"[A] blistering psychological thriller." --The New York Times Book
Review
"A compelling debut that fizzes with tension from start to finish,
blending the subtle erudition of literary fiction with the drama and
suspense of the very best thrillers. Masterful in its evocation of the
complexity of mother-daughter relationships, this is a darkly
fascinating, tightly plotted narrative from a writer to watch."
--Harper's Bazaar (UK)
Just graduated from high school and waiting to start college at Oxford,
Lily lives under the scrutiny of her volatile Singaporean mother, May,
and is unable to find kinship with her elusive British father, Charlie.
When May suspects that Charlie is having an affair, there's only one
thing that calms May down: a glass of perfectly spoiled orange juice
served by Lily, who must always taste it first to make sure it's just
right.
As her mother becomes increasingly unhinged, Lily starts to have
flashbacks that she knows aren't her own. Over a sweltering London
summer, all semblance of civility and propriety is lost, as Lily begins
to unravel the harrowing history that has always cast a shadow on her
mother. The horrifying secrets she uncovers will shake her family to its
core, culminating in a shattering revelation that will finally set Lily
free.
Beautiful and shocking, Bad Fruit is as compulsive as it is
thought-provoking, as nuanced as it is explosive. A masterful
exploration of mothers and daughters, inherited trauma and the race to
break its devastating cycle, Bad Fruit will leave readers breathlessly
questioning their own notions of femininity, race and redemption.
