I absolutely adored Marron's first novel and was very much looking forward to this, her second novel. I was right to, what brilliant storytelling!

This is a book about love in all its beautiful and destructive forms. It took me a little while to get into but once I did, I found it difficult to put down. A slow burn with superb character development. I didn't care for the main character Maeve, at all, yet I was wholly invested in her story. I adored the West Cork setting, the cast of characters and how vibrant, realistic, flawed and beautiful they were. I liked the pacing, the dialogue , the drama both in its quiet heart wrenching form and its loud and in your face variety. I loved the care that went into each character and it was an absolute pleasure to spend time in their world.

I hope book three is on the way, a really wonderful and warm storyteller, Maeve Binchy was again brought to mind when reading Marron's words, her writing is like a chat with an old friend, exciting, detailed, emotional and beautiful. A gorgeous rea.d.

I really enjoyed this slow paced, dual timeline story, which was mostly a beautiful journey of 5 people discovering secrets, and themselves. It had its sad moments, and some edge of the seat tension. But overall it was a lovely, gentle read.

I loved the writing of this book, especially the Irish dialect, I read those bits in an Irish accent in my head. The descriptions of the scenery were just perfect, without being too long or flowery.

I really liked the plot of this book. Stories about young, unmarried mothers will also have a special place in my heart. I really liked Maeve, but found her a little naive at times. Emer was a wonderful child, who seemed empathetic and wise beyond her years. And I didn't like Tim at all. He was thoroughly unlikeable and selfish!

This has been my first book by this author, but I'll definitely be looking out for more in future.

The Bridge to Always tells the story of the impact one woman's arrival had on the local people of a small town in West Cork.

Maeve Gaffney is grieving her mother's death (who's voice remains omnipresent throughout the book) when she arrives in the small fictional town of Drohid in West Cork with her nine year old daughter, Emer. Maeve is chaotic and impetuous, setting to work renovating a house that she bought for a price that seemed too good to be true.

When local man, and one half of the town's "golden couple" finds out that Maeve is in town, a chain of events is set in motion that could upend the carefuly curated life he has made for himself.

Agnes and Malachi befriend Maeve and Emer, helping them settle in to small town life. We see their relationships develop as we become more curious about what it is that Agnes and Malachi are keeping close to their chests.

Cork in itself, is a main character in this story. The descriptions of Cork landmarks such as the Chetwynd Viaduct, Gougane Barra and Slí na Laoi, as well as the Shakey Bridge draw the reader in and, even if these places are not familiar to you, make you feel like you are right there. The "Corkisms" are perfection!

Once again, and unsurprisingly, Lynda Marron has brought us on a journey, encountering complex characters and relationships along the way, surrounded by vivid descriptions and filled with so much heart.

A joy to read, and one I will recommend to all!

Some stories have a way of pulling you in completely, and The Bridge to Always is one of them. Lynda Marron crafts a beautifully written and deeply moving novel about love, loss, friendship, and the search for identity. With a mesmerising cast of characters and a narrative that never falters, this book will stay with me long after the final page.

At the heart of the story is Maeve Gaffney, free-spirited, unpredictable, erratic but impossible not to like. She arrives from Dublin in a small West Cork town with her daughter, Emer. Stricken with grief over losing her mother and carrying the weight of a past romance she hopes to rekindle, Maeve navigates a journey of family, longing, and the ties that bind us together.

What makes The Bridge to Always so compelling is its rich, immersive storytelling. The author’s writing flows effortlessly, the characters are deeply human, flawed, endearing, and utterly believable. Maeve, in particular, stands out as a character full of life and contradictions, making her journey all the more gripping.

It’s about love in all its messy, complicated forms, romantic love, familial love, and the love that grows in unexpected places. If you’re looking for a novel that will captivate you from beginning to end, The Bridge to Always is a must-read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boonier Books UK for the ARC!

Lynda Marron’s sophomore novel The Bridge to Always was published this week (April 2025). It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I couldn’t wait to get back to it every evening and I ended up loving it. A moving story that snuck up on me, I shed a little tear in the closing chapters.

The Bridge to Always is different to Marron’s first novel Last Chance in Paris in the sense that it’s set entirely in Cork, but it gives the reader that same feeling of grounding and of comfort.

In the wake of her mum’s death, Maeve Gaffney decides to sell up in Dublin and move to Cork with her 9 year old daughter Emer. She buys a house in Drohid, a small town in Cork that is home to Tim, Emer’s father and the man Maeve had a passionate relationship with and has never been able to forget.

Maeve is impulsive and unpredictable, and she is determined that Tim will know Emer, but life is complicated. Tim is married with children, and his wife Nóinín is a powerful woman-about-town. Emer is quietly observing everything, the most perceptive of them all.

Lynda Marron is such a gifted storyteller. She writes with empathy and humour, and her characters are complex and flawed, but always deeply human. All of the characters in this book, including Maeve, Emer, Agnes, Mal and even loyal doggie Bran, are brilliantly written.

With The Bridge to Always, Lynda Marron has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. She is Ireland’s answer to Elizabeth Strout and her books are the balm we all need right now ☺️. 4/5⭐️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron

Maeve Gaffney returns to West Cork to be close to Tim, a man she had a relationship with many years ago. She became pregnant with his daughter, Emer, but never told him.

Now Tim is married into a wealthy, upstanding family. Discovering he is Emer’s father shocks him, however, he is happy to carry on where he left off with Maeve the last time they were together. To Maeve, Tim is everything, and she will still at nothing for her and Emer to have a life with him and be a family.

Emer is worried about her mum and her moods. She learns to read them by her expressions and knows when to give her some space. There is so much she wants to say to her mam but can’t communicate her words adequately and feels that keeping them to herself might be safer.

An eccentric, quiet woman, Agnes sold the house to Maeve to make some money and pay off some of her debt. Malachy is another neighbour. He doesn’t get involved in the community, and much like Agnes, he likes to keep to himself. These five quickly form a family of their own, but with Maeve’s unpredictability, no one knows how long it will last.

This was another fantastic read by Marron. Maeve was such an interesting character and she was so erratic that I just didn’t know what she was going to say next. Her feelings for Tim clouded her judgement especially when it came to her family and friends. Tim was not a likeable character with his charm and insincere nature. He took no responsibility for anything and used Maeve all along the way.

The narrative was so well balanced throughout. The plot sucks you in and brings to life such wonderful characters and a vividly descriptive small-town vibe. I experienced so many emotions whilst reading, laughter at Maeve’s craziness, sadness at Emer’s inability to communicate her feelings and joy at the friendships that were formed.

This is a book of love, loss and friendship. But most of all it’s about trying to find where you belong in life and who around you can trust. A solid five stars from me. 5/5

'The Bridge to Always' is Lynda Marron's second novel.

After her mother's death, Maeve moves from Dublin to a small town in Cork with her daughter Emer. Here she is hoping to reconnect with Tim Corcoran, her former lover and Emer's father. But he is now married with his own family. We also meet some other local characters, who are very well described, and Bran, the dog. Local politics and a natural event drive forward the narrative until decisions have to be made. Some of the chapters are written from Emer's perspective which fits in well with the storyline. At times I questioned Maeve's choices and hoped that it will all work out for her.

It is a very enjoyable and emotional novel which I highly recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for the ARC.

I was sucked straight into this book, into Maeve’s life and needs and it didn’t let up. I found myself questioning Maeve’s choices but then realising how bereft she feels after the loss of her mother and life’s disappointments I knew why she sought what she thought would solve her problems. This is a journey of self discovery, a hard one at times and a lesson in seeing what is right before our eyes and learning to take joy in those things. I laughed, I cried and I was torn apart and built back up again. Thank you for the ride, Lynda.

this book is what books are made for. and why books are made. this is one hell of a beautiful read. this is one of those books you want on your dream book shelf in your dream room full of books. it would take its pride of place.
i dont want to say too much because i want the readers to meet these characters and their content fresh. and i want you to feel all the feel new without me spoiling it. because this a book and characters and plot you will want to know. and somehow even if tiny it will change your world,even for a little while. certain books have my heart. and show me once again why i love books more than i can possibly say.

this book is about Maeve who in a fit of grief does that only thing she can in this mindset.... goes and seeks love somewhere else? goes and seeks the only person whos given her something before? yup, of course that must mean going back to find the man who gave her their daughter. nooo dont worry, of course its ok that he has no idea about his daughter. nooooo dont worry of course it doesnt matter hes now happily married and a pillar of the community. Emer is a wonderful little girl. and its clear her beahviours and the way she is is the innocent way little humans deal with life when not all feels well but they havent got the maturity to say why or know how to fix it.
having her come to find tim sparks something in him too. ones that wont sit well with anyone.
Malachi was my favorite character. i immediately fell for his character and would happily read a seperate book of him.
this is up there with one of my treasured pile.
anyone thinking whether to read this? DO!

This book was a joy to read, an absolute favourite recent read of mine. I spent some lovely hours , curled up, fully immersed in the story; a love story with a difference

There is a host of well developed characters and the warmth and depth of the writing was such that I could hear their thoughts and feel their feelings; the heartache, the loneliness, the wistfulness, the tiny joys, the exhilarating highs, the depths of despair! I particularly loved the gentle presence of Malachi and of course the Bran the dog.

The standout chapters for me were the ones from the perspective of Emer, the little'un. They skillfully showed the distorted perspectives and coping strategies children take on when the world around them is chaotic. Her journey in the book is told with a beautiful sensitivity and it made me well up on several occasions.

I'm purposely saying little about the plot because I think this is a book best experienced as the story unfolds. I will say though, there was a glorious gasp out loud moment near the end.

The Bridge to Always

Lynda Marron’s second book ‘The Bridge to Always’ showcases an author who has style, wit, and a deep understanding of what it is to be human. Following single mother Maeve Gaffney, the story brings us a journey from Dublin to Cork when Maeve decides to uproot her daughter Emer after the death of her own mother Greta.

It doesn’t take long to see that these characters are undeniably real. Maeve, following her heart with disregard for anything or anyone that crosses her path; Emer who’s stammer and silence speak volumes, and dear, beloved Mal, a man of few words but with the kindest of hearts… they were as real to me as my own friends and family when I immersed myself in the pages of this book.

When it comes to The Bridge to Always, all I can say is that I adored it. I loved seeing my home county being described. The descriptions of familiar places was special, and the accents, the accurateness of our Corkisms, and the general feel of the book stayed true to place.

There’s no shock in me saying that Lynda knows how to write and how to do it well. Her two books are stunning and capture the human condition in all its glory, and pulls you into their experiences in a way that bowls you over. I’ve cried reading this, I’ve laughed, and I’ve savoured it as much as I could so that I didn’t finish it too soon. It’s a gorgeous book and, due for publication on April 3rd, should be top of your list for April releases.

With sincere thanks to @sultanabun and @eirubooks for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A perfectly paced real depiction of a messy love story.
No faultless characters are found here. They are flawed, complex and at times unlikeable.
I enjoyed the small town setting and I was left wanting to visit this beautiful little place.
I am not a fan of sickly sweet romance novels and this was not one of them.
Would definitely recommend this book.

When Maeve Gaffney’s mam dies, she moves from Dublin to the little West Cork town of Drohid. In the throes of her grief, she seizes this rare opportunity to chase her wildest dream: a reunion with Tim, the man who captured her heart years ago and, unbeknownst to him, is the father of her daughter, Emer.

The problem is Tim’s well settled now, married into one of Drohid’s most prestigious and influential families. Finding out he’s got a secret child? That’s one hell of a land. But the spark with Maeve? Ah, sure, some things never fully go out.

For Agnes, an achingly lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer’s arrival is an opportunity to make some much needed money—and, hopefully, new friends.

Then there’s Malachi, the taciturn but kindly farmer; he’d never admit it, but sure, it’s clear he feels everything ten times over.

For painfully quiet young Emer, it’s a transformative journey of self-discovery and finding her own voice amid the chaos of adult lives around here.

Marron, much like in her captivating debut Last Chance in Paris, has taken the bones of what, in less skilled hands, could be a pretty basic love story and brought everything vibrantly to life, so much so I could almost hear these characters in my mind’s eye. I laughed, cringed, and cried - albeit mostly for the dog, but still and all like, tears were shed.

The throwback chapters? Perfection. The small-town drama? You’d be glued. And the characters?
Perfectly curated if not always likeable - yes, Maeve, I’m looking at you.

Look, I'm running out of superlatives and don't want to go ruining the read for you with any spoilers, so I’ll end my review here - The Bridge to Always is a pure decent read, in the most Corkonian of ways. And by that, I mean I loved it.

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review. The Bridge to Always is published on April 3rd—you’ll not want to miss it!

Rating: 9 out of 10

Moving, comforting, heartwarming, uplifling... this was an emotional read! The Bridge to Always had a lovely story at its heart, with very well-timed throwbacks, twists and revelations; it also had great characters (including Bran the doggie), and something that we all love - short chapters!!

Not a fan of Maeve (the main character), but also understand how truly blinding love (or obsession) can be, making you do silly things. She was a very realistic, flawed character though, and I appreciated that.

Overall this was an easy, enjoyable read.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @bonnierbooks_uk for the advance reader copy.

📖 Synopsis: After her mom dies, Maeve moves from Dublin to West Cork with her daughter, Emer in the hopes of reuniting with her long-lost love, Tim. Tim has his own family and does not know that Emer is in fact his daughter too. While trying to win Tim over, Maeve meets the small town's various inhabitants and slowly realises who really has her back and who doesn't.