"Tackling the weightiness of grief with a lovely lightness of touch, this delightful debut brims with funny family bonds and the glow of having a place to come home to."
Alice Ryan’s There's Been a Little Incident debut is one of those wonderful novels that balances a lightness of touch with due gravitas as it explores life’s biggest trials — grief, and the resulting sense of losing our way in the world. But, as this novel shows with humour and heart, if we’re lucky, there’s always a place and people to come home to, when we’re ready.
In Molly’s experience, which sits at the heart of the novel, “Grief was always coming for her. Waiting until she couldn’t move. Until there was nowhere to hide”. After losing her parents, Molly is adrift from life. A rootless young woman who takes temporary jobs and moves from flat to flat in London while her Irish family worry and want her to find her way home.
"The Black family had countless flaws. They were nosy and judgemental…The Black family didn’t stop talking. They didn’t stop meeting. They didn’t stop phoning”. As a result, when Molly sends a note saying she’s gone for good, the Blacks think nothing of hopping on a plane to Thailand to find “the person they’d all accidently let fall through the cracks.”
Through the wild disparities of the Black family - from former model Lady V, to troubled cousin Bobby, to loving, loveable Uncle John - this novel captures the quirkiness and beauty of unbreakable family bonds with wit, compassion and observational aplomb. With Molly’s memories her one-of-a-kind mum supplemented by letter-form diary entries that are ablaze with adoration for Molly, this is an absorbing, moving read.
| Primary Genre | Family Drama |
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The Black family are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to looking after one of their own.
This is a beautifully written story based on family life, it touches on love, jealousy and grief as well as family dynamics, rivalries and everything that occurs in part in most families. This book takes you on a journey, not only across the globe in search of Molly Black but also with the characters and the way they develop throughout the story. I adored Uncle John; every family needs one character like him to take the helm. It made me laugh out loud at some of their antics and also tugged on my heartstrings.... Read Full Review
Loved this - funny, clever
This is primarily about family and relationships within them. Molly is the cherished niece, cousin, granddaughter however, she has a habit of disappearing when things get tough. This is the story of one such episode.
It is a heart-warming story. It took me a while to get into the story, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. However, I would have loved the ending to have been padding out a little more.
Would I recommend this?... Read Full Review
