The Birthday Party cover art

The Birthday Party

Roone, Book 4

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The Birthday Party

By: Roisin Meaney
Narrated by: Michele Moran
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About this listen

'A wonderful storyteller' Ciara Geraghty

'Meaney is utterly credible, utterly authentic, utterly irresistible' Irish Independent

'Roisin Meaney is a skilful storyteller' Sheila O'Flanagan

The new novel from No.1 bestselling author Roisin Meaney.

Another summer is in full swing on the island of Roone, and preparations are underway for a big birthday party at the local hotel. But beneath the air of celebration, many of the islanders have their own struggles to contend with.
Imelda, isolated by her recent heartbreak, has no memory of accepting a month-long Bed & Breakfast booking, but when a stranger turns up on her doorstep looking forward to his stay, she has little choice but to take him in.
On the other side of the world, Tilly packs her bag for a visit to Roone to spend time with her sister Laura and her long-distance boyfriend Andy, wholly unaware of the trauma that awaits her there.
Meanwhile, Laura is struggling to digest a startling confession when she finds her stepmother on her doorstep, young son in tow, having left her husband.
During six weeks of summer, love and friendships are tested - and, as the day of the party approaches, the various truths will out in unexpected ways.

©2019 Roisin Meaney (P)2019 Hachette Books Ireland Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction Heartfelt
All stars
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I have enjoyed all the books in this series. Wish there was going to be more.

Thoroughly enjoyable

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I loved the previous book in this series but two of the adult women characters in this one behave in an appalling manner towards 19 year old Eve, who is dealing with a tragic loss in this book. It also seems out of character for them to behave so badly. They show her no compassion at all for much of the novel even though they are fully aware of the difficulties she faced when placed in a previous foster home. The serious abuse that Eve suffered over a period of about five years is even minimised by one of the women! It is crazy and a bit irresponsible of the author. Even worse, the only one who calls them out on their behaviour is Eve's foster mother. I felt annoyed by this behaviour for about half of the novel. The author needs to look up "R u Ok Day" and realise there are very good reasons why reasonable people don't behave in this way.

Disappointing

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great story, familiar characters, wonderful narration. Was a little put off by the abrupt ending but I'm hoping to catch up in the next book of this story

loved it

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I enjoyed book three 3 and the story on the ongoing lives, loves and losses of Roone residents and others. The new characters introduced were good, although I wasn’t that keen on Tilly. To me the book finished abruptly and I would have enjoyed more. Plenty of scope for book 4!

Life continues on Roone

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Author loves to kill off characters and grief write. Very depressing and same, same. Also, got so many facts about Australia wrong it was insulting.

Grief writing and insult to Australians

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.