English Summary/英文概要： UK Publisher: Harvill (ed. Cassie Browne) US Publisher: On submission UK Agent: Rosie Pierce Translation Agent: Katie Harrison Material available: Unedited manuscript Publishing Summer 2027 At auction in Germany. All other rights available It’s 2006. The Arctic Monkeys are at number one, and Nell’s heart is broken. We open on Hampstead Heath at dusk: the moment of heartbreak. Matthew isn’t ready for commitment; in fact, he’s not even sure he’s capable of love. It’s every cliché imaginable, but it still blindsides Nell. She throws herself into nights out, new friendships, anything that helps her forget Matthew — whilst staying steady enough to support vulnerable schizophrenic brother, Sam. Interspersed with the present day scenes are past fragments of her relationship with Matthew: its promising beginnings – sparks flying at a fancy dress party, Matthew in full wetsuit and flippers – and the months of falling, hard and fast, in hushed museums, low-lit bars and sunny gardens, right up to the sudden break up that left Nell reeling. As time moves on, the flashbacks fade. Nell’s life has changed shape and she’s okay with that. It wasn’t meant to be. Then she meets Ben: warm, thoughtful, uncomplicated Ben. It is different to her beginning with Matthew – less lightning bolts, more slow burn. Maybe that’s just what she needs. So when Matthew reappears late one night, desperate for a second chance, it’s a no, obviously. Matthew might be sure of what he wants now, but Nell’s done enough soul-searching to know that she should never go back. And her friends would kill her; they’ve spent months putting her back together. But not long after, in a moment of crisis, when Sam phones threatening to harm himself, Nell makes a call that changes everything. Torn between her head and her heart, she must choose: should she grow her fledgling connection with Ben, or risk her heart with Matthew, the man she loved so completely? Does going back always mean going backwards? Can it be a way forward too? Or does happiness come when you fully let go of the past and step into something new?

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 预计将与2027年夏出版！那是 2006 年。北极猴子乐队位居榜首，内尔的心却碎了。 故事始于黄昏时分的汉普斯特德荒野：心碎的那一刻。马修还没准备好做出承诺，事实上，他甚至不确定自己是否有爱的能力。这是所有能想到的老套情节，但内尔还是猝不及防。她全身心投入到夜晚的外出、新的友谊中，任何能帮助她忘记马修的事情都行 —— 同时还要保持稳定，以支持患有脆弱精神分裂症的弟弟山姆。在当下的场景中，穿插着她和马修过去恋情的片段：充满希望的开端 —— 在一场化妆舞会上擦出火花，马修穿着全套潜水服和脚蹼；还有那些坠入爱河的日子，在安静的博物馆、灯光昏暗的酒吧和阳光明媚的花园里，爱得轰轰烈烈、迅速热烈，直到那场突如其来的分手让内尔深受打击。 随着时间推移，闪回的记忆渐渐淡去。内尔的生活有了新的模样，她对此也能接受。那段感情本就不该有结果。然后她遇到了本：温暖、体贴、简单纯粹的本。这和她与马修的开始不同 —— 少了些电光火石，多了些慢慢升温的感觉。或许这正是她所需要的。 所以，当一天深夜马修再次出现，迫切地想要一个第二次机会时，答案显然是不行。马修现在或许清楚自己想要什么了，但内尔已经进行了足够多的自我反思，她知道自己绝不该回头。而且她的朋友们也会不答应的，她们花了好几个月才把她重新拼凑好。 但不久之后，在一个危机时刻，当山姆打电话来威胁要伤害自己时，内尔的一个电话改变了一切。在理智和情感之间挣扎，她必须做出选择：是应该发展与本刚刚萌芽的关系，还是冒险再次对马修敞开心扉 —— 那个她曾深爱过的男人？回头是否就意味着倒退？回头也能是一种前进吗？还是说，幸福在于彻底放下过去，勇敢踏入新的生活？（wanda)