Cyril Avery was born out of wedlock to an unmarried girl in 1940s Ireland. Adopted out to parents who were, at best, indifferent to him, Cyril is left to his own devices to contend with his sexuality - especially in regards to his best friend Julian - in a country where gay relationships were illegal. THE HEART'S INVISIBLE FURIES follows Cyril's life through to the current day, along with all the loves and losses he endures along the way.

Okay, okay! I finally read the book every last one of you has told me to read! And I loved it! This book is so funny and so sad and so sweet. Cyril is such a wonderful oddball and I rooted for him the whole time. It's also a fairly quick and easy read for such a long book - the writing just carries you right along.

I think the best part of this book is his evolving relationship with Alice. Once they reconcile, they have the kind of friendship anyone would be lucky to have. I did wish he'd gotten more time with Julian to reconcile, but I think this way was pretty true to life. It would really have been that hard to find closure.

Usually I would ding a story for having as many coincidences as this book, but I actually loved it here. I loved how Cyril's birth mother's story was woven into his own, even before he knew it. Life can be strange and unbelievable sometimes, I guess.