I don’t read romance novels, not as a rule, but because I’m more of a mystery, fantasy, sci-fi sort of reader. However, I love all things Ireland so when I saw the romance novel “I’m Not Saying It” was set on a small island off the coast of Ireland, I had to check it out. The story blurb intrigued me and I thought I’d expand my reading tastes a bit.

I’m glad I did.

The novel follows a week in the life of a successful travel blogger and vlogger, Shade and musician and mysterious guy Diarmuid as they meet on an island. They decide to not talk about their past or discuss much about themselves, but live as much as possible in the present. After one night of heavy drinking, they agree to meet again. And after a few days of being together, they find they are…let’s say they aren’t saying it.

I found Eóin Brady’s first novel quite a treat. The writing is first-rate, the characters are sufficiently complex, and the twists and turns well done. It has a lot of great humor and some scenes, especially those involving a drone, which were quite imaginative. The dialog is witty and snappy, and the emotions both Shade and Diarmuid feel are genuine. You get a sense of Shade early in the novel by “When travelling to a new country, one of the first things Shade learned in the language was how to say goodbye.” The novel is third-person omniscient so you bounce back and forth inside both of their heads.

Ireland comes alive as well. I felt I was on the island as I read the book and passages like “The gnarled, stunted trees shaped by the wind were like frozen, black tendrils of smoke seeping from the cracks in the stone.” and “The moon was only a quarter full, a great eye always looking off somewhere else, a curious moon.” The culture and atmosphere of the country add to unique story as I had hoped when I picked up the novel.

The chapters zip along, bringing us deeper and deeper into the worlds of Shade and Diarmuid. Music, shared fears of small creatures, blog entries, and unexpected wakes tell not only the tale of a romance but an Irish contemporary as well. I can almost picture a person doffing an Aran-sweater relaying one part of this story or another. I have a soft spot for Irish tales, so this was right up my alley.

The author noted he is working on a sequel to this novel. There are missing pieces in both the main character’s back stories, so I’m eager to return to the world of Shade and Diarmuid. I hope they end up on a certain Emerald Isle once again, drone in hand.