A review by sharonleavy
Boys Don't Cry by Fíona Scarlett

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

4.75

 
Joe and Finn are brothers who live in a tower block in Dublin. Their Dad has a sketchy past, in and out of prison for as long as they can remember. Their mother is weary in every conceivable way. 

Joe has a scholarship to a school that will allow him to fulfil his potential as a budding artist - but when Finn falls ill, what's the point of anything anymore? A local criminal is only waiting to pounce on Joe and use him for his own gain. But if Joe goes down that road, how the hell will he get back off it?

This was gorgeous. So sad and evocative, so Dublin without being a parody of Dublin. We get both Finn and Joe's POV here, and if your heart doesn't break for both of them I'll be very surprised. 

The ending was slightly confusing for me but it was still one of the best books I've read this year.