Vacuum-packed

by Robin Newbold

The Less Than Zero for the Noughties...

Fuelled by easy drugs and even easier sex, Vacuum-Packed chronicles the lives of two teenagers struggling to survive in a world that seems to be spinning out of control.

Craig, hoping to find a reason to live, travels to Thailand, where he becomes entrapped in a brutal but compelling game to which he doesn't know the rules.

Pretty but vain Jamie gorges himself on all gay London has to offer but instead of fulfilment finds only emptiness in the endless blur of partying and casual encounters.

Is there a way out?

280 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Robin Newbold is an author and journalist. Fourth novel, thriller When the Darkness Swallowed the Sun, is out now on Amazon. His work has appeared in Time Out, the South China Morning Post, Bangkok Metro and Gay Times. He is a Crystal Palace fan and lives in sunny Hove.

Reviews

[Glen Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely the better novel by the author
Two complex lead characters, both deeply flawed, but relatable. Some uncomfortable stories but well written

[Grayson Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vacuum-Packed by Robin Newbold is raw, unsettling, and painfully honest. It captures the emptiness behind reckless youth, showing how searching for meaning can lead people into dangerous emotional and physical spaces. Craig and Jamie feel real, flawed, and human, which made their journeys difficult to look away from. The writing has a cold, immersive tone that lingers after finishing. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s powerful and thought-provoking. This is a bold story about identity, escape, and consequences today now.