Review of The Ballad of Ronan McCoy by Colin Morgan

This has to be one of my favourite books of May, if not of 2026. If you love literary fiction with a personal depth, with themes of friendship, loss, grief and hope, then run to add The Ballad of Ronan McCoy to your summer TBR.

Brendan and Ronan are best friends. Ronan is everything that Brendan isn’t but always supports and uplifts him. The embodiment of a best friendship, but when one day Ronan doesn’t turn up to school and Brendan learns of an accident his friend has been in, his whole world turns upside down.

This book is a tender, coming-of-age novel that will make you smile and cry (take it from someone who may or may not have ugly cried multiple times on the train to work). You will absolutely fall in love with both Ronan and Brandon, as well as Colin’s beautiful writing and his ability to create characters who steal your heart. I have not stopped talking about this book, and neither will you.

If there’s one book recommendation you listen to this month, make sure it’s this one!

Published on 18.06.2026 by HQ

Reviewed by Danielle

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