gifted by @bibliolifestyle & the publisher

Set in the 1990s Ireland, COAST ROAD follows three women with intertwined lives who navigate their broken/disintegrating marriages before divorces are legal. Izzy is a housewife who feels stifled by her politician husband's refusal to let her start her own business. Colette is a poet who returns to her family after having an affair and tries to see her children, but her husband denies her. Dolores struggles with financial stability as she navigates pregnancy and her wandering husband. Is saving their marriages conducive to their well-being?

I couldn't believe this is a debut novel! COAST ROAD is an incredibly well-balanced story, skillfully setting the backdrop of Ireland in the 90s with the fight between divorce legislation and Catholic beliefs while focusing on the lives of three different women as they navigate the limitations placed on them.

I'm particularly surprised by how well a male author can write female characters without making them overly sexual. Often, male authors' attempts at writing women, especially in sex scenes, can come across as creepy (cough cough Murakami Haruki, even though he's still one of my favorite writers lol). However, Alan Murrin portrays the three characters with deep internal lives and complexities that feel authentic and respectful.

The writing is both literary and engaging, a rare feat for debut authors. The poetic prose and rhythmic style never feel overwritten, and I inhaled COAST ROAD in a weekend. The vivid descriptions of the scenery are another highlight. COAST ROAD transports me to the windy and chilly Irish coasts, making me feel as if I'm right there.

While the "plot twist" may be somewhat predictable, it doesn't diminish the book's powerful message. The Coast Road is ultimately a story about women's freedom—how they define it and what they're willing to sacrifice for it. I'm eagerly looking forward to Alan Murrin's next work!