Sophie Duker's debut novel is an incisive, pop-culture filled diary-cum-exposé that I couldn't put down.

Dong (Dirty Old Nice Guy) is the story of Elinam, a young, black, queer woman starting her career in TV. And one day she meets Rick, "He was charming and funny, and possibly the only white man I've ever known to confidently do the 'Candy' dance." Rick is a rising comedian and a offers a lovely reprieve from the pigs she's forced to work with every day, but appearances can be deceiving.

I started this novel imagining it to be a funny (and probably sardonic) take on the TV industry, with a turn later which would take us to a horrendous MeToo experience. But reality far surpassed my expectations. Perhaps because I am Elinam's age, or because early in my career I worked in a male-dominated sales environment, this story felt like it was in technicolor. I will admit, initially I found the style jarring, it felt intense and filled with nervous energy, constant references, jokes and descriptions. But the beauty of Duker's writing is that that's perfect for Elinam at the beginning, and as she ages and mellows, so does the tone. But it's not just the humour and the relatability that got me, it's the angle at which she approached the story, giving us a flawed but realistic portrayal of what happens after the blinkers come off in a relationship.

But mostly, Dong made me really think; "As Lil Wayne said: real Gs move in silence like lasagna."

Thanks again to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for this ARC.

A hard hitting, and incredibly important story. Five stars. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.