Small Things Like These

If you're into small towns, moral quandaries, and Irish slang, this is your jam!

This novella packs a lot of emotional and character complexity into its short story. It's a story of identity, of family, and of the ongoing struggle to do what's right or look the other way for the sake of convenience. It takes place over a couple of days and contains only a handful of scenes, but paints a rich picture of a small Irish town where everybody knows everybody and no one wants to upset those in power, even if they know something is wrong. The protagonist is easy to overlook and would usually be a supporting character, one who does nothing of importance, and that is what makes him the perfect protagonist for the story.

Keegan mostly writes short fiction, and that's apparent here, as her prose is able to convey enormous depth of emotion, character, and world-building in just a few sentences. You can read this in a couple hours, but don't rush through it. Take time to savor Keegan's literary mastery.