The first American review of 'In The Rooms'

"Shone's comic tone keeps a happier than expected ending free of mawkishness and offers some guarded optimism and self-acceptance, notions that work their way into Patrick's character with a hard-earned grace." — Publisher's Weekly

I can live with that — my ending mawk-free, my optimism on a tight leash, and my grace heard-earnt. Would that the same could be said for my first attempt at Christmas shopping this afternoon, a teary-eyed exercise in frustration.