Too Close to Home

Author: Aoife Walsh

A beautifully warm and witty novel about the pain of being from a large and very complicated family.

Meet Minny: her life is a complicated whirlwind of unbearable PE lessons, annoying friends and impossible-to-live-with siblings. She has to contend with her autistic sister Aisling's school bullies, whilst trying to keep her self-absorbed BFF Penny happy, and look normal in front of new boy Franklin.

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Summary

A beautifully warm and witty novel about the pain of being from a large and very complicated family.

Description

Meet Minny- her life is a complicated whirlwind of unbearable PE lessons, annoying friends and impossible-to-live-with siblings. Minny is desperate for some space in a house spilling over with family and hangers-on. She has to contend with her autistic sister Aisling's school bullies, whilst trying to keep her self-absorbed BFF Penny happy, and look normal in front of new boy Franklin. And on top of this, now Dad has announced that he's returning to London - with his new girlfriend.

Secrets, lies and home truths will out, frying pans will be burnt, and arguments will flare up in a story full of humour, honesty and minor household emergencies.

Awards

Nominated for CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016 (UK)

Critic Reviews

"A beautifully written, heartfelt family drama that spotlights autistic sisterhood. I love the chaotic, brilliant Molloy family, and missed them when I put the book down" -- Lizzie Huxley-Jones
"One for the "I write this sitting in the kitchen sink" crowd. Like eating a big authorial cake and finding it full of Streatfeild and McKay and Smith. It's rich, vivid and rather timeless. Contemporary yet classic. Classic yet contemporary." Daisy May Johnson
"Dialogue-driven family drama written in an engaging, authentic voice. Tons of insight and good humour." The Scotsman, Jasmine Fassl
"Wonderfully authentic family drama, funny and complicated as real life relationships are. It has a classic feel to it. Make it top of your to-read list this summer." Scottish Book Trust
"Warm, believable portrait of family life. Witty and moving read." Children's Books Ireland
"An intelligent gathering of complex issues involving real characters. Written with great sensitivity, I highly recommend for fans of David Levithan or Mark Haddon." Waterstones Oxford
"Warm, convincing portrait of a family facing all sorts of difficulties. A contemporary version of Little Women. Walsh does an excellent job." Lovereading
"Aoife Walsh describes the intricacies of a modern family which is facing a wide variety of challenges in beautiful detail." Booktrust
"A good family story, which encompasses complex issues (including autism, fostering, divorce and drugs) with a deft touch, and very real, funny dialogue." The School Librarian
"Walsh’s fictional family loom so large in the mind that it’s hard to believe they don’t really exist. You’ll want to remain in their house for far longer than the book. A thoroughly enjoyable read" Minerva Reads blog

About the Author

Aoife Walsh lives in Oxford with her husband and three children. She quite likes cooking, and quizzes when she knows the answers, and reading, and excellent American television. And cakes and fine wines.