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The Bookshop Ladies

The perfect uplifting story of friendship and community, shortlisted for the 2024 An Post Irish Book Awards

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The Bookshop Ladies

By: Faith Hogan
Narrated by: Flora Montgomery
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Bloomsbury presents The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan, read by Flora Montgomery.

A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance, The Bookshop Ladies is the perfect escape!' Evie Woods, author of The Lost Bookshop

***

From bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, comes another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband's painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she's grown to love.

***

PRAISE FOR FAITH HOGAN:

'Utterly enchanting! I would wholeheartedly welcome a week or two being looked after by Esme in beautiful Ballycove' Heidi Swain
'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
'I LOVED it. There is a glow that comes from all of Faith's books that warms every part of me' Cathy Kelly
'A beautiful and intriguing story celebrating self-discovery, friendship and family bonds' Phaedra Patrick, bestselling author of The Library of Lost and Found
'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, bestselling author of Impossible to Forget Contemporary Family Life Friendship Genre Fiction Women's Fiction Marriage
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Critic Reviews

A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance, The Bookshop Ladies is the perfect escape! (Evie Woods)
Charming and relatable, I devoured The Bookshop Ladies and loved every page (Trisha Ashley)
Heartfelt and satisfying, The Bookshop Ladies is a story about unlikely relationships, second chapters, and what it means to feel truly whole, shining a warm light on the role of friends and family on the road to self-discovery (Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings)
I loved this book. It had me intrigued from the start... an emotion-filled story and will tug at your heartstrings. Highly recommended (Jennifer Page)
Faith Hogan never disappoints! There’s everything in her latest offering - The Bookshop Ladies - emotion, family secrets, love, intrigue and, of course, books. Once again Hogan takes us to Ireland to the village of Ballycove where Joy, an American living in Paris comes to find answers to burning questions as to the identity of her husband’s former lover and child. As readers, we are tempted and intrigued by anything bookish, and bookshops particularly are special. What reader doesn’t love a story about a bookshop? Faith Hogan has the ability to spin a tale so well that once started it is impossible to put down. Beautifully constructed with characters that are well fleshed out and likeable, this is a pacy novel with a great ending. Five stars from me! (Julie Houston)
This is an endearing tale [that] shows the importance of friendship and family, but also the caustic nature of a long-held secret. Above all, it allows the reader a chance to escape into a sweet bookshop, and what could be more pleasing than that?
This feel-good story has a believable plot and endearing characters
Hot Right Now [list] ...shortlisted just for you
A genuinely heart-warming story of friendship and betrayal, beautifully told
A saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets
If you’re looking for a read that’ll pull you into the world of family upheaval, relationship woes and an independent bookshop, ensure you pick up Faith Hogan’s latest novel
Emotional and so heartwarming
All stars
Most relevant
I liked the friendships and location. It was interesting and shows how issues can be resolved

relationships

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This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I loved it. The characters were so lifelike and nearly jumped off the page, they were so real and likeable. The story was engaging, held my interest, progressed nicely, and didn’t drag or get boring anywhere. Just thoroughly enjoyable. Loved the ending.

Sensational.

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I loved this beautiful, heartwarming story that gently draws you into the lives of its characters and the community they inhabit. The Bookshop Ladies captures the quiet magic of connection, friendship, and resilience, all centred around a charming bookshop that feels like a character in its own right.

Flora Montgomery delivers a truly beautiful narration that enhances the story in every way.

The Bookshop Ladies

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Human frailties and the discovery of hidden strengths are so beautifully revealed in this story. The wonderful narration added another dimension of empathy and understanding of the issues that each of the characters were living with.

Another delightful trip to the west coast of Ireland

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I selected this book as light reading after finishing some more “serious” literary fiction.
And it delivered.
This is a lovely, feel-good story - predictable in many ways, but beautifully told and equally beautifully narrated.
The plot is character driven and focuses on the development of the relationships between all the various characters - most of whom are delightful, relatable and very likeable. It is a heartfelt & heart-warming reflection on belonging and family - in many of its varied forms.
I highly recommend it for those in search of a light read with abundant heart! ❤️

A warm hug of a story

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