A BOOK by a Glasgow-born author with its story rooted in the 1980s has been named the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year for 2021.

Mayflies is a deeply personal book for author Andrew O'Hagan with inspiration drawn from close and enduring bonds of his youth and the soundtrack that accompanied them.

O'Hagan tells a poignant, tender and funny tale of the importance of friendship in the journey through life.

Mayflies has been a favourite of Waterstones booksellers since its publication and was the company's Scottish Book Of The Month in June this year.

The National:

O'Hagan said: “I am truly delighted that Mayflies has been selected by Waterstones as its Scottish Book of the Year. For an author, one of the great joys is to see a book being taken up by individual shops and individual booksellers, making every effort to put it into the hands of customers.

"This novel is so personal to me and the reaction of readers has been overwhelming. I feel a huge sense of gratitude to all Waterstones booksellers in Scotland.”

Waterstones offers a special edition of Mayflies, containing an exclusive essay by O’Hagan called The Jukebox, which outlines his inspiration behind the novel.

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Angie Crawford, Waterstones Scottish buying manager, said: “Akin to a football game, Mayflies is a novel of two parts. The first half is a rollick through the eighties and explores the friendships we cement in our teenage years. The second half takes these friendships and tests them to the limit.

"Funny and deeply moving, this novel is a masterpiece - a love letter to music, growing up in eighties Scotland and being real. A truly unforgettable read.”

Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year specifically champions books by authors based in Scotland, or titles that have a strong Scottish setting.

Previous recipients include Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart (2020), Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller (2019), The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine (2018), The Other Mrs Walker by Mary Paulson-Ellis (2017), His Bloody Project by Graeme MacRae Burnet (2016) and Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon (2015).