Tom Newland’s Only Here, Only Now, the striking debut novel set in 1990s Scotland, is drawing strong comparisons to Gail Honeyman’s bestselling Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. That novel, which explores themes of loneliness and neurodivergence through its unforgettable protagonist, Eleanor, was notably optioned by Reese Witherspoon’s production company, highlighting a growing interest in stories that centre unconventional female voices.
At the heart of Only Here, Only Now is Cora Mowat, a 14-year-old girl growing up on a seaside council estate in Fife during the blazing summer of 1994. Like Eleanor Oliphant, Cora is a neurodivergent outsider struggling to navigate social isolation, trauma, and the yearning for connection. Readers have praised Cora’s raw honesty, wit, and bravery, seeing in her a voice that is both authentic and deeply compelling.
While Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine explores adult loneliness with a quiet, quirky humour, Only Here, Only Now offers a different but equally powerful perspective — that of a teenager coming of age amid the struggles of a working-class, small-town Scottish environment. Cora’s story is vivid and emotional, capturing the intensity of adolescence through the lens of undiagnosed ADHD, a condition that went largely unrecognised at the time.
The novel addresses themes of grief, family tension, addiction, and disability, yet does so without ever becoming bleak or overwhelming. Instead, it balances tough subjects with warmth and humour, much like Honeyman’s work, allowing readers to connect deeply with Cora’s journey. The specificity of the 1990s Scottish setting gives the book a distinct cultural flavour and wonderful nostalgia while touching on universal feelings of being different and seeking acceptance.
Only Here, Only Now has resonated widely. It has been translated into three languages, received a rare, starred review from Publishers Weekly in the United States, and earned a place as Waterstones’ Book of the Month for July in Scotland.
The author’s inspiration came from personal experience and observations growing up in 90s Scotland, where many dreamed of escape from small towns dominated by limited opportunities and rigid expectations. This background adds authenticity and depth to Cora’s voice and story, offering readers a fresh take on working-class coming-of-age narratives, which have historically centred more on boys and men.
With Reese Witherspoon’s production company championing Eleanor Oliphant and similar stories, it signals a clear shift: audiences want raw, authentic stories about women and girls. This growing demand means Only Here, Only Now is poised to grab attention, with film and TV rights likely to be snapped up fast. The book is out now in paperback and available worldwide in bookstores.
