Middle England

This book is just so British, like a novelization of Coronation Street. (my apologies, I'm sure there are far more apt analogies but that is about the extent of my knowledge of British soaps)

It is the world prior to the pandemic. Of xenophobic rhetoric, an aging populace wishing for past glories, dog whistle politics dreaming of a whiter past, people reacting against political correctness and a polarized nation. Government flacks toeing the party line, spewing partisan double-speak, overzealous millennial social justice warriors and, inexplicably, two feuding children's entertainers. Sounds a lot like a place we all know on this side of the pond, except this book is unapologetically, 100% English - so of course this is a Brexit novel.

But it's almost too Brit-lit. Like a North American writers room trying extra hard to convey that this is set in England. I mean if this was anyone else writing, I'm sure the editor would have demanded they try and tone down the Britishness of it all a smidge. “Look Brett, I love what you're doing but could you dial down the tea and crumpets of it all a tad?” Coe doesn't miss a chance to drop a street name or rural village into the mix - but I will give him credit, his lavish coverage of the 2012 London Summer Olympics opening ceremony did prompt some YouTube viewings. In the end, much like Coronation Street, the story doesn't quite wrap up but rather stop as if in anticipation of yet another season.