Pearl: LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 BOOKER PRIZE

‘In Hughes’ debut novel about motherhood, there is as much wisdom as there is abrasion’

Jerry Pinto, Hindu

‘Hughes’s novel is radical in largely dispensing with dramatic tension in order to create a circling story that maps the lasting impact of a loss’

Barney Norris, Guardian

‘A heart-tugging story, Pearl is a tender portrayal of loss and longing, of a daughter yearning for her mother, written in a poignant style’

Rachna Chhabria, Deccan Chronicle

‘A rare gem that fully deserves its Booker longlisting, and your attention’

Jake Kerridge, Telegraph UK

'Ridden with themes of grief, finding one’s lost identity, and postpartum stress'

Nandini Bhatia, Telegraph India

'Pearl is a compact, emotionally charged literary journey. The book explores the intricate nuances of the sense of loss, and how it transforms over a lifetime, and orbits themes of grief, motherhood and self-discovery.'

Shrestha Saha, New Indian Express

'Pearl is a tender portrayal of loss and longing, of a daughter yearning for her mother, written in a poignant style. The ending made the journey of reading the book worthwhile.'

Rachna Chhabria, Deccan Chronicle