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Everything That Is Beautiful
Not yet published
Expected 2 Apr 26For Niamh Ryan, the Foleys are family. Her childhood flew by on their farm, playing with her best friend Peter and his sister Kate - all the while being doted on by their mother Helen and coached by their father Liam, a legendary former hurling player.
Now, following a distressing series of events, the family ties are strained. Niamh receives drunken phone calls and messages from Peter who can't understand what derailed their burgeoning relationship three years ago. Meanwhile, Helen Foley is trying her best to escape her life by checking into guesthouses under the names of women she went to school with. In her life in Belfast, Kate is attempting to hold down a job and a relationship while carrying the weight of the family's secrets, and feeling like she is the one to blame.
As a family wedding looms, and the women find themselves face to face, the knotty love that still binds Niamh, Helen and Kate might just bring them back together again.
Told through the perspectives of three very different women, Everything That Is Beautiful unfolds the story of one complicated family in startlingly honest prose. By turns funny and deeply moving, and with unmatched emotional intelligence, this is an unforgettable story of love and family, heartbreak and hope - and who we might become after we pick up the pieces.
Now, following a distressing series of events, the family ties are strained. Niamh receives drunken phone calls and messages from Peter who can't understand what derailed their burgeoning relationship three years ago. Meanwhile, Helen Foley is trying her best to escape her life by checking into guesthouses under the names of women she went to school with. In her life in Belfast, Kate is attempting to hold down a job and a relationship while carrying the weight of the family's secrets, and feeling like she is the one to blame.
As a family wedding looms, and the women find themselves face to face, the knotty love that still binds Niamh, Helen and Kate might just bring them back together again.
Told through the perspectives of three very different women, Everything That Is Beautiful unfolds the story of one complicated family in startlingly honest prose. By turns funny and deeply moving, and with unmatched emotional intelligence, this is an unforgettable story of love and family, heartbreak and hope - and who we might become after we pick up the pieces.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 2, 2026
526 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 5, 2026
wow what an unbelievable way to begin 2026 with. this was so heartfelt and complicated and fantastic
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A friend asked me last night how I read as much as I do. She's not a reader, so I joked and said, "It's Saturday night, what else would I be doing?"
In reality, its authors like Louise Nealon who make it easy. I've raved about Snowflake since it was released and was really hoping 'Everything That is Beautiful' would live up to my own expectations. It certainly did that and more. I started reading it yesterday and I'm done. That doesn't happen often!
It's funny, full of compassion, so beautifully written and shows the complexities of loving people who will shatter our hearts.
It's about community, in more ways than one, and leads us through how beauty and pain can live side by side.
Thank you Glimmer Book Club for gifting me a copy (which was very kindly gifted by Manilla Press).
It has been an emotional weekend for this reader!
In reality, its authors like Louise Nealon who make it easy. I've raved about Snowflake since it was released and was really hoping 'Everything That is Beautiful' would live up to my own expectations. It certainly did that and more. I started reading it yesterday and I'm done. That doesn't happen often!
It's funny, full of compassion, so beautifully written and shows the complexities of loving people who will shatter our hearts.
It's about community, in more ways than one, and leads us through how beauty and pain can live side by side.
Thank you Glimmer Book Club for gifting me a copy (which was very kindly gifted by Manilla Press).
It has been an emotional weekend for this reader!
February 9, 2026
I absolutely adored this. It is about the Foleys, a big messy family that has extended to include the next door neighbour Niamh. We see their lives through Niamh's eyes, but also Helen Foley, the mum, and Kate her daughter. There is tragedy and tension and their tight little community is rocked by it.
I think my only complaints are the name and cover do the book a complete disservice. I probably wouldn't want to pick it up if I wasn't already familiar with the author's brilliant debut! This is heartbreaking and heartfelt and funny and annoying in the way siblings are annoying. It hit every beat for me.
Sublime. Dolores supremacy!
*read via Netgalley
I think my only complaints are the name and cover do the book a complete disservice. I probably wouldn't want to pick it up if I wasn't already familiar with the author's brilliant debut! This is heartbreaking and heartfelt and funny and annoying in the way siblings are annoying. It hit every beat for me.
Sublime. Dolores supremacy!
*read via Netgalley
January 19, 2026
Loved this, a big reminder of how good Irish fiction can be
December 6, 2025
Everything That Is Beautiful* by Louise Nealon is the much-anticipated sophomore novel from the Snowflake author. It is very different but there is a distinct cadence to her prose that feels familiar, as does her ability to cut right to the core of her characters.
All Niamh Ryan has wanted since she was a small child is to be part of the Foley family. She grew up pucking around with Peter and Kate, was doted on by mammy Helen and had the privilege of being coached by daddy Liam, the legendary hurler. Niamh easily exists within the dream until her teenage years when a catastrophic incident shatters her world, driving a wedge between her and the people who knew her best.
Three years on, Niamh is isolated from Peter, Kate still isn't speaking to her and Helen appears to be having some form of mid life crisis, struggling with secrets of many sorts. Now, against the backdrop of a family wedding, the three women will soon come face-to-face and what happens next is anyone's guess.
The Foleys and Niamh are so incredibly complex, each laden down with unspoken baggage that makes the dynamics between them, particularly the women, so blisteringly real and incredibly compelling. There's moments of genuine humour and warmth, but there is also a lot of melancholy, soul searching and sacrifice. Out 2/4.
All Niamh Ryan has wanted since she was a small child is to be part of the Foley family. She grew up pucking around with Peter and Kate, was doted on by mammy Helen and had the privilege of being coached by daddy Liam, the legendary hurler. Niamh easily exists within the dream until her teenage years when a catastrophic incident shatters her world, driving a wedge between her and the people who knew her best.
Three years on, Niamh is isolated from Peter, Kate still isn't speaking to her and Helen appears to be having some form of mid life crisis, struggling with secrets of many sorts. Now, against the backdrop of a family wedding, the three women will soon come face-to-face and what happens next is anyone's guess.
The Foleys and Niamh are so incredibly complex, each laden down with unspoken baggage that makes the dynamics between them, particularly the women, so blisteringly real and incredibly compelling. There's moments of genuine humour and warmth, but there is also a lot of melancholy, soul searching and sacrifice. Out 2/4.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book and it tackles complex topics in a nuanced way, which makes it difficult to review (I find it a lot easier to write about problems I have with a book!). If I could think of one thing to say about this book, it would be about how realistic it is. The ending does not have all of the character’s issues resolved and we leave them at a point in their lives where they are in many ways not healed from the events of the book. Despite this, ‘Everything That Is Beautiful’ is an incredibly satisfying read and I couldn’t put it down, particularly towards the end. The pacing is very well done, with the perfect balance of past flashbacks throughout each chapter as the current timeline continues. The book moves seamlessly from present to past from one paragraph to the next, so do be aware of that if you struggle with following what time is being narrated without clear dates indicating a shift in timeline. I personally prefer multi-timelines to be done like it is here. One reason being that it feels more like I am following the thoughts and memories of the characters, where things in their present make them reflect on the past. Another reason is that having moving from one timeline only after it has been marked (often at the start of a new chapter) can feel clunky and jarring.
I don’t want to talk too much about the themes of this book and how well I think they were tackled as I wouldn’t want to spoil any aspect of this book. That being said, one idea that was extremely well done and interesting to read about in this book with these characters was about the worshipping of public figures by society and how that would feel for the people who actually know them. I also felt like the disordered eating that some of the characters had (whether it was diagnosed or not) where incredibly well portrayed - both in how it affected those characters and those around them. Nealon did very well at showing how seemingly small moments in the characters’ lives built up a character’s disordered eating, without making it too obvious for the reader which could have made those scenes feel too didactic. The way that these behaviours and thoughts persisted over time, yet were more or less intense at different times in their lives, was also very realistic.
I felt very angry at points of this book, and it is not an easy read. This may be a book that you can’t read if a particular topic is triggering for you (which I am stepping around so that this review does not contain spoilers). The aftermath of this potentially triggering event is very much the topic of the book so cannot be avoided, but I will point out that there are no needless descriptions of the potentially triggering event itself.
This is not just a family drama, but a book about friendship, misogyny, betrayal, and mental health (I could go on but I will stop before I start sounding too trite, because this book is anything but). All of which make it feel like a true reflection of real life. I have not read ‘Snowflake’ by Louise Nealon yet, but I will definitely be doing so at some point as well as keeping my eye out for any future work by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
I don’t want to talk too much about the themes of this book and how well I think they were tackled as I wouldn’t want to spoil any aspect of this book. That being said, one idea that was extremely well done and interesting to read about in this book with these characters was about the worshipping of public figures by society and how that would feel for the people who actually know them. I also felt like the disordered eating that some of the characters had (whether it was diagnosed or not) where incredibly well portrayed - both in how it affected those characters and those around them. Nealon did very well at showing how seemingly small moments in the characters’ lives built up a character’s disordered eating, without making it too obvious for the reader which could have made those scenes feel too didactic. The way that these behaviours and thoughts persisted over time, yet were more or less intense at different times in their lives, was also very realistic.
I felt very angry at points of this book, and it is not an easy read. This may be a book that you can’t read if a particular topic is triggering for you (which I am stepping around so that this review does not contain spoilers). The aftermath of this potentially triggering event is very much the topic of the book so cannot be avoided, but I will point out that there are no needless descriptions of the potentially triggering event itself.
This is not just a family drama, but a book about friendship, misogyny, betrayal, and mental health (I could go on but I will stop before I start sounding too trite, because this book is anything but). All of which make it feel like a true reflection of real life. I have not read ‘Snowflake’ by Louise Nealon yet, but I will definitely be doing so at some point as well as keeping my eye out for any future work by this author.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I highly appreciated Nealon's debut novel, Snowflake, that I remember reading in 2022. That's why I was highly anticipating her second novel, and I feel honored to be able to review it before its release in April this year.
Everything That Is Beautiful recounts the story of the Foley family and Niamh, a childhood friend of the Foley children. It's told from three different points of view: Niamh's own, Helen Foley's (the mother), and Kate Foley's (the youngest daughter). The women couldn't be more different from each other, but they share a secret that other members of the family know nothing about. The event that gives some structure to the novel is Maria Foley's wedding, but then we get numerous flashbacks to the past.
It's an incredible story about a family that is far from perfect, but very much appears to be from the outside. We get to know a big cast of characters who are fully themselves, and we slowly get to discover the event that disturbed Niamh's, Helen's, and Kate's lives.
I found myself very invested in this beautifully written novel. I appreciated the way the author created a microcosm of interesting people whose personalities develop throughout the story. I liked how Irish it felt, and how hurling felt important to the plot. I especially warmed up to Kate's character, but then Helen grew on me as well — both of their arcs were beautifully crafted. It was very interesting to read how the father figure (and a sports legend at the same time) was explored with much nuance. My main criticism is that we didn't get enough of Niamh's side of the story; I wish we got to see more detail about how the "event" really affected her emotionally. Also, the time jumps felt a bit confusing at times.
Overall, I truly loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. It's another example of how families can be messy, even (or especially) those who look perfect from the outside. However, I wish this book had been longer, and the plot a little bit more developed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Manilla Press for the ARC of this novel.
Everything That Is Beautiful recounts the story of the Foley family and Niamh, a childhood friend of the Foley children. It's told from three different points of view: Niamh's own, Helen Foley's (the mother), and Kate Foley's (the youngest daughter). The women couldn't be more different from each other, but they share a secret that other members of the family know nothing about. The event that gives some structure to the novel is Maria Foley's wedding, but then we get numerous flashbacks to the past.
It's an incredible story about a family that is far from perfect, but very much appears to be from the outside. We get to know a big cast of characters who are fully themselves, and we slowly get to discover the event that disturbed Niamh's, Helen's, and Kate's lives.
I found myself very invested in this beautifully written novel. I appreciated the way the author created a microcosm of interesting people whose personalities develop throughout the story. I liked how Irish it felt, and how hurling felt important to the plot. I especially warmed up to Kate's character, but then Helen grew on me as well — both of their arcs were beautifully crafted. It was very interesting to read how the father figure (and a sports legend at the same time) was explored with much nuance. My main criticism is that we didn't get enough of Niamh's side of the story; I wish we got to see more detail about how the "event" really affected her emotionally. Also, the time jumps felt a bit confusing at times.
Overall, I truly loved this book and would recommend it to anyone. It's another example of how families can be messy, even (or especially) those who look perfect from the outside. However, I wish this book had been longer, and the plot a little bit more developed.
Thanks to NetGalley and Manilla Press for the ARC of this novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed this author's debut book, Snowflake, when I read it a few years ago and have been eagerly anticipating her next offering. And I wasn't disappointed.
We start in the past with two families the Ryans and the Foleys. Niamh Ryan spend most of her childhood at the Foley's farm, playing with best friend Peter and his sister Kate. Being looked after and fed by their mother Helen and coached by father Liam who is a legend in the world of hurling. He has retired but still keeps his hand in and also makes and sells hurls.
Then, when Niamh is a late teen, something happens to drive a wedge between them all.
Back in the present and things aren't so simple. Peter and Niamh have gone their separate ways although Peter still can't understand why. Helen is on a mission to escape her life and Kate is just ticking over, trying to hold down a job and just clinging on to a relationship.
But then a family wedding draws them all together again. Will they be able to face what happened or with there forever be a wedge? Will the secrets come out and, if they do, what of the fall out and, indeed, the future?
As with Snowflake, the author has once again created a bunch of characters that are very easy to connect to. To empathise with, to care about. And I did, boy I did...! It's all things emotional and actually tackles some rather complex, often dark, topics but manages to remain balanced with some great humour. As we follow the present, told by the three main female characters - Niamh, Kate and Helen - we also get flashbacks to the past to illustrate and explain. These are delivered in exactly the right moments for maximum effect and also to progress the story.
I invested a lot in this book and indeed the characters. So much so that I was so sad when the book ended and I had to say goodbye to them. So much that as soon as it is out in Audio I'm going to revisit them!
I guess all that's left now is waiting to see what she serves up for next time. Please don't leave it so long... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
We start in the past with two families the Ryans and the Foleys. Niamh Ryan spend most of her childhood at the Foley's farm, playing with best friend Peter and his sister Kate. Being looked after and fed by their mother Helen and coached by father Liam who is a legend in the world of hurling. He has retired but still keeps his hand in and also makes and sells hurls.
Then, when Niamh is a late teen, something happens to drive a wedge between them all.
Back in the present and things aren't so simple. Peter and Niamh have gone their separate ways although Peter still can't understand why. Helen is on a mission to escape her life and Kate is just ticking over, trying to hold down a job and just clinging on to a relationship.
But then a family wedding draws them all together again. Will they be able to face what happened or with there forever be a wedge? Will the secrets come out and, if they do, what of the fall out and, indeed, the future?
As with Snowflake, the author has once again created a bunch of characters that are very easy to connect to. To empathise with, to care about. And I did, boy I did...! It's all things emotional and actually tackles some rather complex, often dark, topics but manages to remain balanced with some great humour. As we follow the present, told by the three main female characters - Niamh, Kate and Helen - we also get flashbacks to the past to illustrate and explain. These are delivered in exactly the right moments for maximum effect and also to progress the story.
I invested a lot in this book and indeed the characters. So much so that I was so sad when the book ended and I had to say goodbye to them. So much that as soon as it is out in Audio I'm going to revisit them!
I guess all that's left now is waiting to see what she serves up for next time. Please don't leave it so long... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
December 5, 2025
The story of three women intertwined in a very close knit family, and the enjoyment of the Irish sport of hurling and camogie.
The story centres around the Foley family who their patriarch is a legend of hurling, the stories three main characters that all weave together in their history of growing up, the truth of marriage as well as the shocks of their not so perfect family hidden in plain sight. We follow Helen, the mother and wife, Niamh the child who was brought into the family fold and Kate, Helen and Liams daughter.
It is very interesting how everything unfolds through childhood to adjusting to adulthood with Niamh and Kate and the slow realisation that Helen is unhappy in life. There are some tough subjects including an eating disorder, sexual assault and versions of loss / depression.
You do feel part of the family and the story slowly evolves to understand the trauma the family has created with each other. Yes it’s dysfunctional and a lot of hurt and shame but it’s an a strangely enjoyable story, you do want the best for them but it also feels very unapologetically irish which for me I loved, mentions of great spots in Belfast and the Irish countryside.
I will say everything is handled with great care and tenderness but honestly I would have just liked more and just felt very unresolved at the end but maybe this is the best ending as the family just continues so you can make your own opinions as to what may happen next with the three women.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, read this when it comes out 2nd April 2026.
The story centres around the Foley family who their patriarch is a legend of hurling, the stories three main characters that all weave together in their history of growing up, the truth of marriage as well as the shocks of their not so perfect family hidden in plain sight. We follow Helen, the mother and wife, Niamh the child who was brought into the family fold and Kate, Helen and Liams daughter.
It is very interesting how everything unfolds through childhood to adjusting to adulthood with Niamh and Kate and the slow realisation that Helen is unhappy in life. There are some tough subjects including an eating disorder, sexual assault and versions of loss / depression.
You do feel part of the family and the story slowly evolves to understand the trauma the family has created with each other. Yes it’s dysfunctional and a lot of hurt and shame but it’s an a strangely enjoyable story, you do want the best for them but it also feels very unapologetically irish which for me I loved, mentions of great spots in Belfast and the Irish countryside.
I will say everything is handled with great care and tenderness but honestly I would have just liked more and just felt very unresolved at the end but maybe this is the best ending as the family just continues so you can make your own opinions as to what may happen next with the three women.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK, read this when it comes out 2nd April 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was a big fan of Louise Nealon’s first novel, Snowflake. I am now a big fan, too, of her second novel, Everything That Is Beautiful.
This is a family saga set in rural Ireland. That’s maybe all that needs to be said about the plot - the story is structured so deliberately (obviously, what book isn’t! What a silly thing to say!) that it feels a shame to go in knowing much more than that. The relationships between family members are so intricate and complex, and we was a reader are told just what we need to know to make each moment hit in the most impactful way. The story jumps back and forth in time constantly - a character will be mentioned and then we jump back to give more context to who they are, what we need to know about them, then back to the scene we were in - in a way that feels like it should be annoying, but never is. Instead it results in a novel that is really propulsive, engaging, and a proper page-turner.
I might have made a bigger deal about the plot than I should have. It’s not that plotty, there aren’t massive twists. It’s the characters that make it, but the characters are so well-written and well-rounded, they’re layered and complicated, they do things to hurt the people they love and get their hearts broken by people they trust, and it all just feels so real. As anyone who has read Snowflake will expect, Louise Nealon’s writing remains very sharp and funny, and the emotional moments are properly punchy.
A great book! Destined to be a big hit, hard to believe anyone could dislike this.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
This is a family saga set in rural Ireland. That’s maybe all that needs to be said about the plot - the story is structured so deliberately (obviously, what book isn’t! What a silly thing to say!) that it feels a shame to go in knowing much more than that. The relationships between family members are so intricate and complex, and we was a reader are told just what we need to know to make each moment hit in the most impactful way. The story jumps back and forth in time constantly - a character will be mentioned and then we jump back to give more context to who they are, what we need to know about them, then back to the scene we were in - in a way that feels like it should be annoying, but never is. Instead it results in a novel that is really propulsive, engaging, and a proper page-turner.
I might have made a bigger deal about the plot than I should have. It’s not that plotty, there aren’t massive twists. It’s the characters that make it, but the characters are so well-written and well-rounded, they’re layered and complicated, they do things to hurt the people they love and get their hearts broken by people they trust, and it all just feels so real. As anyone who has read Snowflake will expect, Louise Nealon’s writing remains very sharp and funny, and the emotional moments are properly punchy.
A great book! Destined to be a big hit, hard to believe anyone could dislike this.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC.
February 19, 2026
I loved this book! The author just captured dysfunctional families and the dynamics so well! I have sat here for about 5 minutes trying to work out how to describe the plot without spoilers but I don't think I can. The story is about so much more than sexual assault and the experiences of women but the aftermath and what is left for families. It is also about grief and the complexities of loss, eating disorders and sexuality. It's a bit like fleabag in some always and I can really see it as a series on tv!
I loved snowflake too but found myself really thinking about wanting to carry on reading this book and would really recommend!
Read through netgalley for an honest review but would have bought it anyways.
I loved snowflake too but found myself really thinking about wanting to carry on reading this book and would really recommend!
Read through netgalley for an honest review but would have bought it anyways.
November 20, 2025
An intimate exploration of a tight knit community, Louise Nealon's latest offering takes the reader into the heart of Irish life.
The authenticity of her portrayal feels indisputable, from the early relationship between Niamh and Peter - and her interactions with the Foley family as a whole - to the later years focusing on Marie's wedding. And the multiple view points are effective in giving the reader a better sense of this group of people and their thoughts, dreams, and motivations.
This will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers, and easily earns 3.5 stars from me.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
The authenticity of her portrayal feels indisputable, from the early relationship between Niamh and Peter - and her interactions with the Foley family as a whole - to the later years focusing on Marie's wedding. And the multiple view points are effective in giving the reader a better sense of this group of people and their thoughts, dreams, and motivations.
This will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers, and easily earns 3.5 stars from me.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 9, 2026
I was a big fan of Louise’s first book, Snowflake, so when I spotted this on NetGalley and was approved, I was so ready to get stuck in, to the Irishness, small townness and colloquial way that I love so much.
We meet Farmer Foley, his family, his hurling dynasty and the secrets he kept. For fans of Eimear Ryan’s Grass Ceiling you will enjoy the female sportsmanship aspect, but this isn’t just a story about hurling, club and county. This is a story about secrets that can break a family apart, unrequited love and finding your true self within your small town, with a dash of Elvis for good measure.
There are triggers for disordered eating and suicide, so please do be conscious of these triggers.
We meet Farmer Foley, his family, his hurling dynasty and the secrets he kept. For fans of Eimear Ryan’s Grass Ceiling you will enjoy the female sportsmanship aspect, but this isn’t just a story about hurling, club and county. This is a story about secrets that can break a family apart, unrequited love and finding your true self within your small town, with a dash of Elvis for good measure.
There are triggers for disordered eating and suicide, so please do be conscious of these triggers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2025
Everything That Is Beautiful" is truly that, such an affecting and gorgeous story. Space is given to let the characters share their stories and intertwining lives in their own way. So much space that the biggest events almost feel like asides. Time with them all passes so quckly and the conclusion feels true to life.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | this book might not have been a 5 stars, but it was nonetheless absolutely incredible. i would read anything by Louise Nealon. Snowflake was a real treasure. Everything That Is Beautiful was deeply moving, about the joys and pains of living close with people you know. it was beautifully written, funny and emotionally complex.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this author's first read and couldn't wait to start this one. Although it discusses sensitive and pertinent women's issues, I found the pace a tad too slow and struggled to connect to the writing.
November 16, 2025
You won't want it to end, and when it does, you'll want to turn back to the start and begin again. A beautiful book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved every single second of this. Great Irish writing, an uncomfortable subject. Such sharp dialogue, I could hear my mum speak it. Thanks to netgalley for the advance copy
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Devoured it in two sittings!
March 25, 2026
Gorgeous! Loved loved loved, thanks so much to Manilla for my copy
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
something must permanently live in Irish waters because Irish writers are genuinely next level.
this was incredible, i could have drowned in this. i thought i didn’t like the ending but in hindsight, i just wanted more and to keep reading more about these messy fucked up characters.
everything about this book was beautiful and i wish i could articulate just how much it captured me. i cared deeply for every character and i related very much to Niamh, looking at the Foleys from the outside and wishing to just be one of them.
it is a beautiful take on the idea that families are not and cannot be perfect, no matter how much the outside world sees them as such. Niamh spent over 20 years thinking the Foleys were untouchable until they broke.
Helen Foley, you deserved better my love.
it was such an easy read prose wise, it just flows through you like water, the story and its characters occupying your mind rent free. Nealon is a writer who knows what she is doing.
i loved every inch of this book and felt every single depth of Niamh, Kate and Helen’s feelings. i want more!!!
thank you so much to Bonnier Books for my copy of this heartbreaking book, it’s out 2/4/26! don’t miss it!!
this was incredible, i could have drowned in this. i thought i didn’t like the ending but in hindsight, i just wanted more and to keep reading more about these messy fucked up characters.
everything about this book was beautiful and i wish i could articulate just how much it captured me. i cared deeply for every character and i related very much to Niamh, looking at the Foleys from the outside and wishing to just be one of them.
it is a beautiful take on the idea that families are not and cannot be perfect, no matter how much the outside world sees them as such. Niamh spent over 20 years thinking the Foleys were untouchable until they broke.
Helen Foley, you deserved better my love.
it was such an easy read prose wise, it just flows through you like water, the story and its characters occupying your mind rent free. Nealon is a writer who knows what she is doing.
i loved every inch of this book and felt every single depth of Niamh, Kate and Helen’s feelings. i want more!!!
thank you so much to Bonnier Books for my copy of this heartbreaking book, it’s out 2/4/26! don’t miss it!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy. ❤️
I absolutely adored Louise’s first book, Snowflake, and have been waiting rather impatiently for her next novel! Louise has a remarkable ability to write characters that I recognise, so much so, it feels like she is inside my head recounting stories from my own memories and the same can be said for Everything that is Beautiful.
Set in a rural town, the story focuses on the Foley family and their neighbour Niamh who spends more time in the Foley house than she does her own. The father of the family, Liam, is a legendary former hurler and passes down his love for the sport to his children and Niamh. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, alongside Niamh, the novel unfolds through the perspective of Liams wife, Helen and his daughter Kate who are navigating family secrets and heartbreak. The characters are so carefully constructed that their inner worlds feel completely exposed as they try to heal themselves while protecting those they love. Days later and I cannot shake this story from my mind, I keep thinking about the lives these characters were denied and my heart hurts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I absolutely adored Louise’s first book, Snowflake, and have been waiting rather impatiently for her next novel! Louise has a remarkable ability to write characters that I recognise, so much so, it feels like she is inside my head recounting stories from my own memories and the same can be said for Everything that is Beautiful.
Set in a rural town, the story focuses on the Foley family and their neighbour Niamh who spends more time in the Foley house than she does her own. The father of the family, Liam, is a legendary former hurler and passes down his love for the sport to his children and Niamh. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, alongside Niamh, the novel unfolds through the perspective of Liams wife, Helen and his daughter Kate who are navigating family secrets and heartbreak. The characters are so carefully constructed that their inner worlds feel completely exposed as they try to heal themselves while protecting those they love. Days later and I cannot shake this story from my mind, I keep thinking about the lives these characters were denied and my heart hurts.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 30, 2025
I enjoyed Nealon’s debut snowflake but thought it was about too many ideas. Her follow up is much more focused and all the better for it.
The first chapter gets us up to speed by zipping through about twenty years of Niamh’s life and her close relationship with the Foley family. Then time slows down and we alternate between Niamh’s perspective, her friend Kate Foley and Kates mum Helen in the build up and aftermath of the wedding for one of the other Foleys.
It feels almost like being a therapist to these three women at the same time where they keep coming to talk about a shared point of trauma but can’t bring themselves to address it directly so instead we build this jigsaw of this family but keep guessing at the missing piece that makes the picture come into focus.
The writing is gorgeous and makes each page a pleasure to read and I learned a lot more about the importance of a Hurley than I ever thought I would!
Thanks to NetGalley and Manilla Press for the arc
The first chapter gets us up to speed by zipping through about twenty years of Niamh’s life and her close relationship with the Foley family. Then time slows down and we alternate between Niamh’s perspective, her friend Kate Foley and Kates mum Helen in the build up and aftermath of the wedding for one of the other Foleys.
It feels almost like being a therapist to these three women at the same time where they keep coming to talk about a shared point of trauma but can’t bring themselves to address it directly so instead we build this jigsaw of this family but keep guessing at the missing piece that makes the picture come into focus.
The writing is gorgeous and makes each page a pleasure to read and I learned a lot more about the importance of a Hurley than I ever thought I would!
Thanks to NetGalley and Manilla Press for the arc
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