SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST 2014 PICK OF THE YEAR HELLO! MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Were James Kelman ever to write about the red light district it might feel something like this powerful book. The unforgettable character of Layla, in all her complexity, finds her way into your heart and your head. De la Mer, full of integrity and honesty, stares at the sex industry without blinking, and in doing so has suddenly become a vital British novelist.' - Alan Bissett 'Scottish fiction of the year for me is Brighton-based Nina de la Mer's hypnotising Layla.' - Herald Scotland, Books of the Year 'Blisteringly good read... Hayleigh's idiosyncratic voice is easy to love and you can't help but be drawn to this brilliant, searingly honest and darkly funny character.' - Hello! magazine 'The energy and realism that characterised de la Mer's debut, 4a.m., is taken up a seemingly impossible few notches in this perceptive and forceful tale... The second-person narrative is also more than experimental, suiting well the sense of menace that pervades Hayleigh's night-time world.' - Leslie McDowell, Herald Scotland 'An authentic work of modern feminism... [Layla] is a character who penetrates deep and leaves a lasting impression, as does de la Mer.' - The List 'Nina de la Mer's second novel drops you right into the heart of Soho's lap dancing scene...in a second-person narrative so immersive you can practically smell the baby oil...you're swept along by the vivacity and personality of the incident-prone protagonist, with a voice that'll stick in your head after you've finished reading.' - Londonist 'Written in the second person, which is perfect for this self -searching novel in which the protagonist is standing back to examine the highs and lows of her life... a brilliant novel, gripping and engaging from the first page and cannot be praised too highly: talented writing; brilliant characterisation; a wonderful story of our time. This is a 'must read'.' - bookgroup.info 'The story unfolds day-by-day over a tumultuous week, with the present tense conveying a palpable urgency.The second-person narrative has an almost confrontational tone, drawing 'you', the reader, into Layla's chaotic world... Each chapter reads like a diary entry, punctuated by unanswered messages gathering dust in Hayleigh's inbox. These cryptic texts denote a gulf between what Hayleigh chooses to reveal, and what she keeps hidden - and these omissions can be as telling as the fragments we are allowed to see... [For] lovers of Brit Lit with added grit.' - For Books Sake 'Compelling commentary on fantasy versus reality in the sex industry... The hooker with a heart of gold may be something of a cliche in movies, but de la Mer has elevated Hayleigh's story to something much more literary. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Layla is a new Tess of the d'Urbervilles for our time.' - Bookkaholic 'Layla is a triumph as a novel, and as a character. It's not always an easy read, and nor should it be... Layla is an honest and powerful depiction of the life of a woman who finds her self in an all too believable situation. Where such a novel could have been judgemental and patronising, Nina de la Mer finds empathy and emotion, so much so that you won't be able to put it down until you have to say goodbye.' - Scots Whay Hae! 'Layla packed a punch and didn't hold back in the slightest. Nina de la Mer's novel is gritty and visceral... a cracking read.' - Judging Covers
