Dear Darling

An unforgettable novel about desire, control and fighting to reclaim power, perfect for those who loved My Dark Vanessa, Half His Age or Gone Girl ‘A seriously impressive new talent’ CHRIS WHITAKER

'Deeply moving’ LISA TADDEO

'Timely, devastating' LISA JEWELL

'Brave, bold, nuanced and subtle, as well as properly suspenseful and immersive' LEE CHILD

*** Dear Darling, So begins the letter from Daniel Prior.

The man Lauren had sex with when she was fourteen years old.

The man she fell in love with, long before conversations about power and consent and #MeToo.

The man she locked away in the deepest part of her memory.

Eighteen years later, the world is changed, and Lauren, a wife and mother, is changed too.

But now, fresh out of prison, Daniel wants to meet.

And Lauren must finally confront the electricity and devastation of the man who's loved and harmed her more deeply than anyone in her life…

From bold new voice Ella King, Dear Darling cuts to the heart of some of the most complex issues of our age.

'Comparisons to My Dark Vanessa are inevitable but I like this one better' ERIN KELLY

'Raw, unflinching, and beautifully written, Dear Darling is an unforgettable novel. Absolutely incredible' ANDREA MARA

‘A blistering thriller’ NEW YORK TIMES

‘Disturbing, poignant and memorable all at once' OBSERVER

© 2026 HarperCollins (Audiobook): 9780008476632

Release date

Audiobook: 9 April 2026