
Member Reviews

The story of Ellen, told in chronological order of the houses she lived in. Wonderful, the reader goes through all her trials and tribulations, hard to put down, perfect holiday reading.

Wonderful, I've enjoyed a Roisin Meaney book after a long while. The story in Moving On felt wholesome and I enjoyed meeting the characters, knowing them and seeing them go through life. I loved the ending especially.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
At first I found the book to be too conventional to be intriguing, then I was emotionally invested in Elle's journey from Ireland to London and back, then the sickly sweet happy ending somehow made everything feel too easy. It's a good book and I enjoyed reading it, but the ending was too happy for me and the continuous focus on marriage and children as the only way to be happy (and making the villain then look old and no longer pretty is so predictable) was a bit meh. But overall a sweet book that I enjoyed.
3.5 stars

i was really excited to read this book and i feel like i’m in the minority of people who ended up not enjoying it. the idea of this story is very lovely and it’s what initially pulled me to wanring to read the story but the writing style just really wasn’t for me i didn’t feel like i could connect with the characters and for me personally that is so important for me to be able to enjoy a book it just fell abit flat for me, the writing was easy to read however i also feel like it just jumped so much in what was going on that again i just couldn’t feel like i was sitting with these characters and connect to them. i could see other people really enjoying it but sadly it wasn’t for me.
thank you to roisin meaney and the publishers for giving me this arc :)

This novel follows the life of Ellen as she moves from a small town to the city of London tackling life as it comes.
for me this was a tough read, I did not feel any attachment to the characters and the story felt to be moving at a really slow pace which was unbearable at times and made skim through the pages. It felt like reading someone's diary entry with absolutely nothing going on.

Thanks to Roisin Meaney, Little Brown Book and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Moving On by Roisin Meaney is a heartfelt exploration of grief, healing, and the slow but steady journey toward hope. With her signature warmth and insight, Meaney introduces us to characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply human. The story unfolds at a calm, reflective pace, offering comfort in its quiet moments and emotional authenticity.
The strength of the novel lies in its portrayal of resilience. Whether it’s the pain of loss, fractured relationships, or the fear of starting over, Meaney handles each with grace and a light touch. The intertwining lives of the characters add depth, and as their paths cross and reconnect, the message becomes clear: healing rarely happens alone.
Though the pacing might feel a bit gentle for readers who crave high drama, Moving On is less about plot twists and more about emotional truth. It’s a beautiful reminder that life doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. A lovely, thoughtful read for anyone looking for something quietly powerful and ultimately hopeful. 🤍📚🌹

Moving On was not quite what I expected when I picked it up. Judging by the cover and description, I anticipated something more light-hearted and geared toward a younger audience—perhaps a breezy rom-com or contemporary coming-of-age story. Instead, what I got was firmly rooted in women’s fiction, with mature themes, layered character development, and a more reflective pace.
That’s not to say it’s a bad book—far from it. Roisin Meaney clearly knows her craft, and the novel offers a thoughtful exploration of life, love, and starting over. I probably would have appreciated it more had I known what to expect going in. A quick Google search would have told me that Meaney writes primarily in the women’s fiction genre, so that’s on me.
If you're a fan of character-driven stories with emotional depth and introspection, Moving On might be exactly your kind of read. Just don’t be misled by the cover—it suggests a much younger, lighter story than what’s actually inside.

Thank you to Roisin Meaney, Little Brown Book and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I loved Moving On from start to finish, the story was so wholesome, true to life, poignant and comforting. I loved reading Ellen’s story and all her house moves as she moved to Galway to work in a bookshop and lived with her aunt, to her subsequent moves over the years as she went through family issues, relationships etc. The characters throughout the book were so well developed and meaningful to Ellen’s ongoing story. To me it was the perfect book to read at the right time for me, such a comforting read and relatable as life goes on and plans, time, places and people change.
I have loved Roisin’s books over the years anyway, but to me this feels like her absolute best one yet. It was such a cozy read with plenty of suspense and twists and turns, like life itself.

This is the story of Ellen, and is told through the various house and location moves she makes during her adult life.
We read of Ellen's loves, relationships and the ups and downs, until reaching the perfect conclusion.
Set in Ireland and London, this is a fabulous book. Very engaging and with great characters.

A gentle, comforting read that’s perfect for a quiet day. Ellen’s journey offers a nice touch of escapism, making it ideal for a slow afternoon with a blanket and a hot drink.

This is the story of Ellen, who leaves her home town in Ireland for the bright lights of London. It follows her journey through her life, loves and family with many ups and downs along the way. It is a beautiful story with the central character of Ellen being very relatable and likeable. An easy and enjoyable read.

I went into this expecting it to be a predominantly romance book, but it was so much more than that. It is the story of Ellen’s whole life, with travel and love and family and her career.
The story spans years and years and we follow all the ups and downs throughout Ellen’s life. We start off with Ellen’s move to Galway at 18yrs old and moving in with her auntie as she starts her journey as an adult venturing out into the world. I loved the relationship here and watching the two become friends, and the strengthening of this relationship over the years, wherever Ellen is, was heart warming.
This book had depth and I felt real emotion reading the hardships and betrayals and loss that Ellen encounters throughout her life.
Definitely don’t go into this thinking you are getting a light , short and sweet time. It’s a life story of a woman as she grows and travels and forms relationships, and loses friends, and finds love and works out what is important and what makes her happy.
Really enjoyed this. 😋 Thank you @netgalley for my copy for review.

This book, i'm sure, is a hit with its target audience. Unfortunately that's not me, and that's okay!
I had to dnf about a 1/4 of the way through because the format of which the book appeared on my kindle and online didn't really make sense to me. Literally style aside, though, romance or romance adjacent books are hit or miss with me. Maybe i'll give this one another go in a year or so and it'll become my favourite.
For me the writing felt cliche at times and intensely modern, but that might just been the format of the novel and nothing to do with the author's technique.
This was a book that doesn't mesh with my current headspace, and experiences, but what i read was wholesome and sweet - just not for me!
thank you to the author and publisher for lending me an epub of this book, and i'd like to remind people that this is just my opinion, one voice out of the crowd who've read the book.

I knew where it was going almost from the start, but it didn’t stop me enjoying the journey - or loving the very just ending.
Lovely lovely book.

Moving On is a story of life, love, and everything in between. A young Ellen Sheehan leaves home for Galway and begins working in a bookstore. What follows is Ellen's journey through life, her loves, friendships, and career. I loved this. It was so beautifully written, with well-developed characters who evolved throughout their lives. It was emotional at times and heartwarming at others. I'd highly recommend it.

I’d like to thank you for selecting me. I’m sorry it took me a minute, but I loved it 🤍🤍
Reading this book was like watching a movie on a Sunday afternoon. You know, blanket, tea and stormy rain outside. It didn’t come easy at first, if I’m honest. But it’s just me that I’m used to first PoV and the third PoV threw me off a little. But then it flowed. It was really an adorable read.

I always look forward to a new Roisin Meaney book. This did not disappoint. I loved all the characters, some more than others. The chapters about Ellen's time in London brought back many memories of my time there. Loved, loved it.

Three great loves. Two very different countries. One step closer to finding her way home.
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the characters are very likeable. I would love to work in the bookshop that is featured throughout this story.
A very light hearted and cosy read.
Definitely recommend for anyone who needs a perfect holiday read.
Thank you to Netgalley for adding me onto the ARC team.

At the age of twenty, Ellen Sheehan envisioned a future filled with love, marriage, and happiness within ten years. She also dreaming of becoming a published author.
How did her life unfold? Some of her dreams were realized; others took considerably longer.
This was another delightful story by Roisin Meaney, an author I discovered through her earlier work, The Restaurant, which remains one of my favourites. I love her writing style, as it allows the reader to feel as though they are observing ordinary individuals struggling with realistic challenges. This is Ellen's life story, following her journey from a twenty-year-old brimming with dreams and ambitions through all her difficulties. We encounter the men who held significant roles in her life, and we witness how her life ultimately came full circle, with her dreams finally fulfilled.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Ellen moves from home and goes to work in a bookshop. Pile of books. where meets Ben. The story takes us through Ellen's journey with her best friend Claire She's always wanted to write a novel and Ben encourages her but he moves away and so does Ellen to work as a copy writer