This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

The testimonials for this novel were incredible but it still lived up to them. So full of hope and redemption, anguish and struggle. I loved it and can’t wait to read it again.

Elaine Feeney scored a Booker longlist place for this follow up to her debut novel As You Were. How to Build a Boat follows Jamie, a thirteen year old who is still grieving the death of his mother and who wants to build a Perpetual Motion Machine, to connect with her. His emotional quest will change the lives of those around him. Feeney writes with an open honesty and this is a thoughtful and tender exploration of the power of dreams.

Very powerful and emotive. Gosh it really gets into the heart and minds of what it is to be human. It really moved me!

Ah, a beautiful book. I was captivated by Jamie's voice, his story, his brain, and his extraordinary relationship with his dad. Tess is such a well-drawn character navigating a fractured relationship and other devastations. The pairing of these characters and their dual narratives offer such deeply different perspectives on life, grief, education, and friendship, but there's something so natural and real that connects them. I was enthralled.

Very well written, I fell in love with Jamie right from the start and thoroughly enjoyed this touching and heartfelt novel, would definitely recommend reading

An evocative, stream-of-conscious style narrative with such a clear voice that you forget you’re reading fiction entirely. Jamie seems quite real. A masterpiece.

The story of an emotional connection between three people who come together to build a boat, this is beautiful exploration of love and grief. Elaine has the gift of saying so much with her words, her work is very readable and accessible but also deep and powerful.

This is an adult read, the story of Jamie, a child that doesn’t fit the mould and some of his teachers that are prepared to break the system and go the extra mile. Jamie is neuro-divergent, heading into an all boys secondary school on the West Coast of Ireland. This book follows Jamie’s stream of thought, he is beautifully observant of those around him and while he isn’t able to express himself as the other boys do… he is able to get his message across. Prepare to cry, and also, laugh out loud. It is a book about surviving grief, Jamie’s mother died when he was born, but also a triumph, together with his died they survive a lot. Jamie and his co-characters all face their own challenges, but somehow the more they support Jamie, the more likeable they become. The characters in this book make you want to read on, you will want to know what happened to them after the book has ended.

Thank you for the advanced copy.

This is one of the best books I have read this year, I am late posting this review as I have not been very well.

I fell in love with this, The book is centred around a 13yr old boy called Jamie who lost his mother when he was born and he is trying to connect with her. The story is emotional, beautiful and thought provoking.

Excellent writing, that made me cry.

Highly recommended

"How to Build a Boat" is a poignant and heartfelt novel that explores the themes of family, mortality, and the human experience. It is a must-read for fans of literary fiction who enjoy beautifully written prose and deeply emotional stories.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

It’s rare enough for a book to hit you right in the feels but this beautiful new novel from Irish author Elaine Feeney did just that to me. I was completely captivated by it.

Set in the West of Ireland, the novel is an achingly beautiful and real portrayal of love, loss, grief, fitting in and the power of actively choosing what and who you love in the face of society’s expectations. It gave me that same feeling I got reading Louise Kennedy’s writing - just so gorgeous, it almost hurts to read it.

Feeney puts toxic masculinity and the old boys’ club under the microscope, with an institution at the centre of the story that will resonate with any Irish reader - a single sex Catholic boys’ school, the only school in town and the personal fiefdom of its principal, Fr Faulks.

At the centre of the story is Jamie, a 13 year old neurodivergent boy starting secondary school. Jamie is looked after at school by teachers Tess and Tadhg, who generously take him under their wing and help him with his dream of building a perpetual motion machine, while dealing with their own respective unprocessed grief and trauma. Tessa and Tadhg are wonderful characters, beautifully realised and so memorable.

The story slowly builds - Jamie’s sections are almost like a stream of consciousness. He came across to me as authentic and real, and very funny. The dialogue in the book is spot on (though there are no quotation marks, if that bothers you). Jamie even skewers Jordan Peterson at one point (here for it Jamie).

There’s a tenderness to the book - it’s an ode to teachers and the wonderful job they do of nurturing students, especially in schools that are inhospitable to students who don’t fit within the box. It also speaks to the value of being true to yourself, and having the courage to take the path that’s right for you, as opposed to the one expected of you.

There’s a slowish chapter on boat-building (a currach) which some may find a bit of a slog, but if you can stick with it, the rewards are mighty. I really loved it. 4.5/5 rounded up. I expect to see this on prize lists. Bravo Elaine Feeney.

*Many thanks to the author, the publisher @harvillsecker and @netgalley for the arc. How To Build A Boat was published on 20 April. As always, this is an honest review.*

I read and loved Elaine Feeney's first book and was so excited to get the opportunity to read this one, thank you.

How to Build a Boat is a very different novel to As You Were in fact it is very different to any book I have read of late. It tells the story of 13 year Jamie O'Neill . Jamie is a little bit different to other 13 year old boys, he has a huge imagination and he has a number of things he really loves and has two things he wants in life. Jamie's mother died when he was born, he wants to connect with her. He also wants to build a motion machine. Against the odds, Jamie meets people who see Jamie for everything he is and he finds the support, care , love and determination he needs to help him.

This was a really gorgeous story. It made me smile and it hurt my heart and I am the better for reading it. A powerful story masterfully captured. The prose flows so beautifully , this was a pleasure to read and this is a book and especially a character, I will remember for a long time.

How to Build a Boat by Elaine Feeney is a moving, multi-layered story full of compassion and sensitivity. Jamie O'Neill aged thirteen is starting a new school and is understandably nervous; meanwhile Tess McMahon is returning to work as a teacher for the new school year and is feeling vulnerable due to ongoing issues with her husband Paul. The single-minded school principal Faulks values achievement above all else which makes things difficult for Jamie despite the help he receives from Tess.

Feeney's account of the challenges and how some people manage neurodiversity is insightful and enlightening; there are a number of strong female characters that are extremely relatable as are the less likable ones. How to Build a Boat is a powerful novel that will surely endure as new readers discover it in the coming months and years.

I wished that I had got an audible version of this book because with a good Irish narrator it would have been a beautiful listen. That’s not to say don’t read it b3vaus3 if you’re looking for a very different enchanting read then this is for you.

Mostly this is a story about Jamie. At the time this book starts he is 13 and about to start at a new school. Jamie's mother died when he was born and he is raised by his father and his grandmother. He has a number of obsessions which may well challenge how he is looked on at senior school. It is also quite obvious that he is very intelligent. He wants to design and build a perpetual motion machine and reconnect with his mother Noelle. Senior school brings him in to contact with two teachers in particular. Tess is someone who deals with pupils with additional needs. Tadhg is responsible for the school workshop classes.

Some of Jamie's narrative is really "stream of consciousness" as much as anything else however I found that very effective. I also found myself convinced by his dialogue. The parts narrated by Tess or Tadhg are more conventional. Indeed there are multiple threads at work here that I guess coalesce around Jamie. The story is about "How to Build a Boat" but so much more than that.

The main characters were excellent in my mind with Jamie, Tess and Tadhg all working very well. There are other somewhat more bit part players and generally they were fine. The relationships between the main characters were great. Tadhg and Jamie work together in more than the simply superficial sense of the word. There was a real Irish feel and lilt to the narrative here. The sense of place was also very well worked around the descriptive nature of both town and countryside (and school!). I have to say that I thought the epilogue was exceptionally well written - that was powerful and well crafted.

I actually read a previous book by the author. While it did interest me to some degree it never really held me so I was unsure whether I'd enjoy this one. This one on the other hand simply never let me go. While parts are unquestionably dark there is also a real feel of tenderness in this too. I also found some great humour in this as well - Jamie's first day at school would be an example of that. This is an unusual book to me but one I really enjoyed. The autism in this felt authentic to me although my experience is limited. This is different and moving - we should all read that sort of story from time to time. A 4.5 book rather than just a 4 I think.

Jamie is a singular young man. He has passions. He finds the world hard to navigate. There is a huge hole where his mother is missing from his life. Jamie blames himself for her death, as she died giving birth to him. All he has to anchor himself to her is a video clip of her swimming. His mission in life is to build a perpetual motion machine that will take him back to that moment and her.

The people Jamie's life touches have their own problems and sorrows. Like Jamie, each of them is trapped in the moments of their grief. Unlike Jamie, they don't have a way out. But the more time they spend with him, the more they believe in him and the more they are able to believe in themselves. Jamie believes the impossible is possible and that freedom helps to change everything.

Elegaic, lovely and bittersweet. This is a terrific exploration of character and the opportunities for change that thinking outside the box creates.

There are some beautiful quiet relationships running through this book, and little life moments that are quite moving.
The whole thing centred around a boy who's just a little different.
I had some confusion in regards to the age of Jamie, as I'm not aware how the Irish school system works.


A great little heartwarming book.