Holding Her Breath

Holding Her Breath is a critically acclaimed debut novel that follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery and healing in the shadow of her family's tragic past. She embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her grandfather and his widow, and discovers a secret archive that holds the key to her family's history. The novel is a moving and entertaining exploration of complicated love stories, ambition, and grief, and is praised for its impressive skill and lightness of touch.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 24 March 2022
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Shortlisted for the John McGahern Prize 2022




This critically acclaimed debut is a guaranteed hit with literary fiction lovers this Christmas.




When Beth Crowe starts university, she is shadowed by the ghost of her potential as a competitive swimmer. Free to create a fresh identity for herself, she finds herself among people who adore the poetry of her grandfather, Benjamin Crowe, who died tragically before she was born. She embarks on a secret relationship and on a quest to discover the truth about Benjamin and his widow, her beloved grandmother Lydia. The quest brings her into an archive that no scholar has ever seen, and to a person who knows things about her family that nobody else knows.




Holding Her Breath is a razor-sharp, moving, and seriously entertaining novel about complicated love stories, ambition, and grief—and a young woman coming fully into her powers.




SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2021


SHORTLISTED FOR THE KATE O BRIEN AWARD 2022


A stunning debut from this new Irish talent




Stellar is a beautiful coming-of-age story told with impressive skill and lightness of touch. . . . I absolutely loved it.




Louise O'Neill


Whip-smart observations and addictive prose.




Sunday Telegraph


Precise, sure, engaging, and a joy to read.




Roddy Doyle


A moving debut with a satisfying conclusion.




Irish Independent


Brilliant, vivid—I enjoyed this book ENORMOUSLY.




Marian Keyes


Enthralling.




Image




A nimble account of student life with a darkly enjoyable undercurrent of secrecy and emotional turmoil.




Sara Baume


A truly compelling read, and one I wholeheartedly recommend.




Buzz


Through the dark sky of our times,

Weight: 184g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781844885473