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A young woman finds herself in and out of love in this intimate, intense novel from “a truly startling talent” (Kevin Barry).

In 1985 Dublin, nineteen-year-old Anna Hughes is in thrall to Peter Gallagher, an older, worldly man. Introverted and naive, Anna is captivated by Peter’s experience, his wide circle of friends and his thirst for adventure. Her obsessive longing for him leads to marriage and, eventually, a crushing betrayal.

When Anna meets a kindhearted Algerian man, she finds herself falling in love with him. Life with Karim offers stability and renewed hope and, slowly, Anna begins to uncover deeper layers of herself.

Unfolding over twenty-five years, this is a novel about the loss of innocence, the shame and humiliations of love, and the psychological cost of seeking salvation in others. A Beautiful Loan is a devastating story about what it means to be a woman, as well as a testament to literature’s ability to give us a language when we’re lost for words.

• Mary Costello
• Published 1970 January 1st by (first published 2026 March 24th)
• ISBN: 1324106174
• ISBN13: 9781324106173
• Pages
• 3.63 314 ratings
• 66 reviews