Listen to a sample
Open, Heaven
- Author
- Seán Hewitt
- Narrator
- Sebastian Croft
- Publisher
- Random House
- Publish Date
- 24 April 2025
- Run Time
- 6 hours 28 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Narrative theme: identity / belonging, Narrative theme: coming of age, Rural communities / rural life
- Rating
- 3.0 (1 review)
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What to expect
Brought to you by Penguin.
When James meets Luke, everything changes – an exhilarating tale of hidden desire and sudden freedom in the wild countryside.
THE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
James dreams of another life far away from his small village. Almost an adult, his newfound desires threaten to unravel his shy exterior. Then he meets Luke. Unkempt and handsome, charismatic and impulsive, he has been sent to stay with his aunt and uncle on a nearby farm.
With the passing seasons, a bond emerges between them that transforms their lives. Yet James is never sure of Luke’s true feelings and as the end of summer nears, he has a choice to make: will he risk everything for the possibility of love?
‘An achingly beautiful story of first love’ Guardian
‘Superb’ Sarah Perry
‘Beautifully written, deeply felt’ Michael Magee
‘Gorgeous… I promise it’s amazing!’ Jack Edwards
‘Heart-rending… Propulsive’ Financial Times
(C) Seán Hewitt 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
Critics Review
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An achingly beautiful story of first love in the English countryside . . . Lyrical, atmospheric and transporting
Guardian, *Summer Reads of 2025*
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Hewitt is superb in his loving and acute descriptions of the natural world
SARAH PERRY
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A gorgeous debut novel about an all-encompassing first love… I promise it’s amazing!
Jack Edwards @jack_edwards
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Heart-rending . . . sensuous and decadent
Financial Times
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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A beautiful, lyrical and tender novel of youthful passion and the longing for connection
FERDIA LENNON, author of Glorious Exploits
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A beautiful novel about how a first love can shape a whole life
HELEN MACDONALD, author of H is for Hawk
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A mature and complete debut novel . . . The central relationship occurs by light, sensitive touch, and reaches arresting emotional depths
New Statesman
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Blisses with the bright verdure of youth . . . It’s a novel about us
KAVEH AKBAR, author of Martyr!
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A gorgeous debut . . . a novel that thrums with hidden love and concealed truths
ANDREW McMILLAN, author of Pity and Physical
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A luminous portrayal of two teenagers bonding with each other over one heady, transformative year
Waterstones
User Reviews
Book 3.0
Narration 3.0
-
3.0 3.0
I don't understand characters that remain completely locked into their first fantasy love to the detriment of themselves.
readingspells 2026-05-22
Details
- Author
- Seán Hewitt
- Narrator
- Sebastian Croft
- Duration
- 6 hours 28 minutes
- Release Date
- 24 April 2025
- ISBN
- 9781529942507
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Random House
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Narrative theme: identity / belonging, Narrative theme: coming of age, Rural communities / rural life
- Rating
- 3.0(1 review)
- Narration
- 3.0(1 review)
Synopsis
Brought to you by Penguin.When James meets Luke, everything changes – an exhilarating tale of hidden desire and sudden freedom in the wild countryside.THE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLERJames dreams of another life far away from his small village. Almost an adult, his newfound desires threaten to unravel his shy exterior. Then he meets Luke. Unkempt and handsome, charismatic and impulsive, he has been sent to stay with his aunt and uncle on a nearby farm. With the passing seasons, a bond emerges between them that transforms their lives. Yet James is never sure of Luke’s true feelings and as the end of summer nears, he has a choice to make: will he risk everything for the possibility of love?‘An achingly beautiful story of first love’ Guardian‘Superb’ Sarah Perry‘Beautifully written, deeply felt’ Michael Magee‘Gorgeous… I promise it’s amazing!’ Jack Edwards‘Heart-rending… Propulsive’ Financial Times(C) Seán Hewitt 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025
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