Cows Can’t Jump
The debut novel by
Philip Bowne
From debut novelist Philip Bowne, winner of the Spotlight First Novel prize, comes this explosive coming-of-age odyssey that catapults 18-year-old Billy across Europe. Billy has just left school and is desperate to escape middle England. It’s 2016, and as a grave-digger, he’s working the ultimate dead-end job. To make matters worse, he’s a virgin, and there’s no hope of him meeting a girl any time soon. The only women at work are in coffins.
Billy’s home life isn’t any better. In the evenings, he observes his dysfunctional family: his grandad’s engaged to a woman half his age, his dad’s become obsessed with boxing, and he suspects his mum is having an affair. All the while, celebrities are dropping like flies and Britain is waiting for the EU referendum. Everything is changing, and Billy hates it.
Billy’s life gets a jump start when he falls in love with Eva. To Billy’s despair, shortly after falling in love with her, Eva travels back to her home in Switzerland. But Billy won’t give up on Eva that easily. He gambles everything for a chance to be with her again.
When things start to go wrong, Billy’s journey across Europe involves hitch-hiking with truckers, walking with refugees, and an encounter with suicidal cows. But the further he goes, the harder it is to be sure what he’s chasing – and what he’s running from.
Awards
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Shortlists
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Awards ~~~ Shortlists ~~~
— Winner of the Spotlight First Novel Prize
— Shortlisted for The Guardian’s ‘Not the Booker’ Prize
— Shortlisted for The People’s Book Prize
Big Veg
At the beginning of 2021, I worked with internet gardening sensation Gerald Stratford on the writing, editing, and creation of his debut book, Big Veg. Published with Headline (Hachette UK) in September 2021, Gerald has since gone on to front campaigns for Gucci and Alexander McQueen.
If you’d like to learn more about Gerald’s story, check out this brilliant feature in The New York Times.
Cows Book Trailer.
Reviews
“From the opening line onwards, Cows Can’t Jump leapt out for its boldness, confidence and humour. Philip is a gifted and perceptive writer with a fine eye for detail, dialogue and characterisation.”
— Spotlight First Novel Prize
