Lovers and losers - Paul Burston

Tony used to be a winner: five consecutive Top Ten hits, a haircut that was imitated by every Top of the Pops fan, and a coke habit that was little short of legendary. Of course this was back in the 80s, when Tony was part of pop duo A Boy and His Diva, singers of the synth-pop classic 'Lovers and Losers'. In 1984 they were the biggest band in Britain. That is before Katrina, the other half of the duo, had her heart broken and the friendship was destroyed. Now in his forties, missing his fame and his hairline, Tony has signed up for a new reality TV show called The Clink. This could be the ideal opportunity to relaunch the band and revive his comatose career. There's just one problem: Tony and Katrina haven't spoken in years. Meanwhile, Katrina is busy arranging a funeral for a cherished friend, and coping with his estranged mother. When Tony knocks on her door, his arrival reopens old wounds and raises some very uncomfortable questions.

Paul Burston's third novel is a wise, witty and evocative novel about the decade of excess, and its many legacies - New Romantics, gender benders, electro-pop and AIDS.