Mother Mother: A poignant journey of friendship and forgiveness

Product Information

Even though Orla is our main character and narrates in first person, The Mess We're In has a great and fleshed out ensemble of characters.

Ashley Park shares a hug with Emily In Paris star Lily Collins as she is 'recovering and resting in Paris'. But to say Ireland isn't present in The Mess We're In despite its setting in London would be a total lie. Has been known to hack the devices of BBC listeners, entering their homes (and cars) uninvited and stealing data which is then used to flog band merchandise for which a cut is taken. Neema is her best friend but it’s clear that even Neema is challenged by some of Orla’s path toward self-destruction.

The main difference between the debut and The Mess We're In is that the latter is not set in Ireland. I did find it a bit directionless at times, and the story kept repeating itself with just a few different characters in the mix which I found hard to keep track of.

Gordon said: "We all know Annie as someone who oozes warmth, down-to-earth authenticity, and the sharpest intuition when it comes to creative expression. Set in Kilburn, The Mess We’re In is the story of a young Irish woman, Orla Quinn, as she embarks on her London odyssey with hope and expectation. Also, I used to work with old people, a lot of whom were first-gen Irish immigrants who lived in Kilburn and the surrounding areas of London, so some of this really resonated with me. But what was remarkable is that she told the story of her life to her son, who then dictated it in in Gaelic.It’s no accident, then, that the spirit of Sweet Thing is imbued in her debut novel, Mother Mother, the book itself a new doorway she assembled, the threshold of which she’s crossing into the next phase of her creative life. This is one of those devastatingly simple stories which brilliantly captures the toll that loss and grief takes on a family through the generations. The sliciest of lives, this fairly mundane story is carried by some strong characterisation and a bit of music career wish-fulfilment. There is a definite undertone of both guilt and resentment in Orla's decision to leave Ireland for England. Speaking about the effect the pandemic had on her outlook, she added: 'I was more aware of the kids than I’ve ever been.

I love how these characters and their actions make you feel like you know them because you relate them into your own life.Mary’s mum died when she was a baby, and since then her brother Sean’s always looked out for her as their father spends most of his time down the pub. Dubliner Orla has moved to England, hoping her life will finally begin, that she will get her break into music and become the person she assumes she will be.

The Mess We’re In is a coming-of-age story about a young Irish woman who moves to London to try to make it in the music industry. And it asks the question - if you spend your life giving everything to the ones you love; do you risk losing yourself along the way? Her Before Midnight inclusive clubbing concept that she launched in Spring 2022 has proved hugely popular and sells out in seconds.She gets a few knocks as she muddles her way through her new life, some longer lasting than others but she doesn’t let them stop her. When I found out that she had released a new book just this year, I knew immediately I had to get a copy in my hands.