Best Friends

by Andrew Meehan

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Pub Date 8 May 2025 | Archive Date 8 Jun 2025

Muswell Press

General Fiction (Adult) | Literary Fiction | Romance

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Description

'This is a tender miracle of a book. Andrew Meehan has created two gloriously flawed, deceptively complex and completely loveable characters in Ray and June’ . Andrea Gibb.

With echoes of Olive Kitteridge and Our Souls at Night, Andrew Meehan’s compelling novel ponders the question, is it ever too late to find love?

June cleans houses. Ray is a janitor at the public tennis courts in Dun Laoghaire. He’s not romantic material, and she’s not even friend material. When it comes to learning how to be with other people at the age of 70 plus, they are unlikely companions, even more unlikely friends.

Ray looks a bit like Willie Nelson, June looks a bit like Chrissie Hynde. They’ve never fitted in before and they don’t fit in now. They are just regular folk for whom the path towards love has been closed off. Yet, as understanding blossoms into friendship, June and Ray find themselves slowly rediscovering the joy that’s been missing from their lives for so long.

The right person at the right time. June and Ray, this is your moment.

'This is a tender miracle of a book. Andrew Meehan has created two gloriously flawed, deceptively complex and completely loveable characters in Ray and June’ . Andrea Gibb.

With echoes of Olive...

A Note From the Publisher

Andrew Meehan has published three books, One Star Awake, Instant Fires and The Mystery of Love. He was Head of Development at the Irish Film Board and teaches creative writing at Strathclyde University.

Andrew Meehan has published three books, One Star Awake, Instant Fires and The Mystery of Love. He was Head of Development at the Irish Film Board and teaches creative writing at Strathclyde...

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A Note From the Publisher

Andrew Meehan has published three books, One Star Awake, Instant Fires and The Mystery of Love. He was Head of Development at the Irish Film Board and teaches creative writing at Strathclyde University.

Advance Praise

'A joy to read…… Perfectly pitched to be a word-of-mouth summer hit' The Times

‘A charming new romance depicts a love story like no other’ Sunday Herald

‘A charming new romance depicts a love story like no other’ Sunday Herald‘Best Friends is about pleasant surprises. The biggest surprise of all is that Andrew Meehan isn’t better known. This gentle, off-kilter book, perfectly pitched to be a word-of-mouth summer hit, should change all that… it is a joy to read’. The Times

‘Funny, beautifully crafted and sparkling with characters that are so easy to fall in love with. Andrew Meehan is a wonderful writer’. Caroline O’Donoghue author of The Rachel Incident.

‘A radiant novel…achingly romantic’. Irish Independent

'A beautiful, tender and insightful novel, full of heart with dazzling prose’. Rachelle Atalla author of The Salt Flats

‘Polished prose that burns with wit and wonder’ . Sunday Independent.

‘Another gorgeous exemplar of Andrew Meehan’s exquisite, extraordinary prose’. Lisa McInerney.

‘Normal people with pensioners. Andrew Meehan has created two gloriously flawed, deceptively complex and completely loveable characters in Ray and June. This book will stay with you long after you turn the final page’ Andrea Gibb screenwriter of Miss Austen and Mayflies

‘Stylish, very funny, and moving – he’s a true original’. Kevin Barry.

‘The writing is exceptional’. Sunday Times

'A joy to read…… Perfectly pitched to be a word-of-mouth summer hit' The Times

‘A charming new romance depicts a love story like no other’ Sunday Herald

‘A charming new romance depicts a love story...