THE critically acclaimed debut novel by a former Jersey Evening Post journalist is being published in paperback today, following widespread praise from national critics.
The Kings Head, written by 26-year-old Kelly Frost and published by Atlantic Fiction, comes out in paperback exactly one year after its successful hardback release.
The novel, set in post-war London, follows a gang of young women navigating loyalty, violence and friendship amid the bomb-scarred streets of Finsbury Park in the 1950s.
Inspired by real photographs Miss Frost discovered while she was a student, the book explores female identity and power at a time when young women were often written out of history.
Since its original publication, The Kings Head has achieved rare success for a debut author, earning broadsheet reviews and being named historical fiction book of the month by The Sunday Times.
It was later included on the paper’s list of the best historical fiction books of 2025, while The Observer praised the novel for how it “expertly toys with gender and explores young people’s place in the world”.
The book was also listed among Stylist’s best new books of 2025 and selected as a critics’ pick in The Irish Times’s summer reading list.
Miss Frost said: “Paperback launch marks one year since The Kings Head had its successful hardback release.
“It’s been an incredibly overwhelming year with many life changes, but I’m so excited about the direction my writing career is going in.
“The Kings Head received some amazing review coverage and I’ve taken part in panel events at bookshops and festivals.
“It still feels surreal to hit this milestone, but I’m trying to take in and enjoy every step of the process while working hard on what’s coming next.”
Since publication, Miss Frost has appeared at events hosted by Waterstones, the Jersey Festival of Words, the Alternative Book Fair and the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre.
In October 2025, she moved from Jersey to London to pursue writing full-time.
The paperback release follows earlier acclaim from The Sunday Times, which described the book as “a compelling story” and “an understated celebration of female friendship.”
