I feel like the only review I need to write for this book is that it was so fucking good I read 700 pages in two days. TWO DAYS. I physically could not put it down. It felt like I literally lived a life with Cyril and I shed a tear when it ended.

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The Heart’s Invisible Furies is equal parts hilarious and horrifying, following the life of Cyril Avery, a gay man who grew up in Ireland at a time when being gay could land you in prison - or worse. The discrimination Cyril faces is difficult to comprehend and yet not. This was what life was like for gay men, in an Ireland where sexual repression was rife, boys and men beaten to within an inch of their lives for who they are, forced to flee their home country if they want any semblance of a peaceful existence. And yet during the 70s and 80s this was still almost impossible to find abroad, with the AIDs crisis decimating the American population while the government pretended it didn’t exist.

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You might be reading this and wondering how a book that tackles such sensitive subjects can be described as hilarious, but seriously, believe it. Boyne’s sense of humour is completely up my street, and some of the one liners from Cyril as well as interactions with others had me cackling. I often find witty banter between fictional characters more cringey than comic, but here it is pitch perfect. The humour perfectly balances the more serious side of the story, even when you don’t know whether you want to laugh or cry.

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Rarely do you come across a book where every character shines. But I just wanted to give them all, Cyril, Baastien, Ignac, Catherine, Alice, Julian, a gigantic group hug! At one point I did find myself wondering how many coincidences was too many for one book, but I quickly realised I didn’t actually care. And besides, real life is full of them anyway!

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I genuinely cannot recommend this book enough. Fantastic writing, warm and real characters, astute observations of everything from the Catholic church in the 20th century to the IRA to the AIDs crisis, a full rollercoaster ride of emotions... what more could you ask for in a novel?!