Sinead Moriarty’s sixth novel, Pieces of My Heart, is a serious look at a dreadful disease, but it’s never a downer because it’s filled with Sinead’s trademark warmth, humour and compassion. With her thoughtful and insightful analysis of what anorexia can do to a family, Sinead brings to Pieces of My Heart many of the qualities of a Jodi Picoult novel, while still managing to balance the darkness with a lightness of touch that compares with the writing of Marian Keyes.

Ava is juggling a life that seems to have too many pieces. First, there are her chalk-and-cheese daughters, Alison the angel and Sarah the tearaway.

Then there’s husband Paul. Unfortunately, he seems more interested in work than home - which might explain why her sex life is practically on life support. That certainly can’t be said about her Viagra-popping Dad, a loveable rogue who is determined to grow old disgracefully.

She would envy her best friend Sally, sassy single singleton-about-town, if she didn’t know that behind her polished exterior Sally is as vulnerable as a kitten.

Somewhere in there is Ava herself, trying to do her best for all of them but lately feeling like she’s running on empty. But that’s before she notices Alison is in deep trouble. Now she knows there’s no such thing as empty - not if she is to hold on to the most precious pieces of her heart …