‘Snowflake’, follows 18 year old, Debbie White, who lives in Co. Kildare in Ireland, around 40 minutes outside of Dublin. Debbie grew up on a Dairy farm, surrounded by eccentrics, such as her Uncle Billy, a Greek mythology expert who lives in a caravan and the end of Debbie’s garden, and her Mum, who believes she has prophetical dreams- a trait she believes she’s passed to Debbie. So when Debbie gets accepted to Trinity College Dublin, she’s determined to keep her ‘culchie’ life and family drama away from the hallowed walls of Trinity and its wealthy students.

Anyone who has grown up in a rural space and then moved to a city for university, will be able to relate to much of Debbie’s story, and Nealon captures the shame, confusion and ‘otherness’ of being working class in higher education, especially in a place like Trinity, with honesty and a painful understanding. ‘Snowflake’, is ultimately a coming-of-age story, but unlike any I’ve read before. Nealon tackles intense subjects, like mental health and eating disorders, caring responsibilities, and inherited trauma. The inner workings of each of her characters’ is complex and compelling, each with such an important inner life that we, as the reader, may only glimpse, but you know Nealon has a complete understanding of that characters backstory.

I loved the book more than I can say here- I found it to resonate with my own life, despite it’s specificity to Ireland, which I think is a testament to Nealon’s writing. Fans of Sally Rooney and Naoise Dolan will definitely enjoy the book, but, ‘Snowflake’, stands out for me, because it is predominately a love letter to family, given and made, and how to accept the place you’ve come from.

This is a beautifully raw, powerful and brutally honest coming of age story, written so eloquently that the characters felt like old friends and the scenes were photographs printed on the imagination.

Debs is a complex young woman, which brings already complex family ties to a climax, and breeds for more complexity in friendships and the lads she’s shifting. There is a plethora of alcoholism and mental Illness winding its way through the story which meets somewhere along the line with magic and divinity. Perfect in its imperfections. I l loved this novel. The narration by Louisa Harland was beautiful too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier U.K. audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

**Listened to the audiobook**

I really struggled with this book. At first, the book reminded me of 'normal people' (and I adore that book) so I was really into it. However, the pacing was just so slow for my liking, and I lost interest quite quickly.
I'm not sure if i would have preferred to read the book rather than listen to the audio - not sure if i would have enjoyed it more.

I liked the narrator, and it helped make the book feel more authentic. Loved the Irish accent!

Overall not for me, didn't enjoy this.

‘As soon as rain hits the ocean it is no longer called rain. As soon as a dreamer enters a dream there is no longer the dreamer. There is only the dream.’

I didn’t know what to expect going into this but I adored every second of it!

Firstly I just want to mention the narrator - absolutely stunning! I think I’d happily have her read to me all day. I think having it read with the accent just made it such an immersive experience, I was totally caught up in it all.

It’s a raw and real, coming of age story that takes you through it all. Although on the surface, Debbie’s experiences are quite unique but underneath it all it’s very relatable and I think there’s something everyone can relate to in there.

It really had a strong focus on mental health and it was dealt with so sensitively - it was really well done. The story in general had some many layers to it, highlighting some really important topics in a gentle but realistic way.

The Irish culture and everything came through beautifully! The places, the people, the quirks, humour and lingo - all amazing! Added such a lovely layer to the story and the characters.

Modern, with a unique voice - I loved every minute and would recommend it to anyone who likes this style of novel. If you like audiobooks - you have to try the audio to this one!!

Debbie has a pretty normal life - or so she thinks. She lives at home on a small Dairy farm with her someone ecentric and tarot-loving mum Maeve and her uncle Billy living in the bottom of the garden with just the stars and a bottle of whiskey for company. But as she gets ready to start her life as a student at Trinity College in Dublin, her normal changes very quickly. Trying to navigate the sophisticated and complicated lives of Trinity Students, she's struggling to maintain balancing the two halves of her lives. Maeve is getting more eccentric, convinced her dreams are prophecies. Billy is drinking more and more and Debbie doesn't know how to cope.

But despite it all, Debbie knows no matter how hard life gets - her family is cheering her on in their own way.

Snowflake is a normal story about normal life - and that's what gives it such a unique charm. It didn't feel like there was much a story in places but instead it feels like slowly getting to know Debbie through her anecdotes and her struggles going through life.

As part of the generation she's always been told 'has it easier than ever' - Debbie is struggling with crushing societal expectations, crumbling mental health and world around her going to ruin. It resonated with me on so many levels and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry the whole way through.

The narration was spectacular, clear and easy to listen to, but conveying the nuance and emotion, the humour and the heartbreak all the way through.

Snowflake has been called 'A Novel for a Generation' and after reading the whole thing in one evening I can see why. This a story for the young, confused and lost that tells us the simple truth that everyone is an outsider somewhere.