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Girl in the Making: A powerful coming of age novel of girlhood in a world not made for girls
‘Adults forget that children can hear’Jean Kennedy is a gentle, perceptive girl growing up in a very strange suburban Dublin in the 1970s and '80s. In the company of her mother, her Aunty Ida, and her little brother Baby John F., Jean experiences love and joy. But home is not a safe place, and Jean is unequal and unprotected. When she speaks just one small part of the truth, she must quickly learn to navigate the dangers and possibilities of a world she scarcely understands.Jean’s hypnotic, unsparing and ultimately hopeful voice captures the dreams and terrors of girlhood in a brutally hypocritical world, and narrates her encounters with better ways of being. Through it all, Jean’s voice pulsates with life and passion. Girl in the Making is a deeply moving, propulsive coming-of-age story from a major new talent.
- GenresIrelandIrish Literature
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 21, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 3, 2025
This is a stunning debut, told through the eyes of the protagonist, Jean Kennedy, as she grows from a child into a young woman in 1970s-80s Dublin.
It is a dark read - Jean has a difficult childhood, experiencing multiple types of abuse at the hands of family members and strangers from a young age. All the while, she tries to protect her younger siblings, care for her mother, and emulate her older brother Tom in the hope of following his easier path. Her story is told sensitively and is extremely well-written.
With her first novel, Anna Fitzgerald has shown that she is a very talented author. I bought Girl in the Making after hearing her speak on a panel at the Dublin Book Festival and I hope to read more of her work in future.
It is a dark read - Jean has a difficult childhood, experiencing multiple types of abuse at the hands of family members and strangers from a young age. All the while, she tries to protect her younger siblings, care for her mother, and emulate her older brother Tom in the hope of following his easier path. Her story is told sensitively and is extremely well-written.
With her first novel, Anna Fitzgerald has shown that she is a very talented author. I bought Girl in the Making after hearing her speak on a panel at the Dublin Book Festival and I hope to read more of her work in future.
April 9, 2024
This book is recently published. Many thanks to the publisher, Sandycove, and to Netgalley, for a free review copy, in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
This is a very touching coming-of-age story written from the perspective of the protagonist starting from her early childhood years. Her language and her thoughts evolve as she grows. I found it incredibly accurate, and it brought me back to my own childhood mind as I identified with some of the thought processes and feelings. Especially how she could count ‘every crack on the ceiling’ or exactly how many tiles were on the bathroom wall, as somehow there is infinite time to notice these details as a child.
It reflects how super sensitive to detail children are as they learn how to navigate the world. The inner voice in Jean’s head also takes us through her decision-making processes, how self-conscious she felt towards others, and how both her innocence and self-awareness progressed.
The reader really feels the acute tension and loneliness that Jean is living with. Hers is not a happy home, there is abuse, betrayal, and her mother seems to have (post-natal?) breakdowns. She refers to her own father as HE which indicates her resentment towards him. She also feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility to take care of her siblings and to overcompensate for her parents’ shortcomings towards their own children.
I have not read another book that so authentically recounts the world through a child’s eyes so well, it is a wonderful piece of writing. I look forward to reading more from this author.
This is a very touching coming-of-age story written from the perspective of the protagonist starting from her early childhood years. Her language and her thoughts evolve as she grows. I found it incredibly accurate, and it brought me back to my own childhood mind as I identified with some of the thought processes and feelings. Especially how she could count ‘every crack on the ceiling’ or exactly how many tiles were on the bathroom wall, as somehow there is infinite time to notice these details as a child.
It reflects how super sensitive to detail children are as they learn how to navigate the world. The inner voice in Jean’s head also takes us through her decision-making processes, how self-conscious she felt towards others, and how both her innocence and self-awareness progressed.
The reader really feels the acute tension and loneliness that Jean is living with. Hers is not a happy home, there is abuse, betrayal, and her mother seems to have (post-natal?) breakdowns. She refers to her own father as HE which indicates her resentment towards him. She also feels an overwhelming sense of responsibility to take care of her siblings and to overcompensate for her parents’ shortcomings towards their own children.
I have not read another book that so authentically recounts the world through a child’s eyes so well, it is a wonderful piece of writing. I look forward to reading more from this author.
May 29, 2024
This is a powerful novel filled with some beautifully written passages that will break your heart. What a treasure I stumbled upon in my recent trip to Ireland. Filled with depictions of young girlhood and womanhood that are perceptive, searing and impactful, the voice of Jean Kennedy will stick with me for a good long while.
March 24, 2024
This is a beautifully written but heartbreaking read, Jean’s innocence of voice and perspective, and compassionate nature, in stark contrast to the injustice and violation she endures, and the badness in some of the adults around her. Innocent and childlike as she may be, Jean still observes and understands things that the adults think she may not and, as our narrator, we get a rich view of her inner world. At a time when children were often to be seen and not heard, and certainly not believed over an adult, Jean ultimately voices some of the wrongs she sees around her, only to have her suspicions confirmed that no one wants to hear what she has to say, and her marching orders from home given.
Her difficulties follow her beyond her home life, exploring the lasting effects of trauma, following people through their lives, affecting future decisions and relationships. But all Jean needs is for someone to believe her, and believe in her. Jean is a captivating and endearing narrator. Her voice, starting out as that of a very young child and shifting as she grows older, embodying vulnerability, anxiety, childlike wonder, small wisdoms and more, draws us in to feel for her, and feel with her. A striking and poignant debut with beautiful storytelling, exploring some dark and triggering themes, including toxic masculinity and the inexcusable treatment by men of the women and girls around them, all told in a gentle voice of resilience driven by a belief that a more hopeful place exists.
April 6, 2024
Frank McCourt was quoted as saying, “The happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.” and sure, for Jean, our protagonist in Girl in the Making there's truth in that, by the bucket load.
Jean Kennedy takes us into the inner sanctum of her life as she narrates her story - from toddlerhood to adulthood - inviting us, the reader, to hear the things that she dare not speak to anyone else. And, of course, that's a key concept here: Jean holds no sway over those around her, but to the reader, her voice carries all the power.
Jean lives in 1970s-80s Dublin, and her world is subject to men’s authority and entitlement over everything. Her beloved momma is only of use for keeping the house and having baby after baby; there'll be none of that ‘women’s lib’ around here. Her father is generally referred to as HE or HIM and nearly always negatively - it's clear the family are fearful of him, his violent outbursts, his affairs go unchecked because he’s a good job, and how would they manage without him? He quite literally holds all the power.
This is a concept she soon picks up on - noting that if she could be more like her brother Tom, then maybe, just maybe, she could blend in and be let away both with the grind of daily life and much more sinister attention coming her way.
The story is splendidly written, giving our young protagonist a realistic voice and making you feel like you are right there with Jean, experiencing it all yourself.
But this is more than one girl's story; it is the story of how societal norms - the influence of the Church and the fear of what others might think, being is more important than what's going on in your family - are set to make these types of family dynamics feasible.
Highly recommended reading, but beware trigger warnings for this one. 4.5⭐
Many thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review.
Jean Kennedy takes us into the inner sanctum of her life as she narrates her story - from toddlerhood to adulthood - inviting us, the reader, to hear the things that she dare not speak to anyone else. And, of course, that's a key concept here: Jean holds no sway over those around her, but to the reader, her voice carries all the power.
Jean lives in 1970s-80s Dublin, and her world is subject to men’s authority and entitlement over everything. Her beloved momma is only of use for keeping the house and having baby after baby; there'll be none of that ‘women’s lib’ around here. Her father is generally referred to as HE or HIM and nearly always negatively - it's clear the family are fearful of him, his violent outbursts, his affairs go unchecked because he’s a good job, and how would they manage without him? He quite literally holds all the power.
This is a concept she soon picks up on - noting that if she could be more like her brother Tom, then maybe, just maybe, she could blend in and be let away both with the grind of daily life and much more sinister attention coming her way.
The story is splendidly written, giving our young protagonist a realistic voice and making you feel like you are right there with Jean, experiencing it all yourself.
But this is more than one girl's story; it is the story of how societal norms - the influence of the Church and the fear of what others might think, being is more important than what's going on in your family - are set to make these types of family dynamics feasible.
Highly recommended reading, but beware trigger warnings for this one. 4.5⭐
Many thanks to the publisher for an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review.
March 17, 2025
While this is an easy read and kept me reading to the end, the relentless misery and suffering was wearing. There was no care or understanding for Jean at any point in the whole book. All shade not the tiniest glimmer of light.
Someone this abused and damaged, seemingly suffering from deep (and understandable) depression, who seems to have starved herself for months on end, would have been in hospital not university.
If you like misery-lit this is a well written example of the genre.
Someone this abused and damaged, seemingly suffering from deep (and understandable) depression, who seems to have starved herself for months on end, would have been in hospital not university.
If you like misery-lit this is a well written example of the genre.
May 14, 2024
Excellent. Enlightening, thought provoking and disturbing. A great candidate for secondary school reading lists. It could benefit many students and bring concerns to the table for discussion.
That said, us pensioners can also enjoy it (4 days to read - speaks volumes for the book).
That said, us pensioners can also enjoy it (4 days to read - speaks volumes for the book).
September 4, 2024
Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgerald was published by Penguin Sandycove March 21st 2024 and is described as 'a deeply moving, propulsive coming-of-age story from a major new talent'.
Girl in the Making explores life in a Dublin family through the eyes of Jean Kennedy as she progresses from childhood to young adulthood. Jean's story begins in 1966 when she is just 3 years old. In a messy stream of disorganised sentences, Jean attempts to convey her world in that precise moment with the innocent voice of her 3 year old self. From early on she refers to her father as HE and every time he is mentioned it's clear that HE is an authoritarian and larger than life figure in Jean's life. The family tip toe around his moods and from a young age it's obvious that Jean is very wary of his presence in her life. The chapters progress, with her writing style changing as she gets a little older and is able to express herself more clearly. But, as the story unfolds and more clarity develops in her ability to convey what's happening in her life, Jean's story takes on a more disconcerting edge.
Jean experiences trauma in her life but she struggles to put into words what's happening. She uses dark imagery in her prose when describing certain individuals in her life. As she develops in her early teenage years, her descriptions are quite emotive and powerful. Jean is strong but yet timid. She is confused about herself yet, also, aware that something is off kilter. As she approaches adulthood she takes some brave steps but the shadow follows her, unwilling to let her be, to let her grow. But, as the book description states there are 'glimpses of a better life' for Jean, leaving the reader with a sense of hope as she becomes a young woman.
Girl in the Making is an extraordinary and profound reading experience. As we journey with Jean Kennedy, her voice alters with age as she attempts to express her thoughts and emotions. Reading Girl in the Making feels almost voyeuristic as there is that lingering sense that you are rifling through the private journal of a stranger. Anna Fitzgerald portrays a stark world through the eyes of a child depicting an authentic and, at times, distressing portrayal of a more patriarchal society where the voice of a wee child, a girl, is insignificant and to be ignored.
Tackling some very disturbing and unsettling themes, Girl in the Making is a powerful and deeply impactful debut. The concept behind Girl in the Making is so strong and effective with the voice of Jean Kennedy intimate and so very potent. A book that will remain with every reader long after the final page is turned, Girl in the Making is quite simply an exceptional debut.
Girl in the Making explores life in a Dublin family through the eyes of Jean Kennedy as she progresses from childhood to young adulthood. Jean's story begins in 1966 when she is just 3 years old. In a messy stream of disorganised sentences, Jean attempts to convey her world in that precise moment with the innocent voice of her 3 year old self. From early on she refers to her father as HE and every time he is mentioned it's clear that HE is an authoritarian and larger than life figure in Jean's life. The family tip toe around his moods and from a young age it's obvious that Jean is very wary of his presence in her life. The chapters progress, with her writing style changing as she gets a little older and is able to express herself more clearly. But, as the story unfolds and more clarity develops in her ability to convey what's happening in her life, Jean's story takes on a more disconcerting edge.
Jean experiences trauma in her life but she struggles to put into words what's happening. She uses dark imagery in her prose when describing certain individuals in her life. As she develops in her early teenage years, her descriptions are quite emotive and powerful. Jean is strong but yet timid. She is confused about herself yet, also, aware that something is off kilter. As she approaches adulthood she takes some brave steps but the shadow follows her, unwilling to let her be, to let her grow. But, as the book description states there are 'glimpses of a better life' for Jean, leaving the reader with a sense of hope as she becomes a young woman.
Girl in the Making is an extraordinary and profound reading experience. As we journey with Jean Kennedy, her voice alters with age as she attempts to express her thoughts and emotions. Reading Girl in the Making feels almost voyeuristic as there is that lingering sense that you are rifling through the private journal of a stranger. Anna Fitzgerald portrays a stark world through the eyes of a child depicting an authentic and, at times, distressing portrayal of a more patriarchal society where the voice of a wee child, a girl, is insignificant and to be ignored.
Tackling some very disturbing and unsettling themes, Girl in the Making is a powerful and deeply impactful debut. The concept behind Girl in the Making is so strong and effective with the voice of Jean Kennedy intimate and so very potent. A book that will remain with every reader long after the final page is turned, Girl in the Making is quite simply an exceptional debut.
August 3, 2024
Book Review: Girl in the Making
by Anna Fitzgerald
Rating:5/5
👉Overview:
Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgerald is a profoundly moving coming-of-age story set in suburban Dublin during the 1970s and '80s. The narrative follows Jean Kennedy, a gentle and perceptive girl, as she navigates a world filled with love, joy, and danger. Jean’s journey is marked by her experiences with her mother, her Aunty Ida, and her little brother Baby John F., in a home that is anything but safe. When Jean speaks just one small part of the truth, she quickly learns to navigate the dangers and possibilities of a world she scarcely understands.
👉Analysis:
Jean’s voice is hypnotic and unsparing, capturing the dreams and terrors of girlhood in a brutally hypocritical world. Her perspective is deeply insightful and passionate, offering glimpses of a better life amidst the chaos. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to convey the intricacies of childhood through Jean’s evolving language and thought processes. Fitzgerald’s writing brilliantly reflects the sensitivity of children as they learn to navigate their world, making readers feel every detail Jean notices, from the cracks on the ceiling to the tiles on the bathroom wall.
👉Personal Reflections:
This novel resonated with me on a personal level. It brought back memories of my own childhood, where every small detail seemed monumental. The inner voice in Jean’s head is incredibly accurate, taking us through her decision-making processes and her evolving self-awareness.
The book also holds significant emotional weight for those who have experienced similar hardships. My partner, who faced a challenging childhood, found a sense of healing through this book, which in turn helped me understand her experiences better. This speaks volumes about Fitzgerald’s sensitivity in handling tough content without overwhelming the reader.
👉Conclusion:
Girl in the Making is a literary masterpiece that combines simplicity with profound depth. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of understanding.
Happy reading 😁 😁
#bookreview
by Anna Fitzgerald
Rating:5/5
👉Overview:
Girl in the Making by Anna Fitzgerald is a profoundly moving coming-of-age story set in suburban Dublin during the 1970s and '80s. The narrative follows Jean Kennedy, a gentle and perceptive girl, as she navigates a world filled with love, joy, and danger. Jean’s journey is marked by her experiences with her mother, her Aunty Ida, and her little brother Baby John F., in a home that is anything but safe. When Jean speaks just one small part of the truth, she quickly learns to navigate the dangers and possibilities of a world she scarcely understands.
👉Analysis:
Jean’s voice is hypnotic and unsparing, capturing the dreams and terrors of girlhood in a brutally hypocritical world. Her perspective is deeply insightful and passionate, offering glimpses of a better life amidst the chaos. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to convey the intricacies of childhood through Jean’s evolving language and thought processes. Fitzgerald’s writing brilliantly reflects the sensitivity of children as they learn to navigate their world, making readers feel every detail Jean notices, from the cracks on the ceiling to the tiles on the bathroom wall.
👉Personal Reflections:
This novel resonated with me on a personal level. It brought back memories of my own childhood, where every small detail seemed monumental. The inner voice in Jean’s head is incredibly accurate, taking us through her decision-making processes and her evolving self-awareness.
The book also holds significant emotional weight for those who have experienced similar hardships. My partner, who faced a challenging childhood, found a sense of healing through this book, which in turn helped me understand her experiences better. This speaks volumes about Fitzgerald’s sensitivity in handling tough content without overwhelming the reader.
👉Conclusion:
Girl in the Making is a literary masterpiece that combines simplicity with profound depth. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of understanding.
Happy reading 😁 😁
#bookreview
December 8, 2023
This is a sensitive portrayal of a young girl coming of age in Ireland in the 1970s and '80s. Although Jean is reasonably happy at home living with her auntie, her mother and her baby brother, she is not entirely safe.
Studying in London in the late '80s, I remember my amazement - while watching the movie Nuts, starring Barbra Streisand - that the issue of child sexual abuse was addressed. It was so rarely spoken of.
And at a time when Ireland was more conservative - and decidedly more hypocritical - especially given the influence of the church and the fear of what others might think, how much worse would things have been?
As this story makes clear, a child's voice was all too easy to overlook. Or even wilfully ignore.
The book paints a vivid picture of life in suburban Dublin during the time period described. It brings the characters alive on the page, particularly Jean, in whose voice the story is told.
I think Jean works effectively as a protagonist in this book. She is a gentle soul, and it is hard not feel for her plight. The novel comes with a trigger warning on sexual abuse. The book gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Studying in London in the late '80s, I remember my amazement - while watching the movie Nuts, starring Barbra Streisand - that the issue of child sexual abuse was addressed. It was so rarely spoken of.
And at a time when Ireland was more conservative - and decidedly more hypocritical - especially given the influence of the church and the fear of what others might think, how much worse would things have been?
As this story makes clear, a child's voice was all too easy to overlook. Or even wilfully ignore.
The book paints a vivid picture of life in suburban Dublin during the time period described. It brings the characters alive on the page, particularly Jean, in whose voice the story is told.
I think Jean works effectively as a protagonist in this book. She is a gentle soul, and it is hard not feel for her plight. The novel comes with a trigger warning on sexual abuse. The book gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
December 18, 2024
Tragic, poetic, realistic.
My heart was breaking through the majority of this book. I just wanted to scoop the wee girl up and teach her that she's worth so much more than her lot in life.
The book follows a young girl as she's taught her place in the world through both relatable and tragic circumstances. Her familial set up embeds that, as the eldest sister, her role is one of the caretaker - looking after her mother, her aunt and her siblings, above herself. Her father emotionally and physically abuses her (just as he does her mother), whittling down her self worth even further. And then her uncle sexually abuses her over a number of years.
It is truly heartbreaking.
You see the world through her eyes, and you can see how she views her place in it - the bottom of the heap. You are rooting for her the whole way through to realise her worth, make her escape and to stop letting herself be treated so poorly. The book ends with this step finally taken and we, as the reader, are left to imagine the strength with which she grasps at the future and her new life and to hope that she makes it.
I really hope she made it ❤️
My heart was breaking through the majority of this book. I just wanted to scoop the wee girl up and teach her that she's worth so much more than her lot in life.
The book follows a young girl as she's taught her place in the world through both relatable and tragic circumstances. Her familial set up embeds that, as the eldest sister, her role is one of the caretaker - looking after her mother, her aunt and her siblings, above herself. Her father emotionally and physically abuses her (just as he does her mother), whittling down her self worth even further. And then her uncle sexually abuses her over a number of years.
It is truly heartbreaking.
You see the world through her eyes, and you can see how she views her place in it - the bottom of the heap. You are rooting for her the whole way through to realise her worth, make her escape and to stop letting herself be treated so poorly. The book ends with this step finally taken and we, as the reader, are left to imagine the strength with which she grasps at the future and her new life and to hope that she makes it.
I really hope she made it ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2024
Heart break in a paper stack.
Set in suburban Ireland in the 70s/80s, this novel is unlike anything i’ve ever read. It follows young Jean and is written from her perspective as she grows from a child to a teenager. Each chapter corresponds with her age and is written using language that reflects her maturity (very accurately might i add) so it made for quite the unique reading experience.
As we watch Jean’s thought processes and inner turmoils evolve, her innocence and the way she perceives the world and people around her is constantly challenged. As a reader we long to see the protagonist triumph over hardships but this story was a poignant reminder that when you have been forced to swallow your voice for so long, sometimes you are swallowed up in the process.
This book was a wonder to read. I’m a great appreciator of poetic writing and I found the story telling totally mesmerising. I cannot believe this a debut and i highly recommend it.
Trigger warnings - sexual violence
Set in suburban Ireland in the 70s/80s, this novel is unlike anything i’ve ever read. It follows young Jean and is written from her perspective as she grows from a child to a teenager. Each chapter corresponds with her age and is written using language that reflects her maturity (very accurately might i add) so it made for quite the unique reading experience.
As we watch Jean’s thought processes and inner turmoils evolve, her innocence and the way she perceives the world and people around her is constantly challenged. As a reader we long to see the protagonist triumph over hardships but this story was a poignant reminder that when you have been forced to swallow your voice for so long, sometimes you are swallowed up in the process.
This book was a wonder to read. I’m a great appreciator of poetic writing and I found the story telling totally mesmerising. I cannot believe this a debut and i highly recommend it.
Trigger warnings - sexual violence
September 13, 2025
Stupidly I was put off the book by both the title, & the cover. But you should never judge a book by the cover and this book is exceptional in the clarity, honesty and engagement of the writing. The writing matures with the protagonists age. Starting at age 3/4 was a bit off putting, but brief.
The final section is beautifully written, describing Jean’s isolation, her feelings of connection with the natural environment, and attempts at having some control in her life by stifling her appetite. Her acceptance of the despair she feels that there is no place or person for her is written with almost aching truthfulness and not an iota of self pity.
Anna Fitzgerald has for me, written an unforgettable book.
The final section is beautifully written, describing Jean’s isolation, her feelings of connection with the natural environment, and attempts at having some control in her life by stifling her appetite. Her acceptance of the despair she feels that there is no place or person for her is written with almost aching truthfulness and not an iota of self pity.
Anna Fitzgerald has for me, written an unforgettable book.
April 7, 2025
Written in the first person, Jean's voice gradually develops from the babbling of her three-year-old self into the articulate yet self-doubting university student. I loved the way this was structured, taking us on her journey to overcome the harm done to her by the men in her life, sacrificing herself to protect her down-trodden mother and younger siblings.
January 29, 2024
Heartbreakingly poignant, I was fully absorbed in this coming of age novel. The topics were well handled and the writing was excellent. Loved the character development, especially Jean. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
May 12, 2024
Just finished ‘Girl in the making’.What a beautifully written book.I couldn’t put it down.An emergence of a new Irish author with a huge talent.I really hope there is more of her books to come.Cant wait!!!
August 16, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It's a really powerful experience, living as a young girl in a desolate family, overrun by children. I can't wait to see what Anna writes next. Something even a fraction as compelling as this would be great. I just love the way she writes, it's pure pleasure. Most writers would be thrilled to write one book as good as this in a lifetime
May 21, 2025
I loved the fact that this story was narrated by the protagonist since her young age, respecting the thoughts she would have and with a language she would use at each different age. The story was moving, heartfelt, devastating and blood boiling at some points.
May 23, 2025
Although I enjoyed this book I definitely didn't love it, only slightly liked it.
I did like Jean, a very good protagonist.
But the book did drag a little from about halfway onwards.
I know this is Anna Fitzgerald's debut and I will happily read her next book.
I did like Jean, a very good protagonist.
But the book did drag a little from about halfway onwards.
I know this is Anna Fitzgerald's debut and I will happily read her next book.
August 6, 2025
This could have been great. It was fascinating and powerful until the last few chapters. As Jean is forced to become independent, she falls apart and there are incoherent thoughts and the book fell apart for me at this point. It ended with a whimper after such a strong beginning and middle.
May 12, 2024
This is such a beautiful book..,cannot recommend it highly enough! Couldn’t put it down.
August 18, 2024
Actual rating 3.5.
December 23, 2024
What a sad and powerful book. Thanks for the gentle uplift at the end.
June 21, 2025
A heartbreaking gripping emotional read of what a child had to go through with an evil aunt and uncle and a selfish father novel explores the close bonds of daughter and her mother.
October 23, 2025
Stunning debut. A voice that is so strong I could hear it. I can still hear it echoing.
December 5, 2025
beautiful & heartbreaking - inspires intense feminist rage :((
December 13, 2025
3 & a half *
Pretty grim, felt a little overwhelming at times
Pretty grim, felt a little overwhelming at times
December 19, 2025
As painful and sad as it needs to be.
A beautiful, powerful book about ugly abuses of power. Up there with some of the best novels about girlhood of the last ten years.
A beautiful, powerful book about ugly abuses of power. Up there with some of the best novels about girlhood of the last ten years.
May 12, 2024
For me this is an incredible read. It has great literary depth and is deceptively simple at the beginning. Very importantly, it deals with something that so many of us in Ireland have had to deal with. My partner is someone I love dearly but for years I have struggled to understand and even imagine what she suffered in childhood. She read Girl in the Making - and said for the first time in her life she felt some sort of healing. So I read it. For the first time I believe I understand what my partner went through in childhood and I am so grateful that this book came our way. It is written with incredible sensitivity and so one never feels overwhelmed, even though its content is often tough. On the cover Anne Enright describes it as devastating and Louise Nealon as beautiful, and incredibly it is both of those things at once. I see it reviewed in the Guardian yesterday where Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett says "This is a character that truly lives." My feelings precisely - Bravo Sandycove Press!!
March 5, 2024
Utterly miserable and I love it.
That sounds glib but this book isn’t for the faint-hearted. The book starts with young Jean at the age of three. She sets the scene of her family life in Dublin. The writing seems a little bizarre as the story is told by a child but there is genius in how this is done. Through her eyes, we see how adults can deceive a child and how they innocently accept what they are told. Jean continues to narrate her story until the age of 18 and my desire to hold her hand and befriend her was powerful!
The book comes with trigger warnings of sexual abuse but I think it needs a siren sticker.
This book was wonderful, heartbreaking, realistic and immersive.
That sounds glib but this book isn’t for the faint-hearted. The book starts with young Jean at the age of three. She sets the scene of her family life in Dublin. The writing seems a little bizarre as the story is told by a child but there is genius in how this is done. Through her eyes, we see how adults can deceive a child and how they innocently accept what they are told. Jean continues to narrate her story until the age of 18 and my desire to hold her hand and befriend her was powerful!
The book comes with trigger warnings of sexual abuse but I think it needs a siren sticker.
This book was wonderful, heartbreaking, realistic and immersive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews