Readers are saying this Irish novel is one of the best books of the year so far

Oliver Callan said Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way by Elaine Feeney is the best book of 2025.

And we couldn't agree with him more.

Elaine Feeney has been receiving waves of praise for her poignant novel, which was released in May. The Booker Prize nominee has penned an emotional story of love and resilience.

The novel is also rich with historical depth, drama, and the legacies of violence and redemption.

We're incredibly lucky to have so many talented authors in Ireland, but this is one book you cannot miss.

The synopsis reads:

'Claire O'Connor's life has been on hold since she broke up with Tom Morton and moved from London back home to the rugged West of Ireland to care for her dying father. But glimpses of her old life are sure to follow when Tom unexpectedly moves nearby.

'As Claire is thrown into a love she thought she'd left behind, she questions if Tom has come for her or for himself. Living in her childhood home brings its own challenges.

'While Claire tries to maintain a normal life - getting lost online, going to work, and minding her own business.

'Tom's return stirs up haunting memories trapped within the walls of the old family house.

'As the secrets of the past are revealed, Claire must confront whether she can escape her history to make a future for herself.'

The Irish novel is the one book you need to read in 2025.