'[A] powerful debut' Observer

'This novel derives its power from its limited focus and direct language. There are no word-glutted sentences. Reed [gives us] strong silk thread, absent pearls' New York Times

'Strong, lean, compact ... Reed captures the rigors of competition as well as the complexities of competitive spirit ... exciting' Publishers Weekly

'As meditative as it is thrilling' Vanity Fair

'An exceptional debut ... Fast and smart, funny and sad, this is an outstanding sports novel, and Reed is an author to watch' Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

'Riveting ... a beautifully written story of the consequences of the choices we make' Good Housekeeping

'Joe Mungo Reed's unforgettable debut novel, We Begin Our Ascent, introduces us to a powerful new literary voice-as riveting as DeLillo's or Morrison's. On the surface, this is a book about doping in the Tour de France, but it's really about marriage and masculinity, competition and loyalty, and a sense of aspiration that blooms a person open and simultaneously shuts him tight as a clamshell. I read it cover to cover in a gulp. Bravo!'
Mary Karr, author of The Art of Memoir and The Liars' Club

'A fascinating, darkly funny look at doping in professional cycling. ... As the team's problems go from bad to worse to disastrous, Reed's wryly profound narrator uncovers insights into groupthink, dependency, and the dangers of mixing personal and professional lives' Booklist