2026 Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers (shortlist)
Perfect for readers who love Maeve Binchy’s warmth and Claudia Carroll’s wit — a gorgeous Irish escape. ���'''⭐⭐⭐
When a financial crisis drives emotionally-armoured accountant Lily Barrett back to Inish Ruin, the tiny West Cork island of her childhood, she has one goal: sell her late Nana’s cottage and get out fast. No nostalgic strolls down Memory Lane. No cosy reunions with the locals who once felt like family. And absolutely no contact with the boy who broke her heart.
But Inish Ruin has other plans. The cottage needs major repairs, an elderly bride-to-be has moved herself in—complete with boxes, bustle, and opinions—and Lily has somehow inherited a dog that terrifies her. To make matters worse, her irrepressible flatmate has tagged along uninvited, fallen for the island minibus driver, and is showing no sign of leaving.
As Lily’s finances falter and her carefully built walls begin to crack, the island’s meddlesome magic starts to take hold. Can she keep her secrets buried and her heart intact? Or will Inish Ruin remind her that some liabilities are worth the risk?
Genre: Romance
When a financial crisis drives emotionally-armoured accountant Lily Barrett back to Inish Ruin, the tiny West Cork island of her childhood, she has one goal: sell her late Nana’s cottage and get out fast. No nostalgic strolls down Memory Lane. No cosy reunions with the locals who once felt like family. And absolutely no contact with the boy who broke her heart.
But Inish Ruin has other plans. The cottage needs major repairs, an elderly bride-to-be has moved herself in—complete with boxes, bustle, and opinions—and Lily has somehow inherited a dog that terrifies her. To make matters worse, her irrepressible flatmate has tagged along uninvited, fallen for the island minibus driver, and is showing no sign of leaving.
As Lily’s finances falter and her carefully built walls begin to crack, the island’s meddlesome magic starts to take hold. Can she keep her secrets buried and her heart intact? Or will Inish Ruin remind her that some liabilities are worth the risk?
Genre: Romance
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Used availability for Fiona McCann's Love and Other Liabilities