Beautiful World, Where Are You

by Sally Rooney

Eileen walked back to the apartment that night and found Alice on the sofa, working on her book. Alice, she said, am I going to have to live in the real world one day? Without looking up, Alice snorted and said: Jesus no, absolutely not. Who told you that?

But there are also dark fragrant orange trees, little white cups of coffee, blue afternoons, golden evenings …