Book of the Month: This Is Home by Luca Serra

We are proud to be able to offer you the chance to win New Writers Awardee Luca Serra’s debut novel This Is Home, in partnership with Edinburgh-based publisher Leamington Books.

Be in with the chance of winning a copy by answering the question at the bottom of this page by 11.59pm on 28 February 2026. All entrants must reside in the UK and full terms and conditions apply.

Check out our competitions page to find more giveaways.

About This Is Home by Luca Serra

Carlo moves from his Italian hometown to London and begins life anew as a kitchen porter in an underground, mouse-infested kitchen. His coworker Keto, a 40-year-old Ghanaian, has quit his job many times but always returns, as if magnetised by the potwash.

Carlo searches for answers with his older housemate Marrok, but Marrok is struggling to cope with memories of past tragedy as death is haunting him.

400 miles north, Brazilian au pair Brunilda arrives in Glasgow, where everything is wee or grand and she’s a hen. Culture-shocked by accents, sideways rain and food habits, her heart divided between the comfort of her family in Belo Horizonte and a new life in Scotland, she finds an ally in Kamila, a young Polish illustrator, with whom the line between friendship and love begins to blur.

This is Home is a constantly changing exploration of friendship, belonging and what it means to forge your place in the world far away from home.

Q&A with Luca Serra

What can readers expect from This is Home?

Readers can expect a group of true-to-life characters, whose stories diverge, intersect and eventually come together. The four protagonists are all driven by the same questions: what is home and how to belong in a new country far away from family, friends and all that has shaped them so far. There is a bit of romance, comedy and some dark moments, as well as reflections on integration and the role of language in establishing connections. I should also mention that there is a touch of surrealism, including a very outrageous talking pasta pot!

How do you choose what to read?

I try to stay up to date with contemporary writers on social media and get recommendations from friends or writers’ groups. In general, I am persuaded by blurbs where I can get a sense of characters whose personalities seem intriguing and complex. As for the genre, I have a soft spot for coming-of-age novels and road trip novels, so if I see one in a bookshop, I usually won’t be able resist!

What was your favourite book as a child or teen?

It was a young adult novel called Piotr by Jan Terlouw about a teenage boy setting off on a journey through Siberia to reunite with his father. It was the first book that introduced me to a world outside of my small hometown in Lombardy and sparked my curiosity for travel and exploring.

How do you get out of a reading slump?

It depends on the reason for the slump. A couple of years ago I noticed I was finding it hard to settle down with any book and I realised it was down to my phone usage. I then decided to stop carrying my phone with me at home; instead, I keep it in a box in the landing and only pick it up occasionally. Since then, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my concentration and that was enough to lift my reading slump. As for reading choices and not being able to find a book that really draws you in, I tend to go back to the classics that I’ve already read or authors whose work I know I will enjoy.

What's your favourite place to read?

I love reading in bed before going to sleep, but I also enjoy reading outside when the weather allows. Here in Fife, there are so many beautiful beaches and nature spots that we’re spoiled for choice!

What's the last great book you read?

Betty by Tiffany McDaniels. It’s a coming-of-age story about a young girl unveiling her family’s darkest secrets. It’s beautifully written and it’s got one of the best first paragraphs I’ve ever read. Every page feels visceral and vivid. As well as being compelling, it is poignant and devastating and it stayed with me long after reading.