The Pyramid by William Golding.
 
William Golding's lesser-known novel, The Pyramid, is a coming-of-age story set in the quaint, yet watchful, English town of Stilbourne during the 1920s. Our protagonist, Oliver, is a rebellious young man on the cusp of adulthood, yearning for excitement before university. However, Stilbourne's close-knit community thrives on gossip and social expectations, making Oliver's quest for adventure a hilarious and sometimes disastrous exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of small-town life. Through three interconnected stories, Oliver grapples with the awkwardness of adolescence, the sting of betrayal, and the power of music as he navigates his path to maturity.