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The Fenian: Love, hate...and a second chance
HOT pants to Mohican haircuts, glam rock to punk, Monty Python to Kojak, the three-day week to Thatcher…
A Scottish new town in the 1970s is the playground for teenage sweethearts Lorna and Robert and their unforgettable band of friends – and foes.
Among the concrete warrens, they discover loyalty and betrayal, booze and bullies, triumph and tragedy.
And, like all youngsters growing up anytime, anywhere, they spend an awful lot of time inventing sex.
But for Lorna and Robert, their lives are changed – perhaps forever – when they are torn apart by a deathbed promise and bitter sectarian divide.
Fast forward 25 years to Blair’s Britain at the start of the new millennium when they suddenly come back into each other’s lives in a very different world of fast-changing technology, international terrorism and the advent of social media.
With a trail of broken marriages, personal damage and self-doubt in their wake – not to mention that dying vow still haunting them - they face up to the biggest question of their lives.
What if you got a second chance to put right your biggest regret?
A Scottish new town in the 1970s is the playground for teenage sweethearts Lorna and Robert and their unforgettable band of friends – and foes.
Among the concrete warrens, they discover loyalty and betrayal, booze and bullies, triumph and tragedy.
And, like all youngsters growing up anytime, anywhere, they spend an awful lot of time inventing sex.
But for Lorna and Robert, their lives are changed – perhaps forever – when they are torn apart by a deathbed promise and bitter sectarian divide.
Fast forward 25 years to Blair’s Britain at the start of the new millennium when they suddenly come back into each other’s lives in a very different world of fast-changing technology, international terrorism and the advent of social media.
With a trail of broken marriages, personal damage and self-doubt in their wake – not to mention that dying vow still haunting them - they face up to the biggest question of their lives.
What if you got a second chance to put right your biggest regret?
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2020
45 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Mike Kernan
5 books3 followersAs Mike Kernan learned from his days in newspapers, the best tales are always the human interest ones. He believes there are no more fascinating subjects than folk and, as a result, his stories are rich in character and bursting with the courageous, bizarre, dramatic, heroic, tragic, poignant and downright daft stuff that people get up to and talk about.
That shines through both in his debut novel, The Fenian, and his non-fiction book, Fishing In The Sun.
Mike might have released his first two books in the past few months but he has been writing for a living since he was 17, as an award-winning journalist on a range of publications from local papers to national dailies.
Since taking early retirement in 2017, he has been making up for lost time by completing the books that have been in his head and in various scattered notes for years.
His acclaimed first novel, The Fenian, is a coming of age romance wrapped up in nostalgia, with the action switching between Scotland of the 1970s and the turn of the millennium. It's all about the unbridled joy of growing up among great friends and the angst of losing a first love before being handed a second chance against the odds later in life.
His second book, Fishing In The Sun, is a collection of quirky, thought-provoking, funny and always entertaining stories on angling, which he writes about in a national newspaper column.
You can find both books on Amazon.
Now lecturing in journalism, Mike has three grown-up children and lives on the west coast of Scotland with wife Margaret. Oh, and he's also enjoying the role he reckons he was born for - grandad to little Jimmy.
For more about Mike's writing projects, visit https://www.mikekernan.co.uk/.
That shines through both in his debut novel, The Fenian, and his non-fiction book, Fishing In The Sun.
Mike might have released his first two books in the past few months but he has been writing for a living since he was 17, as an award-winning journalist on a range of publications from local papers to national dailies.
Since taking early retirement in 2017, he has been making up for lost time by completing the books that have been in his head and in various scattered notes for years.
His acclaimed first novel, The Fenian, is a coming of age romance wrapped up in nostalgia, with the action switching between Scotland of the 1970s and the turn of the millennium. It's all about the unbridled joy of growing up among great friends and the angst of losing a first love before being handed a second chance against the odds later in life.
His second book, Fishing In The Sun, is a collection of quirky, thought-provoking, funny and always entertaining stories on angling, which he writes about in a national newspaper column.
You can find both books on Amazon.
Now lecturing in journalism, Mike has three grown-up children and lives on the west coast of Scotland with wife Margaret. Oh, and he's also enjoying the role he reckons he was born for - grandad to little Jimmy.
For more about Mike's writing projects, visit https://www.mikekernan.co.uk/.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 6, 2021
I have just finished The Fenian by Mike Kernan and ABSOLUTELY LOVED it.
My review is as follows
I absolutely LOVED this audio book. I think that dual time zones are an excellent way of telling a story and sometimes in audio books that can get lost, not in this one. I thought that songs that were named at the beginning of each chapter were inspired, as it took you there straight away and made you remember what you were doing then.
The setting was described just as you imagined it would be in Glasgow.
I cringed at some of the story as it unfolded, when things were not at all 'PC' in comparison with now.
I laughed at the exploits of the teenage crew and what they got up to! I had a lump in my throat as the author told us the story of life and how hard it was. Yes it was tough, but what a gang to belong to.
Loved it.
The narration was so incredibly easy to listen to too.
Just wish it could have continued as I was so invested
My review is as follows
I absolutely LOVED this audio book. I think that dual time zones are an excellent way of telling a story and sometimes in audio books that can get lost, not in this one. I thought that songs that were named at the beginning of each chapter were inspired, as it took you there straight away and made you remember what you were doing then.
The setting was described just as you imagined it would be in Glasgow.
I cringed at some of the story as it unfolded, when things were not at all 'PC' in comparison with now.
I laughed at the exploits of the teenage crew and what they got up to! I had a lump in my throat as the author told us the story of life and how hard it was. Yes it was tough, but what a gang to belong to.
Loved it.
The narration was so incredibly easy to listen to too.
Just wish it could have continued as I was so invested
November 20, 2021
Poor dead brilliant! Loved this, what a great story, it took me back in time to my youth in Scotland. The Fenian is based on the story of kids growing up together, finding love, friendship, and how over time they change, their lives differing enormously as all but a few grow apart.
All the characters are so well drawn that you feel as if you know them all personally. There are sad scenes, fabulous laugh out loud moments, self reflections and memories that make this a favourite, delightful read that I love.
At the beginning Lorna makes a disturbing promise to her dying cancer ridden mum Angela on her deathbed that she will not marry, or be with a catholic. This has far reaching terrible consequences, this horrendous promise knaws at her life, impacting upon her present teenage life and continues to have a detrimental effect upon her adult relationships thereafter.
Lorna was so young at the time of the promise, she carries this horrendous emotional pain at the loss of her mother and the scar of the promise blights her mother's memory throughout her life.
I loved big Paddy and how his mum was Lorna's mum's best pal showing the total ridiculousness of the underlying bigotry that exists as the premise of this story.
It was interesting to see how the bigotry was attributed to the adults in the story with the youngsters mixing freely with each other with no cares what school or religion their pals belonged to. The setting is Kumbride, a new town in Scotland where perhaps: 'old barriers' could be 'torn down. '
All the characters have such different and engaging personalities with Robert, (Lorna's then boyfriend, ) the storyteller, 'inventing our history' becoming a journalist on the telly.
Cami is 'the punch bag' but the girls in the gang of friends stopped him being beaten up by new boys. When he was 'pinned to the wall,' by a sadistic teacher this sadly brought back memories of my hubby's tale of the viciousness of a particular teacher when he was a kid. I loved the imaginativeness of how the kids dealt with the bullying teacher!
And oh the wedding scene when total mayhem erupts is crazy unforgettable!
And I Loved wee Mary, Lorna's best friend.
There are many music references which also brought back memories - a nice touch.
With advancing middle age the changes in the pals were cleverly portrayed via snippets from friends reunited, conversations and Lorna's emails at the time of the devastating twin towers collapsing.
The ending is great, bringing a sense of hope and a coming together.
My recommendation. It's a long tale, in two parts, which I listened to on audiobook but I loved every minute. I would highly recommend, so relatable to me personally as our marriage is a mix of religious and cultural background and it's great how this story highlights that whatever religion we belong to we are all the same.
All the characters are so well drawn that you feel as if you know them all personally. There are sad scenes, fabulous laugh out loud moments, self reflections and memories that make this a favourite, delightful read that I love.
At the beginning Lorna makes a disturbing promise to her dying cancer ridden mum Angela on her deathbed that she will not marry, or be with a catholic. This has far reaching terrible consequences, this horrendous promise knaws at her life, impacting upon her present teenage life and continues to have a detrimental effect upon her adult relationships thereafter.
Lorna was so young at the time of the promise, she carries this horrendous emotional pain at the loss of her mother and the scar of the promise blights her mother's memory throughout her life.
I loved big Paddy and how his mum was Lorna's mum's best pal showing the total ridiculousness of the underlying bigotry that exists as the premise of this story.
It was interesting to see how the bigotry was attributed to the adults in the story with the youngsters mixing freely with each other with no cares what school or religion their pals belonged to. The setting is Kumbride, a new town in Scotland where perhaps: 'old barriers' could be 'torn down. '
All the characters have such different and engaging personalities with Robert, (Lorna's then boyfriend, ) the storyteller, 'inventing our history' becoming a journalist on the telly.
Cami is 'the punch bag' but the girls in the gang of friends stopped him being beaten up by new boys. When he was 'pinned to the wall,' by a sadistic teacher this sadly brought back memories of my hubby's tale of the viciousness of a particular teacher when he was a kid. I loved the imaginativeness of how the kids dealt with the bullying teacher!
And oh the wedding scene when total mayhem erupts is crazy unforgettable!
And I Loved wee Mary, Lorna's best friend.
There are many music references which also brought back memories - a nice touch.
With advancing middle age the changes in the pals were cleverly portrayed via snippets from friends reunited, conversations and Lorna's emails at the time of the devastating twin towers collapsing.
The ending is great, bringing a sense of hope and a coming together.
My recommendation. It's a long tale, in two parts, which I listened to on audiobook but I loved every minute. I would highly recommend, so relatable to me personally as our marriage is a mix of religious and cultural background and it's great how this story highlights that whatever religion we belong to we are all the same.
January 26, 2021
The Fenian is a touching tale of teenage angst, love and loss, sensitively recounted by Mike Kernan. Readers who remember the 1970s will be charmed by his descriptions of contemporary music, films and grooming styles. Kernan has even provided a playlist, so readers can enjoy tracks reflecting the mood of each chapter. This book provides multiple opportunities to wallow in delicious nostalgia, but for Lorna, the Protestant protagonist, and Robert, a Catholic, there is an underlying sense of regret for what might have been. Try to imagine Romeo and Juliet without the shared priest.
‘When I think of those days, those childish, innocent days, I hear the music again.’
When a group of 19th century Irish republicans adopted the name of a mythological band of warriors, they cannot have imagined the effect it would have on Scottish teenagers in the 1970s. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, the word ‘Fenian’ became a term of abuse used by Protestants against Roman Catholics. Although few people understood the obscure political and religious dogma separating these two branches of Christianity, a visceral resentment simmered between the communities. Job advertisements barred Catholics from applying and football teams were affiliated with one church or the other. Inter-faith love affairs were frowned upon.
‘So many times over the years I have tried to figure it out – the ingrained, unconscious hostility.’
Lorna’s life is forever changed by a thoughtless promise she makes at a crucial moment in her childhood. Until then, she has not given much thought to religion. Although they go to different schools depending on which religious community they belong to, several young people living on a working class ‘estate’ form a strong friendship group, meeting up in a bus shelter to banter and play. When they reach their late teenage years, the bond survives but the new game is romance. The group’s favourite pastime, musical chairs with the boys sitting down and the girls circulating, leads to serial flirtations which, so long as certain unwritten rules are kept, cause little resentment.
‘How he could do all those big things and still have room for a single fibre of self-doubt?’
Kernan takes up their story again in 2001. Lorna has stayed close to her roots, but Robert has achieved success beyond his youthful ambitions, carving out a stellar career in television news, marrying money and raising a fine son. When Robert returns to Glasgow, both he and Lorna are newly divorced. Will her binding promise spoil their chances of reviving an old flame?
Mike Kernan skilfully reveals the tragedy of centuries of religious hatred and division, without making it the main focus of his novel. Most readers will enjoy the coming of age dramas, followed by mid-life crises, without giving a thought to religion or politics. Those who know the dark history behind the sufferings of these star-crossed lovers will sympathise with them on a different level.
‘When I think of those days, those childish, innocent days, I hear the music again.’
When a group of 19th century Irish republicans adopted the name of a mythological band of warriors, they cannot have imagined the effect it would have on Scottish teenagers in the 1970s. In Northern Ireland and Scotland, the word ‘Fenian’ became a term of abuse used by Protestants against Roman Catholics. Although few people understood the obscure political and religious dogma separating these two branches of Christianity, a visceral resentment simmered between the communities. Job advertisements barred Catholics from applying and football teams were affiliated with one church or the other. Inter-faith love affairs were frowned upon.
‘So many times over the years I have tried to figure it out – the ingrained, unconscious hostility.’
Lorna’s life is forever changed by a thoughtless promise she makes at a crucial moment in her childhood. Until then, she has not given much thought to religion. Although they go to different schools depending on which religious community they belong to, several young people living on a working class ‘estate’ form a strong friendship group, meeting up in a bus shelter to banter and play. When they reach their late teenage years, the bond survives but the new game is romance. The group’s favourite pastime, musical chairs with the boys sitting down and the girls circulating, leads to serial flirtations which, so long as certain unwritten rules are kept, cause little resentment.
‘How he could do all those big things and still have room for a single fibre of self-doubt?’
Kernan takes up their story again in 2001. Lorna has stayed close to her roots, but Robert has achieved success beyond his youthful ambitions, carving out a stellar career in television news, marrying money and raising a fine son. When Robert returns to Glasgow, both he and Lorna are newly divorced. Will her binding promise spoil their chances of reviving an old flame?
Mike Kernan skilfully reveals the tragedy of centuries of religious hatred and division, without making it the main focus of his novel. Most readers will enjoy the coming of age dramas, followed by mid-life crises, without giving a thought to religion or politics. Those who know the dark history behind the sufferings of these star-crossed lovers will sympathise with them on a different level.
April 7, 2023
3.5. Very good, but awfully long-winded. Also, writing "know" instead of "ken" stressed me.
August 22, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. Set in 2001, with flashbacks to the 1970s and 80s, it follows the story of Lorna, a young girl who grew up in Scotland, and centres around a promise she made to her dying mum. But there is so much more to this book.
It's a richly woven narrative of a group of kids on the verge of adolescence, with love, teenage angst, loss, and all the trials and tribulations that growing up brings. The narrative was spot on, and I found myself so immersed in the book that it was as though I was there with them, reliving my own adolescence with the gang of friends I used to hang out with at the park.
Beautifully written, with funny moments and sad moments, I was hooked all the way through. Everything - the characters, the setting, the music, the story - was a joy to read, and I didn't want it to finish. I hope there will be a sequel, as I want more! This is definitely one of my favourite books this year, although I feel that my review hasn't done it justice. Highly recommend!
It's a richly woven narrative of a group of kids on the verge of adolescence, with love, teenage angst, loss, and all the trials and tribulations that growing up brings. The narrative was spot on, and I found myself so immersed in the book that it was as though I was there with them, reliving my own adolescence with the gang of friends I used to hang out with at the park.
Beautifully written, with funny moments and sad moments, I was hooked all the way through. Everything - the characters, the setting, the music, the story - was a joy to read, and I didn't want it to finish. I hope there will be a sequel, as I want more! This is definitely one of my favourite books this year, although I feel that my review hasn't done it justice. Highly recommend!
April 16, 2021
This is a story for everyone, however if you happened to be born in the late fifties/early sixties into a modern housing scheme in central Scotland, then the story will take you to a higher level bringing back memories of your teenage years and the angst attached to them. For me, every character reminded me of someone that I had been at school with and moreover, like the main character Lorna, I was also told never to marry a Fenian as were many of my friends, even though my parents' best friends were R.C.!! The story flips between the mid 1970's to the beginning of the new millennium and how the lives of all the characters have changed, plus .....remember "Friends Reunited"??!!. The story made me smile most of the time, be sad at times and just brought back memories from long ago. I would highly recommend it.
March 21, 2023
Reading The Fenian was like taking a trip down memory lane. A lane overshadowed by the passing of decades, but so many moments leapt out at me as a girl growing up on the West coast of Scotland in the 1970s.
First and foremost, this is a book about coming of age. Fumbling your way through childhood and adolescence, before embarking on the terrifying journey into the adult world.
Seen through the eyes of main character, Lorna, we delve into a world of innocence, with a side order of religious bigotry. Protestants versus Catholics, a divide I never understood but witnessed first hand.
When Lorna makes a promise to her dying mum, little does she realise the ripple effect it will have. A burgeoning relationship — with a boy who steals her heart but doesn't tick the right box — carries through the story. The other cast members, however, are more than bit part players. Like a Shakespearean drama, they each have their role. From Big Paddy to Wee Mary, I recognised them all and identified with their pleasure and pain.
The author made me smile (and cry) in fairly equal measure. I'd forgotten so much of the Scottish vernacular; for example 'plooks' meaning spots or zits.
So many good lines, too many to share, but here are just a few:
The family huddled around him, as if their closeness and normality would draw the pain from him like a poultice.
Yeah, Cumbria's own Daily Planet where they probably yelled Hold the Front Page for chip pan fires and chemist rotas.
He was almost there, achingly close, then Karen hit the sirens, turned on the searchlights, manned the machine gun posts and did it all with just two words.
I loved the ending, despite an initial smidgeon of frustration. It just felt — right — bringing the strands together. Funny, clever, moving and an ode to an era I'd put to one side. But I'm so glad I went on this particular journey. Whether you were there or not, I highly recommend adding this to your reading list.
First and foremost, this is a book about coming of age. Fumbling your way through childhood and adolescence, before embarking on the terrifying journey into the adult world.
Seen through the eyes of main character, Lorna, we delve into a world of innocence, with a side order of religious bigotry. Protestants versus Catholics, a divide I never understood but witnessed first hand.
When Lorna makes a promise to her dying mum, little does she realise the ripple effect it will have. A burgeoning relationship — with a boy who steals her heart but doesn't tick the right box — carries through the story. The other cast members, however, are more than bit part players. Like a Shakespearean drama, they each have their role. From Big Paddy to Wee Mary, I recognised them all and identified with their pleasure and pain.
The author made me smile (and cry) in fairly equal measure. I'd forgotten so much of the Scottish vernacular; for example 'plooks' meaning spots or zits.
So many good lines, too many to share, but here are just a few:
The family huddled around him, as if their closeness and normality would draw the pain from him like a poultice.
Yeah, Cumbria's own Daily Planet where they probably yelled Hold the Front Page for chip pan fires and chemist rotas.
He was almost there, achingly close, then Karen hit the sirens, turned on the searchlights, manned the machine gun posts and did it all with just two words.
I loved the ending, despite an initial smidgeon of frustration. It just felt — right — bringing the strands together. Funny, clever, moving and an ode to an era I'd put to one side. But I'm so glad I went on this particular journey. Whether you were there or not, I highly recommend adding this to your reading list.
December 1, 2021
The Fenian was an enjoyable read from start to finish. The timeline jumps between the 1970s where the narrator Lorna is a young protestant girl living on a Scottish housing estate and the early 2000's, where Lorna is a middle-aged woman wondering where her life went wrong. She cannot get her old flame Robert out of her head - the childhood sweetheart she felt compelled to push away after making a promise to her dying mother. In the 70s Lorna spends most of her time hanging around with her gang of friends at the shelter by the swing park - and it is through these chapters that we get to know Lorna and the colourful group of characters she calls her friends. In the 2000's we find out what went wrong with her two marriages, and we find Robert is now a well know TV news reporter with his own broken marriage behind him. The book teases us constantly with the will they/won't they meet up/get back together again storyline, and this really did keep me reading. I also enjoyed the 1970s chapters which are full of life and love and laughter and by the end of the book I really felt like I knew all of the characters as real people. I particularly enjoyed the part at the end which explained what happened to them all. A wonderful read and I look forward to more from this author.
June 1, 2024
A gem of a story with characters you’ll fall in love with, and a story which will keep you guessing!
Well written and well paced: The Fenian follows the teen angsts and drama of first loves, friendships and family life growing up in Scottish new town, Cumbride. We follow the lives of Lorna and her friends – the Shelter Gang – in the 1970s through to the early 2000s.
I was hooked right from the start and fully invested in finding out what happened to each of the characters. I could hardly put the book down and when I did (sleep, work, family commitments), I was still thinking about the characters and what might happen next for them.
I especially enjoyed the ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ tension for Lorna and Robert’s romance. The author kept me hanging on and every time we got close to finding out the answer: Kernan expertly interrupted with regaling updates on the other characters! I won’t spoil it; you need to read the book to find out what happens in the end.
If you love books with a great plot and a strong cast of characters you’ll fall in love with, The Fenian is for you! Highly Recommend!
Well written and well paced: The Fenian follows the teen angsts and drama of first loves, friendships and family life growing up in Scottish new town, Cumbride. We follow the lives of Lorna and her friends – the Shelter Gang – in the 1970s through to the early 2000s.
I was hooked right from the start and fully invested in finding out what happened to each of the characters. I could hardly put the book down and when I did (sleep, work, family commitments), I was still thinking about the characters and what might happen next for them.
I especially enjoyed the ‘Will they? Won’t they?’ tension for Lorna and Robert’s romance. The author kept me hanging on and every time we got close to finding out the answer: Kernan expertly interrupted with regaling updates on the other characters! I won’t spoil it; you need to read the book to find out what happens in the end.
If you love books with a great plot and a strong cast of characters you’ll fall in love with, The Fenian is for you! Highly Recommend!
July 24, 2022
The Fenian by Mike Kernan is a brilliant work, brimming with multifaceted characters who mature through dual timelines, the 1970s and the early 2000s.
The story is chiefly told from the viewpoint of Lorna, and little by little we build insights into her friends, their group friendship in a small town near Glasgow, and Lorna’s bittersweet teen romance with catholic boy Robert. Each chapter has a song from the respective era, and I found this to be an excellent technique for seating the reader in each time, perhaps because I’ve lived through it and recognised most of the songs!
The author’s style is warm and wise, his memories of the seventies crystal clear. I stand in awe of his excellent characterisation, given there are so many characters in the book. However, the author thoughtfully provides a cast list at the beginning, which the reader can refer to at my time. (I didn’t need to.)
The epilogue threw up quite a few surprises, and was an outstanding summary of events. Overall, an entertaining and humorous time capsule of Scottish life in The 1970s, and I highly recommend this book to others.
The story is chiefly told from the viewpoint of Lorna, and little by little we build insights into her friends, their group friendship in a small town near Glasgow, and Lorna’s bittersweet teen romance with catholic boy Robert. Each chapter has a song from the respective era, and I found this to be an excellent technique for seating the reader in each time, perhaps because I’ve lived through it and recognised most of the songs!
The author’s style is warm and wise, his memories of the seventies crystal clear. I stand in awe of his excellent characterisation, given there are so many characters in the book. However, the author thoughtfully provides a cast list at the beginning, which the reader can refer to at my time. (I didn’t need to.)
The epilogue threw up quite a few surprises, and was an outstanding summary of events. Overall, an entertaining and humorous time capsule of Scottish life in The 1970s, and I highly recommend this book to others.
January 21, 2025
It could be Liverpool, West London, Newcastle, Salford. It could be anywhere, but it's not it is the Glasgow area. It could have been any timeline but it was the 1970s. So for me personally, the book held many memory gongs, triggers of gallus days and people drawn together by circumstance and geography in a society where "mental" is a compliment and sectarianism still underlies the progressive wishes of youth. Whether it would have the same recognition appeal to people from other areas, I don't know. I hope so. An enjoyable and easy read as it is well written by a man who has spent a career in descriptive writing; a fact that shows in this book.
January 3, 2022
Written in two timelines this is a perfect descriptive read of the mid 1970's and early noughties. Anyone of a certain age who remembers that bygone era would be taking a trip down memory lane. Vivid descriptions of clothes and food (especially in Soctland where this is set) and all the trappings of time gone by. Each chapter is a record title which may also evoke memories. A nostalgic read for anyone over 60.
March 30, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. Not my usual read, but the high star rating made me give it a try. Very glad I did; it’s real page turner (read it over 3 days). Story is simple, but the small details of human behaviour & everyday life were perfect.
Have to be honest (I wince a bit for sounding sexist), but I was very surprised (after reading the book) to find out the author is a male; he pulled off a very convincing female voice.
Have to be honest (I wince a bit for sounding sexist), but I was very surprised (after reading the book) to find out the author is a male; he pulled off a very convincing female voice.
September 24, 2023
I have not enjoyed reading a book as much as this, in a long time. I grew up in the 70's in Cumbernauld, where and when this story is set. Mike Kernan has captured this period and place perfectly. The book brought childhood memories flooding back, such a joyful thing. I will now be reading the next book in the series, and hope that there are more to come. Keep up the great work Mike, you're doing dong a fantastic job!
June 16, 2024
Bought this book on a whim. Set in a Scottish new town near Glasgow, two timescales - worked well. Funny, sad, heartbreaking and lovely, teenagers growing up, splitting up, moving on. It’s a lovely story and a fascinating insight into life as a teenager in the 70s and how their lives pan out. Hard to explain without spoiling the book but such a good read. Now ordering the next book by this author.
July 18, 2021
Absolutely loved this. A great story that moves between the 1970s and 2001 that tries to help you fill the gaps primarily on Robert and Lorna's relationship. I love that each chapter starts with a song, and I really got a sense of the soundtrack, mood and action because of it. Very clever, a good few twists. The last chapter I raced through wanting to find out the very end. It didnt disappoint.
October 27, 2024
If you were ever in a gang at school, read this book. It will evoke warm memories, hilarious incidents & make you think, what if? The author has managed to capture the very essence of youth & ribaldry in this wonderful book, yet the present day has its fair share on input as Lorna grapples with her feelings about a deathbed promise. Realistic to a tee.
May 8, 2023
This is basically tittle-tattle, rambling, disjointed and predictable. There were a few good observations about growing up in the West of Scotland in the 1970s. It would have been twice as effective if half the length. I’m glad I’ve reached the end.
June 25, 2024
A bit of a trip down memory lane
Enjoyed the memories this book conjured. There was a bit too much jumping back and forth for me. It definitely wasn't the worst book I've read so would recommend even just for the going back in time.
Enjoyed the memories this book conjured. There was a bit too much jumping back and forth for me. It definitely wasn't the worst book I've read so would recommend even just for the going back in time.
January 15, 2021
Great read
Gripping and emotional from the start to end. Thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of the teenage years. A really great read
Gripping and emotional from the start to end. Thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgia of the teenage years. A really great read
January 18, 2021
I think this book should be aimed at teenagers rather than adults.
March 28, 2021
Excellent book and great accent characters fast paced to really enjoyed it !
August 18, 2021
Fabulous book about friendship and teenage love set in a new town on the outskirts of Glasgow from the 70’s up to almost present day. Some real laugh out loud moments. A great Scottish read.
January 26, 2022
Was very tempted to take a star off for the author calling Cumbernauld "Cumbride" but continuing to call other Cumbernauld landmarks by their correct name
January 5, 2023
Great book, really captured the relationships the characters as teenagers had with each other. The epilogue brought me to tears.
May 9, 2023
Really enjoyable read with great characters. I hear there is to be a sequel too!
October 19, 2023
Beautifully written, poignant and yet incredibly funny. Told with Scottish heart and humour, the book contrasts contemporary times with growing up and all the shifting perspectives. I loved it.
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