I loved this book, really enjoyed it. A beautifully written story about friendship, family, betrayal, secrets and new beginnings.
Widow Joy Blackwood is in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband Yves Bachand. After finding out he left a painting to a Robyn Tessier in his will, Joy leaves Paris to deliver the painting in person. This takes her to Ballycove in Ireland and a job in a bookshop.
You are just drawn into the story right from the beginning. I was totally hooked and couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed the interweaving stories told through different perspectives of Joy, Robyn and Fern, who are well developed, strong and interesting female characters. All the characters are well written. I just loved Albie and how he welcomed Joy into his family.
I loved the setting of the bookshop and the descriptions of Ballycove, written in a way that makes you picture yourself right there walking along the beach, looking in all the little nooks of the bookshop and sitting outside with a coffee enjoying the view.
Overall, a cosy emotional and warm hearted captivating read. Definitely recommend this one.
With thanks to #NetGallery @ariafiction #AriaAndAries for an arc of #TheBookshopLadies by @FaithHoganAuthor in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 6 June 2024.

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hagan

Having read this author before , I knew I was in for a treat by reading this. I was not disappointed.
Great plot and characters , and mainly set in Ballycove , Ireland.
Would recommend.

Faith hogan is an absolutely incredible author, I just love her style and how her characters work so well together once again another amazing read.

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

Title: The Bookshop Ladies
Author: Kirsty Hogan
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting from this read but yeah, this weren’t it. The title and cover drew me in, and don’t get me wrong it’s a cute feel good story, it’s just a tad predictable and boring.

The characters were ok and the setting was sweet, and that’s about all I have to say unfortunately 😅😅

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it 🤷🏽‍♀️

What a gentle, lovely read! I really enjoyed this book. This isn't my first Faith Hogan book and it won't be my last.
Three lady's lives are entwined by one man. Not a love triangle but something quite different. An affair, a daughter and an artist; all linked by one magical Irish town and its bookshop. Simply charming!

A Faith Hogan book is always going to be a comforting read, and The Bookshop Ladies didn't disappoint. Feel good, heart-warming and a book about books always gets my vote.

We travel from Paris to Ballycove and the three main characters are Joy, Fern and Robyn. Their stories are interlinked and complex. A secret revealed could have devastating consequences but the women are all so awesome that it becomes the glue that binds them.

It was such a joy to return to Ballycove and this human interest story was beautifully written and a joy to read.

Yves Bachand a well know renowned and respected figure in the Art world lives in Paris with his wife Joy. Their life is about to begin a new chapter when things take a turn for the worse and go horribly wrong.
What will be the next step for Joy? And will she find the answers she seeks?

The book features three very strong and interesting female characters, all in their own ways. Joy, Fern Tessier and her adult daughter Robyn Tessier.
From the start of the book I was drawn in and hooked. An absolutely lovely read.
Friendship, love, loyalty and family bonds.
I could picture every aspect of the bookshop, and so would have loved to have been able to visit, choose a book and have a coffee there.
Simply delightful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

I have already read several of Faiths books set in Ballycove and as always this one didn’t disappoint. As a reader and lover of bookshops I was invested from the beginning even though it started in Paris.They say it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to open a successful bookshop. How the story came together across genarations and how the main protagonists were connected and came together is what made this a joy to read.

The Bookshop Ladies is a touching and charming story set in Ireland. The plot begins with Joy discovering that her husband had a daughter (Robyn) and has left an expensive painting to her in his will. Joy travels to Ireland to find her and begins to volunteer at her bookshop. The bookshop becomes the heart of the story, symbolising dreams, second chances, and community spirit.
Whilst the plot is perhaps predictable, it’s a delightful read with well-developed characters.

Heartbreak and Humour. As he lay dying, Joy's husband Yves tells her he has a daughter. He has left her a valuable bequest, so Joy decides to travel to Ireland to deliver it. She finds herself working in a bookshop with a resident tortoise! Love the reference to The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club.

Such a delightful story. Reading about Ballycove feels like coming home.
The characters are so rounded and believable and even the baddies are not so bad.
The descriptions of Ballycove make me want to walk along the beach, then sit in a comfy chair outside of the bookshop and soak up the atmosphere.
Well done Faith Hogan.

I love books about books, from writers/publishers to cosy bookshops, and this delightful book was such a cosy read. I loved the interweaving stories and seeing the different perspectives.

I was rooting for Robyn to find love, and it was very different from who I expected.
I admired the forgiveness and selflessness of Joy and think she's an incredible character.
I loved the drama and support, and of course, I found the found family aspect. And the subtle references to other books by Faith were perfect.

I adored this.

I read this book over two sittings, I enjoyed it that much! We start in Paris and end up in Ballycove with the main characters, Robyn and Joy, later to be joined by Fern, Robyn's Mum. This is a story of if you have a dream you need to work to achieve it - but it made me smile at many points whilst reading it, at the characters (lots of love for Albie!) and I ended it happily satisfied at reading a hug of a book.

What a lovely book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Robyn starts a bookshop in Ballycove where she grew up, something she has always wanted to do. The shop needs work and she inherited books in the shop and also paid for boxes of them from the last person who ran the shop. Fern is Robyn’s mother who is married but things go wrong and she comes back to Ballycove from Dublin for a bit of TLC. In the meantime Joy arrives in Ballycove from Paris. Joy was married but her husband died on a car crash. She was not injured but at the hospital her husband uttered his final words which shocked her and made her feel her marriage was not what she thought it was. Joy went to Ballycove to fulfil a legacy in his Will. Joy started to help out at the bookshop and eventually the story of the reason why she is there comes to light. The three women have their moments especially when Fern realises Joy’s secret. Some drama along the way but the book ebbs and flows with drama and love, it is a must to read. So far as the characters are concerned, I loved them all but Albie. I need an Albie in my life

A wonderfully uplifting story of the important things in life - family, friendship, community but also secrets, betrayals and consequences. Set mostly in Ireland this is a perfect summer read. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book.

Joy is happily married and unfortunately could not have children, coming back from her husbands retirement party they are in a car crash and on the way to the hospital he declares he has a daughter then he dies. when the will is read he leaves a painting to his daughter Robyn who lives in Ireland.
So Joy goes to Ireland to take the painting to Robyn who owns a book shop that is loosing money, but things get out of hand and Joy ends up working as a volunteer in the shop and they start to get closer with her and the close community including Robyn`s mam Fern, but she still has to tell Robyn about the painting and who she is.
A brilliant book about friendships. very well written and very tearful.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review.

When Joy Blackwood’s husband dies suddenly, she is shocked to discover that he has left a painting to Robyn Tessier. Becoming intrigued, wondering who she is, Joy decides to take the painting to the small village of Ballycove to discover the reasons why.

On arriving in the village, she becomes involved with Robyn, who runs a small unsuccessful bookshop. Developing a supportive friendship with her and others in the village, Joy doesn’t want to leave. Lots of great characters make up the storyline, with Robyn, who is shy and lacking confidence, Fern, her mother, and Albie, an engaging old man. Joy finds a welcoming community which draws her in. Chapters of the book are written by various characters, giving a more rounded viewpoint.

The book is about family, relationships, betrayal, and secrets to explore. However, when Joy’s secret reason for visiting the village is exposed, the atmosphere becomes tense and her visit seems threatened.

The book is well written with its twists and turns, and other stories woven into the main thread, it makes an engaging read.

This was my first book by Faith Hogan and I have to say that it was a delight to read. I loved the descriptions of Ballycove, and that amazing bookshop with all it's hidden cubby holes and shelves and shelves of books.

It was an interesting journey that Joy had to take, from learning at the very last moment that her husband had a daughter that she knew nothing about. I liked the little flash backs so that we got to see what really happened, and how it all interlinked and was woven together so well. Robyn never felt like she fitted in and now she knows why.. Joy enters her life and helps and supports her before Robyn is even aware of who she is and the significance she holds. Joy allows Robyn to flourish and believe in herself and open herself up to love, and to get rid of past dead weight relationships that she couldn't see were toxic for her at the time.

It was told beautifully and Joy was really taken into the family by Uncle Albie long before she told everyone who she was. I loved how the notion of family wasn't just linked by blood, but by love, and Joy was excepted and loved by all.. I was totally invested on the characters right from the start and I loved every minute of it.

This is the first book I have read from this author and I will definitely be looking to read more. The story had everything I look for in a great read. Interesting plot with wonderful settings. The characters are interesting and people who I would love to meet. All in all an excellent read which I thoroughly recommend.

A great feel good book outlining the strength of the female characters. At the end of the day family comes first. Not your typical romantic novel but it ticks all the boxes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the advance copy of this book.