Book reviews: Three captivating novels by women writers engaging from the outset

Tina Neylon selects her books of 2023: two of her chosen novels are debuts and all three are by female authors

Anne Tiernan's 'The Last Days of Joy' is an unforgettable novel, hugely enjoyable, absorbing, and thought-provoking. Picture: Maree Wilkinson

One of the debuts is The Last Days of Joy by Anne Tiernan (Hachette Books Ireland, €14.99) which explores a number of themes, among them addiction, mental health, and relationships.

Joy is dying. She’s a complicated woman, who has spent her life trying to run away from her past while bringing up her children on her own.