“A witty and lively novel set somewhere between the worlds of Roddy Doyle and Irvine Welsh.” —William Dalyrymple, The Guardian Reminiscent of early Roddy Doyle, Tony Hogan Bought Me an Ice-Cream Float Before He Stole My Ma begins with our singular heroine’s less than idyllic birth and quickly moves to a spectacular fight that lands Janie and her mother in a local women’s shelter. From there it’s on to a dodgy council flat and a succession of unsuitable men, including the hard-drinking, drug-dealing, ice-cream-buying Tony Hogan. Kerry Hudson’s arrestingly original debut will enthrall readers with Janie’s tragicomic and moving story about coming of age in a non-traditional family amid the absurdities of the 1980s and Thatcherite Britain. At first, the cheery cover image and long, witty title seem at odds with Hudson’s story of coming-of-age in rough, impoverished neighborhoods in Britain in the 1980s. But it’s not long before readers will see that, in spite of the dodgy flats, drug dealers, and sketchy men, this bittersweet novel is warm and humorous, too. And that’s thanks to irrepressible Janie Ryan, who narrates the story, starting with her less-than-auspicious birth into a family of tenacious women (“fishwives to the marrow, they were always ready to fight and knew the places that would cut deepest”). Ma’s temper immediately lands her and newborn Janie in a women’s shelter, and, from there, it’s one council flat after the next, each anticipated with hopes that are quickly dashed. Ma and Janie’s push-pull, love-hate relationship drives the novel and reinforces the fact that family ties are hardy ones. The story is loosely based on Hudson’s own tough childhood in Aberdeen, Scotland, so it’s no wonder that Janie comes across as authentically flawed and real. Janie is determined to do better than those who have come before her, and readers will have their fingers crossed that she succeeds. --Ann Kelley “Wickedly, brilliantly, inescapably funny in spite of its often-horrific scenarios, Hudson's debut is, by equal turns, startling, devastating, and exhilarating.” – The Boston Globe “Sharp and insightful, Hudson's tender and courageous coming of age tale is impossible to put down. A gutsy debut that will engage and enthrall from page one.” – Lisa O’Donnell, author of The Death of Bees “This bittersweet novel is warm and humorous, too.” – Booklist “Funny and dark” – Kirkus Reviews  “[Told] with hope and a biting sense of humor.” – ShelfAwareness “…A witty and lively novel set somewhere between the worlds of Roddy Doyle and Irvine Welsh.” – William Dalrymple in The Guardian     “Colorful, funny, joyful and compelling” – The Observer    “Full of warmth and bittersweet humour” – The Financial Times      “Concurrently very funny and incredibly sad. The writing sizzles” – The Bookseller       “More than the best debut of 2012; it's one of the best books of the year.” .” – Louise Welsh in The Herald (Scotland)     “A sympathetic coming-of-age tale and a valuable counterpoint to widespread social attitudes to women in poverty” – Metro (UK)     “Real and heartfelt, carried along by stunning, earthy dialogue that captures the rough poetry of daily speech…Hudson avoids the usual sentimental clichés and gives us, without a shred of hipster cynicism, the hope and tough warmth for which she has such a sharp eye.” – The Guardian Kerry Hudson was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. Growing up in a succession of council estates provided her with a keen eye for idiosyncratic behaviors, and plenty of material for this, her first novel. She lives and writes in London.