A BBC must-read book of 2026 - 'Sharp, dark and humorous, it's a real nailbiter.'

Anyone can write a bestseller. Here’s how.

GO GAY

It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast.

GO SAD

Enter Leo – a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for.

GO DARK

Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide: just how far will she go to pen the perfect story?

'Absolutely unforgettable. A raw, visceral triumph that echoes modern classics like Trainspotting, Young Mungo and A Little Life, yet stands entirely on its own.' John Marrs

'Fruit Fly is savage and darkly hilarious. A pointed satire of publishing with flawed, fascinating characters.' Juno Dawson

'This is an incredible book ... tough and raw and merciless but funny and kind at the same time.' Russell T. Davies, writer of It's a Sin

'Absolutely unforgettable. A raw, visceral triumph that echoes modern classics like Trainspotting, Young Mungo and A Little Life, yet stands entirely on its own.' John Marrs

'Dark, haunting, gripping, psychologically messy, heartbreaking but also darkly funny. An absolute masterpiece.' Kate Weston

'Josh has a fantastic, distinctive voice. The writing is as fearless as the characters are fearful. Bold, raw, uncomfortable and very, very funny.' Jonathan Harvey

'Fruit Fly is sharp, propulsive, and deeply humane, a story about people in freefall written with such clarity, dark humour, and compassion that you can’t stop turning the pages. It's a novel that subverts our usual narratives about trauma and illness, healing and redemption, a riotous, tender tale of people writing their own rulebooks. Josh Silver's adult debut is a must-read.' Seth Insua, author of Human, Animal

'Fruit Fly is provocative, moving and does not so much carry but propels you along a wild journey that leaves you a little breathless by the end, desperate for more. Expertly crafted characters, stomach-punching prose and a stark exploration of real world issues.' Onyi Nwabineli

Josh Silver grew up on a farm in the Lake District, before moving to Manchester with his family, where he spent his teenage years loving the city. He trained as an actor at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and went onto perform in the West End and on Broadway. After deciding to change careers, Josh now works with teenagers as a mental health nurse. Josh lives in Manchester.