About the author

Sally Rooney was born in County Mayo, Ireland. Her mum ran the local arts centre and her dad worked in telecoms. She attempted her first novel at 15. She has since denounced it as “absolute trash”. But Sally clearly had talent and studied at Dublin’s Trinity College, where she wrote Conversations with Friends while finishing her Master’s degree. Seven publishers bid for the debut, which was longlisted for the Booker. Normal People followed and then, aged 27, Sally became the youngest author to win the Costa Book Award. In the wake of her success Sally wondered if she would or could write again. Fortunately, she was wrong.