Stations by Louise Kennedy

 This deeply depressing, but bittersweet and moving novel, is all about unresolved longing. When Roisin, just a schoolgirl, meets Red, a good-looking boy with ‘the smarts’ in 1980s Ireland, she falls for him almost straightaway. They share a connection for years, but it’s an extremely troubled one.

Soon after her no-hoper father leaves her mother for another woman, Rousin drops out of college, and makes her way to London. There, she lives in a squat with Red, and his friends and watches while Red gets into the clutches of ‘posh,’ Oxford-educated, beautiful, drug-dealing Octavia. There are good times, though, watching LiveAid and sharing nights at the pub with old friends. Her Dad’s new wife becomes a good friend, and her new half-sister brings her joy. It seems to be a fast road downhill for Red, though. Will he get out of it?

Roisin yearns for Red through thick and thin, even after his friends sneer at the nickname that he’s given her, ‘The Little Match Girl’. He’s not such a likeable character, but that’s often the way yearning is. Roisin never forgets her first love. 

It’s a memorable, haunting book, especially if you remember the era!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.