Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Small Things Like These My Rating: 3.5

It is 1985 in a small Irish town. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man faces into his busiest season. Early one morning, while delivering an order to the local convent, Bill makes a discovery which forces him to confront both his past and the complicit silences of a town controlled by the church.

This little book truly packs a punch. Though it seems intended to inspire hope, I found it deeply sad and unsettling. Still, that sadness feels necessary — it shines a light on a painful truth that has too often been hidden. Keegan addresses her subject with grace and restraint, writing with a beauty that makes the heartbreak even more real.

It may be a short read, but it lingers long after you finish, reminding us that even the smallest acts of courage can matter, especially in a world that prefers to look away.