The alternatives

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From the writer Anthony Doerr calls ‘a massive talent’, The Alternatives is the story of four brilliant sisters, orphaned in childhood, who scramble to reconnect when the eldest disappears into the Irish countryside 

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A Book of the Year according to The Irish Times, Irish Independent, Good Housekeeping, Readings Australia and Libreria

‘Surprising and delightful… The Alternatives made me laugh, cry, and think.’ Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses

Perfect for fans of Jonathan Franzen, Maggie O’Farrell and Claire Vaye Watkins.

OLWEN. NELL. MAEVE. RHONA. MEET THE FLATTERY SISTERS.

Olwen, Nell, Maeve and Rhona were plunged prematurely into adulthood when their parents died in a tragic twist of fate. Now in their thirties, the sisters barely speak, each too busy carving out impressive careers. But when Olwen – reluctant matriarch, lodestar and, of late, zealous consumer of gin – abruptly disappears, her sisters are cast back together to find her, whether she likes it or not.

When they eventually track Olwen down, she is holed up in a remote bungalow in rural Ireland, with little electricity and a patchy connection to the outside world. Together for the first time in years, the sisters vie to confront old wounds and diagnose new ills – most urgently, Olwen’s.

Fiercely witty and unexpectedly hopeful, The Alternatives is an unforgettable portrait of a family perched on a precipice, told by one of Ireland’s most gifted storytellers. 

‘Bold, witty and intellectual… A book of intelligent women that very successfully plays with form and intertwined big ideas.’ Sunday Independent