Show Me Where it Hurts
Claire Gleeson
A 2025 BOOK TO WATCH IN THE IRISH TIMES, SUNDAY INDEPENDENT, AND RTÉ GUIDE
'A searingly beautiful novel'
Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things
'Outstanding, and has lingered in my head for a very long time'
Prima
How do you survive the unsurvivable?
Rachel lives with her husband Tom and their two children: it's the comfortable family life she always thought she'd have. All of that changes in an instant - when Tom runs the family car off the road, seeking to end his own life, and take his wife and children with him. Rachel is left to pore over the wreckage to try and understand what happened - to find a way to go on living afterwards.
What emerges is a snapshot of what it's like to live alongside someone who is suffering, how you keep yourself afloat when the person you love is drowning, and how you survive irreparable loss.
Impossible to turn away from, Show Me Where It Hurts is utterly compelling and heartbreaking. It is a story of recovery and unexpected hope.
Product Details
About Claire Gleeson
Reviews for Show Me Where it Hurts
Anne Griffin, author of When All Is Said Exceptional. Also brave. One of those novels that, afterwards, makes me think not just about the story itself, but also about why we read, and the role of fiction.
Florence Knapp, author of The Names This thoughtful and imaginative debut glows with emotional insight and heft. It tackles a difficult and rarely discussed subject in an engaging, clear-slighted and highly readable way
Henrietta McKervey, author of A Talented Man This story of a woman's survival after the worst has happened, makes for a searingly beautiful novel. Stunningly crafted, with complex and shocking themes that are never shied away from, I found myself profoundly moved while frequently thinking about the characters when not reading it. This is a novel that lingers.
Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things Wow what a debut! This book is outstanding and has lingered in my head for a very long time. Rachel and Tom are married and have two children when the unthinkable happens. The story is a deep dive into how trauma and suffering affect us. Although a hard read at times this is an entrancing searing read and actually one of hope. I definitely expect it to be on awards shortlists! I cannot stop recommending it
Prima