Hard Land | Benedict Wells

Benedict Wells' coming-of-age novel, Hard Land is an exploration of adolescence, grief and the magic of finally finding your people. Set in the sleepy American town of Grady, the novel follows Sam, a sensitive misfit who's navigating high school, family difficulties and first love. Sam's mum has an inoperable brain tumour, his dad is floating through life after losing his job at the local factory, and his sister is living a world away in California. Sam feels lonely and miserable until he gets a job at the local cinema. 

There, he meets Cameron, Hightower and Kirstie. A trio of fellow outsiders who become Sam's found family. Wells manages to describe the bond between them with  warmth and authenticity. We can't help but root for Sam as he stumbles through the process of heartbreak, loss and the messy process of growing up. The novel is told chronologically from Sam's point-of-view and is an homage to 80s classics like The Breakfast Club. It's a love letter to the films and music that shape us and the friendships that save us.

What I really loved about this novel is its emotional honesty. Wells doesn't avoid talking about the rawness of grief or the awkwardness of teenage longing, he manages to balance it with gentle humour and hopefulness. By the end, you'll just want to give the book a big hug. Hard Land gets a big recommendation from me.