The Lion Tamer Who Lost

A heartbreaking, breathtakingly beautiful love story with an unforgettable tragedy at its heart, from the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of Maria in the Moon and How To Be Brave.

***Shortlisted for the Sapere Books ‘Most Popular Romantic Fiction’ Award at the 2019 RNA Awards***
***Longlisted for the Polari Prize***

‘Beech eloquently conveys their feelings and longings and sets atmospheric, vividly drawn scenes that transport the reader from grey and damp England to the searing heat of the lion reserve …The Lion Tamer Who Lost will touch the most hardhearted of readers with its persuasive, well-drawn and memorable characters’ Daily Express

'A devastating, tender and powerful story love story, beautifully and bravely told. You will lose your heart to this book. I adored it’ Miranda Dickinson

’Vivid, passionate and exquisitely told, this love story will live on in my heart for a very long time to come. A poignant, surprising and all-consuming read’ Katie Marsh

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Be careful what you wish for…

Long ago, Andrew made a childhood wish, and kept it in a silver box. When it finally comes true, he wishes he hadn’t…

Long ago, Ben made a promise and he had a dream: to travel to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally makes it, it isn’t for the reasons he imagined…

Ben and Andrew keep meeting in unexpected places, and the intense relationship that develops seems to be guided by fate. Or is it? What if the very thing that draws them together is tainted by past secrets that threaten everything?

A dark, consuming drama that shifts from Zimbabwe to England, and then back into the past, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a devastatingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart…

‘A stirring novel, beautifully written, reminiscent of the early work of Maggie O’Farrell’ Irish Times

‘Fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine will love it’ Red Magazine

‘An excruciatingly passionate love story, in its surprising turns and lovely particulars … A beautiful text’ Foreword Reviews

‘This book really got under my skin as a beautiful portrait of love, loss and longing’ Irish Independent

'An incredible, poignant piece of work. Louise Beech had cemented her place as one of Britain’s finest modern storytellers’ John Marrs

'A beautiful, honest and tender love story that I won’t forget for a long time …Their love had me trapped in its spell, their tragic moments had me sobbing like a baby … A triumph’ Fionnuala Kearney

‘A beautifully crafted book’ Carol Lovekin

‘Louise Beech has totally blown me away with her storytelling’ Madeleine Black

‘I adored this beautiful and inspiring book’ Kate Furnivall

‘Already one of my favourites of 2018’ LoveReading

‘Storytelling at its finest. Louise Beech is a beguiling wordsmith. Prepare to be hooked’ Amanda Prowse

‘Digs deep emotionally, but is funny and feel-good, too’ Fiona Mitchell

‘A stunning and very brave book’ Gill Paul

‘The setting alone makes this book worth a read’ S. E. Lynes

‘Louise Beech is a natural-born storyteller with an elegance about her writing that never fails to move me’ Michael J. Malone

‘There are times when you finish reading a book and know that part of it will stay with you always. This will be one of those books’ Claire Allan

‘It put me in mind of John Irving. It’s that feeling of being in the hands of a master storyteller and just trusting him or her so completely’ Laura Pearson