Only Here, Only Now: Tom Newlands Debut is a Must-Read this Summer
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- June 17, 2025
A powerful coming of age story that captures 90s Scotland, neurodivergence, and the fight to belong, Perth-born Newlands has been shortlisted for two 2025 Society of Authors Awards for his widely praised debut novel. His novel is the only title to receive two short listings, joining literary heavyweights Matt Haig, Ali Smith, David Nicholls and Elif Shafak.
Set in Fife during the blazing summer of 1994, the novel introduces Cora Mowat, a sharp, restless 14-year-old girl trapped on a seaside council estate with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Desperate to escape her small-town life, she is unsure if there’s a place for her anywhere beyond the horizon. When her mother’s new boyfriend moves in, tensions in their cramped home rise. As their fragile family unravels, Cora rebels against her world in search of love, acceptance, and a sense of belonging. But sometimes, to move forward, you first must find your way back.
Drawn from personal memories and written with sharp imagination, Only Here, Only Now explores coming of age in a forgotten corner of Scotland. It touches on themes of grief, addiction, family, disability, and belonging — all through the eyes of a fiercely honest and neurodivergent protagonist. The novel has resonated deeply with readers beyond Scotland, having been translated into three languages and embraced in the US, where it earned a rare, starred review from Publishers Weekly.
Praise for the novel includes: “Absolutely loved this. Funny and heartbreaking in equal measure,” from Douglas Stuart, Man Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain, and “This isn’t just a great first novel; it’s a great novel,” from Roddy Doyle, Man Booker Prize-winning author of Paddy Clarke, Ha Ha Ha.
The author draws on memories of growing up in 90s Scotland, where most boys followed family footsteps, but many girls, like Cora, dreamed of escape. The voice of Cora feels fresh and exciting — a departure from traditional working-class storytelling that often centres boys and men. Cora’s journey over four pivotal years (1994–1998) reveals a world that didn’t yet understand neurodivergence. Undiagnosed with ADHD, Cora’s struggles and triumphs bring warmth, humour, and bravery to this unforgettable story.
Only Here, Only Now is out now in paperback and is Waterstones’ Book of the Month for July in Scotland. It is available in bookstores across the UK and internationally.
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