It was okay.
But it was missing some thing, i did not like the characters as much as i had hoped.

2.5 stars.

This is a story of three generations of Irish women coming together as a family to settle old grudges and grievances. It shares the politics involving women’s rights, and the burdens women carried in religion, specifically Catholicism. The story is set in Ireland and spans over 60 years. The story is focused on the lives of four women, sisters Brigid and Imelda, Imelda’s daughter Keelin, and her daughter Marie-Claire. It is not a linear story, the past is told throughout the book in memories, but it is easy to follow. It begins with a young woman having a miscarriage on Christmas Eve and we then meet the women involved and learn all about their lives, loves, failures and future.

I found this story a bit bleak, but it does have an uplifting ending. The characters are well portrayed and very realistic. Most families have troubled relationships somewhere, and perhaps even an Imelda, someone who is not happy in life and takes it out on everyone around her. She does have some reasons for it, but still, she could have risen above it all. This is a character driven story, and at times was slow moving. As the story unfolds, another layer is revealed in the relationships of the family and self-discovery in the individuals. I find it hard to rate this one as the writing is beautiful and descriptive, but the theme and story is sad, and at times depressing. It is a story of family relationships and how easy it is to tear a family apart, yet can take years, if ever, to put it back together. There are secrets, grievances, envy and heartbreak. The backdrop of the Catholic Church sets most of the story in motion and is ever present as these women struggle for their rights and their redemption

I so wanted to love this story, but unfortunately I sort of found myself lost and not really enjoying the book. I guess it was too heavy for me. With all the seriousness of this time in my life, I earned for a lighter story. I will try it again in the future.

It's 1953 and Christmas Eve. She is heart broken and betrayed by Johnny. Then it's the mid eighties Christmas Eve. The children are beside themselves. She is pregnant. Then it's 2017 on Christmas Eve . Marie Claire is dreaming of the past. She is married to Marc. Keelin is married to Armand. She is flying to Ireland to spend time with her aunt Brigid on her eightieth birthday. She and Armand inherited his grandfather's farm. I lost interest in the characters and stories.

Set in Ireland THE LIBERATION OF BRIGID DUNNE tells the story of four women.
For intensely personal reasons a young Brigid decides to become a nun. An older brother has left the family home to attend college. This leaves a resentful Imelda in the family home to help her mother and father and care for her grandmother.
Eventually Imelda marries and has children. Imelda’s sharp tongue and nasty remarks have put a strain on her relationship with her oldest daughter Keelin who lives in France with her husband Armand.
Marie-Claire, Keelin’s daughter is living and working in Toronto. On Christmas Eve Marie-Claire overhears a telephone conversation by one her colleagues. Marie-Claire discovers her partner and boyfriend Marc is having an affair.
She decides to end the relationship and return to Ireland. She tells Marc that she needs to reassess her life but doesn’t let on that she knows about his dalliances.
The timing works out so that Marie-Claire can attend her great aunt Brigid’s eightieth birthday and retirement celebration in Ireland.
A bitter and jealous Imelda attends the celebration and lets loose a tirade on the family revealing some well kept secrets.
Can the family heal or did Imelda go one step too far?
THE LIBERATION OF BRIGID DUNNE did remind me of a Maeve Binchy novel.
The characters were interesting. In most women’s fiction there is drama that builds towards a happy ending but there are many bumps along the way. I believe this is a big part of the genre’s appeal. True to form there was also a bit of a twist at the end.
I enjoyed the novel and would recommend it to readers who like authors like Maeve Binchy and perhaps Catherine Cookson.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Marie-Claire thought her life in Toronto was perfect until she found out that her boyfriend was cheating on her so she dumped him without letting him no why and returned to Ireland just in time for her Great Aunt Brigid's 80th birthday and retirement from being a nun. Everyone is excited about the party, Marie-Claire's mother Keelin is coming over from France with her father Arnaud, with the exception of her Grandmother Imelda. Imelda has always held grudges and especially towards her sister Brigid but no-one is expecting the bombshell that she drops when all of her resentments overcome her at the party..... can the family ever recover from the exposed secrets!

A great story about three generations of women in Ireland with each of their stories being told separately so that you appreciate the different times and the hold that the Church held over ordinary people. The secrets that they all held could have made such a difference to all of their lives if they had just talked about them..... but the bombshell definitely put the cat among the pigeons!

Super sweet family reunion story. I really enjoyed this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Family Reunion Threatens Life Balance.....
A family reunion threatens life balance for four generations of women. Sweeping family drama from an expert in the field. An emotional tale with well drawn characters but with serious, heavy themes that rather removed the escapist element for me.

Fantastic read from an established author. Love all Patricia Scanlon novels and this latest didn’t disappoint.
Brilliant writing which always guarantees that feel good factor. Great to curl up and lose yourself in and this book was just that read in one sitting. Highly recommended

This book was unfortunately a DNF for me. I just wasn't invested in the story. I'm absolutely devastated as I hate to not finish something that I have started.

This book was a quick easy read. Although there were a few twists in it the story overall was quite predictable and did not keep me interested.

The hype was right. This is the perfect book for Maeve Binchy fans. I love being enveloped in a multigenerational saga. I've not read any other books by Scanlan, but she's now added to my TBR list!

Thanks to the author, Atria books and Netgalley for this e-arc.

What a fantastic book. I was hooked from the very first page through to the last. I haven't read a Patricia Scanlan book in years. I read and loved the City Girl series probably about 15+ years ago and think I must have read all the books Scanlan had written at the time and moved on to something else, and then forgotten how good they were, so I was really pleased to have spotted this one on Netgalley and to be approved.

The book follows three generations of Irish women. Reverend Mother Brigid, her sister Imelda, Imelda’s daughter Keelin and grand daughter Marie-Claire.

It starts with Marie-Claire finding out that her boyfriend has been cheating which helps her to make the decision to go back to Ireland to visit her family and for her Great Aunt Brigid''s 80th Birthday party and the fireworks start here!

Its a wonderful book that covers the lives of three generations, even through Convents. It may sound ridiculous, but it really is not and is a very well told story and although goes into the religious side and their lives, it gives it from several points of view, and there's always heaps of drama and scandal involved.

A thoroughly good book to curl up with. I'll definitely be looking out for the books Patricia Scanlan has written that I have missed and cant wait to get stuck into them again.

An excellent Women's Fiction read! Author Patricia Scanlan tackles sibling rivalry, deceptions and regrets with a heavy finger on the pulse of family dynamics.

This is the story of 3 generations of strong, fiercly independent Irish women and how their lives have influenced and altered each others throughout the years. And like many families, assumptions run rampant, the "should of- would of- could of" and the choices made, sometimes in error, feature strongly in this inspiring family story.

Their love of Catholicism binds them- and causes much strife and questioning. As each woman narrates her story, we learn that, unknowingly, she is undoing someone else's life.

How then does a modern, thinking woman with love and respect for the ideals of a Catholic life, come to terms with the eventual realization that the truth within the non- conforming male dominated religion, is quite a bit different.

Every bitter resentment, broken dream and a futures lost, all play out at the retirement celebration for Reverend Mother Brigid, when the three generations of women come together.
Get your tissues out!
4⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author, Ms Patricia Scanlan, for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Liberation of Brigid Dunne". The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone.

Treat yourself for International Women’s Day!
If you are an Irish woman, go discover what the brave grandmothers, mothers, aunties and daughters of Eire did to pave the pathway to your freedoms.🍀

Three generations of Irish women were shaped by their times. Imelda and Brigid are sisters with different personalities. Both escaped the drudgery of home and chores in different ways, influenced up by their parents and their religious beliefs. Keelin is Imelda’s daughter, but she always felt closer to her Aunt, causing more friction between the sisters. The times really do have an impact as Marie-Claire, Keelin’s daughter, is much freer to make life choices as the hold of the Church and the patriarchal society of Ireland started to change. I really liked the generational story, even though the religious aspects were a bit much towards the end of the book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A terrific read beautifully written.Patricia Scanlan is one of my favorite bauthors never fails to write enchanting novels full of wonderful characters,
.Highly recommend this new novel and all her books.#netgalley #atriabooks

Another great story of Irish family life from Patricia Scanlan . I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommended

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity for review. My review opinion is my own.

I enjoyed this book about generations of Irish women at a family Birthday that starts a series of misunderstandings . The main charcter is Marie who was engaged to be married when her life falls apart. She travels to Ireland to her beloved Aunt's eightieth Birthday celebration and looks forward to meeting up with the rest of her family. Her Aunt is very important to her and has been a mentor in her life. Soon things take a emotional turn when old animosity arise. This was a emotional journey with wonderfully drawn personalities in each charcter. The family dynamics are multi layered and interesting. as the author explore each person in the family. I enjoyed this book and look forward to further work by this author.

This is a great story set in Ireland. Marie-Claire has decided to move back home when she discovers her boyfriend and business partner is cheating on her in Canada. She's just in time to help her Aunt Brigid celebrate her 80th birthday and retirement as a nun. It should be a wonderful celebration but Brigid's sister Imelda reveals some family secrets that has the whole family fussing. I love stories set in Ireland that reveal history and differences in culture. This one deals with some timely subjects. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.