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Ordinary Saints

An unmissable, moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2025
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( 4,225 ratings, 804 reviews)
Brief Description
What if you had escaped your devout family in Ireland to live your best queer life - then your brother became a candidate for sainthood? An unmissable, award-winning, moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity. SELECTED AS A RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK SHORTLISTED... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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Releases 23rd June 2026 (Approx. Date) Pre-order  "Ordinary Saints" now to secure your copy from our first shipment

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The unmissable, award-winning debut novel. A moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity.

The unmissable, award-winning debut novel. A moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

What if you had escaped your devout family in Ireland to live your best queer life - then your brother became a candidate for sainthood?

An unmissable, award-winning, moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity.

SELECTED AS A RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE
WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL PFD QUEER FICTION PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE DISCOVERIES AWARD
SHORTLISTED FOR TWO BOOKS ARE MY BAG AWARDS

Can you imagine it? I'd say to them. Can you imagine me there in the front row in Saint Peter's Square? The lesbian sister of a literal saint.

Brought up in a devout household in Ireland, Jay is now living in London with her girlfriend, determined to live day to day and not think too much about either the future or the past. But when she learns that her beloved older brother, who died in a terrible accident, may be made into a Catholic saint, she realises she must at last confront her family, her childhood and herself . . .

Inspired by the author's own devout upbringing, Ordinary Saints is a brilliant debut novel from a fresh, exciting new voice which asks - who gets to decide how we are remembered - and who we will become?

A BOOKSELLER PICK OF THE MONTH

'Beautifully written and brilliant on grief, love and family expectations. Wonderful'
Daily Mail

'A sparkling debut. Absolutely brilliant'
Sara Cox

'Stunning. A fresh funny, honest portrayal of familial love. I adored it'
Louise Nealon, international bestselling author of Snowflake

'Funny and deeply moving. I adored it'
Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of Sunburn

'Mesmerising and original'
Victoria MacKenzie, award-winning author of For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786584250

Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 February 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Manilla Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 254g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Niamh NΓ­ Mhaoileoin was the winner of the inaugural PFD Queer Fiction Prize and was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize Trust Discoveries Prize in 2022. Her dΓ©but literary novel Ordinary Saints was shortlisted for the 2025 Waterstones Debut Prize.

Also by Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin

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