I posted the following review on my Substack (second link in the links provided). Thank you so much for allowing me to read this incredible novel.

I feel as though I can’t start discussing “Ruins”, by Amy Taylor, until I talk about how I was first introduced to her work.

A couple of years ago, I won my first ever book prize through an Instagram promotion through Allen & Unwin, where I won a copy of Taylor’s debut novel “Search History”.

I don’t usually gravitate toward contemporary fiction, but holy-moley was I glad I was sent this book. Of the twenty or so books I read that year, Search History was a stand-out as a clear favourite. It’s a book that I still think about, at least once a month, two years later.

Search History was an exquisite examination of the nuances that make up the internal life of the human existence. In particular, what is that to be a woman existing today. It was so poignant, striking, honest and in that, a little uncomfortable.

So when I saw an ARC edition of Ruins on NetGalley, I hit “request” so fast, knowing how much I absolutely loved Search History. I’m so glad I was approved, because I have been blessed again with being able to read Taylor’s work.

Ruins is a multi POV contemporary fiction novel that follows Emma and Julian. A couple that seems to have lost their footing with one another, after Emma has a miscarriage. They take themselves for an extended trip away from their lives in London, to Corfu, and then Athens, Greece. As the summer sun starts to bear down on the city of Athens, the couple find themselves intertwining with local woman Lena. Desire, heat, and the unsaid compete and friction with one another, and as the peak of summer unfolds, it starts to melt away at everything that they have poised to one another.

I saw a review (I can’t find it again – but please reach out if you know it, so I can credit them) that said that Ruins solidified for them that Amy Taylor will forever be a “will buy whatever she puts out” author for them, from now on. And I don’t disagree. I love that Taylor writes morally ambiguous characters with deep inner lives. It feels so much more real, and encapsulates the nuances that make up the human condition. I was lucky to be able to read a digital ARC through NetGalley, and come release day (1st July 2025), I will be purchasing a physical copy of the book so I can revisit the story again. Much like the review I read, Ruins ensured that I too will be a devout consumer of Taylor’s work forevermore.

Amy Taylor is an Australian author, and you know that I love supporting our local talent.

Ruins release day is 1st July, 2025, a list of places you can pre-order from can be found here.

Reading this felt like hearing the juiciest piece of gossip at a dinner party. While the plot was disconcertingly predictable, as the obvious consequences started unravelling it was almost like a fire I couldn’t look away from.

The two main characters were a bit puzzling, I feel like not enough time was spent on the foundation of their relationship to properly understand and justify their behaviours. It felt like for two people who were in “love” they sure knew how to hate each other. However, this contributed to the story's “messiness” which honestly, worked pretty well.

I loved the inclusion of elements of Ancient Greek tragedy which were effective in deepening the characters’ struggles and blended seamlessly with the story’s setting.

Thank you NetGalley and Allen & Unwin for providing an advanced copy for review.