Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I have read some of the authors previous books although not all of them, and thought the premise of the book looked good.

I really enjoyed this book which I felt started off fairly slowly and soon picked up pace. I liked the two main characters who both had good, believable background histories. They are undertaking a trip for very different reasons, meet each other and decide to travel together. I thought this book was very well written, and the author captured Deira and Grace’s feelings, thoughts and emotions perfectly. I loved reading of their journey across France and Spain - the places they visited were wonderfully described and I could picture everything in my mind. This was a nice and easy ‘feel good’ read - it was sensitive, poignant, and very heart warming. If you want something light, a bit of escapism you’ll probably enjoy this.

A perfect escapist read!

The locations in this novel are simply stunning and so vivid you feel like you are right there alongside Deira & Grace.

I loved the unlikely but timely friendship that was formed between the main characters. Both on their own journeys but they unexpectedly come together and support each other through their heartache.

It just missed out on 5⭐ because I felt it was a bit of a slow burner to begin with, though it definitely picked and I was eager to find out how the treasure hunt ended. Grace's story is reminiscent of PS I love you, as her late husband sends her on a treasure hunt.

Overall an uplifting absorbing summer read sure to sweep you off to sun-soaked locations.

A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Headline Review for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sheila O'Flanagan’s new novel, The Women Who Ran Away, is a heady and refreshing tale that drew me right in from the very outset.

In this story of friendship, fate, grief, loss and acceptance, the reader gets to meet two very different women whose unexpected bonding spans an eventful trip across Europe. Whilst touring some of Europe’s most desirable places, Deira and Grace learn an awful lot about themselves on their exciting journey.

Central characters Deira and Grace both have their own past histories and personal baggage, which the reader gradually becomes privy to as the story unfolds. Each of them is haunted by their own demons and issues that include suicide, infidelity, infertility and marriage breakdown. These are commonplace problems and I found I had a definite connection to the wonderfully individual, affable pair.

Sheila O'Flanagan’s writing style helped to make this novel a joy to read and I liked how she managed to make the more mundane aspects of life sound interesting. The pacing of the story was absolutely perfect and although there were no huge surprises, I wasn’t expecting any with this type of novel. I thoroughly revelled in this pleasurable tale and I will be reading more from Sheila O'Flanagan in the future.

A beautifully told story that will surely appeal to contemporary fiction fans.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I feel like this is a very empowering book. We meet two women – Deira and Grace – who are at low points in their lives and both are unsure of the road ahead of them. Literally and figuratively, as they are both on road trips and trying to figure out their lives.

They are strangers, but end up travelling together, and sharing their struggles. I loved watching their friendship, build slowly, but surely. And I appreciated their honesty and strength with each other, as they didn’t hold back and spoke their opinions even if it made uncomfortable listening for the other person. But because their opinions came from truly caring and wanting the best for the other person, it was very uplifting and genuine.

The locations were fab, and I felt like I was road tripping right along with them. And there was even a treasure hunt thrown in to add a little mystery to the trip. It made me feel like throwing my own bags into the boot and heading off too. If only it wasn’t 2020!

This is a book about women, finding their identities and making their own way in the world and I loved it.

WHO SHOULD READ THE WOMEN WHO RAN AWAY BY SHEILA O’FLANAGAN?

Fans of Sheila’s previous books will find entertaining characters here just as in all her previous books. I’d also recommend this to you if you enjoy engrossing reads that make you feel all the emotions and that make you care about the characters. Fans of authors such as Patricia Scanlan, Emma Hannigan and Rachael English should also enjoy.

Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy. Always look forward to reading the new Sheila Flanagan book and the latest was true to form. Great characters in Deira and Grace. Throw in a bit of fate and then their journey ( physically and mentally) forward from different heart aches commences. They help each other along the way and forge a strong friendship. The happy ending looked unlikely with pages to go and was ultimately left unsaid in the end. A great book thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to the next one

Another really good read from Sheila Flanagan. This is perfect summer reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This book explores the unlikely friendship of two very different woman brought together by fate as they both are travelling on journeys of self discovery .

Deira Is heartbroken because her husband has left her for someone else . She takes his sports car and decides to go on the holiday they had both planned before her world shattered.

Grace has been recently widowed. She has spent most of her life caring for her husband and family but she now feels lost as her husband is gone and her children grown up. Her late husband has booked a trip for her and left her clues along the way so she sets out the journey hoping to find out more about him.

Both woman meet and decide to travel together. The special friendship woman share was very well portrayed. The bond they shared was strengthened as they supported each other as they each embraced their individual problems.

I loved the locations in the book and I believe this would make an ideal holiday read . The message which I took from this book is we should all try to communicate with each other more, not guessing how others feel or overthinking how they act because sometimes we may have jumped to the wrong conclusions!! A lesson which I definitely need to learn !!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this gentle contemporary story. .

Like all Sheila’s previous books, this one had me hooked from the first few pages and I enjoyed every minute!

Deira is going on a holiday that was booked before her partner left her for another woman. Grace is going on a holiday that her husband had arranged for her to go on after he’d died, and had left clues to a ‘treasure hunt’.

The two women’s paths crossed at the start of their journeys, and they end up travelling together through France and Spain, with Deira helping Grace with the clues. During their travels, they face up to their futures.

A beautiful book that I didn’t want to end, and would highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Great story by Sheila. Once I had started it, I could hardly put it down. The narrative gives you the impression that you are with the two ladies, Grace and Deira on their travels through France and Spain. Not too deep but a fairly easy read. Ideal for the times we are in.

Deira isn't the kind of woman to steal a car. Or drive to France alone with no plan. But then, Deira didn't expect to be single. Or to suddenly realise that that the only way she can get the one thing she wants most is to start breaking every rule she lives by.

Grace has been sent on a journey by her late husband, Ken. She doesn't really want to be on it but she's following his instructions, as always. She can only hope that the trip will help her to forgive him. And then - finally - she'll be able to let him go.

Brought together by unexpected circumstances, Grace and Deira find that it's easier to share secrets with a stranger, especially in the shimmering sunny countryside of Spain and France. But they soon find that there's no escaping the truth, whether you're running away from it or racing towards it . . .

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book in return for an honest review.

Like many other women of this country I love Sheila O'Flanagan books. They're easy to read and you can escape to a world far away from your own, which is what we all need sometimes!

This latest offering focuses on Deira and Grace, two women who decide to holiday together after fate threw them together on a ferry crossing to France. I really enjoyed this story of the two women and what they got up to. I thought it was realistic that they weren't best pals straight and also that it wasn't plain sailing between them, there were a couple of cross words.

As always with Sheila's books it's made to feel more authentic by the characters Irish accents and it's now a feature I look forward to.

Some of the locations in this book are spectacular and you genuinely feel like you are in the car with these ladies on their adventure. they're both escaping Irish life and this is made easier to understand with the luxurious explanations of the places of where they visit.

Another enjoyable read by Sheila O'Flanagan and I would happily recommend this to others.

Lovely Sheila book. Felt a little dull at times maybe I’m reading too much psychological drama. And just not in the headspace. I love the settings and the relationships and am thankful for an early access’s

I really enjoyed this book. It focuses on the personal journeys of Deira and Grace, and their literal journey, which they embark on together, becoming friends as a result. There's no romance as such, although lots about relationships. I loved the treasure hunt, and I'm really glad O'Flanagan explored the angst many women feel on the subject of having children. I enjoyed learning about various locations in France and Spain, and I thought the ending was just right. This isn't a gripping page turner, but more a slow burner.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heart warming “Thelma and Louise” road trip story about two women who meet unexpectedly and end up travelling through France and Spain together, both escaping their problems at home and forming a firm frIendship.
I really loved Deira and Grace, different ages, different lives but who come together when they meet up after taking the ferry from Ireland to Brittany.
Deira has been unceremoniously dumped by her long term partner and Grace has been recently widowed. As the two get to know each other and solve the treasure hunt which Grace’s late husband has left for her to do posthumously, the reader is swept up in their lives and their backstories. Big themes are discussed including grief, suicide, infertility and abortion, yet this is generally a feel good story featuring two wonderful main characters.
The literary tour through France and Spain was also fabulous, particularly as I am a Librarian and avid reader. It was great to hear about the places where famous literary figures left their mark. Grace’s late husband was a Professor of English Literature and an avid collector of books so the treasure hunt was full of interesting literary references. It really made me want to visit the places described so superbly in the novel. I have the feeling that the author really enjoyed doing the research for this novel!
The book was emotional in places and I must confess one or two sections did bring a tear to my eye. In my opinion this would be a great Summer read as it has the ability to transport you and having read it over lockdown I really felt as if I’d enjoyed a Summer holiday without even leaving my chair.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

From the first chapter I just knew that I was going to enjoy this book. It was a great story and even though it was a easy read it was one which I was soon engrossed in. At times I felt that I was travelling through France and Spain with Grace and Deira the descriptions of the places were so good. A lovely story that held my interest the whole way through the book.

This book follows Grace & Deira who start their journeys separately but are brought together by chance. They are a generation apart & one of them has been a career woman who never had children while the other gave up her career for her family. They grow closer as their stories show similarities.
You gradually get to know their characters and their reasons for doing what they are doing. I thought it was well written and a really good summer/holiday read. It felt like I was with them at times in some of their European destinations, perfect for a bit of escapism during a lockdown!

Really enjoyed this book. Steady paced, great characters, I was absorbed throughout. Will be reading more books by the author in the future!

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview of this book. I have read all of Shelias previous books and this one was no different. it was a light & fun read & made me wish I was in France or Spain. The perfect escapism from lockdown

A nice easy read perfect summer escapism.I have read all of Sheila's books so far and this one doesn't disappoint.I loved that the two main characters where female and the idea of the treasure hunt looking for answers to clues a great concept in a novel.Loved that the novel mostly set abroad love thinking about ths sun at this time of year.

Deira and Grace depart Ireland for their respective road trips through France and Spain.
Deira is going on a pre-booked holiday alone after her husband left her for another woman.
Grace's husband has passed away; he booked this trip for her and left clues for a treasure hunt.
The two women meet and decide to combine their travels around France and Spain.
While away, they bond, during there time travelling they get to know each other. They become close friends as they attempt to solve the clues to the treasure hunt.
An easygoing read, I enjoyed the drive through France and Spain with Deira and Grace.
I want to thank NetGalley, Headline and author Sheila O'Flanagan for a pre-publication copy to review.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Having read a lot of this author's older books I really enjoyed this love book .
Well written with a good plot line that kept my interest to the end would recommend.