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Fruit Fly
Not yet published
Expected 23 Apr 26It’s not her story to tell. Or is it?
Anyone can write a bestseller. Here’s
GO GAY
It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast.
GO SAD
Enter a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
GO DARK
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as dark secrets come to light that threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must just how far will she go to pen the perfect story?
Anyone can write a bestseller. Here’s
GO GAY
It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast.
GO SAD
Enter a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.
GO DARK
Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as dark secrets come to light that threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must just how far will she go to pen the perfect story?
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 23, 2026
8 people are currently reading
1356 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 25, 2026
This has completely and utterly blown me away. I’ve been a fan of Josh since his debut, HappyHead was released a few years ago and have read everything he’s written with fevered excitement. Ever since Fruit Fly was announced I’ve been dying to read it so much so that the moment I was approved for an earc I started reading it straight away.
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
Quite frankly, it’s a stunning book. It flips between comical, to creepy, to sad, to hopeful, to totally bonkers and back again. The plot is handled with such care and skill, I could not stop reading, desperate to find out what would happen next.
I really enjoyed Mal and the unravelling of her life. I loved Leo and his struggle to try and sort his life out.
Honestly this book has to be read and appreciated. My words just do not cut it but Josh Silver’s most certainly do. I wish I could scoop this book out of my brain so that I could read it again for the first time!
Thank you to NetGalley and Magpie for my earc!
January 21, 2026
4.5 🌟 Fruit Fly was a book I simply couldn’t put down. From the start, I was very curious about Leo and Mal and eager to learn more about them and their stories.
The characters are incredibly complex, layered, and rich in personality. They felt very real to me, which made the story even more emotional. Despite the heavy themes, the book is still full of humour, creating a great balance.
Early on, I already disliked the relationship between Mal and Ronan, but this added tension and unease and made me root for Mal even more.
The ending was absolutely perfect, I don’t think it could have ended better. This was such a great story and an entertaining read. I loved it.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The characters are incredibly complex, layered, and rich in personality. They felt very real to me, which made the story even more emotional. Despite the heavy themes, the book is still full of humour, creating a great balance.
Early on, I already disliked the relationship between Mal and Ronan, but this added tension and unease and made me root for Mal even more.
The ending was absolutely perfect, I don’t think it could have ended better. This was such a great story and an entertaining read. I loved it.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 10, 2025
I loved this book, I am so grateful that I had a chance to read it before it is officially released! Definitely one to grab when it is published!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
What a fantastic read. I've read all of Josh Silver's other books and loved them all; I wasn't sure how i was going to enjoy this one given that it's his first adult book and the subject matter isn't something I would normally be drawn to. But it's Josh Silver so I had to.
I loved this book; the obsession, the sickness, the gaslighting. And honestly, Mal blasting through her novel made me want to start writing again.
Spoilers Below
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't know if this one hit too close to home for me or what, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I absolutely adored Josh's previous works. The subject matter is obviously very different and the setting is supposed to be much more realistic, but I didn't find myself really believing either of these characters.
I found the way he peeled off the layers of Mal being emotionally abused by her husband (the bit that triggered me the most, next to Leo's rape scene) very very clever, but I didn't really find myself ever rooting for her simply because she reads as quite unlikable as a person through and through, to the very end of the novel. It isn't even about the fact that she's a woman written by a man, she's just not the kind of person I would ever look at twice after exchanging a couple of words with her.
As for Leo, he didn't feel like he could or wanted to be helped. In so many ways, he made himself look irredeemable, with only a few glimpses of hope here and there — but not enough to make me actively believe he could be a decent person underneath all the trauma. I know that Josh has experience as a mental health specialist and I don't, but as a simple reader with only superficial knowledge of psychology and the cycles of addiction this didn't feel ~right, somehow.
Still very happy I've read this, though, and thank you so much to Oneworld Publications for the ARC via NetGalley ❤️
I found the way he peeled off the layers of Mal being emotionally abused by her husband (the bit that triggered me the most, next to Leo's rape scene) very very clever, but I didn't really find myself ever rooting for her simply because she reads as quite unlikable as a person through and through, to the very end of the novel. It isn't even about the fact that she's a woman written by a man, she's just not the kind of person I would ever look at twice after exchanging a couple of words with her.
As for Leo, he didn't feel like he could or wanted to be helped. In so many ways, he made himself look irredeemable, with only a few glimpses of hope here and there — but not enough to make me actively believe he could be a decent person underneath all the trauma. I know that Josh has experience as a mental health specialist and I don't, but as a simple reader with only superficial knowledge of psychology and the cycles of addiction this didn't feel ~right, somehow.
Still very happy I've read this, though, and thank you so much to Oneworld Publications for the ARC via NetGalley ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
Omg this was INSANE. Funny, very dark and so so moving. The twist at the end is to die for - cannot WAIT to read everything else Josh Silver’s written. BRILLIANT!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me an early copy of this to review!!*
An absolute banger. Very gay, very sad, very dark. And an absolutely fascinating look at the way the current media market pushes for these vulnerable and raw stories, and who profits/suffers as a consequence.
One thing about Josh Silver - whether he’s writing YA or adult - he’s going straight for the throat. I absolutely love the direction he took with this one, and I think he’s going to absolutely thrive in the litfic world. He’s got such an amazing voice and breadth of perspective, I’m in love with the way he weaves the most creative and engaging narratives. So current and cutthroat, his emotional and social intelligence is plain to see. I ended up devouring this book in two sittings and didn’t want to put it down.
Another thing about Josh Silver, he’s going to traumatise you in one paragraph, and then make you actually laugh out loud with the next. I struggle with the use of humour in books, but he’s got this dry, self deprecating, ridiculously warm voice that comes out with the most outrageous one liners. He’s so effortlessly funny, and I think he really utilises satire and dark humour so well in his stories. His narratives have such personality to them, and his writing style feels totally unique. It’s so full of suspense and shocking twists, and the fact that he’s able to upkeep the ridiculously snappy pacing is so impressive.
Don’t be fooled by the vibrant cover and tongue in cheek tagline though, this is still a very bleak narrative at times. It’s a very real and raw look at mental health and substance abuse, and what that looks like when you’re a person who has been a cog in the system for a long time and doesn’t have a home or safe space to go to, or a support network to lean on. There are also themes of domestic violence, sexual violence, and extremely controlling and manipulative behaviours. It’s a wild ride.
I think Silver balances these so well in the story, and I always appreciate how gritty he allows himself to write and how dark his characters are allowed to go. He doesn’t sugarcoat or romanticise anything, it’s a very uncomfortable and upsetting experience for the most part. The characters of Mallory and Leo work so well to push this story forward, and watching everything unfold through two completely different perspectives was unputdownable.The last 150 pages of this book were insane and I was locked in. His endings are always jaw dropping and leave me craving more, I both love and loathe the ‘THATS THE LAST PAGE?!’ feeling. He gets me with it every single time.
It felt fresh and original and exciting, and I loved it. Creative and fun whilst also posing some really interesting and important questions about the commercialisation of tragedy, particularly when it comes to vulnerable and marginalised groups. I know this one isn’t even out yet and I’m being greedy, but I cannot wait to see what Josh Silver does next. This book is a must read for 2026.
An absolute banger. Very gay, very sad, very dark. And an absolutely fascinating look at the way the current media market pushes for these vulnerable and raw stories, and who profits/suffers as a consequence.
One thing about Josh Silver - whether he’s writing YA or adult - he’s going straight for the throat. I absolutely love the direction he took with this one, and I think he’s going to absolutely thrive in the litfic world. He’s got such an amazing voice and breadth of perspective, I’m in love with the way he weaves the most creative and engaging narratives. So current and cutthroat, his emotional and social intelligence is plain to see. I ended up devouring this book in two sittings and didn’t want to put it down.
Another thing about Josh Silver, he’s going to traumatise you in one paragraph, and then make you actually laugh out loud with the next. I struggle with the use of humour in books, but he’s got this dry, self deprecating, ridiculously warm voice that comes out with the most outrageous one liners. He’s so effortlessly funny, and I think he really utilises satire and dark humour so well in his stories. His narratives have such personality to them, and his writing style feels totally unique. It’s so full of suspense and shocking twists, and the fact that he’s able to upkeep the ridiculously snappy pacing is so impressive.
Don’t be fooled by the vibrant cover and tongue in cheek tagline though, this is still a very bleak narrative at times. It’s a very real and raw look at mental health and substance abuse, and what that looks like when you’re a person who has been a cog in the system for a long time and doesn’t have a home or safe space to go to, or a support network to lean on. There are also themes of domestic violence, sexual violence, and extremely controlling and manipulative behaviours. It’s a wild ride.
I think Silver balances these so well in the story, and I always appreciate how gritty he allows himself to write and how dark his characters are allowed to go. He doesn’t sugarcoat or romanticise anything, it’s a very uncomfortable and upsetting experience for the most part. The characters of Mallory and Leo work so well to push this story forward, and watching everything unfold through two completely different perspectives was unputdownable.The last 150 pages of this book were insane and I was locked in. His endings are always jaw dropping and leave me craving more, I both love and loathe the ‘THATS THE LAST PAGE?!’ feeling. He gets me with it every single time.
It felt fresh and original and exciting, and I loved it. Creative and fun whilst also posing some really interesting and important questions about the commercialisation of tragedy, particularly when it comes to vulnerable and marginalised groups. I know this one isn’t even out yet and I’m being greedy, but I cannot wait to see what Josh Silver does next. This book is a must read for 2026.
January 24, 2026
A Novel About Who Owns a Story
Fruit Fly is a dark, uneven novel about authorship, power and what happens when pain is turned into material. It is interested less in healing than in exposure, and it rarely lets the reader settle.
The novel centres on Mallory, a writer stalled by writer's block and fixation, and Leo, a volatile and magnetic figure whose presence destabilises everyone around him. Their connection is intense and unsafe, driven by need and projection rather than trust. Mallory’s marriage to Ronan appears steady at first, yet gradually reveals itself as something more restrictive and quietly coercive. The story traces how these relationships tighten, fracture and eventually spill beyond private control.
What works especially well is the contrast in voice. Leo’s sections are sharp, propulsive and darkly funny, carrying urgency and threat. His chapters give the book momentum and edge. The novel also handles addiction, desire and queerness without sanitising them, refusing easy redemption or moral clarity.
Where the book falters is pacing. Mallory’s sections sometimes linger too long inside anxiety and self-scrutiny, slowing the narrative at moments that call for pressure and movement. These stretches feel over-indulged rather than deepened, creating imbalance against the novel’s otherwise strong forward drive.
The final section shifts into the aftermath of publication, where private damage becomes public narrative. This turn is one of the book’s most interesting moves, exploring how control changes once a story no longer belongs to the person who lived it.
Fruit Fly is uneven but ambitious, unsettling rather than satisfying, and likely to divide readers. Those drawn to dark literary fiction that interrogates power, authorship and emotional exploitation will find much to engage with here.
Thank you NetGalley and Oneworld Publications, Magpie publishers for the ARC.
Fruit Fly is a dark, uneven novel about authorship, power and what happens when pain is turned into material. It is interested less in healing than in exposure, and it rarely lets the reader settle.
The novel centres on Mallory, a writer stalled by writer's block and fixation, and Leo, a volatile and magnetic figure whose presence destabilises everyone around him. Their connection is intense and unsafe, driven by need and projection rather than trust. Mallory’s marriage to Ronan appears steady at first, yet gradually reveals itself as something more restrictive and quietly coercive. The story traces how these relationships tighten, fracture and eventually spill beyond private control.
What works especially well is the contrast in voice. Leo’s sections are sharp, propulsive and darkly funny, carrying urgency and threat. His chapters give the book momentum and edge. The novel also handles addiction, desire and queerness without sanitising them, refusing easy redemption or moral clarity.
Where the book falters is pacing. Mallory’s sections sometimes linger too long inside anxiety and self-scrutiny, slowing the narrative at moments that call for pressure and movement. These stretches feel over-indulged rather than deepened, creating imbalance against the novel’s otherwise strong forward drive.
The final section shifts into the aftermath of publication, where private damage becomes public narrative. This turn is one of the book’s most interesting moves, exploring how control changes once a story no longer belongs to the person who lived it.
Fruit Fly is uneven but ambitious, unsettling rather than satisfying, and likely to divide readers. Those drawn to dark literary fiction that interrogates power, authorship and emotional exploitation will find much to engage with here.
Thank you NetGalley and Oneworld Publications, Magpie publishers for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC Review -
Mallory needs to write a best-selling novel and in comes Leo, to inspire her to do this.
This opening scenes had be laughing out loud. Mallory’s inner dialogue whilst making a Grindr account and connecting with gay men was giving Georgia Nicholson in the Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging universe (this is the highest of compliments). This set the initial tone for the book however, the story developed into something deeper, more thought provoking and completely anxiety inducing.
Mallory and Leo were complex and often at times completely unlikeable in both their personalities and their decisions. However, I couldn’t help but feel a complete sense of empathy toward both of them and their experiences. I might have been giving in to them as unreliable narrators but I wanted to like Mallory and Leo and wanted better for them.
I had so many thoughts racing through my mind regarding the ending and I was not unsatisfied.
I will be picking up other books by Josh Silver after finishing this one. Also the cover?? obsessed.
Thank you to NetGally and all for the ARC!
Mallory needs to write a best-selling novel and in comes Leo, to inspire her to do this.
This opening scenes had be laughing out loud. Mallory’s inner dialogue whilst making a Grindr account and connecting with gay men was giving Georgia Nicholson in the Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging universe (this is the highest of compliments). This set the initial tone for the book however, the story developed into something deeper, more thought provoking and completely anxiety inducing.
Mallory and Leo were complex and often at times completely unlikeable in both their personalities and their decisions. However, I couldn’t help but feel a complete sense of empathy toward both of them and their experiences. I might have been giving in to them as unreliable narrators but I wanted to like Mallory and Leo and wanted better for them.
I had so many thoughts racing through my mind regarding the ending and I was not unsatisfied.
I will be picking up other books by Josh Silver after finishing this one. Also the cover?? obsessed.
Thank you to NetGally and all for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
This was absolutely mind blowing!
Fruit Fly follows Mal, author turned therapist and Leo, drug addicted “sex-worker” they couldn’t be any more different but their paths intertwine when Mal’s search for inspiration for her next novel and Leo’s desperate need for money and help turns into mutual obsession.
Somewhere in the blurb this book is compared to the likes of “Young Mungo” and “A Little Life” and while both of those novels are phenomenal I personally think this is more comparable to the works of Dennis Cooper in its brutality, rawness and darkness.
I really enjoyed reading this book my only qualm was Mal’s absolute cringey cluelessness in the beginning which I found more painful than funny! However this is a very tiny complaint on my part because I do appreciate making fun of the performative support towards queerness from upper class white women.
All that being said I am definitely looking forward for the official release in April as this is definitely one for the bookshelf!
Best of luck to Josh Silver with his upcoming release hoping to see some more great work from him in the future.
This was absolutely mind blowing!
Fruit Fly follows Mal, author turned therapist and Leo, drug addicted “sex-worker” they couldn’t be any more different but their paths intertwine when Mal’s search for inspiration for her next novel and Leo’s desperate need for money and help turns into mutual obsession.
Somewhere in the blurb this book is compared to the likes of “Young Mungo” and “A Little Life” and while both of those novels are phenomenal I personally think this is more comparable to the works of Dennis Cooper in its brutality, rawness and darkness.
I really enjoyed reading this book my only qualm was Mal’s absolute cringey cluelessness in the beginning which I found more painful than funny! However this is a very tiny complaint on my part because I do appreciate making fun of the performative support towards queerness from upper class white women.
All that being said I am definitely looking forward for the official release in April as this is definitely one for the bookshelf!
Best of luck to Josh Silver with his upcoming release hoping to see some more great work from him in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There’s an early buzz around this book so I had to dive in.
Mallory was a one hit wonder literary sensation, suffering from writers block since her debut. She’s searching for inspiration. Leo is a reckless risk taker, happy to sell sex, to be abused to pay for the drugs to keep him comfortably numb.
Mallory stumbles across Leo, them searches him out, convinced that’s he’s main character inspiration material for the book that will turn her fortunes around.
I’ve loved books about struggling writers stealing manuscripts, but never one about two lives intertwining, there’s an electric parasitic addictive energy about it. Two characters who need something from the other, which can help them unlock themselves.
Imagine early Irvine Welsh mixed with Karen Campbell (Paper Cup, This Bright Light).
I’ll say it comprehensive, some parts are seen through Mallory’s perspective, Leo’s and the fictionalised account. There’s also Mallory’s seemingly perfect marriage and home life to worry about. Plenty going on and it kept me gripped.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications
Mallory was a one hit wonder literary sensation, suffering from writers block since her debut. She’s searching for inspiration. Leo is a reckless risk taker, happy to sell sex, to be abused to pay for the drugs to keep him comfortably numb.
Mallory stumbles across Leo, them searches him out, convinced that’s he’s main character inspiration material for the book that will turn her fortunes around.
I’ve loved books about struggling writers stealing manuscripts, but never one about two lives intertwining, there’s an electric parasitic addictive energy about it. Two characters who need something from the other, which can help them unlock themselves.
Imagine early Irvine Welsh mixed with Karen Campbell (Paper Cup, This Bright Light).
I’ll say it comprehensive, some parts are seen through Mallory’s perspective, Leo’s and the fictionalised account. There’s also Mallory’s seemingly perfect marriage and home life to worry about. Plenty going on and it kept me gripped.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and Oneworld Publications
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mal Maddox, a writer who feels stuck in her life and marriage googles "how to write a bestseller" and comes across a reddit post that recommends that she write something dark and gay. This leads her in some convoluted ways to meet Leo, a young gay guy who is homeless and a drug addict, who becomes the inspiration for the story she sets out to write. (Which she names Slay!). It adresses the story of representation in writing, privilege and what is seen as authentic and what maybe actually is? As the story goes on it becomes clear that all is not well with Mal as well.
Fruit Fly is a great satire and critique of the book industry while also bringing an exciting and thrilling plot. The first 50 pages had me laughing out loud and then the laughter started getting stuck in my throat. It's dark comedy, it's domestic thriller, it's social satire, and it's made me think about the role readers have in what books become big. Why are Big Gay Books so bleak and sad? Who is telling these stories in this way?
A fantastic read that I will definitely be recommending to people!
Fruit Fly is a great satire and critique of the book industry while also bringing an exciting and thrilling plot. The first 50 pages had me laughing out loud and then the laughter started getting stuck in my throat. It's dark comedy, it's domestic thriller, it's social satire, and it's made me think about the role readers have in what books become big. Why are Big Gay Books so bleak and sad? Who is telling these stories in this way?
A fantastic read that I will definitely be recommending to people!
January 24, 2026
Highlights:
I was lucky to get an advanced reader copy, and this book has not left my head. Every character matters, no matter how small their role. Mallory is unforgettable. From an aspiring author’s point of view, her drive and the lengths she goes to be creative hit deep. Josh Silver’s voice shines in his first adult novel, darker and seedier than before, showing the underbelly of life when people are in crisis. It is gut‑wrenching, inspiring and disturbing in the best way.
Shadows:
Very little to fault. The only thing worth noting is that it stays heavy and confronting, which is part of its power, but not a light read you rush through.
Final Word:
A bold, unsettling, unforgettable novel that proves Josh Silver is just as powerful in adult fiction as in YA, and one of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
5 out of 5 stars plus
I was lucky to get an advanced reader copy, and this book has not left my head. Every character matters, no matter how small their role. Mallory is unforgettable. From an aspiring author’s point of view, her drive and the lengths she goes to be creative hit deep. Josh Silver’s voice shines in his first adult novel, darker and seedier than before, showing the underbelly of life when people are in crisis. It is gut‑wrenching, inspiring and disturbing in the best way.
Shadows:
Very little to fault. The only thing worth noting is that it stays heavy and confronting, which is part of its power, but not a light read you rush through.
Final Word:
A bold, unsettling, unforgettable novel that proves Josh Silver is just as powerful in adult fiction as in YA, and one of the best books I have ever read.
Rating:
5 out of 5 stars plus
September 1, 2025
Fruit Fly is a daring and deeply provocative novel that dives headfirst into the blurred lines between art, exploitation, and obsession. Josh Silver masterfully crafts a story that is as uncomfortable as it is compelling, following Mallory’s desperate hunt for inspiration and the fragile, haunting connection she forges with Leo. The writing is raw, unflinching, and layered with tension, forcing the reader to question not only the characters’ choices but also their own appetite for stories built on suffering. Both dark and thought-provoking, this is a book that lingers long after you close it.
January 29, 2026
Breezed through this in two days. Interesting concept, well written and fleshed out characters. Without going into details, one particular relationship felt absolutely suffocating, more and more so, as the book went on and as you slowly realise the extent of it. Thought that was super well done. Also, it’s set in the area of London I live which was bit cool. Really enjoyed it.
Arc/netgalley copy.
Arc/netgalley copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m just going to go ahead and say it: my favorite book of 2026 (yes yas, I know — it’s only January). Fruit Fly is unhinged, dark, laugh-out-loud funny, and genuinely brilliant. I could not put this down. Josh Silver, please write another novel immediately. I’ll be recommending this to absolutely everyone.
5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and Oneworld Publications for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews