Back in February it was an immense pleasure to help share the cover reveal for Faith Hogan’s latest book, The Guest House by the Sea – today (8th June) is publication day, and it’s now available as an e-book and in hardcover (with the audiobook to follow on 6th July), published by Aria Fiction. So today I’m really delighted to be joining the release day book blitz organised by Kelly at Love Books Tours, with thanks for her invitation and support – and I hope she won’t mind that I’ve gone the extra mile and managed to read my advance copy (provided via netgalley, with thanks to the publishers) and squeeze in a publication day review.
You might already know how very much I enjoy Faith’s books – and while I’ve enjoyed her writing from the very beginning, so many more readers have now discovered how wonderfully she writes through bestsellers like The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club and The Gin Sisters’ Promise (those links are to my reviews, where you’ll also find links to buy the books – and if you pop her name in my search bar you’ll find reviews of all her other books too!). But let’s take a closer look at her latest…
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.
The author’s books are always rather like a warm hug – whenever you pick one up, it never takes very long for the world around you and any troubles you may have to disappear. I have only to think about Ballycove, the setting for a number of her books, and it makes me relax and smile – and the particularly special corner of it that she’s created in this lovely book really is pretty near perfect. People visit Esme’s guest house, The Willows, to escape from their problems too – or to find the space to make decisions about their lives.
Esme herself is frustrated to be losing her eyesight – in fact, she’s pretty near blind now, unable to read the motivational messages on each page of the guest book – but her friend Marta, having fled from problems of her own, has very willingly taken on an increased workload. And she finds herself needing to do even more when Esme has an accident, breaking her leg and keeping her confined to a chair in the entrance hall, greeting guests as they arrive and dispensing advice whenever it’s needed. The Willows needs major work – the roof is a constant worry – and a local developer is keen to take it off her hands, but Esme is determined to stay put right up to the end.
As well as Esme and Marta’s own story, we share the lives of the individuals who’ve chosen the guest house as their summer refuge. Cara has an unhappy marriage, and arrives alone – she’s just grown to feel that there’s little reason for her to be at home any more. Niamh remembers the place from happy childhood holidays – and needs time to think about her future, and decide what to do about a life-changing personal problem she’s facing. And Phyllis, an old friend, is visiting with her son Rob and young grandson Josh – and her husband Kurt who is slowly succumbing to dementia.
It’s a book largely without major shocks and surprises – the stories are told from the visitors’ own perspectives, the shifts in viewpoint always gentle and clearly signposted, their decision-making helped along by Esme’s well-timed stories and interventions. And, I have to say, I loved every single moment – with the focus on friendship and family, characters I really grew to deeply care about, and a warmth to the unfolding of their stories that’s simply wonderful. Emotionally, it’s totally perfect – there were so many moments that touched my heart and made me smile, often laugh, and then others that had me filling up and wiping away a tear. The storytelling is exceptional – the threads of the story gently wrap themselves around you, draw you in, and The Willows becomes somewhere you really never want to leave either.
I’ve adored every one of Faith Hogan’s books – but, for so many reasons, I think this might just be my personal favourite so far. One for your reading list – I think you might well find you’ll love it too.
About the author
Faith Hogan is an award-winning and bestselling author of nine contemporary fiction novels. Her books have featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown up women’s fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.
Faith’s Kindle Number 1 bestselling book, The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club was published in May 2021: her summer 2022 book, The Gin Sisters’ Promise, was a USA Today Bestseller.
She writes twisty contemporary crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan.
She lives in the west of Ireland with her family and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She’s a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker and reluctant jogger – except of course when it is raining!
Twitter (her favourite) | Facebook | Instagram | Web Page
I loved this book too and have now read all of Faith Hogan’s books and all are roadworthy and memorable.
That should say readworthy!