‘Jennie Rooney is a talent, and reading Inside the Whale I felt such delight in recognising someone of real worth and promise. Her writing is sharp and taut… I can’t wait for her next novel.’
Margaret Forster

‘Funny, sad, unputdownable – an absolute tour de force’
Katie Fforde

‘A very compassionate and accomplished novel, the best I’ve read for some time’
Allan Sillitoe

'Funny, sad, unputdownable - an absolute tour de force'
Katie Fforde

'Full of wisdom and panache, Jennie Rooney's poignant, moving, clear-eyed account of love and war, personal sacrifice and private pain, is a novel to truly move the spirit'
Liz Jensen

 ‘A deeply affecting story of thwarted circumstances and belated wisdom … Rooney confidently moves between two narrators and shifting times, vividly recreating Blitz-torn London and the Africa of the same period’ Catherine Taylor, Guardian

‘This novel is a work of a singularly outlandish and compassionate imagination…the novel has one shouting its praises to anybody who is within earshot’ Christopher Hawtree, New Statesman

‘This is an elegant, funny and moving first novel…This is a wonderful, memorable musing on life, fate and love’ Viv Groskop, Sunday Express

‘Rooney’s language is as intimate as her story…a fine first novel’ Metro, Ben East

‘The best things in life this month … this heartfelt debut novel offers a witty twist on a WWII romance’ Red

‘Rooney thinly veils the drudgery permeating their lives with a tender and constantly shimmering humour’ The Big Issue, Daisy Greenwell

‘Rooney, who’s only 27, is fresh, funny and wise, balancing the emotional turmoil with a vivid turn of phrase’ Marie-Claire, This Month’s Hot Reads, Eithne Farry, 5 stars

‘Packed full of warm, spirited prose that captures the mood of doodlebug London, this is a total joy of a debut novel’ Good Housekeeping, Kerry Fowler

‘Wonderful debut novel … Guaranteed to sweep you away’ Bella