This was my book group read for September 2024 and I have to say, wow, what a great book. We had a book group outing to No Alibis bookshop in Belfast and the staff were very helpful in suggesting several books for our next read, and this was one of them. A incredibly well-written debut novel – the prose is beautiful without being overwritten, and the three female lead characters are totally believable even thought the author is male.
Set in Donegal in 1994 leading up to the referendum on divorce (prior to which, divorce was illegal in Ireland and although couples could separate, the woman was left with few if any rights) the three female characters are all trapped by their relationships with very bad husbands as well as living under the judgemental scrutiny of small town gossips. I listened on an audiobook and loved the Irish narrator although it took me a while to work out who was who. The only nice male character was the priest (an ex-guard/police) which was refreshing since so many priests in literature are bad(!)
From the buzz on the book group WhatsApp, everyone seems to have enjoyed the book, and I’m looking forward to discussing it with the girls.
Sarah Wray Writer 