Bright Burning Things

SHORTLISTED FOR THE KERRY GROUP IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2022'Absolutely dazzling' MARIAN KEYES'On every page there are little shimmering bombs' LISA TADDEO'Quietly devastating . . . Reminded me repeatedly of Shuggie Bain' OBSERVERBeing Tommy’s mother is too much for Sonya.

Too much love, too much fear, too much longing for the cool wine she gulps from the bottle each night. Because Sonya is burning the fish fingers, and driving too fast, and swimming too far from the shore, and Tommy’s life is in her hands. Once there was the thrill of a London stage, a glowing acting career, fast cars, handsome men.

But now there are blackouts and bare cupboards, and her estranged father showing up uninvited.

There is Mrs O’Malley spying from across the road. There is the risk of losing Tommy – forever. AN OBSERVER, GRAZIA, IRISH TIMES AND IRISH INDEPENDENT HIGHLIGHT FOR 2021