Before you crack open “How to Leave the House” by Nathan Newman, it might be helpful to know that a TV adaptation is already in the works. This is a novel that feels as if it was born for the screen. “It was a cinematic sunset: pinks, oranges and periwinkle blues… Beneath it all was lonely Natwest, a single figure on the empty street…” That passage is about midway through the book, but you get the point. There are other parts that read like stage directions and the novel’s point of view switches from inside the mind of our “hero,” Natwest, to the perspectives of various town residents he encounters during the day.

Let’s take a step back. This is the story of a young Englishman named Natwest. It is the day before he leaves his hometown for the first time for university. He’s smart, opinionated, and planning to study art history. He has ordered something embarrassing and the Royal Mail has not delivered it on time. The object in question is revealed on page 50, but it’s too funny to spoil. The plot, such as it is, unfolds over the course of 24 hours as Natwest leaves his house initially for a trip to the post office. When it turns out another town resident has taken possession of the package instead, Natwest’s journey of discovery truly begins.

It is during his encounters with the town's residents that Natwest's perspective begins to shift. The pretentious and self-centered young man gives way to someone whose inner monologue sounds like this near the end: “Natwest had always imagined himself to be the main character. … He’d always thought he was leaving them (the town’s residents) behind, but it dawned on him now that it was more likely they were leaving him behind. He was but a minor character in their lives.”

Those lives are filled with pathos and humor. There’s a dentist in love with a trans woman who loves to paint, but only human mouths. There’s an imam who is at heart a film enthusiast. And a teenager battling suicidal thoughts after nude pictures of them were leaked online. Mix it all up with a secret surrounding Natwest’s own origin story, and you begin to see how it might be a better TV show than it is a book.

But don’t let that stop you from reading it. Fair warning: It is graphic in its description of sexual encounters and doesn’t shy away from challenging topics, including self-harm. The humor helps take the edge off a little, but Newman certainly has something to say about the upcoming generation. This is a bold new voice, and one to watch.

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