The Circus - Softcover

Olivia Levez divides her time between teaching English and binge-writing in her caravan by the sea. Her first book, The Island (Oneworld 2016), received critical acclaim upon publication in both the US and UK. Olivia likes hula-hooping, yoga and real ale, but not at the same time. She lives in Worcestershire with her husband, two sons and her dog, Basil.

"Much like the circus performances her protagonist longs to join, Olivia Levez's (The Island) tale of life, love and family is thrilling and brilliantly alluring. Willow describes the circus by saying, "Some giant has dipped a brush in watercolour and splashed in the yellow amongst all the gray. A little patch of magic." Her words can just as easily describe this enchanting sophomore novel. With equal parts coming of age, adventure and love story, under the big top of Levez's CIRCUS, readers will find grace and wonder. "
―Shelf Awareness

★"It’s a romantic notion, as well known as fairy tales and often instilled with the same spirit of enchantment, but running away to the circus doesn’t provide Willow a magical escape from life’s problems. On the surface, the calculated destruction of her father’s fiancé’s wedding dress and subsequent disappearance amount to nothing more than a rich girl’s acts of teenage rebellion. However, Willow’s first-person narrative exposes an array of deep-seated troubles propelling her from a posh life to a gritty existence on society’s fringe. Unable to tolerate the prospect of acquiring “the Handbag” as her new, twenty-something mom, Willow runs away with a plan to track down her real mother―a trapeze artist who returned to the circus when her daughter was three. Willow hitches her way to Hastings, a seaside town in England, where she believes her mother once worked, and ends up living on the streets. Still convinced that her future lies with the circus, she befriends a free-spirited homeless girl, Suz, who teaches her to swallow fire and walk a wire. Levez doesn’t glamorize the girls’ lifestyle, which leaves them hungry, filthy, and vulnerable. Yet as Willow begins performing, she truly comes alive. Some may find the ending too pat, but Willow’s personal revelations make her compelling journey of reinvention soar."

―Booklist, ★ Starred Review

"“Some parallels can be drawn from Levez’s latest to her well-received debut, The Island. Both feature young girls as strong ― and strong-willed ― protagonists who are essentially trying to survive by whatever means necessary. THE CIRCUS is a gripping, fast-paced read with a compelling protagonist who has a host of motivations, whether you deem them right or selfishly wrong, guiding her actions. Jumping back and forth between the present and the past, Levez’s description of Willow’s journey is raw and honest."
―RT Book Reviews, ★★★★/4 stars

"Olivia Levez’s THE CIRCUS tells the story of Willow, a young woman whose wealthy father gives her everything she could ask for, except for the one thing she truly needs. Hers is a journey of self-discovery that is at once beautiful, sad, and―for anyone who has ever felt alone―familiar.
Willow runs away, believing that she is unwanted. She dreams of her mother, who left when Willow was three to return to life in the circus. Willow wants to join the circus too, and imagines herself flying free in a golden dress, high above an awed crowd. She winds up in the town of Hastings. There, she meets Suz, a street performer who teaches her how to walk a wire, how to dance with fire, and mostly, how to survive.
Levez’s style is lyrical, infusing the story with atmosphere and emotion. Pain, despair, fear, and longing fill each page. Flashbacks to Willow’s childhood clearly relate her feelings of rejection even as her father doted on her. She is a complex, relatable character.
Suz is just as compelling―talented, clever, and full of color. Though initially she steals from Willow, the two are drawn to one another and form a friendship based on shared desperation and dreams of a golden future.
The book does not pretend that running away is noble or romantic. Willow and Suz are constantly unsafe and uncomfortable. Both girls commit crimes on a regular basis, and Suz comments that principles are not a luxury that they can afford. They struggle with hygiene, finding food, and avoiding anyone who might endanger their precarious place in the world. Willow states, “I wanted to reinvent myself, to turn myself into someone different, uncrumple myself like a newly bright butterfly. But instead I am a grub that must burrow itself into the shadows."

THE CIRCUS is a lovely book. Though it is intended for young adults, it will appeal to a wide audience. The friendship between Willow and Suz is heartrending, and ultimately helps Willow to transform her life and learn to fly."

―Foreword Reviews