The exhilarating, disturbing and darkly comic spiral of a sad dad’s increasingly unhinged obsession with tennis.

Since losing his job, Ned’s sole responsibility has been to look after his six-year-old son while his wife works. When he one day finds his old tennis racquet buried in the garage, he also unearths a part of his former self. On a whim, and without his wife’s knowledge, Ned rejoins his former tennis club – and finds life outside the realm of domesticity. He becomes the captain of a local men’s team, reconnects with his old partner, former tennis-prodigy Roland, and commits himself body and soul to building a winning team. But when Roland disappears, Ned’s search for his friend threatens not only the path to glory, but his relationship with his son, his marriage, and his mind.

A meditation on fathers and sons, male friendship, and the all-consuming thrill of competing and winning, Dad Had a Bad Day is wincingly funny and addictive – and, ultimately, poignant and quietly heartbreaking.

READERS ARE SAYING:

‘Unhinged in the best possible way . . . Horrifying and fascinating.’

‘Crushing to see Ned’s efforts lead him to spiral and betray what he truly wants: to be a good father, husband, and man. I loved this book!’

‘Absolutely loved. . . We don’t often get books that cover these topics so this is a true treasure.’

‘Picked this up for the tennis but stayed for the sad-dad vibes . . . It’s rare to find a novel that blends literary depth and dark humor so seamlessly, but Politanoff nailed it.’

’A searing portrait of a man on fire . . . the ending gave me chills.’