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Our London Lives
'Huge of heart and soaring of soul' CLAIRE KILROY
'A profound love story...Like Barbara Kingsolver, Hickey captures the pulse of the living moment' COLUM McCANN
1979. In the vast and often unforgiving city of London, two Irish outsiders seeking refuge find one Milly, a teenage runaway, and Pip, a young boxer full of anger and potential who is beginning to drink it all away.
Over the decades their lives follow different paths, interweaving from time to time, often in one another's sight, always on one another's mind, yet rarely together.
Forty years on, Milly is clinging onto the only home she's ever really known while Pip, haunted by T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, traipses the streets of London and wrestles with the life of the recovering alcoholic. And between them, perhaps uncrossable, lies the unspoken span of their lives.
Dark and brave, this epic novel offers a rich and moving portrait of an ever-changing city, and a profound inquiry into character, loneliness and the nature of love.
'A profound love story...Like Barbara Kingsolver, Hickey captures the pulse of the living moment' COLUM McCANN
1979. In the vast and often unforgiving city of London, two Irish outsiders seeking refuge find one Milly, a teenage runaway, and Pip, a young boxer full of anger and potential who is beginning to drink it all away.
Over the decades their lives follow different paths, interweaving from time to time, often in one another's sight, always on one another's mind, yet rarely together.
Forty years on, Milly is clinging onto the only home she's ever really known while Pip, haunted by T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, traipses the streets of London and wrestles with the life of the recovering alcoholic. And between them, perhaps uncrossable, lies the unspoken span of their lives.
Dark and brave, this epic novel offers a rich and moving portrait of an ever-changing city, and a profound inquiry into character, loneliness and the nature of love.
512 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2024
201 people are currently reading
2902 people want to read
About the author
Christine Dwyer Hickey
14 books109 followersChristine Dwyer Hickey is a novelist and short-story writer. Her novel Tatty was short-listed for Irish Book of the Year in 2005 and was also long-listed for The Orange Prize. Her novels, The Dancer, The Gambler and The Gatemaker were re-issued in 2006 as The Dublin Trilogy three novels which span the story of a Dublin family from 1913 to 1956.
Twice winner of the Listowel Writers Week short story competition, she was also a prize winner in the Observer/Penguin short-story competition. Her latest novel, Last Train from Liguria, is set in 1930’s Fascist Italy and Dublin in the 1990’s and will be published in June 2009.
Twice winner of the Listowel Writers Week short story competition, she was also a prize winner in the Observer/Penguin short-story competition. Her latest novel, Last Train from Liguria, is set in 1930’s Fascist Italy and Dublin in the 1990’s and will be published in June 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
December 16, 2024
This had all the makings of a great book, but it never came together for me as I had hoped. It felt more like a marathon Eastenders session set over forty years than an epic London love story. I still found myself teary at the ending, but it was a struggle to get there and a relief to finish this 500 page saga.
The book open in 1979. Milly has just arrived in London from Ireland at the tender age of 18, secretly pregnant and desperate for work. She finds a job at a bar run by Mrs Oak, your archetypal London pub landlady who helps her out in her hour of need. There she meets Pip, a brooding Irish boxer with a penchant for the drink. Over the course of their London lives, they come together and part again, two misfits trying to find their place in an unforgiving city.
It would be wrong to characterise this as a love story - at its heart it's a character study, and a study of a city that is a constant throughout two lives in flux. The passion between Milly and Pip never really ignited for me, and I wanted more of their childhood stories to fully appreciate how they got to where they are. There was a lot of unnecessary detail of pubs, flats, houses and squats, that just got boring after while.
I can't wholeheartedly recommend this. The writing is very good, but it's a rather flat, depressing story that I wouldn't pick up again. While there is a redemption of sorts for the characters, it ends on a rather dour note which had me muttering under my breath! 3/5 stars
Many thanks to Gill Hess Ltd and Atlantic Books for the early copy. Our London Lives was published in September. Honest review, as always.
The book open in 1979. Milly has just arrived in London from Ireland at the tender age of 18, secretly pregnant and desperate for work. She finds a job at a bar run by Mrs Oak, your archetypal London pub landlady who helps her out in her hour of need. There she meets Pip, a brooding Irish boxer with a penchant for the drink. Over the course of their London lives, they come together and part again, two misfits trying to find their place in an unforgiving city.
It would be wrong to characterise this as a love story - at its heart it's a character study, and a study of a city that is a constant throughout two lives in flux. The passion between Milly and Pip never really ignited for me, and I wanted more of their childhood stories to fully appreciate how they got to where they are. There was a lot of unnecessary detail of pubs, flats, houses and squats, that just got boring after while.
I can't wholeheartedly recommend this. The writing is very good, but it's a rather flat, depressing story that I wouldn't pick up again. While there is a redemption of sorts for the characters, it ends on a rather dour note which had me muttering under my breath! 3/5 stars
Many thanks to Gill Hess Ltd and Atlantic Books for the early copy. Our London Lives was published in September. Honest review, as always.
September 25, 2024
What a lovely,sad (sad?) book.
September 19, 2024
Oh my goodness what a book this one is going to take me a while to digest before I can write the review
This novel is the story of two people meeting in a London pub and what happens to them over the years
This is a very British book very well anchored in London. It’s nice to read about ordinary British people. As of the books I’ve read about London recently have focused on gang related violence this book looks at normal people and their struggles with life one young girl who travels from Ireland and knowingly pregnant and has to give up the baby the other when she meets him is a young man boxing. The book deals with the ordinary I’ve life poverty and alcoholism. Some of the subjects dealt with the novel are quite weighty but the author managers to treat them with subtlety and poise
The story is set over a number of decades and I particularly enjoyed the way that it showed how central London has changedover time
The author has a clear flowing writing style, the novel was a joy to read.
The author has great skill in the way that she describes personal characteristics and the way that her characters developed over time these are real people you really feel you understand them and the way that they behave
I very much enjoyed reading this book. It might not have been a book that I would pick up on a bookstore but I’m very glad I found it on NetGalley UK.
I read an early copy on NetGalley UK in return for a review the kids published on the 5th of September 2024 by Atlantic books
This will appear on Goodreads, NetGalley UK and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.
This novel is the story of two people meeting in a London pub and what happens to them over the years
This is a very British book very well anchored in London. It’s nice to read about ordinary British people. As of the books I’ve read about London recently have focused on gang related violence this book looks at normal people and their struggles with life one young girl who travels from Ireland and knowingly pregnant and has to give up the baby the other when she meets him is a young man boxing. The book deals with the ordinary I’ve life poverty and alcoholism. Some of the subjects dealt with the novel are quite weighty but the author managers to treat them with subtlety and poise
The story is set over a number of decades and I particularly enjoyed the way that it showed how central London has changedover time
The author has a clear flowing writing style, the novel was a joy to read.
The author has great skill in the way that she describes personal characteristics and the way that her characters developed over time these are real people you really feel you understand them and the way that they behave
I very much enjoyed reading this book. It might not have been a book that I would pick up on a bookstore but I’m very glad I found it on NetGalley UK.
I read an early copy on NetGalley UK in return for a review the kids published on the 5th of September 2024 by Atlantic books
This will appear on Goodreads, NetGalley UK and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK.
November 14, 2024
A romance that's mainly miserable. Two Irish people in London. I liked it more than I thought I would. The real litmus test would be to see if my more sensible sisters would enjoy this book. I'm glad I read it and normal service of nonsense thrillers and horror will now resume.
November 29, 2025
Our London Lives is the story of Milly and Pip, who first meet in London in 1979 and whose lives will intersect over the next four decades.
It’s 1979 and young Milly arrives in London from Ireland, homeless, jobless and alone. During her search for work she experiences the prejudice against Irish people caused by the IRA bombing campaign. She eventually finds employment and accommodation in a pub in Clerkenwell run by Mrs. Oak. It feels like a safe haven but soon she has other challenges to face. There she meets Pip, a young boxer from a nearby club, who is already showing the signs of alcohol addiction. Although at first they barely exchange words, they’re somehow drawn to each other, perhaps because they recognise the inner pain and regrets they both harbour.
Over the years they encounter each other at various stages in their lives. They enter into a relationship but events, as well as their own weaknesses and insecurities, conspire to drive them apart. Although they each embark on other relationships, the connection between them never fades. Over the decades there are near misses, sometimes heartbreakingly close ones, and opportunities which might have brought them together again.
It’s from Milly’s point of view that we witness these events over the decades but alternating with that is Pip’s narrative set in 2017. He’s fresh out of rehab, with a set of ‘mea culpa’ letters addressed to everyone he’s ever let down – as yet unsent. Every day is a battle to remain sober and he’s lonely, very lonely. Eventually he’s forced to move in with his brother Dominic who’s always considered Pip a waster. It’s not a harmonious relationship. However, it’s a different story with Domonic’s son with whom Pip forms a bond, perhaps because he’s better able to empathise with the struggles of a young man. Woven into the story are events such as the 2017 terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire.
London is as much a character in the book as Milly and Pip. Through their eyes we see it change over the decades as areas fall into decay, change their character or are regenerated.
'She walks through a mingle of fast-food odours: burgers and what she supposes to be Japanese curry – if she’s to believe the sign painted outside the cafe. […] The Japanese place is part of the old sewing factory – the front office, if she’s not mistaken. The building next door was the factory itself. Once it was all part of the same building, a plain brick facade with little windows upstairs that opened in warm weather, the buzz of sewing machines when you passed by, and the girls singing along to a radio. Now the walls are made of smoked glass. Creatives, is what they call the people who work in there, somebody told her.'
Yet in later years it’s places in their earlier lives they feel drawn to, that give them a sense of security even though they are now rundown and abandoned. For Milly, it’s the pub owned by Mrs Oak. For Pip, it’s the boxing club. Without knowing it they are only footsteps away from each other.
Milly and Pip are both flawed characters who take wrong turns, make mistakes and poor decisions but somehow it only makes you root for them more. Milly’s story moved me intensely, particularly the betrayal she experiences and the regret she feels at decisions she made long ago. But it was Pip I really fell in love with. His character is so well drawn you feel you might recognise him if you passed him in the street.
Our London Lives is a love story spanning decades. It’s raw and gritty but full of emotional depth and tenderness. It’s about life in all its messiness. I thought the ending was perfect, leaving the reader with hope but not certainty. After all, whenever do we get that in life? I rarely reread books but this one might be the exception. It is definitely one of my books of the year.
It’s 1979 and young Milly arrives in London from Ireland, homeless, jobless and alone. During her search for work she experiences the prejudice against Irish people caused by the IRA bombing campaign. She eventually finds employment and accommodation in a pub in Clerkenwell run by Mrs. Oak. It feels like a safe haven but soon she has other challenges to face. There she meets Pip, a young boxer from a nearby club, who is already showing the signs of alcohol addiction. Although at first they barely exchange words, they’re somehow drawn to each other, perhaps because they recognise the inner pain and regrets they both harbour.
Over the years they encounter each other at various stages in their lives. They enter into a relationship but events, as well as their own weaknesses and insecurities, conspire to drive them apart. Although they each embark on other relationships, the connection between them never fades. Over the decades there are near misses, sometimes heartbreakingly close ones, and opportunities which might have brought them together again.
It’s from Milly’s point of view that we witness these events over the decades but alternating with that is Pip’s narrative set in 2017. He’s fresh out of rehab, with a set of ‘mea culpa’ letters addressed to everyone he’s ever let down – as yet unsent. Every day is a battle to remain sober and he’s lonely, very lonely. Eventually he’s forced to move in with his brother Dominic who’s always considered Pip a waster. It’s not a harmonious relationship. However, it’s a different story with Domonic’s son with whom Pip forms a bond, perhaps because he’s better able to empathise with the struggles of a young man. Woven into the story are events such as the 2017 terror attacks and the Grenfell Tower fire.
London is as much a character in the book as Milly and Pip. Through their eyes we see it change over the decades as areas fall into decay, change their character or are regenerated.
'She walks through a mingle of fast-food odours: burgers and what she supposes to be Japanese curry – if she’s to believe the sign painted outside the cafe. […] The Japanese place is part of the old sewing factory – the front office, if she’s not mistaken. The building next door was the factory itself. Once it was all part of the same building, a plain brick facade with little windows upstairs that opened in warm weather, the buzz of sewing machines when you passed by, and the girls singing along to a radio. Now the walls are made of smoked glass. Creatives, is what they call the people who work in there, somebody told her.'
Yet in later years it’s places in their earlier lives they feel drawn to, that give them a sense of security even though they are now rundown and abandoned. For Milly, it’s the pub owned by Mrs Oak. For Pip, it’s the boxing club. Without knowing it they are only footsteps away from each other.
Milly and Pip are both flawed characters who take wrong turns, make mistakes and poor decisions but somehow it only makes you root for them more. Milly’s story moved me intensely, particularly the betrayal she experiences and the regret she feels at decisions she made long ago. But it was Pip I really fell in love with. His character is so well drawn you feel you might recognise him if you passed him in the street.
Our London Lives is a love story spanning decades. It’s raw and gritty but full of emotional depth and tenderness. It’s about life in all its messiness. I thought the ending was perfect, leaving the reader with hope but not certainty. After all, whenever do we get that in life? I rarely reread books but this one might be the exception. It is definitely one of my books of the year.
June 26, 2024
Our London lives
What a beautiful character driven novel, spanning four decades in the lives of two Irish immigrants, Milly and Pip. They are clearly fragile, vulnerable and slightly broken young people, whom we as readers come to care for from the opening pages .This is a book very much about deep love in its many forms, but please do not expect it to fit comfortably in the romance genre. This is a book about real life, all its warts and all - and there are some tough themes - alcoholism, adoption, child loss, sexual abuse, loneliness, alongside examining London pub life, sense of community and complex familial relationships, which are just some of the elements encompassed in this book.
London stands tall throughout, with its changing faces told with great authenticity, evoking both the eras and landscapes which are acutely drawn. We are also encouraged to consider the socio-economic impact of the gentrification of areas, and the displacement of those people whom called those areas home for pretty much all their lives.
What more can I say - except I absolutely loved every single page of this (apart from perhaps the last few pages - without giving anything away!) and you absolutely must read it.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC.
What a beautiful character driven novel, spanning four decades in the lives of two Irish immigrants, Milly and Pip. They are clearly fragile, vulnerable and slightly broken young people, whom we as readers come to care for from the opening pages .This is a book very much about deep love in its many forms, but please do not expect it to fit comfortably in the romance genre. This is a book about real life, all its warts and all - and there are some tough themes - alcoholism, adoption, child loss, sexual abuse, loneliness, alongside examining London pub life, sense of community and complex familial relationships, which are just some of the elements encompassed in this book.
London stands tall throughout, with its changing faces told with great authenticity, evoking both the eras and landscapes which are acutely drawn. We are also encouraged to consider the socio-economic impact of the gentrification of areas, and the displacement of those people whom called those areas home for pretty much all their lives.
What more can I say - except I absolutely loved every single page of this (apart from perhaps the last few pages - without giving anything away!) and you absolutely must read it.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC.
August 11, 2024
I am finding it hard to review this book as I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it. The two characters the book centres around are Milly and Pip (Phil). The book tells the story of their lives, the good, the bad and everything in between. The supporting characters are well thought out and portrayed in a way whereby you won’t forget most of them. The story delves in depth into the relationship of Milly and Pip and their relationships with others, family and friends
The story was okay, not brilliant or spellbinding but an ok story. I felt it ended quite abruptly whereas I would have liked to know various things and how certain situations panned out.
Not a bad read but not blistering and a little slow.
The story was okay, not brilliant or spellbinding but an ok story. I felt it ended quite abruptly whereas I would have liked to know various things and how certain situations panned out.
Not a bad read but not blistering and a little slow.
February 5, 2025
Irish writers are my favourite 📚
April 28, 2025
nice to read but very slow and long with not much happening
February 22, 2025
Oh Pip and Milly! This is a heart wrenching lesson about how difficult love can be when the timing is not right.
“But he loves her - that much she does know. But maybe it’s not enough, she thinks now. Or maybe it’s just too much.
I loved the gentleness of his book and the way it captured the slow decay of this part of London. How things change around us but the past can still be glimpsed behind walls and doors and down alleys. How we can know but not know someone and how we can learn to accept people as they are.
“But he loves her - that much she does know. But maybe it’s not enough, she thinks now. Or maybe it’s just too much.
I loved the gentleness of his book and the way it captured the slow decay of this part of London. How things change around us but the past can still be glimpsed behind walls and doors and down alleys. How we can know but not know someone and how we can learn to accept people as they are.
March 18, 2025
Good family saga over generations, right up my alley.
June 29, 2025
he is waiting for her and I won’t be hearing any different
May 5, 2025
Beautiful story of love- so well written also!!!
I loved every page!
I loved every page!
February 13, 2025
I love Irish writers and I don’t know why. Definitely helped that it was set in London. Good read during very very grey days.
August 14, 2024
Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey
The setting for this story is London 1979 where the main protagonists are two Irish teenagers who have come to London to make a better life. Milly has run away from her unkind family and finds work in a pub where she meets friends and the owner Mrs Oak who treats her like her own daughter.
Pip, a rising star in the boxing world could lose it all through his love of drink and the secret he is hiding which could show its head at any time. The friendship between these two spans over four decades coming in and out of each other's lives at different times. This book didn’t come together for me and I found it quite disjoining. The story was very balanced towards Pip and we learn so much of his past, and his relationship with his family but discover almost nothing of Millie’s. It was far too long with unnecessary and redundant paragraphs and yet there were some important revelations that I felt were told in a very detached way. The ending was so rushed and came on suddenly. It didn’t intrigue me and I thought it quite disappointing There seemed to be far too many chapters where the protagonist is walking through London reminiscing about various places and describing how the area has changed and deteriorated.
This was supposed to be a love story but it was too understated and low-key for me with zero passion. The novel is character-based however, there were no characters that made any huge impression on me and I didn’t find any of the story excited me. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a hit with me, but I know many will find this book's slow, gentle tone enjoyable. Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this novel.
The setting for this story is London 1979 where the main protagonists are two Irish teenagers who have come to London to make a better life. Milly has run away from her unkind family and finds work in a pub where she meets friends and the owner Mrs Oak who treats her like her own daughter.
Pip, a rising star in the boxing world could lose it all through his love of drink and the secret he is hiding which could show its head at any time. The friendship between these two spans over four decades coming in and out of each other's lives at different times. This book didn’t come together for me and I found it quite disjoining. The story was very balanced towards Pip and we learn so much of his past, and his relationship with his family but discover almost nothing of Millie’s. It was far too long with unnecessary and redundant paragraphs and yet there were some important revelations that I felt were told in a very detached way. The ending was so rushed and came on suddenly. It didn’t intrigue me and I thought it quite disappointing There seemed to be far too many chapters where the protagonist is walking through London reminiscing about various places and describing how the area has changed and deteriorated.
This was supposed to be a love story but it was too understated and low-key for me with zero passion. The novel is character-based however, there were no characters that made any huge impression on me and I didn’t find any of the story excited me. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a hit with me, but I know many will find this book's slow, gentle tone enjoyable. Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this novel.
August 9, 2025
1979, London.
Milly is a young, Irish, pregnant girl who finds herself in London - desperate for work and a bit of help.
Mrs Oaks runs a pub and takes Milly in, this is where Milly meets Pip, an Irish boxer thirsty for the drink.
Our London Lives spans over four decades, is a deep character study and a story of a normal, somewhat mundane life.
These people are full of flaws trying their best with what they’ve got. London is central to the story where the passage of time is depicted in the forever changing faces of a city.
-
There is a deep love story here but perhaps not in its traditional sense. A brave debut with excellent writing.
4/5 stars
-
Advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Milly is a young, Irish, pregnant girl who finds herself in London - desperate for work and a bit of help.
Mrs Oaks runs a pub and takes Milly in, this is where Milly meets Pip, an Irish boxer thirsty for the drink.
Our London Lives spans over four decades, is a deep character study and a story of a normal, somewhat mundane life.
These people are full of flaws trying their best with what they’ve got. London is central to the story where the passage of time is depicted in the forever changing faces of a city.
-
There is a deep love story here but perhaps not in its traditional sense. A brave debut with excellent writing.
4/5 stars
-
Advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2024
Bleak but good. Went to see her give a reading from it a week ago. I told her I liked her book.
October 5, 2025
Post Book Club Review:
I really thought that this book was going to romanticise living in London in your 20s and it really did quite the opposite
Both of the main characters lives were so depressing and traumatic and seemed to just get worse as the book went on
The chapters were too long IMO which is a pet peeve of mine
I also wasn’t expecting to have all of Pip’s chapters in the present day and I’m not sure I liked it
Overall I think I did prefer Milly’s chapters but god she was just such an odd girl and I just couldn’t relate to her at all
There were many deep & traumatic incidents touched on for both of the main characters but most of them weren’t really delved into deeply - for example I would have liked to read more about why Milly moved to london or about Pip’s experience in prison but those sort of things were a bit glazed over
I found Pip’s chapters a bit more difficult to read and comprehend - maybe that was on purpose to show his kind of manic/addictive traits but it caused me to struggle through some of his chapters and meant that sometimes there would be a huge revelation/plot line buried in the middle of his stream of consciousness so that you’d nearly miss it
The book was very much laden with significant cultural events, such as the Grenfell fire and the 2008 recession, which sometimes I appreciated but other times I felt were a bit of a cop out to the author creating unique storylines for the characters
Also some of the gaps in the years of the chapters were quite big and left storylines unfinished - like what the hell happened to Matthew ??
Anyway this review is nearly as long and rambley as the book so long story short is I wouldn’t recommend lol
I really thought that this book was going to romanticise living in London in your 20s and it really did quite the opposite
Both of the main characters lives were so depressing and traumatic and seemed to just get worse as the book went on
The chapters were too long IMO which is a pet peeve of mine
I also wasn’t expecting to have all of Pip’s chapters in the present day and I’m not sure I liked it
Overall I think I did prefer Milly’s chapters but god she was just such an odd girl and I just couldn’t relate to her at all
There were many deep & traumatic incidents touched on for both of the main characters but most of them weren’t really delved into deeply - for example I would have liked to read more about why Milly moved to london or about Pip’s experience in prison but those sort of things were a bit glazed over
I found Pip’s chapters a bit more difficult to read and comprehend - maybe that was on purpose to show his kind of manic/addictive traits but it caused me to struggle through some of his chapters and meant that sometimes there would be a huge revelation/plot line buried in the middle of his stream of consciousness so that you’d nearly miss it
The book was very much laden with significant cultural events, such as the Grenfell fire and the 2008 recession, which sometimes I appreciated but other times I felt were a bit of a cop out to the author creating unique storylines for the characters
Also some of the gaps in the years of the chapters were quite big and left storylines unfinished - like what the hell happened to Matthew ??
Anyway this review is nearly as long and rambley as the book so long story short is I wouldn’t recommend lol
June 11, 2025
„I miss the pub. I miss it more than I miss the drink. I miss walking at dusk towards the light in the window, the rush of noise and heat as I push the heavy door in. I feel lost without it. Homeless, even when I have somewhere to stay. I feel like I‘m dragging the house around. My arms are too long, my hands too big. Nothing feels or looks right; I just don’t fit anywhere. (…)„
„I‘d give him up tomorrow for you, (…)“
„You can never be sure of any man, if it comes to it.“
Milly & Pip, a rougher rawer irish version of Em & Dex ❤️
„I‘d give him up tomorrow for you, (…)“
„You can never be sure of any man, if it comes to it.“
Milly & Pip, a rougher rawer irish version of Em & Dex ❤️
June 20, 2025
This book, sadly, landed in the disappointing category by the time I turned the last page. I was completely engrossed during the first half — despite some early warning signs. It had that melancholic, descriptive, and bleak charm that London-based novels often carry so well. I couldn’t put it down, literally, staying up late and reading. But then, it unraveled into a parade of my most disliked literary tropes. Worst of all, it featured the one trope I truly can’t stand — the kind that completely ruins a book for me.
February 2, 2025
It will be hard to beat this wonderful book for me this year. The story is beautifully revealed and expertly told by the author. We meet Milly and Pip and their lives in London as they touch each other... It's heartbreaking, brutal, funny, poignant, sad.. I loved the characters, the setting and the story was hugely satisfying.
August 25, 2025
This novel tells the story of an Irish man and woman who have both left Ireland for London. It begins in 1979 when 19 year old Milly has just arrived and got a job in an East End pub, where she comes across Pip, a young aspiring boxer. It tells the interwoven stories of their lives up to 2017, and also their previous lives before they met, moving backwards and forwards in time and creating a rich picture of them both. London is like a third character in the novel, changing from the city of 1979, full of old buildings and run-down areas, to the city of 2017, full of glossy glass and steel and subject to ever more gentrification - so that those of us who carry a map of the city in our heads often find it is nothing like the reality on the ground. Milly and Pip's stories are moving, and often very sad, but a streak of hope also persists throughout the book. I loved it.
September 4, 2024
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for offering an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is advertised as a searing love story, which I think is not quite right. It chronicles the lives of Pip and Milly who, for the most time, are completely separate. As such, I found it difficult to connect with, or understand, their love of one another; nor did I really understand their actions throughout the decades as we follow their highs and lows. I would have liked some more background information, especially for Milly. At times, the prose flowed and found myself getting lost in hours of reading; and elsewhere in the novel I was bored, wanting to skip long sections of irrelevant descriptions or scenes. There was also something about the writing -perhaps the insistence on referring to the main characters as he/she (as opposed to their names), which, when other characters were involved, ended up being really confusing- that irked me. I can see why some people love this novel, it’s just not for me.
This novel is advertised as a searing love story, which I think is not quite right. It chronicles the lives of Pip and Milly who, for the most time, are completely separate. As such, I found it difficult to connect with, or understand, their love of one another; nor did I really understand their actions throughout the decades as we follow their highs and lows. I would have liked some more background information, especially for Milly. At times, the prose flowed and found myself getting lost in hours of reading; and elsewhere in the novel I was bored, wanting to skip long sections of irrelevant descriptions or scenes. There was also something about the writing -perhaps the insistence on referring to the main characters as he/she (as opposed to their names), which, when other characters were involved, ended up being really confusing- that irked me. I can see why some people love this novel, it’s just not for me.
October 5, 2025
Have finally debriefed with Becca and can give my review!
All in all, a good book but just unnecessarily long. Could have definitely done with a good edit. There were a few plot holes that I wish would have been addressed in greater detail, specifically what really happened to Millie’s child, more commentary on Pips dad, and I felt as though both MCs experiences with sexual assault were completely skipped over.
I enjoyed the modern day commentary, specifically about Grenfell, although i’m not sure what it added to the story. As Becca rightfully pointed out, I was hoping that this book would romanticise living in London in your 20s, but it did the complete opposite.
Good, but probably wouldn’t recommend.
All in all, a good book but just unnecessarily long. Could have definitely done with a good edit. There were a few plot holes that I wish would have been addressed in greater detail, specifically what really happened to Millie’s child, more commentary on Pips dad, and I felt as though both MCs experiences with sexual assault were completely skipped over.
I enjoyed the modern day commentary, specifically about Grenfell, although i’m not sure what it added to the story. As Becca rightfully pointed out, I was hoping that this book would romanticise living in London in your 20s, but it did the complete opposite.
Good, but probably wouldn’t recommend.
May 25, 2025
Balled my fkn eyes out
August 21, 2025
More than just a backdrop, Our London Lives is a profound love letter to London itself. Tracing the city’s transformation over forty years—from the gritty charm of the late 1970s to the hustle and bustle of modern-day London, Christine Dwyer-Hickey reveals not just the city itself, but its very soul. Our London Lives is a literary time-lapse of shifting architecture, evolving communities, and the ever-changing nature of human connections. Published in 2024, the Atlantic Books release is at once an intimate chronicle of a city in flux and a testament to the lives of the people who give it meaning. Like London, relationships experience periods of vibrant growth, decay, and renewal. Whether readers have experienced living in a happening metropolis or not, city dwellers and country folk alike will find a sense of solidarity in Dwyer-Hickey’s nuanced depiction of London and its inhabitants.
The celebrated Irish novelist and playwright Christine Dwyer-Hickey has built an impressive literary legacy. Her expansive catalogue, ranging from her early trilogy of historical fiction to her more recent works of literary fiction, establishes her as a significant voice in the Irish literary scene and offers a distinct perspective on contemporary Irish life and experiences, culminating in her latest work. Though fans of Sally Rooney’s Normal People and Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn will certainly recognise the familiar themes of miscommunication, loss, and displacement, Our London Lives establishes its own voice within the Irish literary canon.
The story follows Milly and Pip, Irish immigrants drawn to London and to one another, each fleeing their pasts. Eighteen-year-old Milly finds an unexpected haven in the East End pub, while Pip, a promising young boxer and pub regular, grapples with old and burgeoning demons. Over the course of four decades, their lives intersect in fleeting yet powerful moments, haunted by unspoken ‘what ifs.’ As the city around them transforms, they too are forced to adapt, wrestling with change while enduring the isolating reality of life as outsiders in a society that keeps them at arm’s length.
Dwyer-Hickey’s prose is as compelling as her characters. Marked by a witty and often tragically funny voice, she brings a real depth to Milly’s stoic resilience and Pip’s battles with his mental health. She reveals their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities with a thoughtful, yet understated touch. Born in Dublin in 1960, Christine Dwyer Hickey would have been nineteen herself in 1979—nearly the same age as Milly when the novel begins. It’s tempting to wonder how much of herself slips into Milly’s story, but what is certain is that having lived through that pivotal time lends an unparalleled authenticity to the character’s emotional experiences. Despite its substantial size, its pacing feels natural and assured. It flows with ease, its scope allowing the decades to unfold naturally while immersing the reader deeper into both characters’ lives and the evolving city around them.
Beyond Milly and Pip’s individual journeys, Our London Lives masterfully tackles a myriad of profound themes that resonate long after the final page. Jumping between 1979 and 2017, the novel moves through both Milly and Pip’s perspectives, showing how their past and present lives are bound together. Milly’s early chapters hint at Pip’s growing dependence, while his later ones lay bare a man crippled by years of addiction, loneliness, and broken relationships. This dual timeline doesn’t just build the suspense around their slow-burning connection; it acts as a mirror, showing how past decisions shaped the people they became. It captures painfully the truth that self-destruction is often tragically obvious to everyone except the one caught in it. Ultimately, Our London Lives is far more than a tale of fleeting romance; it’s a poignant and unflinching examination of addiction and its irrevocable ripple effect – one that alters not only the addict’s life but also the lives of everyone in their orbit. Dwyer Hickey captures humanity in its truest form – demonstrating how people can disappoint us repeatedly, yet it is in our nature to want to forgive and mend those we love. However, the novel also reveals a heartbreaking truth: the reality that you cannot truly change someone who does not want to change themselves.
Dwyer-Hickey also imbues a powerful sense of Irish identity into the narrative itself, making it almost a character in its own right. Not only are Milly and Pip outsiders in an unforgiving city, but they’re also Irish outsiders at a time when Anglo-Irish nationalist sentiments, amplified by the Troubles, were at an all-time high. Milly, in particular, navigates London acutely aware of the growing anti-Irish sentiment. She experiences firsthand the subtle shift in demeanour, the lingering suspicion, and occasional cutting remark that remind her, despite the life she’s built, she’ll always be an outsider. Pip, by contrast, straddles two worlds, born to an Irish mother and English father. Although he seems to favour his Irish heritage, remarking on his love for Irish women and often reminiscing about his time back home, this attachment may suggest a degree of romanticisation. Perhaps, it is a longing for an idealised Ireland, shaped as much by memory as by reality. This is very different from Milly, who, despite being fully Irish, has little desire to go back, having forged her own sense of community in London. Their shared heritage, often unspoken but deeply felt, continuously defines their place within English society.
At its core, Our London Lives brilliantly captures the universal truth of many love stories: the inevitabilities of love, loss, and the ache of what might have been if not for the lingering effects of past traumas. It is a testament to Christine Dwyer Hickey’s profound storytelling that the novel feels both sprawling and intimate, deeply attuned to anxieties about identity in a rapidly evolving world. What she offers is not only a portrait of London or Irish life abroad, but of human resilience itself. Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, Our London Lives is a novel that lingers long after it’s finished. It is a must-read for enthusiasts of contemporary Irish storytelling, as well as readers who cherish the little nuances of how people and the places they inhabit shape one another.
The celebrated Irish novelist and playwright Christine Dwyer-Hickey has built an impressive literary legacy. Her expansive catalogue, ranging from her early trilogy of historical fiction to her more recent works of literary fiction, establishes her as a significant voice in the Irish literary scene and offers a distinct perspective on contemporary Irish life and experiences, culminating in her latest work. Though fans of Sally Rooney’s Normal People and Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn will certainly recognise the familiar themes of miscommunication, loss, and displacement, Our London Lives establishes its own voice within the Irish literary canon.
The story follows Milly and Pip, Irish immigrants drawn to London and to one another, each fleeing their pasts. Eighteen-year-old Milly finds an unexpected haven in the East End pub, while Pip, a promising young boxer and pub regular, grapples with old and burgeoning demons. Over the course of four decades, their lives intersect in fleeting yet powerful moments, haunted by unspoken ‘what ifs.’ As the city around them transforms, they too are forced to adapt, wrestling with change while enduring the isolating reality of life as outsiders in a society that keeps them at arm’s length.
Dwyer-Hickey’s prose is as compelling as her characters. Marked by a witty and often tragically funny voice, she brings a real depth to Milly’s stoic resilience and Pip’s battles with his mental health. She reveals their innermost thoughts and vulnerabilities with a thoughtful, yet understated touch. Born in Dublin in 1960, Christine Dwyer Hickey would have been nineteen herself in 1979—nearly the same age as Milly when the novel begins. It’s tempting to wonder how much of herself slips into Milly’s story, but what is certain is that having lived through that pivotal time lends an unparalleled authenticity to the character’s emotional experiences. Despite its substantial size, its pacing feels natural and assured. It flows with ease, its scope allowing the decades to unfold naturally while immersing the reader deeper into both characters’ lives and the evolving city around them.
Beyond Milly and Pip’s individual journeys, Our London Lives masterfully tackles a myriad of profound themes that resonate long after the final page. Jumping between 1979 and 2017, the novel moves through both Milly and Pip’s perspectives, showing how their past and present lives are bound together. Milly’s early chapters hint at Pip’s growing dependence, while his later ones lay bare a man crippled by years of addiction, loneliness, and broken relationships. This dual timeline doesn’t just build the suspense around their slow-burning connection; it acts as a mirror, showing how past decisions shaped the people they became. It captures painfully the truth that self-destruction is often tragically obvious to everyone except the one caught in it. Ultimately, Our London Lives is far more than a tale of fleeting romance; it’s a poignant and unflinching examination of addiction and its irrevocable ripple effect – one that alters not only the addict’s life but also the lives of everyone in their orbit. Dwyer Hickey captures humanity in its truest form – demonstrating how people can disappoint us repeatedly, yet it is in our nature to want to forgive and mend those we love. However, the novel also reveals a heartbreaking truth: the reality that you cannot truly change someone who does not want to change themselves.
Dwyer-Hickey also imbues a powerful sense of Irish identity into the narrative itself, making it almost a character in its own right. Not only are Milly and Pip outsiders in an unforgiving city, but they’re also Irish outsiders at a time when Anglo-Irish nationalist sentiments, amplified by the Troubles, were at an all-time high. Milly, in particular, navigates London acutely aware of the growing anti-Irish sentiment. She experiences firsthand the subtle shift in demeanour, the lingering suspicion, and occasional cutting remark that remind her, despite the life she’s built, she’ll always be an outsider. Pip, by contrast, straddles two worlds, born to an Irish mother and English father. Although he seems to favour his Irish heritage, remarking on his love for Irish women and often reminiscing about his time back home, this attachment may suggest a degree of romanticisation. Perhaps, it is a longing for an idealised Ireland, shaped as much by memory as by reality. This is very different from Milly, who, despite being fully Irish, has little desire to go back, having forged her own sense of community in London. Their shared heritage, often unspoken but deeply felt, continuously defines their place within English society.
At its core, Our London Lives brilliantly captures the universal truth of many love stories: the inevitabilities of love, loss, and the ache of what might have been if not for the lingering effects of past traumas. It is a testament to Christine Dwyer Hickey’s profound storytelling that the novel feels both sprawling and intimate, deeply attuned to anxieties about identity in a rapidly evolving world. What she offers is not only a portrait of London or Irish life abroad, but of human resilience itself. Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, Our London Lives is a novel that lingers long after it’s finished. It is a must-read for enthusiasts of contemporary Irish storytelling, as well as readers who cherish the little nuances of how people and the places they inhabit shape one another.
February 18, 2025
3.5
Nou dikke tranen hoor op het eind. Het is geen bijzonder goed boek maar wel een bijzonder mooi verhaal. Ik was zo dom dit vertaald te kopen (?!) ik denk dat het in het Engels veel beter is hoor en dat er dan een ster bovenop zou komen. Een beetje zon boek van “en toen ging ze dit en toen zag ze dat”, weinig diepgang, maar wel een mooie liefdesvertelling, lekker uitgewerkte personages en een hele rijke schets van Londen. Dat is gewoon altijd heerlijk als je het mij vraagt.
Nou dikke tranen hoor op het eind. Het is geen bijzonder goed boek maar wel een bijzonder mooi verhaal. Ik was zo dom dit vertaald te kopen (?!) ik denk dat het in het Engels veel beter is hoor en dat er dan een ster bovenop zou komen. Een beetje zon boek van “en toen ging ze dit en toen zag ze dat”, weinig diepgang, maar wel een mooie liefdesvertelling, lekker uitgewerkte personages en een hele rijke schets van Londen. Dat is gewoon altijd heerlijk als je het mij vraagt.
July 14, 2025
Two young Irish people end up in London and meet in the pub that Milly works in. Pip is a yoking boxer and despite being attracted to each other their lives twist and turn with moments of being together but rarely getting what each one wants from their relationship. A moving story of emigration, loss, family dysfunction and belonging.
January 2, 2025
The abrupt ending without any explanation ruined the entire book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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