Because All Fades

by Freddie Gillies

Andrew and his girlfriend Jess are making a life for themselves in London, but it’s a bit of a grind, and now their relationship is beginning to suffer. Andrew’s best friend Jaryd on the other hand is living every young man’s dream – a beautiful apartment in Paris, a happy relationship with the lovely Liv, and a business venture gone global.

When the two couples head off on a summer road trip around Italy, relationships are tested by temptation, drugs and an accident that will come to define them. As the four of them seek reconciliation their love for one another is challenged, setting in place a series of events that will force closely guarded secrets out into the open.

Because All Fades explores the precariousness of happiness and the tragic consequences facing men unwilling to talk about their emotions. An extraordinary novel written by an exciting new voice in New Zealand fiction.

Genres: Fiction

220 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Arthur Gillies · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exquisite debut by an exciting young author. The novel is eloquently written, snowballing in pace as the four protagonists are challenged by both their inner impulses and moral compass. Their friendships will be tested to the limit on a road trip of dreams, that quickly turns south.

[Sarah Pollok · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just scraped by with a three. Partly because I have a soft spot for Kiwi authors and partly because it did have a huge amount of suspense similar to Yellowface; you just sit on the edge of your seat waiting for the shoe to drop. However, the writing is very clearly ‘debut author’, and I was tempted to stop a few times.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I agree with the "NZ's Sally Rooney" suggestion.

[Eef · Rating 5 out of 5]

After just a few chapters I already cared deeply for the characters and what would happen to them. Finished the rest of the book in one go. Freddie Gillies' writing brings the Italian roadtrip, the walks along the canals and the NZ beaches to wherever you're reading.

[Hilary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the writing contrived and stilted, and without one protagonist the voice jumped between the characters.
Also way too many mentions of drinking. Like literally every scene involved details of what they were drinking, and how it was drunk.

[Sean Wakely · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable, page-turning debut. I was transported to every scene, felt all the emotions and through the characters’ flaws and development, reflect on the themes and ideas the author explores whilst still being pulled along at an enjoyable and easy pace. Can’t wait to read more from this writer.

[Debbie Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story with the Aotearoa connection. An interesting kiwi author.

[Charlotte Baken · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but I just couldn’t relate

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andy and Jess are young kiwis living in London and struggling with their relationship. In Paris, Andy's best mate, Jarryd and his girlfriend Liv, seem to be living a perfect life. One summer the 2 couples head to Italy on a roadie where cracks and resentments in Andy and Jarryd's relationship bubble and seethe, culminating in an event that irrevocably changes them all.
I enjoyed this story. Even though the characters weren't particularly likable, they were interesting, and the dynamic of how childhood friendships can change in adulthood was well explored.
The only negatives for me: Firstly, I didn't like the ending. The book got progressively gloomier, and the end was just depressing. Secondly, the writing was really hit and miss. In parts I felt the author was trying too hard, too many similes and overwrought descriptions, while in other parts it was tight and well written. I think it just needed a stronger edit.
Overall pretty good, a solid 3.5 for me.

[Renee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eek just not my type of book I think

Didn’t gel with the writing style & felt a bit tell not show. Love nz authors & cool to write a book, but nothing in this appealed to me personally

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I attended Freddie’s panel session at the Auckland Writers’ Festival last weekend and bought the novel on a whim, knowing it was not my usual fare. An easy read, (the second half was devoured all in one sitting) and much of the language is clever and beautifully structured. It is highly descriptive (sometimes too much so) and I enjoyed many of the original similes and metaphors which were chosen to establish very clear pictures of both setting and character. Italy and Paris become real! However, for me, as an “older” reader this was very much a young person’s novel - written by a very talented young person about a group of flawed and growing-up young people. It felt a little like Graeme Lay’s “Fools on the Hill” which I enjoyed and related to enormously when I was a Uni student. At this stage in my life I related less (and more judgementally) to the obnoxious amount of boozing, details of cocaine use and sex - much of which is described quite graphically and from the masculine perspective. This was not really my type of book then, as expected, but I am very glad to have read it as a writer-in-training and will be excited to see what Freddie Gillies writes next.

[Marcus Hobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting novel which at times I felt like giving up on and at others I really enjoyed. The story of four friends from New Zealand who come together in Europe and travel to Italy. On the negative side, there was a lot of repetition – for example setting up Jaryd as the character we didn’t like. How many times did we need to see he was a bully and a narcissist? We knew pretty quickly. On the positive, I liked the way the first chapter was a scene from later in the book, because we always knew it was coming, just not the details of what it meant. Scene setting was good, locations were interesting, and it was a nice twist that Jaryd was evil enough to sabotage any chance of happiness that his friend Andrew might have had.

[Holly Marbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable, finished in two sittings and found myself thinking about the characters constantly when I wasn’t reading. A beautifully perceptive take on the human condition. Fantastic debut novel, can’t wait to read his next one.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with this book from the very first word. It felt so real and I saw my own relationship within its pages. Sometimes you fall out of love and that’s okay. It’s beautiful to be able to read a story like that.

[Anna Bateman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, I couldn’t put it down, read it in 2 days.. great storyline and characters, and nice touches of London, Europe, and New Zealand

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUPERB👌🏻

[Stella Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

super quick, vibrant read depicting exquisite european scenery, the aesthetics were by far my favourite part of this novel!! however, the undertones of alcohol and drug abuse, combined with the issue of men suppressing their emotions, was super hard hitting. i didn’t care too much for the mystery aspects, but i did enjoy this book!

[Chris Gillies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly engaging read. A combination of the fallibility of young love, the enticement of travel and the dilemma when faced with the calibration of your moral compass.

[Jessica Muller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sally Rooney esque, this is a story that tells the dangers of keeping secrets. That is, they have a way of coming to the surface and then blowing shit up. How generational cycles tend to repeat themselves unless steps of healing take place. A heartbreaking read but with human vunerability at its core.

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 couples go on a road trip through France to Italy. Bad things are revealed and happen. Will it crack their friendship?

The 2 men are "best friends" since they were school boys. What is the basis of their friendship? Is it a friendship you would fight for? Do I not get it because I am not male? Men don't talk. Is that the theme? Can't say it resonated with me and I don't empathize with self centered alcoholics.

[TJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed feelings on this one. On one hand, I read it in a day because many aspects were relateable - not that long ago I was in the same place as the characters (and assume the author? It felt quite autobiographical) both in terms of the literal settings and in being a mid-20's young professional. The best thing the novel did was capture some of the ambience that comes with being at a certain age and travelling Europe. Descriptions of all the glamourous places you think of when imagining Western Europe were there to anchor the story, and so was the deitritus of life scattered around them. As the rental car drove along the Amalfi coast the reader was told not just of the scenery, but of the smells of old soft drinks and bags of chips that had accumulated in the car. I kept reading because it went beyond a tour of the big tourist traps of Europe.

On the other hand, I struggled to read it with much sense of involvement. Many parts were too easy to skip through - the stories from childhood intended to give some peripheral insight into the characters, the twenty fifth time our 4 main characters sat down for another beer and pizza meal, or the bizarre scene where Jaryd fucks a random Algerian women in the toilet of a cafe. The third person narration meant everyone in the book sounded the same. Often very similar descriptions appeared several times, such as in a scene where we are told at least twice how the coke Jaryd snorted was dripping down the back of his throat. There seemed to be a little too much happening for one not very long book - two relationship breakups, a startup business and fraud subplot, existential questions about career direction, a road trip, and a 'I know what you did last summer' style manslaughter incident that was resolved in the lamest way possible . We met four potentially nuanced and fascinating characters, only to then sit with them as they did the same things over and over so as to never really develop or reveal much (the flashbacks did most of the work in attempting to add depth to them).

The ending didn't entirely make sense to me either. I'm fine with depressing conclusions to books where they make sense and fit with the characters. I'm less moved by things that feel forced, like the author has cranked up the pathos. Andrew ends up with Jaryd's girlfriend Olivia, only for Jaryd to then come to find them in London and drop some tea so powerful it nukes the relationship. But really? Olivia throws Andrew out (after being mad in love for him) after learning that he hooked up with her sister - who died in a car crash, because half of this book was trauma porn for the characters (teenage rape, violent parents, etc etc) - like 10 years ago? It would be an awkward conversation for sure, but this kind of extreme reaction jarred me.

[Andrew Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because All Fades is an outstanding debut novel.

The author invites his readers to witness how the dynamics between his carefully crafted and relatable characters fluctuate as he proceeds to gradually apply tension during their European road trip. The novel is gripping in its exploration of how relationships – particularly long-lasting friendships – navigate the treacherous waters of differing personalities, clashes of values, past wounds, and trying circumstances. I was reminded of David Whyte’s meditation on friendship while reading this superb novel, which its author depicts beautifully in the relationships between his characters:

“A friend knows our difficulties and shadows and remains in sight, a companion to our vulnerabilities more than our triumphs…all friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness. Without tolerance and mercy all friendships die.”

I loved this book and can’t wait to see what comes next from the mind of Freddie Gillies!

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on this story from the first page. While in reality the Kiwi experience in the UK/Europe is well-known, I've never read it in fiction quite like this. What starts as adventurous road trip for two couples across Italy slowly unravels as their pasts, presents, and difficulty to truly express themselves collides. This story is raw, real and the characters developed in ways I didn't expect. I am excited to hear Gillies is already working on new stories and can't wait to read what comes next.

[Brook Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful recounting of the trials and tribulations of love and friendship. The novel grips you from the start with its gloriously descriptive prose, and takes the reader on an intimate journey through the development of the characters over the course of a summer holiday in Italy. The best NZ literature I’ve read in a long long time.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real page turner, finished in one sitting and kept me up far too late on release day. Freddie's writing quickly formed emotional connections between the reader and characters which were tested again and again throughout the ups and downs of the book. It was refreshing to have a plot not following a formula that I had read before. Look forward to the next.

[Jacqueline Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author's beautifully written prose immediately connects you with the characters, their relationships and the emotional and moral dilemmas they are confronted with on their journey.
A riveting love story and thriller that keeps the heart pumping and pages turning.
I loved it and could not put it down!

[Harry John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Because all fades. Had me gripped from start to finish. The writing is eloquent, the story is packed with suspense and the characters stay with you long after you put the book down. By the end you feel as if you’ve been reading about old friends. Incredible debut novel from Freddie Gillies.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read, flew through it, and I’m not usually a fast reader! I kept thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it. Just when you think the story line reaches its peak, the narrative continues to unfold, revealing even more layers and complexities. Shed a tear. Excited to see what else Freddie Gillies will write.

[William Lockie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute page turner and one of my favourite reads in a LONG time! It was exciting to live out the European adventures of the four friends and see the twists and turns it would take. Unexpected, enthralling and delightfully crafted!

[Alex Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I think the writing was amazing and the constant ups and downs kept me hooked. I could relate to all the characters in some way, and the situations they got themselves into. Highly recommend.