The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne

Posted by Ms K on August 10, 2025 in All | 1 Comment

Prepare to have your heart broken by John Boyne. This book tells one of the most brutal, gut-wrenching stories I have read. Ever. Ever. But before you start to find the ‘escape’ button on your device to click out of this review, S T O P, because this book is also one of the most beautiful I’ve read in an age. Confusing right, but stick with me because if you don’t, you’ll miss the opportunity to meet and fall in love with Cyril Avery who I still think about weeks after closing this tender, aching beauty.

Running away from her West Cork village, sixteen-year-old and pregnant Catherine Coggin makes her way to Dublin to start afresh. Her darling baby is Cyril is adopted through the church by an eccentric couple who treat him more like an oddity and guest. You’re not a real Avery he is told daily but his response, even as a child, is so charming and lovely, way too adult, but necessary if one is to survive the Avery home. Thankfully they are very rich (so the bleakness and sadness in the book is less Angela’s Ashes you’ll be pleased to know). Through the family, young Cyril meets young Julian Woodbead, a confident, outrageous and compelling child, destined to shine even from 10 years old (or so Cyril thinks).

The book follows their stories as friends, as enemies, their lives together and apart. Julian moves through life easily while Cyril tries to find his way in a world that takes pleasure at gently tormenting him at every turn. And yet he overcomes, again and again and it will have you cheering softy, wanting to hug him, laugh (he is very funny) but Cyril will move you deeply and you’ll want to hear his voice long after the last line.

This story is the ultimate search for happiness, that elusive, longed for feeling. It is also a story about finding where you fit in a complicated world and when Cyril makes that discovery, real happiness arrives for him, and it comes in a tidal wave so hold on to something solid while you read.

This one has a heart soar + weep value of 10/10.

And that is just my 2 cents worth.