A brutal and heartbreaking portrayal of family in turmoil after a young child is accused of killing another child. This is less a murder mystery and more of a character study of a family who are trying to live through pain and addiction.

I couldn't read this as an ebook for some reason so will get it when it comes out! Sorry! (Leaving a 4 star review to be fair.)

It’s always hard to follow a fantastic debut novel cel but this is definitely as good as her first book. I loved the insight into family dynamics. Deeply damaged but very realistic characters make this a worthy 5 stars.

I wasn’t sure about Nolan’s first book but loved this. Keenly observed with impeccably drawn characters, I recommend this to anyone who loves British literary fiction.

“Ordinary Human Failings” by Megan Nolan is set in 1990s London. The story revolves around Tom Hargreaves, a reporter with a brisk disregard for ordinary people, whom he dismisses as “peasants.” When he stumbles upon a scoop involving a dead child on a London estate, he becomes entangled in the lives of the Greens, a reclusive family of Irish immigrants. At the heart of the family lies Carmel, a broken woman once destined for a different future. As the police close in on a suspect, secrets and silences spanning generations come to light

The author skillfully weaves a haunting and propulsive tale in Ordinary Human Failings. Her evocative writing captures the struggles of ordinary people, their flaws, and the impact of past traumas. The characters are vividly portrayed, and the novel’s exploration of family secrets and class dynamics is engaging.

Late to review but I adored this - no one is doing it like Megan Nolan. It is honest, raw, messy and supremely relatable.

Set in 1990s London, this searing novel from the acclaimed author of Acts of Desperation follows a reporter who begins to investigate an Irish family implicated in an atrocious crime.
'An understated, well observed, beautifully written novel' - Gem, Bookseller

What’s not to like? I went out right away when the book was published and got a signed author’s edition. I enjoyed Nolan’s first book and enjoyed this one too. If she ever writes another I’ll most likely enjoy that also

I loved Nolan’s first book and this is, I think, even better. She is so original in her language, her dissection of the modern world, the dark sides of our personalities. More please!

Ordinary HUman Failings is a great second novel from Meg Nolan, whose debut I found to be a bit grating. Here she explores an Irish family in London and their possible involvement in a girls' disappearance. This is an ambitious and compulsive read and cements Nolan's reputation as a talent to watch.

Ordinary Human Failings has a great premise but fails in the execution. The promise at the heart of it - the dramatic interplay between a troubled family and a tabloid hack holed up in a hotel while a terrible crime incites public anger - is unfulfilled. Instead the family members each reflect on their pasts (they could have done that at home) and the event that turns the story happens elsewhere. I'm also not convinced by the changes that ensue, either on a legal or a human level.

There are some interesting insights into the characters but they all seem to share the same voice, even the child, Lucy (a voice that largely consists of analytical, multi-clause sentences and a lot of conveniently interpretable dreams).

I understand why Nolan wouldn't have wanted to follow the predictable path which a crime writer might have taken with the same material, but this story seems to end before it has even got going.

"Ordinary Human Failings" by Megan Nolan navigates ordinary life with a neutral tone. The narrative is introspective, exploring mundane human experiences. While the prose is competent, it may lack the spark to resonate universally. Nolan's novel is a contemplative read, fitting for those seeking a subdued exploration of everyday existence.

I went in blind with this one as i haven't read Acts of Desperation and I didnt really know much about the book but I had heard others praise her writing so I went in ...
Set in 1990 London we follow the Green family who are irish immigrants on the estate where they are living . They aren't really welcomes and when a young child dies all fingers are pointed towards them .
It could be classed as a crime drama or mystery but I felt is came across as more of a family drama of which i became truly immersed . It's an exploration of how ordinary lives can change so quickly and how failings can have far reaching consequences .
I loved it and will definitely be reaching for her first novel now !

A searing novel with unforgettable characters - it has Nolan's trademark interrogation of our darkest fears and motivations but this marks a confident evolution in her writing.

Fast paced and unpredictable this book was so so so good. I couldn't put it down and I didn't want too.

A Fast paced, exciting story about an ordinary family which gets caught up in the death of a child. I found it compelling and engrossing.

The London of the early 90s is accurately and interestingly described and provides insight into tabloid newspapers and their voracious need for a story.

A truly harrowing but fantastic read here, I couldn’t put it down. Stunningly written hooked me from page one and didn’t let up, I loved it.

Was super eager to read this after loving Megan's first novel a few years ago.
I thought this was a brilliant yet harrowing read. It's an extremely bleak story. I really enjoyed the ending when you can see the effects and trauma on the young girl and found this super interesting - would've liked it to explore that aspect a bit more.

After absolutely loving Acts of desperation I could not wait to get my hands on this one and whilst this book was completely different I still found myself blown away with the book … I was utterly hooked! Such a compelling read, so much so that I zipped through it in a day.
Megan Nolan does characterisation so so well … an expert at writing the complex.
Ordinary human feelings was such a brilliant exploration of poverty, class, alcoholism, trauma throughout generations and shame.

Overall, highly recommend.

4.5

I adored Megan Nolan's first book - so much so, I read it twice. I was so excited to read her new offering and was delighted to receive an early copy.

Ordinary Human Feelings is a mature and considered sophomore novel, brimming with the same rich and insightful language as Nolan's debut. While Acts of Desperation felt quite interior (which I loved), this book really broadens its perspective, focusing on a number of well-realised characters.

The story follows an Irish family in early 90s London who become tabloid scapegoats after tragedy strikes in their neighbourhood. The Greens fled Ireland in the wake of daughter Carmel’s teenage pregnancy and her brother Ritchie’s escalating alcoholism. When a young child is mysteriously murdered, their London neighbours point the blame at them, while an ambitious journalist tries to get his big break.

What follows is a quiet portrait of a family in despair and the repercussions of intergenerational trauma. It's wonderfully astute, examining the forces that form a family: the habits, the sadness, the resentment, the resignation. Despite the emotional and melancholy tone, the overall effect is dazzling. Nolan's writing is powerful and nuanced, full of light and shade, and incredible insight.

Nolan is an expert at writing the complicated and tender feelings of people. She writes with such humanity and empathy, that it's impossible not to surrender to the utter beauty of her words. Ordinary Human Failings has cemented Megan Nolan as one of my favourite authors, and I can't wait to read what she comes up with next. All of the stars!