During a stormy night in December, local GP Enya saves the life of a young boy who has been hit by a car and left in the road. The boy reminds her of her own son, Finn, and the incident acts as a catalyst, making her face up to problems in her marriage to fellow GP, Xander. When an opportunity comes for her to relocate to a small village as a rural GP she decides this could be just what she needs to get a handle on her life again so she packs up and leaves her husband and son behind. But everything isn’t quite what it seems; she can’t stop thinking about the young boy she saved and is haunted by the choices she’s made as well as the local rag tree.

“Into The Storm” is due to be published on 10 October and I was very happy to be approved for an eArc via NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

I have been a fan of Cecelia Ahern since her very first book and I’ve loved seeing how her writing has grown and changed over the years.

This book is definitely up there with some of her best. I really liked the mystery element that Ahern brought into this one.

A lot of Ahern’s previous books have contained a bit of a magical element and this one does keep that but in quite a realistic way with the use of folk magic and the legends of rag trees and how people benefit from them.

The link back to Enya’s Mum was really well done and I loved reading the articles she’d written and getting an idea as to the kind of woman she was and how that will have affected her children.

Ahern’s writing has such a nice flow and I always find myself just completely immersed in her stories. There are some really fab characters in this one as well and the mystery element was very well done.

My one complaint would be that the ending felt a little rushed. It’s not an overly long book so could have stood to be a little longer and given a bit more time to flesh the ending out a little more.

Overall though I loved it.

I have read many Cecelia Ahern books in the past and couldn’t wait to read this. I found this quite slow initially to get in too but overall this was a good read with many levels and topics explored.

Set in rural Ireland, Dr Enya is travelling through a storm when she is stopped at the scene of an accident of a teenage boy where she performs CPR.
The book follows the breakdown of Enya’s life and relocation to rural Ireland.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

4-4.5 stars

I do love a new Cecelia Ahern book and this one sounded so fabulous.

Her writing in this is exceptional. For me, she's the epitome of what every writer aspires to be. If you're in a creative writing lesson and you're told to create characters, create weather, describe emotions - the perfect thing to come out of it would be the equivalent of her work (that made more sense in my head than it does written down but hopefully you know what I mean). For me, she has perfected every aspect of storytelling.

The opening scene which takes place in torrential rain and thunder is so vivid that I forgot it was a book, and I was expecting my dog to come in from the garden looking like a drowned rat, and it almost startled me that it wasn't actually raining.

Enya is an interesting character, clearly suffering from grief, and possibly something else. She feels alone even when she's surrounded by others and she has lost her way amongst her grief and being a GP and a wife and a mother - she's lost her self. And her husband, Xavier, is a vile man. He was so rude and creepy straight away and I didn't trust him from then on and I felt Enya deserved so much better than him.

It isn't always a happy book, there are some difficult topics, such as dysfunctional families, second marriages, regrets, jealously, love, motherhood, shock, loss, mental health, infidelity, mortality, ageing.

There is nothing wrong with her writing - as I explained earlier about how exquisite it is. The characters, whilst not always good people, were complex and rough and not always comfortable to read about. There is this really clear sense of space and time.

But I will say, that it dipped slightly in the middle. The opening was so spectacular and got you straight into it, and the ending was satisfying. The middle is still good, don't get me wrong, but I felt it dipped somewhat in intensity and I found myself hoping that more of the start would appear, but that's a minor thing.

There isn't a whole lot of plot, this is definitely more of a character exploration and I prefer that in a book. It's not always an uplifting, positive, cheerful character exploration and some are nicer than others, but it is thoroughly done and is very well achieved.

As someone who has suffered from her fair share of grief and mental health struggles, it can be almost impossible to actually explain, to put into words, how it can make you feel. But I think Cecelia has done it in such a sensitive and realistic way; she's not hidden from troubles or swept them under the rug, but nor has she hyped them up for explicit entertainment values. It's there front and centre and you really feel for Enya.

Overall, whilst there was a tiny dip towards the middle, I'd say this is probably my favourite book of hers so far (granted I haven't read them all). It's not overly uplifting, and some of it is hard to read emotionally, but Cecelia has written a powerful story about love, loss, grief, and what it feels like to be out of control of your self, your mind, your future. With interesting and well written, but not always pleasant, characters, it's full of emotion. It is definitely going to be another winner for her.

I have enjoyed many previous novels by Cecilia Ahern so I was very excited to be given the opportunity by Net Galley and the publisher to read this latest one in advance of its publication.
It didn’t disappoint and I found it well written with characters that I cared about. It was sad in parts but I couldn’t put it down and throughly enjoyed it.

This is only the second Cecelia Ahern book I've read but she's an auto buy author for my mum, so I thought I'd give this book a go.

I went into this not really knowing what to expect but I thought the concept sounded interesting. I found this really easy to read, I flew through it. However, there were moments where I was confused but now that I think about it, that might have been intentional since Enya is scatty and unreliable. I really enjoyed the Irish lore woven through this. I also loved the female dynamic and the conversation around getting to the age your parents where when they died. Its something I've spoken about in real life but not something I've read about before.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this and I'll be buying it for my mum when its released.

Good enough to not dnr but I'm not sure if I would recommend. Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors - some of her stories are just fun others a little bit outlandish and then others that are thought provoking. I'm not sure where to categorise this one. It's about a mothers love and a mothers death. The impact they have on the individual and those around them. It's well written and the characters are all well developed apart from one. The husband. He was just so annoying.

Thank you to netgalley for this ARC.
I'd like to give this a 3.5

Margaret was the best character in this book
I loved the beginning and the end but got a little bored in the middle and never really wanted to pick the book up while reading the middle part
Such a shame as I’ve loved this authors other books

Book Review: Into the Storm

I recently finished Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern, and I can confidently say it’s one of those rare books that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Ahern’s storytelling is immersive and poignant, and this novel showcases her talent beautifully.

The story follows GP Enya, who finds herself at a pivotal moment during a wild December night while performing CPR on a teenage boy. This traumatic event becomes a catalyst for Enya, forcing her to confront her stagnant life and loveless marriage. I felt her desperation and determination so acutely; it was impossible not to root for her.

As she seeks refuge in a remote country town, I was drawn into her journey of self-discovery and healing. Ahern's depiction of Enya's emotional struggles is powerful and relatable, making me reflect on my own life choices and the courage it takes to change them. The symbolism of the ancient tree, a silent witness to countless stories, resonated deeply with me and served as a beautiful metaphor for growth and resilience.

Ahern's characters are undeniably flawed, yet incredibly magnetic. Enya’s vulnerability and strength are portrayed with such nuance that I felt a genuine connection to her. The supporting characters are equally compelling, each bringing their own depth to the narrative.

The book balances tension and introspection perfectly. While I was invested in the mystery of Enya's past, the emotional weight of her journey kept me turning pages late into the night.

Overall, Into the Storm is a masterful blend of emotional depth and gripping storytelling. It’s a book that not only entertained me but also left me reflecting on its themes long after I turned the last page. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt and thought-provoking read.

I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book. I have read all her books. I found this book very deep. I struggled with the middle section but kept going..it gives a good insight into the Celtic pagen rites to do with our seasons.

I am a massive fan of Cecelia Ahern and was elated to receive an ARC of Into the Storm in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book although at times I struggled with Enya's character. Its very immersive and I felt myself transported to rural Ireland. It was a little slow in parts but overall a good read with a great twist.

I have read this ARC with a view to providing a review
All opinions and thoughts are my own

Love love love this author and was soooo excited to read this

Loved it

Set in contemporary Ireland, this is a book about family, loyalty, loss, and finding yourself.
Starting on a dark country lane in the pouring rain, the atmosphere for the novel is set. The tension builds and the story is twisty and dark.
If you like a gripping domestic thriller with relatable characters,and to be kept guessing until the end, this is for you.
I liked the inclusion of Enya's late mum's newspaper columns, with details of interesting Irish pagan mythology and rituals. A quirky addition which added depth and gravitas.

This I found was quite a deep story with many twists along the way. A slow burner but the storyline kept me turning the pages.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I found this to be very bleak with little to uplift it. I found the main character irritating at times. It is an impactful story though. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book by Cecelia Ahern iv read and to be honest I found it a bit of a struggle. I found it slow and very repetitive, maybe it’s just the way I’m feeling just now but it just got too deep for me at times and I didn’t particularly like any of the characters except Margaret maybe. In saying that I think I’d still try some of Celia’s other books which have had great reviews. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this early copy.

This is a funny one to review because do you know when a book was good and you can see the appeal and you know that others will love it but it just wasn’t for you?

I felt like it was the kind of story line that is very overdone and comfortable and when I was reading it I had that sense of de ja vu. Like I’d read the book before/watched the movie.

All in all it was a good read and I think a lot of people will really enjoy it but personally it felt a bit outdated.

An interesting story however I just couldn’t get behind any of the characters and found the plot slow and repetitive. It was quite obvious what had happened so the twists and turns in the plot didn’t come as a surprise. It was decidedly creepy in places and stories of the rag tree and various people turning up out of the blue to attach their own memories to the tree I found quite chilling.

A dark, twisty story covering a number of issues- medical malpractice, drink driving, adultery, mental breakdown , superstition and parent/child relationships

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest recipe

Just a simple twist of fate and then.....
Cecilia Ahearn is a successful author who has written around twenty books. I had not read any of these books, as they are not in the genres that I usually read. I had a go at this one thanks to NetGalley, and I'm glad that I did.
Doctor Enya runs a thriving GP practice with her husband. She is discontented and this situation is worsened because her teenage son is distancing himself from her.. whilst driving her car in a torrential storm, she if flagged down by a taxi driver who has spotted an injured pedestrian. She stops to help and from this simple act her whole life begins to disintegrate.
The story is set in modern day Ireland but there are lots of reflections of the island's pre Christianity Pagan past..
This is an easy to read book that builds steadily in intensity throughout, with many twists and turns. All the main characters have some sort of psychological issues.
The build up culminates in a surprising and shocking conclusion.
It's well worth reading

The characters in this book are so believable, relatable and mostly likeable. Beautifully written, with a smattering of Irish charm.

Dr Enya Pickering is a complex character but I found myself routing for her in many ways.
Really good read and kept me guessing and doubting myself all the way through.