What an amazing and quite original read! Thirst Trap revolves around a group of three friends at the verge of thirty, in Belfast, trying to piece their lives back together after the tragic passing of their fourth friend, with whom they’d had tense relations in the months leading up to the accident.

I found this to be a very candid portrayal of how confusing and erratic life can be at this stage, juggling work and relationships that should at this point be definitive, but still feeling stuck in the past and overall immature. The characters are relatable and likeable, though far from perfect. I especially appreciated how they don’t get a neat happy ending, they remain their flawed selves who indulge in crazy parties and binges, and that’s okay. They’ve just made peace with that and want to forgive themselves for past mistakes, but it’s a process.

I enjoyed the Belfast setting, you can tell that the city was written into the book quite deliberately and with a lot of love, which is always nice to see. The author’s voice is witty and fun, which makes for great narration of some really funny/absurd episodes. Really makes for a fun read, rich with irony, despite dealing with some heavy subjects. Really recommended.