A very engaging read of broken siblings in need of healing.

Georgie, Iris and Nola – aka The Gin Sisters – depended entirely on each other after their mother’s death as their father wallowed in his grief. Pledges to always be there for each other were forgotten as they each forged their own path in life but with the death of their father they find themselves unexpectedly thrown together. In order to claim their inheritance, his will states they need to live together in the family home for six months. It’s the first time the sisters have been together for decades and old resentments quickly float to the surface. But will time together heal old wounds?

I have been a fan of Faith Hogan’s books for quite some time and my enjoyment has only increased with each one. Her writing shows a real understanding of family dynamics and personal relationships and never more so than in The Gin Sisters’ Promise. Wonderfully crafted characters and a realistic storyline (I should know, estranged sisters are close to home), this is another beautifully written novel from an author who, while being completely original, reminds me more and more of the late Maeve Binchy. Honest realism is tempered with a touch of humour making this such a delightful, enjoyable read. Easily worth all five shining stars and my highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher both for my copy of this novel and my spot on this tour; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

A family drama about three sisters who have drifted apart. When their father dies his will sends them on a voyage of forgiveness and compassion. Betrayals of the past must be forgiven if they have any hope of mending their fragile relationships. Heart warming.

An enjoyable read involving three sisters involved in a long standing feud between themselves. Drawn together following their father's death and subsequent will they are forcibly thrown together back in the family home in Ireland. We'll drawn believable characters who not only discover what each of them individually wants but also learn to empathise with each other. A light read which may make the reader reevaluate their own family relationships.

EXCERPT: It occurred to Georgie that their father's death was almost like a final loosening of whatever ribbons still joined the sisters together. She experienced the thought as a weight being removed from her shoulders, and then felt immediately guilty. How had things got so bad? Georgie's eyes shot across to Iris when she spoke of Nola and she could feel it, writ large between them. Nola hated both of them and even if Georgie and Iris managed to rub along together until this ordeal was over, Nola was quite a different matter.

Georgie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. When Georgie thought of Nola she had to admit that her feelings for her younger sister were complex. There was always a hint of jealousy. Everything seemed to come so easily to Nola. She gathered up friends as effectively as Georgie pushed the chance of any away. She sighed deeply, elbowed her way further down in the passenger seat and pretended to sleep for the rest of the journey home.

ABOUT 'THE GIN SISTERS' PROMISE': When Georgie, Iris and Nola's mother died and their father disappeared into his grief, the sisters made a pact: they would always be there for one another, no matter what.

Now, decades later, they haven't spoken for years and can barely stand to be in the same room. As his health declines, their father comes up with a plan to bring them back to one another. In his will, he states that before they can claim their inheritance, they must spend six months living together in their childhood home in the village of Ballycove, Ireland, and try to repair their broken relationships.

As the months progress, old resentments boil over, new secrets threaten to come out and each sister must decide what matters more: their pride, or their family. Can they overcome their past and find a way to love each other once more?

MY THOUGHTS: What's not to love about a book that made me laugh (a lot), cry (a little), and exhale a huge sigh of regret that my visit with the GIN (Georgie, Iris, Nola) sisters was over. But I also had, and still have, a huge smile on my face.

I do love a good story about family inheritances, and The Gin Sisters' Promise definitely also ticks that box. Add into the mix that it's largely set in a small Irish Village, and Faith Hogan's ability to write realistic characters we can all relate to, and I'm in book heaven!

Who's never fallen out with their siblings? There always seems to be at least one of my three brothers not talking to me over some slight or another, real or imagined. But these three, they take sibling alienation to a whole new level. Georgie is a hard-hearted bitch; Iris is a doormat; and Nola a traitor. There's things gone on that all of them are determined not to forget, and definitely not to forgive. But when their lives are in tatters, and they find themselves all living under the same roof, the fun begins . . .

Faith Hogan has written an utterly charming, absorbing and uplifting family drama about the importance of family, forgiveness and second chances.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheGinSistersPromise #NetGalley

I: @faithhoganauthor @headofzeus

T: @GerHogan @HoZ_Books

#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #irishfiction #sliceoflife #smalltownfiction #womensfiction

THE AUTHOR: Faith Hogan is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author. She was born in Ireland. She gained an Honours Degree in English Literature and Psychology from Dublin City University and a Postgraduate Degree from University College, Galway.

She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children 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!

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aria, for providing a digital ARC of The Gin Sisters' Promise by Faith Hogan for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Gin Sisters.
A great new book from Faith Hogan. Based on the lives of 3 sisters. Georgia. Iris. Nola. Who had separate many years back and weee being forced together by the reading of their Father's will. Although they are like many sisters and families they do re evaluate their lives and start looking to the future. Thanks and your publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

Georgie, Iris and Nola were close growing up. After their mother died when they were still quite young, they vowed to always stick together. However, dreams and discontentment led them away from Ireland to lives in London. Arguments and resentments mean that they have no spoken to each other in many years.

When their father dies, an unusual clause in his will means that they need to spend six months together if they are ever to get their hands on their inheritance.

This is a lovely story of sibling rivalries and bonds. Each sister has been keeping up a facade for the others and resenting what they believe the others have achieved. I enjoyed getting to know each of the girls as their stories were revealed. There are no major hidden secrets, but this just feels like a warm, comfortable read, in the company of old friends,

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite Quotes:

The cry that emitted from Nola came as gasping gulps, as if she was going under, smothering in the cold waters of despair. She was far too small for her feet to touch the bottom of her grief, far too young to navigate these treacherous waters.

Georgie had two left feet and a voice to put the crows out of business.

She almost felt as if she was somehow outside herself, looking in at a snapshot of time that wasn’t quite real. She was out of kilter with everything around her, so she almost felt as if she might lose her balance just standing still.

Catherine smiled at Myles and although she looked like a harmless old pensioner, Iris could almost hear the soundtrack to Jaws gearing up from the far corner of the room.


My Review:

Faith Hogan is one of my all-time favorite authors, her thoughtful and emotive writing resonates with me despite the differences in our cultures and the oceans between us. I always look forward to reading her work. Her characters tend to be complicated, deeply flawed, and unfailingly real while also endearing in their authentic and original storylines and insights. I adore her observant and brilliantly paced storytelling and know I’m going to be in for a heart-squeezing and keenly perceptive tale when I pick up my Kindle to dive in.

The disaffected sisters were an annoying bunch of testy siblings full of long-festering resentments with each putting up a front while hiding their secrets, failures, and personal miseries from the group. I wanted to give each one a pop to the back of the head and a pinch or two, while at the same time I was invested in their story and hoping for better futures for all three.

In addition to an evocative, satisfying, and involving read, I also picked up a new addition to my Irish word list with boxty, which is a potato pancake and sounds delish.

Well, what can I say? Other than; beautifully poignant, heart-warming and endearing – an absolute delight!

Every time I pick up a Faith Hogan book I know that I will be in for a real treat, as with all of Hohan’s books this is so heart-warming. Whenever I pick up one of Faith Hogan’s books it instantly feels as though I have been wrapped in a favourite oversized snuggly woollen jumper, you feel incredibly warm and it’s comforting.

The Gin Sisters Promise is all about family and moving forward, it follows Georgie, Iris and Nola, three sisters who at one time were as close as peas in a pod. They didn’t have to best childhood but they stuck together, they made a promise and vowed to always be together. Fast forward twenty years and these three sisters which had at one point been so close have now been torn apart by lies and secrets. Now they are full-grown women with lives of their own, each hates the other, and neither talks to the other they are each deeply unhappy in their lives, and there is a lot of trauma and anger which has picked their close bond apart. Then their father suddenly dies forcing the sisters to finally confront the past and rebuild bridges.

This book really struck me, each other sisters are so unhappy, to the outer world they have everything, they are each successful in their own way and have everything each of them anted, everything’s perfect! Which is as far from the truth as humanly possible, they aren’t happy, they are sunk into the darkness of lies and unable to find the way out. I think we can all admit to being guilty of putting on a bright smile to the outer world, when actually behind the doors life’s a bit tough can’t we?

George, Iris and Nola must face each other far more than just for one day, they must stay together in their childhood, something which causes a whole host of issues, raw emotions, hard-hitting truths and lots of tears and a fair bit of reminiscing, but will it all be enough to fix what was broken so, so long ago?

Faith Hogan has written a beautiful and incredibly relatable story of facing your past and finding your happiness, the three women in the centre are marvellous! They have such vibrant personalities which bounce of each other they are so alike and yet so different. They are opinionated, headstrong and deeply wounded, they have a lot that they need to resolve; personally and together before any healing can be done. It takes time but it’s worth the wait.

This is such a gorgeous story, it’s a whirlwind of emotions from page one. It’s beautifully paced which keeps you engaged and turning the pages, with family drama and a stunning backdrop of beautiful Ireland, a definite must-read, the perfect escape from the ‘real’ world!

Simply magical. I laughed, cried and loved this book. Beautifully written with fabulous, believable characters.
5*
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review

Three estranged sisters reunited at their father's funeral; he wanted them to rekindle their childhood closeness, so he made their inheritance conditional on their living and working together where they grew up. The three sisters, Georgie, Iris and Nola, all have secrets in their lives they don't want to reveal, and the tension of their first meeting and initial time together is palpable.

The character-driven storytelling is excellent. It has believably flawed characters who grow with self-realisation and renewal of sisterly bonds. The gradual revealing of past hurts lets the reader understand why the sisters behave as they do. The setting on the west coast of Ireland is crucial to the story. It weaves its reflective magic in the sisters' lives and helps them, and their relationships heal.

The Gin Sisters' Promise is the perfect story to escape with, a medley of heartbreak and heartwarming moments.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

#netgalley #theginsisterspromise
Family drama, sister fueds. The setting of this book is beautiful and so are the characters. I love the gin sister's Georgia, Iris and Nola. This is a beauty of a read. I really felt like I was there in the story. 4/5 stars

If you are a fan of books dealing with family drama, especially sister drama, then you will love this book. Sisters Georgie, Iris and Nola have been estranged for years after long ago arguments and misunderstandings. When their father dies, his will dictates that the sisters must live together in the family home for 6 months before the estate can be settled. One might think that living in close quarters would help towards a reunion, but the sisters hang on to their anger and secrets until they finally come to realize that they no longer want to live a lie.

A father’s will has brought three estranged sisters reluctantly back to their former home in order to claim their inheritance. Each pretend their life is quite unlike the reality of how it really is and their differences are very pronounced. Very much different from when they were younger and actually liked each other.
Misunderstandings have strained their relationship and the promise they made as children. The author has woven a wonderful story of relationships healed and how Ginger, Iris and Nola (the gin sisters) find a new way to live their lives together. Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher, Aria for this arc. The comments and review are my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Aria for the chance to read an advance copy of The Gin Sisters' promise by Faith Hogan. I absolutely loved the author's previous book The ladies midnight swimming club, and was delighted that The Gin Sisters' promise returned to the lovely village of Ballycove in Ireland. This time 3 sisters are forced to come back to their home after being estranged for years to fulfill their Dad's last request. Each sister is at a crossroad with their lives, and now Georgie, Iris, and Nola must work together, and overcome years of hurt, and perceived betrayals. They have six months to do it, but new secrets could threaten their chance at a new life and a chance to become a family once again.
Totally recommend!!! It is the perfect summer read. and my only criticism was Iris in the early part of the book. (why would she want to stay with her husband?) It is a standalone book, but I also recommend The ladies midnight swimming club!!!

A lovely book about families and redemption. I loved all three sisters and the setting was described beautifully. Well written and left me with a smile on my face.

How wonderful to be back in Ballycove again – it’s the third time I’ve visited, and it always feels like coming home. And it used to be a happy home for the Delahaye sisters – Georgie, Iris and little Nola – until they lost their mother twenty-eight years ago and their father withdrew in his grief, making them a close unit who always looked after each other. In the intervening years, they went their separate ways, their closeness blown apart by resentments and misunderstandings – and the prospect of returning home for their father’s funeral isn’t one any of them is looking forward to. Each of them has considerable problems, their seemingly perfect lives rather falling apart, and they each plan to keep that hidden – but when their father’s will stipulates that they must spend six months together in Ballycove, in the hope that they can address their differences, before they’ll be able to walk away with their inheritance, it’s clear there are difficult times ahead.

The absolute joy about this book is in the handling of the relationship between the three sisters – very real and sometimes painful as long-held resentments come to the surface, slowly and steadily changing into something quite different as they find themselves again and the bonds that once held them together. Each of the women touches your heart in their own way, their paths through life to date and the way they handle their enforced stay at the family home – the way they each find their own way through is just wonderful, each of them slowly unfolding and finding what makes them happy.

Despite the initial hissing and spitting, there’s a great deal of love in this book – and the author’s gentle and sensitive telling of their story makes it one that fills you with warmth and feel-good. The emotional content is exceptionally well-handled – with a real feeling of authenticity – and although relatively slow-paced it was a book I found impossible to set aside, reading it in a single glorious sitting, entirely immersed in the women’s lives.

Written from the heart, and tremendously uplifting – I really loved this book, and recommend it really highly.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

A good family tale of three estranged sisters, each unhappy in their life in London, forced to return to Ireland to live together under the terms of their father’s Will. What follows is an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of the sister relationship. Each of the GIN sisters - Georgie, Iris and Nola - has their own issues, but the can be overcome - if only they’d talk to each other honestly.

Raw, authentic and realistic, this author has the ability to draw you in and make the characters on the page come to life - as if they are in the same room as you. She has a way with words that conjures warmth and invites you into the story. I really enjoyed the midnight ladies swimming circle so didn’t hesitate and dived straight into this book.

Fabulous, 4.5* from me.

The book begins with the funeral of Georgie. Iris & Nola's mammy. She died young & they were left with their devastated father. You can feel the despair through Faith Hogans great writing & the love these three girls had for each other, but things changed.
After the falling out over Iris's husband Myles, they all went their separate ways. None of them really happy, just existing. Their father owned a successful distillery & when he dies, all three girls meet up again.
The struggles they have had are expertly articulated by the writer & it feels as though she has first-hand experience of these issues. Great intuitive writing.
I always enjoy this writer's stories & this was up there with the best. Recommended read.

I loved The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club so it was lovely to be back in Ballycove again.

This is a lovely story focusing on family feuds and forgiveness (where it is merited).

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book is a delight to read. It’s a heartwarming story about three sisters, and I loved it. I have no siblings, but I always wished I had some, and it was nice to learn about the three main characters.
I liked the main characters. I think everyone can relate to at least one of the sisters. I’d like to think I’m closest to the creative one, as art is and will always be close to my heart.
I love the locations of the book, both London and Ireland. I love travelling to far away places via books, and at the moment it is the only kind of travelling that I do.
I also like the style of writing and story telling which the author is using. It’s a feel good book, heart warming and happy. It’s a perfect candidate for 5 stars and I’m so happy to have been one of the early readers.