Exciting Times

Exciting Times follows Ava, a young Irish woman who moves to Hong Kong to teach English after university. In this unfamiliar city, she navigates cultural differences while working as a TEFL instructor and trying to establish herself. The story centers on Ava's relationships with Julian, a wealthy British banker, and Edith, a Hong Kong lawyer. These connections force her to confront questions about money, power, and her own identity as she moves between their different social worlds. The novel explores class dynamics and wealth disparity through Ava's position as an outsider in Hong Kong's expatriate community. Her interactions highlight the tensions between local and foreign cultures, as well as the complexities of modern relationships across cultural and economic divides. Through its examination of contemporary dating and relationships, the book raises questions about emotional authenticity, financial dependency, and the search for connection in an increasingly globalized world. These elements combine to create a portrait of millennial life and love in a major international city.

Readers compare the book to Sally Rooney's work, with many noting similar themes of millennial relationships and communication styles. The narrative voice splits readers - some connect with the dry, analytical prose while others find it detached and cold. Readers appreciated: - Sharp observations about class, wealth, and privilege - Complex portrayal of bisexuality and identity - Witty commentary on language and teaching English - Clean, precise writing style Common criticisms: - Passive, emotionally distant protagonist - Slow plot progression - Characters lack depth and growth - Too similar to other Irish millennial fiction Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (84,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (3,400+ ratings) "The protagonist overthinks everything to the point of exhaustion," notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user writes: "The observations about language and power dynamics are brilliant, but the story itself left me cold."

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Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams The narrative follows a young woman in London navigating cultural identity, modern dating, and professional life while confronting her place in multiple worlds.

Brief Encounters with Uncomfortable Conversations by Jenny Offill This fragmented narrative presents a woman's observations about relationships, teaching, and daily life through sharp, precise language.

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Chemistry by Weike Wang A Chinese-American graduate student's academic and romantic uncertainties unfold through detached observations and cultural disconnections.

🌟 The novel was written while Dolan was teaching English in Hong Kong, directly inspiring the protagonist's experiences and setting 🌏 The book sparked significant discussions about the "Sally Rooney effect" - referring to a wave of young Irish female authors gaining international recognition for their contemporary fiction 📚 Dolan wrote the first draft in just 3 months, though the editing process took considerably longer before publication in 2020 🎭 The author, like her protagonist Ava, is openly bisexual and has been praised for her authentic portrayal of bisexual relationships in contemporary literature 🗣️ Dolan is neurodivergent (autistic) and has spoken about how this influences her writing style, particularly her precise and analytical approach to dialogue and social interactions