This is one of those engaging, all-consuming books that you’ll want to curl up with on a rainy afternoon. Fans of Marian Keyes and Maeve Binchy will enjoy this novel set in Dublin that spans from the early ’60s to modern day.
At heart, The Making of Her is a love story that starts with a young, impoverished Irish girl who falls in love with the well-to-do son of a prosperous local business man. There are many obstacles to their match, including a dominating and snobbish mother who determines that Joan Quinn is not good enough for her son, Martin. But as young love will have it, Joan falls head over heels and becomes pregnant.
At this period in history, the fate of young, unmarried women who fell pregnant was dire; you faced either a shot-gun marriage or a visit to the local priest who would organise banishment to the countryside and adoption of the baby. When Joan falls pregnant, her destiny appears to be sealed.
The story is tragic and explores the consequences of the decisions we make in our youth and the lifelong consequences on relationships and families. Jiwa paints a fascinating and detailed insight into life in Dublin in the ’60s and the choices many women were forced to make and live with.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Karen Williams
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bernadette Jiwa is an Irish Australian author who began her writing apprenticeship as a blogger and non-fiction writer in her mid-40s.
The Making of her was published in 2022 was her debut novel.
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