Critical Praise

In TOWELHEAD Alicia Erian accomplishes an extraordinarily difficult thing: She illuminates a timeless, ageless theme, our inevitable human struggle for selfhood and meaningful connection to others. This is a brilliant first novel.

——Robert Olen Butle

"Alicia Erian's unflinching depiction of a teen's survival is accurate and artful, and it offers a glimpse of true triumph. This marvelous book further confirms Erian as a writer to admire."

—Darin Strauss, author of CHANG AND ENG and THE REAL MCCOY

"Alicia Erian's gripping debut novel fearlessly enters love's gray areas and darkest corners. The character's voice casts a slow and subtle spell. Before you know it, you're convinced the bad guys are good guys and the heroes are villains. I couldn't put it down."

—Cathy Day, author of THE CIRCUS IN WINTER

"Alicia Erian is one of the finest young writers to come along in a decade -- fierce, smart, funny, and wise. And Towelhead is an extraordinary debut novel. It's sexy, disturbing, joyful and deep, and maybe just a little too real for comfort."

—Bill Roorbach, author of BIG BEND and THE SMALLEST COLOR