Thirst Trap

Thirst Trap ~ Gráinne O’Hare

Maggie, Harley, and Róise are flatmates in Belfast. They have been friends since school, and are just turning 30. By now, they thought they would have been settled down a bit, perhaps married, perhaps with homes of their own, perhaps in successful careers. Instead, they are still living in the same run down flat that they have shared since they left school, and mourning the loss of their fourth friend, Lydia, who died in a car accident when they were all inconveniently in the midst of a fight. They are all harboring wounds, guilt, and pain, which they medicate by going to clubs, doing MDMA and cocaine, getting roaring drunk, hooking up with the wrong person, waking up hung over, and dragging themselves to their dead end jobs.

Thirst Trap could be silly fun, or it could be bleak and depressing. It’s both and it’s neither. There’s some hugging and learning to be sure, but not as much as one might hope for. I really enjoyed this novel. Recommended.