Another Irish writer, this is the first novel I’ve read by this author and probably not the last.

This is a story about four generations of women in one family and the challenges they face. Each short chapter reads like a short story capturing vignettes of life with these women. The main character is Saoirse born in the first chapter. She lives with her mother and feisty grandmother who are fierce in their protection and love for each other one minute and vehemently fighting with each other or others the next.  

‘Mother’s and Nana’s heads were nearly touching across the table, and smoke from cigarettes and steam from cups of tea ascended towards the ceiling in wispy, twisting clouds.’

The prose is lyrical as it is beautiful and Ryan captures the women’s voices brilliantly. There is nothing sentimental in the portrayal of each female character who possesses strength and vulnerability.

There are themes of love, trauma, unmarried mothers, grief, inequality as well as hope, enduring relationships and love. Not a word is wasted in packing a lot into this relatively short novel.

Give this one a go.