The Best Boy in the World by Seán Farrell is one of those books that starts with a family dynamic that feels fairly familiar, before gradually becoming much more uncomfortable and complicated.

At the heart of the story are two brothers, Adam and Rickie, whose relationship is strained by years of rivalry, resentment and very different ideas about masculinity. When the family comes together in France, things begin to unravel, and an incident changes the dynamics between them all. From there, Farrell explores just how much damage can be caused by toxic masculinity, family expectations and the things we carry with us from the past.

What I really liked about this book is that it doesn't offer easy answers. The characters are complicated, often frustrating, and sometimes difficult to like, but that made them feel all the more believable. I found myself constantly questioning their motivations and wondering how much of their behaviour had been shaped by their upbringing and their relationships with each other.

There is also a real sense of tension running through the book. Even when not much is happening on the surface, there is always the feeling that something is about to go wrong. Farrell does a particularly good job of showing how quickly family relationships can become toxic when old resentments are left unresolved.

For me, the strongest part of the novel is the way it looks at masculinity and the expectations placed on men, without turning the story into a simple message about right and wrong. It's uncomfortable at times, but deliberately so, and it certainly gave me plenty to think about after I'd finished reading.

This won't necessarily be a book for everyone, particularly because some of the subject matter is difficult, but I found it compelling and thought-provoking. It's a dark and uncomfortable family drama that gets under your skin and stays there.

Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven stories about complicated families, relationships and the darker side of masculinity.