About Us is a character-driven novel about three women: Ann, Alice, and Orla. While they are of different ages and points in their lives and relationships, they are each going through their own trying times, and share one thing in common: their therapist.

I am always intrigued by novels about relationships. I’ve been married for a number of years, and I know that relationships are hard work. No relationship is perfect, and Sinéad Moriarty explored the many issues that couples face. She kept it normal, raw, and honest. She didn’t try to make it glossy and ideal. The emotions and feelings felt real, dealing with the nitty gritty that isn’t always easy to be open about, even with the ones that you love.

I was equally invested in all three of the characters’ lives. Ann was an empty nester, who found her life with her husband of thirty-eight years to be repetitive and stagnant. Alice was a stay-at-home mom with four demanding children and a husband who spent more time at the office than at home. Orla was a teacher whose past created pain and difficulty in her dating life, leaving her hopeless and lonely.

This is a fast-paced novel that alternates between the three couples. It was like being a fly on the wall in people’s most private lives and conversations. I felt for the characters, was angered on their behalf, saddened, and had my share of laughs. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to put the book down. One chapter quickly became two, then three, and so on.

Some of the characters had qualms about opening up to a therapist and admitting that their relationships needed help. It was about being honest with each other and themselves, even when it was tough and uncomfortable to put it all out there on the table. They needed to realize what they each wanted as individuals in order to express it adequately to their partners. They needed to share their shortcomings, fears, and dreams. Moriarty never made me feel as though everything was going to work out for these couples. She kept it honest and real, and kept me on pins and needles in the process.

About Us is a captivating novel that I just couldn’t read fast enough. My favorite element about this book was that the emotions and relationships felt so authentic. It could have been about anyone. It could have been about someone you know: a neighbor, a close friend, a family member…or maybe even you.

*5 Stars

I think one thing missing from a lot of contemporary women's fiction is representation of couples at different stages of their of their relationships. We tend to focus on either new relationships or those that are extremely well seasoned. Rather than seeing the years in the middle.

I very much enjoyed the maturity with which this story was told. it was interesting to see the impact that kids, jobs, and busy years can have on a couple's life together. This is another book that I felt did a very good job of addressing real life issues without making them feel overly dramatic. It felt very genuine. The one thing I did find lacking was the dialogue. It did often feel a bit awkward and sometimes as though it was a little bit repetitive. I think that these stories themselves were better than the way they were written. Does that make sense? I will say that this book felt very sincere and very sweet. A quick easy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC.

4.5⭐️

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada, and Sinead Moriarty for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I REALLY enjoyed this story! I love that it centres around people of different ages, and deals with genuine concerns within marriages and relationships. It also dives into being an empty-nester and what that means, having young kids and the impact the busy day-to-day life can have, as well as being young and finding love, but not feeling as though you are deserving of it.

The author also has a main theme of sex in all three storylines. It is interesting to see what sex means to each of the main characters, and the role it plays in the troubles being dissected. I really enjoyed the growth and development in each characters lives, especially In Orla, and to be able to witness the “ah-ha” moments in some of them is so fun to watch!!!

This story not only has heart, but is so representative of real life issues. It is genuine, it is real, and it is not all sunshine’s and rainbows. The answer is rarely easy and being honest can be even harder, even with someone you have been with for a long time. I will say, I DID yell at my book when it ended. If you choose to read it, you’ll understand why haha.

A worthwhile read, in my opinion, and there were some new and important aspects of sex that were brought up that I think were great! It is a story that shows you that you truly do not know what someone else is going through.

3 couples, lots of drama!

We all have our own lives, relationships and so on and so forth, so reading this book and going through the lives of three couples, it's really interesting to see the similarities and the contrasts that are unique to each of them. We never really know what we have in front of our eyes and this book illustrates that very clearly. What an enjoyable and heartfelt read this was! It reminded me very much of Love Actually, so if you're a fan of those types of stories, you'll enjoy this!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the earc in return for an honest review.

Ann and Ken, Alice and Niall , Orla (and later, Paul)....every reader will find someone to connect to in this novel. It's an inside look into relationships, marriage, family and the burdens we carry around inside ourselves. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. The characters were real, with relatable problems and challenges. Even though the book tackles some serious issues, it remains lighthearted and fun to read.

Did not finish, barely even started, the description was more captivating then the "whiny, woe is me, I feel so sorry for myself" of every single character in the first 7% of this story. Who has time to read such shit, I thought we as a society were done with books that are so pathetic. And I like unlikable characters. This was just the same shit as what was "cool" but toxic to write about 15 years ago and I am not interested in wasting my time.

I was ready to change the (reading) pace by venturing out of my usual psychological thrillers when this book landed in my inbox. Grateful to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for providing me with an ARC of Sinead Moriarty's About Us in exchange for an honest review.

Though it tackles some serious subject this book still managed to come across as fun and lighthearted. The story revolves around 3 couples at very different stages in their relationships but one thing in common - they all find themselves telling their story to a family therapist. Ann and Ken have raised two kids, built a life together and now at the doorstep of retirement one of them is wondering if this is all there is to marriage and life. Alice is a stay at home mom of 4 and though she's always wanted a big family lately things don't feel as fulfilling as she thought they would. There is a lot of love between her and her lawyer husband Niall but sometimes life gets so busy that that connection might start slipping away. And finally, dedicated school teacher Orla has lots of patience and love for her students but struggles to allow those same things in in her personal life.

Overall I enjoyed the story and got to care about the characters in it and their destinies though parts of dialogue felt a bit awkward and repetitive. The relationship problems characters in the story face seem overall relatable and I really liked that there was a lot of grey territory and not clear cut good vs bad characters. I would recommend this to those readers looking for something quick and easy to get through.

About Us is the first book I’ve read of Moriarty’s, so I went into it with a fresh set of eyes. I really enjoy multi-POV stories that all end up intertwined, so the writing style was a hit for me. Though the book tackles some heavy relationship curveballs, I still found it somewhat lighthearted to read.

About Us tackles authentic scenarios in relationships, varying through different stages, with problems that ultimately lead them to the same therapist. I really admired that Moriarty chose to cover topics that aren’t often discussed. Having a woman’s perspective, I felt so deeply for each of the women in this novel, and although I couldn’t directly relate much to the characters, I still felt incredibly attached to them by the end of the book.

Their very real-life problems were both endearing and heartbreaking to read, but I think that’s what I loved most about this book. As I’ve never read any of Moriarty’s work, I’m not sure if this is standard for her, but if it is, I absolutely love it.

Moriarty has found a way to write about heavy topics with humour and sincerity--something I think we all can relate to in our own lives. I am certain this will not be my last Moriarty book.

Thanks to Sinead Moriarty, Sandycove Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

About Us is a book that will make you laugh out loud, feel sorry for some of the characters but mostly you will cheer them on.

Two couples and one single lady all hear about the new therapist in town and all end up attending for therapy with Maggie.

Their names are Niall and Alice, Anne and Ken and Orla.

They all have their own issues, their problems are so realistic that I could relate to them.

Their stories are told with humour, compassion and just good advice.

It is interesting and poignant as you watch them all struggle, some better than others to understand and make changes that will make their relationship stronger.

I really enjoyed About Us and will certainly think of the book for a long time to come.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Penguin House UK for a book that I really enjoyed.

On the surface About Us seems like it might be a light and fluffy book to read. But, it actually becomes much more than that.

This book revolves around two couples and one single woman, all of whom are having problems with their relationships. They all seek out the help of a councillor. Throughout the book, we witness their interactions with each other and their journey through counselling. This is not one of the books where all the characters lives eventually intersect with the others. There are 3 distinct stories, the commonality is their councillor, Maggie.

The problems are realistic…..I think many readers will be able to identify with the problems. The age of the characters ranges from young to middle age to ready for retirement. Some of the story is told with humour. I really liked that aspect as it lightens some of the more serious moments.

This was a fast read, an easy read. I found myself invested in each of the relationships. I was cheering for the outcome that each of the characters was hoping for. The ending was satisfying for me.

This is my second book by Sinead Moriarty. Again, this book may look like chick lit fluff, beach read. While I did read this one sitting by the ocean, both books had much more substance and depth than I expected. A pleasant surprise. I need to check out some of her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Readers Copy.

This book is about three couples, who are searching for answers to better their relationship. The couples lives are intertwined in smalls ways. Ann and Ken's daughter is friends with Orla. Orla is the teacher of Alice and Niall's daughter. These are their stories...

Ann and Ken are empty nesters and Ann is feeling it most. Alice and Niall are a couple with four children and are both at the end of their rope because of it, but for different reasons. Orla is a teacher falling in love with a students father, but has a long history sexual issues.

What I liked about this book is it was different. It wasn't a romance per say but a book about romantic relationships and their ups and downs. It showed the good and bad and told both sides of the story. I really liked that Niall was the one to ask for therapy as it is usually the woman doing so and it was refreshing to see that.

Having been in all three of these situations at one point in my life...new love...married love...empty nest love...I could certainly relate to these couples, especially the women. I wanted to go and meet them all for coffee and a chat. Sinéad Moriarty takes a sensitive approach to the issues and also taught me a thing or two. The writing is brilliant and the dialogue is real, even the children. I really cared about the characters and I wanted them to work things out and stay together, not all of them were likable but they had reasons for being the way they are. The secondary characters were interesting too and I enjoyed getting to know them as well. I am ashamed to admit that this is my first book by Ms. Moriarty but it won't be my last!

I think the book was squarely a 2.5. It was quite good at parts but I found the first 1/4 of it was not written very well and I almost stopped reading it. From there I quite enjoyed the book until the last 1/4.

I felt the ending was too simplistic and tried to give everything a happily ever after feel that was not realistic at all and not really in line with the characters or their situations.

I wouldn't read it again, but I might try the author again.

Sinead Moriarty new novel concentrates on three different couples seeking counsel. She tackles the everyday problems that occur in marriages, families and relationships. She demonstrates the everyday anxieties, pressures and fatigue of being a stay-at-home mother with no support. She shows what happens when one retires and the empty nest syndrome. The single girl with a complicated past, who must work through her issues before she can move on and find true happiness.
It takes a while for Moriarty to develop her characters and give the readers an idea of where she is going. The book takes off and makes up for the slow beginning. I would have enjoyed an epilogue. Moriarty took such time building her storyline and characters then it just ended, although it does give the reader time to pause and reflect.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is comprised of three different couples’ journeys, each couple at a different stage in their lives facing a unique problem. This book had an interesting design when it came to the multiple POVs - each couple’s story is told in chapters solely designated to them, but the first-person language flips between the two parties without indication. This caused me some confusion at the beginning but, overall, was written in a very understandable manner. Also, most of the characters mentioned in the book showed up during different POVs in different ways - it was like one big community connected to each other in one way or another (which I love btw!) it did take me a little while to get into this book, but once I became more acquainted with the characters and their stories, I was hooked!

Maggie is a relationship and sex therapist who finds herself with some new clients.

Ann and her husband, Ken, are approaching retirement age and while Ken is content to spend the rest of his life in the same routine, in the same setting, with the same people, Ann is dying for adventure! She wants to enjoy life while she still can, but can she take that leap for her own sanity, if she has to do it alone?

Alice is a middle-aged, full-time stay-at-home mom of four whose husband, Niall, works incredibly long hours trying to make senior partner at his law firm. She is exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally, and Niall cannot understand why his wife does not want to go out and have fun with him anymore. Niall is frustrated that Alice continues to push him away, but will he put in the work on the family-front so she can maybe take a night to actually enjoy herself, and her husband?

Orla is a twenty-four year old school teacher who was raised by her father, a father who constantly reminded her of the fact that she was essentially to blame for her mother’s death during childbirth. Orla also suffers from vaginismus - the involuntary tension of the vagina, which makes any type of penetration impossible or extremely painful. She learned to live with her condition until she met Paul, the perfect man who made her want to try to live a “normal” life. Maggie tries to help Orla relieve some of her tension, to possibly make having sex an option, but if she cannot be “cured” by the time her and Paul get to that stage, will he stick around and wait?

I loved the hard discussions in this book and the normalization of therapy. There was a little pushback from some of the characters to see a therapist because it can be embarrassing talking about such personal issues with a stranger, but in the end, they all benefitted from their time spent with Maggie. I did not love the lack of closure we get at the end of the book in regards to each couple’s status. Especially the very last chapter, like … ah! what happened!?! Overall, I enjoyed this book and the topics it presented and I will definitely be looking into Sinéad’s other novels.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for allowing me to read and review this book before it’s publication on August 31!

About Us is a contemporary novel with three interconnecting storylines about two couples and a young woman in Dublin who are seeing the same therapist to address relationship issues. Ken and Ann are a couple in their sixties who have reached the retirement stage of life. Now that their children have flown the nest, Ann is feeling at loose ends and isn’t sure that she and Ken both want the same things anymore. Niall and Alice are struggling with maintaining their relationship whilst busy with four young children. Orla is a young teacher who longs for a loving partner but issues stemming from her complicated past have prevented her from having an intimate relationship with anyone.

Moriarty’s latest novel is a quick and easy read told from the point of view of three women at different stages in their lives experiencing relationship issues. The characters are likeable people and the issues that they are facing are relatable and will resonate with many readers. The initial appointments with Maggie, the American psychotherapist, are made because of dissatisfaction with their sex lives, however, she helps each of them address all aspects of their relationship problems and the ultimate message is the importance of honesty and communication in a successful relationship.
3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Sinead Moriarty book I've read and I really enjoyed it! It was an easy yet engaging read that delves into the lives of three couples who are at very different stages of their lives. While the focus was predominantly on the women of the story, I still, as a reader, felt like the male characters were sufficiently fleshed out for me to understand their emotions and motives. I liked the way the author tied the stories together through the use of the character of the therapist and with each of the characters having small yet powerful connections to each other. I found some of it very relatable and other parts not so much having not experienced those aspects of a relationship yet. It was still interesting to learn and witness changes in human connections and emotions. I think all the characters were very realistic - sometimes they were likeable and at other times you felt like shaking them - just like a normal and flawed human being! I really liked that the issues were dealt with honesty and sensitivity without feeling overly preachy. This book made me want to read other novels written by Moriarty which is a testament to the writing!

I liked this book. It made me laugh and even tear up at parts. But I also wondered for most of the book why I wanted to be reading a book about other peoples problems, it made me feel a bit depressed. I’m not in a relationship but I wondered if it might hit too close to home for some who are. Again I did like the book, and I liked the characters and could relate or see people I know in all of them but I won’t be rushing to tell my friends and family to read it.

About Us is a look at average people with ordinary issues. Sinead Moriarty has put together an eclectic group of characters, who all share an underlying need, and sprinkled in some humour to lighten their stories. I enjoyed the read. I found myself reflecting on everyday life and how we all need to learn to communicate better. Although it may not be a book for everyone, I think there’s a good message for all who take the opportunity to read About Us.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada, NetGalley and Sinead Moriarty for the opportunity to read and reflect on this ARC.

I read this in 24 hours I couldn't put it down! It was fascinating and it hooked me emotionally.

Set in Dublin, it is about 3 women in various stages of their lives;
Ann is 64, is an empty nester. She loves Ken, 68, and he’s retiring soon.
Alice is 40,is a full-time mother of 4 children under 10 whose husband, Niall, works around the clock in pursuit of a promotion to senior partner in his law firm.
Orla is 25, a primary grade teacher with a medical condition compounding a life of loneliness as 'the killer of her mother who died giving birth'.
They all find themselves clients of therapist Maggie Purcell who specializes in the sex side of relationships.

The plot moves swiftly through complex emotions and offers some great advise.

I highly recommend this book!

This book broke my heart then put it back together again. So sweet and so hopeful. Loved the characters and the down to earth every day story lines. I want to see into the next chapters of everyone’s life. Truly magical.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.