A Room Above a Shop, by Anthony Shapland

Two men embark on a precarious love affair in late 1980s Wales.

The late 1980s, a small village in Wales. B (main characters are identified by first initial) is a somewhat aimless young man setting out in life. M is eleven years older and owns the local ironmongery business, which he inherited from his parents. They meet at a local pub during a boozy Christmas event and M invites B out on something between a date and an expedition. They visit a scenic hill and share a sandwich and a thermos of tea. They are awkward around each other, yet there is a connection. “Few words. More gestures than chat.” The two men begin a secret relationship, B taking on a job at M’s hardware store and moving into the spare room above the shop. It’s a time of political strife. The AIDS crisis has exploded and homophobia is rampant, especially in a small town. The men exist simultaneously in two different worlds, one of intimacy and togetherness above the shop, but publicly playing socially acceptable roles. 

A Room Above a Shop is sparsely written, mirroring the fractured, hidden lives of its characters. Anthony Shapland describes a fragile intimacy, eked out in the shadows. The atmosphere is one of fear and vigilance, ensuring the right gestures are made and that secrets are not unwittingly betrayed. It’s a reminder of how societal rules and moral codes can hollow out life and soul, and yet love can still find a way . Readers of Claire Keegan will enjoy this brittle, haunting novel about forbidden love. 

A Room Above a Shop, by Anthony Shapland. Published by Granta. $29.99

NOV25