Against All Odds

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING WORLD BOOK DAY COMEDY FOR TEEN READERS FROM THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF STEADY FOR THIS, KING OF NOTHING, WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE AND LIKE A BROTHER ! Noranto knows who he is. Or at least, he thinks he does. Footballer. Hustler. One of the boys. He's got the playground game on lock and big plans for his mum's surprise birthday party this weekend. But poetry? That's just something he does quietly - in his head, on the bus, between goals. Until his teacher spots his talent and encourages him to enter a creative writing competition. Noranto laughs it off. No chance: the deadline's in three days and he's already got way too much going on. His mates agree and tell him to stick to what he knows. Poetry doesn't win matches. But the rhymes won't stop coming. And a little voice inside him keeps asking: What if this is his shot? What if he could do it all? As the weekend unfolds and obstacles are thrown in his way, Noranto finds himself stuck between what's expected of him and who he really wants to be. Can he find the words in time - and the courage to share them - against all the odds? A funny and authentic story about the joys and challenges of dreaming big and showing the world you don't have to fit into just one box. PRAISE FOR STEADY FOR THIS : WINNER OF THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2024 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVERSE BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2024 "Crammed with outrageously hilarious wordplay, Lessore's exuberant debut for 12+ is a southeast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy ." - Guardian " Funny, original and heart-warming ." - The Times "An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust PRAISE FOR KING OF NOTHING : WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE FOR OLDER READERS 2025 WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE SHADOWERS' CHOICE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025 WINNER OF THE JHALAK CHILDREN'S & YOUNG ADULT PRIZE 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 " Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly , Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer ." - Guardian "Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book ." - The Observer "This teen comedy really is very funny , while also being meaningful and heartwarming ." - iPaper PRAISE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE : "Begins as Adrian Mole for the gaming generation and then becomes, through its big-hearted tale of one awkward teenager's split life between reality and the internet, the kind of book you wish that boy from Adolescence had read [...] A brilliant, heartfelt book about now ." - The Times "The blend of smart dialogue, believable characters and humour makes big issues immensely readable ." - The Observer " Hilarious, thoughtful and deeply felt , this is another superb 13+ contemporary novel from the Branford Boase-winning Lessore." - Guardian PRAISE FOR LIKE A BROTHER : SHORTLISTED FOR AND HIGHLY COMMENDED BY THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026 THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Few capture the wisecracking energy of teenagers, quite like Lessore. Everything in this charming, sensitive novel about masculinity is played for laughs . . . A fresh and funny read ' - The Times 'Lessore uses

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING WORLD BOOK DAY COMEDY FOR TEEN READERS FROM THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF STEADY FOR THIS, KING OF NOTHING, WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE AND LIKE A BROTHER! Noranto knows who he is. Or at least, he thinks he does. Footballer. Hustler. One of the boys. He's got the playground game on lock and big plans for his mum's surprise birthday party this weekend. But poetry? That's just something he does quietly - in his head, on the bus, between goals. Until his teacher spots his talent and encourages him to enter a creative writing competition. Noranto laughs it off. No chance: the deadline's in three days and he's already got way too much going on. His mates agree and tell him to stick to what he knows. Poetry doesn't win matches. But the rhymes won't stop coming. And a little voice inside him keeps asking: What if this is his shot? What if he could do it all? As the weekend unfolds and obstacles are thrown in his way, Noranto finds himself stuck between what's expected of him and who he really wants to be. Can he find the words in time - and the courage to share them - against all the odds? A funny and authentic story about the joys and challenges of dreaming big and showing the world you don't have to fit into just one box. PRAISE FOR STEADY FOR THIS: WINNER OF THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2024 WINNER OF THE CHILDREN'S DIVERSE BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2024 "Crammed with outrageously hilarious wordplay, Lessore's exuberant debut for 12+ is a southeast London celebration of teen awkwardness, creativity and silly joy." - Guardian "Funny, original and heart-warming." - The Times "An engaging, positive and heart-warming read." - BookTrust PRAISE FOR KING OF NOTHING: WINNER OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK PRIZE FOR OLDER READERS 2025 WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE SHADOWERS' CHOICE MEDAL FOR WRITING 2025 WINNER OF THE JHALAK CHILDREN'S & YOUNG ADULT PRIZE 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR THE UKLA BOOK AWARD 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 "Rib-achingly funny, poignant, thoughtful and sly, Lessore's second novel confirms him as a uniquely talented writer." - Guardian "Confirms [Nathanael Lessore] as a major new name in writing for younger teenagers . . . an immensely readable book." - The Observer "This teen comedy really is very funny, while also being meaningful and heartwarming." - iPaper PRAISE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ONLINE: "Begins as Adrian Mole for the gaming generation and then becomes, through its big-hearted tale of one awkward teenager's split life between reality and the internet, the kind of book you wish that boy from Adolescence had read [...] A brilliant, heartfelt book about now." - The Times "The blend of smart dialogue, believable characters and humour makes big issues immensely readable." - The Observer "Hilarious, thoughtful and deeply felt, this is another superb 13+ contemporary novel from the Branford Boase-winning Lessore." - Guardian PRAISE FOR LIKE A BROTHER: SHORTLISTED FOR AND HIGHLY COMMENDED BY THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2026 THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK 'Few capture the wisecracking energy of teenagers, quite like Lessore. Everything in this charming, sensitive novel about masculinity is played for laughs . . . A fresh and funny read' - The Times 'Lessore uses humour to shed light on issues including homophobia and masculinity, and is brilliant on the messy, unpredictable business of being a teenager' - The Observer

Rylan Keller is dreading the start of spring semester. After choosing a college across the country and spending the past fall abroad, she'll be a Holt University student. Worse than starting over at a new school? Starting over at a new school where your dad is the head coach of the men's hockey team. And reluctantly agreeing to tutor a player, then coming face-to-face with the guy you thought you'd never see again. Aidan Phillips has a reputation on campus. One he's carefully curated to include limited reliability or responsibility. Outside of hockey, he spends his free time drinking, partying, and flirting. Often all three. He's a player off the ice as well as on it. Gorgeous, carefree, reckless. His one goal is to finally win Holt a championship, which he can only do if he keeps up his end of the tutoring arrangement. Hooking up with his tutor would be stupider than failing in the first place, even if the tutor in question wasn't his coach's daughter. Rylan is determined to excel at Holt and make her fresh start a success. To finally have some fun, and not with a hockey player. Except, the more time they spend together, the harder it is to hold back. But no matter how tempting giving in might be...the odds are stacked against them.

Rylan Keller is dreading the start of spring semester. After choosing a college across the country and spending the past fall abroad, she'll be a Holt University student. Worse than starting over at a new school? Starting over at a new school where your dad is the head coach of the men's hockey team. And reluctantly agreeing to tutor a player, then coming face-to-face with the guy you thought you'd never see again. Aidan Phillips has a reputation on campus. One he's carefully curated to include limited reliability or responsibility. Outside of hockey, he spends his free time drinking, partying, and flirting. Often all three. He's a player off the ice as well as on it. Gorgeous, carefree, reckless. His one goal is to finally win Holt a championship, which he can only do if he keeps up his end of the tutoring arrangement. Hooking up with his tutor would be stupider than failing in the first place, even if the tutor in question wasn't his coach's daughter. Rylan is determined to excel at Holt and make her fresh start a success. To finally have some fun, and not with a hockey player. Except, the more time they spend together, the harder it is to hold back. But no matter how tempting giving in might be...the odds are stacked against them.