★7家出版社激烈競價，最終以6位數競價售出英國版權
★Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize決選作品
★《柯夢波丹》票選最值得一讀的新書
★《Elle》譽為「今年最具原創性的浪漫愛情喜劇小說」
★暢銷作家暨2018《富比士》30歲以下精英人士Emma Gannon大力推薦

辛辣、風趣且真實，一處封閉的閣樓，4位心意相異的男女必須找到出口。

一個溫暖、宿醉的四月週末，當艾倫(Ellen)的公寓水管破裂，屋內開始漏水，同時門鎖失靈的那一刻，她和最親近的室友亞歷克莎(Alexa)，以及那些闖進她們生命的陌生人，面臨了最微妙的關係轉變。

他們被鎖在屋內——艾倫、亞歷克莎、室友傑克(Jack)，以及亞歷克莎在交友軟體上的約會對象，現在正光著上半身的班(Ben)。接著兩人不得不在眾人面前公開昨夜的關係，然而更深的祕密藏在這幾個年輕男女之中；早在亞歷克莎之前，班和艾倫早就認識。他們是學生時期的曖昧對象，在那個MSN還盛行的年代，他們會傳落落長的，濃情蜜意的簡訊給對方，而那也是艾倫正情竇初開的美好時候。

然而美夢隨之破裂，班開始避而不見艾倫，無疾而終的結尾成了艾倫心上的結。那麼多年過去了，艾倫始終沒能全然擺脫過去的傷痕。就在這個始料未及的重逢時刻，艾倫重新檢視她的傷源，一旁的亞歷克莎侷促不安，害怕著班會就此離去，而傑克則是在推特直播放送眼前的一切。

一切越來越難以掌控，隨著時針滴答敲響，這群年輕男女面臨著兩個問題︰他們出的了閣樓嗎？而即便如此，在此之後，他們還能正視著對方嗎？

 

Phoebe Luckhurst，英國小說家、記者、編輯。Luckhurst於《星期日泰晤士報》擔任資深策劃編輯，曾任《倫敦旗幟晚報》副刊編輯。她的其餘文章散見於《衛報》、《星期日泰晤士報風格》、《Elle》、《Vogue》等處；另著有《The Back Up Man》，此書以6位數競價售出英國版權。Luckhurst現居倫敦。

 

The year's most original romcom ― ELLE

Hilarious ― Evening Standard, 'Best New Books in 2021'

Entertaining, endearing, and truly unique. Found myself wincing and laughing with familiarity ―Emma Gannon, bestselling author of Olive

David Nicholls for millennials . . . The Lock In is a dream read: an immaculately plotted romcom which vividly captures both late teenagehood and twentysomething houseshares ― i

A high-concept romcom that's stuffed full of belly laughs and nostalgia ― Red

Such a fun, clever, original and massively entertaining read . . . I love it, you'll love it ― Lindsey Kelk

I LOVED this book . . . I highly recommend The Lock In if you fancy a fun summer time read ― Carrie Hope Fletcher

Beautifully written, warm and fun with a dose of early noughties nostalgia, The Lock In is a perfect summer read ― Laura Kay, author of The Split

I loved this book. Brilliantly written and so perceptive on the trials and tribulations of Generation Rent, it's also screamingly funny, deliciously nostalgic and really just a very fun time. I almost wish they'd stayed locked in for longer ― Lauren Bravo

An immensely readable, witty and well-crafted debut . . . a very millennial tale of love, loneliness and friendship ― i

This will have you both cringing and crying with laughter ― Woman's Weekly

This hilarious debut will give you all the lols you need this summer. A highly relatable comedy about flatmates, hangovers and terrible landlords ― Evening Standard

Funny and compelling from page one and so well written. Such a brilliant premise and really well executed. Officially a huge fan of Phoebe Luckhurst! ― Lucy Vine, bestselling author of Hot Mess

A funny, joyful hug of a book! A nostalgic, pitch perfect ode to the awkwardness and hilarity of yearning teenage years and house sharing in your twenties ― Cressida McLaughlin

Loved the concept and characters. . . it's very funny ― Sarra Manning

Proper laugh-out-loud stuff ― Fabulous Magazine

Best new good book to read' ― Cosmopolitan

One to watch ― The Bookseller

Hilarious ― Woman

Joyful ― Stylist