By Kavita Mistry
by Jill: By Roisin O’Donnell Narrated by Louisa Harland
This debut novel follows Ciara Fay in Ireland, 2018, as she escapes her family home with her two young children—and a third on the way. Her husband, Ryan, has been controlling and threatening for years, and Ciara finally finds the courage to get out.
What really struck me was how the story shows the lack of support for women and children in these situations. With the housing crisis in Ireland at that time, so many families like Ciara’s ended up living in hotels. You can feel her daily struggle to keep her kids safe, fed, and cared for while trying to rebuild their lives from scratch.
It’s such a raw and honest look at what it’s like to leave a toxic relationship—especially when kids are involved. Ciara is constantly questioning herself: Was leaving the right thing to do? How do I give my kids some kind of normal? Where will we live? Will I be able to provide for my children?
You can’t help but root for Ciara and her children. I caught myself wondering, Why did she stay so long? But by walking in her shoes, you start to understand how complex and painful that choice is.
Roisin O’Donnell’s writing feels so real and compassionate. Louisa Harland’s narration really brought Ciara’s story to life, though I’ll admit the daughter’s voice grated on me a bit at times. And wow—there’s a lot of gaslighting here, which made the story tough but important to read.
Overall, this was an emotional and character-driven read—heartbreaking but hopeful, and definitely worth reading. I picked it up at a timely moment, as it’s well known that domestic violence often increases during the holidays. I was impressed that this was O’Donnell’s debut novel, and I’m really looking forward to reading more from her in the future.