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Young Mungo
- Author
- Douglas Stuart
- Narrator
- Chris Reilly
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Publish Date
- 14 April 2022
- Run Time
- 13 hours 42 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Narrative theme: coming of age, Narrative theme: identity / belonging
- Rating
- 4.2 (5 reviews)
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What to expect
Winner of The British Book Awards Fiction Audiobook of the Year
The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller
A Selection of Dua Lipa's Service95 Bookclub
'Beautiful and moving, a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the brutal world of Glasgow’s housing estates' – The Observer
From the Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain, a vivid portrayal of working-class life in 80s Glasgow, and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men.
Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgow’s housing estates, where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation.
They should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all, and yet as they begin to fall in love, they dream of escape, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him...
Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.
'Reilly’s narration, especially when he’s voicing the people in Mungo’s life who hurt him, is full of barely repressed violence. But Reilly also captures Mungo’s wonder, love, and irrepressible softness' - Audiofile magazine
Young Mungo was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10/4/22
Critics Review
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Prepare your hearts, for Douglas Stuart is back. After the extraordinary success of Shuggie Bain, his second novel, Young Mungo, is another beautiful and moving book, a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the brutal world of Glasgow’s housing estates.
Observer
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I wasn't sure Young Mungo could live up to Shuggie Bain, but it surpasses it. Deeply harrowing but gently infused with hope & love. And so exquisitely written. It's a joy to watch, in real time, as Douglas Stuart takes his place as one of the greats of Scottish literature.
Nicola Sturgeon
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Few novels are as gutsy and gut-wrenching as Young Mungo in its depiction of a teenage boy who finds love amid family dysfunction, community conflict and the truly terrible predations of adults. Vividly realised and emotionally intense, this scorching novel is an urgent addition to the new canon of unsung stories.
Bernardine Evaristo
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Some novels can be admired, others enjoyed. But it is a rare thing to find a story so engrossing, bittersweet and beautiful that you do not so much read it, as experience it. It is this quality Young Mungo possesses - an intense, lovely, brutal thing. Stuart is a masterful storyteller.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave
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I can honestly say that the second novel from the author of Shuggie Bain... surpassed my (high) expectations. Stuart makes you care deeply about all of his characters but none more than Mungo, Mo-Maw's beloved, "the softest, sweetest boy she had ever known".
Bookseller, 'Fiction Book of the Month'
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Chris Reilly’s Scottish accent brings the bleak world of 1990s Glasgow to life. Mungo lives with his unreliable mother, his violent brother, and his protective but preoccupied sister. He finds some joy in his budding romance with another boy, James, but when they’re discovered, his mother sends him on a fishing trip to “man up” with two near-strangers. Reilly’s narration, especially when he’s voicing the people in Mungo’s life who hurt him, is full of barely repressed violence. But Reilly also captures Mungo’s wonder, love, and irrepressible softness. He imbues the scenes between Mungo and James with tenderness so that their quiet exchanges become a respite for listeners.
AudioFile
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Reilly, a Glaswegian of working-class background, is a transporting, evocative narrator of this humane heartstopper, freighted with foreboding.
The Times
User Reviews
Book 4.2
Narration 5.0
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5.0 5.0
This is my first Douglas Stewart book and I loved it. Realistic story about growing up in poverty in Glasgow. Fell in love with Mungo and my heart broke for him at times. Really liked the narration as well.
Blackeyeslikeadoll 2025-09-16 -
5.0 5.0
A gorgeous book. Don’t be put off by the cover…give it a go and you’ll be hooked in the first few sentences (I was).
It’s beautifully tender writing about Glasgow, poverty, family, first love and violence. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Hopeful and cynical. And just magic.kellifb 2024-01-18 -
2.0 5.0
I purchased this book after listening to Shuggie Bain which I had very much enjoyed. I found this second book from the author a very hard listen, quite upsetting to be honest. I wasn't aware of the sexual abuse content prior to purchasing so it came as quite a shock. I enjoyed parts of the book, the story based around the relationships between Mungo his family and his boyfriend was very well written the authors description was so good. But the sexual abuse Mungo experienced at the hands of the two strangers was so very sad. I found myself having to pause the narration when my children were within listening distance (I listen the my audiobooks while painting and I don't wear headphones). I was disappointed with the ending it felt unfinished and left me with a lot of questions. Overall I wouldn't recommend this book, sorry.
Eviecatmum 2023-05-25
Details
- Author
- Douglas Stuart
- Narrator
- Chris Reilly
- Duration
- 13 hours 42 minutes
- Release Date
- 14 April 2022
- ISBN
- 9781529068801
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- Pan Macmillan
- Genre
- Modern and contemporary fiction: literary and general, Narrative theme: love / relationships, Narrative theme: coming of age, Narrative theme: identity / belonging
- Rating
- 4.2(5 reviews)
- Narration
- 5.0(5 reviews)
Synopsis
Winner of The British Book Awards Fiction Audiobook of the YearThe Number One Sunday Times BestsellerA Selection of Dua Lipa's Service95 Bookclub 'Beautiful and moving, a gay Romeo and Juliet set in the brutal world of Glasgow’s housing estates' – The ObserverFrom the Booker Prize-winning author of Shuggie Bain, a vivid portrayal of working-class life in 80s Glasgow, and the deeply moving story of the dangerous first love of two young men.Born under different stars, Protestant Mungo and Catholic James live in a hyper-masculine world. They are caught between two of Glasgow’s housing estates, where young working-class men divide themselves along sectarian lines, and fight territorial battles for the sake of reputation.They should be sworn enemies if they’re to be seen as men at all, and yet as they begin to fall in love, they dream of escape, and Mungo must work hard to hide his true self from all those around him...Douglas Stuart’s Young Mungo is a gripping and revealing story about the meaning of masculinity, the push and pull of family, the violence faced by so many queer people, and the dangers of loving someone too much.'Reilly’s narration, especially when he’s voicing the people in Mungo’s life who hurt him, is full of barely repressed violence. But Reilly also captures Mungo’s wonder, love, and irrepressible softness' - Audiofile magazineYoung Mungo was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 10/4/22
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