Almost like a life on two sides of the world. Mairead has left rural Ireland for the bright lights ? of London; her dream is to be a producer - but well, you have to start somewhere! So the wardrobe department it is. With low confidence a d zero self esteem Mairead navigates London. A city of strangers. At home, everyone knows everything about you. The massive egos in the theatre do little to help. The dexterous powerful men who can make and break. With the sudden death of her Grandmother, Mairead returns to her family and finds that what she left behind wasn't what it seemed at all.

This is a wonderful read and an excellent debut.

It is a coming of age tale that is beautifully told with a loverly main character who is filled with hope.

Mairead leaves Donegal and moves to London. Her home life is terrible and she hopes a new start in the big city will be the start of something amazing.

Her life, told over 12 days leaves her lonely, then her grandmother dies and she returns home for the funeral.

This is brilliant and I loved it.. i cannot wait to re read and its on my fav list

Not the most thrilling book I’ve read but interesting. The back stage misogyny, the stink of costumes after the actors have gone home all here in spades.

This is a seemingly quiet novel that has subtext in spades and is actually moving and devastating in parts. I loved the glimpse of the hidden world of backstage life and the prose is beautiful and considered. The issues around identity and misogyny are perfectly addressed. It's a stunning book and has me hooked.

The West End's Theatreland isn't all glamour, as Mairead is finding out. The wardrobe department is invisible, except as the producer's target for bullying.

But how can Mairead make a new life for herself when she's left half of her behind at home in Ireland?

Such a wonderful lead character

I found this book so interesting as someone who has studied fashion over the years I found it so relatable and interesting.