‘From bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, comes another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.’
-The Bookshop Ladies (Publisher Quote)
[ About The Bookshop Ladies ]
Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.
She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.
As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband’s painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she’s grown to love.
[ My Review ]
The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan published June 6th with Aria Fiction and is described as an ‘uplifting story of friendship and community’. Faith Hogan takes us back to the west of Ireland to the seaside town of Ballycove, via Paris, and into the lives of Joy Blackwood, Robyn Tessier and Robyn’s mother Fern.
With a shocking confession from her dying husband Joy Blackwood embarks on a journey to Ireland, leaving the familiarity of Paris behind her, in search of the truth. Joy Blackwood was an American who had made a life for herself in Paris and had been looking forward to the retirement years with her art dealer husband, Yves Bachand.
‘She’d left the States after her mother passed away – it had only ever been the two of them. There was nothing to take her back there now. It sure was a long way from Ely, Minnesota, to Paris, but Joy felt as French these days as she felt American.’
Joy’s life changed on the evening of Yves’ retirement party when a tragic accident occurred. As Yves slipped away he dropped a bombshell and, following his death, Joy received shocking news via the solicitor. Yves had left a valuable painting to Robyn Tessier, a young woman who lived in Ireland. Joy’s immediate reaction is anger and with a determination to unravel the truth, she wraps up the painting, packs her bag and sets off on a journey that would unexpectedly change her life.
Robyn Tessier is an introverted young woman who has never known the truth about her origins in life. She grew up in Dublin under the loving care of her mother Fern and her stepfather but her heart has always been in Ballycove, the home of her maternal grandparents. When an opportunity arose, Robyn grabbed it and is now the proud but struggling owner of a bookshop in Ballycove. Robyn is floundering with the business end of things. The bookshops’ stock is old and dusty and the demand is non-existent among the locals. A few online sales is what she is dependent on but this is not sufficient to keep the doors open.
Fern lives in Dublin but makes frequent trips back to Ballycove. Fern is proud of what Robyn has achieved but is very aware that she is finding it difficult to put herself out there as a business woman. When Fern suddenly finds herself in a distressing situation she packs a bag and returns to her home by the sea, a place where she can breathe again and gain perspective on her life.
As the chapters open out, the paths of Joy, Robyn and Fern intersect in the most unanticipated manner. Joy came to Ballycove with an agenda, but she is stopped in her tracks and her plans come off the rails as she slowly gets entangled in the drama and lives of this small Irish community. Robyn and Fern both make discoveries that present new possibilities and adventure but are they brave enough to embrace them?
Faith Hogan is wonderful at creating gorgeous characters, As readers we can’t help but get tangled up in their lives, encouraging them to make certain decisions, take particular paths. In The Bookshop Ladies, we are transported behind the scenes of a warren-like dusty old bookshop that sounds fabulously inviting. As the story unravels, the books become as much a part of the story, providing a very atmospheric backdrop to this inviting and delightful novel.
The Bookshop Ladies is a treat for all who love that smell and sense of belonging that emanates from a trip to a bookshop. Faith Hogan has assembled a sparkling cast that all have an originality and warmth to their personalities. With the familiar setting of Ballycove, Faith Hogan has written another charismatic tale, one that will enchant and charm every reader.
‘Yes. It was good to have people around you that you loved, even if it was to sit quietly with them or to fall asleep while lost in thoughts and memories.’
(I just loved this quote so I had to stick it in here!)
[ Bio ]
Faith Hogan lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children and two very fussy cats. She has an Hons Degree in English Literature and Psychology, has worked as a fashion model and in the intellectual disability and mental health sector.
Website ~ https://faithhogan.com/
X ~ @GerHogan
