Let Me Go Mad in My Own Way

Publisher: Penguin Random House
Publish date: 14 May 2026
Pages: 320
Binding: Paperback
Language: English

Subjects: Fiction, Sagas, Literary, Political, Women, Family Life, Small Town & Rural, World Literature, Ireland, 21st Century

THE INSTANT IRISH TIMES BESTSELLER
SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS NOVEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER OF AUTHOR OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS

The deeply moving story of the O'Connor family, its troubled past in the West of Ireland, and a love story of second chances from the Booker-longlisted author of How to Build a Boat

'A haunting powerful page turner that will have you in its thrall' GABRIEL BYRNE
'One of Ireland's shining literary stars...an energetic and vivid voice' THE TIMES
'Full of humanity, a story for our times' MARY COSTELLO
'I loved this book' LOUISE KENNEDY
'Superb' IRISH TIMES

Claire O'Connor's life has been on hold since she broke up with Tom Morton and moved back home to the rugged West of Ireland to care for her dying father. She spends her days getting lost online, going to work and minding her own business. But Claire is thrown back into a love she thought she'd left behind when Tom unexpectedly moves nearby, stirring up haunting memories trapped within the walls of the old family house. As the secrets of the past are revealed, Claire must confront whether she can escape her history to make a future for herself.

'This book touched my soul' KATRIONA O'SULLIVAN

'I believe this is the best book of the year' Oliver Callan, RTE RADIO

'Hugely powerful' DAILY MAIL

'One of Irish literature's most gifted and persuasive storytellers' SINÉAD GLEESON

'Sizzling, electric... charged with humour and anger... I loved it' JENNY MUSTARD

'Clear-eyed and deep-hearted... packs an intellectual and emotional punch' CLAIRE-LOUISE BENNETT