Haunting, mesmerising, and so deeply intelligent about the interwoven strengths and frailties of the human heart.

'Memorably disturbing...stylish, deft...very much of the moment...brilliant. Beckett on wheels.'

Powerful . . . compelling and profoundly moving...establishes O'Callaghan as one of the most talented contemporary Irish writers.

Lit up with moments of unexpected beauty and humour...heartbreaking, sweetly logical, tentatively hopeful.

Wonderful, wrenching ... full of enormous feelings very precisely rendered.

Full of wit, charm, and off-beat language - this heartbreaking novel is beautifully drawn in its observation of relationships, intimacy, love and the fragility of family. Unusual, utterly original and mysterious, O'Callaghan is a stunningly good writer. We Are Not In The World is definitely a 2020 must read.

A darkly atmospheric tale of a loner seeking to rebuild his life after a failed love affair. The pursuit of that search, the missteps behind it, and the hard truths he learns in the process are the key concerns of a novel likely to intrigue and unsettle readers.

...the book stays with you, a haunting presence you cannot - and do not want to - escape...astounding

O'Callaghan's writing is so precise, so penetrating and endearing, that it all comes together in a gripping way.

There is a truly ­stunning plot twist that causes the reader to reappraise everything that the narrative has previously articulated . . . packs a real emotional punch

Intimate, gripping, stunning - having read this, the rest of us writers all have to raise our games now.

A sad and stunning meditation on love, grief and long haul driving. This is a novel about distance and closeness which explores those bonds which exist between people long after they leave each other behind. O'Callaghan's prose is shot through with poetry. He has an uncanny ability to turn the seemingly insignificant into something monumental.

A whirlpool of memories, regrets and hopes.

Elusive, unsettling, beautiful, haunting. This is a complex, devastating study of human relations; a portrait of intense love and damage in equal measure.

Beautifully written and hauntingly imagined

You can't get much farther north than the Ontario of Mary Lawson's icy, compelling stories of calamity and redemption. A Town Called Solace keeps you breathless with anxiety, then relief and finally even joy

Close to perfection

Lawson's writing is clear and emotive... In this poignant novel, rightfully recognised by the Booker judges, the steadfastness of children brings solace to lost grown-ups

There's a beauty and simplicity in her [Lawson's] stories set in small-town Canada

Anne Tyler is a big fan of this Canadian author and so am I

A lovely, gentle novel with edge, worthy of Anne Tyler

Lawson's writing is such that it appears effortless but, as all the strands come together to create a rich and satisfying tapestry, her genius for storytelling becomes apparent.

Completely absorbing... A Town Called Solace pleases at every level. It's a captivating tale suffused with wisdom and compassion

[In A Town Called Solace] doubts, difficulties and uncertainties of the human condition are examined carefully in a way that is both heartbreaking and joyful

Subtle and darkly funny, this tender novel unspools the interconnected lives of her beautifully drawn characters, as they grapple with grief and loss, while steadfastly hoping for a change of happiness in the face of life's uncertainties

[Lawson] writes an unpretentious prose that zings with metaphorical vim and humour

Exquisitely poignant

[An] absorbing novel