"The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers" by Sian O'Gorman is a delightful tale that explores the transformative power of saying 'yes' to life's unexpected opportunities. In this heartwarming story, Cat Jones, a woman hesitant to step out of her comfort zone, is thrust into the limelight when offered the chance to co-host a popular daytime show with TV royalty David Fitzgerald.

The narrative takes an intriguing turn when Cat, influenced by her mother's friend Lorraine, decides to embrace a month-long challenge of saying 'yes' to everything. What follows is a whirlwind of experiences that propel Cat into situations that test her limits, leading to a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.

The highlight of the story is Cat's involvement with the eclectic sea swimming tribe, The Forty Footers, in Dublin Bay. As she takes the plunge, she finds herself warmly welcomed into their community. Through this unexpected adventure, Cat unearths reservoirs of inner strength she never knew existed, enabling her to confront challenges such as a toxic ex and a budding romance with a handsome TV executive.

The author skillfully weaves together themes of friendship, empowerment, and the pursuit of adventure. Best friends Becca and Sinead, also in need of a reboot, add depth to the narrative as Cat strives to empower them to embrace risk and adventure over the safety of their old lives.

O'Gorman's writing is engaging and filled with heart, making the characters relatable and the storyline compelling. The exploration of the impact of taking risks, embracing change, and discovering one's inner strength resonates with readers on a personal level. The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers is a captivating novel that encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and consider the transformative potential of saying 'yes' to the unexpected twists that come their way.

In conclusion, Sian O'Gorman's "The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers" is a four-star gem that combines humor, heart, and a dash of romance to create a compelling narrative about the profound changes that can occur when one learns to say 'yes' to life's opportunities. A must-read for those seeking an uplifting and inspiring story of self-discovery.

Ymir’s is a good book. The main character is Cat. She is a news reporter. Her godmother wants her to say Yes to everything for a month as a challenge. She learns life is full of opportunities. This is a book about families and love opportunities.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of The Sandycover Sunset Swimmers by Sian O'Gorman from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I absolutely loved everything about this book and was unable to put it down until I finished it. It was such a positive, fun read and made me sad to finish it!

Perfect I loved it from the start. The friendships were great, the scenery and the pod of the book.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc to read
I’n exhange for an honest review.

The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers
by Siân O'Gorman

An extremely well written uplifting story following Cat Jones and the challenge set for her and her mum by their friend Lorraine to only say yes for a month and how it affects their life.

Fantastic characters and tales of the people that enter their very social circle had this challenge not happened. It shows how easy it can be to change someone’s life to help in the smallest way and bring new friends. The ultimate feel good summer read.

I have read and enjoyed two other books by the author. So I was looking forward to it. Sea swimmers seem to be a strong topic for authors to write about recently, or it might just be my own reading list! This is not the first one I have read of Wild Swimming, and since putting it down, I have come across two others between then and the writing of this review.
I like the positive and uplifting nature of this story. Although it is placed in the same world as the previous book I have read of hers, it is not a series followup in the strictest meaning of that word. There is one proper crossover moment, but the rest is standalone.
Cat works in television and likes her job, even if it means that she continues to face people reminding her of a big 'fail' on TV, which continues to make people laugh. At a random party hosted by her mother's friend, Cat is talked into saying yes to everything that comes her way in the near future. Her mother is planning to do the same. Having a low-key job, Cat does not think saying yes will put her in much danger, but her opening up to the opportunities also happens at the same time as actual opportunities. She is suddenly thrust into the limelight by hosting a live talk show, one where she has to share her screen with a beloved local idol.
She also agrees to become part of a group of sea swimmers, who then help her reimagine her world and grow a little.
The rest of the story follows her as she comes out of her shell and stumbles once or twice before emerging at the other end as someone with a new purpose in life.
There are several supporting characters, and they are all believable and entertaining. They provide guidance and reassurance while also sorting out their own lives. I like books with a large group of people to spend time with, and this was no exception. There are some lighter mischievous moments thrown in with heavier introspective ones, and there are several scenes of just women being nice to each other with no ulterior motives.
I highly recommend this book. This is a good place to begin, even as an introduction to the author!

I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had such a nice mixture of friendship and romance. I enjoyed it a lot.

The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers by Sian O'Gorman

Cat and her mum are challenged by their friend Lorraine to say yes to everything for a month. Cat finds herself with a lodger and his 10 year old daughter, sea swimming at the forty foot, accepting a new job on daytime tv with legend Davy Fitz and a fledgling romance too, while her mum says yes to a parachute jump in aid of the hospice! Then there's the knock-on effect on Cat's friends Sinead, struggling with motherhood, and Becca who feels stuck in a rut.

What a FANTASTIC book! I absolutely loved it - fabulous story, great characters, funny, poignant, serious and lighthearted.... it had it all! And I haven't read any other reviews but surely the author has been compared to Maeve Binchy.... her books have the same light touch, heartwarming and funny, yet dealing with some serious subjects in a sensitive way. I can't wait to read the next one! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

•𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕊𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕪𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕤𝕖𝕥 𝕊𝕨𝕚𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕤
•𝕊𝕚𝕒𝕟 𝕆'𝔾𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟

'𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝.'

Thanks to @rachelsrandomresources for my place on this tour & apologies for a late review post.

When I saw the description mentioned sea swimming I immediately thought of @blurb_and_written_word 🌊

My first book by @msogorman & what a little belter it was!

I.LOVED.IT!

A gorgeous feel good read. I felt invested in Cat & her friends. I could picture them all swimming together & having their post swim drinks.

If I'd had the time I'd have easily binged this. It brought a smile to my face!

5🌟

#books #bookstagram #rachelsrandomresources #sianogorman

An Irish book about friendship and romance. The main character is Cat and the plot revolves around her, her family, friends and work collegues. One of her mother's friends sets them the challenge to say yes to everything for a month. Cat lands up with a new lodger, a new dream job and a new hobby of sea swimming. These bringlots of new people into her social circle and new adventures.
A heartwarming story, which might be slightly too good to be true in places, it is an ultimate feel good read. Perfect for a holiday read . Characters are well portrayed and believable as well as supportive towards each other.

Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers in exchange for a review. This is the first book I have read from this author and it won't be the last. I loved the casual writing style and that each character in the book is given a "demon" they are fighting. They all seem to be rallying together and helping each other along. I doubt I'll be trying the "yes" pact Cat and her mom have been challenged with. It's a fast, delightful story with the ending you're hoping for! I will be recommending The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers by Sian O'Gorman, published by Boldwood Books

Yes! What a great book! Life is for living, like books are for reading, a quote from the book that will stay with me
This was such a heartwarming, fun read. I loved the characters and how the story developed. Cat was my favorite character and I loved how saying yes to everything for a month got her to where she is.
This is a first of this author's novels but certainly not the last! Fabulous writer.

My thoughts:

I love reading stories about women sharing an activity together. Learning about the characters lives and friendships always engages me and that was the case here. I very much enjoyed watching how the women swimmers were there for Cat as she faced challenges.

Cat is being offered an amazing opportunity but, like many, she can’t decide if she is ready for such a big risk. Readers will observe Cat’s growth as she “just says yes” for a while. They will also root for Cat’s friends Becca and Sinead.

Growth, risks, friendship, careers…all the elements of a good story here. I recommend this one for those who enjoy women’s fiction.

I loved this positive and uplifting book with its gorgeous storyline and a fun variety cast of characters! The concept of saying yes to everything for a full month is a scary concept! Cat saying yes to everything, leads to a lodger, swimming in the sea and career changes!

This book is the perfect summer read, and has me contemplating following Cat’s lead having a yes month!

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for a review copy of this book! Another author to add to the autobuy list!

Wow, lovely story as we return to Sandycove. Say yes to a challenge and see where you end up. Lovely read I realley enjoyed this. The characters were well developed and everything about this book was great. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

My Review: Back in Sandycove, we follow Catriona aka Cat on her journey of Just Say Yes, inspired or maybe put upon by her mother Annie and her friend. This sees her saying yes to a job change and sea swimming club. Sandycove sounds a fabulous place to visit and live. We also meet her friends Becca, Sinead who is mother to Rory, (I can't say I was a fan of this character), LouLou, who split with Callum who ends up couch surfing. I love the ladies of the Forty Foot. There really isn't much as wonderful as the Power of the Ocean. An enjoyable read, with some laughs, heartache and a lot of inspiration. Recommended.

Cat Jones is happy with her sheltered quiet life until her mom's crazy friends challenge her to say yes to everything for a month. Her first response is definitely no, but somehow she is convinced to give it a try. The first thing she says yes to is a nightly swim in the cold sea with a group of colourful characters. Next is to host a very popular daily show along the TV royalty, offered by a hot TV executive. She not only changes her life, one yes at a time but also inspires her two best friends to go along with her.

I love this book! I was sucked into the story from the very start and had to read it in one swoop.

It tells the story of how saying yes to life, can change it fundamentally. Cat goes through huge personal growth, finding new friendships, transforming old ones, and new jobs and meets all kinds of people along the way, along with a TV executive who makes her heart flutter.

The story is funny and inspirational with lots of friendships of all varieties and a little bit of romance in between.

I got the ARC, all thoughts are my own

Sian O’Gorman’s The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers is a delightful summer read perfect for Faith Hogan fans.

Having been pushed by her mother’s friend Lorraine to say ‘yes’ to everything for an entire month, when Cat Jones is given the opportunity of a lifetime to present one of Ireland’s top daytime shows alongside TV royalty David Fitzgerald, she decides to ignore her doubts and insecurities and accept this chance to take her career to the next level – even though she isn’t sure whether she is up to the task. Now that she’s taken the plunge, Cat simply cannot back out and she must acquiesce to everything that comes her way – even joining eccentric sea swimming tribe The Forty Footers in Dublin Bay.

When Cat had agreed to stop her fears from getting the better of her and just take a leap into the unknown and say yes to everything, she never imagined that she would not only reap the benefits professionally, but also personally as she quickly discovers. Warmly welcomed by her new swimming friends, Cat not only finds herself forging close bonds with these brave and fearless women, but she also finds the strength to deal with her toxic ex and also the courage to act upon her feelings for a very handsome TV executive.

At long last Cat has the world at her feet and with her life having opened up in the most wonderful of ways, can she inspire her friends Becca and Sinead to step out of the shadows and find the happiness which they so richly deserve as well?

Sian O’Gorman’s The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers is a charming, emotional and uplifting tale of romance, friendship and community full of hope, magic and humour. Perfect for curling up with, The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers is a gorgeous page-turner about taking a leap of faith, new beginnings and falling in love that will soothe the soul, tickle the funny bone and tug at the heartstrings.

When Catriona and her mother were set a challenge by a family friend to say yes to everything, they didn't expect to be pushed into doing things that scared them so much.

But as Catriona reluctantly joined the Sandycove Sunset swimmers for a swin in the sea, she didn't expect to find it so life changing. Swimming in the took her not just out of her comfort zone but into a place of zen! The fact that the swimmers, a motley group, were all so welcoming and supportive, made this experience even better.

Saying 'yes', soon saw her take on the big challenge of sitting in for a famous presenter and co-presenting one of Ireland's biggest TV shows. All was not smooth sailing, but she grew in confidence and found herself open to many more new experiences, including romance!

Cat's journey through this challenge is beautifully told by the author. But the book is simultaneously a story of a lot more people in her circle, who inspired by Cat, begin to say 'yes' to new experiences in their lives too.

The author weaves a lovely tapestry of emotions and creates such loveable characters, that make this book an experience that stays with you for a while.

The Sandycove Sunset Swimmers - Sian O’Gorman.

I love the concept of saying yes to everything. In #TheSandycoveSunsetSwimmers Cat is challenged to say yes to everything for a whole month, and her life is changed dramatically as a result.

Sian O’Gorman has given us a real treat in this delightful book.
I loved the trip back to Sandycove. With its pretty seaside setting and eclectic mix of characters.

Cat is a great lead. I liked her a lot and was completely invested in her journey and where her decision to say ‘yes’ would take her.

With some wonderful friendships and sweet romance, this book is one that will warm your heart and lift your spirits.
I can’t shout loudly enough about just how lovely this book is. It made me smile from the first to the very last page.
A must read for anyone who loves their books to give them a metaphorical hug.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for a digital arc of this title.