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You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here

Winner of the Beryl Bainbridge First Time Author Award
By Frances Macken
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,141 ratings, 282 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here by Frances Macken is a captivating story set in a small Irish village. It follows the life of Katie, who grows up alongside her friends Evelyn and Maeve, as they navigate the complexities of friendship and identity. The novel explores themes of belonging, ambition, and the struggle to break free from the constraints of their insular hometown.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to poignant tales of friendship and coming-of-age set against the backdrop of a small Irish town. The story explores themes of identity, ambition, and the complexities of growing up with a nostalgic, yet often humorous narrative.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A captivating, dark portrayal of friendship for fans of My Brilliant Friend

A captivating, dark portrayal of youth, friendship and the fine line that separates admiration from envy

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

This atmospheric debut looks like a rural Irish coming-of-age novel, but it’s cleverer, darker, more unreliable. — Daily Mail

A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE

AN IRISH TIMES, IRISH INDEPENDENT and SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 'TITLE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2020'

Katie, Maeve and Evelyn — friends forever, united by their childhood games and their dreams of escaping the tiny Irish town of Glenbruff.

Outspoken, unpredictable and intoxicating, Evelyn is the undisputed leader of the trio. That is, until the beautiful, bold Pamela Cooney arrives from Dublin and changes Glenbruff forever...

Told from Katie's witty, quirky perspective, Frances Macken's debut beautifully captures life in a small town and the power of yearning for something bigger. Filled with unforgettable characters and crackling dialogue, You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here takes a keen-eyed look at the complexities of female friendship, the corrosive power of jealousy and guilt, and the way that life can quietly erode our dreams unless we're willing to fight for them.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Frances Macken's novel vividly captures the intricacies of female friendship within a close-knit Irish community. Reviewers praise it for its humour, insight, and the exploration of themes such as envy and self-belief. It's compared to works by Elena Ferrante and Edna O'Brien for its portrayal of relational dynamics and the tensions between dreams and reality, with Macken's writing being noted for its wit, charm, and emotional depth.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781786078605

Publisher: Oneworld Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Oneworld Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 288

Collections

Fiction Frances Macken General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Frances Macken is from Claremorris, Co. Mayo. She completed a BA in Film and Television Production at the National Film School, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Oxford and is the author of several short stories. You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here is her debut work of literary fiction.

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    Katie has always been content to exist in the shadow of her intoxicating best friend Evelyn. In their small Irish village, Evelyn's confidence and glamour are enough to make up for her haughty, unpredictable character, and Katie never questions that their friendship will last forever. But Katie's dreams of becoming a professional filmmaker pull her away from home to a...
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