Irish settings are always welcome and if a story is nice, warm, emotive and gripping you've got a winner on hands!

This is an incredibly gripping read with very genuine and authentic characters. I felt like I was truly there, in the moment, with them. It was a gripping and enthralling tale that kept me hooked until the very last page.

I'd give The Last Summer in Ireland a solid four stars. It's a good book overall, with well-developed characters and a steady pace. While I liked it, I didn't absolutely love it. There were some touching moments, but it didn't quite grab me as much as I'd hoped. Still, if you enjoy this kind of story, it's worth checking out.

Rating: 4.7/5 Stars

In "The Last Summer in Ireland," author Noelle Harrison spins a captivating tale that intertwines tragedy, family secrets, and the quest for truth in a mesmerizing narrative set against the enchanting backdrop of Ireland.

The story follows Iris, a woman grappling with loneliness and loss following the passing of her mother. When an unexpected invitation arrives from her estranged aunt in Ireland, Iris finds herself drawn to Swan Hall, a mysterious house steeped in history and secrets.

As Iris delves deeper into the house's secrets, she uncovers a hidden diary belonging to her late aunt Nuala, a figure unknown to her until now. With each page turned, Iris is propelled into the past, unraveling the dark truths and betrayals that fractured the lives of three sisters during a fateful summer long ago.

The author masterfully crafts an intricate web of emotions, taking readers on a journey through the complexities of family relationships, unspoken grief, and buried secrets. The evocative descriptions of Swan Hall, with its dusty corridors and hidden passages, create an atmosphere ripe with intrigue and mystery.

The strength of this novel lies in its compelling characters and the exploration of their intertwined lives. Iris's quest for truth becomes a compelling odyssey, as she confronts the revelations from Nuala's diary, questioning the circumstances surrounding her aunt's tragic death and its impact on her family's history.

The narrative unfolds seamlessly, blending past and present, weaving a tale of heartbreak, resilience, and the resilience of the human spirit. The pacing keeps the reader engaged, eager to uncover the next layer of secrets buried within Swan Hall's walls.

"The Last Summer in Ireland" is a poignant and absorbing read, resonating with themes of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of family. Fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas will be captivated by this emotionally charged story of shattered relationships, hidden truths, and the healing power of discovering one's past.

Overall, the author delivers a gripping and emotionally satisfying novel that will linger in readers' minds long after the final page is turned.

Thanks to netgalley for an advance copy or my honest review
Novel Nerd Blog: https://smithareading.blogspot.com/

I had mixed feelings about The Last Summer in Ireland. For everything I liked about the book, there was something that took away from my enjoyment. To start, the story was intriguing. Iris travels to Ireland to meet her aunt for the first time and find out more about her mother. What she didn’t bargain for was to discover another aunt who died under suspicious circumstances. The fact that her mother had never mentioned Nuala makes it all the more intriguing. However, the story was a bit too slow for my liking. It wasn’t until the last few chapters when things picked up speed that I really got stuck in. It was clever to tell the story from the perspective of Iris and from Nuala’s diary. I just didn’t find Nuala likeable. Although, as a selfish teenager, perhaps that was the point.

I guess another thing that stuck with me was the writing style of Nuala’s diary. It was a bit forced and unnatural at times. I got that too when the book touched on deep topics, such as when abortion was illegal in Ireland. Unfortunately, the flow of the dialogue didn’t make the conversations believable.

It was also hard to really feel the relationship between the three sisters. The author gave a sense of who they were as individuals, but I would have liked to have seen more of them together. The relationship just skimmed the surface of what it could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Really great descriptive novel. Very enjoyable to read as I love complex family dramas.
The separate timelines were easy to follow and not confusing. Hard book to put down.

The storyline makes you feel like you are there living it. The settings are described so perfectly. The characters are all complex and well developed.

Family drama book that has alot of secrets and reveals. It had lots of emotions flowing through me. The author transported me to the setting in Ireland.

⭐ -- The cover on this one is really pretty

DNF @50%

I just couldn't keep going with this one. Hated the characters and found it slow going and heavy. On a more positive note, I loved the setting and found the author nailed the atmospheric setting.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinon.

This was a dual timeline book told in 1972 and 1991 in the irish countryside. In 1972, we are told the story of three sisters, Aisling, Meave and Nuala; in 1991 we are told the story from the point of view of Aisling's daughter, Iris. When Iris's mother dies suddenly she is left reeling and is surprised when her Aunt Maeve from Ireland reaches out to her and asks her to spend Christmas with them, as she has never met her and knows little to nothing about her. Her mother left Ireland when she was pregnant and never looked back. Iris discoivers that Nuala, whom she looks like, disappeared in the early 70s and is presumed dead. As Iris learns more about her mother's past, we follow in turbulent times in Ireland. This was a good story and I enjoyed the characters. they were well written and the scenery well described.

I'm sorry but I could not get into this story. It has been put in my DNF pile. I struggled through the first 3 chapters, and my limit is, if it hasn't peaked my interest by at least the 3rd chapter, then I won't finish it.

Beautiful. A haunting, heart breakingly lovely read. One to savour. I loved this one so much. Beautiful writing. A gem of a book.

Lovely book to get immersed into. It tells the story of a young woman called Iris who on the death of her mother decides to go and visit her aunt in Ireland. Her mother never spoke of her family so she was suprised to find out that there had been another sister that her mom had never mentioned. A veil surrounded how her young aunt had died and when she found her dairy she was hoping she would find out what happened.
Her aunt and uncle both had their own dark screts and in time this would out.
I really enjoyed reading this book and read it in one day it was that good.

Ireland is a verdant landscape with lovely lakes and ocean scenes. Three daughters are being raised at Swan Hall, a lovely three-story home built on nearly 200 acres of farm/ranch land with its own lake.

The three daughters were the target of a handsome Irishman who wanted to bed them all. One of the daughters, Aisling, becomes pregnant and is able to escape to New York to raise her daughter Iris. Iris never knew of her Irish relatives.

Conrad is a tall and good-looking man sought after by many of the young women in the area and he is working with the I.R.A. to rid Ireland of English rule.

Iris is invited to come to Ireland for the Christmas season after her mother is tragically killed. She brings some of her mother’s ashes to spread in the country of her birth.

Iris is apparently the spitting image of one of the sisters. The mystery of Nuala’s disappearance and presumed drowning in the family lake called Lough Bawn is a big mystery and spawns questions that Iris will confront.

The author has developed a very interesting and tragic novel of life among the Irish. 4.5 stars – CE Williams

The Last Summer in Ireland by Noelle Harrison was a lovely book from start to finish I fell in love with Ireland all over again. Aisling, the oldest sister, Maeve, the middle sister, and Nuala is the youngest sister. they are all were living in Swan Hall in Ireland. Something awful happened and Aisling had to move suddenly away to the other side of the world!
This is a gripping read about the heartbreak and secrets that tore three sisters apart.

I highly recommend this book.....I really enjoyed it.

Big Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange of a honest review.

The Last Summer in Ireland is the story of the Kelly sisters of Roscommon, Ireland. It is told through the eyes of Iris Kelly, daughter of Aisling the oldest of the three. Aisling has recently been killed in an accident in New York, where she has been living for 18 years. Iris is alone, except for her godmother, Trina. She gets an invitation from her Aunt Maeve, who she has never met, to come to Ireland for Christmas. She decides to go and find out more about her mother's past and find family. What awaits her are secrets, Swan Hall, a lake that calls to her and family.

This story is full of secrets. Iris learns about Nuala, her mother's youngest sister, who drowned when she was only 16. She had never heard about this aunt. Swan Hall was a beautiful home from the outside, but inside it was cold and dismal, exactly how Iris felt while there. The story is told by Iris, with flashbacks from Aisling and Nuala's diary extracts, which Iris had found. We learn about what it was like to be a woman living in Ireland in the 1970's and the loss of their rights. I must say that the Kelly sisters were not very likable. They were mean to one another, selfish and only worried about what they wanted. They lost their mother when they were young and were raised by an angry, alcoholic father, but instead of bringing them together, it pitted them against one another. Even though I disliked several of the characters, I found it hard to put this one down. The story was full of twists and turns, as well as mystery. I wanted to know what was going to happen and whether we would find out what really happened to Nuala. I enjoyed the various timelines and was invested in all of them. As secrets were revealed, I had several aha moments. The last chapter, told by Ruairi Caffrey, a Garda Iris has met when in Roscommon, brings the story full circle and into the present. There is mention of "the troubles" in Ireland and the IRA, but it is not a major part of the story. There was just enough to fit the history and events during the time the story is set, and a surprising reveal. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys dual timeline story about family, secrets and mystery.

Having Irish heritage I love books that are set in Ireland and feel automatically drawn to them and this one didn't disappoint. It was well written with a comeplling storyline with a dual timeline, well developed characters and a beautiful setting. The book is full of vivid descriptions too.

A lost girl. A mysterious house in Ireland. An invitation that changes everything.

This was a gripping family drama that is overflowing with secrets and reveals. It's compelling and evokes emotions. The author does not shy away from difficult subjects but instead handles them with care. I enjoyed how the book was told in the present day intertwined with the past. It's moving, heartbreaking and raw.

Three sisters were living in Swan Hall in Ireland, by a lake in an area seeped with history. Sounds like the beginning of a fairy tale, right? Unfortunately, it is not. They have lost their Mam to the lake and now their beautiful younger sister, Nuala has drowned in the lake as well.

Aisling, the oldest sister left Ireland amid a personal scandal and raised her daughter, Iris, in New York. Aisling has not informed her daughter about her past or her father's identity. Aisling focused on giving her daughter a good life. Iris is shocked by her mother's untimely death and shocked when she receives a letter from her aunt, Maeve inviting her to come to Ireland.

Maeve, the middle sister, stayed in Ireland and took care of their father until his death. She has always lived at Swan Hall. She has secrets – but all of them did.

In Ireland, Iris meets family she never knew she had and learns not only about her mother's past but about her family members as well. What she learns is shocking and as she tries to wrap her mind around things, Iris learns even more.

This was a beautifully written book about one's family's history, their shared pain, their losses, their secrets, and their home. Whew! You can feel the sadness of some characters seeping through the pages, the pain of other characters and their heartache. The author did a fantastic job of transporting readers to Swan Hall where we are silent observers of the women in this book.

Gripping, moving and powerful.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I had high expectations after reading The Girl Across the Sea and I wasn't disappointed! Iris travels to Ireland where she learns so much about her mum's history. Told over two timelines, Iris discovers get mum had two sisters rather than the one she knew about! Really enjoyed it.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Last Summer In Ireland' by Noelle Harrison.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Noelle Harrison, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 3rd October 2022.

This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas will love The Last Summer in Ireland.' I am a fan of Lucinda Riley so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Noelle and if this book is as good as 'The Girl Across The Sea' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of 35 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Brooklyn, USA 🇺🇸 and Roscommon, Ireland 🇮🇪, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.

This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Iris, Aisling and Nuala. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

'The Last Summer In Ireland' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Noelle discusses/includes abortion.


This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions that leaves you tasting the ocean scene and feeling the sand in your hair. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

This book is a slow burner but also completely engaging, captivating and makes you travel through time. It felt like I packed my case and went on a journey from Ireland to New York and then sadly it came for me to unpack my case and return to Wales. It felt like I had been on a trip of a lifetime and not only around the world but through time. I loved reading the history of Aisling,Iris and Nuala and being drip fed information bit by bit until it came to the shocking reveal!!! I was NOT expecting that twist so well done Noelle!!! It's getting harder and harder to shock me and you've managed it so congratulations!! This storyline is filled with love, family, heartbreak, romance, sadness, betrayal, lives, loyalties, history and so much more!! It is a story of 3 sisters and a daughter looking for the truth of what happened between them. It delves into the complications of the rights and wrongs of abortions and the affect it has on women when it is illegal to have one. I became completely engaged and captivated throughout. The reveal was absolutely heartbreaking when you consider the affects it had had on one of the characters for the whole of their lives. It is so sad to think how things could have been so much different for the Kelly sisters. The setting and atmosphere is perfect for the storyline being set in the gothic Swan Hall surrounded by trees and one lake with a devastating history. If you want to know more you'll just have to pick up a copy and delve into this family drama.

It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

The characters are strong and each had their own strong personalities. I loved going on a journey with Iris and discovering what happened between the Kelly sisters but also what was going on in her life, where she went and what led her there. I felt hearrtbroken for Aisling, Maeve and Nuala for different reasons. These three sisters lost their mum at such a young age and were left with a cruel father. When three sisters became two and then those two went their own way it felt absolutely tragic that instead of coming together and being brought closer by their loss they became even more distant. I could not stand their father and Cinrad was just as bad I found them to be cruel, twisted and evil although I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Love them or hate them each of the characters worked perfectly for this heartbreaking story.

Well done Noelle on another absolutely stunning yet heartbreaking story of love, family, loss and so much more. I'm looking forward to reading more of your books!!!


Overall a heartbreaking story that will take you from New York to Ireland and though time, filled with love, betrayal, loss, romance and so much more.



Genres covered in this book include Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction and Women's Women's Romance Fiction amongst others.


I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas.



334 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or £8.99 in paperback at time of review via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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