Melt

by Lisa Walker — OUT NOW

Published 2 May 2018
Paperback • ISBN 9781922198327 • 278 pages • RRP $27.50
Ebook • ISBN 9781922198334 • RRP $9.99

Antarctica is getting hotter …

Summer Wright, hippie turned TV production assistant, organises her life down to the minute. And when her project-management-guru boyfriend, Adrian, proposes marriage — right on schedule — she will reach the peak of The Cone of Certainty.

At least, that’s the plan – until adventure-show queen Cougar Gale intervenes. Suddenly Summer is impersonating Cougar in Antarctica: learning glaciology and climate science on the fly, building a secret igloo, improvising scripts based on Dynasty, and above all trying not to be revealed as an impostor.

Summer finds it particularly hard to fool climate scientist Lucas Nilsson, who is babysitting the production crew. But Lucas is more focused on Adrian’s client Nathan Hornby — the science minister who thinks “climate science is crap” — and rumours of faked climate data.

With Adrian unexpectedly in Antarctica too, can Summer use her extreme project management skills to get Project Adrian back on track and make a success of “Cougar on Ice”? Was Lucas involved in the sudden disappearance of Minister Hornby during a blizzard? And what is The Krill Question anyway?

Antarctica — it gives you perspective …

Praise for Lisa Walker's writing

“funny, charming and thoughtful … full of witty one-liners and intriguing minor characters, realistic about the vicissitudes of love and desire” — Kerryn Goldsworthy, The Sydney Morning Herald

“the voice Walker uses is authentic and her story is enriched by hard-won psychological insights” —  Cameron Woodhead, The Sydney Morning Herald

“reaches out beyond romance to social commentary. Much to enjoy” — Lucy Sussex, The Sun Herald

“spiced with quirky humour” — Herald Sun

Reviews of Melt

“This is a smart, modern romance with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I loved the stripped back landscape of Antarctica as a backdrop to personal complications – and the juxtaposition of Summer’s clean, white, city apartment with this other kind of blank slate. …
    The book has also been compared to what we might call the ‘Bridget Jones genre’ – and certainly there are parallels in Summer’s awkward juggling of a media role and a staccato love life. But there is an extra layer of social commentary involved in Melt that’s not always apparent in romance fiction.
    The laughs are plenty thanks to the bizarre identity switch Summer needs to pull off on her journey to Antarctica. …
    Underlying this, of course, is some serious science about climate change and its impact at the poles. The harsh, beautiful landscapes are as poignant as the ineffectual politicians who visit the site are laughable. The whole book questions the disconnect between what is said (marketing/media/popular views) and actually taking action when it comes to these significant environmental issues. …
    Melt is a really engaging, relatable story for anyone struggling with the chaos of ‘modern life’. Come for the romance, stay to learn some surprising facts about one of the planet’s most intriguing locales.”
— Dr Lara Cain Gray, Charming Language, 3 May 2018. Read the full review here. 

“[A] smart, modern day romance with a different slant … Melt is a crisp and snazzy tale that combines a pathway of self discovery, with a touch of romance, which is set against the broad backdrop of Antarctica. Melt is one out of the ordinary story that will be sure to touch your heart. … 
     Lisa Walker’s writing style … is fresh, unique and engaging. … My overall experience of this novel was one of joy, it was an absolute pleasure to read this original new novel from Lisa Walker. …
    There is a dash of romance in this novel [and] I’m never short of amazed by Lisa Walker’s talent in the romance field, she knows inherently what works and it shines through in Melt.
    Underneath the fun, frivolity, mix ups and new adventures is a much more series message to Melt. Walker opens our eyes to one of the most isolated and harsh terrains on planet earth, but it is also one of the most stunning locales in the world. … Walker does a very good job of capturing the rich sense of place of this locale. There are some memorable passages related to the scenery and wildlife in Antarctica which I appreciated very much, especially the penguin interludes. Running alongside this book is the issue of climate change, which  I found very insightful.
    Melt proved to be quite the epic journey and I loved following the lead, Summer’s mishaps. I like where Walker took Summer by the close of the novel. I think it is important to mention the format of this novel, which struck me as clever, visually appealing and original. The chapter headings were just so quirky and reflective of the whole style of the novel. Interspersed between the verses of narrative in Melt are some great diagrams, giving us a fantastic insight into Summer’s personality. It was such a great little touch and perfectly encapsulates Lisa Walker’s signature style!
    … Melt is a simply charming novel from cover to cover.”
— Amanda Barrett, Mrs B's Book Reviews, 8 May 2018. Read the full review here.

“I cannot resist a book about Antarctica. It’s an area that fascinates me and I love reading books set there (not a huge amount in fiction, giving the limited population living on Antarctica at any given time) or watching documentaries about it. Also penguins are my favourite animal and look how adorable this cover is!
   … For me, Melt is a fabulous little melting pot itself, of humour, science, topical debate, an amazing location, the idea of being true to yourself and finding out what you really want, and of course a little pinch of romance. I wish I could find more books just like this one! 9/10”
— 1girl2manybooks, 2 May 2018. Read the full review here.

“Lisa has a great sense of humour. This novel should go far!” — Dan Bloom, journalist, founder of the term cli-fi.

“At a glance, Lisa Walker’s Melt is classic romcom, a Bridget Jones for today’s thinking lady reader. Hippie chick from Nimbin, Summer Dawn Rain Wright, is trying to stuff her life into spreadsheets and city soullessness – all in the name of falling for the wrong man. Along comes a freak opportunity to take a work assignment in Antarctica and, suddenly, Mr Right appears – maybe.
       Melt is so much more than romcom. Carefully layered beneath the quirky humour and the colourful, cartoonish bounce of Walker’s prose is a bittersweet, cleverly nuanced exploration of climate change – how we’ve failed to market it and how urgently we need to turn our minds to the task.
       The satire of contemporary over-busy emptiness is sharp and playful at once. There are so many unforgettable one-liners in Melt, Walker has now, together with her three previous novels, established herself as a queen of the quip. From describing mediocre sex as “like finding a great parking spot” to declaring “climate change is boring”, Walker’s comic timing makes for many a laugh-out-loud moment.
       But deeper still, Melt is a charming and disarming tale of appreciating what you’ve got before it’s gone – a sparkling story of love and wonder, of finding your place and the people with whom you can truly be yourself.”
— Kim Kelly, author of the acclaimed Wild Chicory and best-selling The Blue Mile