When Daisy’s boyfriend David dumps her, she is devastated – especially as she realises that she abandoned much of what made her happy to make space for David and his interests. She stopped meeting with friends, she skipped choir practice, and she stopped playing her recorder – the thing that brought her the most joy. Music, once her lifeline in the dark, is lost to her. Amid all this, a new girl appears at school, and she may be just the person Daisy needs to rediscover her rhythm.
The structure of O’Brien’s Solo is clever. She uses musical terms as headings for each section, choosing ones that fit the content well. This is most successful when she writes about the complex emotions Daisy struggles with throughout the story. She is a raw nerve, pulsating with anger and anxiety, and O’Brien uses verse to make that sing across the pages.
While some of the plot points could have been delved into deeper – there are revelations toward the end that weren’t explored as much as they could have been – this was still an enjoyable read. I read it in one sitting!
Daisy’s heartache will strike a chord with any reader who has lost their way in life. There are heavy moments of course, particularly as Daisy’s family face challenges within the narrative. Hope comes in the form of Daisy’s enduring love for music, the thread that ties the story together. If you’re in the mood for a healing read – look no further.
Tara O’Malley
Solo
Gráinne O’Brien
Little Island Books, 2025
Paperback, €8.24
ISBN: 9781915071798
