A major achievement for Irish author Niamh Hargan

Prepare to fall head over heels in love with Nothing Good Happens After 2 am. The novel by Irish author Niamh Hargan has not yet been published, but it has already been optioned for television.

According to Deadline, Hera Pictures has optioned Nothing Good Happens After 2 am.

The novel, set for publication in January 2026, is set in the cutthroat world of high-end cocktail making in London.

The synopsis reads:

'Behind the unmarked door of Love and Death, a tiny speakeasy in East London, Robbie Saunders and El Tippett are cocktail-making stars on the rise.

'As London's bar scene explodes around them, Robbie and El circle each other, connected by passion and competitive spirit. From Hackney to Soho in the small hours, as the city transforms itself, nothing – and no one – has ever felt so alive.

'But when it all comes crashing down, something indefinable keeps drawing Robbie and El back into each other's orbit. Over the years that follow, in bars around the world, one unexpected, ill-advised, and utterly glorious late night after another, can they put aside professional betrayals to build something brand new?'

Fiercely competitive bidding war for Nothing Good Happens After 2 am

It is understood that Hera Pictures won after "a fiercely competitive bidding war."

They're also already looking at "top-tier screenwriters" to pen the script.

Liza Marshall of Hera Pictures said,

“From its first page, Nothing Good Happens After 2 am had us completely hooked.

"It’s sharp, sexy, and brimming with atmosphere. Niamh has created a world that feels both thrillingly glamorous and emotionally raw, with characters who ache with ambition, desire, and heartbreak.

"It’s exactly the kind of bold, stylish storytelling we love at Hera, and we’re thrilled to bring it to the screen," she added.

Niamh Hargan said she is so pleased following the news.

She told Her.ie, "I’ve loved working on this novel, and I feel I can say with some confidence that the associated research, which forced me to visit lots of incredible cocktail bars and sample their offerings, has been meticulous!

"I’m so excited to share Nothing Good Happens After 2 am with readers early next year, but I confess I always hoped the story might work well on screen too.

"So, it was an extra joy to have had such a warm reception when we began sharing it with producers. When I met with the team at Hera Pictures, I knew immediately that they had the vision and enthusiasm to pull this off, and I’m so thrilled to be working with them on the TV adaptation."

As someone who read both Twelve Days in May and The Break-Up Clause, it's great to see Hargan's work get the appreciation it deserves.

Her work is both comforting and full of escapism, but is also full of sharp wit and authenticity.

There's no doubt fans are going to be completely enthralled by her book when it is published in January.

Could the Nothing Good Happens After 2 am series be as big as Normal People? We'll just have to wait and see, but we're incredibly excited to tune in.

Nothing Good Happens After 2 am will be published on January 29th, 2026.

Pre-order here.