Thirst Trap is like if Blue Sisters and Everything I Know About Love had an Irish book baby.

Thirst Trap follows three best friends Róise, Harley and Maggie who are all turning 30 and grieving the lost of their fourth best friend Lydia who died a year ago and whose room in their house share remains untouched.

Each character is going through their own issues, Róise was cheated on by her boyfriend and is now trying to navigate a life dating men again even though she hates men. Maggie is in a situationship with Cate who she has no idea where she really stands with, and Harley is becoming more dependent on drugs whilst having a weird relationship with their landlord.

Each character is part loveable and part insufferable in their own way but my favourite was definitely Róise, whose stance on online dating made me feel SEEN.

“Roise is, she decides, not suited to dating apps, because she finds most men extremely visually unpleasant.”

This book was equal parts sharp, funny, sad and nostalgic. It’s about female friendship and grief in their messiest forms - it was great and I can’t wait to read what O’Hare does next.

“‘WHERE WERE YOU BEFORE THIS?’ Maggie asks Cate nonchalantly - or would, if it were possible to be nonchalant screaming over the top of B*Witched while everyone on the dancefloor is violently céilí-ing around them.”

Maggie, Harley and Róise are best friends partying their way through their late 20s in Belfast. Their house is falling apart and their personal lives aren’t much more together. You see, they used to be a group of four best friends, and that’s really where the problems began.

I must admit that I’m a bit of a sceptic when it comes to popular books. I often wonder if they will live up to the considerable hype. I’ve seen so many glowing reviews of Thirst Trap (how can you forget that cover) that I began to worry that it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype. Well, I loved it.

Gráinne O’Hare’s debut is a fun, bittersweet, poignant, and completely compelling read. It showcases the full complexity of female friendship, grief, and the minefield that is getting older. It’s screaming out for a TV adaptation!

I would definitely recommend it! It's already a strong contender for one of my favourite books this year.

This was an enjoyable read about three friends who are grieving over their mutual friend and housemate, Lydia.

Firstly, I loved to see female friendships represented in this way. They were messy, imperfect and human. They struggled to cope with grief and coped in their own ways, sometimes problematic and sometimes hilarious. I also loved that two of them were sapphic (yay!).

Secondly, it gave me major Fleabag vibes throughout, and I love Fleabag (don’t we all). Something about the tone of the book, the grief balanced with humour, the terrible decisions made, and I kept thinking throughout how this would make a really good TV show.

I think all I struggled with is that it didn’t grab my attention like I wanted, I kept thinking of other things and getting distracted, it was difficult to stay in the story. It was also challenging to connect to the characters, mostly because they didn’t feel individual, they blended into each other and didn’t feel distinct.

I also didn’t love the pop culture references, it’s not my favourite thing in books.

Saying all that, I did love the narrative style and I would be likely to pick up another book by this author.

Maggie, Harley & Róise live in Belfast & go out on the piss… all the time? They’re turning 30, they live together and they’re still grieving the death of their best friend Lydia.

I liked this but not as much as I expected to! A Belfast novel? Focussed on female friendships? Come on! Before I get into my biggest issue with this let me say up front that I’m a boring bastard. I am! So maybe that’s why I am not getting it. But these women read like students? I just don’t know anyone who is still going out like that in their thirties. I had a second hand hangover reading about it all!

I did love the friendship between the girls & how loving and complex it was. Also very funny & extremely easy to read. Would still definitely recommend! Will absolutely read O’Hare’s next book!

Okay one last complaint, why so many Taylor Swift references? There were at least six! Thats six too many by my count

This book follows three friends Maggie, Harley and Roise. They are trying to recover from the loss of their friend Lydia the previous year and transitioning to a new phase of their life. The story is told through flashbacks and in the present day, these characters were highly flawed and survive on copious amounts of alcohol and drugs. Their relationships were messy but entertaining and, all through the book focuses on their friendship and how it's serving them. I would recommend to readers that enjoyed "Animals" by Emma Jane Unsworth and "The Rachel Incident" by Caroline O'Donoghue.

Disclaimer: I received this ARC from NetGalley and Pan Macmillan | Picador in exchange for a free and honest review.

I can recognize that this is well-written and a good exploration of life in your 30s, the way friendships change as you walk different paths, and even grief. I agree with the comparisons to the HBO show Girls; the vibes are very similar. I also suspect that Irish people will have an even higher appreciation of this due to the references (that I couldn't really get).

All that said, this wasn't for me, and I could accept that it's a "me thing." I just didn't connect with this at all, and my mind wandered as I was reading, so I often had to go back and read again. That's the biggest sign that a story isn't hitting with me, and it's not due to any issues with the book or the writing. I just couldn't relate to these characters' experiences (I suspect it's because my 30s feel very different, my mindset is very different, and my culture is also different), and I wasn't invested in the relationships.

I would still recommend this. Just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean it won't work for other people, especially if you find that you have similar life experiences to these characters.

Truly brilliant. Loved how each character dealt with their grief differently. A great story with expert writing and weaving of narratives.

In Thirst Trap, Gráinne O’Hare introduces the story of Maggie, Harley and Róise, three near-lifelong friends who rent a decaying house in Belfast. Their characters are so well drawn that following their exploits would be interesting enough without the added dimension that the fourth in their close-knit gang has died in a car accident a year before the book opens. We are told early on that the girls were not speaking before Lydia’s death but O’Hare saves the reason why for a good portion of the book and it hits really well.
This is one of the best depictions I’ve read of the succession of big nights out and poor decision making that accompanies a boozy twenties existence. Now I’m at a safe distance I can observe it with fondness; I imagine if you’re still in that part of adulthood it might hit too close to the bone. I really enjoyed Thirst Trap and recommend it if you want to read contemporary fiction that tackles serious issues with a great sense of humour.

Not quite the read I was expecting.

Maggie, Harley and Roise have shared a house in Belfast for most of their twenties; the fourth bedroom remains empty after the death of their friend Lydia. Following a huge fight, will the each go their own way? And as they approach the big 30, are they finally leaving behind all the late nights / early mornings and raging hangovers?

I was drawn to this book by the blurb but, in all fairness, I suspect I'm entirely the wrong age group. Most of the content didn't bother me but the high level of drug taking, for me, wasn't entertaining. I continually found myself wondering how they could afford it? I struggled through to the end but in all honesty, I can't think of any fellow readers who would enjoy this. For me, three stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy.

Thirst Trap is a winner from page 1! From the moment I met Maggie, Harley, and Róise, trying to get a succulent into the coat check at a Belfast night club, trying to drown out their grief in pints and loud music, turning 30 and still feeling 23, I loved them.
O'Hare's capture of each of the women's voices is flawless, each of the 3 distinct while still clearly shaped by the others. Belfast, too, is laid out on the page deliberately yet seamlessly. I grew up far from Ireland, but something about Irish coming-of-age stories has always resonated with me, and I was absolutely transported to this city of misty rain and late nights.
I'm always drawn to narratives about grief and the nuances of female friendship, and Thirst Trap is a gorgeous addition to that canon. As O'Hare peels back the layers of conflict and love between the four (now three) women, you get more and more drawn in by her observant, natural prose and the nuances of her three main characters. Meanwhile, Lydia's haunting of the narrative is so graceful, her shadow floating over each of her friends without obscuring them. It's so difficult to close out a story about grieving on a note that rings true, satisfying, inevitable – but O'Hare pulls it off here.
Thirst Trap is a truly stunning debut! Perfect for fans of Coco Mellors, Dolly Alderton, Elena Ferrante, Jessica Andrews, and Fleabag.

I really enjoyed this funny, moving and voicey debut novel about grief and friendship with some great characterisation and memorable moments

Thirst Trap was a great opportunity for me to remember what it felt like to be in my late 20s, surrounded by great friends and enjoying the 'nothingness' of life. From jobs that paid for drinks, to boys who broke our hearts, you will immediately link in with Harley, Roise and Maggie as they navigate grief and betrayal, and you may well be able to imagine their share house as one you might have lived in!

I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I felt that I got to know the characters well. I could hear the music of the clubs and taste the tequila shots.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

’It is not only that something is ending, it is also the knowledge that things will continue to end, that in the future there will be other, greater moves away and apart, and that they will never be the same four girls and a turtle living together again’

Wow. Just… wow. Thirst Trap by Gráinne O’Hare is a stunning look at the lives of three women - Harley, Maggie, and Róise - as they navigate their friendships, romantic relationships, jobs, housing situation and grief over the death of their friend Lydia, all in the year where they turn 30.

I was utterly blown away by just how much I adored this book. It was raw and honest and captured just how chaotic your 20s can be. O’Hare developed each woman’s personality in such a unique way, and I found myself desperate to meet them and become their friend. They were so human, so flawed but likeable, made mistakes and didn’t always work through them, but were always trying to better themselves in small ways. If you had told me that Thirst Trap was a memoir recounting the lives of real people, I would have believed you. The writing was just superb, and dialogue some of the best and most realistic I’ve seen in a long time. I honestly couldn’t put this one down.

I am astounded that this is a debut, as O’Hare was masterful in her representation of the messiness of friendships as you get older. Thirst Trap was comforting in showing that it is okay not have everything together. It’s okay not to live the ‘ideal life’ (whatever that is), and it’s okay to go at your own pace. But most importantly, it’s never okay to cut your own fringe!

Overall, Thirst Trap gets 5/5 stars. A wonderful book, with an awesome cover, and a fantastic title.

I really enjoyed Gráinne O’Hare’s debut Thirst Trap (thanks @picadorbooks via @netgalley for the review copy). A highly anticipated novel about three friends - Maggie, Harley and Róise - who live in a crumbling rental in Belfast as the cracks begin to appear, both metaphorically but also literally, in the aftermath of a close friend’s death. O’Hare has a brilliant sense of humour and I felt such tenderness for the characters as they mess up and grapple with the tragedy in their own individual ways. It felt very real and raw and I can’t wait to see what else O’Hare writes in the future.

3.5 stars.

First off, a big thank you to NetGalley, Picador, and Gráinne O’Hare for this ARC!

Before diving in, I want to mention that I’m not Irish — I’ve actually never been to Ireland — so there were quite a few words, phrases, and bits of humor I didn’t fully get. I imagine if you’re from there, especially the Belfast area, that cultural context would add a lot to the experience!

This was such an unexpected but perfect way to kick off Pride Month! I had no idea it was a queer book going in! I was immediately drawn in by the eye-catching cover and intriguing blurb. As a woman in her late 20s, there were definitely parts I found super relatable. But I’ll be honest, I did find myself getting a little bored at times. It’s light on plot and very much a character-driven story. That said, the girls felt incredibly real, if that makes sense.

It’s a beautiful and honest portrayal of friendship in your twenties, and how those bonds evolve as life changes and you get older. It touches on love, career struggles, the fear of turning 30, and the uncertainty of knowing when (or if) you should move on from certain phases of life. It also shows just how powerful female friendships are, even when they’re messy.

One thing this book does really well is explore grief. It’s complicated, it ebbs and flows, and sometimes, people pass before things are resolved. When I tell you I audibly gasped when I found out why they weren’t on speaking terms before Lydia passed! The way the characters continue living in the house after losing one of them was… kind of tragic, to be honest. It felt like they were still living with Lydia’s ghost, clinging to the memories they shared in that space.

On the other hand, I couldn’t personally relate to their very chaotic lifestyle — the partying, drugs, and one-night stands every weekend just aren’t my thing — but that’s definitely more of a “me” thing than a fault of the book. I did absolutely love the Taylor Swift references, though. Big win, haha.

Final thoughts (sorry, this was a little all over the place!): I enjoyed this book. The writing is sharp and heartfelt. But something was just... missing for me. It didn’t fully click.

Still, it feels like Everything I Know About Love crossed with Blue Sisters, so if you enjoyed those, you’ll probably love this one too! I’d recommend it!

One of the most nuanced looks at grief I’ve read in recent memory. Grief is at the heart of the story, but the characters rarely express their sadness about losing their friend. Rather, they use humour to deflect, and drinking and drugs to forget entirely. The narration from all the women almost sidesteps the death of Lydia, treating it in an offhand manner. Thus, Thirst Trap is both lighthearted and funny, but morbid and heartbreaking in a way that really works.

The voices in this are so strong and distinct from one another. The house binding them together but barely holding itself in one piece is a wonderful metaphor. Some great coming of age anecdotes and good old millennial humour.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, and will be recommending to others!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This is a good read, the characters are well drawn, relatable and easily distinguishable and I enjoyed this slice of life book.

I was engaged with all the women and I wanted things to go well for them. They are all goodhearted, lively, amusing women who are not living their best lives.

The book is vividly written and is very funny in places - i particularly liked the description of someone in a rush as being like a pensioner running late for mass - it's funny because it's true!

I also think that the book paints quite a realistic picture of the lives of many young woman today.. As an older woman I am sad however, that these young women's lives seem rather empty and meaningless. All the women seem to do is work in jobs they don't enjoy, have lots of casual sex and take lots of drugs. That is all very well, surely, when you are in your early twenties but these women are 30 and are throwing away their lives. Worst of all, they don't even seem to be enjoying themselves that much!

Having said that, I enjoyed sharing their experiences for the duration of the book and a lot of it took me back to my early 20s. I think this would be a good book for a book club as there could be a lot to discuss about the opportunities available to women and they choices they make,

Look I LOVED this, like a weird, huge amount. It's so messy and funny and devastating, a perfect summary of that awful time when your friends all get married and you're wondering what drugs you can mix with your drinks. I thought it would be much more earnest, because of the subject matter, but I genuinely laughed out loud reading this. One of the most convincing depictions of friendship I've read in a long time.

Thirst Trap
By Grainne O'Hare

Three friends sharing a house in Belfast, living from sesh to sesh, in low paid jobs and no serious romance on the horizon. Their fourth house mate died last year and her anniversary highlights how stuck in a rut they are.

Told in alternating narratives, this opens strongly with some witty dialogue and potentially interesting voices. With short chapters I thought I was going to fly through this one, but by the time each character was on their second chapter they began to grow less distinct and I found myself getting confused with who was supposed to be who.

As they fall in and out with each other, it's hard to root for their friendship, because their dynamic isn't demonstrated on the page, other than some wisecracking, the mentions of their previous shared lifestyle and their parallel efforts to procure drugs. It could have been comedic if it weren't so sad.

This might suit millennials more, especially if you can do a decent Belfast accent in your head. As someone who clung to aimless singledom a bit longer than necessary I thought this might resonate, but the cultural references mostly went over my head.

I really wanted to like this debut, and while the narrative arc and character behaviour weren't too my taste, I can see strong writing and interesting language technique. I will certainly read her next book.


Publication Date: 12th June 2025
Thanks to #Netgalley and #panmacmillan for providing an eGalley for review purposes.

Thirst Trap is a raw exploration of grief, friendship and adulthood. It was a candid look at the lives of the three women we follow.
The house they is falling apart and a great metaphor for the characters feelings. I absolutely loved the Belfast setting and was transported there. The writing is full of sharp wit and emotive making for a captivating experience. Tender moments are broken up with fun scenes, like taking a cactus to a club on a night out. I loved the depiction of grief in all its messy forms. If you want a book that’s deeply relatable then this is for you. An amazing debut and I will be reading more from this author. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.