'Gripping, completely compelling . . . a sublime talent' - Donal Ryan'Captures what is like to be young in Dublin with grace, subtlety and sympathy' - Colm TóibínCatherine and James are as close as two friends could ever be. Witty, talented and charming, James is unlike anyone Catherine has encountered before, and she finds herself hungry to explore with him all that Dublin in the ‘90s has to offer – even as James struggles to find his place in it.But as their connection intensifies, Catherine discovers that there’s a fine line between longing and love, friendship and obsession . . .From the author of the multi-award-winning debut Solace, Tender is a dazzling exploration of the complexities of human relationships, a novel about friendship and youth, about selfhood and sexuality, about the lies we tell ourselves and the lies we are taught to tell.'A superb and sophisticated writer' - The Times'Richly nuanced and utterly absorbing' -The Guardian