“I often wonder what whore of a star I was born under for my little star has brought fierce tragedy and very few twinkles.”

This was a tough read at times given the content but a very engaging overview of the tales of the author, Brighid ‘Biddy’ McLaughlin. It often amazes me when I hear stories such as Brighid’s and how one person can endure and survive so much tragedy in their lives.

Whilst Brighid has endured unimaginable loss and sadness, she balances her memoir with wit and funny anecdotes on the larger than life characters she’s met over her years as a Dublin based journalist - from Bohemian writers to Anglo-Irish aristocracy (including the Guinness family). You’ll find yourself, like I did, googling the various characters in order to put faces to names!!

I read this memoir in two days. I was gripped with Brighid’s fascinating professional life and all the ups and downs, as well as those she loved and lost. This is a book that will have you sob one moment and laugh out loud the next.

If I’ve taken anything from this book it is that Brighid McLaughlin is one strong woman!

A beautiful book by an Irish journalist who suffered great loss (murder of her sister - domestic violence) and death of her husband. This book hit me in the gut a few times it is so poignant and yet I stayed with it because of the beautiful writing. I also loved learning about her life (personal and professional) and again I just so much appreciated the good writing! I appreciate her candor and honesty.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.