This is the second book I've read by Faith Hogan and really enjoyed the interweaving stories of Esme, Phyllis, Niamh and Cora as they navigate the storms of life that have come upon them in the various seasons of their lives.

Esme runs 'The Willows', a guest house that is much beloved by previous guests but needing some TLC that she just can't afford due to her declining sight and recent accident. Her friend Phyllis comes with her family to escape the brutal reality of her husband's advancing dementia, while Niamh and Cora need reprieve from relationships that have gone stale and problematic.

This is a refreshing and uplifting novel, sweet but never straying into predictable or twee. Faith Hogan creates characters who are funny, wise and realistic and her storytelling gift shines through.

Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love everything that Faith Hogan has written and this one is no exception. Set in Ballycove, Ireland where 93 year old Esme still runs the guest house. After an accident she has to rest up, and so gets to know more about the guests; some new, some returning to a time and place they were happy.
She tries to help each of them with any troubles and get them to allow the place to heal them.
Great characters, great setting and great writing.

Esme has run The Willows Guest House in Ballycove for years and her mother before her.
Always there to lend a listening ear or offer advice especially this summer season following her fall and is now welcoming guests at front of house.

Faith is the perfect storyteller with captivating characters and storylines
A lovely escapist summer novel - I want to stay at the The Willows Guest House
An easy 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read
Thanks @faithhoganauthor @ariafiction & @netgalley for the eARC

Faith Hogan invites us to stay at The Guest House by the Sea with a cast of charming characters, all who need some help solving their own life’s riddles.

As a new season begins at the Willows guest house in Ireland, Esme, the elderly owner, finds herself immobile after breaking her ankle. She very unhappy about this, as she usually would be running around trying to stay on top of the demands of both the guests and the ancient guest house. Cora, a fiftysomething woman, uses her time as a guest as an escape from her 30-year marriage. Niamh, a young professional down from Dublin, needs some distance from her Dublin life to make a decision that will change the course of her life. Phyllie, a longtime friend of Esme, is trying to enjoy a multi-generational holiday at the house, but is struggling. Esme finds that she can still look after her guests from her perch, by dispensing wisdom and anecdotes.

The story is told from alternating viewpoints of the four main protagonists. Hogan puts thought into every character—from the main players to the extras. You won’t soon forget the fleeting appearance of the helpful chatty teenager who helps Esme in the hospital, only to find out that he’s there for his cancer treatment. The coastal location came alive with Hogan’s descriptions, with seaside walks, drinks on the veranda and swims in the cold ocean all featuring heavily.

It’s a charming book, and reading it felt like drinking a mug of hot cocoa I didn’t know I needed on a cold spring day.

What a wonderful storyteller Faith Hogan is. I was totally captivated by the characters, storylines & setting. The Willows is a home from home at Ballycove run by Esme and her mother for many years before her. Now she runs it with her friend Marta. Disaster strikes days before the summer season when Esme falls and breaks her leg. While not able to run after her guests she can lend a listening ear, offer advice & share the daily meaningful quote from the guest book.

Cora, has been married to her Michael a long time & needs some me time, city girl Niamh wants to think about her future while old friend Phyllis wants to hold onto special times with her darling husband Kurt & her family. Cora, meanwhile catches the eye of Dublin based handsome engineer Joel..

They've all come to Ballycove for a reason and being there helps them to see what they must hold onto & what they must let go. Absolutely loved this book. A solid 5* from me.

Hey woman gets pregnant for her lover and doesn’t want to lose him or keep the baby, a woman questions her marriage after her son gets married and moves away, another woman’s husband is suffering from a form of dementia and she needs to come to terms with it these are just three of the stories that you get when you read the great book the Guest House By The Sea by Faith Hogan. The guesthouse is called Willow and it seems when people go there good things happen despite how you may feel when you arrive. I read all the reviews were people were gaga and over the moon for this book and I thought it can’t be that good… But it definitely is! This is a heart warming book but only after a heart wrenching story so many of these stories need tissue alerts and although I am being honest when I say I really felt no sympathy for Samaya the 40 year old pregnant woman who was worried about losing her married lover I mean how low does your self esteem have to be to think you were meant to be with a man who is married to another. When I read these books I try to have an open mind but there are just some lines you don’t cross and sleeping with Maori people it’s one of them . It’s still wants of being a really great story that ends in a great way and I totally enjoyed this whole book it was so good and another reason why I always read Faith Hogan‘s books. I highly recommend this one if you are looking for a Phil Goodreads and want to cry sad and happy tears then you definitely need to read this book a solid four-star read. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review

The Willows is a guest house in Ballycove, Ireland and it has stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. Esme Goldthrope has been running the holiday house for years and like the house she’s getting older. Esme’s sight is going, she and Marta are busy getting the Willows ready for the summer season, when Esme does something silly and she will be out of action when the holidaymakers arrive.

From her chair in the entry hall, Esme passes out helpful advice, shares her wisdom and gets one of the guests to read a meaningful quote from one of the visitors books her late mother collected over the years. People stay at the guest house for a variety of reasons, for a quick getaway, a work trip and some have stayed there before and it’s a place full of happy memories.

Cora Doyle lives nearby, she's been married to Michael for over thirty years, her son has recently got hitched and Cora needs some “me time." Niamh Brophy is a busy career woman from Dublin, she must make a life changing decision and the peaceful location is perfect place to do so. Phyllis Courtney is Esme’s best friend, her family have been staying at the Willows for years, and she’s visiting with her husband Kurt, son Rob, grandson Josh and she’s physically and mentally exhausted. Joel Lawson is an engineer, he’s working in Ballycove and checking the church roof.

I received a copy of The Guest House by the Sea by Faith Hogan from NetGalley and Aria and Aries in exchange for an honest review. It’s a thought provoking and insightful narrative about Esme, the Willows and what each of the guests gets out of staying at the holiday house and so much more. Esme shares her wisdom, kindness, gives helpful advice and guidance and new friendships are made. As women we want to do the right thing for everyone else, it's not being selfish to put yourself first and this really resonates with me. Five stars and I’m very keen to read Ms. Hogan’s previous book; The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club.

The author’s books are always rather like a warm hug – whenever you pick one up, it never takes very long for the world around you and any troubles you may have to disappear. I have only to think about Ballycove, the setting for a number of her books, and it makes me relax and smile – and the particularly special corner of it that she’s created in this lovely book really is pretty near perfect. People visit Esme’s guest house, The Willows, to escape from their problems too – or to find the space to make decisions about their lives.

Esme herself is frustrated to be losing her eyesight – in fact, she’s pretty near blind now, unable to read the motivational messages on each page of the guest book – but her friend Marta, having fled from problems of her own, has very willingly taken on an increased workload. And she finds herself needing to do even more when Esme has an accident, breaking her leg and keeping her confined to a chair in the entrance hall, greeting guests as they arrive and dispensing advice whenever it’s needed. The Willows needs major work – the roof is a constant worry – and a local developer is keen to take it off her hands, but Esme is determined to stay put right up to the end.

As well as Esme and Marta’s own story, we share the lives of the individuals who’ve chosen the guest house as their summer refuge. Cara has an unhappy marriage, and arrives alone – she’s just grown to feel that there’s little reason for her to be at home any more. Niamh remembers the place from happy childhood holidays – and needs time to think about her future, and decide what to do about a life-changing personal problem she’s facing. And Phyllis, an old friend, is visiting with her son Rob and young grandson Josh – and her husband Kurt who is slowly succumbing to dementia.

It’s a book largely without major shocks and surprises – the stories are told from the visitors’ own perspectives, the shifts in viewpoint always gentle and clearly signposted, their decision-making helped along by Esme’s well-timed stories and interventions. And, I have to say, I loved every single moment – with the focus on friendship and family, characters I really grew to deeply care about, and a warmth to the unfolding of their stories that’s simply wonderful. Emotionally, it’s totally perfect – there were so many moments that touched my heart and made me smile, often laugh, and then others that had me filling up and wiping away a tear. The storytelling is exceptional – the threads of the story gently wrap themselves around you, draw you in, and The Willows becomes somewhere you really never want to leave either.

I’ve adored every one of Faith Hogan’s books – but, for so many reasons, I think this might just be my personal favourite so far. One for your reading list – I think you might well find you’ll love it too.

A charming heartwarming read with well drawn delightful characters to relate to. Slightly old fashioned world in a run down guest house on the picturesque west coast of Ireland with several stories running concurrently from the guests who all have their own set of problems but gel together to help each other. . A good light and utterly delightful read.

This is a delightful, heart warming book. When Esme breaks her leg she is confined to welcoming guests as they arrive at her guest house, and dispensing words of wisdom. The stories of several guests are woven together over the Summer season. Having recently recovered from a broken ankle, I completely empathised with Esme’s feelings of isolation and dependence on others. I loved this book, and would love to stay at this guesthouse!

Free courtesy of Netgalley

First time I have read a book by Faith Hogan but I absolutely loved it, every character had their own story that interacted with everyone else. I changed my mind on what I wanted some of the outcomes to be, throughout the book.

Set in Ireland, Esme has been running the Guesthouse in Ballycove for the majority of her adult life, she took over from her mother before she passed away and is determined that she will run it until she dies. She is an old lady, who has lost her sight and getting ready for the new summer season she falls off a coffee table and has to rest up for the season. With the help of Martha, she is able to ward off a developer for now and open the Guesthouse for paying customer. Even though she can't do anything but sit in a chair, she does talk to the residents, who comes to the Guesthouse with their own problems. With her wisdom and help they can navigate through this difficult time but will it be enough to keep the Guesthouse open.

I would strongly recommend this book as the characters are relatable and there are many issues dealt with. I couldn't put it down.

What a fabulous book by Faith. Well written with excellent characters, especially Esme. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This book centers around three people all at crossroads in their life. Esme owns the guest house they all escape to.
It was a nice story but at times it rambled a bit too much.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

What an absolutely gorgeous novel! I'm only sorry I've read it already - I would love to just be at the beginning so I can enjoy it all over again.

Esme owns and runs a guest house in Ballycove, by the beach, with the help of Marta. Families have been enjoying holidays there for a long time and the house getting shabbier year by year doesn't really matter; they all leave feeling so much better than when they arrive. However, with a developer desperate to buy the property and her sight failing, Esme wonders if this will be her last summer season. Then, just before they are due to open, Esme takes a tumble with dire consequences, forcing her to take a step back. For the first time, she won't be at the forefront of her business. Is this the end?

For many years, I read everything written by the late Maeve Binchy and I adored her characters and the warmth and wisdom she wrote with. Faith Hogan is her natural successor. She writes such gorgeous books and this is one of her very best. I adored The Girl I Used to Know (highly recommended) and, until this one, would have said it was my favourite but I think it has been usurped. With a fabulous cast of characters and so much going on, I love how Esme at the forefront with everything happening around her. An absolutely wonderful book, which I absolutely highly recommend and one which easily merits all five glowing, shiny and sparkling stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

The Guest House By The Sea was a nice, comforting read.
Some sensitive issues were told, as the abortion, and senile dementia, but they were dealt in a delicate and gentle way.

This book is about four women, of different age, with different lives and a gloomy present. Their stories carefully intertwine from the moment they step into The Willows guest house, they intentionally and unintentionally help each other to take some decisions that will change their future.

I was so caught up in the journey of Esme, Phyllis, Cora and Niamh, I desperately wanted them to have a happy ending.
It was a pleasure to see them start a beautiful friendship and grow fond of each other.

The author wrote this story in such a charming and evocative manner you can smell the fresh sea breeze and see the beautiful landscape from the veranda.

I don't know how Faith does it, but she makes you feel like you're sitting right there in the lounge with Esmé and her guests. You feel like you're part of the conversation and get the desperate urge to share your story and get her opinions.

I felt a connection in small ways with every single character.
I want to visit the Willows in every season, and despite the cold and the storms mentioned, I want to be there in winter too!

I loved how the characters developed friendships with each other and learned that troubles shared are troubles halved.The stunning friendships that spanned ages, the fact that it didn't matter if you were in your 30's or 80's there was a kinship and they're just brought together. I loved the 'found family' aspects as always. This one is a little bit different.
The connections made tugged at my heartstrings and I was sad to leave the Willows.

Esme has run the guest house in Ballycove forever, taking over from her parents, unfortunately due to a fall she is now infirmed for the time being, added to that she is elderly and her eyesight has gone, she is relying more and more on Marta to help her get around and run the guest house. Since her husband died Marta has become like one of the family as they weren't able to have any children. This also means that the roof is in a bit of a state and a developer is determined to get his hands on the guest house - whatever it takes.

The thing is that the guest house by the sea is very special. People come from all over to find themselves, and find new hope. People who meet there can find true love, or realise that true love was with them all the time. This is in no small part to Esme's wisdom, and her special guest book with sayings written in on every day.

A lovely feel- good story with very well crafted characters. I would love to stay in the guest house and meet Esme and her friends. I really enjoyed every page.

The cover of this book enticed me to read it. I have always longed to run a guest house and live by the sea. This is a charming story about Esme, her guest house and all the characters in her little community and who stay in her guest house. A great story, devoured it in an afternoon

A feel good story with some great wisdom!

People at the WIllows guest house when they need a break from their lives, to regroup and figure out what lays ahead. Esme, the owner, doles out interesting and thoughful nuggets of wisdom via her stories and helps the guests walk through their issues.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I loved it! I’m sitting here with a big smile on my face!… I laughed out loud lots of times… I’m still chuckling. What a wonderfully delightful book this was!… Jam packed full of fun and laughs… Lots of light-hearted moments, emotional scenes and parts which will have you laughing out loud!… Filled with lots of love, family and friendships, this book is truly a delight to read.