This book is well written, especially the dialogue. There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I think I would have connected to it more had I been to the setting of the novel. While this book wasn’t my favorite and a bit long for me, I think this book will be a hit.

Thanks to Independent Publishers Group, The Lilliput Press, and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC of 'Ravelling' by Estelle Birdy.

This is a wonderful book, wonderfully written.

Five young men coming of age during their Leaving Cert year in Dublin, 2019 (the US equivalent with be HS seniors). In a real reflection of the 21st century diversity of Dublin's population as well as the white teens there's a Black kid (whose parents are Congolese) and a Pakistani lad who immigrated with his parents and wider family.

This is funny - a real love letter to the spoken language of Ireland, Dublin, and young people there. It reminded me of an up-to-date version of Roddy Doyle's 'Barrytown Trilogy' but brighter, sharper, and more-real. The themes are those that would be common to any set of late teenagers anywhere in the world - school, exams, drugs, class divisions, racism, violence, sex and sexuality, friendship and relationships, and family but they're conveyed in such a uniquely Dublin way that this might be a struggle for non-Irish readers.

It's a very hopeful, realistic, and often joyful look at a place and its young population. Loved it.

Working class novels tend to be miserable. This one isn't. Birdy proves that you do not have to write 'misery porn' for your story to pack a punch. Don't get me wrong, there is a ton of sadness here, violence, drug use, homelessness and almost-hopelessness. But this is as much a love letter to Dublin and the Dubs as it is a social critique, infused with Irish lightheartedness and banter.

I will say that it took me a chapter or two to get into it. It felt a bit unfocused at times and could have been shorter. But it is still a very worthwhile slice-of-life novel.

I'd highly recommend it to anyone with a connection to Dublin (beyond visiting Temple Bar) and anyone who is into working class fiction. I would have loved to get a female POV - maybe Birdy's next novel will centre on working class women's experiences?

Thank you to Estelle Birdy, The Lilliput Press, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

Looking at the description, I was not sure what to expect reading Ravelling. I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed it.