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Lillian Telford's Lovesick Playlist

Australian author Lillian Telford dropped by the blog to give us the ultimate cool-girl playlist for her debut novel Lovesick.  Somebody Else, The 1975 So I heard you found somebody elseAnd at first, I thought it was a lie The absolute break-up anthem. Somebody Else is a pop-synth dream and perfectly sets up the vibes of Lovesick. I Never Loved You, Halsey I never loved youI never loved youI never loved you in vain Halsey writes the realities of heartbreak so well. Just because it’s over, doesn’t mean it was time wasted or meaningless. At first blush you have the bite of, ‘I never loved you,’ but beneath the vulnerability is the truth: this love mattered greatly to me. Mt. Pleasant, STUMPS So where am I, if not with you I can’t recall the last time I said ‘I love you’ This feels like Gordon’s song to me. It captures that moment of realising just how much you belong with someone and how important that relationship truly is.   About You, The 1975 I had to include About You on the Lovesick playlist. It’s pure genius, simple and dreamy. Lovely on the ears until you pay attention to the lyrics, and then just a bit devastating. And there was something about you that now I can’t rememberIt’s the same damn thing that made my heart surrenderAnd I’ll miss you on a train, I’ll miss you in the mornin’I never know what to think about I think about you Just Pretend, Bad Omens I can wait for you at the bottomI can stay away if you want me toI can wait for years if I gottaHeaven knows I ain’t getting over you Bad Omens really said they were going to write about total anguish and devastation with this one, and I can imagine Gabby in particular blasting this on repeat. Circles, George Alice Wondering if I’ll goIs there something more to you and IBut I guess that I will never knowYou’ve been engraved into my concrete mind It’s like George Alice wrote this totally relatable and painful song with Gabby and Gordon in mind. I added this to the writing playlist because it has the ‘what if’ energy when it comes to ending any relationship. And the last line, ‘You’ve been engraved into my concrete mind,’ leans into the themes of obsession in the novel. Lovesick: The must-read 2026 Australian debut dissecting modern love, for readers of Jacqueline Maley, Coco Mellors and Diana Reid A raw, honest and distinctive novel that dissects the heartbreak, passion, insecurity, obsession, betrayal and joy of modern relationships. For readers of Sally Rooney, Jacqueline Maley, Diana Reid and anyone who has experienced love or heartache in equal measure. 'Do you think much about love? About how abrupt it is,' she asked. Gabby hooked her arm through his and stretched on her toes to kiss him. His mouth was dry; she tasted like rainwater. It occurred to Gordon that she was a shadow he might not be able to catch. Two lonely lives collide on a drug-fuelled night out in Brisbane's West End. Gabby and Gordon, both lovesick and haunted by childhood wounds, find solace in each other's arms. But the passion that brings them together isn't enough in the face of insecurity, jealousy and grief. In the wake of the intense and turbulent act of falling in - and out - of love, other relationships in their lives start to crumble. How far can Gabby and Gordon push each other, and everyone else they love, before they lose their way back? PRAISE FOR LOVESICK 'With its intoxicating prose, and characters I felt I've somehow known my entire life, Lovesick hit me like a swooning, sensual gut punch. Lillian Telford is a major talent.' SIANG LU, award-winning author of Ghost Cities 'A beautiful debut about Brisbane, best friends and ex-boyfriends. Lillian Telford's prose pulses with life.' CASSIE STROUD, author of Iluka 'Observant, profound and often visceral. Telford's prose reads more like poetry.' ELEANOR KIRK, author of Very Impressive for Your Age 'Lovesick is an impressive debut, showing lonely lives butting against a refreshing Brisbane landscape. I enjoyed its raw, dark depiction of human nature at its most vulnerable.' ELISE ESTHER HEARST, author of One Day We're All Going to Die 'An achingly beautiful portrait of young love in all its messy glory as well as fragility. Lillian is a talent to watch.' EMILY LIGHEZZOLO, author of Life Drawing Get the book here