I came for the cover and stayed for the book— I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you so much for giving me this digital galley!

Fantastic representation of friendship in your twenties..the parties, the fights, the alcohol.
Well written and great (true to life) dialogues, and the Belfast setting comes to life.

One of my favourite categories of books is millennial women growing up with roommates. So i was always going to love this. I loved the dynamic between the girls, and it was beautifully written how they were individually dealing with the loss.

I was immediately drawn to this book by the eye catching cover and the description. We follow three friends Harley, Maggie and Róise as they all struggling to deal with the grief of losing their housemate and friend Lydia.

The story is told in multiple POV through each of the women. We learn how they are all dealing with their own struggles along with their grief. Each character has their own flaws and it shows how everything is not all perfect all of the time.

I loved how honest and real it all felt. I really liked the authors writing style. I enjoyed the humour throughout the book too.

Thirst Trap follows three friends on the edge of their late twenties, Maggie, Harley, and Róise, trying to navigate grief, loss, anger and love. They struggle to cope with the passing of their friend and housemate Lydia. One is clinging to her chaotic early twenties full of drugs and drinking, another one develops an eating disorder while the third one struggles with attaching herself to unpromising romantic connections. The impending move from their house (which is practically on the verge of crumbling down) marks the end of an era and potentially the end of their friendship.


The novel is told from three different perspectives and O’Hare skillfully described their present state whilst also exploring their past and the trajectory of their friendships. The portrayal of the women and their friendship is very realistic - there are no heroes and villains, just women standing at the precipice of a new life stage, aware that the shared living accommodation has allowed them to be stuck in the past.

I found Thirst Trap to be a very realistic portrayal of navigating grief, romantic relationships and the mess life throws at you. Its depiction of big life decisions, stress and fear of change is something anyone in their late twenties can relate to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan/Picador for my copy.

Gráinne O’Hare’s debut sees three close friends, on the cusp of thirty, living in the house they shared with a fourth whose death in a car accident devastated them, complicated by the betrayal that preceded it.
Despite the grief at the heart of this late coming-of-age novel, O’Hare’s narrative is full of an affectionate humour for these three young woman already stuck in the life they were living as students before Lydia’s death. A year later, each of them is dealing – or failing to deal – with the aftermath in their own, self-destructive way: Harley lurches from bed to bed, fuelled by a cocktail of drink and drugs; Róise seethes in her room, writing off a promising new relationship as just sex while Maggie still jumps to the tune of an old student lover who persistently refers to her as a ‘friend’. O’Hare neatly takes her characters from the birthday of her novel’s opening chapter to another in a satisfying wrap-up at the novel’s end. Her book deals well with the overwhelming grief at the sudden loss of a friend at a young age, resisting the maudlin, while engaging sympathy for her characters.

Well I absolutely adored this book. Three Irish friends on the cusp of turning 30, we learn all about their messy lives in such a heartwarming way. I rooted for every one of the characters, but had a particular soft spot for Roise. The writing is perfect and so so funny. I’m gutted that the book ended and I won’t get the chance to follow these characters further. A big hearty recommendation for this fab book.

Thank you to Picador for the access to an ARC of this book. I was really excited to read Thirst Trap and it did not disappoint.

This book has so much heart, integrity and personality. I think there are aspects that will be very relatable to many women in their 30’s. The pacing was brilliant and I absolutely loved the understated way in which the story was told. It felt true to life, without melodramatics but with all the messy confusion that being a human brings.

One thing I absolutely want to highlight: there were some absolutely stunning lines in there. Little nuggets of philosophy and heartfelt observations. These never felt clunky, out of places or forced and it’s a testament to the quality of the writing throughout the book.

I absolutely fell in love with Róise and thought she was so three dimensional and well developed. I feel more of this development could have happened with Harley and Maggie though, as it took a fair whack of the book to untangle which was which.

Altogether, this is a title I really recommend and o can see it making big waves on social media. It’s reminiscent of Blue Sisters, but grittier, working class and more relatable. Really well done!

Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare is a poignant, bittersweet, and often painfully relatable exploration of friendship, grief, and the tumultuous years of one's twenties. The novel centres on three women—Maggie, Harley, and Róise—who share a crumbling houseshare in Belfast, a place where their shared memories of laughter, heartache, and growth are interwoven. What should have been the best years of their lives are now tinged with loss, emotional turmoil, and unspoken grief, as they grapple with the tragic death of their friend Lydia.

The dynamic between the three women is at the heart of the story. As they navigate the aftermath of Lydia’s death and the unresolved tensions from their last fight with her, the narrative delves into how friendships are tested in the face of tragedy. The ghost of Lydia looms large in their lives, not only through the untouched remnants of her room but through the lingering impact she had on each of them. O'Hare masterfully captures the complexity of grief, the way it can both tear people apart and bring them together in unexpected ways.

The beauty of Thirst Trap lies in its emotional depth and its authenticity. O'Hare’s writing is sharp, witty, and occasionally heartbreakingly tender. One moment, you’ll find yourself laughing out loud at the girls’ antics, only to be struck by the next moment's gut-wrenching sadness. It’s a novel that makes you feel seen—particularly if you’ve ever experienced the fragile and raw nature of friendship in your twenties, a time of immense personal change, reckless decisions, and the growing awareness of how precious life and relationships truly are.

Maggie, Harley, and Róise are each wonderfully crafted, fully realised characters. They are imperfect, flawed, and entirely human. Their pain, joy, and emotional struggles are presented in such a way that they feel like real friends, someone you could easily recognise in your own life. Lydia, though she no longer physically exists in the story, is ever-present—her absence shaping the actions and emotions of the other women in ways both heartbreaking and beautiful. Her legacy as a friend, the unresolved fight, and her tragic end serve as a powerful backdrop to the central theme of growth, acceptance, and the complicated nature of grief.

What makes Thirst Trap stand out is O'Hare’s ability to balance the humour and the sorrow. The humour comes naturally, from the camaraderie and banter among the women, and it’s often a welcome reprieve from the darker moments. Yet, it never feels forced or out of place, as the underlying sadness is always there, gently simmering just beneath the surface. It’s this delicate dance between light and dark that gives the story its heartbeat, making it not only emotionally moving but also unexpectedly uplifting in its portrayal of friendship and resilience.

This novel is one that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. Maggie, Harley, and Róise feel like friends you’ve known your whole life, and their story is one of growth, learning to let go, and ultimately finding peace in the messiness of life and loss. Thirst Trap is an exploration of the friendships that define us, the ones that hold us together when everything else seems to fall apart.

For anyone who has navigated the ups and downs of friendship, especially in the pivotal years of their twenties, Thirst Trap offers a heartfelt and cathartic read that will leave you reflecting on the bonds that shape your own life. O'Hare’s novel is a true testament to the beauty, complexity, and power of lasting friendships.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A lot of heartfelt moments in this book - it starts by implying they're just three messy girls going to nightclubs for longer than they should, but the grief they share brings a lot of poignancy. Really, it's about tragedy and growing up.

Funny, compelling and hopeful. I really enjoyed this story of three girls navigating the getting-back-to-normal stage of grief, over a year after their friend has died. The friendships described were believable, and the growth of the characters realistically stop-and-start. I enjoyed the author's criticism of books where the ending of stories like this are too satisfying and perfect, and thought the ends left lose were just enough to make it realistic without being frustrating. I would happily read something else by this author.

I loved this so much. Such a wonderful story about friendship and dealing with grief. It felt very honest and I really liked the different POVs of each characters life and how we learned about Lydia through them. Really enjoyed reading this, it made me smile, laugh and cry!

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

A true reflection of managing womanhood, friendship and grief whilst fast approaching the big 30. O’Hare captures the experience of those struggling with the in between of ‘living your best life’ and adulthood, whilst managing the chaos of everyday life.

Harley, Róise and Maggie live in a rundown house in South Belfast, living life day-by-day without any true direction. Written from the perspective of all three girls, fans of Sally Rooney and dry humour will enjoy this one.

Drinking, drugs, sex and a house that’s falling apart. The writing provides a very real experience of those in their late 20’s, as the group struggles to adapt to managing their friendship after the unexpected loss of their friend Lydia. The topic of grief is heavy throughout, highlighting the different experiences of each friend, post-Lydia.

Thirst Trap isn’t plot heavy, but it is real. It provides emotion and that brilliant Irish humour. It was refreshing to have a multiple POV of a group of friends that aren’t all straight. Maggie brings another layer to the story as she navigates being gay in a town where she knows every face that appears on her dating app.

It's worth mentioning that you should check for trigger warnings before diving into this one. Drug abuse, death, eating disorders and the difficulty of abortions in Ireland are topics that are done well, but in a way that has you feeling for each character.

Releasing in June 2025, this is one to add to your TBR.

Thank you NetGalley, Pan Macmillan and Picador for the arc in exchange for the honest review.

Thirst Trap is your typical slice-of-life story which follows three girls living around the one-year anniversary of their friend's death. They have to come to terms with the fact that they weren't on the best of terms with their friend and learn to live with any guilt they feel about the situation.

I don't typically love slice-of-life stories, but this one kept me interested straight away, albeit it dragged slightly closer to the end it got, but that is all, really. I enjoyed each girl's story throughout the book, and how they intertwined with one another.

This book epitomises being in your early 30s and not really having much direction in your life. I liked that the story was told from the perspective of the three women involved. It is a reflection of how friendships can change as you grow older, and how grief can be complex and not always linear. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I thought she wrote complicated friendships well. It was quite a moving read.

I saw another review that compared this to the vibe of Sally Rooney's writing, but more wild. I haven't read Rooney... For the exact reason that creates that overlap. Yes we get to follow the characters and their stories but sheesh are they pretty normal experiences. I was SO bored halfway thru. I know some people do and will continue to absolutely love this one. And I did enjoy bits and pieces! I think it's at least partially a "me" thing. There just wasn't enough going on, or what was going on didn't feel unique enough, to keep my interest right now.

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Grainne O'Hare and Picador for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}

Wow! This was such an authentic narration of 3 friends in their late 20s/early 30s, all of them dealing with the grief of an unexpected death. O'Hare transitions between the three narrators seamlessly , like you're slipping in and out of each friends consciousness every few paragraphs.

The dialogue was so natural it felt like I was out on the sesh with them. O'Hare has captured a truly honest insight on female friendships -the wonderful intimate moments wrapped up with the insecure little thoughts we all have with our closest friends. This snapshots what it is like to be 30 in the 2020s, to feel stuck when many people around you are living a really different life from you. The topics are similar to many other "hot mess millennial" books out atm, but this felt so genuine and hopeful (even after I felt embarrassed and concerned on behalf of all of the girls) that I was thinking about this book long after I'd put it down.

Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thirst Trap is a novel about three friends in Belfast turning thirty in the wake of their friend's death and facing up to the reality of their lives. Maggie, Harley, and Róise live together in a crumbling rented house, with one room still empty after their friend Lydia's death. They've all been coping in different ways, still clinging on to the drinking and nights out of their twenties, and not talking about the events before Lydia's death. As things start to unravel, they must see if their friendship can survive into the next decade.

Moving focus between all three of the friends, this book does very well to tell the story of their friendship at this moment and in the past, not making any of them seem like the protagonist. This energy stops the book from being similar to other 'young millennial women falling apart' novels that become a depressing spiral without saying much, because instead it can focus on friendship and grief and not very healthy relationships both with people and with drugs and alcohol, as seen through the lens of three different people. There's not a huge amount of plot in terms of dramatic events (other than some collapsing stairs), but the story follows them facing up to the fact that they might not all want the exact same thing at that moment, but are also united in their friendship. At times, you can hardly see why they are friends, but that is also what it is about: turning thirty and seeing how different people can be, but also who you still want to be close to regardless.

I liked that the characters weren't all straight and looking for a settled down relationship with a man, but instead didn't have much direction and were looking for the smaller things that would give them purpose (especially against the backdrop of people from school and uni all with babies). Maggie, who is a lesbian, gets a few elements of queer girl problems, like knowing most of the people on dating apps already, and these kinds of details made it feel more real, rather than about unrealistic young women as some of these books can be.

Overall, Thirst Trap is a sad and funny look at people who are on the brink of realising they need to grow up a bit, but also are trapped with each other and their shared grief. It feels like the sort of book people might say is for fans of Sally Rooney, but is actually for people who wish Sally Rooney's books were a bit more realistic and messy.

Thirst Trap by Gráinne O'Hare
4 stars

**please check the trigger warning before reading!! This is your only warning.

I was drawn in by the cover and title, and to say this is not what I was expecting from those, is an understatement. It was so different to where I thought this book was going, but it was a nice surprise and I actually ended up really enjoying it.

The thing I loved most about this book was the multiple POV. I know some people don’t get on with it, but for me its absolutely brilliant. There's no assumptions to what the other characters are thinking or feeling, you get to see it all first hand with their own POV. So that was a win for me.

The pain I felt for all 3 girls, when they lost one of their friend group. It was heartbreaking and I just wanted to cry for all of them. That grief they faced was just an absolute heartbreak. But to watch the three of them come together and tackle that grief, TOGETHER, was absolutely brilliant. They relied on each other and came together to grieve.

But on top of the three girls grieving, the amount of times I actually laughed out loud was insane. The way this author has with words is priceless and I was absolutely in fits of hysterics at some points. This book really has it all, one minute I'm crying because I'm sad the next I'm crying because its funny. I felt absolutely everything in this book and I wouldn’t change a thing.

This is one of the ARC’s that ends up as a trophy copy on my bookshelf. Brilliant. Loved it. 10/10

Following three friends living in Belfast, navigating their transitions into their thirties alongside the grief from having lost their fourth best friend, Thirst Trap is a fantastically written delayed coming of age story.
There were many genuine laugh out loud moments from this book for me, and the characters felt painfully real, raw and relatable.
Big fan of the multiple POVs, allowing the reader to see how Maggie, Harley and Róise each cope (or rather, don’t) with the upheavals and tribulations life has thrown at them over the past year. A perfect read for those wanting to explore themes of friendship, betrayal, love, loss and change written in a perfectly funny and of-the-moment novel.

I couldn’t not give this a 5 star review, when it had me so hooked from the beginning. I’m looking forward to more from Gráinne O’Hare and her brutally refreshing voice!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!