Wedding bells are in the air for one Dua Lipa, but they might not be ringing if it weren’t for books. Yes, books! In celebration of the nuptials, news has resurfaced about what brought Dua Lipa and her groom, Callum Turner, together in the first place. They both happened to be reading the same book and were at the same place in the book, aka, on the same page. The rest is history. So, for all of you out there looking for love, grab the next book and get to reading! June’s pick is Having Spent Life Seeking by Kae Tempest.
Tempest is an acclaimed poet, writer, and artist who—whether in music or in literature—uses storytelling to share personal yet universal truths. Tempest started out as a rapper but quickly began performing in poetry slams, bridging the gap between music, spoken word, and performance. His career includes poetry collections Everything Speaks in its Own Way, Brand New Ancients, and Hold Your Own; plays Wasted, Hopefully Devoted, and Paradise; books The Bricks That Built the Houses and On Connection; and albums Everybody Down, Let Them Eat Chaos, The Book of Traps and Lessons, The Line is a Curve, and Self Titled. Tempest’s successes include the Ted Hughes Award for Brand New Ancients and two nominations for the coveted Mercury Prize in 2014 and 2015.
As for Having Spent Life Seeking, Dua Lipa shares,
“I’ve long admired Kae Tempest for his body of work, which includes plays, fiction, essays, poetry, five studio albums, and electrifying spoken word performances. Watching him move fluidly between forms is thrilling.
“‘Having Spent Life Seeking,’ his groundbreaking new novel, contains something of all of them. The story follows Rothko, fresh out of a long sting in prison, returning to his hometown and witnessing how much—and how little—has changed. It’s the start of a journey that demands a reckoning with his past and, ultimately, with himself.
“The novel takes an unflinching look at family trauma, addiction, gender identity, homophobia, love, and desire. It’s all there—the messiness of life, the hurt we cause each other, and finally, the ultimate redemption—when we learn to forgive ourselves.
“It’s also a celebration of the power of a new pronoun. And believe me, when Rothko dances happily sober at a queer rave, you’ll wish you were right there with him.
“With Kae’s trademark tenderness and empathy, his love for these characters shines through the pages. Trust me, you will love them, too.”
In the interview below, Dua Lipa and Kae Tempest touch on themes featured throughout the book. They get into forgiveness, atonement, instability, past versus present selves, and the idea of disconnection and reconnection.
Additionally, readers will find Tempest’s playlist for Having Spent Life Seeking, a list of books that have influenced Tempest as a writer and man, and an essay about the cultural impact of the British seaside.
In October, Dua Lipa will curate the Southbank Centre’s 2026 London Literature Festival. This includes special events during the festival’s opening weekend, but during the festival’s entire run, Dua Lipa will hold events with the Service95 Book Club.
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