Sugartown

For fans of Sally Rooney and Megan Nolan comes a remarkable new Irish debut about growing up and moving backwards.

What do you do when you've ruined your own life? You go home to your mother, if you're lucky enough still to have one. Saoirse Maher wouldn't recommend it.

Leaving home wasn't supposed to be temporary. But after her five-year relationship goes south, Saoirse realises she's out of options. And so she finds herself trudging back to her mother Máire's house, hidden up a side road on the outskirts of Irish civilisation.

But just as Saoirse arrives reluctantly back home, everyone else seems to be moving on. Fortunately, she's got parties, drugs, and an entirely-healthy-not-problematic-at-all-thanks relationship with Charlie to distract her. Don't look too closely and it's all fine. Saoirse is fine.

Except somehow, her old coping mechanisms aren't cutting it this time around. Saoirse might finally have to confront the fear she's been running from for so long: how can you make peace with the worst parts of yourself when you're afraid that the worst of yourself is all that you are?

Sugartown by Caragh Maxwell explores these themes in a powerful narrative filled with raw emotion and reflection.