Large ImageNaoise's First Year: A coming-of-age story of love and recovery in rural Ireland
Share This
Description
It's not just where you're going... it's who you're going to meet when you get there.
The dream job, fairytale destination, and promise of love are not much good to you when you've closed your heart.
Naoise's had one tough year (more than one, if we're honest). But she's currently traversing Ireland from city to country in a trusty old banger her dad just gave her. Fresh out of college, she's about to commence her career as a secondary school teacher in the idyllic coastal village where she spent all her best childhood holidays.
And she's going to reunite with Declan, her best-friend-slash-college-crush, who works in the same school and has never gotten over her. The only problem is, the idea of love is terrifying. And her new neighbour, a gorgeous yet devilish award-winning author, and an older man to boot, knows just how to exploit her fear.
Will Naoise's heart soften before her second chance with Dec runs out? Is she even still capable of love? And will she remember who she's supposed to love the most?
Funny, sweet, deep yet feel-good, perfect if you like Sally Rooney's explorations of complex relationship dynamics, Maggie O'Farrell's captivating, immersive protagonists, and Claire Keegan's delicate, insightful treatment of human vulnerability.
-- -- -- -- --
Readers love Naoise's First Year:
????? 'I could not put this book down! I loved it, and didn't want it to end. I was really inspired by the main character and found myself looking to make positive changes in my own life, too, like Naoise. Absolutely a book I recommend reading.'
????? 'What a great book. Couldn't put it down. So many moments made me laugh out loud or stop to absorb the 'feels'. Such an interesting and relatable main character. She reminded me so much of how it felt to be a young woman. Perfect holiday read.'
????? 'Naoise felt so real to me - messy, uncertain, funny, and kinda hard on herself in ways I really recognized [... ] What I loved most was how it handles recovery and self-worth. I've gone through my own starting over season, and there were a few moments where I had to stop and just sit with a line because it hit a little close.'
????? 'Her inner thoughts and dialogue carry the story, giving it a fast pace and a lively feel, almost like watching scenes play out on screen [... ] this is a cozy, thoughtful read about learning to trust yourself and staying open to love.'
????? 'I loved the coastal village setting and all the small, lived-in details of rural Ireland, but it's Naoise herself that really sticks: messy, smart, self-sabotaging at times, and painfully relatable if you've ever wanted love and been terrified of it at the same time [... ] There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and warm, cozy scenes, but also these sharp little gut punches about self-worth, people-pleasing, and how progress in healing is anything but linear.'
????? 'There are moments when you want to shake the arrogance of youth out of Naoise and times when you want someone, anyone, to protect her from herself and those who would take advantage of her. Naoise's First Year is such a powerfully observed depiction of friendship, family and young love and the various relationship threads which run through a life. The dialogue carried the story for me, and you feel you are there in the moment with the characters. This book is fresh and lively, and the pacing is perfect. I didn't want to stop reading even when I was tired and for me, that means the book is excellent!'
Tag This Book
This Book Has Been Tagged
Our Recommendation
Notify Me When The Price...
Log In to track this book on eReaderIQ.
Track These Authors
Log In to track Martina O'Leary on eReaderIQ.