The must-read glamorous debut about the nostalgic power of music, first love and family
Spring, 1994. Will, a talented busker, falls for Emily, a quirky art student. By 1997, Will is playing Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, and Emily is unveiling her first gallery show. They spend a whirlwind summer touring with Will’s band, caught up in their love for their art and each other.
But within two years, Will is dead.
Spring, 2016. Emily remains single. Her art is long forgotten. Now, life revolves around her 16-year-old daughter, Liv. But when Emily accidentally reveals she once knew Will, Liv is stunned. How could her ordinary, predictable mother have known someone like Will Bailey?
And why does Emily blame herself for his death?
Interweaving dual timelines, When We Were Young explores what it means to have loved and lost, and reminds you that the ones you love can set you free.
A gorgeous debut novel about love and loss, perfect for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and David Nicholls!
17 Jul 2025 | PB | 9780008763329 | £9.99
If you’re an independent bookseller in the UK or Ireland and you’d like an advance reading copy of When We Were Young please send your request, along with your name and bookshop address, to the IndieThinking team on independentthinking@harpercollins.co.uk
