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Danny Boy: the perfect nostalgic coming-of-age fiction read of 2023
Danny Byrne has grown up on a sprawling council estate in Pimlico. He knows every stone of it, and until now, his life has followed the same pattern as all his friends. Danny is heading for A-levels and then university. Dodds is following his dad into the family butcher’s business, Crockett will sail on opportunity’s wings as it comes his way, and Nobby is flirting with drugs, and disaster. As the long summer unfolds, the boys focus on girls, trade banter and test their friendships to the limit. When things take a darker turn, Danny must wrestle with his conscience and is pushed to breaking point. Can Danny find love and work out what is important to become the kind of man he wants to be? Praise for Barry ‘Perfectly evokes the era’ Daily Mail ‘Refreshing… a nostalgic and heartfelt novel’ Pen and Paper Blog ‘A beautifully written tale… poignant’ Andrew Blackman, author of A Virtual Love
- GenresHistorical
384 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 14, 2022
It’s August 1965, the location is the “mucky hem” of Westminster’s fine robe, an untidy housing estate of 1,800 inhabitants and the usual array of shops. Meet Danny Byrne, nearly 17, six feet tall and getting there in the looks department. He likes Cordelia at the cafe but is still very awkward around girls. Danny is nicknamed “Pages” for his love of books and literature features widely in this coming of age story. He has some friends, he carries some guilt, the bane of his life is George Kelly and his constant companion Reilly, mean machines both, bullies and of the gangster ilk. Who is Danny now? What sort of man will he become?
This is an enjoyable and well written novel with a no frills style, just good storytelling which feels authentic and realistic. The context of the times is very good, it’s captured well and feels evocative through the music, popular television and books. There are plenty of bumps in the road for Danny and others but there’s humour combined with grit and grind.
The character of Danny on the cusp of becoming a man is very insightful as he navigates the tricky waters of friendship and relationships but also criminality and violence to say nothing of ‘sex, drugs and rock’n’roll’. As you’d expect in a young man of sixteen going on seventeen the hormones are raging as he tries to unravel the mystery of girls and their ‘potential’. I love being witness to his private thoughts which frequently contrast with what he says or does. He’s a very likeable young man, who like most teens does not always get things right as he teeters on some slippery slopes. The author conveys well all the emotions that goes with Danny’s experiences from happiness to embarrassment (how unusual for a teenager!!) to fear and responses to tragedy, I really like the ending which signifies yes, he’s definitely growing up!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is an enjoyable and well written novel with a no frills style, just good storytelling which feels authentic and realistic. The context of the times is very good, it’s captured well and feels evocative through the music, popular television and books. There are plenty of bumps in the road for Danny and others but there’s humour combined with grit and grind.
The character of Danny on the cusp of becoming a man is very insightful as he navigates the tricky waters of friendship and relationships but also criminality and violence to say nothing of ‘sex, drugs and rock’n’roll’. As you’d expect in a young man of sixteen going on seventeen the hormones are raging as he tries to unravel the mystery of girls and their ‘potential’. I love being witness to his private thoughts which frequently contrast with what he says or does. He’s a very likeable young man, who like most teens does not always get things right as he teeters on some slippery slopes. The author conveys well all the emotions that goes with Danny’s experiences from happiness to embarrassment (how unusual for a teenager!!) to fear and responses to tragedy, I really like the ending which signifies yes, he’s definitely growing up!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2022
⭐️ 4 ⭐️
Danny Byrne and his supporting cast are well fleshed out, relatable, down to earth characters, and I was immersed in their story from start to finish.
Well-written and beautifully detailed. The setting of London in the 1960s provides the perfect backdrop to the story — I could visualise it and the era clearly in my mind’s eye from Walsh’s detailed descriptions.
Danny Boy is a gritty, sometimes grim read, but it also has a lightness and a sprinkling of humour. It’s a well-told coming-of-age story, a story of friendship and belonging.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Danny Byrne and his supporting cast are well fleshed out, relatable, down to earth characters, and I was immersed in their story from start to finish.
Well-written and beautifully detailed. The setting of London in the 1960s provides the perfect backdrop to the story — I could visualise it and the era clearly in my mind’s eye from Walsh’s detailed descriptions.
Danny Boy is a gritty, sometimes grim read, but it also has a lightness and a sprinkling of humour. It’s a well-told coming-of-age story, a story of friendship and belonging.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to the publisher for my proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
January 23, 2023
Despite being female and having struggled to acquire 'grown-upness; in a small Hertfordshire village, and guessing many of the lessons Danny learnt, the challenges he faced, might, in hindsight have been more hard-edged than I experienced, in essence they were much the same, and it was throat-achingly painful to relive them through Danny Byrne's eyes - and heart. Certainly the number and breadth of characters all had much to teach. Vividly evoked and beautiful.
January 14, 2023
I fell in love with the cover that talks about life, youth, and a past so different. I fell in love with the story and the stories of the characters.
Their life, their dreams, the council estate and the people.
It's a slow burning and compelling story that I loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Their life, their dreams, the council estate and the people.
It's a slow burning and compelling story that I loved.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
August 13, 2026
I enjoyed this book funny and sad at the same time
Well worth the read
Well worth the read
January 5, 2023
Thank you to @harpercollinsuk for this advanced copy of Danny Boy by Barry Walsh in return for an honest review.
Description 🔖
Danny Byrne has grown up in the 1960s on a council estate in Pimlico, London. He has lived and breathed the estate, there’s not a lot he doesn’t know about it and everyone on the estate knows who he is. Until now, his life has been a carbon copy of the estate lads before him, but at sixteen, he is at a crossroads in his life.
He is planning on following the education route and continuing school to sit his A Levels. His friends, Dodds, Crockett and Nobby are heading down different paths. Dodds will join his dad’s family butchers business, Crockett will breeze around the estate and take whatever opportunities come his way and Nobby will fall into a less desirable life of drugs and bad people.
As the summer unfolds, the boys are focused on girls, banter and having a good time. Until things start to take a darker turn and Danny is forced to wrestle with his own conscious, discover who he is and decide if he’s ready for love.
General Thoughts 🤔
I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect with this book before I started it. However the premise and description caught my attention and it felt like something different to what I’d usually read and therefore something I wanted to give a try. I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to read it because I fell in love with this story and the characters. I savoured every single chapter and looked forward to checking in with Danny and the boys for an hour or so every evening over the last few days.
Characters 👫👭👬
Firstly, I adored Danny; he was the sweetest boy. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t make mistakes as I’m sure all sixteen year olds do. I thought that Danny followed along with the other boys because it was seen as the thing to do, however as the summer progressed, I think that he did more than a few weeks worth of growing up and he learnt a lot about himself. I think that Danny had his mother to thank for his kind heart and emotional maturity and I loved that aspect of the story.
Another character that I really loved was Ernest. He didn’t feature heavily in the story, but he was consistent and I think that he was a fantastic influence on Danny. If you have grown up on or near to a council estate or if you ever went to Girls/Boys Brigade (or something like that), then you have most likely met an Ernest in your life. Even when the boys were rude, ungrateful and downright stupid, Ernest was there with a smile on his face and positive attitude. I loved him.
Writing Style ✍️
The way that this author captured the time, the environment and general feeling of the setting and era was so so good. I had such a clear vision of the estate in my mind; the blocks, the cafe, the pubs; everything. I wasn’t around in the 1960s, but I grew up in a place not too dissimilar and it brought back a lot of childhood memories for me. I also loved the way that he captured the awkwardness of teenage fumbling around, inexperience and bravado. It was so spot on and reminded me of the not so great side of being sixteen.
Conclusion & Scoring 🤔
What a great book to start the year off with. This was a fantastic coming of age story that brilliantly captured the time, place and general feeling of a British council estate in the 1960s. I laughed my head off at some of the boys antics and banter and I cried my eyes out at their pain and anguish. This book was beautifully written. A simple, emotive and realistic story that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
Description 🔖
Danny Byrne has grown up in the 1960s on a council estate in Pimlico, London. He has lived and breathed the estate, there’s not a lot he doesn’t know about it and everyone on the estate knows who he is. Until now, his life has been a carbon copy of the estate lads before him, but at sixteen, he is at a crossroads in his life.
He is planning on following the education route and continuing school to sit his A Levels. His friends, Dodds, Crockett and Nobby are heading down different paths. Dodds will join his dad’s family butchers business, Crockett will breeze around the estate and take whatever opportunities come his way and Nobby will fall into a less desirable life of drugs and bad people.
As the summer unfolds, the boys are focused on girls, banter and having a good time. Until things start to take a darker turn and Danny is forced to wrestle with his own conscious, discover who he is and decide if he’s ready for love.
General Thoughts 🤔
I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect with this book before I started it. However the premise and description caught my attention and it felt like something different to what I’d usually read and therefore something I wanted to give a try. I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to read it because I fell in love with this story and the characters. I savoured every single chapter and looked forward to checking in with Danny and the boys for an hour or so every evening over the last few days.
Characters 👫👭👬
Firstly, I adored Danny; he was the sweetest boy. But that didn’t mean that he didn’t make mistakes as I’m sure all sixteen year olds do. I thought that Danny followed along with the other boys because it was seen as the thing to do, however as the summer progressed, I think that he did more than a few weeks worth of growing up and he learnt a lot about himself. I think that Danny had his mother to thank for his kind heart and emotional maturity and I loved that aspect of the story.
Another character that I really loved was Ernest. He didn’t feature heavily in the story, but he was consistent and I think that he was a fantastic influence on Danny. If you have grown up on or near to a council estate or if you ever went to Girls/Boys Brigade (or something like that), then you have most likely met an Ernest in your life. Even when the boys were rude, ungrateful and downright stupid, Ernest was there with a smile on his face and positive attitude. I loved him.
Writing Style ✍️
The way that this author captured the time, the environment and general feeling of the setting and era was so so good. I had such a clear vision of the estate in my mind; the blocks, the cafe, the pubs; everything. I wasn’t around in the 1960s, but I grew up in a place not too dissimilar and it brought back a lot of childhood memories for me. I also loved the way that he captured the awkwardness of teenage fumbling around, inexperience and bravado. It was so spot on and reminded me of the not so great side of being sixteen.
Conclusion & Scoring 🤔
What a great book to start the year off with. This was a fantastic coming of age story that brilliantly captured the time, place and general feeling of a British council estate in the 1960s. I laughed my head off at some of the boys antics and banter and I cried my eyes out at their pain and anguish. This book was beautifully written. A simple, emotive and realistic story that I thoroughly enjoyed and definitely recommend.
January 20, 2023
The trials, tribulations and euphoria of being a “sixteen-going-on-seventeen” boy are universal - experimenting with adulthood, fitting in and standing out - and anyone who has been a teenager will recognise themselves or their contemporaries in Danny and his mates.
Danny’s world is 1960s Pimlico, London and the period is effectively and authentically evoked (maybe a few too many brand names/cultural references but a minor point). It’s the world most know from films like Quadrophenia or The Krays - but with a core of reality. The immediacy tells you that the author knows every backstreet, bomb site, greasy cafe and not-so-safe playground (and has probably opened a manhole and climbed down as well as clambering around a few demolition sites, as I did too in my younger days!)
It’s a gripping story that draws you in more and more with each chapter. Its strength is its humanity - no-one is perfect, the tough elements of life are not glossed over in their brutal honesty, yet the power of the human spirit - friendship, family, loyalty and belonging - shines through.
Danny’s world is 1960s Pimlico, London and the period is effectively and authentically evoked (maybe a few too many brand names/cultural references but a minor point). It’s the world most know from films like Quadrophenia or The Krays - but with a core of reality. The immediacy tells you that the author knows every backstreet, bomb site, greasy cafe and not-so-safe playground (and has probably opened a manhole and climbed down as well as clambering around a few demolition sites, as I did too in my younger days!)
It’s a gripping story that draws you in more and more with each chapter. Its strength is its humanity - no-one is perfect, the tough elements of life are not glossed over in their brutal honesty, yet the power of the human spirit - friendship, family, loyalty and belonging - shines through.
March 18, 2023
A wonderful evocation of the fragility and gaucheness of adolescence, against a backdrop of the gritty and brutal reality of life on a London high-rise council estate in the 1960s. A great cast of deftly drawn characters; the hero-worshipping Jinx, Danny’s friend’s brain-damaged younger brother; Danny’s school friend Cordelia’s mother a deserted faded beauty who negotiates life’s disappointments in a drunken haze; the kindly youth-leader Ernest and itinerant night-watchman Liam, paternal figures in a place almost devoid of fathers and the menacing local villain Gasping George who cares for no-one but his dog Banger.
And then there’s the teenagers themselves unsurely feeling their way towards adulthood within the limitations of what has already been pre-destined. Only Danny is heading outside the confines of the estate, everyone else restricted by the expectations or in some case lack of expectations of their parents. And Danny is full of self-doubt and guilt.
Although there is lots of beautiful period detail, this story is timeless. Loved it.
And then there’s the teenagers themselves unsurely feeling their way towards adulthood within the limitations of what has already been pre-destined. Only Danny is heading outside the confines of the estate, everyone else restricted by the expectations or in some case lack of expectations of their parents. And Danny is full of self-doubt and guilt.
Although there is lots of beautiful period detail, this story is timeless. Loved it.
January 15, 2023
Danny Boy is a hard to put down story. Set in 60’s London, it is a super coming of age story that is as realistic and sharp as you’ll get. Danny Byrne is sixteen years old but with a bit more about him than the rest of his friends. Smart enough to realise that there’s a bigger world out there if he can only get through this summer. His friends are all working but Danny wants to go to university. But the lure of easy money is hard to resist and Danny finds himself caught up in the world of the local gangster. As the summer unfolds Danny and his friends learn a lot about love, life and friendships. All of the characters in this book are well fleshed out and you feel like you’re there with them throughout the book. I really enjoyed this book and would give it a 4⭐️ rating.
Thanks to #NetGalley for my ARC of this super book.
Thanks to #NetGalley for my ARC of this super book.
December 27, 2022
Danny Byrne is sixteen years old and, unlike his friends on the Pimlico Estate, he is planning to go into 6th form. However this is the 1960s and Danny's friends are all working, they seem more sophisticated and experienced than Danny and they definitely have more money. When Danny is pulled in by the local gangster he sees the effect this life is having on his friend and questions whether he is making the right decisions.
This is a terrific book. Danny is a relatable character and the setting is pitch perfect. All the worries of a teenage boy on the cusp of adulthood are explored alongside guilt and friendship. The writing is simple but draws the reader in until they feel part of the community on the Pimlico Estate, council blocks in the heart of London.
This is a terrific book. Danny is a relatable character and the setting is pitch perfect. All the worries of a teenage boy on the cusp of adulthood are explored alongside guilt and friendship. The writing is simple but draws the reader in until they feel part of the community on the Pimlico Estate, council blocks in the heart of London.
June 9, 2023
Danny Byrne has grown up on a sprawling council estate in Pimlico. He knows every stone of it, and until now, his life has followed the same pattern as all his friends.
Danny is heading for A-levels and then university. Dodds is following his dad into the family butcher’s business, Crockett will sail on opportunity’s wings as it comes his way, and Nobby is flirting with drugs, and disaster.
As the long summer unfolds, the boys focus on girls, trade banter and test their friendships to the limit. When things take a darker turn, Danny must wrestle with his conscience and is pushed to breaking point. Can Danny find love and work out what is important to become the kind of man he wants to be?
Danny is heading for A-levels and then university. Dodds is following his dad into the family butcher’s business, Crockett will sail on opportunity’s wings as it comes his way, and Nobby is flirting with drugs, and disaster.
As the long summer unfolds, the boys focus on girls, trade banter and test their friendships to the limit. When things take a darker turn, Danny must wrestle with his conscience and is pushed to breaking point. Can Danny find love and work out what is important to become the kind of man he wants to be?
January 23, 2023
It is 1960. Danny Byrne is sixteen, living on a council estate in Pimlico. Unlike his friends he has a scholarship to a grammar school & is planning to go on to do A levels. Of course this means that his mates all have more money than he does- not all legitimately gained. Danny is very close to him Mum & would hate to cause her grief- even if it meant having the money to spend on girls.
The world Danny lives in is brilliantly portrayed. I really felt for him as he struggled to grow up as best he could. The story is at times funny, shocking & heart breaking. It shines a light on a place & time now disappeared. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
The world Danny lives in is brilliantly portrayed. I really felt for him as he struggled to grow up as best he could. The story is at times funny, shocking & heart breaking. It shines a light on a place & time now disappeared. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
January 1, 2023
The author takes one to an inner London housing estate in 1965 as a summer of turmoil and tragedy unfolds. A group of friends on the cusp between adolescence and adulthood experience first love, loss, the yearnings for sexual fulfilment, jealousy and guilt.
This is poignant and gritty stuff but written with a tenderness and empathy for the alcoholic mother, the son displaced by his mother's lovers, and the boy with brain damage from a near fatal fall.
As evocative as Graham Greene's iconic Brighton Rock, perfectly capturing the feel of growing up in 1960s London.
This is poignant and gritty stuff but written with a tenderness and empathy for the alcoholic mother, the son displaced by his mother's lovers, and the boy with brain damage from a near fatal fall.
As evocative as Graham Greene's iconic Brighton Rock, perfectly capturing the feel of growing up in 1960s London.
November 27, 2022
A well written novel about growing up on a council estate in the post-war 1950’s. Told from the perspective of the teenagers who live there it provides an insight into the life-options they are face with at 16 years old and how they learn to negotiate their relationships with the opposite sex. It did feel realistic.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
March 6, 2023
Although I grew up in the north in the 70s, rather than London in the 60s, I could relate to so much of this wonderful story, particularly being the only person in a working class estate who stays on at school after age 16. Danny is a brilliantly drawn character, amusingly flawed and shallow as teenage boys are, but warm hearted. The story is full of heart and delightful nostalgia, it made me long to play a pinball again. I can’t recommend this highly enough.
January 2, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! Danny Boy is a heartfelt story about a boy growing into himself and discovering who he is and wants to be, set in Pimlico, London, in the 1960s. In addition to being a coming-of-age story, this book also touches on friendship and love, hardship and joy, guilt and forgiveness and even dips into drugs and gangs. I would highly recommend this to anyone!
January 31, 2023
Takes you back to the summer of 1965 and into the heart of a Pimlico estate where Danny’s finished his ‘O’ Levels and is facing tough choices. Great range of characters, authentic period detail and a gripping story – engaging, entertaining and moving. Does for Pimlico what Roddy Doyle does for Dublin. A terrific read.
January 3, 2023
I wasn't too sure when I first started this book however the more I read, the more it hooked me in. A great read with some real insight into how life was on an estate.
March 9, 2024
Engaging characters bring this coming of age story to life.
Heartwarming, eye-opening, and charming, I'd read it again.
Heartwarming, eye-opening, and charming, I'd read it again.
January 1, 2023
"Our troubles tend to get into our suitcase wherever we go"
Danny grows up in a council estate in London and it's not all golden, between drugs, crime and poverty. His friends are all headed for jobs around the city, some perhaps not so legal too, but Danny dreams of getting his A levels and going to uni.
Navigating what is going to be his last summer as a boy, Danny has to find his own path, juggling friends, girls and bad decisions, and learning what it means to really grow up.
First book of 2023 and we start with a bang.
I mean, you all know I have a thing for coming of ages stories and this one didn't let me down.
It started slowly but once I got lost in it, I finished the book without even realising it.
Recommended!
"Ah, the pain of unintended consequences"
-
Danny cresce nelle case popolari di Londra, tra povertà, droga e criminalità. Gli amici di Danny stanno tutti per trovare lavoro in città, o stanno già lavorando. E alcuni magari non fanno cose molte legali. Ma Danny vuole diplomarsi e sogna di andare all'università.
In quella che sarà la sua ultima estate da ragazzino, Danny dovrà trovare la sua strada, navigando le amicizie, le prime ragazze e decisioni non facili, imparando cosa vuol dire crescere davvero.
Primo libro del 2023 e non ha deluso. Adoro le storie che parlano di crescita.
Questa comincia lenta, ma quando ingrana mi ci sono persa e ho finito il libro senza neanche rendermene conto. Consigliato!
Danny grows up in a council estate in London and it's not all golden, between drugs, crime and poverty. His friends are all headed for jobs around the city, some perhaps not so legal too, but Danny dreams of getting his A levels and going to uni.
Navigating what is going to be his last summer as a boy, Danny has to find his own path, juggling friends, girls and bad decisions, and learning what it means to really grow up.
First book of 2023 and we start with a bang.
I mean, you all know I have a thing for coming of ages stories and this one didn't let me down.
It started slowly but once I got lost in it, I finished the book without even realising it.
Recommended!
"Ah, the pain of unintended consequences"
-
Danny cresce nelle case popolari di Londra, tra povertà, droga e criminalità. Gli amici di Danny stanno tutti per trovare lavoro in città, o stanno già lavorando. E alcuni magari non fanno cose molte legali. Ma Danny vuole diplomarsi e sogna di andare all'università.
In quella che sarà la sua ultima estate da ragazzino, Danny dovrà trovare la sua strada, navigando le amicizie, le prime ragazze e decisioni non facili, imparando cosa vuol dire crescere davvero.
Primo libro del 2023 e non ha deluso. Adoro le storie che parlano di crescita.
Questa comincia lenta, ma quando ingrana mi ci sono persa e ho finito il libro senza neanche rendermene conto. Consigliato!
February 7, 2023
A very enjoyable read. Danny reminds us all of our teenager years, the not really knowing yourself, wanting to fit in, trying to work out what you want from life and the all important first loves.
I loved the time era of the sixties, this book summed up so much nostalgia, I will definitely be reading the authors first book!
I loved the time era of the sixties, this book summed up so much nostalgia, I will definitely be reading the authors first book!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews