As the title announces, A Passionate Touch (In Uncertain Times) by Anthony Welsh is a little book about passion. Published in March 2026, it follows a romantic entanglement of Londoners Brandon and Pricilla (not Priscilla?). It is a somewhat difficult book to pin to a genre: there is poetry woven through it, moments of drama, sensuality and flashes of humour, all compressed into an unusually short form. Call it a novelette, or call it a long short story; either way, it occupies an interesting space and is an interesting read.
The story begins with a “meet cute” on a rain-soaked train platform, where writer Brandon catches the eye of Pricilla, which quickly snowballs into an affair. Their liaison takes them from England streets to the sun-drenched Riviera, while the texture of their real lives slowly intrudes. The relationship drifts, flares, and drifts again within the space of the book’s brief thirteen chapters.
Much like Kafka or Borges’ short stories, one appeal of the book is that it is extremely easy to get through. Unlike other novels that may ramble for pages and pages, you get the sense that the author deeply values brevity.
The book is written in an easy to read style that you could easily finish it in a single hour. This is both its charm and its limitation, as some may find there is simply not enough space for the characters to breathe. As for what we do get to know about them, Brandon and Pricilla are not entirely likeable (especially Brandon, who cheats on Pricilla), but they do feel like real people. The brevity means you never quite get attached, but you do get a glimpse.
The structure is somewhat loose. The book’s chapters are interspersed with poetic interludes and professional photography of real locations, which helps the reader visualise the settings in a way prose alone might not. The book is firmly rooted in British culture, with references to Caffè Nero, the word “cheeky” and “Miss Essex”, and this specificity nicely grounds the story. The photographs are visually appealing and professionally shot, if occasionally puzzling in their inclusion.
The poetic interludes are another intriguing touch. One piece, “A Nation Rises,” moves from café lattes and blood-red skies through themes of violence and tribalism. These interludes will not always feel directly connected to the central story, and at times they seem to float free of it entirely, but they give the book a sense of reaching for something larger than its plot.
Otherwise, this is not a book that takes itself too seriously: the word “horny” appears without ceremony, and there is a subplot involving a naked photography project with characters named Becky and Charity that arrives seemingly from another novel entirely. It is random, but oddly funny.
The writing itself is to the point and efficient at scene-setting. Welsh brings us into situations quickly, and the relationship has a convincing arc even in miniature, like a snapshot of a longer novel. Occasionally it slightly tips into telling rather than showing, but it’s never too egregious, and I appreciated getting small insights into the character’s personal lives, such as Pricilla’s mother in the psych ward.
In terms of constructive criticism, some scene transitions feel a bit abrupt, a “a few months later…”, especially the POV changes. Furthermore, the sexual content of the book is explicit and unapologetic. Whether that works for you will depend on taste, but the book does not sugarcoat either desire or its complications, which is, at minimum, an honest position. In addition, some details of the book feel almost confessionally specific, such as a Blur concert, and specific Riviera streets, giving the whole thing the texture of something semi-autobiographical. Perhaps it is, who knows.
The clear highlight of reading the book is the relationship itself. Watching Brandon and Pricilla’s dynamic develop from both perspectives, seeing the push and pull of attraction and mistrust in close proximity, is quite compelling. The book’s main weakness, however, is its scattershot quality. The photography subplot, the loosely connected interludes, the occasional tonal lurch suggests a writer with more ideas than the format can comfortably hold. Another edit pass, particularly around scene transitions, would serve it well. But at the same time it’s messy, unfiltered nature is also one of the appeals.
Overall, A Passionate Touch (In Uncertain Times) is a compact, genre-spanning read that is difficult to categorise but easy to finish. For romance readers who enjoy their love stories unromanticised, with a dash of poetry and spice, it is easy to recommend.
Final verdict: For fans of Sally Rooney or Rachel Cusk who appreciate books with unique perspective on relationships, and fans of unfiltered romance that blurs genres, A Passionate Touch (In Uncertain Times) is a little novelette well worth your evening.
You can get your copy of A Passionate Touch (In Uncertain Times) or read for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
