An utterly captivating, and disorientating, journey both through language and through love
Boyd Tonkin, Independent

An utterly captivating, and disorientating, journey both through language and through love
Boyd Tonkin, Independent

Xiaolu is a fabulous writer, fresh, witty and intelligent. She handles language in an astonishing way. I don't think I have enjoyed a book as much in the last twelve months and I am looking forward to hearing a lot more from this promising young voice.
Joanne Harris

A delicate combination of unwitting humour, sadness, sex and displacement. Unputdownable.
Katie Fforde

Guo uses her minimalist messed-up prose not just to tell an affecting coming-of-age story but to ask deep questions about the real differences between Chinese and British culture and language
Independent on Sunday

Guo uses her minimalist messed-up prose not just to tell an affecting coming-of-age story but to ask deep questions about the real differences between Chinese and British culture and language
Independent on Sunday

Funny and charming...more than a love story; its psychology is politically acute, and things noted lightly in it linger in the mind
Ursula K Le Guin, Guardian

Funny and charming...more than a love story; its psychology is politically acute, and things noted lightly in it linger in the mind
Ursula K Le Guin, Guardian

Her characterisation of Z's lover is subtle and profound... This novel will be compared with A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, but it is so much better than that. Guo uses her minimalist, messed-up prose not just to tell an affecting coming-of-age story, but to ask deep questions about the real differences between Chinese and British culture and language.
Scarlett Thomas, Independent on Sunday

It is impossible not to be charmed by her matter-of-factness. As the story grows in complexity with Z’s growing vocabulary – the narration acquires fluency and tenses almost imperceptibly – it is equally hard not to be impressed by Guo’s vivacious talent
Sophie Harrison, Sunday Times

It is impossible not to be charmed by her matter-of-factness. As the story grows in complexity with Z’s growing vocabulary – the narration acquires fluency and tenses almost imperceptibly – it is equally hard not to be impressed by Guo’s vivacious talent
Sophie Harrison, Sunday Times

An auspicious English language debut...its young heroine adrift in a London whose people and customs prove as full of pitfalls as the tongue she struggles to master.
Boyd Tonkin, Independent, Christmas books special

This is a troubling, humane, and emotionally provocative novel which possesses the unusual quality of forcing the reader to think
Claire Kilroy, Irish Times

This is a troubling, humane, and emotionally provocative novel which possesses the unusual quality of forcing the reader to think
Claire Kilroy, Irish Times

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers is an intriguing, funny and unusual novel about what gets lost in translation
Sally Kinnes, Herald

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers is an intriguing, funny and unusual novel about what gets lost in translation
Sally Kinnes, Herald

Charming, bittersweet novel…compelling…The culture clash…is beautifully drawn and utterly convincing…A memorable take on East meets West
Jane Housha, Daily Express

Charming, bittersweet novel…compelling…The culture clash…is beautifully drawn and utterly convincing…A memorable take on East meets West
Jane Housha, Daily Express

An uplifting novel with moments of great poignancy and pathos
Tatler

An uplifting novel with moments of great poignancy and pathos
Tatler