by Donal Ryan
First published 2022
In a stone farmhouse on the edge of rural Ireland, four generations of women forge an unbreakable bond through decades of silence, survival, and stubborn resilience. Eileen, a young woman who inherits her family's farm, carries generations of untold stories within her. When unexpected tragedy strikes, she must decide whether to hold tight to the land that has defined her family or break free from generations of unspoken pain. Her grandmother, mother, and daughter weave in and out of her narrative, each woman carrying her own wounds and wisdom. Their shared history is both a burden and a lifeline, a complex tapestry of love that survives despite—and because of—its imperfections. A raw, unflinching exploration of family, inheritance, and the quiet strength of women who refuse to be erased.
Genres: literary-fiction, family-life, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, multigenerational
Setting: Ireland, Rural Ireland
Period: 21st Century
256 pages · Hardcover · Viking