If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O’Gorman

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

After another relationship disaster Alice Littleton returns home to spend summer in Dublin’s Sandycove with her Mum, Ciara and beloved grandmother, Eva at their family deli and grocers.

As Alice settles back into her old life with best friend Becca and her new boyfriend Conal Blake, she begins to fall back in love with the everyday rhythms of their family shop and Irish life. Is this the tonic she needs to mend a broken heart?

Single and with mid-life looming her mother Ciara is consumed with running the family deli and feels life is passing her by until best friend Mary-Marg suggests they restart the disco they used to run as teenagers. Could this be what Sandycove’s millennials need or will there be murder on the dancefloor?

But it seems all small-towns have their fair share of secrets and ultimately the past will always catch up with you.

Why does Conal’s grandmother insist on meeting Alice and what happened between her and Eva?
And why hasn’t Ciara spoken to Conal’s father, Paddy, for thirty years?

Is it time for the truth to be told so they can change their future?

My Opinion

Alice returns home to Sandycove after living in Australia. It was really nice to be able to follow the three generations as the story progressed. If We Could Turn Back Time was an uplifting read and I was hooked from the very beginning. Sian O’Gorman has once again written a delightful book that I would highly recommend.

Rating 4/5

I really enjoyed this one. It follows three generations of the Murphy family Eva Ciara and Alice and the events that have shaped their lives in their slop in Sandycove. Some great plots in this one and some great friendships. I especially enjoyed the over 45s disco they set up. I would love to attend one like that with my friends.

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.

This is a book to read and thoroughly enjoy. The lives of three generations of women are related as time and experiences have changed them. Relationships are renewed from past divisions. It is a story that is simply delightful and touching.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m ashamed to say that it’s only quite recently that I’ve discovered this wonderful author and I am now hooked on her books. This book is set in the popular seaside town of Sandycove in South Dublin. Being from Dublin myself I can really relate to this book and the wonderful descriptions. After the first few chapters I was completely lost in the story and was so eager to find out how things would work out for all these characters. The story is based around Murphy’s shop which has been in the Murphy family for generations as is now run by Eva Murphy and her daughter Ciara. I just loved the description of the shop and all that went on and it just felt like going back in time where customers felt like actual customers and the shop staff had time to speak to them. I loved Alice as a character in fact they were all great , well apart from one ! There quite a few characters in this book but it didn’t take me long to know and understand them all. Some of them were holding onto secrets from the past that had me guessing at what they could possibly be. Whilst this book is an easy read it’s also one that is both emotional and uplifting and I adored every chapter.

The main character in this easy to read tale returns from her travels in Australia to her family and home in a small town in Ireland. Will she settle back into the familiarity of it all, or are there some secrets to discover. Beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Absolutely wonderful!

Alice Murphy lives in Australian but you can take the girl out of Ireland but you can't take Ireland out of the girl. She returns home from time to time to her mother and grandmother but this time feels different. Coming home on the back of yet another break-up has made Alice a bit introspective and she can't decide what she sees in her future . . .

This has everything I love in a book! Family, a dash of mystery, memories - from different generations - and friendships, old and new and a stunning location. Never a dull moment with this one and a few surprises along the way. As always, Sian O'Gorman writes beautifully and keeps her readers in the palm of her hand from first to last. Terrifically enjoyable and one I'm very happy to highly recommend and give all five sparkling stars.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley.

Three generations, Eva, Ciara and Alice lived together in Sandycove until ten years ago when Alice left her grandmother and mother to go travelling. Alice is now, aged thirty, visiting Ireland from Australia, and is wondering where home is for her. She reconnects with her friend Becca, and helps out in Murphy’s, the family shop. This is an interesting and intriguing story about family, friendship, and buried secrets. At the 70% mark things start to unravel. The fallout from people’s actions of thirty years ago is felt by later generations. There’s mystery and confessions. Huge repercussions.

I enjoyed reading If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O'Gorman. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

A lovely gentle read.
Sometimes you have to leave everything you know and travel to the other side of the world only to return to truly find what you wanted was there in the first place. Equally sometimes what you've always wanted is right in front of you but unattainable. A beautiful look at life and how eventually everything works out for the best

Alice returns home for the summer and helps her single Mum, Ciara and grandmother in the family deli/grocery shop. As she settles back into small town life, secrets begin to unravel. Romance across the generations, a really enjoyable read, sinking into village life.

I received a free copy of, If We Could Turn Back Time, by Sian Gilbert, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Alice Littleton, is back in Dublin, with her mom and grandmother. There is a lot of secrets to unfold, and new dreams ti aspire to. This book had so much going on, I enjoyed this book, very much.

I was so incredibly lucky to read an advanced copy of this book courtesy of netgalley and the publishers. This book is so deserving of the 5star rating. Although the story follows the lives of three women from three generations of the same family, it involves their close friends and the fabulous wider community. Daughter Alice, who has been living in Australia for many years, returns home for a visit & to help out in the family buisness so her mum Ciara can have some much needed time away from the store. With the help of her gran, Alice sets about making little changes to the store. These changes start to help Ciara realise she wants more time away from the store whilst Alice decides she wants to spend more time there. As we are introduced to other characters along the way, secrets from the past start to unveil themselves and boy are there a couple of twists. An incredible captivating story.

This is a delightful story about three generations of Murphy women navigating various stages of life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, which has a charming small-town atmosphere and features a great lineup of characters. I look forward to reading more from Sian O’Gorman in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O'Gorman,  published by Boldwood Books
Once again Sian O'Gorman delivers a wonderful novel. Now I want an Irish breakfast
I loved these characters, three generations of ladies running a lovely bakery and the rest of the characters that made up this story. Sian has weaved a story with an awesome twist or or two, didn't see those coming, but they were perfect.
You are always guaranteed a great novel from this author and I will continue to read her books

If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O'Gorman

Alice is back home from Australia for the summer and loving spending time in Sandycove, Dublin, with mum Ciara and grandma Eva in their family business - Murphy's grocer/deli - and with best friend Becca and her new boyfriend Conal. But secrets from 30 years ago are about to come to light, changing their lives forever.

Wow, what a fabulous story - I love everything this author has written and this is no exception. The characters, the stories, the setting... all of it is PERFECT! And I can't be the only one who wants to move to Sandycove! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O'Gorman was a beautifully written book that will draw you in from the very first few pages. It was a lovely cozy read that just flowed. You follow the lives of three generations of women who are all are related and as time passes their experiences have changed them.
I really enjoyed it was especially as it was a great quick read. perfect for a grey day outside.

I highly recommend this book.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books the publisher for the ARC.

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

When another relationship ends, Alice decides to go back home to Sandycove for the summer and spend time with her Mum, Ciara and grandmother, Eva. They own thel deli and grocers.

Alice begins to settle into her life and spend time with her friend Becca boyfriend Conal. Alice also starts to help out in the shop. Is this what’s missing from the life she leads in Australia?

Ciara’s life is just running the shop and she feels that she’s not done much else, and slowly life is passing her by. Then her friend Mary-Marg makes a suggestion to bring back the disco they used to run as teenagers.

The story is about friendships and enjoying life, having fun. There is a mystery of the Blake family which affects all of them.

I recommend this book.

If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O'Gorman is an absolute joy of a read that transported me straight to the heart of Sandycove. The picturesque Irish setting, beautifully described by the author, came alive with such vivid detail that I could almost smell the freshly baked soda bread and hear the chatter in the family store.

From the very first page, I felt immersed in the rhythms of small-town life and completely invested in the Littleton family—three generations of women, each with their own challenges, secrets, and dreams. Alice, Ciara, and Eva felt so real and relatable, with their hopes and struggles interwoven into a heartwarming story of love, resilience, and rediscovery.

Alice’s visit home after heartbreak and her journey of healing were beautifully handled, and I loved watching her reconnect with her family and rediscover her roots. Ciara’s storyline, as a single mother grappling with mid-life, was equally touching and empowering—her decision to restart the disco with her best friend Mary-Marg added a wonderful touch of nostalgia and fun to the story. And Eva, with her gentle wisdom and strong presence, was the glue that held the family together.

The secrets revealed as the story progressed were perfectly paced and added just the right amount of intrigue. Conal’s grandmother’s connection to Eva, and the long-buried history between Ciara and Conal’s father, Paddy, kept me hooked. The emotional depth of these revelations, paired with the light-hearted charm of Sandycove life, created a wonderful balance.

I picked this book up as a break from my usual crime and thriller reads, and it was exactly what I needed. The cover drew me in with its fun and vibrant vibe, and the story delivered on every promise. The descriptive narrative allowed me to envision every scene, and by the end, I felt like a part of this delightful community. I’m now eager to explore more books by Sian O’Gorman.

Finally, a special mention must go to the food descriptions—I’m desperate for a taste of the Irish soda bread! I found this to be a thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming read that resonated deeply with me. If you’re looking for a story brimming with charm, heartfelt moments, and delightful surprises, If We Could Turn Back Time is perfect. Five sparkling stars from me!


I have not shared this elsewhere as yet - it will be on my blog on 4th February prior to publication and shared elsewhere on 6 February once published.

This was first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed being taken into the heart of the Murphy family. I loved that the story line was multi generational and everyone was tied to the same point of history.

What a twist and a surprise, I was reading along and with each page turned I was willing them to reveal the secrets to me, there was a point I thought it was going to remain a secret and we would be left to draw our own conclusion, I was so pleased to find out the secret, and also so very shocked. (Don’t want to give too many spoilers).

I enjoyed learning about the history of the shop Murphy’s and watching it change with the times, Alice has some great ideas, inspired from her time in Australia, seems to be just the right injection of sunshine the little Irish village needs. And seeing her grow closer to Max was great, a perfect combination to help keep local shops and live growing well into the future.

A really great read, full of love, family and friendship, great for curling up with and getting lost amongst the pages.