Read more
What if you had escaped your devout family in Ireland to live your best queer life - then your brother became a candidate for sainthood?
An unmissable, award-winning, moving and funny exploration of family, grief and queer identity.
*SELECTED AS A RADIO 2 BOOKCLUB PICK*
*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONES DEBUT FICTION PRIZE*
*WINNER OF THE INAUGURAL PFD QUEER FICTION PRIZE**SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE DISCOVERIES AWARD*
*SHORTLISTED FOR TWO BOOKS ARE MY BAG AWARDS*
Can you imagine it? I'd say to them. Can you imagine me there in the front row in Saint Peter's Square? The lesbian sister of a literal saint.
Brought up in a devout household in Ireland, Jay is now living in London with her girlfriend, determined to live day to day and not think too much about either the future or the past. But when she learns that her beloved older brother, who died in a terrible accident, may be made into a Catholic saint, she realises she must at last confront her family, her childhood and herself . . .
Inspired by the author's own devout upbringing, Ordinary Saints is a brilliant debut novel from a fresh, exciting new voice which asks - who gets to decide how we are remembered - and who we will become?*A BOOKSELLER PICK OF THE MONTH*'Beautifully written and brilliant on grief, love and family expectations. Wonderful'
Daily Mail
'A sparkling debut. Absolutely brilliant'Sara Cox
'Stunning. A fresh funny, honest portrayal of familial love. I adored it'Louise Nealon, international bestselling author of
Snowflake'Funny and deeply moving. I adored it'Chloe Michelle Howarth, author of
Sunburn'Mesmerising and original'
Victoria MacKenzie, award-winning author of
For Thy Great Pain Have Mercy on My Little Pain
About the author
Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin was the winner of the inaugural PFD Queer Fiction Prize and was also shortlisted for the Women's Prize Trust Discoveries Prize in 2022. Her début literary novel Ordinary Saints was shortlisted for the 2025 Waterstones Debut Prize.
Summary
An arresting, unmissable debut novel shortlisted for the Women's Prize Discoveries award - an exploration of family, grief, queer identity, and the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland.
