Search results for ""Author Caroline O’Donoghue""

Book SynopsisA dark and supernatural contemporary teen debut by multi-talented author and journalist Caroline O''Donoghue.So gripping, so intriguing, so layered All Our Hidden Gifts feels like a book that should have always existed. Kiran Millwood HargraveA seductive and brilliant book. Fiercely, furiously good. Melinda SalisburyThe most authentic teenage voice I''ve read in ages... I was utterly bewitched. Holly BourneGrim, gripping and gorgeous. I devoured it. Deirdre SullivanMaeve Chambers doesn''t have much going for her. Not only does she feel like the sole idiot in a family of geniuses, she managed to drive away her best friend Lily a year ago. But when she finds a pack of dusty old tarot cards at school, and begins to give scarily accurate readings to the girls in her class, she realizes she''s found her gift at last. Things are looking up until she discovers a strange card in the deckTrade ReviewA supernatural mystery plays out against the backdrop of contemporary Ireland, exploring the theme of acceptance without ever being heavy-handed. O’Donoghue has a keen eye for the complexities of friendships; I predict this one will be catnip to teenage readers. * The Observer *From the author of Scenes of a Graphic Nature, this genuinely creepy novel is veined with mordant comedy and dreamy romance. * The Guardian *Fabulous, richly imagined YA, full of folklore and romance: delicious. * Katherine Rundell *overall this is a satisfying, entertaining read - with a well-deserved sequel due next year * SFX *Thankfully, All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline manages to present a non-binary character with subtlety and warmth. Perhaps it works so well because, being an occult-tinged mystery-romance steeped in Irish folklore, there’s a lot else going on. […]O’Donoghue’s intriguing story takes in myth, history, tensions between Catholic and Protestant, and race in Ireland. Helping the repentant Maeve search for the missing girl is Lily’s nail-polish wearing brother Roe, formerly Rory, who is the essence of fluidity in a novel that’s all about the power of liminal spaces. * The Financial Times *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisSet in a universe where time is a resource coveted and exploited, the key to power and privilege comes a dazzlingly inventive sci-fi fantasy romance by a bestselling Irish author."Skipshock isn't just a book. It is, literally, a new world to dive into, and one so exquisitely conjured that you feel you live there for a while. A suspenseful, romantic, charming and really unique tale." Matt HaigMargo is on a train to a new boarding school when she slips into another dimension, passing from the height of Irish summer into the chill of an alien winter, from a 24-hour day to one that begins and ends in just six hours. From a stranger on the train a travelling salesman by the name of Moon she learns that New Davia is part of a world scarred by uprisings, travel bans and world sealings. Power is determined by time who has it, who doesn't, and who has the freedom to travel between time zones.Can Margo find a way to get back home or will she choose to stay in a world where her teenagehood is slipping away faster than ever before, but where she may have found the only person with whom she would choose to spend eternity?

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE RACHEL INCIDENT - Caroline O''Donoghue''s bestselling new novel* - is out nowA darkly funny novel about being a young woman in a man''s world''Like Nora Ephron''s Heartburn, Promising Young Women positively thrums with relatability and honesty'' IRISH INDEPENDENTJane is twenty-six, freshly dumped, and on the bottom rung of a lacklustre marketing career. She is also moonlighting as a worldly agony aunt. When an office party goes too far, she drunkenly tries out another role: the Other Woman. As Jane''s affair with her much older, married boss takes off, she disregards the advice her alter ego would give and dissolves into being someone else''s dirty little secret. But she''s not the only one at her company to have taken the wrong path. As she finds her own health and sanity disintegrating, can she discover the truth before another promising young woman is taken under his wing?''Deeply relatable and darkly comic . . . It''ll have you nodding with familiarity, thinking, laughing - and crying - as you race towards the end'' GRAZIA''So brilliant, I highly recommend it'' DOLLY ALDERTON''I loved it - whipsmart and so witty'' MARIAN KEYES''Sharp, pithy and engaging'' IRISH TIMES''Smart and spiky'' METROAn Post Irish Book Awards Shortlisted - Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year*The Rachel Incident was a #2 bestseller in Ireland in June 2023

Read more less

Book SynopsisMagic-sensitive Maeve wants to save the innocent from a dangerous cult. But how much can she delve into darkness without becoming what she fears? The exciting conclusion to the Gifts series.Big things are happening for Maeve and her tight-knit coven in Kilbeg, Ireland. Fiona lands a role on a TV show, Roe’s band is poised to hit the big time, and Lily has a new punk style and passion for tattooing. Then there’s Maeve, whose magic is growing stronger and more frightening. She finds herself increasingly lashing out, doing and saying cruel things without knowing why. When her recurring dreams begin to involve her physically manifesting in other places, Maeve realizes the power she wields might not be entirely under her control. She turns to enemy-turned-maybe-friend Aaron for help, which means pushing her other friends away. But when the two learn that the religious cult the Children of Brigid is kidnapping vulnerable teenagers in preparation for a dangerous rit

Read more less

Book SynopsisA BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • A USA TODAY BESTSELLER • A brilliantly funny novel about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three • “O'Donoghue deepens the familiar coming-of-age premise with riveting moral complications. —PeopleIf you’ve ever been unsure what to do with your degree in English; if you’ve ever wondered when the rug-buying part of your life will start...if you’ve ever loved the wrong person, or the right person at the wrong time…In short, if you’ve ever been young, you will love The Rachel Incident like I did.” —Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times best-selling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowRachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and it’s love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, James soon invites Rachel

Read more less

Book SynopsisA spellbinding supernatural teen drama and sequel to All Our Hidden Gifts.Maeve and her friends have revealed their powers and banded together as a coven: Roe can pick locks, Lily sends sparks flying, Maeve can read minds and Fiona can heal any injury. And even better than their newfound talents? Roe and Maeve are officially an item.But with strange things happening at school, and old enemies appearing in new places, it soon becomes clear their powers are attracting all the wrong attention. It's not long before Maeve's gift start to wane, drained by someone or something that's hiding even from her second sight...The brilliant second installment in the Hidden Gifts series, with further titles to come.Praise for All Our Hidden GiftsSo gripping, so intriguing, so layered All Our Hidden Gifts feels like a book that should have always existed. Kiran Millwood HargraveA seductive and brilTrade ReviewO’Donoghue is wonderfully attuned to the delights and agonies of adolescence. The emotional intelligence of this book, and its grasp of how friendships can be a source of fierce love and tremendous pain at different times, is what stands out here; every detail rings true. This series is Ireland’s answer to Buffy the Vampire Slayer; I adore it. -- Claire Hennessy * The Irish Times *A great blend of witchy drama and nuanced teenage relationships. * The i *The world O’Donoghue has built with its poky but believable small Irish town and distinct magic system is a pleasure to spend time in. Teen readers will love this series – but adults might learn a thing or two as well. * Irish Business Post *a book that bewitches the reader * Armadillo *Handling all the classic teenage themes of isolation, sex, feeling different and even self-sabotage with a wonderfully realistic and down-to-earth approach O’Donoghue refuses to condescend to her audience. It’s with a lightness of hand that she sketches this time of transition and self-identification, capturing the terror of making what we think are life-altering choices at 17.Brave, but incredibly relatable, these teens are written with wit, honesty and great authenticity.With great heart and empathy, O’Donoghue takes the second book in a more mature direction, but the magic of the first (All Our Hidden Gifts) remains with deeper, more intimate explorations of relationships, traumas and how finding yourself can sometimes feel like losing yourself at first…truly spellbinding. * The Irish Independent *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe international bestseller: a hilarious, heartfelt story of all-consuming and unexpected love''I loved it'' COCO MELLORS''If you''ve ever been young, you will love The Rachel Incident like I did'' GABRIELLE ZEVIN''Funny, nostalgic, sexy'' MONICA HEISEY''Hilarious, wise and wonderfully written'' GRAHAM NORTON''Easily 13/10 . . . Funny, lovely, romantic'' MARIAN KEYES''I loved it ... had me reading with my hand over my heart'' TAFFY BRODESSER-AKNER____________________________________________________________________________Everyone in Cork remembers the Rachel Incident. But what really happened? It''s simple. It''s complicated. It''s about love, sex and friendship. It''s definitely about betrayal. And, above all, it''s the story of Rachel and James, two twenty-somethings who met at a bookshop, became best friends, and spent one unforgettable year screwing up and growing up.____________________________________________________________________________Shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction and a TikTok Book Award - Book of the Year (UK & Ireland)''Reading it is like hearing your funniest, sexiest friend tell you the best story they know'' KATHERINE RUNDELL''Sharply witty, warm-hearted and wise'' GUARDIAN''O''Donoghue captures all the intensity of messy young love'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''A book full of love, and it is extremely easy to love reading it'' VOGUE''Chaos at its finest'' STYLISTThe Rachel Incident was a #2 bestseller in Ireland in June 2023Trade ReviewIt's funny and nostalgic and the sex scenes are actually sexy ... it's everything I want from a summer book * Monica Heisey (bestselling author of REALLY GOOD, ACTUALLY), Elle Summer Reads *Funny, fond and wittily observed * Sunday Times *A book full of love, and it is extremely easy to love reading it * Vogue *Chaos at its finest * Stylist *A headlong read about being young and hopelessly in lust ... Funny, fond and wittily observed * Sunday Times, Best Summer Reads *So intimately warm and witty that reading it is like hearing your funniest, sexiest friend tell you the best story they know. It's about being a young idiot, and the glorious intensity of friendship in your early twenties * Katherine Rundell *Deeply relatable and extremely funny, and features a dinner party scene so awkward I had to put the book down and do a bit of breathing before I continued * Eva Wiseman, Observer *Sometimes the most passionate love stories are platonic. As sharply witty as it is warm-hearted and wise, this coming-of-age story about an Irish graduate and her gay best friend captures the intensity of friendship, the brittle craziness of youth and the desperation of gunning for an arts job in a recession * Guardian, Best Summer Reads *Every so often, a novel comes around that makes you excited about reading again. For me, this year that is Caroline O'Donoghue's gripping, moving The Rachel Incident, which looks like it could be branded the book of the summer ... The book is full of witty insights that get you right to the heart of the character ... O'Donoghue is a funny, smart, fearless voice who strikes the perfect balance of realism and romance, and The Rachel Incident is a stormer of a novel * Emily Bootle, i news *A deliciously complicated and very real romance with some refreshing twists. O'Donoghue captures all the intensity of messy young love, burnishing it with nostalgia and pointed wit * Hephzibah Anderson, Mail on Sunday *Caroline O'Donoghue perfectly captures the intensity and high and lows of first love, and while The Rachel Incident is steeped in nostalgia and heartache, it's also very, very funny * Red Magazine *An unconventional love story filled with heart and humour ... You'll gobble up The Rachel Incident in one bite and be left hungry for more * Daily Express *The story feels slick and refined like a HBO series, but what gives it heart is O'Donoghue's raucous humour slathered on top. It's a deeply satisfying novel about friendship, love and the uncertain Ireland of 2010 * Irish Times *Caroline O'Donoghue's best work yet, a rich and nuanced read which is endlessly entertaining * Irish Independent *Will make you laugh and wince with its depiction of 20-something life * Independent - Best Romantic Summer Reads *Books by Irish women writers are hot these days, and this novel is on fire.... O'Donoghue deepens the familiar coming-of-age premise with riveting moral complications * People Magazine, Book of the Week *'O'Donoghue has a sharp eye for the tumultuous life of a young woman struggling to figure out who she is ... profoundly satisfying ... O'Donoghue has found a way to tell this story in scenes both heartbreaking and funny * Ron Charles, Washington Post *Capturing the problems and intensity of early 20-something life, with the added complications of the restrictions of Catholic Ireland, this bittersweet story is at times laugh-out-loud funny * Best Magazine *Hilarious, messy, and all the things being young and infatuated can often be, The Rachel Incidentcreates a world so vivid you feel it wrap around you ... This book won't leave you willingly, nor will you want it to * Independent *An nostalgia-drenched story about intense, 20-something love - with our friends * Grazia *The stage is set for a deliciously complicated and very real romance with some refreshing twists . . . all the intensity of messy young love, burnishing it with nostalgia and pointed wit * Mail on Sunday *A compulsive, all-consuming story about love, friendship and the messiness of being young * The i, Best New Books out in June *The kind of warm-hearted and genuinely funny novel that's the perfect antidote to a bad news day * Sunday Business Post *Exuberant, bitingly satirical....Recalls the fiction of both Sally Rooney and Anne Tyler as the author interrogates the dynamics of power, from academia to publishing houses to bedrooms....O'Donoghue steers us toward reckonings large and small, her hand steady on the tiller....A gratifying, accomplished novel * New York Times *If you've ever had a literary internship that didn't really pay you; if you've ever contemplated writing a screenplay with a friend; if you've ever been unsure what to do with your degree in English; if you've ever wondered when the rug-buying part of your life will start; if you've ever avoided going home or run out of things to say to your parents; if you've ever built your life and your personality around a friend; if you've ever loved the wrong person, or the right person at the wrong time... In short, if you've ever been young, you will love The Rachel Incident like I did -- Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and TomorrowMade me realise I'd never properly understood the word 'whipsmart' till now. Hilarious, wise and wonderfully written * Graham Norton *Gorgeous, bittersweet and true * Jenny Colgan *The QFJ Index is HIGH (Queasy from Jealousy) on The Rachel Incident, easily 13/10. Funny, LOVELY, romantic, DRENCHED in nostalgia, it made me extremely happy (apart from the jealousy). I sense it'll be a BIG success * Marian Keyes *Delightful! So funny and smart * Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful *Navigates a young Irishwoman's chaotic early 20s with a cozy warmth that had me laughing out loud throughout. This is one of those catch-yourself-smiling-without-realizing-it books * NPR *Caroline O'Donoghue, where have you been all my life? The Rachel Incident is a transportive joy, a superhighway to young friendship. Big-hearted, witty and expertly crafted - I want to live inside this book -- Sloane Crosley, author of Cult ClassicStarkly funny and heartbreaking * Time Magazine *I haven't enjoyed a book as much as The Rachel Incident in a long time - so, so sharp, funny and painfully relatable. These characters defy tropes and stereotypes, they come alive on the page. I adored them * Laura Kay, author of Tell Me Everything *I really loved this book. It was gentle yet compelling and I was truly rooting for each character, even the ones I didn't like. Caroline has a talent for writing complex characters with humour and tact. The Rachel Incident kept me guessing while feeling deeply comforted the whole way through -- Emer McLysaght, author of Oh My God What a Complete AislingA book I took to my heart. . . A truly lovely read; complex in its emotional range, funny, poignant, heart-breaking, beautifully plotted, with clever, pacey dialogue, vivid characters and a shocking plot twist that left me gasping in horror -- Barbara Trapido, author of Brother of the More Famous JackI didn't know books could be this hilarious. The Rachel Incident is so warm and comforting, and the characters so real. I can't believe Rachel and James aren't people that I know -- I care about them so deeply! -- Annie Lord, author of Notes on HeartbreakI just had such a blast reading this book, honestly - it was sharp and romantic, and horribly funny, and so wise about love and youth. Glorious * Eva Wiseman *A gripping story, beautifully written, with an expertly woven plot, packed with charm and suspense that sneaks up on you and leaves you rooting for the characters and gasping for more. A masterful, mesmerising tale of the joy of obsessive and consuming friendship, the secrets that bind us, and the damage we can't help but inflict on the ones we love the most -- Justin Myers, author of The Fake-UpThe Rachel Incident worked its way under my skin and into my heart and has stayed there for months. It's such a beautifully observed, open-hearted, clever, horny, desperately funny, joy of a book. It captures, with unique eloquence, those years in our early twenties when every feeling reveals an exposed nerve, when every small event is tragedy or ecstasy, when we're trying to shape, and reshape (and reshape again), who it is we want to become. I adored it -- Kate Young, author of ExperiencedBy turns hilarious and heartfelt, breezy and bittersweet, The Rachel Incident is a full-throated, big-hearted romp through early adulthood -- Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan TrainCaroline O'Donoghue writes characters that just sort of melt from the page and into your life - they are so relatable, so likeable, so beautifully messy. Her story of twenty-somethings stumbling through life, trying to find themselves but usually finding awful rented accommodation and crappy jobs instead is instantly relatable. There is a dinner party scene so brilliantly staged and so exquisitely uncomfortable, I had to read it through my fingers, like watching some sort of horror movie. Books so rarely capture the sheer chaos, heartache, misery and euphoria of our twenties, effectively the internship stage of adulthood in so many ways, but this one does it effortlessly. A truly charming, moving, funny and sad novel * Keith Stuart, author of The Boy Made of Blocks *Has engaging central characters and relevant things to say about ghosting, student dog years, reproductive healthcare and the destructiveness of small-town gossip * Independent *Caroline O'Donoghue shines a laser beam on young adulthood, particularly the crazy intensity of those messy, beautiful friendships forged in the fires of romantic crisis. The Rachel Incident made me nostalgic for my early twenties. But even more than that, it made me wish I could go back and hug the person I was back then and tell her she'll be okay -- Lauren Fox, author of Send For MeI can't explain the sheer unadulterated glee of reading this. It's so good and absorbing and funny and honest and horny. And when I finished, I was bereft ... O'Donoghue's observant, incredibly smart writing and character work and story are just the peak of modern fiction for me right now * Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Make You Mine This Christmas *An absolute pleasure is the only way I can describe the sensation of losing myself in this ceaselessly charming, vulnerable, atmospheric story of human connection and self-discovery. Fans of Sally Rooney and Coco Mellors will delight in the cozy Irish vibes and glimmering voice of Caroline O'Donoghue. -- Amanda Montell, author of Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language and Cultish: The Language of FanaticismCapturing the madness and intensity of early 20-something life, with the added complications of the restrictions of Catholic Ireland, this joyful, passionate story from the author of Promising Young Women is at times spit-out-your-tea funny - and always a bittersweet delight * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *Completely engrossing, intensely intimate, full of wry wit and hard-learned insights about finding friends and holding on to love. I'm struggling to think of a single person I know who wouldn't love this book * Matthew Parker, author of One Fine Day *An amusing coming-of-age saga -- Ones to Watch * Sunday Independent *A sensational new entry in the burgeoning millennial-novel genre * Kirkus Reviews (starred) *Wry, charming and fun, O'Donoghue knocks it out of the park with her third adult novel * RTE Guide *A brilliantly entertaining, poignant novel about sex, friendship, and both losing and finding yourself * Irish Country Magazine *Sharp, wryly original ... quirky, eminently readable, funny * RTE, The best Irish books of 2023 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisA spellbinding supernatural teen drama and final book in the Gifts series from a New York Times bestselling author.With the return of the Housekeeper on the cards, Maeve must find out everything she can about the vengeful tarot spirit in order to finally defeat her. Crossing over into a parallel dimension inside the old school building, she explores the history of the Housekeeper – and spends too long in a world and a mind not her own.With the Children of Brigid closing in once more, and Maeve's friend group now fractured across Ireland, can they hope to ultimately save the town – and Maeve – from the grip of a power greater than they ever imagined?Trade ReviewCaroline O’Donoghue is a brilliant writer, and each book in the Gifts trilogy gets better and better. She makes magic feel real, and perfectly captures the angst and yearning and joy of teenage years. A sensational finish to a spectacular series. -- Katherine WebberWhat a perfect ending to one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. It’s beautiful and deeply queer and furious. * Lizzie Huxley-Jones *Incorporating a sense of authenticity is pivotal to any magical-realism book, and O’Donoghue has proven to be one of the best writers in this field. [...] The Irish setting, culture, and language are well represented throughout. A hugely enjoyable ending to a fantastic trilogy. Ideal for fans of Deirdre Sullivan’s Perfectly Preventable Deaths series, this book is suitable for ages 15+ years. * Books Ireland Magazine *One to pick up if you love books that feel like going home, if you love tarot, if you love friendship. * NetGalley Reviewer *As original and creative as ever, this is a satisfying conclusion to a groundbreaking fantasy series. -- Children's Books Ireland * Reading Matters Guide 2023 *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA TIME, NPR, and LitHub Best Book of the Year • A USA TODAY BESTSELLER • A brilliantly funny novel about friends, lovers, Ireland in chaos, and a young woman desperately trying to manage all three“O'Donoghue deepens the familiar coming-of-age premise with riveting moral complications. —PeopleIf you’ve ever been unsure what to do with your degree in English; if you’ve ever wondered when the rug-buying part of your life will start...if you’ve ever loved the wrong person, or the right person at the wrong time…In short, if you’ve ever been young, you will love The Rachel Incident like I did.” —Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times best-selling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowRachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and it’s love at first sight. Effervescent and insistently heterosexual, Jame

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE RACHEL INCIDENT - Caroline O''Donoghue''s bestselling new novel* - is out nowCharlie''s life isn''t going forward - so she''s decided to go backAfter a tough few years floundering around the British film industry and experimenting with amateur pornography, Charlie and her best friend Laura take a trip to her familial home on an island off the west coast of Ireland. Her father''s health is rapidly declining and this could be the last chance to connect with her roots. But events on the island cause Charlie to doubt her father''s childhood stories - and then there''s her complicated relationship with Laura. Pursuing the truth will shatter everything she thought knew - but is that what it takes to grow up?''A gorgeous exploration of the messy and fragile nature of friendship and all the many forms of love'' IRISH TIMES''A darkly humorous, keenly observed blend of millennial drift and murder mystery from a razor-sharp writer'' RED''Witty, tender and insightful'' GUARDIAN''A perfect page-turner. I loved it'' DOLLY ALDERTON''Wonderful. Had me gripped'' MARIAN KEYES*The Rachel Incident was a #2 bestseller in Ireland in June 2023

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe international bestseller: a hilarious, heartfelt story of all-consuming and unexpected love''I loved it'' COCO MELLORS''If you''ve ever been young, you will love The Rachel Incident like I did'' GABRIELLE ZEVIN''Funny, nostalgic, sexy'' MONICA HEISEY''Hilarious, wise and wonderfully written'' GRAHAM NORTON''Easily 13/10 . . . Funny, lovely, romantic'' MARIAN KEYES''I loved it ... had me reading with my hand over my heart'' TAFFY BRODESSER-AKNER____________________________________________________________________________Everyone in Cork remembers the Rachel Incident. But what really happened? It''s simple. It''s complicated. It''s about love, sex and friendship. It''s definitely about betrayal. And, above all, it''s the story of Rachel and James, two twenty-somethings who met at a bookshop, became best friends, and spent one unforgettable year screwing up and growing up.____________________________________________________________________________Shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Fiction and a TikTok Book Award - Book of the Year (UK & Ireland)''Reading it is like hearing your funniest, sexiest friend tell you the best story they know'' KATHERINE RUNDELL''Sharply witty, warm-hearted and wise'' GUARDIAN''O''Donoghue captures all the intensity of messy young love'' MAIL ON SUNDAY''A book full of love, and it is extremely easy to love reading it'' VOGUE''Chaos at its finest'' STYLISTThe Rachel Incident was a #2 bestseller in Ireland in June 2023

Read more less

Book SynopsisA darkly funny, surprising, smart novel about sex, power, work and being a young woman in a man's world, by Irish journalist Caroline O'Donoghue, which has had terrific reviews ('So brilliant' - Dolly Alderton, 'I loved it' - Marian Keyes).Trade ReviewI loved it. The writing is whipsmart and so witty and what Caroline O'Donoghue says about how women interact with men and work is fascinating. A fabulous and timely novel * Marian Keyes *So brilliant . . . It couldn't really be more timely . . . Compelling and illuminating . . . I highly recommend it * Dolly Alderton, The High Low Podcast *This debut shows that Caroline O'Donoghue is one of the brightest stars in the current galaxy of young Irish writers. Promising Young Women is funny, clever, upsetting, fierce and absolutely of its time. A future classic * Jane Casey *Anyone who enjoyed Jami Attenberg's All Grown Up or Sally Rooney's Conversations With Friends will find much to like in Caroline O'Donoghue's darkly funny novel . . . A zippy, astute read * Irish Independent *I loved Promising Young Women. It's like Bluebeard crossed with The Yellow Wallpaper neck-deep in zeitgeist. If Angela Carter was stuck in a soulless corporate job this would be the dark, delicious result * Sharlene Teo, author of Ponti *Tinged with modern gothic, O'Donoghue's writing is deeply relatable and darkly comic, as she examines the interplay of power and sex in modern times. A story that couldn't be more fitting for 2018, it'll have you nodding with familiarity, thinking, laughing - and crying - as you race towards the end * Grazia *What starts as a couple of bad drunk decisions quickly spiral into the kind of Gaslight-y, power imbalanced relationship that will be chillingly oh-so-relatable for many women * http://wearandwhere.co.uk/best-books-2018-what-to-read-this-summer-spring/ *Promising Young Women is indeed full of promise, a novel penned by a 28-year-old Corkwoman in a style that is sharp, pithy and engaging ... Promising Young Women is timely and vibrant, with O'Donoghue particularly sharp on gender relations * Irish Times *This brilliant debut novel takes office politics to the extreme * Elle *Promising Young Women is a book of two worlds - a light, current London of brunch and cocktails, spiraling into a gothic internal world of obsession, manipulation and fear. O'Donoghue writes the body in a hugely transporting way: if you have never felt like Jane in your own life, it will be impossible to not feel like her as you read this book - her illness and want and stasis and depression. Promising Young Women is a gothic spiral that I couldn't quite hold onto the walls of: a descent I was willing to tumble down. I loved it * Sarah Maria Griffin *This is the cleverest, funniest and most assured debut novel I've ever read. Caroline O'Donoghue is enormously talented, but wears her talent lightly - this book is deceptively, seductively charming and easy, before it turns deliciously dark. It's bold, knowing and so smart - fans of Nancy Mitford or Jay McInerney will adore this, but O'Donoghue's voice is absolutely her own * Daisy Buchanan, author of How to Be a Grown-Up *A darkly funny novel with a gothic twist about surviving the workplace, modern feminism, and the power dynamics that come with relationships * Independent *A powerful tale of manipulation and lust inside a male dominated workforce. Not unlike Louise O'Neill's Asking For It, once you go down the rabbit hole into this dark book, you won't be coming out until you've finished it * Evoke.ie Bookclub Top Five Summer Reads *A timely portrayal of what it's like to be a woman in a man's world * Emerald Street *O'Donoghue's beautifully paced and very clever debut is an acerbic story about finding office love in all the wrong places with some surprising gothic undertones and a satisfyingly bitter after-taste * inews, The 30 best books to take on holiday in summer 2018 *You'll find both [forbidden love and scandal] in large measure in Promising Young Women, from the always on-the-nose Caroline O'Donoghue. Office worker by day and agony aunt by night, Jane Peters gets caught up in a risky affair that threatens to derail everything she's managing to precariously hold down. It's tipped to be this summer's bestseller and if you've read Caroline's writing before or follow her on Twitter, you'll know why * Bustle, The Best British Beach Reads For Summer 2018 *Promising Young Women is a look at office politics and power dynamics between men and women at work, with a gothic, slightly terrifying tone * Stylist *Promising Young Women manages to capture exactly how it feels to be a twentysomething woman in London while also containing a gleefully dark and gothic streak. It's an absolute gamechanger * The Pool *A story that couldn't be more fitting for 2018, it'll have you nodding with familiarity, thinking, laughing - and crying - as you race towards the end * Grazia *This debut develops into a dark meditation about life, love and gender politics in the workplace. Witty and thought-provoking * Sunday Mirror *An amazing writer and this is a timely and brilliant book * Keith Stuart *There's drama aplenty in this plugged-in tale of workplace affairs, agony-aunt blogs and female friendship * Mail on Sunday *Properly, properly funny * Alexandra Heminsley, Radio 2 - Sara Cox Show *A smart, spiky novel * Metro *By turns glossy and gritty ... If Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Nora Ephron or Lena Dunham appeal, there's much to like in O'Donoghue's promising debut * Irish Independent Books of the Year *Caroline O'Donoghue's witty, vibrant Promising Young Women, whose title neatly sums up the author as well as her work * Irish Times Best Debuts of 2018 *An intriguing debut ...The novel takes an interesting turn, spiralling into a much darker story than you might expect. Likeable and compelling; we're looking forward to seeing what O'Donoghue does next * Sunday Business Post Books of the Year *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTHE RACHEL INCIDENT - Caroline O''Donoghue''s bestselling new novel* - is out nowCharlie''s life isn''t going forward - so she''s decided to go back After a tough few years floundering around the British film industry and experimenting with amateur pornography, Charlie and her best friend Laura take a trip to her familial home on an island off the west coast of Ireland. Her father''s health is rapidly declining and this could be the last chance to connect with her roots. But events on the island cause Charlie to doubt her father''s childhood stories - and then there''s her complicated relationship with Laura. Pursuing the truth will shatter everything she thought knew - but is that what it takes to grow up?''A gorgeous exploration of the messy and fragile nature of friendship and all the many forms of love'' IRISH TIMES''A darkly humorous, keenly observed blend of millennial drift and murder mystery Trade ReviewScenes of a Graphic Nature has all the components of a perfect page-turner: beautiful prose, truthful characters, hilarious dialogue and an addictive plot. I loved it -- Dolly AldertonA dark yet joyous novel about family and friendship * Grazia *Wonderful!!! Scenes of a Graphic Nature had me GRIPPED. About friendship and failure, Ireland and England, love and guilt, cover-ups and brutal honesty. It's really, really, really, REALLY good -- Marian KeyesThe brilliant O'Donoghue's second novel is a moving and extremely funny look at family, roots and the myth of Irishness * i paper *It might be the best novel of 2020 * You Magazine, Irish Mail on Sunday *So dark and funny, bleak yet full of heart, touching on friendship and love and belonging ... you're in for a treat -- Ayisha MalikWitty, tender and insightful . . . O'Donoghue is a perceptive, clever writer * Guardian *A gorgeous exploration of the messy and fragile nature of friendship and all the many forms of love, as well as of the primal need we all have to belong * Irish Times *A darkly humorous, keenly observed blend of millennial drift and murder mystery from a razor-sharp writer -- Sara Manning * Red *Absolutely loved it. It's an absorbing blend of quarter-life crisis mixed with a bit of mystery * Irish Tatler *Scenes Of A Graphic Nature is a truly extraordinary novel - I inhaled it. It's thrillingly dark, but so moving and human - it's one of the most intelligent, well observed depictions of lust, loss, envy, betrayal, friendship and love that I've ever read. Charlie is so real, courageous, vulnerable, infuriating and adorable. The book itself mirrors Charlie's experience of Ireland - sometimes it's warm and joyous, sometimes it's hostile and terrifying, but even when you know you're in danger, you want to stay for longer and fall even deeper into the pages -- Daisy BuchananWith Scenes Of A Graphic Nature, Caroline O'Donoghue establishes herself as one of the most exciting young Irish writers on the literary scene. Her acerbic wit is matched by her sharp-eyed observations, resulting in a piece of fiction that is dark, gripping, and beautifully written -- Louise O'NeillI absolutely loved it. I felt so connected to the family. It took me on such a journey and I learnt so much; It made me really think about identity, who we are, and why we do what we do. Such a beautiful book, I can't stop thinking about it -- Emma GannonI was so hooked on this beautiful, funny story of homecoming and self-discovery I didn't want to put it down. The characters are wonderfully drawn and the sense of place is so compelling - it is a mystery, a fireside yarn. There is a little Maeve Binchy in there, a little Keyes, but Caroline has her own voice, and the edge to Charlie and Laura - their difficult, funny and recognisable relationship - is all her own -- Keith Stuart, author of The Boy Made of BlocksIn the inventive O'Donoghue's follow-up to Promising Young Women, she turns her tart tongue on friendship, exile and what it feels like to return to a place that no longer feels like home * i paper *Put this book somewhere safe, because it is set to be one of those you spend your life reading over and over - discovering new moments and new lessons each time. I've been a huge fan of Caroline O'Donoghue's writing for a long time and I think Scenes of a Graphic Nature - blisteringly funny and clever - is her best work yet. Raw, heartfelt and incredibly compelling, I can't recommend this enough -- Lucy Vine, bestselling author of Hot MessThe dark humour will have you guffawing into the pages * Cosmopolitan *Highly enjoyable: full of momentum and heart. O'Donoghue is a formidable talent * Sunday Business Post *[An] edgy and astute second novel . . . Caroline O'Donoghue is a master of the Technicolor character, fleshing out even the minor ones with brightness and wit . . . As ever, O'Donoghue is impressive on the complexities of being a young woman and delivers this insight with lively dialogue and a droll acuity that occasionally calls to mind the likes of Nora Ephron . . . O'Donoghue possesses an edginess and a wry sensibility that, despite the book's dark subject matter, ultimately translates into something zesty and companionable. Her easy curiosity about love, lust, loss and losing one's way will doubtless leave readers wanting more * Independent *At the heart of Caroline O'Donoghue's addictive second novel lies a simple and compelling question: can you ever outrun your past? . . . acute, clever and very funny -- Sarah Hughes * i paper *Examines self-mythology and long-repressed secrets * Stylist *A witty story of second-generation immigrants trying to belong, Scenes of a Graphic Nature grapples with love, friendship and identity -- Amber Connolly * Heat *Scenes of a Graphic Nature could have been a simpler novel. But, in its refusal to follow the expected trajectory of a prodigal return, it offers us intricate, layered humanity. Charlie Regan, in all her messy glory, is a protagonist we are willing to follow, from England to Ireland, from the past to present, and everything in between this world and the next * Lunate *Everything in Caroline O'Donoghue's new novel is messy - but in the best way. She covers important themes like family, friendship, nationality, history and health, weaving her narrator Charlie's sense of dislocation into a broader exploration of cultural identity . . . an intriguing read, raising questions about what stories should be told, when, and by whom -- Jemma Crew * Scotsman *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less