X-Book

Everything That Is Beautiful

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'I absolutely loved it. So realistic about the complexity of loving people who will break our hearts'
Marian Keyes

FROM THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF SNOWFLAKE - AN UNFORGETTABLE STORY OF TWO FAMILIES RIVEN BY ONE GREAT SECRET.

For Niamh Ryan, the Foleys are family. Her childhood flew by on their farm, playing with her best friend Peter and his sister Kate - all the while being doted on by their mother Helen and coached by their father Liam, a legendary former hurling player.

Now, following a distressing series of events, the family ties are strained. Niamh receives drunken phone calls and messages from Peter who can't understand what derailed their burgeoning relationship three years ago. Meanwhile, Helen Foley is trying her best to escape her life by checking into guesthouses under the names of women she went to school with. In her life in Belfast, Kate is attempting to hold down a job and a relationship while carrying the weight of the family's secrets, and feeling like she is the one to blame.

As a family wedding looms, and the women find themselves face to face, the knotty love that still binds Niamh, Helen and Kate might just bring them back together again.

Told through the perspectives of three very different women, Everything That Is Beautiful unfolds the story of one complicated family in startlingly honest prose. By turns funny and deeply moving, and with unmatched emotional intelligence, this is an unforgettable story of love and family, heartbreak and hope - and who we might become after we pick up the pieces.

Praise for Everything That Is Beautiful

'Vivid and compelling. A big-hearted, immersive novel about the complex bonds of family and friendships' Roisin O'Donnell, award-winning author of NESTING

'I truly loved it. Nealon has such a talent for conveying the intimate and devastating multitudes of family life. Bittersweet, wise, full of humour and heart' Grainne O'Hare, author of THIRST TRAP

'Intimate and panoramic, tender-hearted and clear-eyed, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny. A book you'll read and love, then immediately buy for those you love' Colin Walsh, number 1 bestselling author of KALA

'A deeply moving exploration of all the joys and pains of living in community. Beautifully written, funny, emotionally complex and always quietly hopeful. I loved it' Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, award-winning author of ORDINARY SAINTS

'I BLOODY LOVED IT. Complicated families, gorgeous fully- realised characters, heartbreak and laughter' Jennie Godfrey, bestselling author of THE LIST OF SUSPICIOUS THINGS

'Fresh and engaging . . . Her characters are alive and real, and the familial relationships, with all their petty cruelties and their bumbling acts of love, are so acutely observed' Claire Gleeson, author of SHOW ME WHERE IT HURTS

'Wrought with tension, humour, irreverence and warmth. The Foleys will inhabit your heart long after the last page' Charleen Hurtubise, author of SAOIRSE

-------------------------------------------------------

From the acclaimed author of SNOWFLAKE

*A number one international bestseller
*Winner of Newcomer of the Year at the AN Post Irish Book Awards
*A BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime pick
*Chosen as the official read of the One Dublin One Book campaign

'Wonderful and mad' Roddy Doyle
'Sparks with tender charm and humour . . . Fresh, bleakly funny' Sunday Times
'Tender, laugh-out-loud funny and deeply moving' Louise O'Neill

Critics Review

Masterful. Louise Nealon is a writer on form . . . Everything That is Beautiful masterfully explores self-deception, the preservation of a family's legacy, and the stories we tell ourselves to keep life comfortable.
Irish Independent
I absolutely loved it . . . So realistic about the complexity of loving people who will break our hearts.
Marian Keyes
A big-hearted, immersive novel about the complex bonds of family and friendships. With her second novel, Nealon extends her narrative range and further establishes herself as one of the leading chroniclers of the contemporary Irish female experience. The world she creates is so vivid and compelling: readers will live in these farmhouse kitchens, in the fields and on the camogie pitches, with characters who begin to feel like friends.'
Roisin O'Donnell, award-winning author of NESTING
I truly loved it. Nealon has such a talent for conveying the intimate and devastating multitudes of family life. Bittersweet, wise, full of humour and heart.
Grainne O'Hare, author of THIRST TRAP
Intimate and panoramic, tender-hearted and clear-eyed, poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, this dazzling novel brims with compassion and unforgettable characters. A book you'll read and love, then immediately buy for those you love.
Colin Walsh, author of KALA
A deeply moving exploration of all the joys and pains of living in community. Beautifully written, funny, emotionally complex and always quietly hopeful. I loved it.
Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin, award-winning author of Ordinary Saints
I couldn't put this novel down. So full of empathy and understanding about what it means to love people and how to belong to a family, even when you're on the outside looking in.
Ciara Geraghty, bestselling author of Late Learner
It's rare to read a novel where rage and compassion are so delicately balanced on each page. This book made me want to open a window and shout.
Sheila Armstrong, author How To Gut A Fish
Fresh and engaging . . . Her characters are alive and real, and the familial relationships, with all their petty cruelties and their bumbling acts of love, are so acutely observed
Claire Gleeson, author of Show Me Where It Hurts
A striking portrait of three women and their strength and devotion in the face of devastation. Everything That is Beautiful is wrought with tension, humour, irreverence and warmth. Louise Nealon captures so well the nuances of Irish family life - the chaos, the imperfections, and the unconditional love. I felt I was in the family kitchen, experiencing their laughter and celebrating their triumphs - and heartbreak. The Foleys will inhabit your heart long after the last page.
Charleen Hurtubise, author of The Polite Act of Drowning
Utterly immersive and beautifully told. The Foley household comes to life on the page. Family secrets reveal the complexities of loving those who betray us. This big, boisterous, Irish family will make you laugh and break your heart.
Carmel McMahon, author of In Ordinary Time
Observant and empathetic, Nealon demonstrates her keen eye as a writer capturing the world of those living on the edges of an apparent perfect family expertly.
Anne Griffin, award-winning author of When All Is Said
I was deeply touched by this warm, funny, complex novel. Louise Nealon is a writer attuned to the nuances and contradictions of life. In Everything that is Beautiful, Nealon writes with a deftness of touch and an eye for beauty. An immensely rewarding read
Danielle McLaughlin, author of The Art of Falling
'From the first beguiling sentence, you know as a reader that you are in safe hands. Everything is Beautiful is a book that you won't be able to put down, and will give to everyone you love. This masterful novel is by turns dark and funny, intimate and worldly. Louise Nealon writes with stunning emotional clarity, delivering a rich and complex portrayal of family life and sporting community, with characters that stayed with me long after I'd finished reading. An instant classic. I adored it
Olivia Fitzsimons, author of The Quiet Whispers Never Stop
Author Louise Nealon
Narrator Aoife McMahon, Louise Nealon
Duration 8 hours and 9 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781786581648
Format x-book®
Publisher Bonnier Books UK
Genre Contemporary lifestyle fiction, Family life fiction, Humorous fiction, Modern and contemporary fiction, Narrative theme: Death, grief, loss, Narrative theme: Interior life, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Sense of place
Availability AU, GB, IE

More from the same

Author

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.