Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains

Alfie’s mum, Emilia, has been lying to him forever.

It’s only been the two of them in Ireland, but when Emilia’s appendix explodes, she drops a bombshell: they have a family back in Australia, and she and Alfie are going to meet them.

When Penny Bains opens the door of her Tasmanian farmhouse to a boy with an Irish accent claiming to be the son of her missing daughter, Emilia, her life is turned upside down.

Alfie needs to know who his father is, but the residents of the tiny town of Beggars Rock and his newly found grandmother and great-aunts are all staying silent. As Alfie starts to uncover secrets that his family would prefer to keep buried, the one thing he does discover is that no one is willing to tell him the truth.

Unforgettable, funny, life affirming and deeply moving, The Remarkable Truths of Alfie Bains is an absolute joy.

‘A warm-hearted and perceptive story that explores the meaning of family and the ties that bind us. I adored the vivid characters in this stand-out novel – young Alfie Bains leapt off the page and straight into my heart.’ Joanna Nell, bestselling author of Mrs Winterbottom Takes a Gap Year

‘Every family could do with some home truths from the wildly adorable Alfie Bains.’ Meg Bignell, bestselling author of The Angry Women’s Choir

‘Alfie Bains is a delightful, precocious nine-year old who views the world in a completely different way. Through him, we come to understand his difficult family dynamics, the complexities of love, and how to be true to one’s self. This bittersweet story will nestle right into your heart.’ Petronella McGovern, bestselling author of The Last Trace

Format: Paperback
Pages: 416
Imprint: Allen & Unwin
Publication date: 29/04/2025