“A phenomenal debut, dark but hopeful”
“Devastatingly impactful... shines with hope-giving truths”
“Incredibly moving... A rare new voice”
One tragic event.
Two stories that collide and intertwine in the most beautiful, terrible way.
A compelling story of love, loss and forgiveness: tender, devastating and hopeful.
David Fickling Books, 2025
Winner, DFB & Arvon Search for a Storyteller 2024
Longlisted, Branford Boase Award 2026
Hive Rising Writers: Our top debut authors to watch, Oct 2025
LoveReading YA Debut of the Month, Oct 2025
Editors: Liz Cross & Meggie Degurney; Cover designer: Michelle Brackenborough
‘What an impactful debut … A layered story of love emerging from tragedy. Heartbreaking yet hopeful’
Jen, bookseller, Mainstreet Trading Books of the Year 2025
‘Devastatingly impactful … A Beautiful, Terrible Thing is a potent exploration of grief and atonement, and love in all its complex forms. And, through its darkness, the story shines with hope-giving truths’
Joanne Owen, LoveReading
‘Exploring huge themes of family and forgiveness, love and loss, and the life-changing consequences of a split-second decision, this is a phenomenal debut, dark but hopeful’
Eileen Armstrong, The School Librarian
‘Exceptional … an author of great talent’
Veronica Price, V’s View From the Bookshelves
‘Exceptional … gut-wrenchingly compelling’
Cornerstones Literary Consultancy
‘It takes great skill to make this slightly-implausible premise believable, and Moore does. These feel like genuine aching teenagers caught up in a nightmare situation, rather than chess pieces manoeuvred for dramatic impact; there is a real attraction between the two as well as a mature recognition of the trauma both are enduring. This gut-punch of a novel is one to discuss with bookish pals’
Claire Hennessy, Irish Times
‘Profoundly moving without ever lapsing into sentimentality... Beautifully crafted’
Jim Beckett, author of Buzz Sausage Wolf
‘Joyful, broken and everything in between. Absolutely superb’
Denise Gale, Waterstones
‘Powerful and complex … a beautiful and compelling exploration of love and forgiveness’
Louisa Reid, author of Gloves Off and Handle With Care
‘Incredibly moving. Brutal, beautiful and ultimately hopeful… A deep look at love, loss, grief and all the emotions in between. A rare new voice’
Christina Pillainayagam, author of Ellie Pillai is Brown