How much can a childhood friendship developed into adulthood withstand? Maryam and Zahra are lifelong friends despite differences of class, politics and lifestyles. Their relationship is tested when an adolescent mistake returns to haunt them. In her compelling new novel ‘Best of Friends’, Kamila Shamsie explores female friendship, work, family, desire and power, asking timely questions about our society.

Kamila won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2018 with her novel ‘Home Fire’, praised by the judges as ‘The book for our times’. Her five previous novels include ‘Burnt Shadows’, shortlisted for the Orange Prize, and ‘A God in Every Stone’, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the Walter Scott Prize. She is a patron of Manchester Literature Festival and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Manchester. Presented in partnership with the Centre for New Writing and Creative Manchester. Hosted by BBC News Presenter and broadcaster Razia Iqbal.

Copies of ‘Best of Friends’ will be available to collect before the event.