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Imaginary Forces
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jan 27Robin is unreliable, unstable and utterly devoted to his oldest friend Henry. So when Henry's beloved mother - the novelist Marian Finch - dies unexpectedly, Robin is there to pick up the pieces. Henry comes into possession of an antiquarian bookshop and there - for a time - they build a life together.
But grief can send us down unexpected paths. For Henry, it leads him to the theory of multiple universes and to Yolanda, a brilliant scientist who can help him understand it.
Robin and Yolanda have three things in common: they are in love with the same man, they despise each other, and they are oblivious to the fact that Henry is spiralling into a dangerous obsession that will irrevocably change them all.
Imaginary Forces is a luminous portrait of love in its many forms - yearning, obsession, addiction - and just how messy and destructive it can be.
But grief can send us down unexpected paths. For Henry, it leads him to the theory of multiple universes and to Yolanda, a brilliant scientist who can help him understand it.
Robin and Yolanda have three things in common: they are in love with the same man, they despise each other, and they are oblivious to the fact that Henry is spiralling into a dangerous obsession that will irrevocably change them all.
Imaginary Forces is a luminous portrait of love in its many forms - yearning, obsession, addiction - and just how messy and destructive it can be.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 7, 2027
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 5, 2026
This felt genuinely unique and refreshing. The characters felt so real and layered that I’m tempted to read it again to get a better understanding of their motives and emotions, and a deeper appreciation for how cleverly they’re written.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imaginary Forces by Georgia Moorhouse is an impressive and confident debut that feels far more accomplished than a first novel. Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize Discoveries Award, it delivers a razor-sharp portrait of obsession, jealousy, and destructive devotion.
The story is narrated by Robin, an unstable and unreliable narrator completely devoted to his oldest friend, Henry. After Henry’s mother, the successful novelist Marian Finch, dies unexpectedly, Robin helps him through the aftermath. Henry inherits an antiquarian bookshop, and for a time the two build a slightly unconventional life there. Things shift when Henry becomes consumed by theories of multiple universes and meets Yolanda, a brilliant scientist researching the same ideas. Robin and Yolanda both love Henry and thoroughly dislike each other—yet neither fully grasps how far Henry’s own obsession will take him.
What begins as a story of friendship and a complicated love triangle gradually darkens, exploring grief, addiction, and the dangerous lengths people go to when they desperately want something to be true. Robin is funny, vulnerable, jealous, and often infuriating, but utterly compelling; seeing Henry through his eyes keeps the reader constantly questioning what to believe.
Moorhouse handles her characters with striking control, balancing humour with genuine unease and emotional depth. She examines the many forms love can take—friendship, romance, obsession, even addiction—and how easily devotion can tip into something toxic. The psychological tension is addictive, with a Highsmith-like edge that makes the novel both unsettling and hard to put down.
Ambitious without being pretentious, intelligent yet highly readable, Imaginary Forces is a luminous and devastating debut. If you enjoy dark love triangles, sharp character studies, and stories about the toxic weight of obsession, this is one not to miss. An author well worth watching.
The story is narrated by Robin, an unstable and unreliable narrator completely devoted to his oldest friend, Henry. After Henry’s mother, the successful novelist Marian Finch, dies unexpectedly, Robin helps him through the aftermath. Henry inherits an antiquarian bookshop, and for a time the two build a slightly unconventional life there. Things shift when Henry becomes consumed by theories of multiple universes and meets Yolanda, a brilliant scientist researching the same ideas. Robin and Yolanda both love Henry and thoroughly dislike each other—yet neither fully grasps how far Henry’s own obsession will take him.
What begins as a story of friendship and a complicated love triangle gradually darkens, exploring grief, addiction, and the dangerous lengths people go to when they desperately want something to be true. Robin is funny, vulnerable, jealous, and often infuriating, but utterly compelling; seeing Henry through his eyes keeps the reader constantly questioning what to believe.
Moorhouse handles her characters with striking control, balancing humour with genuine unease and emotional depth. She examines the many forms love can take—friendship, romance, obsession, even addiction—and how easily devotion can tip into something toxic. The psychological tension is addictive, with a Highsmith-like edge that makes the novel both unsettling and hard to put down.
Ambitious without being pretentious, intelligent yet highly readable, Imaginary Forces is a luminous and devastating debut. If you enjoy dark love triangles, sharp character studies, and stories about the toxic weight of obsession, this is one not to miss. An author well worth watching.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There are some books you enjoy, and then there are books that completely consume you. Imaginary Forces was the latter. I picked it up on early hype and ended up reading it in just two sittings because every time I thought I'd found a place to stop, I simply couldn't.
Georgia Moorhouse has written an astonishing debut. Every sentence feels deliberate, every scene builds naturally on the last, and by the end, I was left wondering what a fantastically talented author. Her novel is beautifully controlled while never losing its emotional intensity, and it's no surprise to me that it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries.
If, like me, you love morally grey characters and stories about men who become utterly consumed by one another, this is one to put straight to the top of your TBR. It explores obsession with such precision that I felt completely caught up in it, unable to look away even when I wanted to.
The whole novel felt incredibly cinematic. I could picture every room, every conversation and every moment of tension unfolding as though I were watching it on screen. I would not be at all surprised if this ends up being adapted because it already feels made for television.
I also think this is a book best experienced knowing as little as possible. I went in completely blind, and I'm so glad I did. Let Georgia Moorhouse take your hand from page one and trust the novel to reveal itself in its own time. The beauty, the tragedy and the quiet sense of inevitability hit all the harder because I had no idea where it was taking me.
Georgia Moorhouse has written an astonishing debut. Every sentence feels deliberate, every scene builds naturally on the last, and by the end, I was left wondering what a fantastically talented author. Her novel is beautifully controlled while never losing its emotional intensity, and it's no surprise to me that it was shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries.
If, like me, you love morally grey characters and stories about men who become utterly consumed by one another, this is one to put straight to the top of your TBR. It explores obsession with such precision that I felt completely caught up in it, unable to look away even when I wanted to.
The whole novel felt incredibly cinematic. I could picture every room, every conversation and every moment of tension unfolding as though I were watching it on screen. I would not be at all surprised if this ends up being adapted because it already feels made for television.
I also think this is a book best experienced knowing as little as possible. I went in completely blind, and I'm so glad I did. Let Georgia Moorhouse take your hand from page one and trust the novel to reveal itself in its own time. The beauty, the tragedy and the quiet sense of inevitability hit all the harder because I had no idea where it was taking me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Imaginary Forces, the debut novel from Georgia Moorhouse, is a literary novel which reads like a thriller. I tore through it in one quick reading, propelled forward by great characterisation, quality writing, and an engaging plot.
Robin, our narrator, is besotted with Henry, the son of a famous author, and her orbit of him becomes the central vortex of the emotional drama that plays out. As that orbit spirals, and the emotional entanglements become more complex, Yolanda enters the picture. She shares one trait with Robin: she loves Henry too. What follows is an emotionally engaging, yet fraught, portrayal of love, friendship and the things that bind us to each other.
Robin is a great narrator - speaking from a more recent present - she has insight now, but none of it then - and her reflections upon actions once taken give Imaginary Forces a second layer, and a grander emotional depth than a story focussed solely in the present may have provided.
I really loved this novel and I'm very keen to see what Georgia Moorhouse does next. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Robin, our narrator, is besotted with Henry, the son of a famous author, and her orbit of him becomes the central vortex of the emotional drama that plays out. As that orbit spirals, and the emotional entanglements become more complex, Yolanda enters the picture. She shares one trait with Robin: she loves Henry too. What follows is an emotionally engaging, yet fraught, portrayal of love, friendship and the things that bind us to each other.
Robin is a great narrator - speaking from a more recent present - she has insight now, but none of it then - and her reflections upon actions once taken give Imaginary Forces a second layer, and a grander emotional depth than a story focussed solely in the present may have provided.
I really loved this novel and I'm very keen to see what Georgia Moorhouse does next. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!
The premise of this book sounded fantastic, however the execution did not quite work for me. Starting off with the positives: the writing is very engaging, the characters have depth and I enjoyed the quirky elements (e.g. discussion of cosmology). That being said, the characters are intentionally morally grey and I found it extremely difficult to connect to any of them. This meant that whilst I enjoyed reading this novel, this won't be something I will re-read.
The premise of this book sounded fantastic, however the execution did not quite work for me. Starting off with the positives: the writing is very engaging, the characters have depth and I enjoyed the quirky elements (e.g. discussion of cosmology). That being said, the characters are intentionally morally grey and I found it extremely difficult to connect to any of them. This meant that whilst I enjoyed reading this novel, this won't be something I will re-read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews