Overview

In Mayflies, Andrew O’Hagan tells the story of two teenage boys from Glasgow whose friendship begins in the late 1980s. Tully and Jimmy are bound by music, ambition, and a shared sense that life is about to begin. The novel opens with a trip to Manchester for a music festival, full of freedom and promise. Years later, the story returns to them as adults, when illness forces both men to confront what time has changed and what still remains between them.

Writing & Voice

We found O’Hagan’s writing warm, generous, and deeply attentive to emotional detail. He captures youth with energy and humour, then shifts into a quieter, more reflective voice as the novel moves forward in time. The language stays accessible throughout, while carrying a strong emotional pull that builds steadily rather than relying on drama.

Characters

Tully and Jimmy feel fully lived in, from their bravado as teenagers to their vulnerability as adults. Their friendship is the heart of the book, shown through jokes, arguments, loyalty, and silence. We were especially struck by how the novel honours male friendship without sentimentality, allowing affection and regret to sit side by side.

Themes

Mayflies explores friendship, time, and the way identity is shaped by shared experiences. It looks at class, aspiration, and the private costs of growing older. In its later sections, the novel also faces mortality directly, asking how people choose to live, and how they want to be remembered by those who love them.

What Worked

• A powerful depiction of friendship that feels honest and earned.
• A strong sense of time and place from late eighties youth culture to adult reckoning.
• Emotional clarity that allows difficult subjects to be faced without melodrama.

Minor Quibbles

• The emotional weight of the final section may be challenging for some readers.
• Those expecting a fast paced plot may find the reflective structure slower.

Final Thoughts

Mayflies is a moving and life affirming novel about friendship, memory, and the courage it takes to face the end with honesty.

Rating: ★★★★★ / 5