Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst

Alan Hollinghurst returns with a sweeping, luminous novel that spans decades of British life, tracing the intimate friendship between two boys from vastly different worlds. Our Evenings is a masterful exploration of class, desire, and the subtle ways our early connections shape who we become.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Dave Win, whose path crosses with the charismatic Giles at a local drama workshop. What begins as an unlikely friendship evolves into something more complex—a relationship that will reverberate across their lives, through changing social landscapes and personal transformations. Hollinghurst’s prose is characteristically elegant and precise, capturing the texture of memory and the weight of unspoken longing.

This is a novel about the England we’ve lived through: the Thatcher years, the millennium, the present moment. It’s about theater and performance, both on stage and in life. It’s about mothers and sons, privilege and ambition, and the quiet devastations that accumulate over time.

Perfect for readers who appreciate:

• Literary fiction with emotional depth and social insight
• Beautifully crafted prose that rewards close attention
• Stories that explore identity, class, and desire
• Character-driven narratives that span decades

From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Line of Beauty, Our Evenings confirms Hollinghurst’s place as one of our finest contemporary novelists. This is the kind of book you’ll want to linger over, then immediately recommend to your most discerning reader friends.