Fiction reviews Non-Fiction reviews Books for Younger Readers Author Interviews Books News and Features Books Home Page
I read 2026's most exciting new books — here are the best ones for your summer reading list
I read 2026's most exciting new books — here are the best ones for your summer reading list
From BookTok sensations to indie gems, digital features editor and avid reader Denise O’Donoghue has read the year’s most talked-about titles — these are the ones worth making room for in your suitcase

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

My life in books: I think I’ve learned something from nearly every book I’ve read
My life in books: I think I’ve learned something from nearly every book I’ve read
Author Dervla McTiernan says she doesn’t think there’s any one book that everyone should read: 'We bring our life experience to every book we read and so every book is different for every reader'

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Book review: Rome wasn’t built on fair play
Book review: Rome wasn’t built on fair play
Emma Southon's 'Servus' acts as a great corrective to an immense historical lacuna; you will see Rome in a new and sulphurous light

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Book review: Raw, unfiltered look at child star trauma
Book review: Raw, unfiltered look at child star trauma
Louise O'Neill's new novel will leave readers so invested they might forget they are reading a work of fiction

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Author interview: Murphy’s debut explores real, honest stories through fiction
Author interview: Murphy’s debut explores real, honest stories through fiction
After announcing her debut novel ‘Blood & Water’ on national television last year, Rebecca Murphy is both excited and nervous at the prospect of people reading her work

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Friday Night Lights
S Jennifer Horgan: Kyle Chandler reels? Fine. But such scrolling could destroy my interior life 
Although enjoying the ‘Friday Night Lights’ links, Jennifer Horgan headed back, in her own mind, to two recently-published books that pay better regard to our interior selves

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Trinity graduate Virginia Evans wins Women’s Prize for her debut novel
Trinity graduate Virginia Evans wins Women’s Prize for her debut novel
Evans attended Trinity on an MFA for creative writing when she was 32 and unpublished

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Author Lally has 'earned more from cleaning than writing’
Author Lally has 'earned more from cleaning than writing’
Witty and observant memoir illustrates challenges of balancing a writing career with a job and family life

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

My life in books: Lecturer Katriona looking forward to bookshop week
My life in books: Lecturer Katriona looking forward to bookshop week
Katriona O’Sullivan: 'I love a good old Patricia Scanlan book for comfort; the 'City Girl' series was so good'

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Book review: ‘The Country Girls’ for modern times
Book review: ‘The Country Girls’ for modern times
Louise Nealon’s second novel, 'Everything That Is Beautiful', is not a pleasant or uplifting experience; it is not meant to be

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Book review: Ark offers no salvation in the North’s troubled waters
Book review: Ark offers no salvation in the North’s troubled waters
Jan Carson's 'Few and far Between' is a complex story about trauma and how we escape it

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

Children's book reviews: Secret sisterhoods, high-seas adventure, and great scary fun
Children's book reviews: Secret sisterhoods, high-seas adventure, and great scary fun
Beyond their worthy messages, this trio of children's authors shine thanks to great storytelling

Fri, 05 Jun, 2026

10 new books for June: Maggie O'Farrell, Patrick Freyne, Ciara Mageean...
10 new books for June: Maggie O'Farrell, Patrick Freyne, Ciara Mageean...
Cork doctor Dr Alan Desmond also has a new book on the relationship between what you eat and how you feel 

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

My life in books: ‘I’m confident that the books that need to be written will be written’
My life in books: ‘I’m confident that the books that need to be written will be written’
Dermot Bolger says his latest collection of short stores, 'Imperfect Beings', is dedicated to his young grandson to 'read when he is considerably older'

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Book review: Quest leaves no stone unturned
Book review: Quest leaves no stone unturned
David Keohan's 'The Wind Beneath the Stone' is a well-researched window into a forgotten aspect of Ireland’s rural social life

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Book review: Small but perfectly formed
Book review: Small but perfectly formed
In creating these complex, yet unforgettable characters, Danielle McLaughlin has produced a slim volume to cherish; one that is small, but quite perfectly formed

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Author interview: Ní Ghríofa brings women of Our Lady’s out of the shadows
Author interview: Ní Ghríofa brings women of Our Lady’s out of the shadows
Marjorie Brennan spoke with the extraordinary Doireann Ní Ghríofa who has channelled a chorus of ghostly voices to tell the story of female patients of the former Cork psychiatric hospital

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Cork author wins at Children’s Books Ireland Awards
Cork author wins at Children’s Books Ireland Awards
'The Rachel Incident' author Caroline O'Donoghue recognised for creativity at Children's Books Ireland Awards

Sun, 24 May, 2026

My life in books: ‘An iced latte and a good read make for an unbeatable combo’
My life in books: ‘An iced latte and a good read make for an unbeatable combo’
Juliano Zaffino founded YourShelf, a bespoke book-subscription service and also hosts a related podcast, interviewing writers

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Book review: Eerie predictions from the past
Book review: Eerie predictions from the past
The book is an obvious reflection of the darkening political clouds gathering over Europe in the 1930s

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Book review: Gripping yarn is a solid debut
Book review: Gripping yarn is a solid debut
US-born author RP O’Donnell, who now lives in West Cork, has a good grasp of village life and the nature that surrounds it

Sat, 23 May, 2026

Author interview: ‘Rituals’ created by novelist’s collaboration with visual artist
Author interview: ‘Rituals’ created by novelist’s collaboration with visual artist
Danielle McLaughlin chats about her new novel ‘Rituals’ with Marjorie Brennan, and describes the evolution of its central character, a middle-aged woman whose routine-driven life is steered in a new direction

Fri, 22 May, 2026

‘What a thrill’: Scottish writer wins €100k Dublin Literary Award
‘What a thrill’: Scottish writer wins €100k Dublin Literary Award
Gliff by Ali Smith is a dystopian novel about two young people and a horse who are on the run from history as it takes a turn for the worse

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Sally Rooney attends a photocall during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August, 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sally Rooney’s latest novel Intermezzo to get Hebrew translation
November Books is the only Israeli publisher that meets conditions the BDS movement has set for exemption from the boycott.

Wed, 20 May, 2026

The International Booker Prize 2026 public shortlist readings at Bristol Beacon, Bristol, UK - 15 May 2026
First Taiwanese writer and translator win the International Booker Prize
The book follows a Japanese novelist as she goes on a culinary tour through 1930s Japan-occupied Taiwan

Wed, 20 May, 2026

My life in books: Every amazing or even enjoyable book I’ve read made me want to be a writer
My life in books: Every amazing or even enjoyable book I’ve read made me want to be a writer
Author Derek Landy says a turn of phrase by Elmore Leonard, or a casual insight by Hunter S Thompson, or a throwaway description by Stephen King, can all make him happy

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Book review: Force of three intrepid women
Book review: Force of three intrepid women
By weaving three biographies together in one publication, Julia Cooke has created an all thriller, no filler read

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Book review: Memories through lens of the body
Book review: Memories through lens of the body
'Hungry' is a compulsive, inspiring read, from a writer who appears to have yet more to offer in terms of literary contribution

Sat, 16 May, 2026

Author interview: Striking first line eventually leads to an extraordinary twist
Author interview: Striking first line eventually leads to an extraordinary twist
Famous for explosive openings, Liz Nugent tells Sue Leonard about her writing process, her latest novel, and what led her to create the lead character, Ruby Cooper, as an alcoholic

Fri, 15 May, 2026

First look: Young stars of Cork-set Boys of Tommen series confirmed
First look: Young stars of Cork-set Boys of Tommen series confirmed
They received over 3000 casting suggestions from across the UK and Ireland before finding their four lead stars

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Rachel Incident filming underway in Cork — here’s what we know
Rachel Incident filming underway in Cork — here’s what we know
The eight-part series has Máiréad Tyers, Sarah Green and Daniel Ing among the cast

Fri, 15 May, 2026

My life in books: ‘I loved reading books to my two children when they were younger’
My life in books: ‘I loved reading books to my two children when they were younger’
Gene Kerrigan and Pat Brennan's 'This Great Little Nation: The A-Z of Irish Scandals and Controversies' taught Barry Cummins that an Irish investigative journalist will never be out of work

Sat, 09 May, 2026

The Women's Prize Trust Summer Party & Awards Ceremony 2025
Book review: Profound truth of disconnection
In a world where we are constantly connected but increasingly out of touch with our humanity, there is immeasurable value in seeing and acknowledging other people

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Book review: Toxic potential of memory
Book review: Toxic potential of memory
Dermot Bolger writes best when he writes sparely, at times delivering blunt life lessons, unvarnished home truths

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Author interview: How Irish dancing became the victim of its own success
Author interview: How Irish dancing became the victim of its own success
In 2022, after receiving an anonymous tip-off, 'Irish Times' journalist Ellen Coyne broke a story about alleged cheating in the highly competitive world of Irish dancing

Fri, 08 May, 2026

Lighten up: Cork World Book Fest brings city and country together   
Lighten up: Cork World Book Fest brings city and country together   
Like a sow hearing the rattle of a bucket in a faraway yard, when our Denis Lehane heard about Cork World Book Fest, he just knew he had to be there

Tue, 05 May, 2026

My Life in Books: I feel that life is too short to read 'Don Quixote'
My Life in Books: I feel that life is too short to read 'Don Quixote'
UCC lecturer and translator Aidan Doyle says his influences are a bit different than for creative writers

Sat, 02 May, 2026

Book review: Murder and mystery in a small town
Book review: Murder and mystery in a small town
Final instalment of Tana French's trilogy is an absorbing and believable read

Fri, 01 May, 2026

Edinburgh International Book Festival 2019
Book review: Lanchester is a master of writing topical tales that entertain
'Look What You Made Me Do' deals with some weighty topics but also reads as if it was fun to write

Fri, 01 May, 2026

10 books for May: New titles from Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Douglas Stuart, Sarah A Parker...
10 books for May: New titles from Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Douglas Stuart, Sarah A Parker...
The Aisling authors also have a new book on the way 

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

File Pics The journalist and writer, Maeve Binchy, has died following a short illness. She was 72.
Gordon Snell, children’s author and husband of Maeve Binchy, dies aged 93
Prolific writer of more than 70 children’s books also worked in broadcasting and shared a creative partnership with Maeve Binchy

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Rows of books in shelves
Barry Andrews: Big publishers are ripping off our public libraries
Libraries are for everyone. In a noisy and hectic world, they are one of the few quiet places we have left, but the public library model is in danger, writes Barry Andrews

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

Book review: Memoir dives into an eccentric Belfast childhood
Book review: Memoir dives into an eccentric Belfast childhood
Born in Belfast in 1972, Sinéad Morrisey was raised in the shadow of the Troubles, but somehow apart from them, thanks to her parents’ passionate belief in communism

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

My Life in Books: I bring a book everywhere, in case there is a minute or two of downtime
My Life in Books: I bring a book everywhere, in case there is a minute or two of downtime
Boston born RP O’Donnell, who now lives in West Cork, has just published his debut novel 'All the Old Clocks'

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

Book review: Finding common ground in shared grief
Book review: Finding common ground in shared grief
If you want to open your heart up and let three incredibly brave and independent women tell you their story, 'Secrets Between Friends' could be the perfect read for you

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

Children's book reviews: Young Lana’s fate sealed when she turns in to a sea creature?
Children's book reviews: Young Lana’s fate sealed when she turns in to a sea creature?
Pet O’Connell rounds up a selection of the latest children’s books, including tales of a teen girl who can shape shift when wearing her nana’s coat, a history book in verse, and a boy superhero

Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

The Keanification of Ireland: Author Dave Hannigan on Roy Keane’s enduring influence
The Keanification of Ireland: Author Dave Hannigan on Roy Keane’s enduring influence
Author Dave Hannigan discusses Roy Keane’s roots, influence, and complex legacy in shaping modern Irish identity

 Listen | Fri, 24 Apr, 2026

 Listen |
Trinity graduate among authors shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
Trinity graduate among authors shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
The 2026 winner will be revealed in June

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

My life in books: ‘Ireland has so many wonderful bookshops’
My life in books: ‘Ireland has so many wonderful bookshops’
Longford-based farmer, and author of 'The Cow Book', John Connell is currently researching a book on the environment

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Book review: Classic mixed with current
Book review: Classic mixed with current
A prolific novelist, poet and essayist, Mary O’Donnell writes with all the assurance you would expect from an author of her experience

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Latest

Scene & Heard

Newsletter

From music and film to books and visual art, explore the best of culture in Munster and beyond. Selected by our Arts Editor and delivered weekly.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited