“In much the same way that Louise O’Neill’s book Asking For It was a damning indictment of, and a clarion call to the discussion surrounding rape culture, Harding’s book will do similarly good things for the discourse surrounding trafficking and sex work in Ireland...shocking, gut-wrenching... a new writer worth your time.”

“This is not just a novel about sex trafficking – it is also about friendship and hope in the darkest places. A harrowing but important read – and one that will stay with you long afterwards.”

“Impressive and profoundly moving. It’s a harrowing read, but is never gratuitous.”

“Harding is to be commended for writing about such an important and under-reported topic... a character-driven and highly dramatic novel...vivid and credible.”

“Sometimes 21st century fiction looks like the idle pursuit of the privileged, the trust-funded, the spiritually oblivious. Then there are books like Harvesting, which bristles with the anger of the wronged and the forgotten. Lisa Harding’s prose is visceral, indignant and, above all else, humane.”

“A novel which shines a light on some of the darkest corners of contemporary life and finds there extraordinary humanity, great hope amid the heartache. Harvesting is beautiful at the level of the sentence, profoundly moving and completely gripping. One of the best debut novels of recent years.”

“Harvesting is a powerful and utterly absorbing novel. Lisa Harding is a compelling new voice who doesn’t shirk from exploring the darker aspects of human existence. Her writing is vivid, haunting and always mindful of the humanity of her characters.”

“ Page by page, Harvesting, tenderly howls with beauty and courage. In society’s rotten cavities where secrets fester, Harding’s light fixes firmly upon the maggots with a guttural rage.”

“Harvesting is an important debut by a multi-talented author. Important because of the impressive skill with which it is written, and important because the author has had the bravery to deal with a subject as difficult as the subject of sex trafficking...in Harding’s hands, all the characters – including characters for whom we have nothing but contempt – are multi-dimensional and human. By the time we finished reading this book, the girls especially felt as if they could be members of our own families. We fully understood the complicated process that had resulted in them living the lives they were forced to live, and, without being lectured at all, knew that action had to be taken.”

“A brilliantly written, heartfelt, heart-breaking tale of two young girls, its lucid breadth and depths read like an indictment of our patriarchal globe.’ – Anthony Glavin, author of Colours Other than Blue ‘A terrific piece of work … engaging and darkly compelling.”