When it comes to British literature, London hoovers up all the attention. Agents, festivals, funding, awards — if you’re not within an Oyster-card radius, it can feel like shouting into a void.
But look a little further north, and you’ll find a city bursting with stories that are bold, brilliant, and quietly redefining the UK literary scene. Birmingham — often maligned or ignored entirely — is home to some of the most exciting voices in fiction today. And bin strikes, obviously, but for now, let’s talk books.
I’m not out to pit my beloved Brum against the capital in a battle of the boroughs. I’m out to spotlight a region too often reduced to clichés, and celebrate a crop of writers whose work deserves to be centre stage. From working-class narratives and searing debut novels to genre-bending thrillers and queer love stories, here are ten bostin’ books that prove Birmingham punches well above its weight.
The Rotters’ Club by Jonathan Coe
Jonathan Coe’s acclaimed novel expertly evokes 1970s Birmingham, intertwining teenage anxieties, political upheaval, and cultural tensions into a one hugely addictive narrative. Set against the backdrop of IRA bombings, industrial unrest, and the rise of the National Front, Coe captures the essence of adolescence amidst societal turmoil. His characters and richly detailed cityscapes provide a compelling portrait of our second city at a turning point.
Chocolate Girls by Annie Murray
Annie Murray’s vivid historical novel celebrates Birmingham’s industrial heritage through the experiences of resilient women working at the iconic Cadbury factory in Bournville during World War II. We get to step inside the factory, and become a part of the camaraderie, the hardships, and unyielding determination of these women. By highlighting Birmingham’s pivotal role during the war years, the book honours a chapter of the city’s history often overshadowed by London-centric narratives.
Turning Thirty by Mike Gayle
Brummie author Mike Gayle offers an engaging portrayal of contemporary life in Birmingham. Matt Beckford returns ‘home’ as he turns thirty. Set against a Brummie backdrop, the story digs into the complexities of friendship, love, and being a grown-up. Sharp wit and keen observation bring alive a city that’s all too often underappreciated for its cultural vibrancy.
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal
Kit de Waal’s beautifully poignant novel explores deep emotional themes of love, loss, and resilience through Mona, an Irish immigrant whose life unfolds in the second city. Kit captures the city’s multiculturalism, portraying the intersections of diverse communities and the quiet strength that sustains them through life’s challenges.
Nice Work by David Lodge
Academia meets industry head-on in a fictionalised version of Birmingham. David delivers sharp insights into class conflicts and cultural miscommunications. It’s a story rammed with well-observed characters and witty dialogue, creating a sharp-focussed photograph of Birmingham’s industrial legacy and its impact on contemporary identity.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
Set partly in Birmingham, Good Material is a bittersweet, sharply observed novel about heartbreak, friendship, and figuring out who you are when life doesn’t go to plan. The story follows Andy, a bit of a dickhead, and stand-up comedian in his thirties, as he struggles to come to terms with a painful breakup. While much of the action flits between gigs, spare rooms, and emotional low points in London, Birmingham features as a formative location — the city where Andy first fell in love and a touchstone for the person he used to be.
We Are All Made of Glue by Marina Lewycka
Though Marina is better known for her brilliant bestseller, A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, this lesser-hyped novel partially unfolds in Birmingham and touches on ideas of displacement, home, and odd-couple friendships. It’s funny, political, and sneakily moving — with a housing crisis and elderly eccentricity thrown into the mix. For a city often treated as transient or industrial, it offers a sticky, human connection.
Anita and Me by Meera Syal
Set in the fictional village of Tollington — a stand-in for the real Black Country town of Essington, in nearby Wolverhampton — Anita and Me captures the spirit and tensions of growing up as a British-Indian girl in 1970s Midlands. Meena, the smart, curious daughter of Indian immigrants, finds herself caught between two worlds: her vibrant Punjabi home life and the often hostile, predominantly white working-class community around her. Though not set in Birmingham proper, the novel resonates deeply with the city’s cultural landscape — a coming-of-age story that speaks to the wider West Midlands experience with humour, heart, and biting clarity.
Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez
A semi-autobiographical novel following Jesse, a Black gay man from a Jehovah’s Witness background, navigating life after being cast out by his family. It begins in Wolverhampton and carries strong emotional and physical ties to the Black Country and Birmingham queer scene. It’s a powerful, erotic, and beautifully written exploration of identity, faith, sexuality, and race. Paul’s writing is rooted in lived experience and Birmingham’s queer history.
Rainbows and Lollipops by Mo Fanning
OBVIOUSLY, I’m not going to miss the chance to pimp my own book. I have bills to pay etc. I could have set Rainbows and Lollipops in any British city, but Birmingham felt like its natural home. Swishy, modern, found family stories don’t need a Soho backdrop to shine. This is my love letter to the complicated beauty of Brummie life.
While London hoards the limelight when it comes to queer stories, Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ scene is quietly – and gloriously – putting itself on the map. From Paul Mendez’s raw and sensual Rainbow Milk to the chosen-family warmth of Rainbows and Lollipops, queer Brummie narratives are finally getting the space they’ve long deserved. These books aren’t chasing trends – they’re shaping what British queer literature looks like when it comes with a Brummie accent.
Mo Fanning is a novelist and freelance communications consultant. His latest novel, Rainbows and Lollipops, is a tender, darkly funny story about grief, found family, and learning to live again. He writes character-led LGBTQ+ fiction with heart, humour, and honesty. www.mofanning.co.uk
