Just So Stories

New South Books

Publisher: Polygon

9781846977299

February 2026

AUD$39.99, NZD$44.99

This a stand-alone novel from A M-S that is utterly typical of his gentle story-telling with expert characterisations and with small details that bring his narratives to life.

Travelling in time back to the 80s, 24-year-old Julie, recalls the happy times spent in a shared flat in her university days. A fortuitous find, a gem of an Edinburgh flat and her role in bringing five other random young people together to share it. The novel goes back in time to those days of the connections made, the personalities, the shared closeness of some but aloofness of others and all against a backdrop of a changing political and social landscape in Britain.

The Miner’s Strike of 1984/85 and the battle instigated by the Thatcher government created upheaval, grief, and tremendously virulent anger and protests. One of Julie’s housemates is from a nearby town particularly suffering due to the strike and the ramifications and implications can’t help but impact and mold some of the views of the others.

And along with that side issue, the six complete strangers form a surprisingly congenial and close bond, that they all remember fondly in the present day. Six years after their house-sharing, and coming together for the wedding of one in the present day, brings them all into one space again with reminiscences recalling the special times, and re-connections.

Above all, they acknowledge theirs is a kind of love that was formed almost incidentally that continues on. This was really a pleasant, undemanding read which, once again, I enjoyed immensely. A 4 💗💗💗💗for general reading.