This was a stunning novel about a woman coming to grips with her husband's infidelity by returning to her Irish hometown and rediscovering a former love. Toibin writes beautifully and introspectively about complex experiences.

Thank you... Netgalley for the e-book & Simon & Schuster for the hard cover book. I thought the book started slow. Not until near the end, could I wait to turn the pages to see how the love triangle in Ireland and family drama back in Long Island turned out. I'm still not sure. Is there another part maybe another borough in New York that a trilogy may happen. We will have to wait and see..

The long-awaited follow up to Toibin's Brooklyn. This will be a hit for those who loved Brooklyn - I read them back to back and admit I liked the first story more, but both were highly enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Long Island by Colm Toibin!

I was a little surprised that I liked this book so much more than Brooklyn, which I know got many rave reviews but which I didn't care for much overall, though I had been very intrigued at the beginning.

I found the second part about Eilis, set 20 years later, mostly set in Ireland to be well-written and interesting, an exploration of old love, old habits, and returning home after a long absence; making decisions and weighing one's responsibilities, as well as determining what the heart truly wants.

I hadn't quite pinpointed what bothered me about both novels until a read a few reviews after finishing this one. Someone commented that the author didn't express very well the emotional aspect of what people were feeling so keenly and the light-bulb went off - that is what I felt was missing.

Still, I enjoyed the story, though not the ambiguous ending so much, but then I read there was a 3rd novel planned so it made a kind of sense, though I dislike being left in limbo meanwhile. Overall, I lean toward a 3.5 rating though not quite a 4.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an eARC of this novel before publication.

It was great to catch up with Eilis years after we left her in Toibin's first book, Brooklyn. I loved Brooklyn and getting to experience NYC with Eilis as she arrived from Ireland. We meet up with her years later in this new novel. Eilis is now a mother of two and living with her husband, Tony, on Long Island. Tony's family lives all on the same street and continuously pulls Eilis and her children in to their loud, Italian family gatherings. Eilis enjoys her life but all stops on a dime when a secret comes to light that makes her draw a line in the sand with her husband. Eilis makes the decision to fly home to Ireland for a stay with her mother as she prepares to celebrate her 80th birthday.

I loved getting to see Eilis in her home country of Ireland. It felt so authentically and delightfully Irish. The village characters are all there and Eilis's mother is exactly what you would expect of an Irish mother from the older generation. She made me laugh out loud so many times. It was fun to see Eilis's American children experience Ireland for themselves as Eilis reconnects with her past and the people who made her the person she is. Eilis is stoic and strong in such a quiet way. I admired her so much.

While the ending did admittedly feel abrupt, the writing was beautiful and the story grabbed me from start to end. I don't think you need to have read Brooklyn first, but I highly recommend you do so you get to know more about Eilis and where she came from. Toibin continues to put out great work. He is an author I will always look to pick up in the future.

Such a beautiful, sad, and infuriating book. So many characters drove me crazy as they just allowed life to happen and didn't just take control of events. Things just unfolded and somehow Eilis moved so slowly without taking a firm stand except for one issue And yet, I loved the book: I could picture all of it in my head. The characters had such different facets to how they behaved that, even as I wanted to shake them, I was proud of them for seizing control.

I re-read Brooklyn in preparation for reading Long Island and I'm so glad I did. It was wonderful to revisit Eilis's life. The three POVs took me deeper into the complexities of the story and Toibin's signature abrupt ending has me hoping we'll get another book about what happens next!

Thanks to Scribner for the copy to review.

Absolutely wonderful! A must read. A fabulous conclusion to "Brooklyn". You want to know these people even if you don't always love them.

I found this book very hard to get into and stay interested.
I found. The characters rather lacking in depth and they just seemed to be going through the emotions,
I wanted to read the book based on its premise but even failed to catch my interest for long.

Complex and addictive follow up to Brooklyn, Eilis and Tony 20 years later, tight in the family nest, his family. Betrayals, lies, and secrets push everyone in unexpected directions and Eilis is back in Ireland, where new and old complications add to the angst. Top notch domestic drama will keep you turning the page.

Brooklyn is probably my favourite book by Toibin, so I was wary of a sequel, especially one written and released so many years after the first. To an extent, I read this as a separate, new, story (also because it has been a while since I read its predecessor). It's written in the author's trademark deft, sparse but evocative style and I finished it in a few hours of travel which should tell you something about how engrossing it was. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I had known there would be yet another book after it. For much of the last third, I kept wondering how all the narrative threads would be resolved with so few pages left. Not knowing that there was a massive cliffhanger. I now await the third book.

After loving Brooklyn, I couldn't wait to see what had transpired in the lives of Eilis, Tony and family far and wide.
It certainly was a page-turner with an ending to be interpreted by the reader. I, often, wonder, if that technique employed by an author is purposely employed to make the reader think and delve into what might happen or if the author can't quite figure it out definitively for themselves.
There certainly is a lot to discuss and ponder but not entirely to my satisfaction. Interesting but frustrating--

I really wanted to like this story more than I did. I cannot fault the structure or writing style. Just got bored .

I was more than excited to step back into the lives of Eilis and Tony in Colm Toibin's Long Island. These two characters have been a favorite of mine and I couldn't wait to be able to read the continuation of their story.
The settings were vividly written.
However, I felt a bit of a disconnect with the characters this time. Everything felt very indecisive, and I wished for a different ending. For me it was disappointing that the storylines never fully wrapped up.
Thank you to Scribner and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3 out of 5 stars.

I loved revisiting Eilis's world a little more and seeing the house in Long Island. I think I will always be partial to Brooklyn, but if you loved it too you will enjoy Long Island.

What a masterfully written piece if fiction. An I tricate plot that is told in multiple viewpoints. Novel begins on Ling island and the pieces are sewed together in Ireland. Gorgeous. Not to missed!

In a sequel to Brooklyn, Eilis returns to Ireland amidst family drama in New York.

I loved Brooklyn and so I was very excited for this. After finishing it, I wish I’d never picked it up. First, I was so upset that we crafted this love story in Brooklyn only to have it shot down in the first chapter by an affair??? And there are other things we learn that undo some of the magic of Brooklyn. Then, she takes off to Ireland, which I was fine with, but I was expecting to be more love and passion with Jim but the writing was flat. And then the ending. I don’t even want to speak about it because I am so annoyed that it just leaves off with no conclusions. If you loved Brooklyn, I would suggest avoiding this one so that you don’t ruin a book you love.

I received my copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A worthy followup to Brooklyn. While it left me wanting to know more, I enjoyed reading about the characters and where life has taken them. I hope he writes more about Eilis!

I really loved this follow up to Brooklyn. Ugh, I hope there is another installment because I need to know what happens. I love his writing. Is there another book planned?!