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The Boy from Dublin
Finn O’Byrne has spent his life running from his past.
As an Irishman navigating working class London in 1956, Finn is determined to reclaim everything that has been stolen from him—no matter the cost.
When he meets Margaret Baumann, a posh English girl far beyond his reach, new ambitions are quickly ignited.
Fighting against class imbalances, as well as the haunting family history which he cannot seem to outrun, Finn finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into London’s underbelly, quickly becoming a front runner for East London’s most notorious gangster brothers, George and Gerry Faustus. He works hard to keep his growing relationship with Margaret separate from his criminal ties, but as the lines between his two worlds begin to blur, keeping them apart becomes impossible—and the consequences could be devastating.
With his future on the line, Finn fights for a place to belong, careening against the pull of a darker life that promises everything he once had. In a story of poverty, corruption, love, and grief, he must decide where home truly in the arms of the girl he loves, or in the shadow of a past that refuses to let him go.
As an Irishman navigating working class London in 1956, Finn is determined to reclaim everything that has been stolen from him—no matter the cost.
When he meets Margaret Baumann, a posh English girl far beyond his reach, new ambitions are quickly ignited.
Fighting against class imbalances, as well as the haunting family history which he cannot seem to outrun, Finn finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into London’s underbelly, quickly becoming a front runner for East London’s most notorious gangster brothers, George and Gerry Faustus. He works hard to keep his growing relationship with Margaret separate from his criminal ties, but as the lines between his two worlds begin to blur, keeping them apart becomes impossible—and the consequences could be devastating.
With his future on the line, Finn fights for a place to belong, careening against the pull of a darker life that promises everything he once had. In a story of poverty, corruption, love, and grief, he must decide where home truly in the arms of the girl he loves, or in the shadow of a past that refuses to let him go.
467 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 17, 2025
The Boy from Dublin is an incredibly well-written book, showcasing Brennan’s talent. From the first page, the novel sucks you in with its depth, particularly with the main character Finn, whose inner battles are portrayed with striking vulnerability and raw emotion.
The plot weaves flash backs throughout, providing context that is purposeful but not disruptive to the storyline, consistently adding layers of complexity to Finn via his troubled adolescence.
The romance plot is beautifully written - heartfelt but not overdone and balanced with Finn’s journey.
What stood out to me the most was the underlying theme of internal conflict. Finn is constantly battling between being a good man capable of more in his life and fearing he’s inherently evil due to his previous and current choices and circumstances throughout the novel. This duality speaks to the human experience, allowing the reader to be sucked into the journey due to the authenticity of the novel.
The plot weaves flash backs throughout, providing context that is purposeful but not disruptive to the storyline, consistently adding layers of complexity to Finn via his troubled adolescence.
The romance plot is beautifully written - heartfelt but not overdone and balanced with Finn’s journey.
What stood out to me the most was the underlying theme of internal conflict. Finn is constantly battling between being a good man capable of more in his life and fearing he’s inherently evil due to his previous and current choices and circumstances throughout the novel. This duality speaks to the human experience, allowing the reader to be sucked into the journey due to the authenticity of the novel.
April 1, 2025
Great read!! Characters were very intriguing and felt really real! Descriptions in the book made me feel like I was in Ireland in the 1940s and London in the 1950s! Would highly recommend!!
March 23, 2025
Loved this book .... You get pulled into the story and can't stop reading.
The writing was so beautiful and Finn’s struggles were raw, compelling and captivating. The descriptive imagery of London, Dublin and Bray played such a powerful role in the book and became integral characters on their own.
Highly recommend to all!!
The writing was so beautiful and Finn’s struggles were raw, compelling and captivating. The descriptive imagery of London, Dublin and Bray played such a powerful role in the book and became integral characters on their own.
Highly recommend to all!!
April 11, 2025
This book has gotten me back into reading!! It is the perfect balance of light/easy to read and depth, belonging and meaningful topics. This book completely satisfies the craving for meaning without becoming too serious which makes the book perfect! The romance in this book feels so real you feel so close to the characters and I was sad when I finished. 10/10 Highly recommend to all!! Great read!
March 24, 2025
An extremely powerful and compelling story about a young man finding his way. I couldn’t seem to put the book down and was drawn in by the wonderful storytelling! It’s a debut novel that reads like the work of an author who has published many books. Would highly recommend!
April 29, 2025
A real page-turner. Amazing plot with plenty of characters to care about. I found it very hard to put down this story because once I picked it up. Looking forward to reading it again and seeing what I missed as I probably read it too quickly in excitement!
June 23, 2025
Boy from Dublin was a fabulous book, well written, beautiful story with compelling characters! It’s hard to believe this the debut novel of Bronwyn Brennan. I can’t wait to read what she writes next! This book is a must read, highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews