Published By: Pushkin Press
Pages: 160
Released On: 19/05/2026
In the aftermath of Ireland’s financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town. As violence flares, the characters face a battle between public persona and inner desires. Through a chorus of unique voices, each struggling to tell their own kind of truth, a single authentic tale unfolds.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I own a couple of Donal’s books – Strange Flowers, and Heart Be At Peace – but this is actually the first one I’ve read. And it wasn’t quite what I was expecting, although having said that, I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was I was expecting.
I enjoyed the different perspectives. If you’re someone who can’t cope with more than one POV, then this isn’t for you, because there are tons! And yet they didn’t get confusing. They each had their own voice and I found it an interesting way to write a book.
They’re all separate characters with separate stories, but they all relate to each other, so it still manages to feel like one coherent book.
The writing feels a little haphazard but almost in a deliberate way. We hear the characters’ inner monologues, and I couldn’t help but add an Irish accent in my head and somehow that made it flow so much better. There is no dialogue, so to speak, no speech marks; we only know who said what by finding the conversations wormed into this inner dialogue.
It’s a short book at only 160 pages. Could it be longer? Flesh out the characters a bit more? Possibly. But I quite liked it. It meant the story and characters had to be right there straight away, and I think the chaotic nature of it wouldn’t lend itself to a longer book.
It’s not the happiest of books, let’s be honest. There are some dark themes, including domestic violence, alcoholism, grief, and anger – so it’s not always easy to read, not very palatable. But I think he’s given enough respect to the topics that they don’t feel too overwhelming.
My first of Donal’s books but I’ll definitely be moving his others up my TBR pile.
Books By Your Bedside 