Member Reviews

Sian O’Gorman - The Girls Of Sandycove

Sian O’Gorman takes us back to her glorious setting of Sandycove for another book set in this idyllic Irish village by the sea.

This is a standalone book and tells the stories of Kate, Flora, Patsy and Lola in alternating chapters.

I loved being back in Sandycove. It’s such a warm hearted place, with a community spirit that will heal the most broken of hearts.

I enjoyed the journey that these four women went on. They are all very different, but their home and love bind them together.

Sian O’Gorman writes beautifully. She captures her readers with her charming tales, that are utterly heart warming and uplifting.

Banish those winter blues, with this feel good read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a digital arc of this title.

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The book focuses on four women: Flora, Kate, and their moms Patsy and Lola. The story revolves around the relationships between mothers and daughters. Flora and Patsy are very close, while Kate and Lola are distant because Lola, a famous singer, appears to have chosen her career over her daughter.

Each of these women is at a crossroads of sorts, trying to make sense and rebuild their lives. As they take responsibility for past decisions and take bold decisions for their future, we see how the Sandycove community plays a role in their lives. The story explores mother-daughter connections but there’s also a good mix of romance.

A heartwarming story of rediscovering roots, being brave and independent and finding love amidst pain and heartache, The Girls from Sandycove is another winner from the author.

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Faith Hogan and Cathy Kelly fans will fall in love with the latest gorgeous novel by Sian O’Gorman: The Girls from Sandycove.

When Kate O’Hare learns that she’s expecting, she realises that the only place she wants to be in is her hometown of Sandycove in Ireland. Packing up her things and leaving her life behind, Kate heads back home and soon discovers that a lot has changed since she had last been in town – including her best friend Flora, who has a crisis of her own to deal with that has upturned her entire world!

Flora had given up everything for love. She thought that she had been one of the lucky ones and that she had found her soulmate and the man she would spent the rest of her life with. Unfortunately though, reality proved to be far removed from her romantic fantasy after her husband’s cruel – and very public – betrayal. Flora has no job, no home and seemingly no prospects, but will Kate being back in town remind her of the woman she once was? Will she fight for what she truly wants and rebuild her life again? Or will her self-esteem never recover after her public humiliation?

Kate and Flora’s mothers are also at a crossroads in their lives and on the precipice of great change. Kate’s mother has just lost the love of her life and after hearing of her daughter’s return to Ireland decides to take a leaf out of her book and follow her back to Sandycove to hopefully build some bridges. Meanwhile, Flora’s mother has decided to take a chance on the unknown and embarks on a brand new professional adventure.

Will these four women find everything they’ve been looking for in Sandycove? Is home truly where the heart is? Or are they all just setting themselves up for major disappointment?

The Girls from Sandycove is an emotional, astute and absorbing tale about forgiveness, healing, hope and new beginnings from Sian O’Gorman that will resonate with women everywhere. The characters in this book are flawed, layered and so nuanced they will feel like your best friends by the last page.

Witty, heartwarming and written straight from the heart, Sian O’Gorman’s The Girls from Sandycove is a compelling tale about friendship, community and love that is perfect for curling up with and losing yourself in.

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I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw the cover. I loved spending time with the women of Sandycove. There are mothers and daughters, friendships, relationships to resolve and more. In addition to the characters and plot, I also loved the Irish setting. This title is sure to be enjoyed by lovers of good stories about female characters and those around them.

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Great story filled with family, friendship, and love. This book is set in beautiful Ireland and and leaves you with warm fuzzies.

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Told from the viewpoints of Emma, Kate and their mothers, this book examines how the four women deal with the issues in their lives, such as adultery, an unplanned pregnancy, a new career and an estrangement between mother and daughter. A heartwarming read!

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This is a feel good romance with a brilliant community,
Where family dramas, friendship and romance occur by the sea.
Relationships breakdown, some times you need a friend,
and to travel home, there time to spend!

A husband's betrayal of your marriage and their friend
Has Flora returning to Mum, unsure how things will end.
A fresh opportunity, a possible new start,
If only she dare try to play her part!

Returning to Sandycove is what Kate decides to do,
Not expecting her superstar Mum to come, too!
With relationships breaking down, they need to heal,
As grief, regret and dilemmas they all conceal.

Singing proves healing and inspirational, too,
And new folks also help what they're going through.
Fresh starts, reconnections, healing and new chances
Are all possibilities along with several romances!

A gorgeous read that I loved right from the start
All the way through, so full of love and heart!
For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

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I loved the title of this book and hoped it would as good as it sounded. In fact, it was amazing. A lovely, cosy read for those winter nights. Thank you for the ARC.

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EXCERPT: Flora reflected on how proud she was of her mother and how it was now Patsy's moment to shine. Flora had only a vague recollection of her old self, the young woman who designed fabulous and exuberant wallpaper and fabric, the person who cycled to her local printers to order samples of her designs, the one who took on commissions from lovely restaurants in Dublin's city centre and papered whole sections in her beautiful and eye-catching prints, flowers and insects and sea creatures, neon and dark swirls of colour. She had felt invincible, thinking life would always look like this. But somehow, she had lost her confidence, lost her way, and was now wondering what had happened to that young woman so full of ideas, excitement and promise.

ABOUT 'THE GIRLS FROM SANDYCOVE': A mother and daughter adrift, a friend in need, and a village to call home… When Kate O’Hare discovers she’s pregnant, she is determined to return to her hometown of Sandycove in Dublin.

On the other side of the Atlantic, her estranged mother, international superstar, Lola, is heartbroken following the loss of her soulmate, Paulie. On hearing Kate’s plan, Lola follows her, seeking a second chance at motherhood.

Kate discovers her best friend, Flora, is back in her childhood bedroom, her marriage and self-esteem in tatters following her husband’s public betrayal.

Flora now finds herself with no husband, home, or future, while her own mother Patsy is stepping out of her comfort zone into the world of interiors. Can Patsy’s new life reignite Flora’s talent and creativity?

And what of the O’Hare family secret which has the power to unlock a pathway to greater mutual understanding? And will music and the magic of Sandycove be enough to empower the women through such challenging times?

MY THOUGHTS: This is the first book I have read by Sian O'Gorman, but it won't be my last. What a lovely, warm-hearted, and uplifting read!

There's no place like home when life throws you a curveball. It's where Kate O'Hare heads when she discovers she is pregnant; it's where Flora runs to when her marriage is in tatters; it's where Lola O'Hare goes when she is grieving the death of her soulmate Paulie. It's where the past works its magic on the present and reunites old friends and family, where new relationships are forged, dreams reignited, and new pathways forward forged.

Yes, you're going to get a HEA, but what a magnificent journey O'Gorman takes us on to get there. Her characters are wonderful. I was instantly immersed in their lives, feeling their pain and urging them on to better days, happier futures.

I loved the relationships between the mothers and daughters - Patsy and Flora with their warm-hearted, supportive relationship; and Lola and Kate, estranged, wanting what Patsy and Flora have, but unsure how to get there, how to reconfigure their relationship and learn to love one another again.

I loved my time in Sandycove with these wonderful characters. I enjoyed seeing them grow and reach out to one another. I didn't want this story to end.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheGirlsfromSandycove #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Siân was born in Ireland, is an RTÉ radio producer and lives in the seaside suburb of Dalkey, Dublin with her seven-nearly-eight-year-old daughter, Ruby.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Girls From Sandycove by Sian O'Gorman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

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This was my first “visit” to Sandycove, but it definitely won’t be my last.

In The Girls from Sandycove, author Sian O’Gorman has given us a story about mothers and daughters, exploring both the mother-daughter dynamic and exploring each role on its own. Her subject matter is universal, and her characters are relatable – who hasn’t run home to mom (at least figuratively) when their life has gone sour? Who hasn’t sometimes felt overshadowed by a particularly successful parent? (My own mother freely admits that she prefers to always be the center of attention.)

So, this story of Flora and Patsy, Kate and Lola is written with realistic dialogue and mostly plausible situations. I liked that each mother-daughter pair had conflict but also drew strength from each other, and I loved that all of this was centered around Sandycove, a village “near Dublin.”

As someone who never really had a hometown, I’ve always been drawn to “hometown stories,” and this novel is no exception. There’s a special kind of magic in returning to the place where you grew up – nostalgic on one level, but a bit like a faded postcard on another – and O’Gorman has captured all of it, making Sandycove its own character.

If you like heartwarming family drama, strong female characters, and a story where people struggle but ultimately grow, read The Girls from Sandycove.

Goes well with: a sunny day, sandy feet, and sharing a bottle of prosecco with your mother, your daughter, or both.

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Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. Loved the characters and the story. A great read when you need a break from the heavier books

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I loved this book. Great, warm, relatable characters whose lives change for the better. It was a feel good book & it was enjoyable to read how lives can improve.
Recommended read.

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What a great book! I loved the stories of mothers and daughters, their conflicts and their friendships. The characters were realistic, relatable and felt like friends. I would love to sit and tea and cake with them! Thanks #NetGalley, #BoldwookBooks #SianO'Gorman

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Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed reading this book.

During a bbq at her house, Flora hears some unexpected news, her husband and his best friends wife have been having an affair. After this she finds herself homeless and without no idea of what her future is. Patsy is doing what she’s dreamt of, she’s an interior designer.

Kate, who is Flora’s best friend has decided to come back home, she’s pregnant, but also unsure of what her future holds. But, what she doesn’t know is her mother, Lola, who is a rock star is also coming back to make things right with her, following the death of her best friend Paulie.

The story is told in four points of view, where all four of the woman tell their own story.

I recommend this book.

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I’ve loved the other books set in Sandycove, and Siân O’ Gorman’s writing is always heartfelt and realistic. It is always great to be back in Sandycove.

Flora is reeling after discovering her husband has had an affair and her friend Kate is in France living the life she thought she wanted. When circumstances conspire to bring them back together, both are glad to come home and reconnect. I liked how they kept in contact and I have experience of having moved away hoping people will still be in touch. I enjoyed all the backstories.

Thanks to Siân O’ Gorman, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

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This is the first book I've read by this author but most definitely will not be the last, infact I've already found my next read. This is such a uplifting & heartwarming book, the story of each character beautifully told . I love that we see females supporting & championing each other & proving that friendship can be just as important and valuable as family. I heartily recommend reading this book. Huge thanks to netgalley for an advanced copy for my review.

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The Girls from Sandycove is a gorgeously uplifting story that left me with the most wonderful feeling. I could feel a smile lifting on my face the closer to the end I got as I had enjoyed the novel that much. The sense of community spirit and the bonds between the characters was heartwarming and I wished the story could have carried on as I loved my recent trip to Sandycove. A story and characters that will steal your heart!

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I pretty much loved this book from page one. I was really glad the part of the story with Flora's husband's public betrayal was dealt with right away because we know it's coming. It also got the book off to a quick start. All of the women in this book are on their own journey, but those journeys often overlap with one another too. Patsy is already on her way to discovering a new side of herself, but what pushes her to take on the hotel project is her desire to help Flora find herself again. Lola's desire to reconnect with Kate overlaps with Kate's preparation to become a mother herself. And Kate and Flora both needed their best friend back as they started on their "new" lives. I wasn't sure what to think of Lola at first - I certainly understood why Kate felt the way she did about her. Although Lola could have handled herself differently in the past, I did come to really like her by the end. And a lot of that was because the author spent time on developing her as a person who acknowledges that she has made mistakes. The one part of the story I thought needed a little more attention was the reconciliation between Kate and Lola. We know what each of them has been thinking that leads them back to one another, but that conversation never really happens between them so that they each know. The chapters from Jacques and Richie's POVs was a pleasant surprise. I liked the parallel that each of these characters was setting out to Sandycove to find their partners and also getting to know a little more about their feelings towards Kate and Lola. Jacque's reaction to finding out about the baby and getting there just in time to be a part of the delivery was one of the sweetest parts of the book. I especially liked that he had already set out to find Kate before finding out she was pregnant. I would have liked just one chapter from Justin's perspective - just to know how miserable he was in prison (he most certainly deserved his fate). And on that note, I was a little disappointed in Richard's decision to take back Sandra, mostly because I wanted her to be miserable too for how she treated Flora. I enjoyed each of the storylines here but I think Flora's was my favorite. I just really liked how she picked herself up and (with the support of Patsy and Edith) found her joy in life again. And of course, I loved following her relationship with Killian as it went from employee/boss to friends to something more romantic. This book is such a joy from start to finish.

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I absolutely adored this book! It was so up,if ting and positive. Everyone goes through hard times and makes mistakes. This book is all about second chances and making the most of your life. The writing is incredible. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

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I just loved this book. This is an author that I have not read but thanks to the publisher for letting me read this story. I have found a new author that I enjoy. The main characters, Lola. Patsy , Flora and Kate were great characters. The story is set in Sandy Cove Ireland.Kate stayed with Patsy and Flora when Her mother, Lola, traveled the world with a band The islanders. Kate felt like her mother chose the band instead of her. When she was old enough she left Ireland and traveled. Flora, Patsy's daughter , gave up her designingto get married. See how all of this turned out.Will be going back and reading some of this author's books and looking forward to reading the her next one.

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