Less is Lost

The awkward and lovable hero of Andrew Sean Greer's bestselling and prize-winning novel Less returns in this unforgettable road trip across America.

'Wildly, painfully funny' David Sedaris

'Unforgettable' Elizabeth Day

'The joyfulness of this book is a balm' Madeline Miller

'What a joy' Katie Kitamura

For Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US.

Less roves across the 'Mild Mild West', through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo - a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a handlebar mustache, ditches his signature gray suit, and disguises himself in the bolero-and-cowboy-hat costume of a true 'Unitedstatesian'... with varying levels of success, as he continues to be mistaken for either a Dutchman, the wrong writer, or, worst of all, a 'bad gay'.

We cannot, however, escape ourselves - even across deserts, bayous, and coastlines. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less must eventually face his personal demons. With all of the irrepressible wit and musicality that made Less a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning, must-read breakout book, Less Is Lost is a profound and joyous novel about the enigma of life, the riddle of love, and the stories we tell along the way.


So funny, jokes and wit and joy packed into every page. It's beautiful and light and deceptively fun, and then stabs you through the heart. Wonderful Less, more, more! -- Russell T Davies

Affecting and funny - so hysterical at times you may find yourself laughing aloud. ― Daily Mail

There is no better guide across America than Arthur Less, the "bad gay" whose engaging awkwardness and self-deprecation are tragically funny and hugely insightful. We should all be so lost -- Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry

Andrew Sean Greer's writing nails both the absurdity of the human condition and its wistful beauty. Arthur Less is an unforgettable literary creation and I was so happy to be back in his company as he continues his elegant muddle through life -- Elizabeth Day, author of Magpie

Does Andrew Greer think of himself as a comic novelist? Does a giraffe think of itself as a giraffe? Probably it doesn't matter. This book, though, is wildly, painfully funny. It sometimes hurts to read it -- David Sedaris, author of A Carnival of Snackery

It is a deep pleasure to return to the adventures of Arthur Less and his beloved Freddy. Greer is a brilliant storyteller as always, and the joyfulness of this book is a balm. I loved reading it -- Madeline Miller, bestselling author of Circe

Greer's whimsically Wodehousian metaphors are as delightful as ever ― Financial Times

What a joy to be reunited with the beloved, hapless, utterly delightful Arthur Less. With tenderness, wit and his incomparably lovely prose, Greer probes that most profound and mysterious of subjects: love. -- Katie Kitamura, author of Intimacies

Excited to be reunited with our neurotic hero Arthur Less, I ripped through this sequel. It was a thrill to go on this odyssey with Less where even the most picayune comic encounters turn profound. Vulnerable and witty, Less is Lost is a joy -- Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings

Funny and uplifting ― Grazia

A gift of a story in these muddling, hard times, and a love letter to accepting yourself for who you are. Arthur Less is the protagonist we all need right now' -- Araminta Hall, author of Hidden Depths

An emotional and soul-searching sequel ... recalls the plaintive laconicism of the American humourist David Sedaris ― Sunday Times

The hapless protagonist of Greer's prize-winning novel, Less, is now touring America's heartlands .... it's huge fun. Greer's delight in language and the comedy of incongruity is infectious. ― Spectator

An enjoyable encore ... Read Less to fall in love and then pick up Less is Lost to rekindle a favourite old flame ― Irish Times

An unexpected gift... [Arthur Less] cuts a sympathetic, melancholy figure with a capacity for kindness, hope and romance. It's this evidence of his inventor's sympathy for his creation that makes this very funny novel stand out from its peers like Venus's starlight ― Big Issue

Brimming with wit and pathos and a thing of joy ― Saga Magazine

Shimmering with wit, a passion for language and astonishing insight, Less is Lost revels in its affection for the absurdity of life. Smart, and profoundly uplifting. A joy! ― Attitude