13 of the Best New Novels by Irish Authors

A Way With Words

Happy St. Patrick's day! It's a day for celebrating Irish culture. For many, this means a dinner of corned beef and cabbage and a pint or two (or five) of ale. But beyond the food and drinks, Ireland is also known for its rich literary history, so we put together a roundup of thirteen standout contemporary Irish novels and authors of the moment. With forefathers like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett, these up-and-coming bards have some big shoes to fill, and they're doing brilliantly!

Contemporary Fiction

Conversations with Friends
Sally Rooney's debut novel is every bit as good as her widely read Normal People. And fans of Hulu's recent adaptation will be glad to hear that this volume will receive similar treatment. This smart, charming story offers complex, nuanced relationships and a sharply observed portrayal of life as an Irish millennial.

The Sea
This Booker Prize-winning novel by John Banville tells the story of a middle-aged Irish man who has gone back to the seaside town where he spent his childhood summers to cope with the recent loss of his wife. It's a spellbinding novel about love, loss, and the unpredictable power of memory.

The Spinning Heart
In the aftermath of Ireland's financial collapse, dangerous tensions surface in an Irish town. Wry, vulnerable, and all-too human, this novel by Donal Ryan is witty, dark, and sweetly poignant, capturing the language and spirit of rural Ireland and articulating the words and thoughts of a generation.

Spill Simmer Falter Wither
It is springtime, and two outcasts—a man ignored and a one-eyed dog—find each other, by accident or fate, and forge an unlikely connection. Sara Baume's debut is gorgeously written in poetic and mesmerizing prose, one of those rare stories that imagines its way into a life most of us would never see.

Coming Of Age

Skippy Dies
Why does Skippy, a fourteen-year-old boy at a Dublin college, end up dead on the floor of the local doughnut shop? Exploring the events leading to a young man's untimely end, Paul Murray has created a heartfelt, hilarious portrait of the pain, joy, and occasional beauty of adolescence.

Brooklyn
Colm Tóibín's award-winning novel was adapted into an acclaimed 2015 film starring Saorise Ronan. It is the story of a young Irish woman who immigrates to Brooklyn in the early 1950s. From USA Today: "One of those magically quiet novels that sneak up on readers and capture their imaginations."

Tender
This celebrated novel focuses on the relationship between Catherine and James, who become best friends at school in Dublin in the late 1990s. Belinda McKeon offers a story of first love and lost innocence, of discovery and betrayal. It's a tense high-wire act with keen psychological insights.

Mystery/Crime/Thriller

The Glorious Heresies
Hailed by The Irish Times as "arguably the most talented writer at work in Ireland today," Lisa McInerney got her start as a popular blogger. Her fierce funny debut depicts life on the fringes of Ireland's post-crash society. The searing tale connects four misfits struggling against their meager circumstances.

Faithful Place
This is the third book in Tana French's excellent Dublin Murder Squad series, but don't worry, you don't need to read them in order. Each book focuses on a different detective on the squad. In this case, see how growing up in impoverished conditions shaped the life of detective Frank Mackey.

Unraveling Oliver
Elegant and seductive, Oliver Ryan shares a lovely home with his wife, Alice, an award-winning illustrator of children's books. Then one evening, after eating the dinner Alice has prepared, Oliver beats her into a coma. Liz Nugent offers chilling insight into the mind of a psychopath in this pitch black suspense novel.

Experimental Fiction

Milkman
Set amid the Troubles in 1970s Northern Ireland, this Booker Prize-winner from Anna Burns offers the winding inner narrative of the middle sister of a large family. When she draws the attention of a local paramilitary known only as the milkman, she suddenly becomes "interesting," the last thing she wants to be.

Solar Bones
Mike McCormack's vital, tender novel attracted attention for its singular style—it's told in a single sentence. But it stands on its own as a masterwork, recounting the life of a man, from childhood to death in flowing, stream-of-consciousness prose. It is a celebration of the unexpected beauty of life and language.

A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing
In scathing, furious, unforgettable prose, Eimear McBride tells the story of a young girl's devastating adolescence as she and her brother, who suffers from a brain tumor, struggle for a semblance of normalcy in the shadow of sexual abuse, denial, and chaos at home.

As we perused our options for this roundup, we were simply spoiled for choice. The hardest part—as is so often the case—was narrowing it down. Please chime in and let us know your favorite Irish novels and novelists.

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