Gunk

by Saba Sams
Gunk cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Contemporary Fiction
Technical
  • ID: 3892
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9781526666482
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
  • Published: 2025-05-08
  • Reviews: 3

Gunk is a critically acclaimed debut novel that delves into the intricate dynamics of love, desire, and the evolving definitions of family. The story revolves around Jules, a woman navigating her complicated past with her ex-husband Leon, and her unexpected bond with Nim, a young woman who becomes pregnant and disappears, leaving Jules with a baby. The novel is praised for its tender exploration of relationships and the unpredictable nature of life. /n/n Set in a gritty student nightclub called Gunk in Brighton, the narrative unfolds with raw honesty and emotional depth. As Jules and Nim's relationship grows increasingly intimate and perplexing, the novel challenges traditional notions of family and love. With its immersive storytelling and nuanced characters, Gunk offers a poignant and thought-provoking reading experience.

Reviews
Book Munch · 2025-06-04
positive 4.50

The novel is a well-crafted story with strong narrative propulsion and smartly tied characters. It's a rapid page-turner with no messy subplots.

The reviewer praises Gunk for its strong narrative propulsion and well-crafted characters that fit the theme perfectly. They highlight the absence of messy subplots, making the story cohesive and engaging. The reviewer found the novel to be a surprisingly rapid page-turner, appreciating the smart way all elements are tied together. They also mention that the characters are well-developed and fit seamlessly into the story, enhancing the overall reading experience.

Quick quotes

    Everything's tied in smartly: all the characters fit the theme, there's no messy subplots, and the narrative propulsion is strong.

    With its strong narrative propulsion and well-crafted characters, Gunk is a surprisingly rapid page-turner.

    The characters are well-developed and fit seamlessly into the story.

The TLS · Alice Wadsworth · 2025-05-23
positive 4.00

The novel features a recognizable and lovable character stuck in cycles of addiction. It's a poignant tale of motherhood and partnerships.

Alice Wadsworth highlights the character of Leon, who is both lovable and sadly recognizable due to his struggles with addiction. She appreciates the novel's exploration of motherhood and partnerships, finding it both messy and beautiful. Wadsworth notes that the novel captures the complexities of these themes in a poignant and engaging manner. She also mentions that the character of Leon is particularly well-drawn, making him a standout in the story.

Quick quotes

    Leon is a sadly recognizable character, lovable and charming, but stuck in cycles of addiction and quick to renounce claim to his offspring.

    A poignant tale of motherhood and partnerships reimagined, Gunk shows how life can be simultaneously messy and beautiful.

    The novel captures the complexities of motherhood and partnerships in a poignant and engaging manner.

The Guardian · 2025-05-09
mixed 3.00

The novel is more commercial and lacks the strangeness and humor of the author's previous work. The plot is engaging but sometimes feels thin.

The reviewer notes that Gunk is a more commercial endeavor compared to the author's previous novel, Send Nudes. While they appreciate the plot's engagement, they feel it lacks the strangeness and humor that made Send Nudes stand out. The characters and their relationships are well-developed, but the narrative sometimes struggles to maintain its depth. Overall, it's a readable and entertaining novel, but not as unique as the author's earlier work. They also mention that the novel captures the messy and beautiful aspects of motherhood and relationships, making it a poignant read.

Quick quotes

    Sams's novel is a plottier, more commercial endeavour, however.

    It lacks the strangeness and some of the humour of Send Nudes, and at times the ...

    For Jules, life had become a series of chaotic, beautiful moments.

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