Out of Love

Hazel Hayes is an Irish-born, London-based writer and director who has until now been writing primarily for the screen. Having graduated from Dublin City University with a degree in Journalism, she went on to study creative writing at The Irish Writers’ Centre, before finally honing her craft as a screenwriter. Hazel’s eight-part horror series, Prank Me, won the award for Excellence in Storytelling at Buffer Festival in Toronto, and her short film, Dementia, received high praise from master of horror, Guillermo del Toro. When asked why she wanted to make the leap from horror to romance, Hazel said she can think of nothing more horrific than love.@thehazelhayes

'It's so human and compassionate, so funny and lovely, you can really relate to it, it's just beautiful' Laura Smyth, Between the Covers 'I was angry at myself for how fast I was reading it, knowing that meant it would end faster. It's a unique story about heartbreak and love, yet that's what makes it feel universal' Aisling Bea 'Fierce and often funny... It’s counterintuitive to be hopeful for a relationship you know is doomed from the start, but the sheer emotional intelligence of the unpicking, from horrible break-up to magical first kiss, kept me hooked. Wise, compelling and beautifully written' Daily Mail 'Former short horror filmmaker Hayes decided to write a novel about love as she “can’t think of anything more horrific” and what a book this is as it rewinds from a relationship’s break up to its very first hopeful moments... Hayes references Nora Ephron throughout the book and she’s a pretty good successor judging from this debut' Stylist 'Hazel Hayes writes with such honesty and casual confidence and flowing dialogue, you feel you are overhearing it rather than reading it. The writing sparkles with wit, and a poignant emotional reality. I love it' Matt Haig, bestselling author of How to Stop Time 'A beautiful deconstruction of a relationship that explores not what the ending is, but rather, how something began' Anna Akana, filmmaker and author 'Hazel’s book is funny and moving and bleak and hopeful all at the same time . . . Like Bridget Jones and Sylvia Plath setting the world to rights over a supermarket vino' Paul Neafcy, writer and author 'Hazel is a beautifully brazen, headstrong writer who portrays realities with a wonderful wink and wry smile in everything she does' Grace Helbig, comedian and author 'Hazel manages to explore the untangling of a relationship in a way that feels as if you're reading a journal entry. Raw and unfiltered, I found myself relating to even the subtlest details' Estée Lalonde, author and lifestyle vlogger