A big-hearted, funny and sad novel about the messiness of love, family and beliefLONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR IRISH NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARDHilarious and timely, a dazzling debut John BoyneBustling, bubbly, bittersweet funDaily MailBulging, big-hearted, a pleasure to readIrish TimesDazzling. A novel of epic ambition yet intimate in scopeLiterary ReviewThink Zadie Smith. But much funnierSunday IndependentVery moving, highly entertaining, clever and funnySunday Times (Ireland)Funny, warm and full of heart Image MagazineIn 1979 Bridget Doyle has one goal left in for her family to produce the very first Irish pope. Fired up by John Paul IIs appearance in Phoenix Park, she sprinkles Papal-blessed holy water on the marital bed of her son and daughter-in-law, and leaves them to get on with things. But nine months later her daughter-in-law dies in childbirth and Granny Doyle is left bringing up four five-year-old Peg, and baby triplets Damien, Rosie and John Paul.Thirty years later, it seems unlikely any of Granny Doyles grandchildren are going to fulfil her hopes. Damien is trying to work up the courage to tell her that hes gay. Rosie is a dreamy blue-haired rebel who wants to save the planet and has little time for popes. And irrepressible John Paul is a chancer and a charmer and the undisputed apple of his Grannys eye but hes not exactly what youd call Pontiff material.None of the triplets have much contact with their big sister Peg, who lives over 3,000 miles away in New York City, and has been a forbidden topic of conversation ever since she ran away from home as a teenager. But thats about to change.