When We Were Animals

When We Were Animals conjures the dreamy satisfaction of revisiting the cult horror movies of your youth - things are familiar but they resound in new and unexpected ways, revealing subtle depths and poignancy. This is a dark, inventive and absorbing story, fittingly theatrical. It disturbs and entertains in equal measure

Benjamin Wood, author of the Costa-shortlisted The Bellwether Revivals

Admit it: you remember an animal time in your own life. And if you think you don't, Joshua Gaylord and his book will lash you with it. When We Were Animals has the power to creep you out and, yes, turn you on

John Griesemer, author of Signal & Noise

There’s no stopping this bizarrely fascinating journey of dark self-discovery

Kirkus

In ­Lumen, Gaylord creates an unforgettable and, well, luminous narrative voice, and his language captures the lush, dangerous possibilities of teenage nights to perfection. . . . this book deserves a breakout success like that of Jeffrey ­Eugenides's first novel, The Virgin Suicides

Library Journal

When We Were Animals is so utterly compelling and absorbing that every time I (reluctantly) broke from it, I not only had to remind myself where I was, but who I was. Superbly written, chilling, original and deeply affecting, it will stay with me for a long time

Sarah Lotz

An eerie tale ... poetically written, thought-provoking and has a good eye for life’s small but important details

Sun