‘The Fathers’ is strong stuff. Wealthy, educated and older first-time father, Dan, meets world-weary, small-time wheeler dealer/crook/violent thug, Jada, at a Glasgow maternity unit after the births of their sons, Tom and Cayden/Jayden. Father of five whom he rarely sees, Jada vows that he will be more present for his latest progeny, never mind the impossibility of being a positive influence on the boy’s life. In contrast, Dan is determined his son will never doubt his devotion nor want for anything.

Months pass and then the unthinkable happens. Bizarrely Dan and Jada’s paths cross again and the men grow increasingly dependent on each other. How and why?

I found Jada’s character really tedious for the first third of this story. Maybe that’s what the author is aiming for, showing us just how grim it is to live like him. However, it’s worth persevering with the narrative – the depiction of the central characters grows increasingly complex and nuanced. John Niven takes a terrible, nightmarish situation and explores its effect on the men and their families to the extent that it’s possible no one will survive. A thought-provoking, fearless look at privilege and poverty and whether or not the gap can ever be bridged.

My thanks to NetGalley and Canongate Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

In many ways, this is a strong book. Unafraid of writing about the realities of life, this book is a savage and unblinking tale of two people and also many people, going through life as best or as worst they can.
I've always admired this author and enjoyed his books and this book is unflinching in the best possible way, rendering the story stronger and more resonant.
Thank you for the publisher for allowing me to read this early.

Two men from hugely different backgrounds meet outside of a Glasgow hospital maternity unit. Jada is a working class man who earns his living through dodgy deals and this is his sixth child. Dan is a middle class television writer and his son is his first. The pair have little in common outside of their babies but find a connection. This book is a lot darker in places than I expected but I found it completely captivating throughout. It's a very Glaswegian book though will have a really wide appeal. It's funny and twisty and I loved it.

I loved this book from start to finish and found it very unputdownable. I love John Nivens writing style, it makes you really get a feeling of being in character. Would recommend for all fans of Irvine Welsh.

We follow the lives of Dan and Jada who meet outside the hospital on the day that both of their sons are born. Dan is a well to do upper class man and Jada is a roughian who’s constantly wheeling and dealing to get by. After their first meeting at the hospital they end up bumping into each other more frequently and become and unlikely pair of companions.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Found this a great read I loved the setting the witty undertones among the darker aspects and I felt it was well written with characters you felt invested in. It's a change to read to fiction like this you don't get many books like this now and it was a pleasure to read something that felt fresh.

This is the story of two men who meet in a maternity hospital where their partners have both just given birth to boys. They are from opposite sides of the tracks in Glasgow but their lives are set to interact in unexpected ways. The depiction of criminality and drug use in the underclass of the town is reminiscent of Shuggie Bain. The polar opposites of the two lifestyles is exaggerated, but never becomes cliched because of the talent of the writer, Both characters show compassion and weakness at various times. The plot is rollicking and full of gritty detail and surprises. I loved it.