Wow ! How can I do this stunning debut justice ? This is definitely the best book I have read this year and I raced through it in two sittings completely immersed in the lives of Mary and her son TJ. It is set in 2018, TJ is 18 and his mother Mary is missing. We follow TJ's search alongside hearing about Mary's life , from growing up with her father and brother Sean in West Belfast to the present day. Although the themes of this book - grief, loss and addiction- may seem bleak I did not find this to be a bleak read. MacManus is a wonderfully gifted writer, drawing you into the characters lives so completely. I felt so much compassion and empathy for all of the characters and did not want this novel to end. I know it will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC

I'm quite friendly with Annie. Its something she's totally unaware of,but we spend several hours a week together.
Have done for years.
And so I was excited to get my hands on this,but a bit worried.
What if its rubbish? Will I still look at her the same?
ITS NOT RUBBISH.
Its actually quite the emotional read,about family,what it is to you in all its forms,and how you will cling on to it.
I had my cynical heart tugged by young Mary,and almost laughed at loud at TJ demonstrating perfectly how we take those that love us and we love,for granted.

A very enjoyable debut.
I look forward to seeing what comes next.

Mother Mother by Annie Macmanus
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In preset day Belfast TJ is frantically searching for missing his mum, Mary. Through a series of flashbacks we learn about Mary’s upbringing and what brought her to this desperate point of crisis.
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This is a surprising and confident debut novel.. I wasn’t sure about the writing in the first third of the book. It felt a bit cold and distant. But as the narrative moves into exploring Mary and TJ’s internal struggles, and the motivations and flaws of those around them, I was sold and the prose only continued to improve until the end. It’s an emotional read and deals with some tough themes. There isn’t that much room for light relief which some readers might find difficult. But it worked for me.
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Thank you to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.