Bad Love: A Very London Love story
On sale
7th August 2025
Price: £10.99
Betty Trask Award, 2021
In love, as in war neither hero or villain is immediately obvious…especially when loving in London.
Deeply romantic Ekuah’s experience on the dating circuit has her feeling forlorn and adrift – a very classic 21st century London love story.
Her on again – off again situationship with Dee; musician extraordinaire is more draining than she can bear, and when he once again makes a ghost of himself, she reaches her breaking point. Heartbroken, but determined, she channels her energy into searching for new validations and preoccupations, other than the man who keeps getting away.
In comes a new lover in the form of poetry which dreamily moves her across nights in London, Venice, Accra and Paris and into the orbit of the enigmatic Jay Stanley. But what are the sweet words of a poet against a history of hard, bad, rough experiences in love?
As poetry gives her new purpose and Jay promises different outcomes in love, Ekuah must decide if she is willing to trust in love again or let the past decide her future…
Deeply romantic Ekuah’s experience on the dating circuit has her feeling forlorn and adrift – a very classic 21st century London love story.
Her on again – off again situationship with Dee; musician extraordinaire is more draining than she can bear, and when he once again makes a ghost of himself, she reaches her breaking point. Heartbroken, but determined, she channels her energy into searching for new validations and preoccupations, other than the man who keeps getting away.
In comes a new lover in the form of poetry which dreamily moves her across nights in London, Venice, Accra and Paris and into the orbit of the enigmatic Jay Stanley. But what are the sweet words of a poet against a history of hard, bad, rough experiences in love?
As poetry gives her new purpose and Jay promises different outcomes in love, Ekuah must decide if she is willing to trust in love again or let the past decide her future…
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Reviews
Bad Love has a somewhat misleading title. Though it is about how we hurt and are hurt in love, it is ultimately about the resilience of love across space and time.
Bad Love reflects the complexities of humanity rather than an idealist's view on humanity. By the end, no one is a hero or villain. The reader takes something of a journey too, one that inspires us to be more open.
Maame Blue's skill at crafting characters that take bits of your heart with them as you read the final pages; is a true gift...
Equal parts romance and coming-of-age story, Blue's emotionally charged debut explores the highs and lows of love... Those looking for heavy emotion in their romance should jump on this one."
