The Girl Who Was Saturday Night is a compelling read that follows twins Noushka and Nicolas Tremblay.  The two struggle to navigate their lives as young adults while living in the shadow of their father, Étienne Tremblay, a washed-up and dissolute folk singer.  The novel takes place in Québec, during the second referendum in 1995, capturing not only the essence of Québecois culture but also the politics that weaves itself throughout the tale.
While the story has a slow build and a simple coming-of-age plot, this simplicity allows O’Neill to focus on the array of eccentric and interesting characters. Readers follow the main protagonist, Noushka Tremblay, an intelligent young woman who has little direction in life because of the lack of any real authority figures in her former years.  As ever, she shares these troubles with her outgoing and juvenile brother, but slowly a division between them becomes increasingly clear,  and the story hones in on how each of them deals with the obstacles standing in their way.

The novel thoroughly explores the dynamics of sibling relationships, as well as the tether between dependence and forging one's own path.  While Noushka Tremblay’s circumstances may not replicate your own, her uphill journey of breaking away from the only lifestyle she has ever known is something anyone — especially teens and young adults — can resonate with. 

Written with an abundance of similes and a youthful tone, the book details Noushka’s character, giving deep insight into her unique perspective on the world.  The Girl Who Was Saturday Night is for readers who enjoy realistic fiction with light-hearted moments and protagonists you can not only root for but relate to.  A book that will leave you thinking long after you put it down, O’Neill’s second novel is a winner.