I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

I absolutely love Cathy Kelly books and was delighted to get an early copy of her newest book Other Women. As expected, I was not disappointed and simply could not put the book down once I started! Another triumph from Kelly and eagerly look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

I used to love Cathy Kelly books but for some reason haven't read one for ages.

And now I remember why. This was so slow, predictable and boring. Characters who are ridiculous and I would avoid like the plague.

Sadly I couldn't wait to get to the end of this book.

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Three women are the main characters in this long drawn out book. I really thought I was never going to get to the end of it. So many pages and words about so very little - a huge disappointment! Not to mention the abrupt finish, leading to a sequel? Usually I love these types of books but this one never really got going for me. Cathy’s fans will love it and no doubt it will be a huge success.

Other Women by Cathy Kelly
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Sid, Marin and Bea, three women each with their own story. Sid is determined to prove a woman and a man can just be friends. Can’t they? Marin has the perfect life from the outside, she has it all but spends most of her life comparing herself to other women. Bea, single mum to Luke, believes everyone has their ‘one’ and she’s already had hers.
I liked the characters in this book, it was filled with warmth and love. However I felt the story lacked exactly that- the story. The mix of the three characters just didn’t work for me and I felt we didn’t really get into the nitty gritty of any of them. It’s a shame as each story could have worked on its own and may have had a better outcome.
Thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC
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I read this book very quickly thanks to such an engaging talented author! Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Great characters, setting and storyline. Would highly recommend.

Utterly compelling. I could not put this book down. This book draws you into these women’s lives. I cared about what happened to them and was fascinated by their relationships. Fantastic read. This is a tale woven with consummate skill. Fabulous!

Thank you Netgalley.

I love Cathy Kelly and her writing The Other Women is a great immersive read following Sid, Marin and Bea who are all struggling with life and who are lost in different ways this is a great book that shows there is nothing stronger than women and their friendships it may take a while to discover our strength but when we do Watch out world. A proper feel good read that I literally haven’t put down

You always know what you are getting yourself in to with a Cathy Kelly novel. A great story about love and female friendship. This one follows Marin, Bea and Sid, three women who’s lives are intertwined.

I loved the twists and turns and unexpected ending in this one.

There's something about Irish writers of the genre that seem to capture the reader. I know that when I pick up a book by Cathy Kelly I'm in for an engaging read with lots of interesting characters.

Merin has a busy life. Her teenage daughter is about to go off on her gap years, her ten year old son is a joy. Her husband loves to entertain only he doesn't like to do much to assist- unless it's a barbeque or pouring drinks. Her mother is a nag, Her father keeps his head down. Her brother is useless & immature & her sister seems intent on making herself miserable with her constant hope her married lovers will leave their wives. She also has a shopping addiction

Bea has been part of their friendship circle for years. Ten years ago her husband was killed in a car crash the day before she gave birth to their son. She is now wondering if it is time to start living

Sid, of the Goth clothes & prickly nature is determined that she doesn't want a boyfriend- however she is not adverse to having a friend who happens to be male which is where Finn comes in- another of Bea & Merin's friends.

This is a great story of how women survive & support each other. I loved it & couldn't put it down. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read this book.

a thoroughly good read. the end should not be second guessed. Worth reading to the very end. Well written as usual by the author.

Other Women is a warm-hearted character-led novel, full of emotion. It follows three women - Marin, Bea and Sid. Marin is a married mum of two with a full-time job, an addiction and she stresses about not looking as good as her husband's best friend's wife, Angie. She also has complicated family dynamics to deal with involving her mum and siblings. Bea had to cope with the death of her husband and the birth of her son just one day later though now, ten years on, she’s ready to move on with her life. Sid is being encouraged by her sister to move on romantically after being on her own long enough after her long term relationship fell apart but Sid is only looking for friendship.

The three women’s stories partly overlap, but each of them had their own distinct voice and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how their characters evolved as time went on. Their respective journeys are all written with depth that kept me hooked until the very end. This is a fabulous book about love, loss, betrayal and family with characters I could relate to, and I found myself very absorbed in the lives of these women. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Three different women .
All with secrets .
All at crossroad in their lives.
This book will draw you in as many of Cathy’s books do .
Another great read
Thanks NetGalley

Cathy Kelly is a master story teller and this is one of her best. This is Bea, Marin and SIids stories , each woman with a very different story to tell .All of their stories intertwine and are very relatable. The beginning of the book seems messy but stick with it. There are a lot of different characters to be introduced and scenes to be set.
The book is cleverly written, with many twists and turns as the story progresses . I really enjoyed this book, a really good read and would recommend this book to anyone
Thank you to Netgalley, Orion and Cathy Kelly for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

Cathy Kelly really has a talent for writing stories full of wonderful relationships, not just romantically but strong female friendships. This book is one of my favourites so far. Each female character is strong and complex and beautifully written. Marin, Sid and Bea’s journeys are all really well written, with suspense and depth that keeps you hooked until the very end.
Thank you so much for this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Please accept my apologies for being a few days late, I really do know the importance of reviewing on or before the publication date but life got a little hectic for a few weeks there!

First I wasn't very keen. I didn't feel close to any of the three main characters; I didin't think I could relate to any of them. But as I progressed in the story It somehow grew on me. I got interested in these women and mainly in their decisions about their future. (Which is little wonder, Cathy Kelly being an excellent storyteller).
This story reminded me of what Tolstoy said in Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." All the three main characters were unhappy or at least discontented with their life in different ways. They felt trapped and just didn't see a way out.
It was really satisfying to see how they finally realise that they must change their life to give themselves a second chance at happiness.

Other Women - Cathy Kelly

This book follows the interlinked lives of three different women and we get to see how their stories unfold. It was an enjoyable read with good storytelling. Sometimes I did find that the writing style confused me with which character I was reading about at the time (but that's probably just my brain!). Thank you so much NetGalley and Orion Publishing for allowing me the chance to read and review this book.

This is the story of 3 very different women.
Sid, fiercely independent since she split with her long term partner, determined to live her life on her own terms. When she meets handsome, charming Finn, she makes it clear that they are just friends but the more time they spend together the more that conviction is tested.
Bea was tragically widowed 10 years ago, the day before she gave birth to her son. She now lives her life for her son and has a close circle of friends who she can confide in and spend time with.
Marin is happily married to Nate with two children and holding down a full time job. She seems to have the perfect life but constantly compares herself to other women.
On the outside the three women have their lives sorted, but appearances can be deceptive.
The story starts with the hint of an affair and through the book, as the story grows, you get hints as to who the affair could involve. I thought I had guessed more than once but I was totally wrong.
Told mainly from the viewpoint of the three women the story tells how their lives intersect with each other and how they each make decisions that will affect their lives and the lives of those around them.
I really liked the characters especially Sid, her story really moved me.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Bea, Marin and Sid are three different women part of a circle of friends. They all have secrets from the past that they need to over come to order to move on. There lives intertwine and cross over throughout the book. Will they be able to work through and deal with the secrets and move on with their lives.

Good summer read.