A Sense of Occasion

“A comedy of bad manners, enacted cruelty, and zero-filter living.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[An] intriguing exploration of sexuality, selfishness, and how family shapes identity.” —Booklist

“Truly profound on the costs of performing one’s sexuality in public and private. I read it in a day; it was difficult to stop.” —Merve Emre, author of The Ferrante Letters and The Personality Brokers

“It would be a mistake to call the members of Brodie Crellin’s fictional family unlikeable characters – they’re simply real, recognizable characters. Crellin has a genius for tracking the internal logic behind all kinds of catastrophically bad behavior. A Sense of Occasion is a wonderful book, at once shrewd and ethereal.” —Chris Kraus, author of The Four Spent the Day Together and I Love Dick

“Wincingly funny and indecently insightful about a host of distinctly twenty-first century foibles and pathologies . . . Astonishing that such an assured performance is also a debut!” —Benjamin Kunkel, author of Indecision

“Meet the family!—and observe their interesting sex lives, depicted with joy and forensic subtlety. [A] delicious comedy of class, gender and sexuality . . . And if that’s not enough, herein you will find the greatest orgasm even written.” —Robert Glück

“Unforgettable. . . Crellin explores the boundless complications of sexuality, desire and love with rigor, intelligence and humor. Here are characters and relationships which feel strange, distinctive and always true.” —Rachel Connolly, author of Lazy City

“An astonishing writer. . . so sharp and perfect. This book is sexy, terrifying, keen and startling.” —Daisy Johnson, author of Everything Under and Sisters

“An outstanding debut by a singular voice . . . embracing the claustrophobic atmosphere of totally dysfunctional families. A rare, funny novel.” —Nicola Dinan, author of Disappoint Me

“A masterfully constructed novel. . . profound, immersive, visceral, tender, deeply accomplished and completely unique.” —Harriet Armstrong, author of To Rest Our Minds and Bodies