It is a huge tribute to a book that you can read it in a hospital setting and be transported away, in this case the stunning place of Ballycove, with its stunning views of the sea, where Esme, who runs a guest house, has been in charge for years.

This book dealt with a number of visitors, people who were escaping things that were dragging their life down, as they embraced the beauty and peace of a sanctuary that was perhaps in danger.

The community, friendship and warmth of this book was spellbinding, as was the inspiration of people who had stuff thrown at them who regused to stop (I loved Esme). Cannot recommend enough and one I’ll be buying as presents for people. Thanks so so much to the publisher for the advance copy.

I have wanted to read one of Faith Hogan's books for a long time and now I am wondering what took me so long. The Guest House is located in Ballycove on the ocean and has been run by Esme for too many years to remember. Esme is getting older, she is almost blind and when she falls and breaks her leg, she is worried about the season. Her lifelong friend, Phyllis, calls Esme and asks if she and her husband can come and stay. Her husband has the first stages of dementia and Phyllis is trying to keep things as normal as she can for as long as she can. Their son and grandson plan to meet them there and have a vacation. Next we have Cora, a wife who is trying to figure out what to do about her marriage, and Niamh, a professional from London who has a life-changing decision to make. The Guest House, Esme, Marta, and the other guests all help these women heal, make decisions and move forward in their lives.

I really enjoyed this heartwarming and uplifting story. It is beautifully written with descriptions that allowed me to feel like I was there in Ballycove. The quiet setting, friendships that develop, walks on the beach and listening from Esme and Marta allow the main characters do determine what they are really looking for. It helps them to open their eyes to things that were unclear before their stay, so they could make the right decisions. All the characters were relatable with real problems that anyone could have. I enjoyed every minute of this story and now have many more books to add to my TBR shelf. I highly recommend The Guest House by the Sea.

In 'The Guest House by the Sea" we meet Esme, owner of the guest house in the small town of Ballycove.

Esme is the owner of The Guest House by the Sea, in a small town called Ballycove. She has run the guest house for as long as her parents before her. The day before she re opens for the summer season, welcoming tourists and natives alike. Esme has a tumble whilst trying to clean the guest house. Confined to a chair in the hallway, For the first time in her life Esme has nothing to do and no where to be. All she can do is sit, welcome guests and be a listening ear.

Cora is visiting on her own, indefinitely. Niamh is down from Dublin with a big decision to be made. Phyllie, a grandmother with a fear her family is slipping away.

A heartwarming and uplifting story about second chances, friendship and the power of the Irish Sea Air.

This was my first time reading a book from the author but I am delighted to say I thoroughly enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more books from the writer in the future

A perfect summer read. Full of lovely heartwarming characters and lazy summer landscapes and settings nideal For those summer holidays and bank holidays. Indulge yourself in this warm read this summer time you won’t regret it.

Faith Hogan wrote The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, a feel-good book about women’s friendships and I loved the fictional, coastal Irish town of Ballycove where her novels are set. This one is about a guest house in Ballycove and the aging owner, Esme, who is losing her sight–but is a keen observer of her guests. She gives them not just a place to stay, but a place to find their next steps in life.

While the guest house and setting are indeed dreamy, this story unfortunately just didn’t connect like Hogan’s previous novel did. The owner seemed to have some sight (though it was fading) at the start, then had an ankle injury, then was suddenly almost fully blind–this small point was disorienting. This is an easy, cozy read, but some of the backstories and relationships just didn’t quite gel for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a great feel good book. Uplifting and hopeful.
Very enjoyable and well written.

Esme has been running the guest house at Balycove for as long as she can remember and this season sees various characters staying with all sorts of life trouble. This story felt like a friend wrapping me up in a warm hug and left me feeling uplifted. A beautiful setting and characters that become treasured friends.

Really charming story, gorgeous setting, very well written, flowed well, great characters that i could really connect too, and it was a lovely read.

This book itself is a wonderful escape. Picturing the house and the ocean. The characters that go through the house and of course, Esme. Without her this book would not exist. It is one of those curl up comfy and melt into it books. Will be picked up again in the future to read again.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Another good read
Perfect book to curl up with and to get lost in
Will have you hooked from the first page
Thanks NetGalley

A lovely story, easy to read and quite perfect. I settled into this one quickly and devoured it. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Esme has been running the B&B in Ballycove for as long as anyone can remember. Just as peak tourist season begins, Esme has a fall and she has to rely on friends to keep her livelihood going. Over the summer guests come and go, bringing their own stories, heartbreak and joy. You'll fall in love with the characters, the B&B and Esme herself...
Faith Hogan is a new author to me, but I'll definitely be reading more of her books.

Esme runs her little guest house by the sea but she's getting old and after a fall is struggling to cope. She isn't ready to give it up though. Her guests this summer all have their own problems but through their time at the guest house, maybe they can all find the answers they seek.

This was a really good read. Its told from many persepectives so you get a really wide picture of everyone's story. The plot is a slow, steady story without the need for a big ending. The ending though was so well done. I liked how every story was settled and especially Esme's final showdown with the developer. The characters all draw you in and i think I enjoyed Cora's story the most but loved how Niamh's story finished up. She was my favourite character she truly grew as the book developed. A fun summer read.

This is a sweet and touching story that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. This is a heartfelt book from a fabulous author. You will not be disappointed.

This was a lovely book and I really enjoyed reading it. The story centres around Esme and her guest house in the gorgeous village of Ballycove. The guest house attracts a variety of visitors whose lives unfold during their stay. Lovely read

This was such a gorgeous read. It was my first book by Faith Hogan and I'll definitely be putting her future novels on my TBR list.

I adored the setting, the characters and the heart-warming storyline.

Highly recommended.

I loved this book. Such an easy read and thoroughly enjoyable. The lives of those visiting the guesthouse open up little by little. Believable and likeable characters.

First of all, I want to go spend some time at the Willows. The author made it feel like such a special place. The Willows is a guest house in Ballycove, Ireland. One can walk to the Atlantic Ocean beach. Esme is host to guests who have been coming for years. She shares in their lives and they share their lives with her over a cup or two of tea. But this year, things are different. Esme is feeling her age, having injured her leg while readying the house for guests. Marta, her fulltime housekeeper and cook, is also getting older. The developers keep pressing Esme about selling The Willows. Of course, they will tear it down and build a fancy resort. It's not shaping up to be a good summer.

Cora needs some time for herself. After 30 years, wed to an uncaring husband, the future looks bleak. Niamh from Dublin faces a life changing situation and has come to The Willows to ponder and puzzle out what to do. Phyllis and family have been coming for years. This year, her husband, Kurt, is getting very vague and Phyllis discloses he has Alzheimer's, and their trips are about to end. Joel is working in Ballycove on an engineering project. He agrees to look at a deteriorating church roof.

Hogan has put together a story, where each person's story intersects with another. Esme is able to see beyond the problems of life and see that problems don't go away, but they are able to be brought into perspective. What a positive, uplifting story. Thank you, Faith Hogan.

This is a lovely heartwarming read about a guest house ran by esme. I loved the sweet story it was perfect as a holiday read.