Boys Don't Cry - Fiona Scarlett

Genre: Literary Fiction | General Fiction

Release Date: 21st April 2021

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Joe and Finn live with their Ma and Da in the Bojahixu, or the 'Jax' - the Dublin tower block where a notorious gang roam freely - including their own Da. And while it might be the only way they've ever known, Joe doesn't want his younger brother to accept that life has to be this way forever - he wants to show him a life outside the dark concrete jungle they've always called home.

But now, at seventeen, Joe is close to losing hope. His Da is in prison, his Ma hides away from the world to face her sadness alone, and maybe worst of all Finn has become sick - Joe feels alone in the world, spiralling with no purpose and no direction. The world, his family, his friends - they've always told him what to do, who to be and most of all, never to cry. But how can you stop crying when your world is ending? And who can Joe be when he's forced to figure it out on his own?

If you're looking for something happy to read, put this book back on the shelf and walk away. This is the kind of story that is full of heartbreak, disappointment and emotive - and take a step back to think.

Joe, our storyteller, is just a teenager but paints a visceral picture of a world of gangs, drugs, violence and loss. A fairly quick read, but still packing so much detail and feeling into the pages, although personally it felt like some details were missing for me that would have made the story that much more complete and whole.

A striking debut that explores family, legacy, class and the impossible expectations that young men are expected to uphold and the dangers they can cause to everyone.

I definitely think we'll be hearing more from Scarlett in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I was gifted a reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review.

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