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Orange
Cornwall, 2018. In the quiet fishing village of Portscatho, sixteen-year-old Daniel Orange form an unexpected connection with local boy Jago. What unfolds is transformative, particularly for Daniel, who for the first time feels truly seen.
East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten himself: sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.
Reminiscent of Édouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's writing, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.
East London, 2023. Daniel has rewritten himself: sharper, louder, queer in a way the city understands. But a visit from Jago stirs up a reckoning with his former life, forcing them both to question how much change their bond can withstand.
Reminiscent of Édouard Louis and Douglas Stuart's writing, Orange examines how we reconcile our past selves with the people we become, those we bring with us and those we leave behind.
287 pages, Paperback
Published February 19, 2026
34 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 17, 2026
4.5
Another gorgeous, emotive and moving book from Garner. A beautiful exploration of love and queerness, exploring identity and belonging with tenderness and compassion. I can’t wait for whatever this author writes next, he is an essential voice in literature right now.
Another gorgeous, emotive and moving book from Garner. A beautiful exploration of love and queerness, exploring identity and belonging with tenderness and compassion. I can’t wait for whatever this author writes next, he is an essential voice in literature right now.
February 7, 2026
loved this !!! beautiful writing and exploration of queerness and how trauma and grief shape us
February 7, 2026
I read Orange right after finishing Curtis Garner’s debut, Isaac (a book I loved deeply) and his new novel, which comes out February 19th, cements Garner as a force in contemporary queer literature. Curtis Garner @queer_novels belongs in conversations alongside writers like Douglas Stuart, Édouard Louis, and Ocean Vuong.
Orange feels lyrically similar to Isaac, but also more emotionally mature, more confident, more devastating. We follow Daniel Orange, a young gay man, through a fragmented narrative that alternates between his life at 16, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family in Cornwall, and at 21, living in London. That physical displacement mirrors something much deeper: a fractured sense of identity.
Daniel is constantly negotiating who he is, who he was, and who he wants to become. He’s caught between the desire to erase his past and the impossibility of ever fully escaping it. That tension runs through every page.
At the heart of the novel is Daniel’s relationship with Jago. A first love stretched across five years in something that feels like a situationship built on longing, tenderness, harm, and missed timing.
One of the things that struck me the most is Garner’s ability to write about masculinity: what it means to be a gay, effeminate man, how masculinity is policed, internalised, performed, and how deeply it shapes the way we see ourselves and are seen by others. It’s sharp, honest, and deeply resonant for queer readers.
Garner’s prose is lyrical, poetic, and emotionally precise. His ability to understand and put in words the queer experience of growing up and finding your place is remarkable. By the end, I genuinely didn’t want to let go of Daniel Orange. I understood him: his fears, desires, contradictions, even his worst moments.
Orange is a powerful exploration of queer identity, masculinity, belonging, and the idea that home isn’t always a place… sometimes it’s a self, or a person, or the space where you’re finally allowed to exist fully 🍊🫂
This is a novel that will stay with me, and one I truly believe people will be talking about this year. Highly recommended.
Orange feels lyrically similar to Isaac, but also more emotionally mature, more confident, more devastating. We follow Daniel Orange, a young gay man, through a fragmented narrative that alternates between his life at 16, growing up in a deeply dysfunctional family in Cornwall, and at 21, living in London. That physical displacement mirrors something much deeper: a fractured sense of identity.
Daniel is constantly negotiating who he is, who he was, and who he wants to become. He’s caught between the desire to erase his past and the impossibility of ever fully escaping it. That tension runs through every page.
At the heart of the novel is Daniel’s relationship with Jago. A first love stretched across five years in something that feels like a situationship built on longing, tenderness, harm, and missed timing.
One of the things that struck me the most is Garner’s ability to write about masculinity: what it means to be a gay, effeminate man, how masculinity is policed, internalised, performed, and how deeply it shapes the way we see ourselves and are seen by others. It’s sharp, honest, and deeply resonant for queer readers.
Garner’s prose is lyrical, poetic, and emotionally precise. His ability to understand and put in words the queer experience of growing up and finding your place is remarkable. By the end, I genuinely didn’t want to let go of Daniel Orange. I understood him: his fears, desires, contradictions, even his worst moments.
Orange is a powerful exploration of queer identity, masculinity, belonging, and the idea that home isn’t always a place… sometimes it’s a self, or a person, or the space where you’re finally allowed to exist fully 🍊🫂
This is a novel that will stay with me, and one I truly believe people will be talking about this year. Highly recommended.
March 1, 2026
I’ll just be honest: I’m a sucker for queer books. queer love. queer stories. I’ll take every single one and read them like they’re my own bible.
‘orange’ is hauntingly beautiful. the writing is sharp and implores the reader to feel deeply across many themes. romance is at the core of the story, but so is the cities it’s set in and I love when an author can transport you right into a city. especially when feelings connecting to the city is complicated. I love reading about characters relationship with london — my city where i was born and raised. grief, family, sexuality is also central to the story.
the romance is RAW. daniel and jago have an on-and-off relationship over the past five years and i truly can understand both their perspectives - being the one who leaves and the one left behind. being the “popular” one and the one who was isolated by peers. the queer sex is written detachedly, representing the protagonists attitude to love itself which is 10/10 for me. no notes.
throughly enjoyed it and felt very warm at the ending for being incredibly realistic yet not gut wrenching.
‘orange’ is hauntingly beautiful. the writing is sharp and implores the reader to feel deeply across many themes. romance is at the core of the story, but so is the cities it’s set in and I love when an author can transport you right into a city. especially when feelings connecting to the city is complicated. I love reading about characters relationship with london — my city where i was born and raised. grief, family, sexuality is also central to the story.
the romance is RAW. daniel and jago have an on-and-off relationship over the past five years and i truly can understand both their perspectives - being the one who leaves and the one left behind. being the “popular” one and the one who was isolated by peers. the queer sex is written detachedly, representing the protagonists attitude to love itself which is 10/10 for me. no notes.
throughly enjoyed it and felt very warm at the ending for being incredibly realistic yet not gut wrenching.
March 4, 2026
Orange is exactly the kind of novel that has made me fall in love with reading. This is all about the characters and how they navigate the world, and each other. We are taken inside the overly analytical mind of Daniel Orange, and allowed to see the nuanced way he approaches life and love.
Its stories like these, where plot is not the focus, but human connection is. Garner writes such complicated and complex characters that I feel so drawn in, and engaged with the novel. I didn't want to put it down. Not because of some fast paced action, or mystery, but because I want to understand human nature better. I want to know how people love, and feel, and grow. Character driven narratives like "Orange" for me, help me see the world in a better and more insightful way.
I loved how very different Daniel and Jago are in their approach to not only their relationship, but the world at large. How they navigate life is so vastly different, and how those two ideoligies can sometimes clash, and other times blend beautifully. I felt this was written so wonderfully.
For being a shorter novel, the themes explored here felt large. One theme that I really loved in its exploration was how the past and the future can be both things we cherish and things that conflict each other. The idea that you long for the safety or comfort of the past, which can often contrast with the excitement of moving forward in life. When Daniel brings Jago into his life in London as an adult, this is both exciting and scary for him. Merging both worlds is not always easy, and sometimes maybe not even possible or good.
There is so much depth to this novel. It tackles parental neglect, internalized homophobia, addiction, found family, coming of age, lust, love... all of it. This was a novel I did not want to end, and still ached for the end, simply because I needed to know how it ended. Plainly put, I loved "Orange."
Curtis Garner is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I will gladly eat up anything he writes in the future.
Its stories like these, where plot is not the focus, but human connection is. Garner writes such complicated and complex characters that I feel so drawn in, and engaged with the novel. I didn't want to put it down. Not because of some fast paced action, or mystery, but because I want to understand human nature better. I want to know how people love, and feel, and grow. Character driven narratives like "Orange" for me, help me see the world in a better and more insightful way.
I loved how very different Daniel and Jago are in their approach to not only their relationship, but the world at large. How they navigate life is so vastly different, and how those two ideoligies can sometimes clash, and other times blend beautifully. I felt this was written so wonderfully.
For being a shorter novel, the themes explored here felt large. One theme that I really loved in its exploration was how the past and the future can be both things we cherish and things that conflict each other. The idea that you long for the safety or comfort of the past, which can often contrast with the excitement of moving forward in life. When Daniel brings Jago into his life in London as an adult, this is both exciting and scary for him. Merging both worlds is not always easy, and sometimes maybe not even possible or good.
There is so much depth to this novel. It tackles parental neglect, internalized homophobia, addiction, found family, coming of age, lust, love... all of it. This was a novel I did not want to end, and still ached for the end, simply because I needed to know how it ended. Plainly put, I loved "Orange."
Curtis Garner is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I will gladly eat up anything he writes in the future.
October 1, 2025
Ummmmmm not sure where to start, the story flowed nicely even when it went back in time.
My only major problem was the words that was used they were long and my kindle couldn't find the meaning of most of them,so I felt cheated a bit by not being able to understand them
My only major problem was the words that was used they were long and my kindle couldn't find the meaning of most of them,so I felt cheated a bit by not being able to understand them
March 16, 2026
The novel tells the story of Daniel, who grows up in a small coastal town and later moves to London, carrying with him memories of his first love and the emotional weight of the past. It follows his reflections on identity, relationships, and the complicated search for belonging. It is a quiet, intimate story, and I found myself loving it for its honesty and emotional depth.
In recent years, it has almost become a reflex to compare emerging writers to Sally Rooney. Whenever a new voice appears, people often frame their work as “the next Sally Rooney.” Most of the time, I find these comparisons unconvincing, as they tend to flatten the individuality of new writers rather than illuminate it. Yet while reading Orange, I caught myself thinking about Rooney, not because Curtis Garner imitates her style, but because his writing carries a similar emotional precision. The quiet intensity of the relationships, the introspective voice, and the structure of the narrative create a mood that feels intimate and reflective while remaining distinctly Garner’s own.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its descriptive writing. Garner renders spaces with such clarity that at times I felt as though I were standing beside Daniel, almost holding his hand and sharing the same room. The scenes are written so vividly that I could almost walk through the rooms he describes or move with him through the streets of London. Garner creates environments that feel intimate and real.
Another aspect of the novel that stands out is the way Garner writes about sexuality and identity. The passages that explore Daniel’s experience as a gay man, his vulnerability, his uncertainty, and his attempts to understand himself, are written with great sensitivity. What I particularly appreciated is that Garner does not feel the need to over-explain queerness to the reader. In many novels with queer protagonists, there is sometimes a sense that the narrative pauses to clarify or justify certain experiences for a presumed non-queer audience. Orange avoids this entirely. Garner writes about Daniel’s sexuality with a quiet confidence, allowing it to exist as a natural and integral part of his life rather than something that needs constant explanation. For queer readers especially, this approach can feel refreshing and authentic, as the novel trusts its audience to understand the emotional realities it portrays.
I found particularly compelling is how it reflects on the language we use to describe identity. For many of us who live in cities and who are part of queer communities, certain terms and labels can feel like common knowledge. We often emphasise the importance of using the right words and the correct terminology. Yet Orange gently reminds the reader that this knowledge is not universal. There are many people whose experiences of desire and intimacy do not necessarily come with the language to name them. Especially in smaller or more isolated places, someone might be in a relationship with another man, or feel attraction that falls outside heteronormative expectations, without ever using the word “gay” to describe themselves. Garner captures this reality with nuance and empathy. The novel suggests that identity is not defined solely by the labels we adopt, but by lived experience. Whether or not someone knows the terminology, their feelings and relationships remain real. In this way, the book subtly reminds us that everyone navigates their identity in their own way, and that no one should feel pressured to define themselves according to a fixed set of labels.
The novel also engages thoughtfully with themes of mental health and belonging. Daniel’s internal struggles, his uncertainty about where he belongs, his questions about what “home” means, and his lack of self-confidence and self-worth, felt deeply relatable to me. At times, his reflections on feeling out of place or unsure of where he fits resonated strongly with my own experiences. This personal connection made it easier to empathise with him and to follow his emotional journey throughout the novel. Garner approaches these themes with a great deal of care. Rather than dramatising or sensationalising Daniel’s struggles, he portrays them in a quiet, measured way that feels honest and human. The same sensitivity appears in the depiction of family dynamics and the emotional weight they carry. These elements add another layer of depth to the novel and make Daniel’s story feel both intimate and authentic.
In recent years, it has almost become a reflex to compare emerging writers to Sally Rooney. Whenever a new voice appears, people often frame their work as “the next Sally Rooney.” Most of the time, I find these comparisons unconvincing, as they tend to flatten the individuality of new writers rather than illuminate it. Yet while reading Orange, I caught myself thinking about Rooney, not because Curtis Garner imitates her style, but because his writing carries a similar emotional precision. The quiet intensity of the relationships, the introspective voice, and the structure of the narrative create a mood that feels intimate and reflective while remaining distinctly Garner’s own.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its descriptive writing. Garner renders spaces with such clarity that at times I felt as though I were standing beside Daniel, almost holding his hand and sharing the same room. The scenes are written so vividly that I could almost walk through the rooms he describes or move with him through the streets of London. Garner creates environments that feel intimate and real.
Another aspect of the novel that stands out is the way Garner writes about sexuality and identity. The passages that explore Daniel’s experience as a gay man, his vulnerability, his uncertainty, and his attempts to understand himself, are written with great sensitivity. What I particularly appreciated is that Garner does not feel the need to over-explain queerness to the reader. In many novels with queer protagonists, there is sometimes a sense that the narrative pauses to clarify or justify certain experiences for a presumed non-queer audience. Orange avoids this entirely. Garner writes about Daniel’s sexuality with a quiet confidence, allowing it to exist as a natural and integral part of his life rather than something that needs constant explanation. For queer readers especially, this approach can feel refreshing and authentic, as the novel trusts its audience to understand the emotional realities it portrays.
I found particularly compelling is how it reflects on the language we use to describe identity. For many of us who live in cities and who are part of queer communities, certain terms and labels can feel like common knowledge. We often emphasise the importance of using the right words and the correct terminology. Yet Orange gently reminds the reader that this knowledge is not universal. There are many people whose experiences of desire and intimacy do not necessarily come with the language to name them. Especially in smaller or more isolated places, someone might be in a relationship with another man, or feel attraction that falls outside heteronormative expectations, without ever using the word “gay” to describe themselves. Garner captures this reality with nuance and empathy. The novel suggests that identity is not defined solely by the labels we adopt, but by lived experience. Whether or not someone knows the terminology, their feelings and relationships remain real. In this way, the book subtly reminds us that everyone navigates their identity in their own way, and that no one should feel pressured to define themselves according to a fixed set of labels.
The novel also engages thoughtfully with themes of mental health and belonging. Daniel’s internal struggles, his uncertainty about where he belongs, his questions about what “home” means, and his lack of self-confidence and self-worth, felt deeply relatable to me. At times, his reflections on feeling out of place or unsure of where he fits resonated strongly with my own experiences. This personal connection made it easier to empathise with him and to follow his emotional journey throughout the novel. Garner approaches these themes with a great deal of care. Rather than dramatising or sensationalising Daniel’s struggles, he portrays them in a quiet, measured way that feels honest and human. The same sensitivity appears in the depiction of family dynamics and the emotional weight they carry. These elements add another layer of depth to the novel and make Daniel’s story feel both intimate and authentic.
March 2, 2026
The emotional connection to Orange was instantaneous. Garner perfectly captures what so many young queer adults romanticised and dreamed of while growing up. The novel balances that yearning with a beautiful sense of realism — and for that reason, it made me wish I were seventeen again.
March 2, 2026
Daniel and Jago are two characters I will be thinking about for a long time!
March 8, 2026
Phenomenal
Garner ate and I have more thoughts but I need to let that one simmer first dang
Garner ate and I have more thoughts but I need to let that one simmer first dang
March 12, 2026
“Orange” is a masterful exploration of the messiness of a queer coming-of-age journey. It’s a poignant and beautiful portrayal that resonated deeply with me. Plus, Curtis Garner’s writing is simply stunning, making him a must-read for me!
February 26, 2026
Another stunner. Already ordered copies for several friends.
February 19, 2026
There are many reasons why a novel can connect with a reader in a profound way. It could just be a great story. Or that it makes you laugh. Or it can jolt memories from your own life, from long ago, that remind you how life evolves, for better or worse, for all of us, and our experience of life can be so similar.
This second novel from Curtis Garner has done all of the above for me, which makes it so relatable. Whether it’s the moment that Daniel hears his new friend and his mates laughing as he’s fetching all the drinks (fearing the laugh is at his expense) and on returning, they all go quiet (fuelling his social anxiety and his place in the hierarchy of friendships) or the agony the reader feels as Daniel dares to use the dreaded unrequited ‘I love you’ to his hot love interest, only scratches the surface of the novel.
The descriptions of how they drive dangerously fast along ridiculously narrow Cornish potholed country lanes, fearing a car would approach you at the same speed, leading to possibly fatal consequences, reminded me instantly of my decades-ago family trips to see relatives in Fowey (not far from where this book is set) and indeed my dad’s car suffering a minor crash in a car way too big for those tiny roads.
I laughed at the description of the Cornish hating the tourists while being incredibly friendly people. When I visit Fowey again, as a tourist of course, just a mention of my relatives’ name in a shop or attraction, I heard many stories about my family and friends.
The descriptions of London too are amusing. I too have been stuck in the very same tunnel, on the likely very same grotty Bakerloo line train just outside Edgware Road, wondering whether any information about the delay would be forthcoming. It rarely is. And the minute you sat there wondering before the train moved again seems like the equivalent of an hour, such is London life. There are many of these moments in the book that made me smile.
The main story, though, is sexy, sordid, heart-breaking, brutal and very real. No spoilers here, but by the end, I was emotionally exhausted. Which is a good thing.
In some ways, it reminds me of the novels by Patrick Gale and Alan Hollinghurst. This book isn’t filled with the same style of descriptive prose those authors wonderfully write, but this book doesn’t need that. There is enough, though, that for me kept the narrative flowing while filling in all the ‘scenery’ that a novel needs.
I can’t wait for the next book…….
This second novel from Curtis Garner has done all of the above for me, which makes it so relatable. Whether it’s the moment that Daniel hears his new friend and his mates laughing as he’s fetching all the drinks (fearing the laugh is at his expense) and on returning, they all go quiet (fuelling his social anxiety and his place in the hierarchy of friendships) or the agony the reader feels as Daniel dares to use the dreaded unrequited ‘I love you’ to his hot love interest, only scratches the surface of the novel.
The descriptions of how they drive dangerously fast along ridiculously narrow Cornish potholed country lanes, fearing a car would approach you at the same speed, leading to possibly fatal consequences, reminded me instantly of my decades-ago family trips to see relatives in Fowey (not far from where this book is set) and indeed my dad’s car suffering a minor crash in a car way too big for those tiny roads.
I laughed at the description of the Cornish hating the tourists while being incredibly friendly people. When I visit Fowey again, as a tourist of course, just a mention of my relatives’ name in a shop or attraction, I heard many stories about my family and friends.
The descriptions of London too are amusing. I too have been stuck in the very same tunnel, on the likely very same grotty Bakerloo line train just outside Edgware Road, wondering whether any information about the delay would be forthcoming. It rarely is. And the minute you sat there wondering before the train moved again seems like the equivalent of an hour, such is London life. There are many of these moments in the book that made me smile.
The main story, though, is sexy, sordid, heart-breaking, brutal and very real. No spoilers here, but by the end, I was emotionally exhausted. Which is a good thing.
In some ways, it reminds me of the novels by Patrick Gale and Alan Hollinghurst. This book isn’t filled with the same style of descriptive prose those authors wonderfully write, but this book doesn’t need that. There is enough, though, that for me kept the narrative flowing while filling in all the ‘scenery’ that a novel needs.
I can’t wait for the next book…….
December 6, 2025
Curtis Garner’s ‘Orange’ is a meditative and often sombre look at Cornwall native Daniel-whose memory of his relationship with his mother and his on-again off-again quasi-boyfriend Jago make up the book. Daniel felt stifled by his childhood in Cornwall and he moved to London to become the better version of himself. Yet that did not happen and he reflects on why he's so emotionally unsatisfied.
Garner flashes back between two times in Daniel's life-2018 and the present-to show readers just how unsatisfied Daniel is with his life. He feels unmoored and a non-participant in his own life. Daniel does not understand why he cannot be with his first love, Jag, and why their relationship has been so tumultuous. Daniel never seems sure of where he stands in the relationship.
Along with his relationship with Jago, he deals with wounds from his childhood. His mother was an alcoholic, and his parents had a terrible relationship. Daniel and his mother lived with his nan to get some peace from the constant fighting between his mother and father. However, the mother’s drinking was always a major concern, and something carries he immense guilt about.
Garner shows immense empathy for Daniel and his plight, and he understands Daniel feeling like an outsider in his own community. Daniel is not only isolated in his place of birth, but he is still searching for purpose because he has not dealt with the trauma of the past.
I wanted to like the book more than I did. I found the Daniel/Jago connection tedious at times. There was too much discussion about the status of their relationship so that I grew impatient. I never saw much depth of feeling there. It felt more like an obsession. Daniel’s obsession with Jago went on way too long for me. I did not understand why Daniel spent so much time with him because Jago seemed dull and a bit of a flake. I found Daniel’s one-time date, Tom much more interesting. I would have preferred to read more about him.
I think the time shifts also hurt, because readers are constantly moving between the two periods. I would have told the story chronologically. I don’t think the past needed to be treated as a mystery. Garner is extremely talented, and there’s a lot of heart in the novel. I just wish I felt more for the central relationship in the novel.
Garner flashes back between two times in Daniel's life-2018 and the present-to show readers just how unsatisfied Daniel is with his life. He feels unmoored and a non-participant in his own life. Daniel does not understand why he cannot be with his first love, Jag, and why their relationship has been so tumultuous. Daniel never seems sure of where he stands in the relationship.
Along with his relationship with Jago, he deals with wounds from his childhood. His mother was an alcoholic, and his parents had a terrible relationship. Daniel and his mother lived with his nan to get some peace from the constant fighting between his mother and father. However, the mother’s drinking was always a major concern, and something carries he immense guilt about.
Garner shows immense empathy for Daniel and his plight, and he understands Daniel feeling like an outsider in his own community. Daniel is not only isolated in his place of birth, but he is still searching for purpose because he has not dealt with the trauma of the past.
I wanted to like the book more than I did. I found the Daniel/Jago connection tedious at times. There was too much discussion about the status of their relationship so that I grew impatient. I never saw much depth of feeling there. It felt more like an obsession. Daniel’s obsession with Jago went on way too long for me. I did not understand why Daniel spent so much time with him because Jago seemed dull and a bit of a flake. I found Daniel’s one-time date, Tom much more interesting. I would have preferred to read more about him.
I think the time shifts also hurt, because readers are constantly moving between the two periods. I would have told the story chronologically. I don’t think the past needed to be treated as a mystery. Garner is extremely talented, and there’s a lot of heart in the novel. I just wish I felt more for the central relationship in the novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Present, Not Compelling
The novel moves between Cornwall and London, and the book moves with Daniel, the protagonist. Back and forth in time, circling first gay love, family influence and the long residue of adolescence. It is attentive, controlled and often careful. I followed it to the end, but I never felt fully inside it.
The Cornwall sections are the strongest on the page. The setting presses in on the characters, and the early relationship at the centre of the book is drawn through proximity rather than drama. Shared beds, walks along the coast - these scenes are convincing in isolation, and the novel allows imbalance to exist without trying to correct it. Place carries weight here, shaping behaviour rather than standing in as mood.
The London chapters lose that hold. Daniel’s interior voice becomes dominant, and the narration starts doing the work the scenes could manage on their own. Reflections on therapy, labels and dating culture recur with diminishing effect. At its weakest, the book drifts into over-articulation and repetition, mistaking earnestness for depth. By this point, I found myself observing Daniel rather than engaging with him. His self-awareness did not translate into momentum or pull.
The later chapters tighten structurally, and withheld context does alter how earlier patterns read. Even so, the shift arrived too late to change my distance from the protagonist. I understood what the novel was doing. I simply did not care enough about Daniel to feel invested in where it landed.
This is a considered novel, serious in intent, with moments that work on the sentence level. For me, it remained emotionally remote i.e. present on the page, but not compelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Orange.
The novel moves between Cornwall and London, and the book moves with Daniel, the protagonist. Back and forth in time, circling first gay love, family influence and the long residue of adolescence. It is attentive, controlled and often careful. I followed it to the end, but I never felt fully inside it.
The Cornwall sections are the strongest on the page. The setting presses in on the characters, and the early relationship at the centre of the book is drawn through proximity rather than drama. Shared beds, walks along the coast - these scenes are convincing in isolation, and the novel allows imbalance to exist without trying to correct it. Place carries weight here, shaping behaviour rather than standing in as mood.
The London chapters lose that hold. Daniel’s interior voice becomes dominant, and the narration starts doing the work the scenes could manage on their own. Reflections on therapy, labels and dating culture recur with diminishing effect. At its weakest, the book drifts into over-articulation and repetition, mistaking earnestness for depth. By this point, I found myself observing Daniel rather than engaging with him. His self-awareness did not translate into momentum or pull.
The later chapters tighten structurally, and withheld context does alter how earlier patterns read. Even so, the shift arrived too late to change my distance from the protagonist. I understood what the novel was doing. I simply did not care enough about Daniel to feel invested in where it landed.
This is a considered novel, serious in intent, with moments that work on the sentence level. For me, it remained emotionally remote i.e. present on the page, but not compelling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Verve Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Orange.
February 27, 2026
What can I say? I absolutely adored ‘Orange’. I had heard so many great things about this book and, the moment I started it, I understood why. It’s full of teen angst, nostalgia, longing and heartbreak – all of which I could certainly relate to when thinking back to my younger years. It brought back so many memories: some great, and some not so great. But hey, we all live, we learn and we grow through the mistakes we make along the way.
This was my first book by Curtis and I’m incredibly excited to begin his debut novel after wrapping up my review for this beautiful coming-of-age story. The overarching theme of love – and whether you can find it in a person, a place or within yourself – was simply wonderful. The themes of what it means to be queer, the exploitation of identity, and the struggle to define who you are in the world are exquisitely explored with such raw emotion and authenticity that it felt as though I was reading about some of my own experiences and feelings from when I was younger.
What Curtis has achieved with this book is nothing short of exceptional. His characters come to life and they never feel contrived or pretentious. They are beautifully flawed and deeply relatable. His storytelling is lyrical and beautiful. I loved every single moment of ‘Orange’, and I have his debut, ‘Isaac’, lined up to read immediately.
This was my first book by Curtis and I’m incredibly excited to begin his debut novel after wrapping up my review for this beautiful coming-of-age story. The overarching theme of love – and whether you can find it in a person, a place or within yourself – was simply wonderful. The themes of what it means to be queer, the exploitation of identity, and the struggle to define who you are in the world are exquisitely explored with such raw emotion and authenticity that it felt as though I was reading about some of my own experiences and feelings from when I was younger.
What Curtis has achieved with this book is nothing short of exceptional. His characters come to life and they never feel contrived or pretentious. They are beautifully flawed and deeply relatable. His storytelling is lyrical and beautiful. I loved every single moment of ‘Orange’, and I have his debut, ‘Isaac’, lined up to read immediately.
October 9, 2025
Curtis Garner has done it again with his new novel Orange. I absolutely loved Isaac, so when I saw that he had another book coming out so quickly - I was skeptical and excited at the same time.
I'm so thrilled to say that he has done it again. He has a true gift and a way with words that just captivate you and sucks you deeply into the story that is being told.
I just loved this so much. I loved Daniel. I loved Jaygo. And I loved their story. The closer I got to the end I found myself wanting to live in this story forever. I didn't want it to end. I read this in one day it was so captivating. Garner knows how to write a sex scene let me tell you!
The two timelines worked so cohesively and really added to the unfolding of this love story between two people. It's a story of being in the wrong place at the right time.
Bravo. Just incredible. Curtis Garner is an auto-buy author for me now.
I'm so thrilled to say that he has done it again. He has a true gift and a way with words that just captivate you and sucks you deeply into the story that is being told.
I just loved this so much. I loved Daniel. I loved Jaygo. And I loved their story. The closer I got to the end I found myself wanting to live in this story forever. I didn't want it to end. I read this in one day it was so captivating. Garner knows how to write a sex scene let me tell you!
The two timelines worked so cohesively and really added to the unfolding of this love story between two people. It's a story of being in the wrong place at the right time.
Bravo. Just incredible. Curtis Garner is an auto-buy author for me now.
February 1, 2026
I adore it. We find out the story of Daniel Orange through two timelines and locations: 2023 London and 2018 Cornwall. The characters are well developed and they serve their unique relationships to Daniel. I particularly enjoy the vast landscape of Cornwall portrayed by the author - the stillness of the countryside scenery I imagined in my head and the slower rhythm of living brought a sense of calmness to me. The sweet discovery of first love between Daniel and Jago ("Jay-go") and the challenging family dynamics of the Oranges revealed in Cornwall pose a stark difference to London, where Daniel finally feels liberated and finds/experiments with a new mindset.
I could not put it down and had to find out how Daniel deals with his past and memories when he is confronted by two separate worlds that collide with each other.
TW: Domestic abuse, drug use and sex.
I could not put it down and had to find out how Daniel deals with his past and memories when he is confronted by two separate worlds that collide with each other.
TW: Domestic abuse, drug use and sex.
March 20, 2026
I had been really looking forward to Orange after loving Isaac, and it didn’t disappoint. Like Garner’s debut, it offers a vivid, modern portrayal of gay life in London and the wider UK.
At its core, Orange is shaped by a fractured family and touched by tragedy, but it’s also a story of hope—especially in the evolving relationship between the main characters. Their connection feels real, making you root for them even in the most difficult moments.
I found myself hoping they might finally have “got” each other by the end.
At its core, Orange is shaped by a fractured family and touched by tragedy, but it’s also a story of hope—especially in the evolving relationship between the main characters. Their connection feels real, making you root for them even in the most difficult moments.
I found myself hoping they might finally have “got” each other by the end.
March 23, 2026
A beautifully written and emotionally rich novel exploring the messy reality of first and queer love, alongside identity and self-acceptance. Daniel’s first love, Jago, sees him in a way that feels transformative, capturing the powerful need to be truly understood. Curtis Garner crafts an intimate, reflective story that lingers long after the final page.
Did not finish
December 30, 2025I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I had to shelf the book at 20% as a DNF as unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it which was a real shame.
Thank you again for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I had to shelf the book at 20% as a DNF as unfortunately I just couldn’t get into it which was a real shame.
Thank you again for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2026
The themes were interesting, but I found it hard to get fully invested in the story. The writing style alienated me with its stark tendency to tell rather than show emotion, which felt like overexplaining.
March 13, 2026
Enjoyed this a lot.
“Wanting someone makes him feel ugly, like there is something fundamentally wrong with him. It’s a miserable existence when you’re wondering why a person doesn’t spend every waking moment thinking about you when this is how you feel about them”
“Wanting someone makes him feel ugly, like there is something fundamentally wrong with him. It’s a miserable existence when you’re wondering why a person doesn’t spend every waking moment thinking about you when this is how you feel about them”
January 15, 2026
Wow - a beautiful story. Love, friendship and self-discovery.
Parts were almost like poetry, Daniel is a character who is likeable and complicated.
Parts were almost like poetry, Daniel is a character who is likeable and complicated.
January 30, 2026
3.75⭐️
While I preferred his debut, I still enjoyed this coming of age tale, intertwined with the difficulty of the idea of home, and how to decide when to let go of parts of an old life
While I preferred his debut, I still enjoyed this coming of age tale, intertwined with the difficulty of the idea of home, and how to decide when to let go of parts of an old life
February 28, 2026
Stunning. The sort of book that reminds you why you love reading in the first place.
I also need a hug.
I also need a hug.
March 1, 2026
Fucking hell. Easiest five star ever. Waiter more queer Cornish literature please
March 22, 2026
thought I would love this but didn't connect like I thought it would - but I still liked it and the cover is LOVELY
March 21, 2026
Overall, I enjoyed Orange. At its heart, it’s a novel about formative queer years and the complicated intimacy of a long relationship, one where both people are changing but still clinging to something from the past. And that central thread is where the book works best.
The relationship between Daniel and Jago felt real and lived-in. Garner captures the texture of a relationship that has history: the tenderness, the misunderstandings, the push and pull between closeness and emotional distance. Some of their scenes together are genuinely touching, and those moments carried the novel for me.
Where I struggled slightly was with the surrounding storylines. I often found myself wanting more depth, particularly when it came to Daniel’s family and his past. We’re told that he had a very close relationship with his nan, and that his mother struggled with alcoholism before her death, but those elements mostly arrive as information rather than fully realised scenes, narratives or reflections.
Because of that, I sometimes felt the emotional foundation of Daniel’s character was missing. I wanted to see more of the formative moments: the childhood and teenage experiences that shaped the detached, guarded person he becomes as an adult. Those details felt like they could have added another layer of emotional weight to the story.
That said, Orange is still an engaging and thoughtful read. Garner writes about queer relationships with warmth and honesty, and the novel captures the messy, formative years of love and identity in a way that feels recognisable and sincere.
The relationship between Daniel and Jago felt real and lived-in. Garner captures the texture of a relationship that has history: the tenderness, the misunderstandings, the push and pull between closeness and emotional distance. Some of their scenes together are genuinely touching, and those moments carried the novel for me.
Where I struggled slightly was with the surrounding storylines. I often found myself wanting more depth, particularly when it came to Daniel’s family and his past. We’re told that he had a very close relationship with his nan, and that his mother struggled with alcoholism before her death, but those elements mostly arrive as information rather than fully realised scenes, narratives or reflections.
Because of that, I sometimes felt the emotional foundation of Daniel’s character was missing. I wanted to see more of the formative moments: the childhood and teenage experiences that shaped the detached, guarded person he becomes as an adult. Those details felt like they could have added another layer of emotional weight to the story.
That said, Orange is still an engaging and thoughtful read. Garner writes about queer relationships with warmth and honesty, and the novel captures the messy, formative years of love and identity in a way that feels recognisable and sincere.
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