An intimate and tender exploration of love's possibilities, of the shapes it can find and create inside people, of how it is always surprising us. Its's a novel both quietly devastating and shimmeringly, acutely, observed

SOPHIE MACKINTOSH

From the writer of Send Nudes comes the novel Gunk. Yes, we are obsessed with the title. The novel explores the multi-layered relationship between two women, Jules and Nim

COSMOPOLITAN, The 25 books we can't wait to read in 2025

This tender fictional debut by celebrated essayist Sams looks at blended families and nontraditional life choices. Prepare for one of the best birth scenes written on the page along with an original and ageless relationship between two women, Jules and Nim, who meet each other behind the bar at Brighton nightclub Gunk. This will make you think differently about parenting, friendships and the goals we set in life

ELLE, The Cult Books We Can't Wait To Read In 2025

An electrifying debut novel ... We loved Sams' first book Send Nudes ... Gunk feels as though it will be the next talked-about step into Sams' exploration of womanhood – and we can't wait to join the discussion.

SERVICE95

Saba Sams made waves in 2022 with Send Nudes, a short story collection. Now the 28-year-old author has written her first novel, about the bond between two women from different generations - and what happens when a baby arrives in the mix

SUNDAY TIMES, The 40 books to look out for in 2025 - the critics' picks

Saba Sams's short story collection, Send Nudes, caused a stir upon its release in 2022. Since then, she's won the BBC National Short Story Award and been named one of Granta's best young British novelists, so it's safe to say that expectations are high for her debut novel. Gunk is set around a scuzzy student nightclub in Brighton and explores the tangled mess of relationships that emerge between exes Jules and Leon, and 19-year-old bar staffer Nim

independent.co.uk, The best books to look out for in 2025