I eagerly await Cathy's new books and this one is just as fabulous at the others she has written. It was a bit slow to begin with but soon took off for me and I was hooked.

A group of women, their lives, their families and their friendships.
I found all the characters interesting although I could relate to some more than others.
A good read

This was a light, enjoyable read in the style that Cathy Kelly does so well. An engrossing story about families and relationships, with a focus on three women whose paths cross at a significant turning point in their lives.

We have 30-something Sid, the career woman who’s sworn off men, until she meets gentle, charming Finn, a professor at the university. Can Finn break down Sid’s reserve and persuade her that they can be more than just friends?

Then there’s tragic young widow Bea, whose husband died in a car crash a day before their son was born. Ten years later, she’s still grieving but slowly coming around to the idea of looking for love again.

And superwoman Marin, high-flying estate agent and put-upon wife and mother of two, whose insecurities manifest themselves in uncontrolled shopping sprees.

I loved the distinct characters of Sid, Bea and Marin and found them all relatable and believable. As their separate stories unfolded and intertwined, I became wholly invested in their outcomes and cheered them all the way. There were enough mysteries and twists along the way to hold my attention, and I like that everything tied up neatly at the end.

I always enjoy Cathy Kelly's books but this is one of her best. As other reviewers have said, there are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning but stick with it - they are each so wonderfully drawn and distinctive that it's no problem figuring out who's who as you become immersed in their lives. The three women - Sid, Bea and Marin - are all unique, believable and given great depth, but the supporting characters are also very strong. I defy anyone not to fall in love with Finn! I was particularly drawn to Sid (and her family!) but each of them had an interesting story to tell.

Their stories are of things that many people face and it kept me reading as the tale unfolded and their lives merged. The author very skillfully brings them in and out of each other's lives and builds a world familiar to most of us, of women with families, friends, commitments and battles to fight.

It is a perfect book to relax with.

This is the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last as I loved her humour, storytelling and the fleshed out characters.
I loved these women and their story kept me hooked.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc, all opinions are mine

Another great read from Cathy Kelly. Sid, Marin and Bea- each strong, interesting and independendent in their own right. I championed a happy ending for them all. This was such an enjoyable read. There is something of at least one of these characters in each and every one of us. Cathy write life exactly as she sees it. This is another enjoyable read that I highly recommend.

I really enjoyed this book, I have read most of Cathy Kelly's books and this is definitely one of my favourites so far.
The book centres around three women, Marin, Bea and Sid. All very different, but they are part of a circle of friends. Each of them are are at a crossroad in life and need to decide if they want to make changes.
The female characters are all likeable, most of the characters are, but I did not like Nate from the beginning. The book begins with a a dramatic scene, when an affair is revealed. Throughout the book there are hints and suspicions as to who the 'other woman' is. Their identity is not revealed until the lat few chapters.
The chapters are headed with the name of the characters, and the storyline moves between each of the female characters. It is easy to follow who is narrating.
The book is well written. I found the characters relatable and realistic. There were a few twists and turns along the way, before the big reveal. I enjoyed reading this book, and I am looking forward to reading Cathy Kelly's next book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This is a slightly different style for Cathy Kelly, but I loved it! This is a wonderful warm novel with an interesting concept and beautifully drawn characters. The main character, Marin is a well rounded, interesting woman , who is realising her worth in the world. The other female characters are also beautifully drawn and interesting. The men, particularly the character of Finn, are very believable. I really loved the novel I highly recommend it to fans of Cathy Kelly and also to readers mew to her work. Thanks to Orion publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this wonderful novel.

Three women's stories are interwoven by the author. All three carry history from the past and have to deal with this as they move on with their lives . An excellent read as usual from Cathy Kelly I would recommend this to a friend.

I got a bit confused at first with who each woman was but soon worked it out and was intrigued to find out where their stories went.
If you like Cathy Kelly you will love this one

Lovely read. I forgot how much I enjoy Cathys books. Some great characters in there. The women were such strong characters. I didn’t like Nate from the start. Witty and sad in parts. An easy book to read.

I am a massive fan of Cathy Kelly’s books and was so pleased to be approved for this one, Even though it took me a while to get into it and get my head around all the characters it was an enjoyable read.

I lose myself in the stories Cathy Kelly creates, I almost think I am Irish myself when I emerge from one of her novels. This novel explores the complexity of relationships, in marriage, in friendship, and the way we manipulate ourselves and others to try and protect ourselves from facing pain and sadness from the past and accepting difficult truths. As with all Cathy's books, the strength and support we offer each other as women shines through the story.

I love Cathy Kelly and this was a beautiful book on love family and friends. Thanks to the publisher and the author for the pleasure of allowing me to read and review this one. Cathy never disappoints. One to read

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

“Other Women” is Cathy Kelly at her best. Writing about women, their lives, their ups and downs, their relationships with each other, their friends, their families, their lives (or lack of them).

In “Other Women”, we meet Marin, Sid and Bea, who’s lives are connected through friendship and love.

Marin: wife, sister, daughter, homemaker, peacemaker, Mrs Fix it who seemingly has it all together. But Marin has a secret, a secret that belies all she tries to project.

Sid: Sidonie, the very antithesis of her bright, hippie style upbringing and family. Dark clothes, goth like, spiky. Sidonie who has just come out of a long relationship. Sidonie who harbours a secret she has hidden from all around her for fifteen years, a secret that has held her bound.

Bea: widow, mother of a son born the day his father died in tragic circumstances. Bea who has not even looked at another man since her bereavement. Bea, subject of much well intentioned match making,

Other Women grips from the first page and keeps you there until the very final paragraph.

I highly recommend this book.

I’ve always enjoyed cathy Kelly’s books but I did find Other Women quite slow to start with and a lot of characters all at once to get to grips with!
Three women and their husbands a long standing friendship group are all middle aged now, juggling work, children, housework and entertaining along with dating and infidelity!
The strength of female friendships and solidarity are apparent and as the book progresses this really draws you in and makes for an interesting read.
Thank you net galley for this early read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoy this authors books and this was no exception, it was full of great characters and a really lovely story. I enjoyed it.

🌟REVIEW TIME🌟

Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Books for approving me to read and review this ARC of Other Woman by Cathy Kelly.

I'll start by saying Cathy Kelly is a bit of legend in my book world. She was the first adult author I started to read as a teenager once I had got bored of the YA books on offer.  That was 20 years ago and I'm sure I've read every one of her books since then so to be able to read this one before release was super exciting for me.

Description

Three women. Three secrets. Three tangled lives...

Sid wears her independence like armour. So when she strikes up a rare connection with unlucky-in-love Finn, they are both determined to prove that men and women can just be friends. Can't they?

Marin has the perfect home, attentive husband, two beloved children - and a secret addiction to designer clothes. She knows she has it all, so why can't she stop comparing herself to other women?

Bea believes that we all have one love story - and she's had hers. Now her life centres around her son and support group of fierce single mums - the women she shares everything with. Well, apart from the one secret she can't tell anyone...

In the messy reality of marriage, family and romance, sometimes it's the women in our lives who hold us together.

You just know you are not going to be disappointed with a Cathy Kelly novel and Other Woman was no exception. It's one of those that I couldn't put down once I had started. It follows the lives and turmoil of 3 different women whose dramas start to intertwine part way through and I love how this happens slowly and then explodes towards the end.  Some sensitive subjects were explored throughout the story but were handled delicately and increased the level of emotions I had whilst reading. I admired and felt sorry for each of the 3 main women and really disliked one of the male characters by the end (won't say who as don't want to give any spoilers away). I loved the ending and totally wasn't ready for it finish- I wanted their stories to continue!

Overall another fantastic read by Cathy Kelly - thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.

Other Woman is out on 15th April. Pre order now.

OTHER WOMEN
Cathy Kelly

Orion Publishing Group
April 15, 2021
354 pages

A few years ago I went through a stage where I read many books by Irish authors. Maeve Binchy, Marion Keyes, and Sheila O'Flanagan were my go to authors. For some unknown reason, I never read one by Cathy Kelly. Now that I have, I look forward to more.

To me, books by these Irish authors that are set in Ireland always have a “homey” feel for me. The characters are like people I know. They have familiar issues. These books are ones that I like to read on a quiet afternoon with a cup of tea. Maybe that should an Irish Coffee!

The main ladies in this book are Sid, Bea and Marin. Sid has been abandoned by her long time, live in boyfriend and is afraid to date. Bea is a widow with a child and is resisting everyone’s plans that she should date. Marin is the peacemaker in her somewhat at odds family and she has insecurities of her own. And, of course, everyone has secrets!

Three distinct characters, 3 distinct stories that somewhat intertwine. They all have a connection, which isn't apparent in the beginning. The chapters are written by each voice in turn.

I really enjoyed this book because the characters, their flaws and their issues all seemed so normal. It was an easy read and entertaining. I kept turning pages, waiting for the secrets to be be revealed.

On the surface this book might seem like chick lit. But, it is so much more. It is about sisters, friendships, self-realization, relationships. It IS a book for and about women.

I loved the non-traditional un-fairytale ending. It was a logical and natural ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story about three ordinary women navigating work, family, relationships and trying to meet the needs and wants of their loved ones is instantly relateable. Each story is distinct and yet lightly and effortlessly interwoven through various events which bring them together. Although well written and carefully crafted, the voices of the three women were very similar and I did sometimes think I was reading the voice of someone other than the author intended. On the whole though a very readable and realistic slice of thirty or forty something women’s work, domestic and social lives.