National Book Tokens Popular Fiction Book of the Year

Winner 2021

Aisling and The City by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

Aisling and the City

By Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

If she can make it, she’ll make it anywhere

Aisling is 31, and she’s still a complete Aisling.

With BallyGoBrunch flying and the door firmly closed on her relationship with John, an unexpected job offer sees Aisling boarding a business-class flight to New York in her best wrap dress and heels. As she finds her feet in the Big Apple, she throws herself into the dating game, grapples with ‘always-on’ work culture, forges and fights for new friendships, and brings her good wedges to a party in the Hamptons (much to Sadhbh’s dismay).

But catching up with family and friends on WhatsApp and email is not the same as sitting in Maguire’s putting the world to rights over mini bottles of Pinot Greej and a shared bag of Taytos. And yet New York has so much to offer, not least in the ridey fireman department.

When a crisis in BGB makes her doubt her place in Manhattan, can Aisling retain her New York state of mind, or will the lure of home be too much to resist?

About Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen...

Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen are co-authors of the Aisling series. Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling was the best-selling fiction title of 2017 and its sequel, The Importance of Being Aisling, won the award for best popular fiction book at the 2018 Irish Book Awards. The third book in the series, Once, Twice, Three Times an Aisling, won the same award the following year. Combined, the Aisling books have sold more than 300,000 copies to date.

Emer has worked extensively in journalism and radio and is a columnist at the Irish Times. She knows the N7 like the back of her hand and lives in Dublin 8.

Sarah’s background is in print journalism, specifically magazines. She lives in Dublin 7 and dreams of the day Oasis will reunite.

Explore the 2021 winners

Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
Writing.ie Short Story of the Year
Listowel Writers' Week Poem of the Year
Specsavers Children's Book of the Year (Junior)
Specsavers Children's Book of the Year (Senior)
Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year
Eason Novel of the Year
RTÉ Audience Choice Award
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year
Eason Sports Book of the Year, in association with Ireland AM
Bookselling Ireland Cookbook of the Year
Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year
Bookselling Ireland Biography of the Year
Dubray Non-Fiction Book of the Year
TheJournal.ie Best Irish Published Book of the Year
Foras na Gaeilge Irish Language Fiction Book of the Year Award
Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year