In Claire Lynch's debut novel, 'A Family Matter', the narrative centers around a woman named Dawn who, during the 1980s, falls in love with another woman. This act of love leads her to separate from her husband, setting off a chain of events that unveils the silences and societal stigmas surrounding lesbian relationships at that time. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a legal system that often marginalized women's rights in divorce cases, revealing the often humiliating processes that many women had to endure when attempting to reclaim their independence and identity.

The novel delves into the emotional and legal complexities of Dawn's situation, particularly highlighting the challenges women faced in asserting their rights within a patriarchal framework. As the narrative progresses, we see the repercussions of Dawn's decisions on her family, especially as her daughter unravels the family secrets and lies four decades later. This framing not only provides a critique of the past societal norms regarding love and sexuality but also encourages contemporary readers to reflect on how far we have come in terms of acceptance and the ongoing struggles within the LGBTQ+ community.

Ultimately, 'A Family Matter' serves as a significant literary work that seeks to recover marginalized narratives—those of women loving women during an era marked by repression and silence. It invites readers to confront the painful realities of such experiences while also recognizing the importance of storytelling as a means of healing and reclaiming history.