This is a debut novel from an Irish writer who made award shortlists for her story collection “Hearts And Bones”.  This is the 9^th debut novel I’ve read so far this year and the standard is high, but this is one of the best.

It is a tale of three women, main character Nell, her mother, Dolores and Martina, who is one of the mentors of a religious group Nell falls into in her teens.  Nell joins La Obra de los Hogarenos (the Work of the Homemakers), an offshoot of the Catholic Church, a movement against what was seen as increasing secularisation and in favour of home life and fostering an international brotherhood of like-minded souls.  Not quite a cult, but a group which does influence Nell with its views around the time that discussions in Ireland on increasing pro-choice rights were being discussed.

Dolores had been involved in a previous consideration of these issues with the Eighth Amendment of 1983 when she had been a member of a women’s group.  Time moves backwards and forwards for these women throughout the narrative as more of their lives are gradually revealed to us and each other.

The catalyst for this is counselling sessions for Nell, about to become a parent with her pregnant partner Adrienne and facing this future with fear and a reluctance which needs sorting.

I was really involved with the women and their lives as they move back and forth from Ireland.  Time away seems to enable them to find themselves and help clarify feelings, Dolores in London and Nell in Spain but are they able to continue with that growth when they return home?  The religious aspect I found fascinating and the theme of choice- for the characters in their own lives and from the restrictions of the legislation brings the novel together very nicely.  This is certainly a high-quality read and it’s great to discover yet another first-rate Irish author with huge potential.

The Amendments is published on 18^th April by Picador.  Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.