Wretched Young Things

When Oxford freshmen Jules and Geoffrey meet in 1947, their worlds instantly collide. Charismatic but reserved, Geoffrey has been raised with everything he could wish for except kindness. Jules meanwhile is impulsive and blunt, defiant of the elitism that surrounds him. What the boys share is a passion for literature, a contempt for convention, and a growing infatuation with each other.Tasked with maintaining century-old family connections, Geoffrey joins the unscrupulous Clarendon Club. The club’s members will do anything to protect their own privilege—even wreck innocent lives—and Geoffrey must align with their values or expose his parents to financial ruin. Yet one of the Clarendonians bears a fierce resentment towards Jules. Thus, as Jules and Geoffrey’s relationship deepens beyond academic rivalry, it becomes the first of many secrets threatening to derail their futures. Jules’ recklessness and Geoffrey’s pursuit of love drive them to actions they could never have imagined, and soon they must conceal a grisly truth at all costs.About the authorSaga Hillbom is a third-year history student at Magdalen College, Oxford, and the author of several historical novels including Princess of Thorns (2021). You can visit her website for more information.