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You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here
'This atmospheric debut looks like a rural Irish coming-of-age novel, but it’s cleverer, darker, more unreliable.' Daily Mail
AN IRISH INDEPENDENT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN IRISH INDEPENDENT CRITICS CHOICE FOR CHRISTMAS
A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE
AN IRISH TIMES, IRISH INDEPENDENT and SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 'TITLE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2020'
Katie, Maeve and Evelyn have been friends forever. Outspoken, unpredictable and intoxicating, Evelyn is the undisputed leader of the trio. But Katie’s dream of escaping their tiny rural town for a new life in Dublin confronts her with a choice: to hold onto a friendship that has made her who she is, or risk leaving her best friend behind.
Told from Katie’s witty, quirky perspective and filled with unforgettable characters, this moving, immersive and very funny study of sisterhood takes a keen-eyed look at the delights and complexities of female friendship, the corrosive power of jealousy and guilt, and the people and places that shape us. Compellingly readable and effortlessly sharp, fizzing with the voices of rural Ireland, this is an unmissable novel from a dazzling new talent.
AN IRISH INDEPENDENT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
AN IRISH INDEPENDENT CRITICS CHOICE FOR CHRISTMAS
A FINALIST FOR THE 2020 PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE
AN IRISH TIMES, IRISH INDEPENDENT and SUNDAY INDEPENDENT 'TITLE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2020'
Katie, Maeve and Evelyn have been friends forever. Outspoken, unpredictable and intoxicating, Evelyn is the undisputed leader of the trio. But Katie’s dream of escaping their tiny rural town for a new life in Dublin confronts her with a choice: to hold onto a friendship that has made her who she is, or risk leaving her best friend behind.
Told from Katie’s witty, quirky perspective and filled with unforgettable characters, this moving, immersive and very funny study of sisterhood takes a keen-eyed look at the delights and complexities of female friendship, the corrosive power of jealousy and guilt, and the people and places that shape us. Compellingly readable and effortlessly sharp, fizzing with the voices of rural Ireland, this is an unmissable novel from a dazzling new talent.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2020
85 people are currently reading
4758 people want to read
About the author
Frances Macken
2 books30 followersFrances Macken has a Masters in Creative Writing from Oxford University. You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here is her debut work of fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
April 13, 2020
Actual rating - 3.5 stars
You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here is Frances Macken’s debut novel and follows Katie, Maeve and Evelyn and their friendship in the small town of Glenbruff. Amidst the backdrop of the disappearance of a new girl, the novel explores the reality of life in a small town and the yearning of dreaming for something bigger.
This book starts off with three friends: Katie, Maeve and Evelyn. Evelyn is the leader of the group, Maeve is her cousin, and Katie is friends with both of them and is also the narrator of the story. This book delved into the complexity of female friendships, how jealousy and envy can shape our lives and the desire to want something bigger for yourself when living in a small town. I enjoyed this book. There was something about it that kept me reading and I admired the honesty of Katie’s character, how she didn’t really lie about the way she felt about certain people. Right from the very beginning of the story when the characters are first introduced, it’s obvious that the friendship group is dominated by Evelyn with the other two girls following in her footsteps. I liked how the novel explored how sometimes you’re just friends with people because you’ve known them your whole life. I never got the sense that Evelyn, Maeve and Katie were close friends and I think that was the purpose of the story, to illustrate how at the end of the day, these girls weren’t really that good of friends.
What stopped this book from being rated higher was that I felt a little disappointed by a few things. Firstly, Evelyn and Katie have such a complex relationship throughout the book which is clearly unhealthy because Evelyn is not a nice person and doesn’t change at all throughout the novel. What annoyed me was that Katie never stood up to her, not even at the end. They have an argument and Katie says that she’s done with Evelyn but I wanted to see more of an argument, more of Katie giving Evelyn a piece of her mind. Also, the disappearance of Pamela Cooney. Now, Pamela isn’t in the book long. She disappears fairly early on in the story and we never actually find out what happened to her. This felt really disappointing to me. I understand that that wasn’t the main plot point of the novel but if it is an aspect that is going to be introduced, then I feel like it needs to be also be resolved as well. I feel like the author was setting up little clues throughout, such as Maeve telling Katie she found Pamela’s blood stained necklace in Aiden’s car, that there were human remains found in the quarry and that Aiden and his brother, Paedar were lying about their alibis for each other. There were clues were pointing to Aiden having done something to Pamela but it was left unresolved. There’s also still questions that I felt like needed to be answered. Why was nothing done about the human remains? Why didn’t we see the rest of that storyline play out? If Aiden did something to Pamela, why didn’t he show any signs of his aggression in childhood? And why did he seem so sad about Pamela and tell everyone he wanted to know what happened to her if he did something to her himself? Also, when Katie basically says she thinks Aiden killed Pamela, why doesn’t she go to the police and say anything? There were so many unanswered questions regarding that aspect of the storyline and that just meant that the ending was really abrupt and unsatisfying.
Overall, although I enjoyed You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here, ultimately I felt like it was a little disappointing. Although I enjoyed reading about the characters and their relationships with each other and how Katie wanted something bigger for herself and found it in the end, I thought that there were too many unresolved aspects of the plot.
You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here is Frances Macken’s debut novel and follows Katie, Maeve and Evelyn and their friendship in the small town of Glenbruff. Amidst the backdrop of the disappearance of a new girl, the novel explores the reality of life in a small town and the yearning of dreaming for something bigger.
“I can’t say for certain why the three of us are friends. Sure, who can answer a question like that. I suppose there aren’t many children along our road, so there isn’t much choice, and I don’t give it a lot of thought. We carry on as we are, and there’s plenty of fun to be had. That’s not to say that I couldn’t make nicer or better friends in another place, but how would I ever know the difference.”
This book starts off with three friends: Katie, Maeve and Evelyn. Evelyn is the leader of the group, Maeve is her cousin, and Katie is friends with both of them and is also the narrator of the story. This book delved into the complexity of female friendships, how jealousy and envy can shape our lives and the desire to want something bigger for yourself when living in a small town. I enjoyed this book. There was something about it that kept me reading and I admired the honesty of Katie’s character, how she didn’t really lie about the way she felt about certain people. Right from the very beginning of the story when the characters are first introduced, it’s obvious that the friendship group is dominated by Evelyn with the other two girls following in her footsteps. I liked how the novel explored how sometimes you’re just friends with people because you’ve known them your whole life. I never got the sense that Evelyn, Maeve and Katie were close friends and I think that was the purpose of the story, to illustrate how at the end of the day, these girls weren’t really that good of friends.
“How d’you like living down the country?”
“It’s only alright.”
“Oh.”
“Like, you have to make your own fun around here. You’ve to find ways of keeping yourself occupied.”
What stopped this book from being rated higher was that I felt a little disappointed by a few things. Firstly, Evelyn and Katie have such a complex relationship throughout the book which is clearly unhealthy because Evelyn is not a nice person and doesn’t change at all throughout the novel. What annoyed me was that Katie never stood up to her, not even at the end. They have an argument and Katie says that she’s done with Evelyn but I wanted to see more of an argument, more of Katie giving Evelyn a piece of her mind. Also, the disappearance of Pamela Cooney. Now, Pamela isn’t in the book long. She disappears fairly early on in the story and we never actually find out what happened to her. This felt really disappointing to me. I understand that that wasn’t the main plot point of the novel but if it is an aspect that is going to be introduced, then I feel like it needs to be also be resolved as well. I feel like the author was setting up little clues throughout, such as Maeve telling Katie she found Pamela’s blood stained necklace in Aiden’s car, that there were human remains found in the quarry and that Aiden and his brother, Paedar were lying about their alibis for each other. There were clues were pointing to Aiden having done something to Pamela but it was left unresolved. There’s also still questions that I felt like needed to be answered. Why was nothing done about the human remains? Why didn’t we see the rest of that storyline play out? If Aiden did something to Pamela, why didn’t he show any signs of his aggression in childhood? And why did he seem so sad about Pamela and tell everyone he wanted to know what happened to her if he did something to her himself? Also, when Katie basically says she thinks Aiden killed Pamela, why doesn’t she go to the police and say anything? There were so many unanswered questions regarding that aspect of the storyline and that just meant that the ending was really abrupt and unsatisfying.
“It has me thinking that maybe I’m good enough on my own. Maybe I was always good enough on my own. And maybe the hard road is the easy road after all.”
Overall, although I enjoyed You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here, ultimately I felt like it was a little disappointing. Although I enjoyed reading about the characters and their relationships with each other and how Katie wanted something bigger for herself and found it in the end, I thought that there were too many unresolved aspects of the plot.
June 17, 2020
I loved this one. It’s everything I especially love in novel: Irish, coming of age, an examination of friendship and the way in which some friendships can be outgrown, being the first in your family to attend University, and the challenges with moving from a rural area into the city. Above all, the Irish part. And the Irish part in this novel was a standout. The narrative was so effortlessly witty and I just adored Katie and her honest introspection that was tempered with kindness and intelligence.
So Katie has grown up in a rural Irish town and has been friends with Evelyn and Maeve forever. Evelyn is a bitch and Maeve is a pity friend. Out of the three, Katie is the only one who leaves once school is done but it’s tough for her, doing it alone in the city, things not working out like she had hoped, having to come to terms with the fact that she might have not only outgrown her hometown, but also her friends while still not having a replacement for these losses. This is very much Katie’s story and her emergence into adulthood, post-university. One of the things I really adored about this novel is that is not in any way a romance. Any romantic relationships she has are brief and not a big part of her journey. This is quite refreshing for this type of story. But that doesn’t mean that Katie isn’t being held back by someone. She is in a relationship, quite a toxic one, but with her best friend Evelyn. Now, Katie is not blind to Evelyn and what she’s like, but that doesn’t make it any easier to shake loose of her hold. There’s a lot of years together and sadly, for Katie, being friends with Evelyn has effectively excluded her from being friends with anyone else because like I mentioned before, Evelyn is a bitch and pretty much everyone other than Katie and Maeve hates her – justifiably.
‘“You’ve changed since you’ve been up here, you know. I used to get a buzz off you but I don’t anymore.” The words are like stones flying out of her mouth and belting my skin. How have I changed? I wonder. Is it bad to change? Is it wrong to follow the dream after all we’ve discussed? And whatever about the art college, couldn’t she still get the job in a cool bar at night and work an internship during the day? And how is it that she had a way of making you thing you could do anything at all, but she hasn’t managed to do very much or go very far herself?’
Maeve was an interesting character, naïve as all get out, and as awkward as they come, but I felt so sorry for her and the abominable way that Evelyn treated her. While Katie didn’t exactly like Maeve and could have definitely been a much better friend to her, at least she had the kindness not be so openly mean to her face. There is a sub-plot going on in the background where a new girl in town, Pamela, goes missing in their final year of high school. It wasn’t so much the mystery of what happened to her that drew me in here but more the way the author had the disappearance impact on the lives of different people within the town. For Katie, it was very much a non-event at the time, and not something she thought all that much about afterwards. I thought this was reflective in a way of Katie’s relationship with Evelyn; it closed her off to all else, so much so, that apart from feeling bad about an incident of bullying that she and Evelyn had done to Pamela, she really didn’t give a care about what had happened to her – or anyone else for that matter.
There’s all of these other little things going on in this story that enrichen it. Katie’s brother Robert and his relationship with his former teacher, linked in a sinister way to the disappearance of Pamela. Maeve meeting her birth mother and going through her own metamorphosis. Aiden, falling apart at the seams after Pamela’s disappearance and turning into one of those creepy guys that you really need to cross the road to avoid encountering. For a story that was told entirely from Katie’s perspective, there was so much going on and so many different threads that we were a party to. This is very well crafted fiction and I was hard pressed to put it down once I’d begun. From the first page to the last, it was like stepping into the novel and being completely immersed into the lives of these characters. Above all, it was so very entertaining; classic Irish and if you’ve read a fair bit of Irish fiction then you’ll know exactly what I mean by this. It’s a hard thing to explain but the humour is of the sort that you will only find in Irish fiction. This is also set in my era so I found plenty of nostalgia within the pages too which never goes astray in terms of my appreciation of a novel.
‘It has me thinking that maybe I’m good enough on my own. Maybe I was always good enough on my own. And maybe the hard road is the easy road after all.’
In some ways, this novel reminded me a fair bit of My Brilliant Friend, just a different time and place, but connected by those themes of friendship, moving on and breaking free. I really enjoyed You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here and wholeheartedly recommend it to all. And seriously, what a title!
Thanks is extended to Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy of You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here for review.
So Katie has grown up in a rural Irish town and has been friends with Evelyn and Maeve forever. Evelyn is a bitch and Maeve is a pity friend. Out of the three, Katie is the only one who leaves once school is done but it’s tough for her, doing it alone in the city, things not working out like she had hoped, having to come to terms with the fact that she might have not only outgrown her hometown, but also her friends while still not having a replacement for these losses. This is very much Katie’s story and her emergence into adulthood, post-university. One of the things I really adored about this novel is that is not in any way a romance. Any romantic relationships she has are brief and not a big part of her journey. This is quite refreshing for this type of story. But that doesn’t mean that Katie isn’t being held back by someone. She is in a relationship, quite a toxic one, but with her best friend Evelyn. Now, Katie is not blind to Evelyn and what she’s like, but that doesn’t make it any easier to shake loose of her hold. There’s a lot of years together and sadly, for Katie, being friends with Evelyn has effectively excluded her from being friends with anyone else because like I mentioned before, Evelyn is a bitch and pretty much everyone other than Katie and Maeve hates her – justifiably.
‘“You’ve changed since you’ve been up here, you know. I used to get a buzz off you but I don’t anymore.” The words are like stones flying out of her mouth and belting my skin. How have I changed? I wonder. Is it bad to change? Is it wrong to follow the dream after all we’ve discussed? And whatever about the art college, couldn’t she still get the job in a cool bar at night and work an internship during the day? And how is it that she had a way of making you thing you could do anything at all, but she hasn’t managed to do very much or go very far herself?’
Maeve was an interesting character, naïve as all get out, and as awkward as they come, but I felt so sorry for her and the abominable way that Evelyn treated her. While Katie didn’t exactly like Maeve and could have definitely been a much better friend to her, at least she had the kindness not be so openly mean to her face. There is a sub-plot going on in the background where a new girl in town, Pamela, goes missing in their final year of high school. It wasn’t so much the mystery of what happened to her that drew me in here but more the way the author had the disappearance impact on the lives of different people within the town. For Katie, it was very much a non-event at the time, and not something she thought all that much about afterwards. I thought this was reflective in a way of Katie’s relationship with Evelyn; it closed her off to all else, so much so, that apart from feeling bad about an incident of bullying that she and Evelyn had done to Pamela, she really didn’t give a care about what had happened to her – or anyone else for that matter.
There’s all of these other little things going on in this story that enrichen it. Katie’s brother Robert and his relationship with his former teacher, linked in a sinister way to the disappearance of Pamela. Maeve meeting her birth mother and going through her own metamorphosis. Aiden, falling apart at the seams after Pamela’s disappearance and turning into one of those creepy guys that you really need to cross the road to avoid encountering. For a story that was told entirely from Katie’s perspective, there was so much going on and so many different threads that we were a party to. This is very well crafted fiction and I was hard pressed to put it down once I’d begun. From the first page to the last, it was like stepping into the novel and being completely immersed into the lives of these characters. Above all, it was so very entertaining; classic Irish and if you’ve read a fair bit of Irish fiction then you’ll know exactly what I mean by this. It’s a hard thing to explain but the humour is of the sort that you will only find in Irish fiction. This is also set in my era so I found plenty of nostalgia within the pages too which never goes astray in terms of my appreciation of a novel.
‘It has me thinking that maybe I’m good enough on my own. Maybe I was always good enough on my own. And maybe the hard road is the easy road after all.’
In some ways, this novel reminded me a fair bit of My Brilliant Friend, just a different time and place, but connected by those themes of friendship, moving on and breaking free. I really enjoyed You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here and wholeheartedly recommend it to all. And seriously, what a title!
Thanks is extended to Bloomsbury for providing me with a copy of You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here for review.
February 24, 2020
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'Evelyn can give us strength, but she can steal it away from us too when she feels like it.'
Katie learns to make her own fun but always under the sway of the far more charismatic Evelyn, with Maeve completing the trio as someone Katie ‘endures’. Katie and Evelyn are the closer of the two in an unbalanced friendship based far more on convenience “there aren’t many children along our road, so there isn’t much choice” and on Katie’s envy of her bold, commanding ways. It is always through Evelyn the girls define themselves and no one more than Katie. Macken bares the painful dynamics of female bonds, when a girl is still an unformed thing, looking to others for clues of who she will become, often relying on another’s wisdom who seems to understand the world far better. A time when jealousies arise from pecking order of importance and friendships are as fevered as love. As with many small towns all the world over, someone is always the leader, the queen until someone more interesting comes along.
Evelyn can dish out mean criticisms, and understands the adult world far better than anyone. She is the authority on all things and she is Katie’s ticket to a brilliant future, they have big plans to leave the Irish town of Glenbruff when they’re old enough. But there are times when Evelyn can be overbearing, when Katie feels her inadequacy is exposed, usually by Evelyn. If she tries to be more, or get attention from a boy, no one can bring her down a peg better than her best friend. Yet Katie never fails to praise Evelyn, that is the best way to keep her close and happy.
Pamela is a threat, new on the scene, drawing all the attention that should be Evelyn’s. A talented dancer and pretty enough to have all the lads chasing her, naturally Evelyn can’t stomach her. “Life is exciting at the minute,” all this Maeve feels, and it’s all because of Pamela, throwing their small world into chaos, ruffling her cousin Evelyn’s feathers. Things change when Katie is forced to get to know Pamela which in turn tests her loyalty to Evelyn. There are disappearances and disappointments, secrets and lies. Too often we see people as they wish to be seen, rather than as they really are. Sometimes we hide behind other’s strength rather than searching within to discover our own. People have to earn confidences, and Pamela isn’t any different, has her escapades, secrets that Katie doesn’t understand, and may never get the chance to.
The future is upon them soon enough and with it broken promises, altered dreams. Katie has to learn to step out of her best friend’s shadow, to find out who she is and what she wants, needs. It requires distance from everything she has known but often when you leave it’s easier to ignore those you left. When you return, it is as if everyone has changed, or won’t let you be the person you’ve become and worse, accuses you of abandonment. Is it better to fold and let people tell you who you are or allow experience to ‘alienate you’ until you are chiseled into something new? Katie isn’t the only one trying to find herself, Maeve has a difficult history that comes into play as the girls grow up. Evelyn isn’t always as steady and sure as she seems, and Pamela… Pamela is a flicker, and yet comes to leave an indelible mark on the town.
It’s a quiet story about a small town in Ireland. There is a bit of a mystery and it isn’t solved in a flash. Much like real life, the truth is a long time in coming. After the incident occurs, time moves on, but the questions and wonder always hum beneath the town’s feet. Some are stunted, others flourish, it is about finding and understanding yourself and coping with the ways some friendships change you; how you both rely on and escape the people who may not be good for you. This is called growing up, and it can feel mean.
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Oneworld Publications
'Evelyn can give us strength, but she can steal it away from us too when she feels like it.'
Katie learns to make her own fun but always under the sway of the far more charismatic Evelyn, with Maeve completing the trio as someone Katie ‘endures’. Katie and Evelyn are the closer of the two in an unbalanced friendship based far more on convenience “there aren’t many children along our road, so there isn’t much choice” and on Katie’s envy of her bold, commanding ways. It is always through Evelyn the girls define themselves and no one more than Katie. Macken bares the painful dynamics of female bonds, when a girl is still an unformed thing, looking to others for clues of who she will become, often relying on another’s wisdom who seems to understand the world far better. A time when jealousies arise from pecking order of importance and friendships are as fevered as love. As with many small towns all the world over, someone is always the leader, the queen until someone more interesting comes along.
Evelyn can dish out mean criticisms, and understands the adult world far better than anyone. She is the authority on all things and she is Katie’s ticket to a brilliant future, they have big plans to leave the Irish town of Glenbruff when they’re old enough. But there are times when Evelyn can be overbearing, when Katie feels her inadequacy is exposed, usually by Evelyn. If she tries to be more, or get attention from a boy, no one can bring her down a peg better than her best friend. Yet Katie never fails to praise Evelyn, that is the best way to keep her close and happy.
Pamela is a threat, new on the scene, drawing all the attention that should be Evelyn’s. A talented dancer and pretty enough to have all the lads chasing her, naturally Evelyn can’t stomach her. “Life is exciting at the minute,” all this Maeve feels, and it’s all because of Pamela, throwing their small world into chaos, ruffling her cousin Evelyn’s feathers. Things change when Katie is forced to get to know Pamela which in turn tests her loyalty to Evelyn. There are disappearances and disappointments, secrets and lies. Too often we see people as they wish to be seen, rather than as they really are. Sometimes we hide behind other’s strength rather than searching within to discover our own. People have to earn confidences, and Pamela isn’t any different, has her escapades, secrets that Katie doesn’t understand, and may never get the chance to.
The future is upon them soon enough and with it broken promises, altered dreams. Katie has to learn to step out of her best friend’s shadow, to find out who she is and what she wants, needs. It requires distance from everything she has known but often when you leave it’s easier to ignore those you left. When you return, it is as if everyone has changed, or won’t let you be the person you’ve become and worse, accuses you of abandonment. Is it better to fold and let people tell you who you are or allow experience to ‘alienate you’ until you are chiseled into something new? Katie isn’t the only one trying to find herself, Maeve has a difficult history that comes into play as the girls grow up. Evelyn isn’t always as steady and sure as she seems, and Pamela… Pamela is a flicker, and yet comes to leave an indelible mark on the town.
It’s a quiet story about a small town in Ireland. There is a bit of a mystery and it isn’t solved in a flash. Much like real life, the truth is a long time in coming. After the incident occurs, time moves on, but the questions and wonder always hum beneath the town’s feet. Some are stunted, others flourish, it is about finding and understanding yourself and coping with the ways some friendships change you; how you both rely on and escape the people who may not be good for you. This is called growing up, and it can feel mean.
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Oneworld Publications
June 27, 2020
This is a breathtaking debut novel. I bought it today and could not put it down until I had finished reading it.
This is a magnificently written book. On the surface, it’s about three teenage girls in a small town, their petty rivalries, their competitiveness, and their coming of age. It also features the disappearance of one of their popular classmates, Pamela, an interloper from Dublin, in their last year of school. That made me think of the Russian girl in Dublin who was murdered by her two schoolboy classmates not so long ago.
This novel has the chillingness of McCabe’s The Butcher Boy in parts. When the Glenbruff kids are written about when they are around 10, I saw shades of Doyle’s Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. When the characters are older, especially Katie, I saw a smattering of the opaqueness of Doyle’s Smile. There is also a hint of MJ Hyland’s darkness in the way the book is written.
This book is dark and deep. I’m a bit taken aback by readers who describe it as a lovely read. It’s a far cry from lovely. It’s deeply affecting and it’s haunting. Did they miss completely Katie’s hardcore keenness to write off anyone who wouldn’t be of use to her, say like the Midlands girl she met in the Gaeltacht, and the dismissive way she describes Nuala a loyal friend as nondescript Nuala, Evelyn’s darkness and spitefulness, meek Maeve’s closely cloaked possible psychopathy, Mickey’s Francie from the Butcher Boy type madness, and Kenneth’s sociopathic behaviour. Kenneth unhingedly “quipped” to Aidan (Pamela’s former boyfriend) when he sees him at the school ball, we thought you might unearth Pamela Cooney for the Debs’ Ball! Katie’s brother, Robert, and his creepy headmaster were masterful minor characters.
Surely this wonderfully written book is destined to win a literary award. I can’t wait to read Macken’s second offering.
This is a magnificently written book. On the surface, it’s about three teenage girls in a small town, their petty rivalries, their competitiveness, and their coming of age. It also features the disappearance of one of their popular classmates, Pamela, an interloper from Dublin, in their last year of school. That made me think of the Russian girl in Dublin who was murdered by her two schoolboy classmates not so long ago.
This novel has the chillingness of McCabe’s The Butcher Boy in parts. When the Glenbruff kids are written about when they are around 10, I saw shades of Doyle’s Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. When the characters are older, especially Katie, I saw a smattering of the opaqueness of Doyle’s Smile. There is also a hint of MJ Hyland’s darkness in the way the book is written.
This book is dark and deep. I’m a bit taken aback by readers who describe it as a lovely read. It’s a far cry from lovely. It’s deeply affecting and it’s haunting. Did they miss completely Katie’s hardcore keenness to write off anyone who wouldn’t be of use to her, say like the Midlands girl she met in the Gaeltacht, and the dismissive way she describes Nuala a loyal friend as nondescript Nuala, Evelyn’s darkness and spitefulness, meek Maeve’s closely cloaked possible psychopathy, Mickey’s Francie from the Butcher Boy type madness, and Kenneth’s sociopathic behaviour. Kenneth unhingedly “quipped” to Aidan (Pamela’s former boyfriend) when he sees him at the school ball, we thought you might unearth Pamela Cooney for the Debs’ Ball! Katie’s brother, Robert, and his creepy headmaster were masterful minor characters.
Surely this wonderfully written book is destined to win a literary award. I can’t wait to read Macken’s second offering.
March 14, 2023
I feel conflicted about this book. I didn't like any of the characters. I mean, early on, I related to the whole concept of the social hierarchy that is common in teenage friendships. But then none of the characters grew past that, there was no development whatsoever. I saw a review saying "Captures perfectly female friendship", please find new friends because toxic female friendships are not normal. Thank you! Also, all of the relationships between the characters were superficial, there was no connection, trust, loyalty, or empathy. In the end, the resolution was not quite what I was expecting. Why introduce the whole Pamela plotline and then give us nothing?
Nevertheless, I thought the writing was good and enjoyed the structure of the book with the little chapters. Nothing really happens in the story, but it was mostly bearable and enjoyable. It had potential though.
Nevertheless, I thought the writing was good and enjoyed the structure of the book with the little chapters. Nothing really happens in the story, but it was mostly bearable and enjoyable. It had potential though.
September 5, 2022
honestly rly liked this one!!! kind of a 1990s ireland Elena Ferrante. ferrante meets derry girls?? very potent depiction of an ambitious striver trying to make it in film while also being weighed down / grappling with the determinacy of social class, the distorted mirror of pitting oneself against a hometown friend of equal ambition, the kinds of competitive narratives created by scarcity… also the perpetual threat of male violence hovering at the edges, some added mystery elements… felt very evocative and specific and cool. prose style did feel a bit millennial, a little choppy with short chapters and halting sentences, so it’s probably more in the 4.5 territory
January 17, 2020
A refreshing new book by Frances Macken will be available June 2020. We follow three friends from the age of 10 to their mid-twenties. These three girls live in an extremely small Irish community. The three have vastly different personalities, family structure and intellect. They are united by one goal-to leave their small community.
This book is different from much of what is currently being published in several respects-the time period, the subject matter and the setting. The relationship between the three girls is extremely well done-it is complex without overdoing the narrative. The timing and pacing of the novel keeps the reader engaged without moving too slow or too fast. There are characters in the book who you will cheer for and those who you will dislike. Underpinning the novel is a desire to fulfill a dream-something that we can all relate to.
Readers and book clubs will enjoy this new and insightful look at loyalty, friendship and jealously between young women!
This book is different from much of what is currently being published in several respects-the time period, the subject matter and the setting. The relationship between the three girls is extremely well done-it is complex without overdoing the narrative. The timing and pacing of the novel keeps the reader engaged without moving too slow or too fast. There are characters in the book who you will cheer for and those who you will dislike. Underpinning the novel is a desire to fulfill a dream-something that we can all relate to.
Readers and book clubs will enjoy this new and insightful look at loyalty, friendship and jealously between young women!
April 21, 2020
The writing was wonderful, it flowed quickly, the characters are well developed but the story itself failed. It was nothing special that hadn't been written before. A coming of age story that was set in Ireland, of three girls into adulthood and then parting for separate lives. Rather boring..
November 8, 2020
(2.5) great prose but i found the plotlines either unconvincing or underwhelming
June 14, 2020
You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here explores the intricacies and intimacies of intense female friendship against the backdrop of 1990s Ireland. Macken nails the traditional Irish blend of humour and horror in short, sharp chapters that keep the story moving quickly. As a narrator, Katie is intriguing, and full of astute insights. This admirable debut lands right at the intersection of the Netflix series Derry Girls, and Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend (both of which I love).
My extended review of You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here is available via Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My extended review of You Have To Make Your Own Fun Around Here is available via Keeping Up With The Penguins.
March 30, 2022
I did not finish this. What a horrible depiction of life. It's normal for a teenager to perceive people in hierarchy; to always imagine themselves above or below other people. However, when somebody is still doing that at 24, maybe do something about your inferiority complex and stop shitting on other people?
Also, when somebody disappears (even if you weren't friends with them), I don't see how anyone could not be moved by that or have any kind of empathy with the possible victim of a serious crime? Sorry, but if that's how you feel you're a horrible person.
Katie might actually be psychopathic for her lack of emotions, she is an disingenuous friend and incredibly selfish. Through her lense, every other character is written in negative light as well. The only prominent emotions in this book are dismissal and envy. There is no love of any kind, no joy, not even honesty. I really hated every single character. Really hated this book. Would not recommend
Also, when somebody disappears (even if you weren't friends with them), I don't see how anyone could not be moved by that or have any kind of empathy with the possible victim of a serious crime? Sorry, but if that's how you feel you're a horrible person.
Katie might actually be psychopathic for her lack of emotions, she is an disingenuous friend and incredibly selfish. Through her lense, every other character is written in negative light as well. The only prominent emotions in this book are dismissal and envy. There is no love of any kind, no joy, not even honesty. I really hated every single character. Really hated this book. Would not recommend
March 12, 2025
Irish lit about friendship and girlhood truly is my happy place.
March 1, 2020
For fans of Netflix’s “Derry Girls” and Sally Rooney’s “Normal People.” This is a novel about three friends growing up in a small community in rural Ireland. Following the girls, who have distinct personalities, from when they are children into their twenties, this story explores the complex dynamics of female friendships and how we see ourselves in relation to others, but also in their absence. Thank you to NetGalley and OneWorld Publications for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.
December 7, 2022
Novels usually have a consistent plot. You kind of know the story it is telling. That is the point of reading fiction, right?
Not in this case I felt.
The novel seemed to not know where it was going which others have also commented on so it wasn’t just me I am glad to hear.
It was a dark turn of events eventually when the plot decided to go somewhere.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/12/13/book-re...
Not in this case I felt.
The novel seemed to not know where it was going which others have also commented on so it wasn’t just me I am glad to hear.
It was a dark turn of events eventually when the plot decided to go somewhere.
Review: https://clife.blog/2022/12/13/book-re...
January 13, 2021
i liked how the book explored outgrowing friendships and the actual writing was alright. but the plot and characters fell a bit flat, also i found the writing of the town itself was lacklustre, the community and surroundings lacked any distinct character
August 3, 2023
a good debut, lacked a bit of depth for me but still enjoyable. also the title is 10/10
October 21, 2024
not exactly what i had expected, considering the praises i heard about this.
first of all, it lacked significant depth overall. the characters felt flat and there was little to no development throughout the novel. the relationships were superficial, too, as their connections with one another felt forced and dry. given the context and setting of a rural small town, i expected the relationships to be more complicated and authentic. i expected the characters to have more distinct personalities with substantial depth. only the dreary atmosphere saved the book for me and i feel like it is the highlight of the novel. the writing was mediocre but i liked the pacing and the structure. i only wish more thought was given to the development of the characters and their relationships to one another. i also wish some plot points were resolved. they may not be the main plot of the novel but the author owes it to the novel to follow through with all the hints sprinkled throughout the book. so i can't say i enjoyed reading this.
my conclusion: it's an underwhelming book. not much going on except its decent setting and atmosphere.
first of all, it lacked significant depth overall. the characters felt flat and there was little to no development throughout the novel. the relationships were superficial, too, as their connections with one another felt forced and dry. given the context and setting of a rural small town, i expected the relationships to be more complicated and authentic. i expected the characters to have more distinct personalities with substantial depth. only the dreary atmosphere saved the book for me and i feel like it is the highlight of the novel. the writing was mediocre but i liked the pacing and the structure. i only wish more thought was given to the development of the characters and their relationships to one another. i also wish some plot points were resolved. they may not be the main plot of the novel but the author owes it to the novel to follow through with all the hints sprinkled throughout the book. so i can't say i enjoyed reading this.
my conclusion: it's an underwhelming book. not much going on except its decent setting and atmosphere.
July 3, 2021
three unlikeable heroines, one small irish town with an endless stream of gossip, changing relationships and a mystery casts a shadow over their lives. if you were to break down every aspect of this novel, it would be my type on paper to borrow a popular phrase. I very much appreciated getting to read this alongside our little northern Irish book club too, which only enhanced my own thoughts and feelings about it after so many fun discussions!
katie, evelyn and maeve have been friends for as long as they can remember, even if they don’t necessarily know why that friendship remains in place. they each fall into an archetypal depiction of teenage girls in contemporary ireland: one with big dreams, an even bigger mouth and a lot of authority. another with ambitions that have been crushed in favour of the first’s favour. the final one, the unwanted friend that invokes our pity and intrigue. the story is narrated by katie’s distinctly sharp and strong voice. her sniping critiques of those around her are reminiscent of the endless conversations I’ve had myself with friends about our hometowns, families and peers. yet she remains blind to her own treatment at evelyn’s hands and the dangerous sense of possession lurking under maeve’s soft exterior.
this is a coming of age story without frills and grandeur. I found it refreshing how macken’s protagonist is so distinctly irish, yet also universally representative of how many of us feel at various stages of her life. I really resonated with katie’s struggle to come to terms with her awkward friendships and lack of drive towards a career. she admonishes the pressure placed on her, but still struggles to find herself. this lack of resolve and determination would be inevitably infuriating to some readers, but I found it strangely endearing. It’s very rare that a main character is written without trope or preconceptions according to literary tradition and I really appreciated macken’s presentation of that.
the writing, humour and plot are equal high points throughout the novel too. every character is almost thoroughly unlikeable, yet impossible to stop reading about. I flew through this novel so quickly and by the time it finished I wanted a backstory to every other character featured. macken’s descriptions of small town life are terrifyingly similar to my own experiences growing up in a relatively small town where everyone’s business belongs to each other. every character is A Character and I loved every second of getting to know them.
katie, evelyn and maeve have been friends for as long as they can remember, even if they don’t necessarily know why that friendship remains in place. they each fall into an archetypal depiction of teenage girls in contemporary ireland: one with big dreams, an even bigger mouth and a lot of authority. another with ambitions that have been crushed in favour of the first’s favour. the final one, the unwanted friend that invokes our pity and intrigue. the story is narrated by katie’s distinctly sharp and strong voice. her sniping critiques of those around her are reminiscent of the endless conversations I’ve had myself with friends about our hometowns, families and peers. yet she remains blind to her own treatment at evelyn’s hands and the dangerous sense of possession lurking under maeve’s soft exterior.
this is a coming of age story without frills and grandeur. I found it refreshing how macken’s protagonist is so distinctly irish, yet also universally representative of how many of us feel at various stages of her life. I really resonated with katie’s struggle to come to terms with her awkward friendships and lack of drive towards a career. she admonishes the pressure placed on her, but still struggles to find herself. this lack of resolve and determination would be inevitably infuriating to some readers, but I found it strangely endearing. It’s very rare that a main character is written without trope or preconceptions according to literary tradition and I really appreciated macken’s presentation of that.
the writing, humour and plot are equal high points throughout the novel too. every character is almost thoroughly unlikeable, yet impossible to stop reading about. I flew through this novel so quickly and by the time it finished I wanted a backstory to every other character featured. macken’s descriptions of small town life are terrifyingly similar to my own experiences growing up in a relatively small town where everyone’s business belongs to each other. every character is A Character and I loved every second of getting to know them.
November 19, 2020
I LOVE IRISH LITERATURE AND I DO NOT SAY THAT OFTEN ENOUGH.
seriously, just the notations of dialect, the Irish way of saying things, makes me feel like I'm back home with my mum in the most nostalgically satisfying way.
this is labelled a coming of age story — and i'll be honest when I say I've very nearly grown-out of coming of ages novels; (i've come of age now and I'm stuck in the trudging despair of adulthood, and a whole new set of problems aaaah) but this was so much more than promised. Yes, it was about coming of age, it was also about the uncertainty of our twenties, great female friendships full of love and hate/jealousy and admiration and codependency and how those kind of fuck you up for a real long time, and FUCKING UP and going home and starting again and wanting more and better and not giving up the dream and I loved it.
There is even a little mystery sub-plot and even that didn't detract from the realism of the novel!!
This book is perfect wow
seriously, just the notations of dialect, the Irish way of saying things, makes me feel like I'm back home with my mum in the most nostalgically satisfying way.
this is labelled a coming of age story — and i'll be honest when I say I've very nearly grown-out of coming of ages novels; (i've come of age now and I'm stuck in the trudging despair of adulthood, and a whole new set of problems aaaah) but this was so much more than promised. Yes, it was about coming of age, it was also about the uncertainty of our twenties, great female friendships full of love and hate/jealousy and admiration and codependency and how those kind of fuck you up for a real long time, and FUCKING UP and going home and starting again and wanting more and better and not giving up the dream and I loved it.
There is even a little mystery sub-plot and even that didn't detract from the realism of the novel!!
This book is perfect wow
March 2, 2020
"You Have to Make Your Own Fun Around Here" reads like a darker version of 'Derry Girls". It's a coming-of-age novel about 3 Irish girls growing up in the rural area of Ireland, where your best friends are chosen for you by proximity. I didn't know where the story was really going after reading the first 1/3 of the novel, then it got interesting when suddenly something sinister happened, but then it slowly drifted back to the baseline of the journey of the main character Katie. It's an interesting read in the sense that it's not like any other coming-of-age novel, it felt real and honest, but at times a bit flat.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2020
This was ok, just an average read I thought. I do think when readers stick with a book until the end we deserve some kind of resolution. It annoys me that sometimes it seems like the author just ran out of steam and couldn’t be bothered writing an ending. Very disrespectful to reader, I think.
August 31, 2023
es muy frustante pero al mismo tiempo me ha gustado mucho 😭😭
April 2, 2024
A hard one to know what to rate.
I obviously enjoyed the story enough (at least the first 60/65%) as I breezed through the audiobook. However, the characters weren't that likeable and I don't feel like any of them actually grew as people, which is a shame when the book starts when they are in their childhood and it definitely feels like it's a coming of age story.
I found it easy to relate to them at different points, especially growing up in a more "rural" town, I wanted to escape to the "big city" too! But Katie was just so obsessed with what everyone else thought of her and any success.
I obviously enjoyed the story enough (at least the first 60/65%) as I breezed through the audiobook. However, the characters weren't that likeable and I don't feel like any of them actually grew as people, which is a shame when the book starts when they are in their childhood and it definitely feels like it's a coming of age story.
I found it easy to relate to them at different points, especially growing up in a more "rural" town, I wanted to escape to the "big city" too! But Katie was just so obsessed with what everyone else thought of her and any success.
June 1, 2022
Mixed feelings about this book. Really enjoyed the narrative style - felt like listening to a friend tell a story. Setting in rural Ireland was relatable. Main downfall is that there are too many things left unresolved in the plot. I wanted to keep reading to find out what really happened and then I never got the answers. Disappointing in the end :(
May 15, 2021
The final third kinda peters out a bit, but the narration and tone made it really enjoyable
July 17, 2022
You Have to Avoid This Bad Novel
May 10, 2024
Fantastic. I’ve no other words to describe it.
July 5, 2024
DNF. Tried to power through for the sake of the bookclub but Jesus Christ this book was so boring and the characters all suck
March 11, 2025
This probably isn’t for everyone but it is for me!
-Irish contemporary fiction
-a little bit eerie and off putting
-hateable main character (actually most of the characters I really disliked at times)
-centered on friendships and how we outgrow them
It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite books of all time, Who Will Run The Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore.
-Irish contemporary fiction
-a little bit eerie and off putting
-hateable main character (actually most of the characters I really disliked at times)
-centered on friendships and how we outgrow them
It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite books of all time, Who Will Run The Frog Hospital by Lorrie Moore.
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