Reviews & Recognition

James Mulhern writes fiction and poetry of uncommon tenderness and precision. His novels Give Them Unquiet Dreams and Molly Bonamici, his novella A Prayer for Home, and his story collection Assumptions and Other Stories have drawn the attention of some of publishing’s most exacting readers, and his poems have appeared in more than one hundred literary journals and anthologies. What follows is a record of that attention, in the words of those who offered it.

Kirkus Reviews named Give Them Unquiet Dreams one of the Best Books of 2019, honoring the novel with a starred review — the publication’s highest distinction.

• Kirkus ReviewsBest Books of 2019, for Give Them Unquiet Dreams (starred review)
• The Wishing Shelf Book Awards2020 Finalist, Adult Fiction, for Give Them Unquiet Dreams and Molly Bonamici
• Aesthetica Creative Writing Award2020 Shortlist, Poetry, for “Copacetic” (published in the Creative Writing Anthology 2021)
• Fish Publishing Short Story Prize2015 Longlist, for “A Nun’s Arse”
• Best of the Net2025 Nomination, for “Honeymoon”
• Short Story America PrizeTwo Honorable Mentions (2015) — “A Prayer for Home” was among only 31 stories selected for the Short Story America anthology that year
• Readers’ Favorite5-star reviews for three of his books

“A luminous, beautifully told fairy tale grounded in history and elevated by spirit.”

— Kirkus Reviews, on Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“Give Them Unquiet Dreams is brilliant; it’s most highly recommended.”

— Jack Magnus, Readers’ Favorite

“The character work is excellent… A finalist and highly recommended.”

— The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, on Give Them Unquiet Dreams

“A gleefully and wonderfully odd protagonist eases readers into a bare-bones plot.”

— Kirkus Reviews, on Molly Bonamici

“James Mulhern did an excellent job of creating strong, colorful characters that lit up the page.”

— Readers’ Favorite, on Molly Bonamici

“Molly Bonamici by James Mulhern pretty much ticked every box.”

— The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

“Mr. Mulhern’s writing displays all of the storytelling prowess of the contemporary Irish masters.”

— Neil A. White, Readers’ Favorite, on Assumptions and Other Stories

“A gripping, character-led story full of tiny twists and turns.”

— The Wishing Shelf Book Awards, on A Prayer for Home

• Shelf Unbound — “Interview: James Mulhern, Author of Molly Bonamici”
• No Extra Words — contributor profile, “Meet Episode 60 Contributor James Mulhern”

His short fiction and poetry have appeared in more than one hundred literary journals and anthologies, including:

The Galway Review · Impspired · Boomer Lit Magazine · The Writing Disorder · Scarlet Leaf Review · Sparks of Calliope · The Font Journal · Academy of the Heart and Mind · Fiction on the Web · Better Than Starbucks · The Chamber Magazine · Scars Publications (cc&d and Down in the Dirt)

This is a selection, not a complete record. His work has appeared in more than one hundred journals and anthologies, and has been reviewed and honored in many places beyond those gathered here.