Tag: Fíona Scarlett

BOYS DON’T CRY Out Now in Paperback

Posted on Friday, February 4th, 2022

BOYS DON’T CRY, Fíona Scarlett‘s acclaimed, award-nominated debut novel, is now available in paperback! Published by Faber, here’s the synopsis…

They say boys don’t cry.

But Finn’s seen his Da do it when he thinks no one’s looking, so that’s not true.

And isn’t it OK to be sad, when bad things happen?

They say boys don’t cry, but you might…

Here are just a few of the great reviews the novel has received so far…

‘I can’t remember ever reading anything so moving… It’s so beautiful.’ — Marian Keyes

‘A magnetic book, the characters and their stories drawing you right into their lives so it feels like you’re among them, listening to them and rooting for them to be okay. Tough and true and sad and hopeful, it really is an unforgettable read.’ — Donal Ryan

‘A beautifully rendered story, a thriller, a heartbreaker, with the voice of real people, authentic to the bone, characters that will live on long after you’ve turned the last page. I loved it.’ — Kit de Waal

‘BOYS DON’T CRY is such a beautiful book. Told with compassion and empathy, it will break your heart in a million different ways. Utterly unforgettable.’ — Louise O’Neill

‘[T]otally absorbing. It is a real skill to write about the death of a child without being over-sentimental or mawkish and Fíona nailed it. It’s a bittersweet tale — powerful and poignant, and laced with dark humour. I loved it.’ — Ruth Hogan

‘Hilarious and heartbreaking.’ — Louise Nealon

‘A lyrical, beautifully written story that explores toxic masculinity through the eyes of children. I couldn’t put it down.’ — Christie Watson

Fíona Scarlett’s BOYS DON’T CRY is Out Now in the UK!

Posted on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021

Fíona Scarlett‘s brilliant debut novel, BOYS DON’T CRY is out today in the UK! The moving and brilliant novel is published by Faber. Here’s the synopsis…

Joe is 17, a gifted artist and a brilliant older brother to 12-year-old Finn. They live with their Ma and Da in a Dublin tower block called Bojaxhiu or ‘the Jax’. It’s not an easy place to be a kid, especially when your father, Frank, is the muscle for the notorious gang leader Dessie ‘The Badger’ Murphy. But whether it’s daytrips to the beach or drawing secret sketches, Joe works hard to show Finn life beyond the battered concrete yard below their flat.

Joe is determined not to become like his Da. But when Finn falls ill, Joe finds his convictions harder to cling to. With his father now in prison, his mother submerged in her grief, and his relationships with friends and classmates crumbling, Joe has to figure out how to survive without becoming what the world around him expects him to be.

Here are just a few of the early reviews the novel has received…

‘BOYS DON’T CRY is such a special book. Told with compassion and empathy, it will break your heart in a million different ways. Utterly unforgettable.’ — Louise O’Neill

‘Hilarious and heartbreaking. A warm, witty story that captures the intimacy of Dublin. Finn, Joe and Sabine are not leaving my mind any time soon. Fans of Louise O’Neill and Roddy Doyle, make space on your shelf for your next favourite writer.’ — Louise Nealon

‘Set in the soul of inner city Dublin, a family struggles with the lot of their circumstances and the wolf of criminal menace at their door. At the core are two brothers, one fading, the other lusting for an alternative life that they both deserve. Gritty. Devastating. This story will linger.’ — The Librarian’s Cellar

Next Year: Fíona Scarlett’s BOYS DON’T CRY

Posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

Announced back in July, we’re happy to share with you today the eye-catching cover for Fíona Scarlett‘s upcoming debut novel, BOYS DON’T CRY! Due to be published next year in the UK by Faber, it’s a moving and brilliant debut. Here’s the synopsis…

Joe is 17, a gifted artist and a brilliant older brother to 12-year-old Finn. They live with their Ma and Da in a Dublin tower block called Bojaxhiu or ‘the Jax’. It’s not an easy place to be a kid, especially when your father, Frank, is the muscle for the notorious gang leader Dessie ‘The Badger’ Murphy. But whether it’s daytrips to the beach or drawing secret sketches, Joe works hard to show Finn life beyond the battered concrete yard below their flat.

Joe is determined not to become like his Da. But when Finn falls ill, Joe finds his convictions harder to cling to. With his father now in prison, his mother submerged in her grief, and his relationships with friends and classmates crumbling, Joe has to figure out how to survive without becoming what the world around him expects him to be.

The novel, which will be available on April 22nd, has already picked up a few great advance reviews, too…

‘BOYS DON’T CRY is such a special book. Told with compassion and empathy, it will break your heart in a million different ways. Utterly unforgettable.’ — Louise O’Neill

‘Hilarious and heartbreaking. A warm, witty story that captures the intimacy of Dublin. Finn, Joe and Sabine are not leaving my mind any time soon. Fans of Louise O’Neill and Roddy Doyle, make space on your shelf for your next favourite writer.’ — Louise Nealon

‘Set in the soul of inner city Dublin, a family struggles with the lot of their circumstances and the wolf of criminal menace at their door. At the core are two brothers, one fading, the other lusting for an alternative life that they both deserve. Gritty. Devastating. This story will linger.’ — The Librarian’s Cellar

Deal Alert: Faber acquires Fíona Scarlett’s BOYS DON’T CRY!

Posted on Monday, July 27th, 2020

We are very happy to report that Faber Books has acquired World English rights for Fíona Scarlett‘s debut novel, BOYS DON’T CRY!

First reported by BookBrunch, here is a synopsis for the novel…

Joe is seventeen, a gifted artist and a brilliant older brother to twelve-year-old Finn. They live with their ma and da in a Dublin tower block called The Jax. It’s not an easy place to be a kid, especially when your father, Frank, is the muscle for the notorious gang leader Dessie “The Badger” Murphy. But whether it’s day trips to the beach or drawing secret sketches, Joe works hard to show Finn life beyond the battered concrete yard below their flat.

Joe is determined not to become like his da. But when Finn falls ill, Joe finds his convictions harder to cling to. With his father now in prison, his mother submerged in her grief and his relationships with friends and classmates crumbling, Joe has to figure out how to survive without becoming what the world around him expects him to be.’ 

‘I am absolutely over the moon that BOYS DON’T CRY has found such a wonderful home at Faber with the fabulous Louisa Joyner,’ says Scarlett. ‘To work with Faber is a dream come true and I’m beyond excited for the road ahead.’

Editor Louisa Joyner acquired the rights from Zeno’s Louise Buckley, and had the following to say about the novel…

‘Fíona Scarlett’s novel pretty much did it for me. It’s a great big beating heart of a novel, from an incredibly talented young author; the tale of two brothers and the stories they can’t escape. Boys don’t cry? Well, we shall see – this editor cried buckets.’

We will, of course, share more news (e.g., cover art) as soon as we have it.

The book is due to be published in May 2021. We are sure a lot of people are going to love this novel as much as we do.

Congratulations, Fíona!