Lip: a novel of the Cornwall tourists seldom see

In the debut novel "The Lip," Melody Janie, a young woman who lives alone in a caravan in Bones Break, a small cliff-top on Cornwall's north coast, is forced to confront the tragedies of her past when a stranger enters her life. The novel explores themes of childhood, isolation, and mental health, told in the unique and unforgettable voice of Melody Janie.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 18 March 2021
Publisher: John Murray Press

This uncompromising debut novel delves into the unromantic side of Cornwall that few visitors encounter and that many novelists choose to overlook. Charlie Carroll fully immerses himself in his damaged heroine, Melody Janie, delivering a poignant and captivating narrative about life on the edge.

Set away from the conventional hotels and holiday rentals, Cornwall reveals an unseen side, where the ever-shifting uncertainties of the future foster resentment and mistrust. Hidden amidst the cliffs of Bones Break, on the north coast of Cornwall, Melody Janie lives a solitary existence in her caravan. She spends her days traversing her territory, observing tourists and ramblers, and reminiscing. With her keen perception, she sees everything yet remains unnoticed.

However, when a stranger enters her life, Melody is compelled to face not only him but the haunting tragedies of her past. "The Lip" is a novel that explores childhood, isolation, and mental health, told through the unique and unforgettable voice of Melody Janie.

Bones Break encompasses all of this, and it is mine. I possess intimate knowledge of every inch of this land, knowing it as intimately as the seagulls. Standing at the dead center, my feet teetering on the edge of the lip, I gaze below at the thundering symphony of waves crashing against the rock. The wind gently tugs at my hair, lifting it above my ribs, exerting just enough force to prevent me from falling but enough to guide me back to stability with a step to the left and another back again. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of my footing on the lip.

Weight: 490g
Dimension: 257 x 251 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529334173