VESPER By Evan Marks

$28.00

Fiercely witty and sharply narrated, VESPER is an anti-romance literary novel about independence, love, and self-discovery through the eyes of consultant Vesper. Blending the cultural zeitgeist of Sex and the City with the philosophical depth of Milan Kundera, it’s perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Sarah Rose Etter and Adelle Waldman.

Vesper Elsegood is in love. With being single.

She can't understand why any of her friends would want to settle down. Because if she's learnt anything about New York's ruthless dating scene, it's that love is an ever-changing concept, a silly game, and there are rarely any winners.

But when Caspian walks into her life, an enigmatic and ambitious entrepreneur with a vision for launching a prestigious global prize to celebrate philosophical thinking, Vesper is momentarily undone. And as the chemistry between them intensifies, she soon finds herself re-examining everything—her relationships, her career, her ability to rewrite her own story.

In this restless city, where everyone seems fixated on either finding themselves or finding their perfect match, Vesper must decide whether she's met the one she wasn't looking for, or if she's the only one she really needs…

A bold and unapologetic observation of what it means to be a single woman in New York City, Marks' debut novel is equal parts emotional portrait, cultural inquiry, and contemporary coming-of-age—a story about subverting gender norms, dismantling inherited narratives, and choosing a life that is wholly one’s own.

Release date: May 26, 2026

Pre-Order now

All sales are final.

Fiercely witty and sharply narrated, VESPER is an anti-romance literary novel about independence, love, and self-discovery through the eyes of consultant Vesper. Blending the cultural zeitgeist of Sex and the City with the philosophical depth of Milan Kundera, it’s perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Sarah Rose Etter and Adelle Waldman.

Vesper Elsegood is in love. With being single.

She can't understand why any of her friends would want to settle down. Because if she's learnt anything about New York's ruthless dating scene, it's that love is an ever-changing concept, a silly game, and there are rarely any winners.

But when Caspian walks into her life, an enigmatic and ambitious entrepreneur with a vision for launching a prestigious global prize to celebrate philosophical thinking, Vesper is momentarily undone. And as the chemistry between them intensifies, she soon finds herself re-examining everything—her relationships, her career, her ability to rewrite her own story.

In this restless city, where everyone seems fixated on either finding themselves or finding their perfect match, Vesper must decide whether she's met the one she wasn't looking for, or if she's the only one she really needs…

A bold and unapologetic observation of what it means to be a single woman in New York City, Marks' debut novel is equal parts emotional portrait, cultural inquiry, and contemporary coming-of-age—a story about subverting gender norms, dismantling inherited narratives, and choosing a life that is wholly one’s own.

Release date: May 26, 2026

Pre-Order now

All sales are final.

About the Author

Evan Marks grew up in Australia and spent his early twenties moonlighting as an electronic music producer before trading his studio gear for a one-way ticket to New York, where he works as an investment banker advising companies across a variety of industries.

For the past decade, he has immersed himself in the kaleidoscope of stories that define the city’s vibrant dating and social scene. Part homage, part meditation, his writing blends genre frameworks with a deeper examination of the human condition, exploring love, desire, ambition, and identity through both narrative structure and philosophical inquiry.

As a musician, Evan has been featured in MixMag, Resident Advisor, InTheMix, ThreeDWorld, and Catalog. As a writer, his prose has been praised for being “sharp and tactile,” with a “psychological edge that many urban novels lack.”

Vesper is his debut novel and has been described as Sex and the City reimagined through the lens of Milan Kundera. He is currently working on a second novel exploring the intersection of contemporary crime and determinism.

A graduate of the University of Sydney and Harvard Business School, he lives in the West Village.

Praise

“A stylish tale of the big city with biting psychological insights.” – Kirkus Reviews

“A sharp, visceral, and multi-faceted portrait of ‘the most brutal poker game of all: the New York dating scene.’” – Victoria Patterson, author of This Vacant Paradise

“Wry and humorous.” — Foreword Clarion Reviews (4 out of 5 stars)

“Marks’s sharp-edged protagonist offers readers a cynical but exuberant take on New York City’s modern dating scene in this reflective debut.” – BookLife Reviews

“A brilliant read with a supremely shocking ending.” – Readers’ Favorite (5 out of 5 stars)

“Marks’s novel showcases a self-aware heroine who simultaneously observes and infiltrates the glitterati’s inner sanctum.” – BlueInk Reviews

“Eternally interested but wary of commitment, Vesper retreads the ever-relevant Carrie Bradshaw’s steps sans Manolo Blahniks.” – BookLife Reviews

“Marks’ novel skewers modern dating, work, and power in New York.” – Kirkus Reviews