I couldn’t have been more delighted when Louise Kennedy’s Stations dropped through my letter box. I was a huge fan of her short story collection The End of the World is a Cul de Sac and even more impressed by her debut novel, Trespasses, beautifully adapted by Channel 4 last year. Her second novel follows Roísín who meets Red when they’re teenagers in 1982 beginning an unlikely, unexpected friendship.
She’d only known this haggard boy for a couple of weeks and she’d trust him with her life.
Red’s waiting for Roísín to deliver a letter from his girlfriend, one of her many persecutors at the school where she’s still considered an outsider years after her father moved his family from the north then left them. It’s a humiliating task but Roísín knows Tina will be indebted enough to leave her alone. She and Red are both smart, curious, interested and already damaged but whereas she spills the beans about her drunken father he’s tight-lipped about his, spending nights at Roísín’s house as their friendship deepens. Red leaves home, aged fifteen, sleeping on the local dealer’s sofa, fleeing to London after a raid. It’s Red that Roísín turns to when she discovers she has a baby half-sister on a visit to her father in London, moving into his squat, surprised to find Tina’s brother living there, too. For Roísín, friendship is no longer enough but Red rebuffs her, spiralling downwards until the funny, knowledgeable Dickens-quoting friend who’d taken her in disappears into a drug fuelled daze. Their friendship fades into the background for Roísín until in 2007 Red’s mother asks her to find him, forcing her to re-examine her own past.
Red in need of a home, Roísín desperate for a friend. Was that all it had been?
Kennedy unfolds this immersive story of friendship, love and vulnerability from the perspective of Roísín who hides her pain under layers of angry snark, punctured by the death of her father and what she discovers. Sarcasm is her weapon, often inflicting wounds on herself, yet she’s capable of love, saved from ruining her life by Red despite the ruination of his own. In spite of her best efforts, Roísín finds herself surrounded by love from her half-sister and her mother, her own mother and her father whose heartfelt pride was unexpressed. Kennedy succeeds in engaging sympathy for Roísín despite her determined attempts to sabotage herself, revealing a world of pain in a few understated words, while delivering her story with wit and humour against a background of pitch perfect ‘80s small town Ireland and London. I’m not a reader who needs a happy ending, but a hopeful one is always welcome particularly when accompanied by a dollop of redemption. Still mystified as to why this one wasn’t at least on the Booker longlist.
Bloomsbury Books: London 9781526664327 320 pages Hardback
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This sounds incredibly moving. I loved Trespasses too so this is a must-read for me, delighted to hear how impressive you found it!
I had my usual second novel anxiety in advance but needn’t have worried.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this. I thought it was really impressive, much better than Trespasses. She captures the emigrant experience so well
She’s such a solid author. I wouldn’t be sorry to see this one adapted for TV too.
I can’t imagine why this wasn’t on my TBR already!
I hope the library has it ready for you
Umpteenth in the queue …
Oh dear… Worth the wait, though.
It’s fine. The TBR doesn’t go away …
Trespasses had somehow passed me by but I am very tempted with this one based on your summary.
Highly recommend both, Sarah. She’s such a perceptive writer. I’m already looking forward to her next one.
Can’t wait to read this. Loved Trespasses and was thrilled when you told me about the mini-series (which I also loved).
I’d love it if the same writers adapted this one, too.
I loved Trespasses too. My copy of this arrived the other day.
You’ve a treat in store, Annabel.
I am so looking forward to reading this new Kennedy book. Love her writing. I am reading Riley’s The Palm House at the moment and kinda struggling to be impressed by it. I read May They Feed The King before it and was enchanted by it.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one, Lucy. I’ve a feeling I may not get around to the Riley but definitely intend to read May We Feed the King.
I would go straight for the King.
I’m on the waiting list for this at the library – hope it doesn’t take too long to get to me because I loved Trespasses
I was wary about second novel syndrome after Trespasses but no need to worry with this one. Hope you get your hands on a copy soon.
This new one (I loved Trespasses) is coming out in November here in the States, but I have a copy coming next week. So looking forward to it, especially now with your great review.
Definitely one of my books of 2026. Pleased to hear you’re ahead of the game.
This isn’t out yet where I am but I’m so looking forward to reading it!
It’ll be well worth the wait!