LoveReading Says
Faith Hogan invites us to stay at The Guest House by the Sea with a cast of charming characters, all who need some help solving their own life’s riddles.
As a new season begins at the Willows guest house in Ireland, Esme, the elderly owner, finds herself immobile after breaking her ankle. She very unhappy about this, as she usually would be running around trying to stay on top of the demands of both the guests and the ancient guest house. Cora, a fiftysomething woman, uses her time as a guest as an escape from her 30-year marriage. Niamh, a young professional down from Dublin, needs some distance from her Dublin life to make a decision that will change the course of her life. Phyllie, a longtime friend of Esme, is trying to enjoy a multi-generational holiday at the house, but is struggling. Esme finds that she can still look after her guests from her perch, by dispensing wisdom and anecdotes.
The story is told from alternating viewpoints of the four main protagonists. Hogan puts thought into every character—from the main players to the extras. You won’t soon forget the fleeting appearance of the helpful chatty teenager who helps Esme in the hospital, only to find out that he’s there for his cancer treatment. The coastal location came alive with Hogan’s descriptions, with seaside walks, drinks on the veranda and swims in the cold ocean all featuring heavily.
It’s a charming book, and reading it felt like drinking a mug of hot cocoa I didn’t know I needed on a cold spring day.
Maureen Stapleton
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The Guest House by the Sea Synopsis
People come to the guest house for fresh air and views across the Atlantic. But if they're lucky, they might just leave with the second chance they didn't know they needed...
Esme has run the guest house for as long as anyone in Ballycove can remember. But in her declining years, her sight is failing, and when she has a fall on the eve of the summer season, she is forced to take a back seat for the first time in her life.
From her chair in the entry hall, not much passes Esme by. There's Cora, the wife visiting indefinitely... without her husband; Niamh, the city professional with a life-changing decision to make; and Phyllie, the grandmother whose family is slipping away from her.
Esme's guests provide the colour that helps her keep her grip on the world. All of them have something they want to escape - or to hold on to. But can Esme help them find their way before the summer is over?
From bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan comes a new, uplifting story about discovering love, friendship and the healing power of the Irish sea air. It will charm fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Heidi Swain and Susanne O'Leary.
'Once again Faith pulls you into her world instantly and never lets you go, with such an incredibly real cast of characters who you feel actually exist. A Life affirming and unputdownable read.' Trisha Ashley
'What a delight this book is. A gorgeous cast of characters, the perfect seaside setting and Faith Hogan's wonderful talent for dialogue all come together to make this a lovely feel-good story with an ending that will cheer your heart.' Imogen Clark
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781803282558 |
| Publication date: |
29th February 2024 |
| Author: |
Faith Hogan |
| Publisher: |
Aria an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing (UK) |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
410 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Modern and Contemporary Fiction
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| Other Genres: |
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