With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC #NetGalley #CatherineAirey #Confessions #PenguinBooks #Viking

The title 'Confessions' is a multi use concept in reference to Airey's novel.
Not only is it a succinct and pointed title, but equally it supports to continued trope of character voice throughout the book.
Telling the generation spanning stories of three women in one family, pivoting, despite them, around the actions, interactions and impact of various men in their life. This is a novel which is direct in the presentation of character thought process and thus in rationalising adeptly the actions each woman takes to survive and or thrive in each of their narratives.

The novel spans three very different decades, but manages to embroider the links amongst the women in ways that are both meaningful and easily understood too.
County Donegal, 1974. New York City 2001. Burtonport, 2018. Each woman has mystery and a valuable story that keeps the reader emoting and curious. As links are made in the characters and how they cross into the others' lives. What is equally engaging is that Airey has not created a series of women's stories that map directly onto one another. There are some ideas about inherited familial issues and debates, but each character offers a perspective and story that is wholly their own. There is a prescient mix of politics, personal and cultural ideas which are framed against clearly set locations and societal tropes dependent on the era. I really enjoyed equally the acknowledgement of big shifts or moments in contemporary history because they were relevant to the story. Never does Airey flicker into irreverent or pointless fact telling so as to try and make her novel perhaps more 'knowledgeable'. The crisp focus is the stories of these three women and this remains for the length of the book.

Airey writes with clarity and an adept style of narrative that is both engaging and in many ways emotive so as to create empathy. The multi-voiced narrative is well constructed and though this is well shaped, well written and does well in connecting to the reader, there was a lull and dullness at points in the book, which had me skim reading and flicking ahead. Perhaps this is a nod to relevance and personal preference. Overall this is a novel with purpose and promise that I am sure will appeal to a wide range of readers.

In a saga that jumps between generations and timespans in various locations, it's rare to care so strongly about each element equally (I usually find myself rushing through some bits to get back to the characters I prefer!) but Airey builds each world with such a richness and seamlessly moves between them. I was totally hooked from the start and the story all comes together so cleverly and in such a satisfying way. I'd absolutely recommend this as a book club read too - lots of themes to discuss, and social and political commentaries in both Ireland and the US which I find fascinating. It's really hard to believe this is a debut - I'll be looking out for what's next by her.

This is quite a convoluted & somewhat confusing story but enjoyable nonetheless. It was potentially brilliant but I never felt as if I cared enough about any of the characters. It is well written and very original and I liked some of the connections between the characters even if I became frustrated by their inability to take control of their lives.

This novel defies description. Cora goes from losing her parents (separately and horribly) in New York to a new life in Ireland.
We also follow Cora's deeply disturbed Mother, (an artist) and her sister. There was almost more suffering than I could take. I loved the use of early Choose Your Own Adventure video games in the plot.

A clever, absorbing read spanning 3 generations. Rather dark but written in a modern style. Not an easy read to begin with but it drew me in and the characters became more likeable. Memorable and satisfying but rather unsettling.

This is so sad but so beautifully written. The main character starts off quite unlikeable but I’ll defy anyone not to be in love with her and her family by the end. Starts during 9/11 as a trigger warning. Ends up in Ireland. Very sad but you’ll feel you know the people and their motives by the end.

Catherine Airey’s debut novel, Confessions, is an irresistible and deeply poetic exploration of family secrets, loss, and the search for identity across three generations. At the heart of this haunting narrative lies the defining tragedy of 9/11, the day that tore America’s heart apart. Cora Brady, the novel’s protagonist, loses her father in the Twin Towers attack, years after her mother’s suicide. Left untethered, she receives a letter from her estranged aunt Róisín in Ireland, drawing her back to her family's roots. As she settles into her new life, her parents' past begins to unfold before her, revealing long-buried truths.

The novel seamlessly shifts between different timelines and perspectives, beginning in 1974 through the eyes of Róisín Dooley, Cora’s aunt. Róisín and her sister Maire (Cora’s mother) were inseparable as children. Both were drawn to the same boy, Michael, who ultimately chose Maire out of a sense of responsibility rather than passion. Maire, always otherworldly, became unmoored after a traumatic incident in art school—an event that would shape her fate.

The narrative then moves to New York in 1979, where Maire studies art, followed by Róisín’s perspective in Ireland in 1981, now in a relationship with Michael. The novel continues to leap through time: to Lyca Brady, Cora’s daughter, in Ireland in 2018, where Róisín acts as a grandmother to her, and back to New York in 1992, where Michael, struggling with Maire’s worsening depression, writes long letters to Róisín, which she keeps hidden in a tin box.

The novel ends in the present, with Lyca piecing together the story of her lineage through old photographs and the letters in the tin. Like a puzzle, Confessions builds its emotional weight through these fragments of history, offering a layered and immersive reading experience. Interwoven between these chapters are intriguing elements—clues from a computer game designed by Róisín and Maire, as well as the presence of a Victorian house full of ghosts, both literal and metaphorical.

Airey masterfully balances poetic lyricism with gripping storytelling. Her exploration of generational trauma, immigration, love, and loss is deeply affecting, drawing the reader into the lives of these women as they navigate their own personal reckonings. The novel’s shifting perspectives might challenge some readers, but its emotional depth and the skillful intertwining of narratives make it an unforgettable read.

Unputdownable, evocative, and richly layered, Confessions establishes Catherine Airey as a storyteller to watch.

Beautifully written and immersive read following three generations of women with links to Ireland and New York, unravelling the secrets which span continents and time.

Cora's father has just died in the 9/11 attacks, leaving her orphaned following the death of her mother some years earlier. She receives a letter from an aunt she has never known, offering to look after her in Ireland.

The interwoven stories which emerge are beautifully told and vividly capture the emotions and atmosphere of the place and times.

A really enjoyable read spanning three different generations of women in the same family.
From a personal perspective I didn't enjoy the gaming plot and I still don't really get what The Screamers was?! That said I'm a skim reader....
The coincidence at the end was unnecessary.
3.5 stars.

Still can’t believe this was a debut novel. So moving and had me gripped reading. I’ll be looking out for further work by Catherine.

I found this interesting but not an easy book to read.

It follows three generations of women - Cora’s father has died in 9/11 and as her mother died when she has young, she moves to Ireland to live with her aunt. The chapters then deal with her mother,Marie and sister, Roisin - their estrangement, Marie’s life in New York with Michael (her childhood sweetheart) and her sister’s life in Ireland caring for her mother.

We also meet Lyca - Cora’s daughter, who is trying to understand her mother’s activism and her past. She uncovers family secrets which may be best left well alone.

Their stories were tough to read and heartbreaking at times.

An immersive read.

A brilliant debut novel that follows three generations of women from Ireland to New York and back again. A brilliant read!

I suppose this is a family saga, set in Ireland and in New York, it follows two sisters. Maire goes to the US, Roisin stays in the village where they were brought up. The stories are continued by Maire's daughter and granddaughter and are a little fragmented at foirst, gradually taking more shape as later generations discover more about the lives of those who went before them. The book definately kept me engaged and I liked the different viewpoints which mesh together to tell the complete story. Maire is a shadowy character in many ways, but these shadows lengthen as more of her is revealed as the book progresses. The author deals with and describes emotions well and major events are included, such as 9/11 and lockdown. Perhaps some of the narratives are a little one-sided? An example is that Lyca does not always connect with her mother Cora, but the book has moved on from Cora's point of view.
Definately an interesting and thoughtful read. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I enjoyed this sweeping story encompassing three generations of Irish women, set in rural Ireland and New York. Cleverly and beautifully written, this author is definitely one to watch.

This was a difficult book to follow as it jumped around a lot but having said that when I read a bit that went on for awhile it was very interesting.

Confessions by Catherine Airey is a brilliant debut.
The story begins in 2001 with Cora aged 16 in New York and the planes crashing into the World Trade Center towers leaving Cora orphaned. She receives a letter from an estranged aunt in Ireland and so begins our story which looks back over three generations.
There’s so much going on in this complex saga with twists and revelations from such great strong characters.
An emotional journey that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I found the structure of this to be a little odd and couldn’t really get the game part of the story. However, I enjoyed the family saga, despite the change in voice and going back and forth in time. It makes a change to read of chaotic Irish lives that don’t involve priests or nuns messing with people. I did also like the links between Ireland and New York and how this dynamic changes, and I liked the focus on women throughout. Many of the men were almost an afterthought.

The Women of Ireland follows the lives of Cora, Maire, Roisin, and Lyca, exploring themes of loss, love, and injustice across generations. The novel powerfully examines women's strength and resilience, particularly in relation to reproductive rights and personal hardships.

Confessions is a modern, family saga following the story of several generations of Irish women making their way in life. It takes the reader to and Ireland in the 1980s to 21st century New York and back again to Ireland. With a complex interwoven plot, a cast of compelling female characters and a lot of drama, this has a lot to recommend it and shows every sign of becoming a modern classic.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

This is the debut novel by Catherine Airey.

I have to say I was drawn to the cover.

It was really well written and kept me engaged I didn't want to put it down.

Great read