Immediately pre-ordered Snowflake after reading this extract.

A very different, interesting and well written debut, about mental illness, isolation, and that favoured storyline of moving to Dublin to go to Trinity.

But this is a very different book / author, and shouldn't be compared to others of this so-called Trinity-lit genre. Snowflake very much holds its own, and I'd look forwrad to reading more by Louise Nealon.

My full review of Snowflake, as posted on my Instagram page (@tiredmammybookclub), is below:

One of the most challenging things facing young, Irish, female writers post-2017 must be being likened or compared to Sally Rooney.

Yes, Snowflake is about a girl from down the country who goes to Trinity to study English, but this is its own book, with its own story to tell…

About Debbie, who grew up on a dairy farm in Kildare with her mother and her uncle, not knowing her father, then heading off to college in Dublin, which she’d only previously visited annually on the 8th December.

Her mother, well I wouldn’t know where to begin to describe Maeve but I liked Maeve, troubled as she is. She’s made some mistakes in the past, especially when it comes to Debbie, but I believed her heart is in the right place.

Her uncle Billy, who is trapped on the farm and in the past, and seems to want the best for Debbie but finds it hard when she goes off to college.

There’s also the new best friend, college life, commuting and fitting in, and how all of this works out for Debbie.

At times it felt a little disjointed but looking back I see that so much of the book is about mental illness and how being isolated, or part of a society that doesn’t accept or speak of such illnesses comfortably, can effect generation after generation.

There’s a line in the chapter ‘Blessings’ which sums this up: “It is socially acceptable to be an alcoholic in our parish as long as you don’t get treatment for it”

I am very excited about this one! Irish fiction is really having a phenomenal time in the charts these last few years and I'm sure this one will be no exception. I was completely charmed by this extract and have ordered myself a hardback copy. I can't wait to see how the story develops.

Unique and exquisite read. Excellent debut novel, similar to Sally Rooney's Normal People. A recommended read for sure.

I got a free sampler of this book, and that is what my opinion will be about.

This reads like a more down-to-earth Sally Rooney novel.
There is a feeling of coming of age story with a strong focus on mental health issues, which I very much appreciate.
I think Nealon's style will hit the spot for many readers, especially the ones who are into contemporary fiction.
Her level of descriptiveness is commendable and the struggles the characters go through are palpable, as are the joys.
The blend of humor and darkness gives it some lightness and makes the reading experience a pleasant one.

Very intriguing sample, curious to read the rest of the book! Based on what i’ve read, the comparison to Sally Rooney seems justifiable.

I really enjoyed the extract from this book and am looking forward to reading the full version. The writers style of writing pulled me in from the first page and her characters are well drawn. I’m expecting the rest of the book to challenge our perceptions of other people and will be well worth a read!

I only had access to the Sample, which was a pleasure to read, with its interplay of stoic innocence and self-obsession. I requested the full version, to no avail.

This is definitely my kind of book, I have only read the sample but oh my goodness. I can't wait to read more.
I got so into it and the sample was quite long that I only read half, as I didn't want it to end and then have to wait to read more.


I have been to Ireland a couple of times and I've been to Trinity College as well, and they was Lousie describes it is exactly how I remember.
Her descriptions are so detailed and helped create such an amazing picture in your head.

Her work is so beautiful and unique, a story about a girl who's grown up on a dairy farm and is worried she won't get accepted. Her mother who suffers from a mental illness and her uncle who has tried his best to raise her and has such a strong relationship with her. I can't wait to get hold of the book.
I hope that Debbie White takes the best path and follows her dreams.
Keep a look out for Snowflake on the 13th May 2021.

I'll update my review once I've read it .

I was totally engrossed in this from the beginning. The beautiful descriptive language had me completely captivated. I had to read this excerpt in one sitting and I’m pretty sure I would’ve finished the whole book if I had it. There’s so many scenarios and characters that just rang so true to me. I can’t wait to read the full book at some point as I’m dying to see what happens to all these great characters

I wanted to love this story because of all the excitement around it, but based on the sampler I received, it’s not my cup of tea. Oscillating between a kind of knowing self-deprecation and attempts at profundity it feels like it gets lost in its own lostness. I haven’t read the whole book of course, but I’m not a big fan of the trend for coming of age stories, and I wouldn’t call this “A novel for a generation”. It’s well written and easy to read, but lacks depth for me. Maybe that’s what others liked, the way it dances around the edges as though they’re too tender to touch, but it can get tiresome.

This was a great start to what looks like an intriguing story of life at university in Dublin for Debbie, who comes from a sheltered and perhaps rather dysfunctional life on a farm. The style of writing is interesting and I am indeed looking forward to reading the whole novel!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this sampler. This was a rather charming read following 18-year old Debbie who goes to Trinity college to study English. She lives on a dairy farm with her uncle and eccentric mother. Due to their restricted financial situation Debbie commutes to university, which takes an hour. This a coming of age novel and apparently it will touch on mental health.
I found this to be a fast read. It oozes warmth and sweetness. I don’t get the comparison with Sally Rooney, except that both are Irish and involve English university students. I’d compare this book to Sarah Winman. Both have quirky characters with a tinge of autobiographical style of writing.
I did find this lacking in plot though and I found the shift in Debbie’s character in the last 20 pages unfathomable and inconsistent, which is why I’m giving this 3.5/5. I will definitely check out the book when it releases.

For a little sampler, this really caught my attention! I have really been enjoying Irish fiction at the moment and the glimpse into Lisa's dysfunctional family life was fascinating & I wish I had the full novel to enjoy. This will definitely be one I will pick up when its released.

Giving 4 stars as I feel like its a great one - hard to judge without the whole book but trusting my gut.

Thank you so much to the publisher for this sampler!

I remember the day that Louise Nealon's debut novel, Snowflake was announced to the general public. Right away, there was a huge amount of interest in her and her novel, about a young, lost woman from a farming background who goes to Trinity College.

Debbie is out of place even before she leaves home. Her mother, Maeve, is definitely eccentric and doesn't seem to be quite able for life and relies on her partner who is not much older than Debbie. Debbie's uncle, Billy, looks after the farm from his mobile home in the back garden, while also drinking the day away. Debbie isn't sure in herself, coming from a pretty chaotic household, and this is apparent as soon as she goes to Dublin. Her trips to the city thus far have been few and far between, and she ends up disoriented and lost on her first day. She doesn't really make friends, but by the time the sampler ends she has fallen in with a much cooler, mature crowd and is about to embark on a big night out with them, which is tinged with potential for either fulfilment for what Debbie might think is the college experience, or disaster. Debbie is very sheltered and I felt incredibly awkward for her, and was cringing in wondering what might happen next for her.

I think Nealon is clearly an accomplished writer and her infuses her work with compassion and understanding for people who may feel like the odd one out, who never say or wear the right things but ultimately are good people who just need a chance. I wasn't completely grabbed by what I read so far but would be open to reading more to see where the story goes.

The publishers did not allow me to access the whole novel, I only had an extract. Judging on this I found it interesting and would like to read the rest. Two stars for a fraction of the book!

I have read the sampler with the firsrt few chapters and really enjoyed it, For now glimpses of Debbie's dysfunctional family, life on a farm and the awkwardness of new college life in Dublin, Excellent characterisation, wry humour, definitely intriguing. Looking forward to reading the rest.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a sampler. of this book

Snowflake is one of my most anticipated reads of 2021. I loved this little sample and can’t wait to read the novel in full! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this small taste of what’s to come!

I've been hearing a lot about this book and these opening pages indicated a lightness of touch that should make the novel very readable. An interesting addition to the number of young Irish women writing today

A really interesting first taste of what I expect will be well-received publication in May 2021. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the free sampler.

I am intrigued and cannot wait to see how the story develops and where the author decides to take us. Louise Nealon for sure has a distinct voice and a way of telling stories.

Looking forward to reading the book!