Beginner’s pluck: Belfast-born and Newcastle-based Gráinne O’Hare

'Thirst Trap' is a brilliant portrayal of grief — and of growing up and it's written with humour, hope, and warmth

Gráinne O’Hare: 'I always adored reading and wanted to write. I started at 12 — writing historical fiction.'

Gráinne’s mum got told off for teaching her daughter to read before she started school.

“I always adored reading and wanted to write. I started at 12 — writing historical fiction.

“Some of my stories were the length of novels. It was my main hobby.”

She continued to write and has been shortlisted for several awards including the Francis MacManus Award, and the Benedict Kiely Short Story Competition.

After completing her MA in Belfast, Gráinne temped in offices for a while. Then she moved to Newcastle.

I felt homesick, and so far away from my friends in Belfast.

“I started Thirst Trap as a way to live in Belfast vicariously — and to reconnect with it that way. It took a few years.”

Meanwhile, she has taken a PhD, finishing her viva a month ago.

“I took it part-time and worked full-time for the city council.”

In 2022, Gráinne received a Northern Debut Award from New Writing North.

“I gained mentoring for a year from Naomi Booth. And my agent, Jenny Hewson got in touch.”

Who is Gráinne O’Hare?

Date/ place of birth: 1993/ Belfast.

Education: Fort William Dominican College in Belfast; Queens University, Belfast, English and politics, and MA in English Literature; Newcastle University, PhD in English Literature — focusing on 18th Century Women’s Life Writing.

Home: Newcastle, for the past eight years.

Family: Mother, father, and a younger sister. “I live with my partner, Jack.”

The day job: Administrative work for Newcastle University.

In another life: “When I was young, I wanted to be an astronomer.”

Favourite writers: Jane Austen; Nina Stibbe; Caroline O’Donoghue; Naomi Booth; David Nicholls; Irvine Welsh.

Second book: “I’m writing the first draft.”

Top tip: “Don’t overthink things, and don’t try to perfect things while you’re in the process.”

Instagram: @spacedolphin_

The debut

Thirst Trap

Picador, €16.99

Harley, Maggie, Lydia, and Róise have shared a shambolic Belfast house throughout their messy 20s. Then Lydia dies, and nothing feels the same.

The one-night stands and wild parties lose their gloss, as guilt and grief damages them all.

Can they recover their equilibrium, retain their friendship, and learn to move on?

The verdict: Highly-relatable. A brilliant portrayal of grief — and of growing up. Written with humour, hope, and warmth.