THE LONESOME HEART IS ANGRY
By Paul Charles
New Island Paperback
Set in the fictional Northern Irish town of Castlemartin in the 1960s, Paul Charles’s latest novel follows matchmaker Michael Gilmour as he sets about pairing up the single members of the community.
When twin brothers Joe and Pat Kane come to Michael with a very unusual marriage request, things start to unravel in the small town of just 617 residents. Gossip, drama and tragedy ensue as the matchmaker goes about meeting his clients’ needs. A fascinating glimpse into the darker side of a small town and the human condition, this novel is beautifully written with jolts of humour, but yet it doesn’t shy away from the sense of desperation and fear that can build within a secluded community.
Beautifully written, this has been hailed as Charles’s best book to date, and we can see why – from the intrigue which is built within us to the surprising direction the story takes. While Charles is now mostly known for his success in the music industry, it is the author’s background that was the inspiration for the novel.
He grew up in a similar small town where he witnessed, firsthand, how nasty rumours had the power to ruin lives back in the ’60s. We think it is this personal link that gives this novel an eerily realistic edge that will have readers turning the pages restlessly to get to the end.
We recommend this for crime fiction lovers that want something set in rural Ireland, and historic fiction enthusiasts looking for a little mystery.
THE BEEKEEPER'S DAUGHTER
By Santa Montefiore
Simon & Schuster Paperback
This is a novel set between two eras and two women. We first meet with Grace in 1937.
As England braces itself for war, Grace is set to marry her childhood sweetheart, Freddie. But as the wedding looms, she finds herself torn between her betrothed and another man, a handsome young aristocrat she could never be with.
Flash forward to 1973 and we are introduced to Grace’s daughter, Trixie. She is madly in love with a British musician and plans to escape from her sheltered life to run away with him and his band. However, when tragedy strikes, her plans of running away are halted.
As both mother and daughter try to navigate their way through their lives and loves, the past catches up with them and has dramatic consequences. The way the novel jumps between the two eras to tell the story, and is then sewn back together in a climatic ending, is seamless and highly entertaining.
THE YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS
T.S. Spivet
By Reif Larsen
Vintage Paperback
When we first picked up this book we weren’t sure if it was for adults. The pages are littered with illustrations – drawings and cartoons – so it could be confused as a children’s novel. But once we started to read the story of 12-year-old T.S Spivet, we quickly realised this wasn’t just for kids. Originally, this book was published as The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet, and then in 2013 it was developed into a motion picture. Now that it’s being re-released, it’s definitely an alternative but interesting book to add to your summer reading collection.
When child-genius TS gets a call from the Smithsonian saying that he has won a prestigious award, he embarks on a cross-country adventure, without telling any of his family in Montana where he is going. The illustrations throughout the book work just as hard as the words, as the reader gets a stark glimpse into the mind of the young protagonist as he makes his journey across America.
An entertaining read all about family, loss and love, we recommend this to those that want to feed their imagination, both adults and children alike.
NOW THAT I'VE FOUND YOU
By Ciara Geraghty
Hachette Ireland Paperback
If, like us, you’re a sucker for novels about second chances and the underdog coming out on top, then you’ll enjoy Now That I’ve Found You, the fifth novel from author Ciara Geraghty. Written from the perspective of two down-on-their-luck protagonists, Vinnie and Ellen, the story takes enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. It is written in such a whimsical way that your inner romantic will be truly indulged.
Vinnie’s wife has left him with two kids and a lot of confusion. Ellen was in a serious car crash that has damaged her more poignantly on the inside than the scars her body would show. Both are trying hard to figure out how to let go and live again when their paths cross and their lives are changed forever.
If you enjoyed Geraghty’s past work, or you’re a fan of the work of Cecilia Ahern or Marian Keyes, you won’t be disappointed with this heart-warming novel. CL
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