Listen to a sample

What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff, read by Andrew Scott.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BOOK AWARD 2020
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READER AWARDS 2021

'Brilliant and impactful' – Pandora Sykes

This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer – the summer when everything changes. In a holiday house by the sea, in a big, messy family, one teenager watches as brothers and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding.

Enter the Goddens – irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there’s a serpent in this paradise – and the consequences will be devastating.

From bestselling, award-winning author Meg Rosoff comes a lyrical and quintessential coming-of-age tale – a summer book that’s as heady, timeless and irresistible as Bonjour Tristesse and I Capture the Castle but as sharp and fresh as Normal People.

Featuring a bonus essay from Meg Rosoff on her experiences of summer, this is THE unmissable book of the summer.
From the author of How I Live Now, one of TIME magazine's 100 Best YA Books of All Time.

Critics Review

This smart and humorous novel is, from the first sentence, rapture to read

Sunday Times

A sun-drenched coming-of-age story … seductive and elegant. The heady nostalgia and sweet ache of first love and lost innocence recall classics such as Bonjour Tristesse

Observer, YA BOOK OF THE MONTH

Rosoff brilliantly captures the loss of innocence on the cusp of adulthood in a dreamy, seductive coming-of-age story that echoes classics like I Capture the Castle

The Bookseller, Editor's Choice

Brilliant … a thoughtful, impactful summer read. It sounds like it’s going to be the quintessential holiday romance but it’s so much more than that

Pandora Sykes, The High Low Podcast

A wonderful, captivating writer

Daily Telegraph

Meg Rosoff has the gift of being able to talk to the reader with a directness that goes like an arrow to the heart

The Times

A magical and utterly faultless voice

Mark Haddon

The perfect read for an afternoon by the sea

NetGalley user

An irresistible summer read

NetGalley reviewer

I genuinely couldn’t put it down

NetGalley reviewer

Sophisticated, seductive and smoothly readable, this is a summer story par excellence, and a coming-of-age tale for all times

LoveReading4Kids

A wonderful, escapist coming of age novel

Suffolk Magazine

A classic summer, coming-of-age story, wonderfully done… Its hazy nostalgia tempered by a winning self-awareness, The Great Godden is a joyful, generous read

Novel of the Week, Sunday Telegraph

A touching coming-of-age novel that is perfect for summertime

Sunday Express S Magazine

A dreamy, atmospheric tale about love, sibling rivalry and family secrets

Irish Independent

This brilliant, witty, very modern novel is the perfect summer coming of-age read… A perfectly-pitched look at adolescent loss of innocence, it balances dark manipulation with sharp humour

Daily Mail

Astute and alluring … totally absorbing. Rosoff perfectly captures the endlessness of summer, and the prickling uneasiness of desire when it’s tangled up in hope

Press Association

Marvellous – a classic, summery, coming-of-age story about the confusion of adolescent lust

Daily Telegraph

Full of lies, lust, manipulation and the agony of being young

Daily Mail

Rosoff’s dazzling, timeless novel is a delight

Independent

This mesmerising coming-of-age tale will have you hooked

Take a Break Magazine

This dreamy novel … charms and seduces effortlessly. Just like those long, hot, lazy summers of your childhood, by the end of it, you’ll want to start all over again *****

Heat Magazine

About xigxag

Enjoy the best audiobooks on xigxag, an innovative, user-friendly audiobook platform that makes it easy to find, purchase, and enjoy your favorite books in audio format. xigxag’s flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less – affordable prices and the best audiobook deals with no subscription required.  Give the perfect gift with our audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

xigxag’s commitment to sustainability and ethical practices ensures a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform – an exciting alternative to big tech.  Enjoy audiobooks from the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service and a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Search effortlessly, read honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the book and the narration, and discover hidden gems.  Download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere and get the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app.  Experience the future of audiobooks today.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.