EXCERPT: DUBLIN
The first night of winter and it was wet, very wet, and she knew the rain was pouring in drops down her face, could feel them drip, drip, dripping off the end of her nose. She could feel the tears too, hot and stingy in her eyes. Someone had given her a cigarette, miraculously she's managed to smoke halfway down, but it was soggy and extinguished now, which was no bad thing. She'd never smoked, why add to her list of failures at this late stage?
At the far end of the lane, something or someone caught her eye, but she must be mistaken for who, in their right mind, would be out on an evening like this? Probably a stray cat, attracted by the heat and aromas that emanated from the fans blowing into the frigid night air.
Her thoughts darted back to the kitchen behind her, Kevin, bloody Kevin. Well, she hadn't seen that coming had she. She was still reeling, angry, upset and, yes, she could admit it to herself, broken-hearted. And Valentina? Kevin was in love with Valentina, he'd told her so himself, so it must be true.

ABOUT 'WHAT HAPPENED TO US?' Sometimes the end is only the beginning... After ten years together, Dubliner Carrie Nolan is devastated when she's dumped by Kevin Mulvey without even a backwards glance. But on reflection, she had been sacrificing her own long-term happiness by pandering to his excessive ego – well, not anymore! While Kevin is 'living the dream' with his beautiful new Brazilian girlfriend, Carrie seeks solace from a circle of mismatched strangers who need her as much as she needs them. Then suddenly a catastrophic sequence of events leaves Carrie unsure if there's anyone she can trust. How far do you need to fall before you realise it's never too late to start again?

MY THOUGHTS: What Happened to Us? is a lovely read - uncomplicated, with just the right amount of angst and drama, a broken heart and a romance along with just a touch of a crime thriller all delivered in a nice easy to read format.

Carrie is a lovely character - one of life's fixers, but this is something even she can't fix. There are things she can do though - like help Jane, the elderly publican across the road, and Luke, who seems every bit as lost as the stray dog he was watching out for. Carrie is the sort of person I would like for a friend. She is warm, caring and totally selfless, which Kevin has been taking advantage of for years!

Kevin and Valentina are very easy to dislike. Kevin for being the lazy, selfish, disloyal git that he is, and Valentina for being grasping, greedy, conniving and whiny. Don't even let me get started on Valentina's two bullying 'cousins'!

With an engaging storyline and equally engaging characters, this certainly didn't feel like 444 pages . I romped through it, rooting for Carrie, Luke, Jane and Teddy (the dog) every step of the way. An enjoyable, entertaining and uplifting read.

⭐⭐⭐.7

#WhatHappenedToUs #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Faith Hogan writes grown up women's fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel good and inspiring.

She gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.

She also writes crime fiction as Geraldine Hogan.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Aria via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of What Happened to Us by Faith Hogan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

A really good read,When Carrie's partner Kevin ,who she also runs a successful restaurant with tells her their relationship is over as he's fallen in love with Valentina who works with them she is naturally heartbroken, but things don't always go as planned. Loved the characters in this story and the writing was spot on I really enjoyed it

Carrie has been dumped by her boyfriend and business partner Kevin. She has to pull her self back up and forge her own path. Along the way she meets an old neighbour, a new friend and a friendly dog! This story is the perfect feel good read. Carrie sets herself on a great path with great supports that she finds along the way

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

A great story that held my interest the whole way through, A book that deals with friendship and betrayal. I highly recommend this book. 4🌟

very predictable story, the choice that main protagonists made, by letting Valentina robb her business was strange to say the least.
Just a messy book.

This was a delightful heartwarming story, comfort food for the mind!!!

Carrie is being added to my book BFF list! Loved her! She was such a wonderful character, who was going through such a terrible time, and she handled it like a champ! I loved riding the roller coaster of emotion with her throughout this book... I cried with her... I raged with her... I laughed with her... I smiled with her... Love reading a story that completely sucks you into the character’s life...

Carrie is devastated when her longtime boyfriend Kevin breaks up with her... even more devastating Kevin is also her business partner and his new girlfriend Valentina works at the restaurant that he and Carrie co-own... it sure was fun hating on Kevin and Valentina throughout this book, and they sure made it easy! Soon after the break up carry realized how much time she had spent not only taking care of Kevin but his high maintenance mother as well.... Carrie also made several new friends including: Jane an elderly lady, Luke a handsome potential love interest, and Teddy an adorable dog... I absolutely loved the bond that all these characters formed with one another, they were so there for each other... and for those of you who believe in karma, as carrie’s life was getting better and better, Kevin began to realize how much he needed her! Kevin my friend Karma is a bioch!

Such a charming story of new beginnings and second chances with a bit of a festive feel! As Christmas approaches there are some strange goings-on in the restaurant... there is also a question of romance between carry and Luke? Will these two find their way under the mistletoe? I strongly encourage you to pick this book up and find out for yourself! It is such a treat, a little escape that will give you hope!

*** many thanks to Faith Hogan and Aria for my copy of this book ***

Hard to let this book and characters go. You are so pulled into this story that when you are done you want more.

What happened to us? Goes through Carrie's deception and self-reconstruction after finding out her long time partner is in love with another woman. Being a good hearted person, she follows her instincts and find a new path full of faithfulness and caring. New people and new interests are welcome into her life without too much effort, while old friends support help her while walking along with her celebrating her happiness.
I liked this story. I would like to read more from this author.

I really enjoyed reading this story. I have to say the author really has a way with describing her characters to make them very interesting and engaging.
This is a quick, lovely and uplifting read that will draw you in. There is lots of drama, humor and romance throughout the story.
I have not read anything by Faith Hogan and I am looking forward to reading more of her books.
Perfect summer chick lit beach read!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After his shocking declaration, Carrie stared at Kevin wondering 'What happened to Us? Their decade courtship abruptly ends when he leaves her for a younger woman. As partners in the restaurant as well as romantically, both are now left in shambles. Forced to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, she begins to understand that in saying goodbye to the past, she's forges a new life for herself.

Title: What Happened to Us?
Author: Faith Hogan
Publisher: Aria
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"What Happened to Us" by Faith Hogan
My Speculation:

"What Happened to Us?" was really a fascinating read of how a 'friendship, betrayal,' and romance ends for Carrie and Kevin after ten years. I liked seeing Carrie being able to pick herself up and move on with her life.

It was a delight seeing how Luke and Teddy [the dog], along with Jane that comes into Carrie's life, leading her in the right direction to a better way of living. In the end, will Kevin get precisely what he deserves? You will have to pick up this good read to see who this author will bring it all out to the reader leaving you not having to look any further for a good story.

I really enjoyed this read. It has friendship, betrayal and some romance in it. It is about how a woman picks herself up after being betrayed and how she puts her life back together again and moves on. I also liked how the heroine was not in her 20's. I want to read more from this author.

What Happened To Us was a good book. Written well and hooked me in from the first few pages. I will be recommending this to my friends and family.

There is nothing quite so painful as being cheated on by the man that you have shared your life and business with for the past 10 years, especially when the person he cheated on you with is a waitress in the restaurant that you own together, but this is what Carrie Noland was going through, after her longtime partner Kevin dumped her and hooked up with a young Columbian waitress who works in their restaurant.

So after 10 years of being everything for everyone, Carrie is taking him to re-establish her life and find herself again. But when stranger Luke comes into her life, as well as Teddy, a cute (in my mind at least) little dog, everything in her life, seems to be heading in a better direction... until her past explodes into her present.

This is the first Faith Hogan book I have ever read, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Her writing has a refreshing sweetness to it, and the characters are interesting, and in most cases likable. I also found the story unique, and it defiantly is a modern book, despite the cover.

This is a brilliant modern fiction story set in Dublin. Carrie is unexpectedly dumped by her long term boyfriend Kevin. They have been together for ten years, living together and running their own restaurant. What will the future hold for Carrie as Kevin has a relationship with one of their young waitresses?

This lady's books are just wonderful and it's such a treat reading them.
With "What Happened To Us", we meet a couple Kevin Mulvey & Carrie Nolan who own a top class restaurant together called The Sea Pear.
Kevin gets it into his head that the grass is greener on the other side swapping his long loyal girlfriend Carrie for hot Columbian waitress Valentina.
He thinks this is it, he has finally got the life he deserves and he is taking it.
We see the breakup and how they each deal with it differently.
What I really loved is that we see both sides of the story, both viewpoints.
Everyone seems to have their opinion on the breakup though from Kevin's cranky mother and the loyal Jim to Carrie's friend Anna.
We meet the lovely Jane along the way who is struggling on her own and quite lonely since her husband passed away.
I quite enjoyed this warm, friendly book from an author that created a really great story. It kind of made me appreciate what I have in my life.
Sometimes what we have is actually what we really want, it just gets a little foggy along the way and we need to wait until the fog clears to appreciate what we have......

I liked this story. When Carrie finds out her 10 year boyfriend and co-owner of their restraunt is in love with another woman she thinks her life is over. But she learns that she is a strong lady who has always deferred to ex Kevin on big decisions and now she can go it on her own. A group of strangers help her find herself. Christmas is woven into the story but it's more a story of growing and learning to let go. Faith Hogan has several books published and I'll have to check out her previous works. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

5☆ An Uplifting and Heart Warming Read.

What Happened To Us? Is an uplifting and heart warming read about strength, new beginnings, friendship, betrayal, starting over, a good sprinkle of romance, drama and humour.

Carrie has just had her world blown apart, when she finds out her long term boyfriend and business partner Kevin is having an affair.
Not only is he having an affair with a younger women, she is also one of their employees..... a waitress called Valentina. Who is keen to step into Carrie's position.

One night Carrie steps into the back alley at work, when it all gets too much, she gets locked out and by chance she bumps into the handsome Luke who is looking for his dog Teddy.
Little does she know that their chance encounter will turn out to enrich her life. Luke becomes a good friend and she ends up looking after Teddy the adorable fur Baby.

Can Carrie find the strength to move on from Kevin, their business and his betrayal?
Will Luke be able to win over Carries fragile heart or are they best off as friends?
I will let you find out for yourselves.

This is my second book by Faith Holgan and Her books just keep on getting better.
I really enjoyed watching Carrie's confidence and strength grow throughout the story. I warmed to her character pretty much straight away.
I did enjoy disliking Kevin and Valentina, Faith got their characters spot on.
But for me any book that features a gorgeous fur Baby like Teddy is a winner for me! He stole my heart!

What Happened To Us? Is a feel good and pleasant read.
Hogan has a lovely compelling writing style thats full of warmth.
The Characters are relatable, well thought out, somewhat flawed yet strong, you can't help routing for them to suceed. Well some of them that is!
The storyline was endearing and engaging, the romance fizzed along perfectly, there is plenty of drama and humour which makes for a compulsive read.

Would I recommend reading this Gorgeous Book..... Most Definitely..... Yes!

I would like to thank Netgalley & Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

An easy to read book. Christmas books are an art to write and the market is a little saturated, but this is a worthy addition to it and one that I would recommend.

I love this author's books and I was delighted to see that she had a new book coming out and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy!

I loved the plot for the story and the characterisation made it a really special read, the characters were well developed and the author completely brought them to life. I loved the setting and the whole thing worked together so well. There was nothing in the book I disliked, it was fabulous from cover to cover!

Another brilliant 5 star read for me from this author, it was a complete treat to read and one I will be very highly recommending - I loved it!!