A thought-provoking, discomforting and beautiful novel about love, obsession, community and friendship.
'People always ask if I enjoy the sex I have with clients or if I have to fake it, as if the two are mutually exclusive and the interplay between them isn't more complex. In actuality, it depends. And I'm not sure what people are threatened by more-that I don't always love it, or that I don't always hate it.'
Nothing But My Body is an eight-day journey through the mind of a young woman, a queer sex worker in Australia, as she navigates breakups and infatuation across just over a year.
The unnamed narrator's voice is both fierce and vulnerable, defiant and tender, as she explores the interplay between her external and internal world, and the fluctuations of her emotions as love affairs intensify and wane. Her loneliness is assuaged by her beloved chosen family-her friends-and by the beauty of the natural world.
Set during the cataclysmic bushfire season of 2019 and into the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, sex work is the constant backdrop of the story as it moves between Sydney, Berlin, Orange and Bellingen. The beauty of the writing and the moving and deeply engaging sense of compassion that threads through this remarkable novel give true meaning to the concepts of inclusivity and community in surprising and original ways.
This stunning, unflinching and lyrical debut is both a rejection of romantic love, a euphoric celebration of the queer community and a reckoning with the body as both abject and joyous.
Praise for Nothing But My Body:
'Far beyond the body Lawless takes us to the hypnotic anxiety and ecstasy of a mind that will not relent. You will not regret the ride.' Yael Stone, actor
'Tilly Lawless has managed to distill a perfect essence of authenticity into her novel- full of moments of raw honesty, powerful intimacy and memories that leap off the page and into the reader's mind. I was left with certain stories echoing in my mind for days afterwards. A crash course in the delicate nature of human relationships.' Etcetera Etcetera
'I inhaled this book in one sitting. Tilly's stream of consciousness crackles with honesty, vulnerability and heart. A captivatingly rendered love letter to friendship, the world we live in, and choosing life, in spite of it all.' Yassmin Abdel-Magied, author of Yassmin's Story
'Dirty, smutty, tender and beautiful, Tilly Lawless' Nothing But My Body is masterfully crafted stream-of-consciousness poetry punctuated by real-life scenes of Tilly's life. A must-read that will remind you of all the most joyful times of your life while
holding you through the pain of the tougher ones. A true gift.' Nevo Zisin, author of Finding Nevo
'So intimate, and yet so immense. A sweat- and tear-soaked love cry to contemporary youth, friendship and queerness. From a girls' room in Sydney, to a filthy dancefloor in Berlin, to the creek banks of Northern NSW, Lawless transforms every environment into a playground of fresh questions and heartfelt honesty.' Brenna Harding, actor and activist
'A poetically uncensored tour through Australian queer culture, sex work, womanhood and a world on edge. You won't put it down. Captivating, gritty, authentic and relatable. A must read for the girls, gays and theys.' Ailie Banks, author of The
Book of Bitch
'An absolute knockout. Lawless writes with such fresh determination and joy. I tore through this for the sex but made myself slow down for the philosophy and deep thinking.' Bri Lee, author of Eggshell Skull and Who Gets to Be Smart
'Carnal, aware and magnetic- Tilly's literary flex and ability to carve out intimacy in surprising moments radiates from screen to page and into the body.' Amrita Hepi, choreographer and artist
'Tilly writes from the deepest parts of herself. Nothing But My Body is unflinching, warm, cool and big. Tilly's goal isn't to prove anything to anyone, she's just telling us what happened and how it felt, but in the process she's given us something
deeply tangible, personal and special. You know you're reading something significant. This is a story you'll be reading the rest of your life.' Caitlin Stasey, actor
'Nothing But My Body reads like a long talk with a friend that I didn't want to finish. Tilly allows access into her world in a way that is incredibly intimate and unflinching. Never rose-tinted, her writing paints a picture of the complexities of mental health, love and identity. A really special book that will stay close to my heart.' Celeste Mountjoy, @filthyratbag
