On the coast of present-day Ireland, a family gather to mourn the death of their long-estranged father (or, in the case of Vyonne, her ex-husband). There’s the teen daughter and son, Gemma and Matthew, who are trying to figure out their place in the world; Anna – who is returning to Ireland from her job in London while also wondering how to juggle her not-quite-exclusive boyfriend; and Yvonne herself who is trying to marshal proceedings in the run-up to the funeral. Also back at the seaside home is Aunt Amy – an award-winning poet. Each of these five is afforded a chapter each, with the family dynamic shifting like a kaleidoscope as each new voice is heard. This is the third novel from this Derry-based author, and she’s managed to imbue it with some truly arresting imagery while also putting a wholly fresh spin on the family saga, which, here, feels authentically tangled. RM

Published by Bloomsbury