This was quite a sweet book but very slow at times. I found myself wishing that it would hurry along a little quicker. But, saying that the story was good as well as the characters. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I found this book was a slow starter but picked up pace and I found it entrancing. What was the mystery that had been hidden behind closed doors for so long? It makes you think and goes to show how complicated relationships can be. Nothing is straight forward and how even the longest held secrets can be overcome.

A fantastic book with 3 generations of woman. A daughter returns home to spend time with her mother and grandmother. She ends up finding and realizing some things that she didn't know but really missed while she was gone. Transformations happen and surprises occur at the end to make you smile, cry and happy for the everyone and the village they live in. I'd love to run away to this Irish village.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If We Could Turn Back Time is a heartwarming story about family, friendships, and finding joy in the present. After spending ten years in Australia, Alice returns home to Sandycove, where she reconnects with her mother, Ciara, and grandmother. While life abroad had its appeal, being back home brings its own comforts. Alice helps run the family shop, giving Ciara the freedom to enjoy life more, especially with her best friend, Mary-Marg. Their friendship is a highlight, as they embark on plans to bring fun and excitement to the over-forty-five community in their town.

However, an old family mystery involving Alice’s and Conal’s families lingers in the background. As Alice settles in, questions arise about their past connection. When the truth is finally revealed, it brings a mix of emotions and challenges both families to confront their history.

Filled with warmth, humor, and heartfelt moments, If We Could Turn Back Time is an uplifting novel about second chances, love, and the importance of embracing the present. The charming setting of Sandycove and the engaging storytelling make it a perfect, feel-good read.

This was a fun, cozy read following the lives of a family as they grow together. It was a nice refreshing time compared to some of the other books I've been reading. If you're looking for something lighthearted and hopeful this is the book for you. It was a good quick read and there weren't many mistakes. The characters were enjoyable and no one was annoying.

Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me this book, I enjoyed it.

A return to Sandycove, this time to tell the stories of Alice, Ciara and Eva - daughter, mother and grandmother.
Set around their family shop, Murphys, this is a great story of family and strong female relationships. Just enough complexity of plot, this is a lovely book.

If We Could Turn Back Time is my eighth book by Siàn O' Gorman. I love all the books by her that I've reviewed so far. The ones located in Sandycove, like this one, are extra special because of Sandycove being so atmospheric.

The two families are very complex and expertly created. I really liked how Becca and Alice saw each other again, and I wasn't expecting that. Conal and Becca are good together.

Murphy's is a very atmospheric store, and it is an important place for the community.

Themes are family, community, coming home and where home actually is, as well as the passage of time and what you do with your life.

There are so many characters in this novel, and I did feel a little confused at times because of that and all the backstory and I felt a little lost.

I did like Mary Marg and Ciara and their plans for bringing the nightclub back, that was fun.

4 stars

Thanks to Siân O' Gorman and Boldwood Books for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

A nice easy read that captures and keeps your attention and hard to put down. Author captures the landscape and views of the locations of the book with their words in a beautiful way.

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.

This is a lovely Irish tale about coming home, friendships and fun times. I loved the dual perspective and the mystery of the family history. Excellent read! 4.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O’Gorman is a captivating, multi-generational story about family, secrets, and the ripple effects of the past. Alice Littleton returns to her family’s deli in Dublin after a series of failed relationships, only to find herself reconnecting with both her roots and a mystery involving her mother Ciara, grandmother Eva, and Conal Blake’s family. As the town’s old secrets slowly surface, Alice begins to unravel long-buried truths that threaten to reshape their lives. O’Gorman weaves together heartwarming moments with poignant revelations, creating a compelling read full of warmth, intrigue, and the power of reconciliation. Perfect for readers who enjoy family dramas with rich, emotional depth and a touch of Irish charm.

Thanks to Netgalley & Boldwood Books for the
E-ARC! Really enjoyed! Beautifully written characters & loved the small-town vibes. Will definitely read more from this author.

I just finished a great book. If We Could Turn Back Time by Sian O’Gorman was a great read. I loved it. Don’t skip this one.

Fabulous! This is my first read of a Sian O’Gorman novel but I’m hoping it won’t be my last . If We Could Turn Back Time has everything a reader of the ‘cozy mystery romance ‘ genre could want . Great characters , wonderful storytelling, and so descriptively written it really didn’t matter that I’ve never been to Ireland in my life ! Intrigue, humour, mystery , romance all in one complete package. Highly recommended.

A lovely uplifting story. I loved the characters (except one and you'll know who that is when you read it) and along the way we find out what secrets and lies connect the Murphy and Blake families.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Three generations; Two families; One secret.
Grab this one or any of the author’s books at curl up and enjoy the wild ride. You won’t be disappointed.

I have read a few of Sian O'Gormans previous books and I was looking forward to this. And it lived up to expectations.
The story follows the three Murphy women from Sandycove. Detailing their friendships and relationships which have been formed and lost over decades. There's A huge surprise at the end. Have to say I really enjoyed it. Some lovely characters and one not so lovely

ive not been to Sandycover before. or this authors books. and throughout my read i was constantly questioning myself as to why this was?
and i need to remedy this pronto.
i loved how the book was so layered with all the key characters parts. each chapter told from the main character POV. but no one had an over bearing part and it all weaved together to give you a lovely book about family, friend and that love and support that is so essential to life. especially when something comes out for one of our main characters. and of course the family and friends rally.
i love a good Irish based tale when done well. it seems to have a lyrical flow to it. and a cheekiness to it too,
this book managed to mingle in all generations too which im finding more and more important to be included in the books i venture towards.
Alice has returned from spending a long time in Australia and i loved how she described coming home. and how everyone soon helped her settle back in to helping at the family deli and getting to be part of the community again. especially with her best friends.
a few secrets and misunderstandings soon come about.

Great to be back in Sandycove with all the residents old and new. Alice returns home to sandycove for an extended visit from Australia where she has been living for years but it’s not home. She is helping her mother and grandmother run their local village shop and has some bright ideas to modernise it . Her best friend Becca is in love with Conal who supplies the shop with his brewery beer, his dad is an old friend of the family.
Her mother Ciara and her friend Mary are resurrecting the disco they hosted in their teens and everyone is loving it. Then Conal finds out s shocking truth needs his friends to rally round him.
Brilliantly written as usual and loving my time spent in Sandycove.

Set in a small town in Ireland this has many layers weaving throughout but in my opinion is ultimately about family, friends and the community. Alice returns home for the summer to Sandycove, Dublin after living for 10 years in Australia. She is soon back into life in the small community, reconnecting with fan and friends, and helping out at the family deli. However it soon becomes clear that there are secrets and that they don’t always stay in the past. I loved the interactions between all the very interesting and individual characters. Each of the chapters are written from the point of view of one of the main characters. The fact that it is multigenerational, makes you laugh and cry as well as there being romance really appealed to me. Very easy to follow and become absorbed in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC.

Alice Murphy, 30, originally from Sandycove in Ireland, has spent the last ten years in Australia but is back for a month long holiday because she misses mother Ciara and grandmother Eve.

Sandycove is a small town near Dublin and the location in a few other books by the author which I haven't read. I'm sure you can read it as a standalone but it might be better for the understanding of the community to have read others. For there is a big community and it took me a while to learn the big players. Apart from the three generations of Murphys, we have the Blake family: Paddy, son Conal and matriarch Dolores, now in supported living, plus friends Becca and Mary-Marg.

There are secrets and lies connecting those two families, and I had a hard time detangling it in my mind once it was all revealed. It's an incredibly Irish story, and the romance subplots were very predictable.

I mainly got this book for the gorgeous cover, and it's well-written but it didn't grab me as much as it could have. There is much talk about the resurrection of a disco for the over 45, and the modernisation of a general shop and deli, something I didn't find terribly interesting.

However, I liked how it gave middle-aged women a voice (menopause is mentioned frequently) and painted a lovely picture of all the scrumptious Irish food to be had.

It's an uplifting story of friendship and second chances. Recommended if you love small town communities with long-held secrets.

3.5 stars