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Ann Devine: Handle With Care
Ann Devine: Handle With Care
Jan 8, 2026 10:54 PM

Author:Colm O'Regan

Ann Devine: Handle With Care

Just once, Ann Devine would like life to be straightforward. But there’s just too much drama knocking about for that to happen.

Ann’s family is proving a handful at the moment. Her mother moves in after having a fall, her sister Ger is off ‘finding herself’ in India leaving Ann to look after her teenage, wide a-woke, niece Freya. Her daughter Jennifer is dealing with a love triangle that involves her mother-in-law-to-be. It’s all far from simple.

Now Rory, her youngest, has set his sights on a future as a local TD and it’s all Ann can do not to box him up and post him off to the backend of wherever is furthest away from his local ‘mentor’, politician, and all-round chancer Patsy Duggan. Just to save him from himself. Of course, that’s not even an option because now the post office is closing down. The locals are up in arms, but what do the powers-that-be care about rural Ireland? Without really meaning to be, Ann finds herself in the thick of things – and things are getting dodgier by the minute.

She only wanted to save the village, but sometimes even saviours need saving from themselves.

Reviews

Reliably hilarious and charming

—— Sunday Independent

A very funny second adventure ... [Ann is] a fully rounded and very sympathetic character, an intelligent woman with zero notions and a wry sense of humour

—— Irish Times

Ann Devine is one of our most endearing literary figures

—— Irish Independent

Just as hilarious and heart-warming as his first

—— Irish Examiner

Provides a much need lift to the spirits ... Ann is an honest and endearing creation ... She embodies the spirit of uplift with a refreshing Irish pragmatism

—— Sunday Times

This sequel is a joy to read

—— Best Irish Novels of the Year , Irish Independent

Hugely entertaining

—— Pat Kenny , Newstalk

Colm O'Regan's latest novel may be exactly what every Irish person looking for home comforts needs in their life during a pandemic ... he again proves himself one of the foremost chroniclers of rural Ireland

—— Hot Press

Every bit as charming and perceptive as its predecessor

—— Irish Independent Review

Very funny indeed and actually very heartwarming ... A great read

—— Brendan O'Connor , RTÉ Radio 1

A warm, funny and charming novel that transcends its locale

—— Business Post

King of Irish Mammy humour

—— Irish Tatler

Up to her oxters in a clatter of domestic misadventures that would leave her urban literary parallel, Ross O'Carroll Kelly, in the ha'penny place

—— RTÉ Guide
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