Published By: Canongate
Pages: 224
Released On: 29/01/2026
Mairéad works tirelessly in a run-down West End theatre’s wardrobe department – mending shoes, fixing broken zips and even handwashing underwear. She must also sidestep groping hands backstage and withstand the relentless bullying of the show’s producer.
The job was meant to be the first step towards the life Mairéad has always wanted, and yet half of her remains back home in Ireland, along with everything she abandoned there.
A reckoning with the past is coming and, with it, the need to forge a new present – one stitch at a time.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Canongate for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I generally don’t actively ask for copies of books but I did with this one because it sounded so interesting and all the reviews I had seen of it were positive so I had high hopes. But it didn’t hit all those high hopes.
It flits from London to Ireland and back. I’m a big fan of multiple POVs and multiple timelines and locations etc. But even for those who usually struggle, I think it works really well here and you will barely notice it, because it’s not too much to be overwhelming.
I liked reading about Mairéad. She wasn’t perfect, far from it, she was struggling and felt a bit lost, but she embodied the story. I’m not sure I know what I mean by that, but it’s the best way to describe her. I really enjoyed following her story. There isn’t a huge cast of characters but we do manage to get the heroes and villains dynamics, very much about power struggles between Mairéad and her parents, Mairéad and her boss, the “help” and the “stars”.
It starts in London then goes to Ireland and back to London. Across the three sections it only really covers a few days in March and April 2002, but there’s a lot in there over such a short time span.
I definitely think this book is stronger once it’s set in Ireland. It’s like this is where Elaine is more comfortable and seems more assured of her voice. The London chapters, whilst interesting, were quite…I don’t know how to put it. A bit “oh worries me”, quite insular, apologising, not speaking up – how I would describe as a “wet weekend”.
It does feel like two different stories. The London scenes were interesting if quite dull, but the Irish scenes are more intense and passionate and exciting to read.
It is set in the early 2000s and yet it reads like a story of a long time ago. It had this classical feel to it, and I couldn’t link it to the time era it was meant to be in. It sort of transcends it’s setting.
Not much actually happens. That’s not necessarily a negative, just an observation. It is a very, very character heavy book, which I prefer over plot. But if you’re someone who needs something to happen, something to get your teeth into, then you might find this one a struggle.
I must say, I am glad it is quite short, because I think it would have been difficult to sustain the little plot there is for much longer.
It didn’t quite live up to my expectations, yet I did enjoy it and it had a lot of positives. If I’m honest, I couldn’t really tell you what it was about, there isn’t some big event or big plot point, it just sort of meandered along, but I do know I enjoyed reading it.
Books By Your Bedside 