Young Kildare author publishes first novel

Tara Dunne doesn’t believe in fresh starts. Not after the man that broke her, not after the video that will not stop haunting her, not after years of silence that left her angry at the world and at herself.

Then, Ciarán Travers walks back into her life.

She met him once, years ago at a party, a blur of music and laughter. Four years later, in the small Irish town they both call home, he is suddenly back, steady in ways she is not and impossible to ignore. He should not care, not when she is chaos wrapped in a hoodie with fists ready for a fight, but he does. And when Tara’s past collides with her present, Ciarán is the only one who refuses to let her drown in it.

But healing is not simple. Not when rumours spread faster than truth. Not when old wounds reopen. Not when facing the person who hurt you means tearing yourself open in front of everyone.

Tara’s story is not about falling apart. It is about fighting back. It is about friendship, found family, and the kind of love that feels like safety after the storm.

Set in Ireland, Afterlight is raw, heart-shattering, and ultimately hopeful. A story about surviving the dark and learning how to live again when morning comes.