The lives of a bereaved young woman and her neighbour who is consumed by her affair with a married man entwine in this dark, compelling and compassionate coming-of age that explores the hidden intimacies of modern life.
Waterstones Irish Book of the Month for August 2023
In an apartment building in Belfast, two women wrestle with the sorrows and spectres of love and loss.
Since her mother's death, Lily has withdrawn from the world, trapped between grief and anger. She has to break out of this damaging cycle - but how?
Upstairs, Siobhan is consumed by her affair with a married man. Her days revolve around his sporadic texts and rare visits. She barely notices the strange girl who lives below and dawdles in the foyer.
But Lily is keeping a close eye on her neighbour, whose life seems so much better and more fulfilling than her own. When resentment evolves into something darker and more urgent, she decides to teach Siobhan a lesson.
Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781804991046
Number of pages: 320
Weight: 220 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 19 mm
Elizabeth Day's Book of the Year - Daily Mail, Best Books of 2022
[A] treat . . . vividly compelling . . . a rare talent, and certainly one to watch - Sunday Times
A vivid and beautifully written novel that confirms [Dickey] as one of literature's major new talents ... its quiet despair is genuinely affecting - Observer
Common Decency is a study of alienation and connection, of love and grief, written by an author who truly cares about language and understands its power from within. Susannah Dickey is a phenomenal talent and I loved this novel. - Elizabeth Day
I loved Common Decency, a perfectly judged glimpse at two variations of loneliness and how they inform and relate to one another. Such a surprising, clever, sad and strange book which I am still thinking about long after finishing - and yet such a propulsive joy to read too. - Megan Nolan
Susannah Dickey has an uncanny ability to get right to the dark heart of her characters, blending acidic observation with a generous side of kindness. Common Decency is sharp as tacks, extremely funny and deeply moving. This novel is very good company.' - Jan Carson
With hints of Fleabag, Ottessa Moshfegh and Sally Rooney, it's strong, compelling and occasionally very funny stuff...seriously readable - Daily Mail
Quite simply, one of the funniest and most insightful novelists writing today. Her turn of phrase, ear for dialogue, wry humour and power of observation is masterful. - Nell Frizzell
A poignant, deft portrayal of love, obsession and grief - Stylist
Rich and absorbing . . . a writer coming into her own, assured in what it is she is trying to do. . . thrilling and engaging. We are carried along by the prose; we trust it knows where it's going. - Irish Times
In an apartment building in Belfast two women try to come to terms with their grief, loss and loneliness.
Since her mother’s death Lily has withdrawn in on herself consumed by grief, sorrow and anger. Upstairs...
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whenever a young, female, contemporary author releases a character-driven novel, there's a rush to call them "the next sally rooney". don't get me wrong, i'm the biggest sally rooney fan, but... More
The chapters alternate between Lily and Siobhán’s perspective and it’s interesting to see how the women view each other - Lily forms an obsession with Siobhan, while Siobhan barely recognises Lily’s existence.
The...
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