Our little cruelties by Liz Nugent was a deeply unsettling read. Let me start by saying it’s a great read if you are ready for a twisted and extremely unpleasant storyline. Hateful characters (without exception really!) William probably takes the prize for the main manipulative, bullying creep but Brian brings his own brand of despicable self-centredness to the mix. Luke never really stood a chance! The storyline is interesting with emotional neglect and sibling rivalry to the nth degree. Dysfunctional and exploitative throughout with some truly shocking glimpses into human cruelty, jealousy and vindictive behaviour. To be fair this was a well written book, obviously with very well developed characters since I feel such antipathy towards them, but a book nonetheless which I’m glad I’ve finished - now to try to find something a bit more positive and uplifting in the midst of the current world Covid-19 pandemic! This was a bit too dark for my taste.

My thanks to Penguin Books (U.K.) Penguin Ireland for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Our Little Cruelties’ by Liz Nugent in exchange for an honest review.

“All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral, although one of us was in a coffin.”

It’s quite an opening line. Will, Brian, and Luke have always been in competition for the attention of their narcissistic mother. Melissa Craig was not only the star of the family but an actress and singer whose need for adoration trumps her role as a mother.

All three brothers also end up in the entertainment industry. The youngest, Luke, finds early fame as a pop singer; middle brother Brian is initially a teacher but eventually becomes an agent and manager. The oldest, Will, sets up a small production company and ends up a famous film producer. To say they are a dysfunctional family is an understatement and the brothers seem to constantly jockey for position to betray one another.

While there are women in their lives besides their Mum, aside from Daisy, William’s daughter, and her mother, Susan, they don’t particularly have a prominent role in the narrative. This may partly due to the story being told through the rotating perspectives of each of the brothers as they relate details of their lives from childhood to adulthood.

I had mixed feelings about this novel. It was the kind that was hard to put down due to a compulsion to see what horrible thing was going to be done to who next. However, as I reached the conclusion, I realised that I just didn’t care for any of its characters, especially the brothers. The ending was perplexing.

Also, it was clearly a family drama, not a thriller, psychological or otherwise. Overall, I found it was too melodramatic for my taste.

This story about three brothers was amazing. There were times when I thought I could predict the route of this tale and it always surprised me. I genuinely thought it was by a male author and refreshing to realise that it was written by a female. I loved it and cannot wait to read more of Liz Nugents books.

My first book by Liz Nugent and I wasn't disappointed.

Our Little Cruelties centres around a dysfunctional family of three brothers Will, Brian and Luke, and their crooked relationship starting in their childhood and only getting more twisted as they become adults.

The book is filled with lies, betrayals, selfishness, pretence, addiction, mental illness and more. Despite the unlikable characters, the book is addictive and you will want to know how the story ends!

Many thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

This is a tricky one to review as I don’t want to give too much away but the blurb for this book really pulled me in:
Three brothers are at the funeral. One lies in the coffin.
We hear about their lives from each perspective and learn about the relationship they have with each other and their parents.
The only slightly annoying thing was the time jumps of each chapter, they seemed to hop around 20 years in the past then it would be 10 years later and back again.
They all betray each other in their own ways but the question you’re asking yourself is, which one dies, and how.
This book did have me hooked as it was interesting hearing about the same incidents from the three different perspectives.
I wouldn’t say any of them are likeable characters but I guess that’s the point, as we all have our flaws.
Thanks to Penguin Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Our little cruelties is a microscopic insight into the lives of three Irish brothers, forensically exploring sibling rivalry and family dynamics.
The opening of this psychological suspense novel is the funeral of one brother but we don’t know which one! Told from the differing perspectives of Will, Brian and Luke we learn of their lives from childhood through to the present day, the author dissecting with precision, events and behaviours that have ultimately led to this moment in time.
Will, the eldest, is a famous film producer, Brian, an agent to the stars and baby Luke, a once famous pop star. All of them are flawed characters to say the least which makes this novel so engrossing. Will, in today’s parlance would be known as a player, treats women with such disregard and there is a definite reference here to the #MeToo movement. Brian, the middle child, is possibly the most unlikeable for the ways in which he’s sponged off his more successful brothers throughout life but to be honest they are all revealed to have behaved despicably towards each other. Luke, a once religious fanatic in childhood is probably the most troubled and has led a life of drink and drugs often synonymous with the music industry with his mental health severely compromised throughout various stages of his life. The relationships they have with their mother has had much bearing on their lives and fuelled their rivalry, as you would expect in any family situation. I think the role she plays in their lives is integral to the men they have become. She’s definitely a colourful character having been a famous singer turned actress who has led a far from exemplary life, with Will her favourite son and poor Luke never being able to win her favour.
Each narrative reads very much like a series of anecdotes with considerable amount of switching from one timeline to another which may irritate some readers but wasn’t a big concern for me. In fact it was quite refreshing to read a novel is a style I wouldn’t necessarily have expected given the psychological suspense element.
Family life and the brothers rivalry is well observed and this novel is funny and sad and heartbreaking all at the same time. This is by no means an edge of your seat suspense read yet at the same time I had no idea how it would end. I found it completely riveting, horrified at their appalling behaviour. There are a few twists along the way proving sibling rivalry, in this case, knows no bounds, making these brothers characters you’ll love to hate! At times each brother’s recollections reads as a character assassination of each other and perfect for those of us who enjoy glimpsing into the dysfunctional lives of others. Each one of them has plenty of reasons to want a brother dead, motives are in abundance but who killed who????
Having not read any previous titles by this author I will now rectify that on the strength of this title. Highly recommend.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

The first thing that grabbed me was the blurb. I couldnt wait to jump right in. A family saga that you cant stop reading. I was so emotionally involved with the characters I was screaming at them. I loved the fact I totally immersed myself in this book and couldnt put it down.

Our Little Cruelties is the fourth novel from Irish author Liz Nugent and a delicious depiction of twisted family dynamics.

This story opens with a funeral. One of the three Drumm brothers is inside the coffin and we spend the entire novel wanting to find out which one. William, Brian and Luke grew up equally loved by their kind father but competing for the spotlight controlled by their vain and ambitious Showband mother. William, the favourite, is handsome and charming but he grows up to be a narcissistic chauvinist who cheats on his wife and manipulates those around him. Brian walks in William's shadow and feels his missed opportunities are to his brother's gain. He can be considerate and nurturing but only when he benefits from the outcome. Luke, the youngest, is the tragic case of the family: he is sensitive and fragile, and despite having a gentle nature and a creative streak inherited from his mother, he is a pawn in the Drumm family game which ultimately leads to his professional and psychological demise.

The narrative moves between the three brothers, each taking a section of the novel to tell their stories. Despite the back-and-forth structure, when each brother takes the torch we are happy to hear his tale. There is some repetition of incidents and events in the lives of these three men, but the differing perspectives and consideration of feelings and emotions negates any sense that we've been here before.

My one concern regarding this novel is how the women in it are depicted. They are victims of the Drumm brother's cruel games and they are often portrayed as weak and voiceless. There were times when reading this book that I was shouting at them to fight back but, on reflection, I believe Nugent's intention here was to use the women to amplify the Drumm family's cruelty and the devastating impact their behaviour has on all those who come into contact with them. And - not to give anything away - there is redemption to be found in the end.

Nugent's talent lies in her ability to create truly gripping plotlines and searing psychological profiles of characters we love to hate. Presenting the innermost thoughts of ruthless, self-centered and despicable individuals can make for a taxing or challenging read but Nugent pulls it off. As readers we are not deterred but instead are eager to absorb every last detail of her story. Her writing is sharp, astute and utterly compelling. This isn't my favourite Nugent novel but, to be fair, it's among stiff competition. 4 stars.

Will, Brian and Luke Drumm are three brothers growing up with a mother that shows noticeable favoritism. This leads them all to develop into very different but equally damaged adults. We know from the very beginning that two of them are at the funeral of a third but we do not know until the end which one is in the coffin. We watch them navigate their lives with a variety of messy drama.

This book is fantastic but I hated it. It is well written and you can not stop turning the page. However, the subject matter is very dark and only Luke is likable but his story is so painful to read. Brian is horrible and Will is absolutely vile. The number of times I had to put it down out of absolute disgust in the characters but then had to pick it up again to keep reading.

This is a story that covers a variety of forms of abuse and while I will not be reading it again - I can not commend the author's authentic handling of the subject matter enough. The language is brilliant, the character development is flawless and the story as a whole is now haunting me.

I received a pre-release copy of #OurLittleCruelties from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say reading this book has made me feel a whole lot better about my own family! From the outset we know that two brothers are attending the funeral of the third brother, but which one? “All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral, although one of us was in the coffin.”

This story is told threefold, each brother, Will, Brian & Luke telling their story from both past and present, the insight/perspective of each one as to the actions of the others and the tribulations of their lives, a case of sibling rivalry, jealousy, backstabbing, battling for the attention of their “superstar” mother. A completely dysfunctional family, whom to me were all out for themselves, not one good likeable character trait amongst them. Each tormented in their own way as we see unravelling throughout. A very well written book delving into the intricacies of family dynamics at its worst!

This book delves into mental health issues, abuse and other issues. It is well written and tells a story from 3 different perspectives of 3 brothers.

I have no criticism of the book itself I just wasnt comfortable with the dark tone and the subject matter.

Thank you for allowing me to read this.

Our Little Cruelties is a psychological thriller following Will, Brian and Luke Drumm. The story opens up with the three brothers attending a funeral, however the funeral is for one of them! We follow their lives as children and adults, the narrative told from each brothers flawed perspective, jumping around in time but this was never confusing. We see the same events told through the eyes of each brother, going deeper and revealing more with each perspective shared.

I’ve read Liz Nugent’s novels before and she has a fantastic way of writing incredibly unlikeable but complex, well explored characters. Despite how much you hate them you want to know more. Her writing is compelling, as more of the story unfolds, leading to each pivotal point and finally the reveal of the death! I actually screamed!

I highly recommend this or any of Nugent’s other books to psychological thriller fans.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for my copy to review.

This book certainly has a dark side. There is no doubt that the characters have family issues as they tell their life stories over four decades. It tells of sibling rivalry, selfishness and competiveness that ends tragically for all of the those in the family circle. It's probably closer to many family situations than any of us would wish to think. I found the book gripping.

“All three of the Drumm brothers were at the funeral, although one of us was in the coffin.”

Liz Nugent has a well deserved reputation for giving us brilliant opening lines and Our Little Cruelties does not disappoint. From the beginning we know that one of the Drumm brothers is dead, but which one and what happened is a mystery. A mystery Nugent delights in unraveling.

Will, Brian and Luke each have a complicated relationship with their mother Melissa, a once famous singer. Their relationships with each other aren’t much better. Told from each of their perspectives we follow their lives throughout childhood and adulthood. This use of multiple points of view and a timeline that switches between the past and present leads to a richly layered narrative that reminds us that people who share an experience do not always have the same memories of that experience.

Will is a film producer who cares only for himself. Brian seems unsure of his place in the world until he begins working for Luke. Luke is a popstar who is struggling to adapt to his dwindling career. The joy of a Liz Nugent novel is in not knowing what is coming, so I won’t give too much of the plot away other than to say your opinion about which Drumm brother is the worst will constantly change.

As we’ve come to expect from Nugent, Our Little Cruelties leaves us with as many questions as it does answers, particularly around whether the actions of her characters are as a result of nature or nurture.

Our Little Cruelties is a compelling read about the consequences of the awful things horrible people do to not only to their family, but everyone around them.

There appears to be a bit of a trend of books where not only do you not know who did it but you also don't know who it was done to! When done well, this can really work and I can tell you that this book is definitely in that category.
We follow Will, Brian and Luke through their lives, as they intersect and diverge too. We know that one is dead, the other two are seen attending their funeral at the beginning of the book. We hear from each in turn and see what life has thrown at them and also, more importantly, what they have taken from both life and each other along the way. I have to admit that all three of them are pretty nasty people and I lost count of the number of times I wanted to slap them silly along the way. Spoilers prevent me from going into detail but my money on who actually died stayed firmly in my pocket all the way through as it really was a three horse race throughout. To be honest, it was more of a journey than a destination as who actually died wasn't as important as all the character driven nefarious stuff that happened along the way.
Imagine the worst of humanity and you have these three brothers. Competitive is an understatement, if they can get one over on one of the others they will do, in abundance, with no respect or consideration for anyone's feelings. They really are the worst of the worst. And so delicious to read about.
Pacing is perfect, there are twists and turns delivered throughout, some quite subtle in nature rather than being big reveals. And the ending, when all is finally revealed, well... that was a bit jaw dropping. And satisfying.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book. Due to the ongoing issues in the world I have tried to read for over a week but it is just not keeping my attention at this moment. Therefore, I don't feel that it is fair to write a review of this book on my blog. It is not in anyway a negative against the author as I did feel that what I read of the book was well written however my own head is unable to give it the concentration that this book required.

I would like to say that I mostly enjoyed the complex characters and I liked the way that the author portrayed all the brothers differences and in particular the clear mental issues that were covered.

The one thing I didn't enjoy was the repetitiveness of the story. We have first brother telling the story from his viewpoint and then this shifts after a good chunk of the book to the second brother who then goes over the same story from his perspective and so on. By the time I got to the third brother I just felt that I was repeating what I had already read and my interest flagged.

Maybe in different times I would have enjoyed the book but at this time I am unable to carry on with it. For that I am very sorry and would to thank you for my ARC. Out of fairness to the author I will not be rating this book on any of the selling sites as I unable to give a truly honest rating,

Reading this was like watching a horror movie - compulsive but at the end, could I say I’d enjoyed it? No! Excellently written and the characters were all totally believable. I soon recognised that Will was going to end up being a secondary Harvey. Weinstein! However, none of the characters were people I would want to know, there were no attractive attributes, even Susan wasn’t particularly likeable! I desperately wanted one of them to come good but twas not to be! Couldn’t put it down but wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, especially in the present climate!

Despite the dark theme of this novel, the quality of the humour in it actually made me laugh out loud at points. (Jamie Lee Curtis reference was one I read out loud to whoever would listen)
Its compelling, interesting and one that you will be loathe to put down.
A great, solid read which I'd highly recommend.

Another fabulous read from Liz Nugent, she really has an eye for detail when it comes to creating characters that could walk off the page, although mainly it is probably best they stay where they are!

In Our Little Cruelties we have a dysfunctional family, and lets face it, what better way to make you feel better about your own! The book opens with two brothers attending the funeral of the third and we learn all about them through non-linear episodes from each of their individual perspectives.

Be warned if you need to like the characters you meet in your novels this won't be one for you but this intricate and individual read is up there with the best of the bunch of 2020 so far.

This was an excellent book. From the first page you knew that 3 brothers went to the funeral, one of them was in the coffin.

From there you got a narrative of each of the brothers lives, Will, Brian and Luke.
The characters were all deeply flawed in their own way and you saw as they fought for attention, backstabbed each other and battled until one of them ends up dead.

Reading this story was amazing. It was so fun and so well written. As the action ramped up I found myself desperately trying to get to the end. I loved the book and each of the stories. I loved seeing different perspectives of the same event.

The only thing I didn't like was that the stories were non linear. We kept skipped backwards and forwards and now I'm at the end it's clear to see that there was no particular reason for doing so. I think it would have been easier to understand the chronology of events if it was a linear narrative as it played no part in the telling of the story.
Aside from that one amazing book!