{"product_id":"fun-and-games-9780008517342","title":"Fun and Games","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e It is a darkly comic, beautifully crafted debut novel that is full of feeling both harsh and tender. It takes in social class and its firm borders, manhood and its frailties, family and, of course, love.\u003cbr\u003eJohn Patrick McHugh's \"Fun and Games\" was a top ten bestseller in Ireland during the week of April 28, 2025. It is a darkly comic, beautifully crafted debut novel that explores social class, manhood, family, and love. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 272 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 24 April 2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: HarperCollins Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE INSTANT TOP 10 IRISH BESTSELLER\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn \u003cem\u003eObserver \u003c\/em\u003eBest Debut Novelist of 2025\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘One of the most exciting writers working in Ireland today’ \u003c\/strong\u003eSALLY ROONEY\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'An utter joy to read'\u003c\/strong\u003e COLIN BARRETT\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'One of the debuts of the year'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eiPAPER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A writer at the top of his technical game'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eTELEGRAPH\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A funny and frank coming-of age-drama'\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eOBSERVER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA stunning debut novel following a teenage boy as he comes of age on the west coast of Ireland, from the author of the acclaimed story collection \u003cem\u003ePure Gold\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSeventeen-year-old John Masterson has no idea what he wants. It’s his last summer on the small island where he has grown up and he should be enjoying the weeks until his exam results come through. Instead, he’s working mind-numbing shifts at the local hotel and trying to keep his head down after his mother’s nude sext to another man was leaked to the whole island.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs John joins the local senior football team, gets caught up in fights and parties, and embarks on a tentative relationship with his slightly older co-worker Amber that he feels both proud and ashamed of, he can almost pretend that this summer will last forever. But soon John must face up to the choices before him: to stay or leave, to stand out or fit in, and whether to love and let himself be loved, despite or perhaps because of, the flaws that make us all human.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFun and Games\u003c\/em\u003e is a darkly comic, beautifully crafted debut novel that is full of feeling both harsh and tender. It takes in social class and its firm borders, manhood and its frailties, family and, of course, love.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'In 20 years of reviewing, I’m not sure I’ve read a funnier book, or one I’ve enjoyed more’ \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A debut novelist with a real gift’\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eiNEWS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Warmth and sensitivity, and a skilful humour' \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A darkly comic and deeply moving debut' \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eIRISH EXAMINER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Funny and heartbreaking’\u003c\/strong\u003e FERDIA LENNON\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘One of the most talked-about debuts of the year, and rightly so’\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eSOMETHING CURATED\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A charming, funny and sensitive novel'\u003c\/strong\u003e NICOLE FLATTERY\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Heartbreaking and raucous’\u003c\/strong\u003e AIDAN COTTRELL-BOYCE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A gifted writer' \u003c\/strong\u003eANNE GRIFFIN\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Bighearted and boisterous, bursting with life' \u003c\/strong\u003eCOLIN WALSH\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A remarkable depiction of burgeoning masculinity'\u003c\/strong\u003e REBECCA WATSON\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'Gorgeous … a writer of immense talent'\u003c\/strong\u003e MICHAEL MAGEE\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Patrick McHugh's 'Fun and Games' was a Irish top ten bestseller w\/c 2025-04-28.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 501g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 224 x 144 x 35 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780008517342\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"John Patrick McHugh","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":47280579772666,"sku":"9780008517342","price":12.13,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/files\/1745596158139_book.jpg?v=1745749201","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/fun-and-games-9780008517342","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}