Charlie Savage is a 60-year-old grandfather living in Dublin; he dotes on his grandchildren and dogs, has an indefatigable wife playing drums in a sexagenarian punk covers band, and his drinking mate identifies as a woman.

The novel was originally published in hardcover on 7 March 2019 in the United Kingdom through Jonathan Cape,[1][2] along with audiobook and kindle versions through Vintage Digital.

[5] Niamh Donnelly in The Irish Times says that Charlie "is someone who’s aware of how ridiculous the world can be, but who nonetheless participates in the whole joke...There’s a knack to this character-sketch style writing.

"[6] Jane Bradley in The Scotsman writes that "this book is seriously outdated – I had previously believed that this 'I'm getting old and the modern world is passing me by' schtick went out with Victor Meldrew in the 1990s.

"[7] Alastair Mabbott from The Herald concludes that "A refreshingly positive take on middle age, it’s optimistic, warm-hearted, blokishly moving and written with master's pin-sharp command of humour.