10 new books for May: Rachel Gillig, Vogue Williams, and more...
Julie Chan is Dead, by Liann Zhang (May 1)
A young woman steps into her deceased twin's influencer life, only to discover dark secrets in this debut novel. Zhang, a second-generation Chinese Canadian spent time as a skincare content creator before graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in psychology and criminology.
The Names, by Florence Knapp (May 6)
What's in a name? Florence Knapp takes an ordinary question and turns it into a meditation on identity, fate, and family. This 'sliding doors' novel set between Ireland and the UK tackles the ripple effects of domestic abuse and the messy ties of family, and has been tipped as one of the biggest novels of the year.
The Tenant, by Frieda McFadden (May 6)
Bestselling author Freida McFadden returns with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour. In her latest chilling thriller, Blake's new tenant seems perfect—until everything starts to go horribly wrong.
It Should Have Been You, by Andrea Mara (May 8)
We all know the fear of sending a message about someone to that person by mistake. That's what happens in crime writer Andrea Mara's new book, but when a text about the neighbours goes to the community WhatsApp, its sender receives death threats – and a person living in the same address in a different part of town is murdered.
The Knight and the Moth, by Rachel Gillig (May 20)
A BookTok sensation, Rachel Gillig's duology The Shepherd King went viral on TikTok. Her latest book, the first in a new romantasy series, has a different atmosphere. It follows a prophetess who is forced on an impossible quest with a handsome knight whose future she cannot see.
The Aftertaste, by Daria Lavelle (May 22)
This is a ghost story worth devouring. When spirits are near, Kostya can taste their favourite food. He opens a restaurant so he can reunite people with their deceased loved ones — at least for the length of their favourite meal. It has already received rave reviews from the likes of chef Nigella Lawson and author Louise Kennedy.
Ripeness, by Sarah Moss (May 22)
Sarah Moss, the Scottish-born bestselling author of Summerwater and assistant professor of creative writing at UCD, explores love and belonging in her latest novel, which moves from Italy in the 1960s to Ireland in the 2020s and touches upon migration and new beginnings.
Big Mouth, by Vogue Williams (May 22)
TV presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams's memoir promises to share what you don't see on social media: a deep dive into her stories of divorce, anxiety, family, immortality and showbiz.
Let Me Go Mad In My Own Way, by Elaine Feeney (May 29)
Booker Prize-longlisted Galway author and poet Elaine Feeney publishes her third fiction book in May. Claire, back living in her childhood home, is thrown back into a love she thought she'd left behind. It is a story of love and resilience, rich with the legacies of violence and redemption.
Long Story, by Vicki Notaro (May 29)
Reality Check author Vicki Notaro writes about two best friends torn apart by a celebrity memoir in her sophomore novel. Movie star Tara and podcast host Alex find their friendship tested when rockstar Sean Sweeney's memoir is published, revealing his past relationships with them both.
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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Truly special' – Dad's funeral tribute for woman, 24, who died during race as he reads sweet ‘we are lucky' diary entry
THE heartbroken dad of a young Irishwoman who died while taking part in a race told her funeral how a diary entry she wrote four years ago shows how she was a "truly special person". Ellen Cassidy, 24, died after Advertisement 2 Ellen Cassidy sadly died after falling ill near the finish line of the Cork City Marathon Credit: Social Media 2 Ellen was remembered as 'truly special' by her heartbroken dad at her funeral today Credit: She was remembered as a person who will be "forever loved and truly missed" by her mum Violet, dad Tom, sister Mary, brother Charlie, boyfriend Rob, grandparents and "many many best friends". The She travelled and worked across the Ellen's swim club, Dolphin, alongside a number of Cork running clubs, today formed a guard of honour at the steps of the Church of the Annunciation in Blackpool as the young woman was taken to be laid to rest at St Catherine's Cemetery in Kilcully. Advertisement READ MORE IRISH NEWS And speaking at her funeral mass, Ellen's dad Tom told how his daughter was "not an ordinary girl", adding that she "achieved amazing things". He said: "She always had a number of plates spinning at any one time. "Swimming, for example, 16 hours a week. Music, four hours per week. Attendance and practice. Piano, seven hours a week. Attendance and practice. School or university attendance. Homework and exams that go with both. "And of course, her friends. It all started with a small group in Rappahigan, but steadily grew during her time in St. Angeles. Then it grew again in Bruce, and once again in UCD and UCC. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "This was supplemented by all her swimming friends at Dolphin. Her friendly rivals in Sunday's Well. Her Munster team colleagues, her Irish team colleagues, and every friend from right around the country she made during when competing at galas. "And of course, on top of this, there was the friends she made through the School of Music and out socialising. "How she managed to give them all the time, attention, energy, love and affection is beyond me. "But Ellen didn't lead with elbows. She led with open arms. That made her stand out. Advertisement 'I AM SO LUCKY' "That made her special. And made everyone that came into contact with her feel special." Tom told how Ellen's mum Violet found the young woman's diary shortly after her passing. Reading out an entry from the diary to mourners, who were dressed in "their most colourful outfits" as requested by Ellen's family, Tom said it "shows us how truly special a person she was". A particularly poignant section of the diary read: "All I want is for everything to be perfect. My family. That is what I want to be perfect. What can it be? We need to try harder. Advertisement "No one will love, accept or support you more than your mother, father, brother and sister. I am lucky. I am so lucky to have them. "We are lucky. We are lucky to have each other. We need to realise that. I just want Mum, Dad, Charlie, Mary and myself to be happy."
Irish Times
31-05-2025
- Irish Times
The Names by Florence Knapp: what's in a name?
The Names Author : Florence Knapp ISBN-13 : 978-1399624022 Publisher : Phoenix Guideline Price : £13.99 Can a name shape one's destiny? Knapp's high-concept debut ponders this question with remarkable psychological nuance. The story begins in 1987 with Cora on her way to register her infant son's name, with her daughter Maia in tow. Cora's real concern is that she will 'formalise who he will become' based on what she names him. Her husband Gordon has instructed her to name the baby after him, to carry on the family's tradition. She fears that this would burden him with the abusive legacy of his namesakes. 'It feels like a chest-beating, tribal thing ... that will tie him to generations of domineering men.' She prefers the name Julian, which means sky father. Maia suggests Bear because it is 'all soft and cuddly and kind ... but also, brave and strong'. READ MORE This seemingly innocuous decision to name a baby is the sliding-doors moment in this novel that charts the destiny of this family in three alternate storylines. The chapters are spaced seven years apart and titled after each of the three names. Gordon is a reputable doctor but an abusive patriarch at home. The overarching theme of the three storylines is the repercussions of living under the fear of domestic abuse. In each storyline, guilt and trauma dominate the interior psychological landscapes of the three main characters – Cora, Maia and the boy. Knapp shrewdly weaves together three distinct permutations of this family's future into a single tapestry with perceptive insight. The narrative remains consistently emotionally engaging, which is no mean feat for a debut novelist. The story resonates on many levels. It depicts an evocative portrayal of children who grow up under the shadow of a narcissistic father, conditioning them to become hypervigilant and pander to authority. In a poignant moment, Cora observes this in how her nine-year-old daughter has learned 'to soothe, to placate' and is 'attuned to the undercurrents in a room'. In another devastating instance, the grown-up boy asks his sister Maia, 'Do you think Dad consumed me?' – a stark illustration of the tyranny of an abusive parent. The Names is an exquisitely layered story about the ripple effects of trauma and choices – and the legacy they leave behind.
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Rachael Blackmore shares funny perk of being in relationship with fellow jockey Brian Hayes amid retirement bombshell
RACHAEL Blackmore outlined a funny perk of being in a relationship with another jockey mere hours before announcing her retirement. Monday brought with it her bombshell announcement that she was Advertisement 3 She completed the 'Big Four Set' at this year's Cheltenham Festival when she won the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle aboard Bob Olinger 3 She's won over €9million in prize money over her entire career 3 She mostly keeps her life with boyfriend Brian Hayes very much private 24 hours previous she had appeared on In between each musical interlude, the generally private Tipperary native shared snippets from her personal life from going up on a farm to her time as a student in UCD. At one juncture, O'Connor enquired about The 35-year-old insisted their chats don't revolve around horse racing as much as people assume when two people from within the industry are dating. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport She did, however, quip about one lovely benefit to them being in the same line of work. The trailblazer told "But we don't talk about racing half as much as people think we might. "We both understand what it's like to be a jockey and yeah I suppose I don't really know any different." Advertisement Most read in Horse Racing She doesn't know any different as she's been a jockey for almost half her life. In bringing the curtain down on her 16-year stint as one, Aidan O'Brien 'fires shots' at rivals as superstar horse is slashed for Epsom and the Arc after Ryan Moore masterclass She became the first female jockey to Blackmore also became the first female to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard in 2022, one of 18 winners at the Cheltenham Festival. Advertisement She rider spent three months on the sidelines with a neck injury earlier this year and she struggled for form when she returned to the saddle. But she ended up having another hugely successful season and completed a clean-sweep of the four flagship Cheltenham Festival races when winning the Stayers' Hurdle on Bob Olinger in March. She also Reflecting on her rise to the top in a heartfelt retirement statement, de Bromhead was one of two trainers she reserved special gratitude for. Advertisement PARTICULAR PRAISE She recalled: "I rode my first winner for (John) Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. "I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come. "A conversation between Eddie O'Leary and "Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable: Advertisement "He's a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me. Without Henry, my story is very different. "To all my great friends – you made winning special. Brian Hayes won't enjoy getting a mention, but he was more important to my career than I'll ever be able to thank him for."
