Esme has run the guest house in Ballycove forever, taking over from her parents, unfortunately due to a fall she is now infirmed for the time being, added to that she is elderly and her eyesight has gone, she is relying more and more on Marta to help her get around and run the guest house. Since her husband died Marta has become like one of the family as they weren't able to have any children. This also means that the roof is in a bit of a state and a developer is determined to get his hands on the guest house - whatever it takes.

The thing is that the guest house by the sea is very special. People come from all over to find themselves, and find new hope. People who meet there can find true love, or realise that true love was with them all the time. This is in no small part to Esme's wisdom, and her special guest book with sayings written in on every day.

A lovely feel- good story with very well crafted characters. I would love to stay in the guest house and meet Esme and her friends. I really enjoyed every page.

The cover of this book enticed me to read it. I have always longed to run a guest house and live by the sea. This is a charming story about Esme, her guest house and all the characters in her little community and who stay in her guest house. A great story, devoured it in an afternoon

A feel good story with some great wisdom!

People at the WIllows guest house when they need a break from their lives, to regroup and figure out what lays ahead. Esme, the owner, doles out interesting and thoughful nuggets of wisdom via her stories and helps the guests walk through their issues.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I loved it! I’m sitting here with a big smile on my face!… I laughed out loud lots of times… I’m still chuckling. What a wonderfully delightful book this was!… Jam packed full of fun and laughs… Lots of light-hearted moments, emotional scenes and parts which will have you laughing out loud!… Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this book is truly a delight to read.

A heart warming and uplifting story of the characters that visit the guest house by the sea. A testament to the healing powers of salt water and the ocean. Beautifully drawn characters with sparkling dialogue.

Each character in this tale has unique problems, including Esme, the elderly lady in charge of this magical environment. Nothing, however, can stop Esme from listening and assisting her visitors in achieving their goals, no matter how difficult they may be. Everyone comes to the guest house to escape what’s going on in their lives while reading. Some require time away from their real lives to find answers and figure out what to do for themselves, while others simply want to spend time with family while Esme is recovering. She listens, advises, and offers them a warm place to stay. Everyone eventually became a family of friends.

This summer, 50-year-old Cora, who needs a break from her marriage and feels her life is slipping away, is ignored by her spouse. Phyllis, who comes to see us with her husband, son, and grandchild. Her spouse has health difficulties that she attempts to conceal, but the matter comes to a head, and she is forced to confront some changes. Finally, there’s Niamh, who is nearing 40 and is facing significant life decisions.
Marta, Esme’spropert hand lady who runs the guesthouse and lived with Esme for years after escaping an abusive relationship, is one of the novel’s standout characters. Esme could not function without Marta, who is more of a friend than an employee.

Lovely book!

The Willows, the name of the title guest house, is a place of respite for some, contemplation for others, escape for others and a great place for a family vacation for others. Owned by Esme and managed by Marta, the guest house has seen better days just as its owner has, but it’s still a wonderful home by the sea.

Almost everyone who checked in that summer was at some kind of crossroads in their lives. Phyllis and Kurt were facing a terrible disease, Niamha has a life changing decision to make, and Cora is unsure if her marriage is worth continuing. All found solace and resolution during their time, some coming from the words Esme inscribed in her guest books long ago.

I found this to be a touching story, set in Ballycove where the author has set other great books. I’m looking forward to the next one.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Esme might be sitting in the hall of the guest house in Ballycove- she's got a broken leg- but that doesn't mean she doesn't see everything. This is very much a novel of the family we make. In this case it's the family of women who come to the guest house seeking answers about things in their lives. The characters, to be honest, will be familiar to fans of the genre, but it's charming novel with. big heart, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I’ve read some of Faith Hogan’s previous novels but this is a real treat. An uplifting story of a guest house by the sea with the guests, staff and owner all facing challenges. Their individual stories and problems mesh together in a magical setting. An absorbing read which I highly recommend.

First book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more in the future. A group of women are at crossroads in their lives, can a stay at the Willows guesthouse help them clear their minds, aided by a chat with my favourite character, Esme?
Happy to recommend

This was such a heartwarming and uplifting read.
Esme is the owner of Ballycove, a lovely guesthouse by the sea. Esme is laid up after she has a fall, so it's left to her long-time friend Marta to welcome the guests.
Cora married to Michael for thirty years is fed up. She wants a change, so she stays at the guesthouse to work out what she wants from life.
Niamh finds herself pregnant by a married man. What does she want to do?
Phyllis, whose husband Kurt has the start of dementia.
Esme has wise words for each of her guests.
I would love a week in Ballycove.
I was invited to read this by the publisher Aria and Aries, so many thanks to them and Netgalley for the ARC.

I totally loved this book, it was interesting, varied and had lots of everyday situations in. I loved how the characters engaged with each other, just like real life. I couldn’t put it down, just had to get to the end and see what happens. There were lots of heart-warming and heart-breaking life stories going on, but it was wonderful how they entwined with each other, but there was a lot of love in this book, and it really shone through. Very moving and a thoroughly good read.

The Guest House by the Sea by Faith Hogan is a comforting book to read, with stories of the guests who stay at the guest house in Ballycove. Esme has run the guest house as long as people can remember but can she continue in her declining years with her sight failing and a fall which has meant a broken leg at the start of the season.
You meet the guests who all have their own stories to tell and questions that need resolving.
The book is a joy to read and as always Faith Hogan has another excellent book to offer her readers.
Highly recommended

Esme has run the guest house for as long as anyone in Ballycove can remember. But in her declining years, her sight is failing, and when she has a fall on the eve of the summer season, she is forced to take a back seat for the first time in her life.

From her chair in the entry hall, not much passes Esme by. There's Cora, the wife visiting indefinitely... without her husband; Niamh, the city professional with a life-changing decision to make; and Phyllie, the grandmother whose family is slipping away from her.

Esme's guests provide the colour that helps her keep her grip on the world. All of them have something they want to escape – or to hold on to. But can Esme help them find their way before the summer is over?

I adored this lovely gentle read which captivated me right from the very start. The characters were all wonderfully described and Esme was an absolute treasure. Each guest at the guest house were dealing with some problem or another in their lives. A lovely story with a very satisfactory ending.

A fantastic read which I really enjoyed. Esme owns Willow House, a guest house by the sea in Ballycove and though elderly and blind, she is a major part of the holiday experience. Marta, Esme’s right hand woman really runs the guest house now as well as being more of a friend to Esme than an employee. This book encompasses the stories of the guests who visit the guesthouse over a summer.
A beautifully written book, with engaging characters and a great storyline
I enjoyed every minute
Thank you to Netgalley, Aria and Aries and Faith Hogan for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review

What can I say about this book besides it’s pleasant, comfortable and pure escapism. It filled my head with ideas of visiting a quaint b & b and making memories and sorting out my thoughts. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a happy ever after story.

It's always exciting to discover a new author. Faith Hogan is new to me and I loved this novel. Brilliant characters, especially the wise old Esme. And a wonderful, almost magical setting in Ireland.

Highly recommended

Esme is getting older but her guesthouse continues.
Her oldest friend Phyllis is worrying
Niamh has a massive decision to make
Cora has had enough

They all meet at The Willows and the gentle environment and advise help move them to places they should be.

I am a Maeve Binchy fan and this had echoes of her quiet, strong writing where nothing happens but attitudes take a seismic shift

May I book at the Guest House ? i think it would be the right place to rest and relax.
A sweet and compelling story that made me smile and travel to lovely places.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Esme's has been the owner of the Guest House by the Sea for a long time. She is losing her eyesight, and worried about who will take over ownership of the guest house. Esme takes a fall and while she is in the hospital, guest start arriving.
The guest are each taking a break from the life they have been living. They each form a friendship, and help Esme. While there, they seem to rejuvenate their soul, see things differently, and maybe have a second chance at a life that makes them happy.
We see who they were when they came to the guest house, who they were becoming while there, and how life is after they leave. Sometimes you just have to take a little vacation by yourself, you realize the things you were missing, while thinking things wasn't as you thought they should be. Esme knows that the guest house by the sea will live on long after she is gone.
I received an ARC from Aria through NetGalley.