Truth Be Told
Sue Divin
Macmillan, April 2022
Paperback £7.99
ISBN 9781529040982
Truth Be Told is a compelling story set in Northern Ireland in 2019. It tells the story of two completely different girls. Tara, a Catholic, is a fierce character from Derry, and Faith, who comes from a very religious Protestant family, is a devout, seemingly perfect character from Armagh. Two opposite people, it seems. However, while away on a supposed bonding trip for Catholics and Protestants, the two girls meet and are astonished to find that they look almost identical. Tara has never known who her father is and Faith has doubts about her own family. Here, the girls start to wonder if they could be related and they vow to find out.
Divin effectively explores many themes in this novel, such as love, loss, death, family, faith and sexual orientation while illustrating many heart-breaking storylines. In this emotional and powerful story, Tara, Faith, and both of their families, suffer through the prolonged effects and trauma of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The story is told from the perspective of both girls and in it we see the effects of loss and grief, with incidents of suicide and death. Additionally, Faith is conflicted about her sexuality and how her devout family might react to this. However, we are also given heart-warming moments of true Irish-family support to counteract the tragic moments.
I really enjoyed reading this book and seeing all the different loose ends of the girls’ stories finally come together. As an Irish reader, I loved being able to relate to certain moments and I liked the way it encompassed women’s stories specifically. All in all, Truth Be Told is an excellent, complex novel that tells the story of generations in Northern Ireland, their lives, their loves and their losses.
Lara Fanning, 14
As the pages do not include dates, this journal can be used at any time of the year, in no particular order. An attractive hardback, it makes a gorgeous gift for a friend or relative, or anyone looking to treat themselves. 
The book is very accessible and I would recommend it to everyone. I was blown away by Arnold’s writing and how eloquently she weaved both the hardships and beauty of her culture into this novel. The characters are complex and each adds a layer of depth to the novel. 
However, the pacing lacked, flattening the reading experience; cutting fifty pages would make for a stronger novel. Fully-realised friendships and plenty of drama are slowed down by pages of meandering, which kept this novel from becoming a great one.
This is the perfect novel to read if you have struggled to find a fantasy world to settle into. 
