Whatever Makes You Happy

In William Sutcliffe's new novel, the hapless gap-yearers of Are You Experienced? have given way to three men in their early thirties who are not (in the eyes of their alienated mothers) properly settled. Matt works for lads mag Balls! and is a serial dater of girls half his age. Paul is an experienced hand at lying and evasion to keep his life choices a secret from his mother. Daniel spends his Saturday nights alone in his flat reading novels, pining for ex-girlfriend and love of his life Erin. The mothers decide to launch a co-ordinated attack: they will arrive, without warning, to stay with their sons for one week with the intention of man-handling them back onto the right path. Wonderfully funny, with some characteristically hilarious set pieces, William has once again shone a brilliantly incisive spotlight on his generation.