At Swim, Two Boys

Set in Dublin during the lead-up to the 1916 Easter Rising, this epic novel follows two teenage boys—Jim, the quiet son of a shopkeeper, and Doyler, a rebellious swimmer—whose friendship deepens into love against a backdrop of political upheaval and personal awakening. Richly written and emotionally intense, the story explores love, nationalism, and the search for freedom in all its forms.

~ Included for its sweeping, poetic portrayal of first love between boys and its powerful blend of queer intimacy and Irish historical fiction. ~