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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this book was not for me at all. the first section felt like we were being set up to go one way, with a particular social commentary, then it was discarded and never picked back up. the middle section, set in Ireland, was the only
part i found interesting. once we return to London it unfortunately falls flat once again. i just felt it didn’t go anywhere at any point.
thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy.
part i found interesting. once we return to London it unfortunately falls flat once again. i just felt it didn’t go anywhere at any point.
thank you to the publisher for sending me an early copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Firstly thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
I can’t honestly say that this novel has anything original to say. It was filled with stereotypical characters. There is a 50’s feel to the whole story, I assume the author feels this about Ireland but it permeated the early 2000’s London and so felt inauthentic. This may have been a better story if longer to allow for some fleshing out of the characters.
I can’t honestly say that this novel has anything original to say. It was filled with stereotypical characters. There is a 50’s feel to the whole story, I assume the author feels this about Ireland but it permeated the early 2000’s London and so felt inauthentic. This may have been a better story if longer to allow for some fleshing out of the characters.
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Mairéad is a young woman between a rock and a hard place. Small town, small mind Ireland is not for her but then she’s adrift in the metropolis of London too.
Her character is not fully developed and some of her co-characters appear to be stereotypes of the theatre scene. And we are left with a question unanswered - what is her ‘sickness’? Margaret suggests one thing but there is no evidence for that in the rest of the novel.
More flesh on the bones needed.
Her character is not fully developed and some of her co-characters appear to be stereotypes of the theatre scene. And we are left with a question unanswered - what is her ‘sickness’? Margaret suggests one thing but there is no evidence for that in the rest of the novel.
More flesh on the bones needed.
#gifted
It is 2002 (though you'd be forgiven for feeling it is much more historical than that for the most part), and Mairéad works in the wardrobe department in a small, rundown theatre in London’s West End. She’s left her family at home in the North West of Ireland to begin a new life in London, but Mairead is doleful, unmoored, and lonely, prey to the lecherous ‘boys club’ theatre men and a producer who’s an absolute dose.
Told in fragmented prose that seems to reflect our protagonist's mental state, every moment of Mairéad’s existence in London feels hard fought. She wants to study and improve her meagre existence, but despite this desire to move forward, the past clings to her as distant voices of criticism and doubt echo in her mind, fueling her fears and insecurities.
Then, she heads home to Ireland for a bit, and suddenly, the story really quickens in pace. The past unravels, she comes fully into focus, and I was hooked.
But here’s the thing—I found parts of the London sections a slog, while the Ireland section felt too rushed. The balance was off, and I was left wanting more of what was working and less of what wasn’t.
It’s grand, not great—compelling, raw, realistic characters, a strong premise, but a small bit uneven. That said, there’s real potential here, and I’d be very interested to see what this author does next.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read via NetGalley and for sending me a physical copy. As always, this is an honest review.