This is an intriguing novel that plays its cards close to its chest. Heron is an elderly man who has received a difficult diagnosis from his doctor. He has a strong bond with his daughter, Maggie, who he brought up as a single parent and he wonders how he will break the news to Maggie. But there is another story under the surface of this one, with some far more challenging news to break and as Heron and Maggie re-examine their relationship, more comes to light than Heron bargained for. This is quietly shocking and tenderly powerful. The writing is exquisite and the topic handled beautifully.

A beautifully written and carefully plotted novel by Clair Lynch. Set in 1982 and 2023, the story of Heron, Maggie and Dawn unfolds and explores family bonds, and how social and cultural expectations affect our lives, dreams and relationships. Quietly moving and tenderly powerful.

A moving and totally absorbing story that expertly combines a work of fiction with the harsh realities of a little-known side of 1980s history. Sympathetically-drawn characters show just how much accepted norms at that time, damaged so many innocent families and yet ends on a message of hope that there is still time for some of that damage to be undone.

When I was downloading this book to my Kindle I gave the first page a cursory read, not meaning to start it but was sucked in immediately.

We follow the story of Heron and his adult daughter Maggie who’s married with two children and who is most honestly one of the most relatable fictional characters I’ve ever read. Being a mother of two kids the same age I was just reading it thinking “yep, yep, yep” and sometimes “yep, FML”!

The story is a dual timeline between 1982 and present day and we slowly learn why Maggie’s mother is missing from her life. It’s an emotional and abhorrent case which the reader probably wishes is a work of fiction but sadly only serves to highlight the prejudices faced by gay mothers in the 80s and 90s in the Family Courts. My heart hurt for Maggie’s mother.

Beautifully written, an incredible debut, I will be keen to read more of Claire’s work in the future.

"A Family Matter" is a poignant and masterfully written novel that sheds light on a lesser-known aspect of British history and its lasting impact. The story seamlessly weaves together two timelines, 1982 and 2022, to explore the complexities of a single family's dynamics.

As the narrative unfolds, each family member takes center stage, creating an immersive experience. The non-linear plot skillfully intertwines the characters' past and present selves, revealing a quietly devastating twist.

One of the most compelling aspects of the story is the unintentional parallels between Maggie's life and her mother's, echoing each other across a 40-year gap.

This powerful novel not only explores the intricacies of family relationships but also delves into a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter in queer history. The book poignantly portrays the toxic environment faced by lesbian women in 1980s Britain, where they were unfairly labeled as "unnatural" and "corrupt."

I was deeply moved by this narrative and appreciated its thoughtful portrayal of a frequently underrepresented topic. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance copy.

What I Loved/Enjoyed About The Book:

Story/Writing/Structure:

* A story told in a simple yet powerful way with full of emotions, twist, secrets and love
* Family oriented storytelling which is easy to read and addictive


Background/A Bit Of The Plot Without Giving Anything Away:

* A Story about A Family, Secrets, Trauma, Love & Culture
* Based on a few characters and all of them play their role to make it a great story

I Highly Recommend This Book I Will Give This 5 Out Of 5 Stars

An important book that shines a light into an injustice against women which persisted in fairly recent history. Heron brought his daughter Maggie up on his own, with the help of his mother. Maggie knows very little about her own mother. She has a precious relationship with Heron but they don't talk about many things, including this. Heron shows his love by fixing things at Maggie's house.
A gentle and beguiling story, beautifully written. A fantastic debut from Claire Lynch.

Heron has had a visit to the doctor which hasn't gone well. He hasn't told his daughter Maggie about it.

But that's not the only thing he's been keeping from her.

The other thing is decades old...