Louise Kennedy follows Trespasses with second novel Stations
Louise Kennedy's second novel has arrived. Stations went on sale on 24 September 2026, according to the author's website, and on 29 September The Guardian called it a "superb follow-up" to her first novel, Trespasses.
Stations follows Róisín and Red across 25 years. Publisher Bloomsbury describes it as a novel about first love, addiction and regret. Kennedy's own site frames it as the story of two Irish friends whose lives diverge in London and collide again decades later.
Kennedy is an Irish author with an unusual route to the shelf. She worked for 30 years as a professional chef before turning to fiction. Her first short-story collection, a book of linked or separate short tales in one volume, The End of the World Is a Cul de Sac, appeared in 2021.
That collection explores marriage, children, mortality and memory. It established Kennedy as an acclaimed short-story writer before she moved into long-form fiction. Her first novel came next.
Trespasses is a story of forbidden love set in 1970s Belfast during the Troubles, the three-decade conflict in Northern Ireland. It was translated into more than 20 languages, was shortlisted — chosen for the final round of contenders — for the 2023 Women's Prize, an annual British award for fiction by women, and won debut fiction of the year at the British Book Awards.
The screen version followed. Trespasses was made into a four-part television serial for Channel 4, the British public-service broadcaster, featuring Gillian Anderson. Bloomsbury, which published Trespasses, is also the publisher of Stations.
Early notices for the new book have been strong. Trade magazine Kirkus gave it a starred review, its highest mark, according to the Penguin Random House listing under ISBN 9780593714607. Irish broadcaster RTÉ described Stations as one of the year's best in a review published on 26 September 2026.
Ahead of publication, Kennedy spoke about her own move abroad. On 26 September The Guardian ran an interview headlined around leaving Ireland because there was not work and wanting to get away.
What makes this stand out for readers is the distance travelled. A chef of three decades turned short-story writer turned prize-shortlisted novelist now returns with a long-spanning story of friendship, time and place.
