The Grip is set in Cambridge, England in 1978 and follows the life of Tom Hopkins, a young gorgeous guitarist. Tom has recently finished high school and refuses to go to college. He is stuck in a laboring job that he hates and endures harassment from his co-workers. Despite his good looks, Tom has no confidence when it comes to women. When Tom is accepted as a member of a New Wave band things look to be improving for him however, along comes Nisha Chavada, a motorbike riding, social activist and squatter. Nisha takes control 0f managing the band and she also takes control of Tom's life! This story had some very unlikable characters and a few grotty scenes that had me cringing but overall it was an interesting story set in an era that I enjoy reading about. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for my digital copy.

The Grip by Andrew Craft was a novel I could not get into. The British slang was over the top and unintelligible to me, an American and I love reading British novels! YMMV but I just couldn't read it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

DNF

The first page was talking about a woman peeing on a man and it was so british I could hardly tell what they were saying so this book is just not for me.

The Grip
Or What Happens When Sex Ruins Everything
by Andrew Craft


This book contains a lot of humour, albeit a little dark humour, but it also contains something fundamentally tragic. Beyond the story, there are some very human concepts about life, opportunity, and choices that will strike a chord with many. The author's evocative way of transporting us to a fascinating era is also compelling.Looking for his rock and roll dream, Tom stumbles upon a romantic relationship with the beautiful and impressive Nisha Chavada. Perhaps the most interesting character in her novels, Nisha has looks, brains, ambitions, and a social conscience. She rides a cool motorcycle, but she prefers living with squatters in a seedy neighborhood about to be demolished. After seducing Tom, she quickly takes over the management of The Grips and leads them to success.

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There is a lot of humour in this book, albeit a little dark, but there is also something fundamentally tragic about it, too. Looking beyond the story itself, there are some very human concepts about life, opportunity and choices which will resonate with many. Also compelling is the evocative way the author takes us back in time to a fascinating era.