Faber’s Debut Writers Night
This week we attended Faber’s Debuts Night, an introduction to three of the publisher’s most anticipated debut authors.
Barry Pierce hosted fifteen‑minute conversations with each writer, giving us a glimpse into their worlds and the stories they’re about to release.
The line‑up featured:
• Jem Calder — I Want You To Be Happy
• Eloise Rodger — Death’s A Bitch
• Momo Yamaguchi — Hello, Limerence
‘Hello, Limerence’ (out 4 June 2026) is set in Tokyo during a sweltering summer, following 25‑year‑old Mika as she tries to find herself. Barry described it as a “chaotic portrait of modern love”, complete with awkwardness, humour and plenty of sex. Momo explained that limerence refers to obsessive love — the kind that blurs judgement. Drawing on her own background growing up in Tokyo, studying in the US and living in London, she spoke about wanting to explore globalisation, work culture and the pressure to define yourself in your twenties.
Jem Calder’s ‘I Want You To Be Happy’ is published next week. Although this is his debut novel, he previously released the short‑story collection ‘Reward System’. The book follows two characters — Chuck, mid‑thirties and reeling from a breakup, and Joey, a 23‑year‑old barista whose life looks nothing like she imagined. Described as an “agonisingly bittersweet comedy”, it examines how we work, connect and fall apart in a city determined to grind us down. Even the cover — a collage of words like “misogyny”, “missed call” and “bookshop tote” — hints at its contemporary, slightly chaotic tone.
For Eloise Rodger, it was a milestone evening: the publication date for ‘Death’s A Bitch’ was announced today, with the novel arriving in January 2027. The TV rights have already been optioned. Her book is pitched as a darkly funny, Gen‑Z‑leaning fantasy. When Aggie’s sister is hospitalised, Death appears with a job offer for Aggie. Eloise spoke about imagining Death as a woman because the role involves endless admin and very little thanks, which earned a big laugh from the room. She began writing the story at sixteen and finished it during her final year at Trinity College Dublin, where she studied English literature.
All three novels sounded compelling, but Death’s A Bitch drew the biggest reaction from the audience — and from us. All three are under 300 pages, promising quick, punchy reads — whether you’re curled up with a cup of tea or finally catching some (hopefully) overdue sunshine.
Hosted in the former council chamber of the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, the space brought a distinctive character to the evening. The hotel’s bedrooms and suites each have their own style, with several retaining original Edwardian features. As a partner of Faber, the hotel also offers guests the chance to read books from the publisher during their stay.
Faber regularly hosts author conversations, and tonight’s event was a reminder of how energising it is to hear writers speak about the ideas that shaped their work.
Address: Town Hall Hotel Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9NF
Website: https://www.townhallhotel.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/townhallhotel
For Faber:
Website: https://www.faber.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faberbooks
