The Coast Road

A Novel

By: Alan Murrin

Narrated by: Jessica Regan

Winner of the Irish Book Awards Newcomer of the Year 2024

Shortlisted for the John McGahern Annual Book Prize

A poignant debut novel about the lives of women in a claustrophobic coast town and the search for independence in a society that seeks to limit it.

“Murrin powerfully renders the ways that women’s freedom, individuality, and self-expression are stifled by religion, custom, and gossip.”—The New Yorker

“A painful, gorgeous debut.”—Elle

Set in 1994, The Coast Road tells the story of two women—Izzy Keaveney, a housewife, and Colette Crowley, a poet. Colette has left her husband and sons for a married man in Dublin. When she returns to her home in County Donegal to try to pick up the pieces of her old life, her husband, Shaun, a successful businessman, denies her access to her children.

The only way she can see them is with the help of neighbour Izzy, acting as a go-between. Izzy also feels caught in a troubled marriage. The friendship that develops between them will ultimately lead to tragedy for one, and freedom for the other.

Addictive as Big Little Lies with a depth and compassion that rivals the works of Claire Keegan, Elizabeth Strout, and Colm Tóibín, The Coast Road is a story about the limits placed on women’s lives in Ireland only a generation ago, and the consequences women have suffered trying to gain independence. Award-winning Irish author Alan Murrin reminds us of the price we are forced to pay to find freedom.

The sense of community in a small village

The main character was well developed and one or two other characters as well. The details of living in a rural community were very visual. Felt the cold and wind from the sea. Sad story about reckless and thoughtless behavior with horrible consequences. Unexpected ending.

Excellent and sad

Great novel on the suffering of women in Ireland and the bulling and infidelity of their husbands. It seems so anachronistic but I guess it is a true reality when people pass their times drinking.

Brilliiant, engaging and moving.

This is an very absorbing novel about three women with quite different personalities, whose lives become intertwined, in small town rural Ireland. Murrin really understands the Irish world of the 1990s and his writing is brilliant. The story is engaging, moving, and about real world situations in Irish society during that era. Jessica Regan does an excellent job in narrating the novel and really brings all of the characters alive. I highly recommend both this Audible novel and the original written novel.

Poignant and sad

Poignant stories of 3 women who don’t have a lot of choices in their marriages and really sort off trapped.

Touching and very human

I like the very real characters, and how you can dislike nearly all of them but root for them to do better as partners and parents. all them are flawed and a bit fated to their circumstances. The end was perfectly done.