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

At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book. It started off a little slow, and there were a lot of flashbacks—usually not my thing. But somehow, I got completely sucked into Ellen’s story and just had to keep reading to see where life (and love) would take her.

Ellen is such a great main character—brave, independent, and easy to root for. I especially loved her relationship with Ben; they’re both so likable, and I found myself hoping they’d end up together. Her journey of starting over in new cities, especially in a time with barely any technology, was both inspiring and emotional. There were moments that made me laugh, and others that really hit me in the feels.

On the other hand, I really didn’t like Claire. From the beginning, I had a bad feeling about her as a friend, and let’s just say I wasn’t wrong… (no spoilers, though!).

The writing was great—fast-paced, with short chapters that made it easy to fly through. Even though it took a little while to get into, it ended up being such an enjoyable read. It’s not just a love story, but also a story about growth, choices, and figuring out where you really belong.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly, this didn't work for me. I really wanted to get into Ellie's story, but I found myself slogging through for most of it. I also never warmed to Claire as a character, and found all her actions (particularly to someone she had lauded as her "best friend") completely underhand.

This just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me an ARC of Roisin Meaney's latest novel 'Moving On'. A beautifully written, fast moving book following the life of a young lady embarking on her life and sees it through to mature years. I loved the character created of Ellen Sheeran, a sweet young woman following her passions, leading her to pursue dream careers. The characters that are created along the way are integral to the way her life pans out; for good and for bad. Like other Roisin Meaney books, there are many emotions, heartbreak, family, love, loss, complications, friendship and romance. A really lovely read through 80s Ireland. A book full of nostalgia, suitable for women of this era or daughters who now suddenly relate to their mothers having grown up in these times. A book that shows how quickly time passes, how time can heal and bring surprises!

“What if you try and don’t fail?”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Books for this copy. Moving On came out 6th Feb and I didn’t want to rush read last month! I enjoyed it so much and it saved me from the heartache of the match today!

We meet Ellen on the precipice of adulthood. We move through the pages of 8 moves, 3 loves and 10 best-selling books. We fall in love with the twists, hope for each move to be the last and wonder if this is a true will they, wont they.

We see history not so ironically repeat itself, how we’re products of our parents and how we have the opportunity to break the cycle, no longer hold onto grudges, repair the relationships that are worth it and leave the ones that aren’t.

I genuinely loved it. There was soft undertones and references to the divorce referendum. Ellen tries to navigate the idea of marriage, something she yearns for, something her parents never dissolved and something her sister is forced into. I had just finished the Coast Road by Alan Murrin, so this was a great follow up!

I can’t give this book enough praise, what a fantastic unputdownable book.
It’s the best of her books yet.
It’s full of friendship, bitterness, deceit and love, set betwean London, Galway and Dublin Ellen and her childhood friend start out their adult life together in Galway and Ellen learns about life and how the people you hold dear aren’t always who you think they are.
I devoured it in a couple of days.
Thank you NetGalley and Hatchett Books for this amazing book

LOVED THIS! The story of Ellen and all her ‘moves’. From home to Galway to start a job in a bookshop whilst staying with her ‘ferocious’ aunt Frances; to London with her friend; back to Ireland and all over….falling in love; losing her love and loving her life…. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Gorgeous book I loved the movement through time and the evolution of complex relationships. So relatable and genuine. Thank you for access loved it.

This book was way more emotional than I expected. I went in thinking it would be a simple, heartfelt story, but it really hit me in ways I didn’t anticipate.

First off, the writing? So smooth. It’s fast-paced but never rushed, and the way the author captures emotions feels so raw and real. And the setting. Galway in the eighties? I loved that. You don’t see a lot of books set in that era, and it was interesting to get a glimpse of the culture and atmosphere back then.

Ellen, the main character, was super relatable. Her journey to figure herself out and find where she belongs really resonated with me. I saw so much of myself in her struggles, and that made the book even more personal.

Was the plot predictable? Yeah. But that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. Sometimes, even when you know where a story is going, the journey is still worth it. My only complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed, I wish we had more time to really sit with it.

Overall, this is the book for anyone feeling a little lost in life. It’s comforting, emotional, and just really well done.

I loved this novel , it was full of fantastic characters each lending their own part to make up a storyline which had me wanting to read more.

I felt a lot of empathy for Ellen, first as she left her childhood home to travel to Galway to work in a bookshop. Then with a broken heart moving to London to make a fresh start with her best friend Claire,

The story explores how life takes many twists and turns each one leading us to where we end up. Lost loves, heartbreak, misunderstandings, family dynamics, secrets, forgiveness and hopes all contained within a lifetime.

I was rooting for Ellen throughout and I was happy to see how she grew in strength as she faced many challenges. Beautifully written with a real depth of human understanding I would definitely recommend this novel.

A fabulous read by Irish author Roisin Meaney. An easy read but one that kept me glued to my kindle until the very end

I really enjoyed this story of Ellen and her home moves across many years, both in Ireland and London. It’s very character based, I enjoyed getting to know Frances, Danny and her Father, who she found later in life, though I was never a fan of her friend Claire, even from the start. It tells of Ellen’s many highs and lows in life, her relationships both in romance and with family, of how she grows as a person and keeps aiming for her dreams to come true. I thoroughly enjoyed this journey with her and I would recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.

Moving On by Roisín Meaney follows Ellen Sheehan as she moves through different stages of love and loss in her life, told via each physical move she makes to a new home.

This book was fast-paced and well-written. It started off beautifully, with Ellen moving to Galway in the eighties to work in a bookshop. The novel as a whole clicked well for me, but this start section in particular clicked deeply with me. I don't know is it because I've moved a lot throughout my life (including one move to Galway), that I have worked in a bookshop, or Ellen's kind and sometimes naïve nature, but I found it incredibly relatable. I was rushing to get back to it at any chance, and Ellen's story really struck a deep chord within me. The plot is very predictable, but I didn't really find that too deterring overall.

Some of the latter sections I felt were a bit rush. Ellen's children, for instance, I felt I barely knew, despite them obviously being imperative to her once they exist. Overall, Ellen was a very strong protagonist. Her flaws were relatable and her constant effort to do the right thing really made me route for her. Her adventures in her career and in new cities were also thoroughly enjoyable.

The thing that really threw me off about this book and prevented me rating it higher was some of the messaging. Any character who doesn't hold traditional values, such as marriage before children, and being pro-life, are ultimately seen to "show their true colours" by the end. It paints them as quite evil, while those who do value marriage above all else are seen as nearly saintly. I didn't like how these elements were tied together, as it felt like a political agenda that oversimplifies a complex situation. I liked the character development otherwise, and the other signs littered throughout that indicated the nature of these characters. I didn't need this messaging coupled with it. If one of the better characters was shown to have a disdain for marriage, or to be pro-choice, it would have made for a less biased and more realistic story.

I really enjoyed this book, hence the 5 star rating. The story is focused on Ellen, and her life across many years, both in London and Ireland. I enjoyed seeing how Ellen grew as a person, and how she never gave up on her dream.
A wonderful ending too, very unexpected.

I really enjoyed this gentle romance.

Ellen leaves her childhood home with its unhappy memories to live in Galway with her aunt Frances. Here she starts work in a bookshop and meets Ben - her first real love but the timing is wrong and she flees to London with Claire, her best friend.

A new career as a copywriter opens up and on a work trip in Paris she is rescued by Leo. A chance encounter in London begins their relationship - two daughters and his two affairs later and Ellen is alone again.

Supported throughout by her childhood friend, Danny and finding her father allow her to cope with the breakdown of her relationship and start again.

This time as a novelist back in Galway, she puts her life together and moves on. Letting her daughters fly the nest she finally finds time for herself and maybe love again.

Although it didn't quite appeal to me, it's a lovely comfort read and a bit of escapism as the reader goes through the highs and lows of Ellen's life. It makes a lovely cosy read with a blanket over your lap and a cuppa in your hands.

I love an Irish novel and especially one that spans decades.

This is very much a character driven novel that highlights how life can take us in so many unexpected directions. I sometimes felt it flew through the years too fast but I ultimately really enjoyed it.

It’s one of those books you will not be able to sleep after finishing it as you’re still digesting it.

Another superb book from Roisin Meaney. Moving On tells the story of Ellen through her various house moves from being a teenager to an older mature woman. The author knows exactly how to press the right buttons to get the reader to identify with Ellen on her journey at one stage or another. First love, heartbreak, childbirth, separation and the inevitable death of parents are but a few of life's hurdles we experience with Ellen. The story moves quickly aided not only by the sheer amount of things going on but by the travel between Dublin, Galway, London and France. I thoroughly enjoyed Moving On. Reading it in one sitting. It is definitely that kind of book - difficult to put down! Definitely recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I love a Roisin Meaney book, within a few pages the characters feel like old friends and this book is no different - like a hug in a book with emotional and heartfelt writing the whole way through.