Headshot

‘Explosive . . . Bullwinkel jumps between past, present and future to bring these powerful, brilliant, messy young women vividly to life.’ Guardian, a summer pick

‘An absolute knock-out . . . its visceral, skilful prose grips from first to last . . . Excellent.’ Declan Ryan, Daily Telegraph 5*

‘An ambitious, exciting debut. You emerge from it sweaty, pummelled and ready for your next fight.’ Laura Hackett, The Times

‘A knock-out . . . Headshot feels like the complete deal in a way we rarely see in debut fiction: efficient, forceful, just messy enough to be interesting and leaving space in the ring for the reader.’ John Self, Observer

‘Beauty, brutality and the sheer banality of violence combine . . . If Headshot is about fighting, then it is as much about individuals fighting for their burgeoning selves, for a rightful space in which to exist.’ Benjamin Myers, Guardian

‘Fighting is shown to be an undeniable, animal part of femininity in this knockout debut novel . . . Exhilarating . . . It’s a subversive portrait of a nation and its daughters.’ Spectator

‘Compelling.’ Daily Mail

‘Insightful, bold and accomplished, Headshot is also heartfelt.’ Ian Samson, Times Literary Supplement

‘This novel is about how intoxicating it is “to play a sport that requires one to look in their opponent’s eyes.” It is about pride and control and the way a fighter’s “blood and her salty tears and slick sweat make it look like she is leaking pink Kool-Aid from her nostrils.” It’s about the joy of violence, joy in the unambiguous event.’ Dwight Garner, New York Times

‘Headshot is a shock and a fever-dream and a fury of a novel. It’s controlled violence and uncontrolled ambitions, coming-of-age and coming-into-self, motels and warehouses and future visions and weird little raccoon tail hats. It’s everything you want from a novel about a teenage girls’ boxing championship, and a whole lot more. I loved it.’ Jon McGregor

‘A novel that is, miraculously, both brutal and wistful. I love how it celebrates unsung lives lived boldly and bloodily, uncovering something surprising and profound for every punch landed.’ Lisa McInerney

‘Headshot feels perfectly unprecedented. A total killer. I almost can’t believe it exists.’ Amina Cain