when sean assaults a stranger at a house party, the reality of his lifestyle begins to sink in. there’s only so long one can continue to live in hedonism, surrounded by old friends, easily accessible gear and a family devastated by generational trauma from the troubles and abuse. determined to get his life on track, sean searches for work following many futile attempts to put his english degree to good use. he connects with old friends and finds himself climbing into social circles he never quite feels at home in. but when opportunities for young men in belfast are few and far between, how can he expect to leave behind a lifestyle that is consuming those around him? I truly don’t think I’ve ever read a book that so accurately summarises what life for young people in belfast is like at this present moment until now. Magee’s characterisation is somewhat biographical, but also universal - I grew up around men like Sean, have seen friends and family fall into the same sense of despair and listlessness that he is trying to hard to grapple against. the socio-economic and political climate in the north is also throughly accurately represented and it is particularly wonderful to see a spotlight on West Belfast - a rich part of the city that is so criminally underrepresented in literature. sean is a layered, complex protagonist and his journey could be anyone’s story. magee wants us to connect with him, find a part of ourselves in him and show us that brighter times do lie out of the darkness, even when it seems like everything around us is crumbling. there have been many comparisons to shuggie bain, but close to home is not a copycat. the distinctly Irish voice and context adds grit and a freshness to a story that so many of us on the isle have seen play out time and time again. close to home is a powerful, remarkable debut and I’ve been so thankful to see michael magee speak on his incredible debut and have amazing conversations with those around me about it. this is a model that deserves to be heard, read and understood and a Belfast story that will go down in history. thank you to penguin for my gifted copy!

Close to Home follows Sean, a University graduate who must return to his home of Belfast despite it being the last thing he wants to do. Subsequently trying to avoid being shaped by trauma and class, Sean does his best with the hand he’s been dealt. This novel feels like a love child of Sally Rooney and Douglas Stuart, and it’s my hope that it receives the same attention and praise as any of these two authors’ titles. Michael Magee’s debut novel has a narrative that straddles many important themes, such as trauma vs. masculinity and social class, doing so in a way that is understated but undoubtedly poignant. Magee showcases his strong grasp of storytelling and character study in Close to Home, putting a distant and flawed, but loveable character at its centre. We get to know his world, and despite its imperfections, we grow to know it and appreciate it as Sean does. One of my favourites of the year so far, and a must-read.

This is a novel that will be relatable for so many. The experience of coming home after a university degree and struggling to readjust, and feeling torn between the community's you have moved through is poignant. What I personally loved about this novel is how confidently and authentically it talks about class. You get the feeling that the author isn't writing about these issues as someone who is sympathetically writing about them from the side-lines, but as someone who had experienced them first hand. Besides this the way Magee writes family relationships and other relationships is convincing and subtle. The novel also tackles the aftermath of the troubles particularly well, without condescension, discussing the unemployment, trauma and toxic masculinity that hangs over the place without reducing the characters motivations or feelings down to this alone (although it plays a large part). Besides the politics of it all though this is a brilliantly written debut novel and I really can't wait to see what Michael Magee does next. I will be recommending this book to anybody who will listen.

This novel left a real impression on me. Sean is a 22-year-old, working-class man who has a degree from Liverpool but is struggling to find a job now that he has returned to his home town of Belfast. His community is haunted by The Troubles, and his family are further haunted by their own troubled past. There is a sense of hopelessness and despair that leaves you really rooting for Sean, desperately wanting him to defy the odds, find success and joy in his life. His determination to stay and progress in Belfast, rather than try to escape like many of his peers, makes him so likeable. He makes many bad decisions and faces many challenging consequences, but ultimately Sean is one of those characters that you just will to push through right till the end. Loved this debut so much and I can't wait to see what else Michael Magee does!

Set in contemporary Belfast, the book follows Sean, a young man who has been to University in England but has returned to his home-town where he works a bar and shares a flat with an old school friend. This is a dark world of drug taking, petty crime, drinking and unemployment, where it appears Sean has left home to return to exactly the same situation. The book explores the consequences for Sean after he is arrested for punching another man at a party, and his reconnection with a past girlfriend, Mairéad, who like him has a degree, but has gained acceptance beyond their working class background and is looked up to by her fellow, middle class students. Not only an exploration of a working class young man’s experience, but the story is very much placed in Northern Ireland where the Troubles may be over, but the shadow of violence and fear remains. It is also a story about family - Sean has two older half brothers, both of whom have looked out for him and protected him, but one of whom, Anthony, is chaotic and impulsive, as well as loving. Sean’s relationship with his ma is sympathetic and mutually supportive. The women in the story have strength, despite their circumstances. A thoughtful and cleverly written story with an interesting central character, and a sense, for me, that this might be based on the author’s own experiences. These characters seem real, the circumstances wholly believable. I wanted Sean to find his place, for his ma to find peace, for Anthony to find help for his addictions. The dialogue is rich with the rhythms of Northern Ireland, fully capturing humour as well as, at times, an underlying aggression. Reminiscent of Shuggy Bain, with a touch of Sally Rooney, this is a striking and poignant debut for Michael Magee.