Escape to the Irish Village
by Ann O'Loughlin

Historical Fiction ~ Starting Over ~ Quirky Locals ~ Secrets ~ Social Media ~ Fashion ~ Village Politics ~ Family ~ Friendship ~ Second Chances ~ Women’s Fiction ~ Recommended

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for the complementary audio copy, in exchange for my honest review.

A heartwarming and beautifully crafted novel. The writing is rich and atmospheric, transporting the reader into the heart of Ireland. With memorable characters, this book was a joy to read.
Many thanks to Bookotoure and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a heartwarming and emotionally rich tale of love, friendship, and second chances. The story follows Emma Wilson, who flees her broken marriage and seeks solace in a quaint Irish village. There, she begins working for the vivacious Judith McCarthy, an elderly woman whose zest for life is contagious despite the weight of secrets she harbors. The story's setting—a picturesque village by the sea—creates an enchanting backdrop for Emma’s journey of self-discovery and healing.

O'Loughlin expertly weaves together themes of rebuilding one's life, the complexities of family, and the importance of community. Emma's slow-burning romance with Judith’s son, Miles, adds tension and tenderness, as the two characters move from adversaries to potential partners. Their evolving relationship is a highlight, offering hope that love can be found even after heartbreak.

However, The Irish Village is about more than just romance. It explores the struggles of holding on to the things that matter—be it home, tradition, or personal identity—when forces beyond your control threaten to take them away. Judith and Emma must face the looming threat to their beloved village and, through their growing bond, find the strength to fight for their home.

Overall, this novel is a lovely, feel-good read with a rich sense of place, relatable characters, and an uplifting message about resilience. Emma’s journey, in particular, reminds readers that home isn’t just a place—it’s where you find peace and belonging. Fans of cozy, small-town stories with heartfelt emotion will enjoy this book.

Lovely Irish storywith great characters. Emma is a lovely character who is running away from heartbreak and she and Judith make a great pair with their bonding over clothes and videos. I really liked Miles as well as it is understandable how he viewed the unlikely friendship from a distance and once he thawed he became a lovely character who only really wanted to look after his mother. Full of warmth and great characters it is a book that you don't want to put down

A really enjoyable book with relatable and believable characters. Strong plot development with realistic scenarios, with a sprinkle of being in the right place at the right time/falling on your feet, but all very enjoyable.

I’ve read several books by this author and enjoyed them all. 4* a good read.

This was a beautiful, hopeful, and uplifting book. I enjoyed reading it and following the characters as they worked together.

This book is a life lesson on the meaning of true friendship, where friends accept you even on an off day and when times are hard.
It’s about learning to break down barriers and unearthing the real person.
The story is based at Killcawley where Emma seeks refuge when escaping a hostile relationship. Employed by eccentric Judith McCarthy who is very much into fashion and likes to promote herself online, which Emma can help her with. The fly in the ointment being Judith’s son Miles who is suspicious of Emma’s reasons for wanting to live and work in some small village when she is a legal secretary with secrets.
Judith and friends Jack, Marsha and Hetty decide that Emma may need looking out for! There is a lot of spirits consumed in the telling.
Personally I found the book lengthy.

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

This book hooked me right away. It was full of feeling, and the characters were heartfelt and the stories heart wrenching. This author always writes a book that catches my attention, is in a beautiful location and has such rich characters.

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

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed it a lot!

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

What a lovely book so many emotions and felt like I was actually in Ireland. Can’t wait to read more

A love story set in Killcawley, Ireland about families, friends and the power of social media.

Emma Wilson arrives at Killcawley Village in Ireland hoping to find a safe place.

Judith McCarthy aged 75, lives in a large house on Killcawley Estate and needs someone to help manage the house and be a companion.

Judith likes to get together with her small group of friends and have regular supper clubs where they share delicious food and lots of gossip. Judith also has a TikTok account where she does daily posts wearing outrageous outfits and fancy hats.

Emma and Judith become good friends as Emma settles in and helps Judith with her social media accounts. Emma has secrets and is afraid of being found. Judith and her friends also have secrets.

Lots of suspense with Emma constantly afraid of her ex-husband finding her.

I loved the descriptions of the clothes and hats Judith wore for her TikTok appearances.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a chance to read the E-Book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Escape To The Irish Village is a touching story of female friendships and found family. The characters are delightful and the story will stay with you long after you finish reading. There’s a little bit of everything in this book - drama, the many facets of love, buried secrets, fighting for a cause and second chances.

I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6424522111

And Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5_2Oi6AQ1E/?igsh=NHJiOG45MnptaTg0

I received a widget of this book from Bookouture for a book tour.

Gosh, this story got me all in my feelings. I was a big baby reading this one. It was filled with joy, sorrow, life, family, love, sacrifice, and freedom. Oh that beautiful freedom.

This beautiful story was so rich with friendship, family, and community. It will truly make you stop and think about the people in your life, and make you value and appreciate them that much more.

Each character in this book was so well developed. It felt as if you knew them, as if you were in that little Killcawley Village in Wicklow county Ireland with them. (I am totally obsessed with the little village, take me there, please!) Emma, and her story of why she fled to Ireland because of her craptacular husband. Judith and her incredible quirky heart.

I really enjoyed the suspense and this one, it kept me reading way later than I should have. There is domestic violence descriptions, so just be warned.

A great read from Ann. Her books never disappoints us. This one tells the tale of Emma who turns up in a rural Irish village and gets a role as assistant to Judith who is a wonderful colourful character with a love of fabulous clothes and hats but who has a few secrets in her past. Emma has her own secrets. A wonderful story and the descriptions of the lake and house are spectacular.

Emma Wilson escapes a bad marriage and goes to work with Judith in a manor house in a small village. Judiths son Miles is determined that she get fired. Then comes a threat to destroy the house and the village and they all must work together to save their way of life.

Where to even start with this review.
I've read other books by the author but none quite like this one.
My emotions were on an absolute roller coaster while I read this one and I do wish the book could have gone on longer or maybe a sequel it.
Not many books can capture my heart and soul such as this one set in Killcawley, a small fictional village in Ireland.
Emma, escaping from an abusive marriage runs as far as she can where she thinks her husband won't find her. The description of Killcawley Estate took my breath away. Sprawling, spectacular I want to go there right now.
Owner, Judith is a quirky seventy-five-year-old woman who enjoys doing fun Instagram videos of all her spectacular vintage fashions. It works out well as Emma is hired as a personal assistant to Judith who in turn gets someone to shoot her Instagram videos. Though Judith enjoys her fashions her videos also have a more serious side to them, help save the manor from a buyout and destruction.
The longer Emma is there the more she gets to know the other staff of the estate and Judith's friends. Judith considers all her staff as family including Emma. I enjoyed seeing the tight bond the characters have with each other. The book had a bit of suspense and a feel of danger to it that was revealed as time went on. Emma and Judith both have secrets they have kept for various reasons, and it really brought the story into a clearer picture when they were revealed. Reading this I felt close to the characters as though I were part of the family observing the going on's firsthand.
I could barely put this down and I'm off to see what I've missed by the author I've yet to read.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Escape to the Irish Village is the first title I have read from Ann O'Laughlin and I was torn up, chewed extensively, spat out but then glued back together and given a huge cuddle. While there are TW's for certain difficult themes, the main warning should be to stock up on tissues and eyedrops because you will need them throughout and after!

Ee my soul is fractured I swear down

There is a beautiful balance to this novel. Where your heart is put through a blender, you get a luxury spa bath, where you are made to walk on a floor in wet socks, you get a huffing great big choccie cake, that sort of thing

Family, friends, and always moving forward and grabbing life by the short and curlies. Absolutely brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and the authorAnn O'Loughlin for this compelling ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

#EscapetotheIrishVillage #NetGalley

I read into the early hours. I was intrigued by Judith who loved being the centre of attention and dressing up to the nines, especially for evenings with her friends.

When mysterious Emma answered an advert for Judith's assistant, things changed quite quickly. They formed a special bond and eventually secrets begin to emerge.

I couldn't help but shed tears as I got near to the end but oh my emotions were running high.

I loved this book. Thank you netgalley.

Desperate to get away,
To find somewhere safe to stay,
A new job, new home and a fresh start
A time to heal her broken heart.....

Emma runs to the Irish village mentioned by her gran
Hoping there a new start she can plan.
Finding a new job at the manor house there
And a role in the community that take good care.

Judith is a tik tok enthusiast who
Enjoys sharing her hats and dancing, too.
She may be seventy-five but she's still going strong
And she and Emma are soon getting along!

When Judith's son is antagonistic and argumentative, too,
Emma isn't quite sure what she should do.
As attraction builds dare she take a chance
Or should she forgo any chance of romance?

There's a great sense of community, with the manor at its heart
Which others are wishing to tear apart.
Can they fight the developers and thwart them, too?
Working together that's what they'll try to do!

A heartwarming story, with grief in the mix,
As folks work together any problems to fix.
With revelations and secrets threatening to tear them apart
You have to hope they'll all learn to share and listen to their heart!

For my copy of this book, I say thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Escape To The Irish Village' by Ann O'Loughlin.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Ann O'Loughlin, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture Anonymous

Publication date 18th April 2024.

This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'the Irish House' which I would also highly recommend!!

This novel consists of 40 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

'Escape To The Irish Village' 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 Ann discusses/includes Cancer and Domestic Abuse.

OMG! OMG!! I cannot remember the last time I was so gutted to come to the end of a book!! I absolutely fell in love and it genuinely felt like I was packing my bags and being whisked away from my Irish holiday when I read the last page. Absolutely gorgeous!!!

The book is so well written with its stunning and vivid descriptions that I genuinely felt that I was standing with Emma throughout feeling the Irish breeze in my hair and smelling the ocean. The synopsis and cover suited the storyline perfectly.

Ann what on Earth are you doing to me!!! I am writing this with tears streaming down my face and it is all YOUR fault!!! Seriously, I do NOT cry easily and its normally only when it comes to animals but you managed it twice in a row with one being nothing to do with animals!!! Seriously, make sure you grab the tissues and clear your schedules before you pick this book up because not only will you not be able to put it down but it will eave you with tears streaming down your face too! This book is a stunning story of loss, fear, regrets, heartbreak, family, friendship, trust, love, grief and moving on with life. It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with heartbreak, family, love, loss, secrets, friendship, caring, moving on, and so much more. Ann's writing and descriptions are so evocative I really felt I was right next to Emma the whole time. While you are reading you can see the gorgeous surroundings of Killcawley Estate, feel the love and friendship and smell the Irish air. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with Emma and going through her stress, pain, heartache, joy, fear, love, struggles, hope and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, anger and forgiveness and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying my kindle around with me to read it every chance that I got and I had tears absolutely streaming down my face several times and both happy and sad!! In this book we meet Emma Wilson who worked as a legal secretary but has moved from bustling London to beautiful Ireland. Emma finds an advert for a personal assistant and goes to the Killcawley Estate for an interview. She meets the delightful, bonkers and larger than life Judith McCarthy who explains that she has only advertised for the job as her son Miles who is living in America doesn't think she should be living on her own and worries about her. Judith offers Emma the job with free bed and board and Emma instantly agrees. Judith questions Emma why she would leave her job as legal secretary to downgrade to her assistant but Emma is reluctant to tell her. The reality is that Emma is fleeing an abusive relationship with her husband and has run away to escape him. Emma settles into life at 'The Big House' and so begins a beautiful friendship with not only the exuberant hat loving, overdressed and social media obsessed Judith but also Judith's friends Hetty and Marsha as well as Jack who works the farm and runs the estate. Emma has lots of fun uploading videos to TikTok with Judith, enjoying their themed supper clubs and more but Judith can at times be tiring so Emma likes to escape to the lake to watch the swans and skywalk. However, life at Killcawley estate changes when Judith's son Miles returns to the house and is not happy with Emma being there and has his suspicions of her. Along with Miles wanting Emma to leave there is also uproar when there are plans for a new motorway to pass through the estate. Can Judith, Emma and the gang save Killcawley Estate? Is Emma the only one keeping secrets? Will Miles get his own way and have Emma removed from the house? Grab your copy of this absolute beauty to find out for yourself and I promise you wont regret it! This book is a stunning story filled with emotions about love, self-discovery, hope, healing and grief that sweeps you into the stunning Killcawley Estate, Ireland where secrets are held, hope is given and lives are changed. Ann made Killcawley and the estate come alive and portrayed the village life perfectly. Ann describes life in a small community perfectly with everyone knowing who is who, living in a small village myself I see this all the time. I love the fact that there is a hint of mystery and some suspense weaved through the storyline as the reader discovers that Judith is hiding secrets that could change several lives. I would absolutely love to see Ann bring Killcawley Estate back to life in another of her stunning books and I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will as I would love to read more about Emma and what happens next along with many of the other characters. I was devastated when I turned the last page and realised I had come to the end of my holiday there and had to unpack my suitcase and return to rainy Wales!! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down and devour it in one sitting like I did!!! I was gobsmacked by the twists at the end which I did not see coming so a HUGE congratulations Ann for managing to shock me. It isn't an easy feat as I have read so many books of different genres that it gets harder and harder to not work out what is happening, especially in romance books so a huge congratulations is in order!! This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and I cannot wait to jump straight into the next book by this amazing author and have already added all her books to my wish list. This would make a stunning movie and a gorgeous series (Hint, Hint Ann ;) !!

Clear your schedules as you will not be able to put this stunning page turner down!!

The characters are strong, well rounded, realistic and I became completely invested in Emma, Judith and Miles. I felt each of their pain, heartbreak, betrayal, guilt , anger, sorrow and so much more. My heart broke for each of them who went through so much change and more (but I can't say more as I don't want to spoil the storyline for anyone). they became to feel like friends very quickly and I really was devastated to have to say Goodbye to them at the end. All of the characters were such strong people that they will stay with me for a long time!!! I have got to mention the absolutely Benny, Judith's dog!!! I am a huge animal lover so any pets and animals in books get bonus points for me!! I loved how each of the characters had their own unique personalities and although at times I shouted at each of them for one reason or another through the pages I still absolutely loved them, well all apart from Emma's husband who I wont waste any more words on, and each of them played their parts absolutely perfectly. I was both happy and devastated by the events at the end of the book and just when I thought Ann had finished brining me to tears something else happened that had me starting again!! I loved Judith's larger than life personality, watching Emma go from strength to strength, Jack's caring and sensitive personality, Miles protective side of his mother (although it did take a while for me to warm to him) as well as Marsha and Judith's hilarious and beautiful friendship! Regardless of how I felt about the characters they all worked perfectly together to make this gorgeous book an unputdownable memorable one that will send you off onto a stunning holiday away to Ireland!! Ann did a fantastic job of bringing each and every one of them to life and I would love to meet them all (well, almost all) again. Another hint Ann!!

Congratulations Ann on an yet another absolutely stunningly beautiful unputdownable book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the exact reason taht you are on my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the first two chapters of Ann's 'The Irish House' which i have actually read myself, fell in love with and would highly recommend!!

Overall an absolutely stunning, emotive page turner that will have you heading off to Ireland in the blink of an eye.

386 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with Kindle Unlimited and £9.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

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

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