . addictive * i * One to watch * The Bookseller * Hilarious * Woman * Joyful * Stylist *