Joy’s husband's dying words are that he has a child. Joy is heartbroken and when she finds he left his daughter a picture in his will, she embarks on a trip that will take her through a variety of emotions.
Robyn wants to run a bookshop in Ballycove, on the west coast of Ireland. She’s shy but knowledgeable. When a strange lady wanders into the shop, she offers her a job - a friendship is born, but there are secrets to be uncovered and truths to be unearthed.
A heartwarming, easy, yet emotional read. I was swept into the small town of Ballycove, into the lives of this slightly dysfunctional but loving and supportive family.
Great summer read.

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan

In Yves dying moments after a car crash in Paris he manages to tell his wife Joy that he has a secret daughter. Joy goes to Ballycove in Ireland to pass on a valuable painting on to Robyn, Yves daughter, but stays much longer than expected as she becomes immersed in the community. But what will happen when they learn who Joy really is?

What a wonderful book, I enjoyed it so much! Faith Hogan is a fabulous author and I loved the story, the characters and the setting... I'd like to move to Ballycove too! A fabulous few hours spent in fabulous company. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

A huge thank you to the publishers for sending me a widget for this book.
Another lovely read, in beautiful Ballycove, with characters you care deeply about from the first page.
Being back in Ballycove is a joy as is the cameo appearance of some characters we have come to know from the previous books.
In Paris Joy’s husband dies as a result of a car crash on the way home from his retirement party. If this wasn't cruel enough, his parting words to her make her question their whole life together.
Meanwhile in Ballycove in the west of Ireland, Robyn is struggling to get her lifelong dream of opening a bookshop off the ground, cope with her anxiety and social awkwardness and her unrequited love for Kian.
When their two worlds collide amazing things happen.
There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family.

I hadn’t read any of Faith Hogan’s books before but I will certainly be looking out for others. A lovely, well written story, set in a beautiful sounding village in Ireland. I felt fully invested in the characters and wanted them all to succeed.

When Joy Blackwood’s husband died, just after his retirement she was distraught. More so, when just before he died he told her that he had a child – something he and Joy hadn’t managed to have together. After the reading of the will, Joy finds that he has left a very expensive painting to his daughter, and she decides to travel to Ireland and give the daughter the painting personally. When Joy arrives in Ballycove, she finds that the bookshop that Robyn runs is in complete disarray, and so far from profitable that Robyn may have to close it down. Robyn thinks that Joy has come to volunteer in the bookshop, and Joy doesn’t dissuade of that idea. Slowly, Joy comes to find something in Ballycove that she had been missing all her life – family. However, when Robyn and her mother Ferne find out who Joy really is, will her happiness come crashing down?

A really lovely story, which is wonderful for a summer’s afternoon, and will leave you feeling warm and happy.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6537069997

Enjoyed reading. Felt sorry for joy but pleased to see how life changed for her.

Love a book featuring the love of books in a bookshop. Plenty of secrets, new beginnings, potential romance and books!

Joy comes to a small West Irish town to solve the mystery of why her art dealer husband left a valuable painting to someone she has never heard of. Robyn runs a small rundown bookshop in a building that is owned by her mother, a famous artist. Joy goes into the bookshop intending to introduce herself to Robyn, but ends up with a part time job! The presence of Joy in the town starts to positively affect Robyn, the bookshop and the town. It becomes harder and harder for Joy to admit she is really there. The backstory of how the painting came to be in existence is told alongside.

This is a charming story, packed full of lovely characters, and I found myself rooting for them all. I would love to read another book about this cast of characters - they really stayed with me when I had finished the book.

Faith Hogan's "The Bookshop Ladies" unfolds like a warm embrace, inviting readers into the life of Joy Blackwood. When her French art dealer husband Yves dies in a car accident Joy discovers that he had a daughter by another woman.

Shocked by the news, she travels to the small Irish town of Ballycove where she intends to hand over a painting left to her husband’s daughter. Instead, she meets his daughter Robyn who has taken on a chaotic bookshop with very few customers and when Joy gets drawn into her life, she can’t bear to disclose the truth about how and why their lives have become intertwined.

I love Faith’s writing style, she paints very vivid scenes of the Irish countryside and captures the essence of small-town life, drawing readers deeper into the world of Ballycove.

In summary, Faith Hogan's "The Bookshop Ladies" is a captivating tale that will leave readers feeling uplifted and inspired. With its engaging characters, picturesque setting, and heartfelt storytelling, this novel is sure to resonate with book lovers everywhere.

Another lovely heart warming read from Faith Hogan. Always lovely to return to Ballycove and bump into some old friends from her other books. A beautiful tale of complicated relationships, friendship and family.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Another top read from a favourite author!

Widowhood has brought many surprises to Joy Blackwood, not least of which is the valuable painting left to a young Irish woman, Robyn Tessier. Why does she know nothing of her? Determined to find out what the story is behind this bequest, Joy sets off for Ballycove, arriving to find Robyn running an unprofitable bookshop while suffering from unrequited love. Before she knows it, she is part of Robyn's daily life - and she still hasn't admitted to why she is there . . .

I have never been disappointed with any novel from this author; she has an understanding of the human spirit as well as relationships and every time I read I conclude that she is a natural successor to the late Maeve Binchy. This is a sparkling example of how to entwine lives and grab the readers attention and make them really care about all characters. An absolutely delicious read and one I'm more than happy to both recommend and give a full house of glowing stars.

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

Just when I needed a book full of joy, I found this one. I’m sure it was deliberate on the author’s part that one of the main characters was called Joy, although initially this seemed something of a misnomer.

When Joy’s husband dies she travels to rural Ireland to deliver a painting he left to a girl called Robyn, someone she’d never heard of before the reading of the will, but suspects is either his former mistress or his illegitimate daughter. Along with the painting she intends to deliver a piece of her mind, but events overtake Joy and she ends up working in Robyn’s bookshop, helping her to turn its fortunes around.

This book has a huge heart, wonderful characters you care about instantly, and a rich feeling of community. I loved ever minute of it and became completely lost in its world. A proper treat for any reader, which I wholeheartedly recommend.

5 stars – Bookshops; good for the mind and soul…

*sighs* as I’m sure The Bookshop Ladies can attest.

Humans… we’re complicated creatures, aren’t we?

Whaaa?! Don’t look at me like that! *shrugs* I’m not having an existential crisis; well, no more than usual *snorts*. This is just the consequence of my latest book hangover thanks to my second (only) trip to Ballycove. *looks off into the distance and taps fingers distractedly* I remember this feeling well from my first visit… *looks back* I’m just going to take a beat and let my feelings settle.

Joy, Robyn, and Fern’s story spoke to me in ways I couldn’t even imagine, let alone articulate. I was there; I was one of them.

TBL is a tale of secrets and truths, family, and friends, finding yourself, and most of all (to me, anyway) of belonging. Finding that one place, people and/or person, which has your soul screaming, ‘we are right where we belong!’ And if it takes your soul a while to admit it, hopefully we have an Albie to point out the obvious.

“…because sometimes, family is more about belonging together than anything else.”

Can I ask one thing of you before I go? Will you take a chance on my non-sensical mutterings and give TBL a go? Some stories come along just when you need them, like whispers on the wind, and I very much needed that warm embrace.

*slaps hands down* Och *wipes face*, listen to me prattling on. Away with you now and heed what I say.

This is the sort of book that leaves you feeling bereft when it’s finished, I’m going to miss Joy, Fern and Robyn. It took a little while for me to feel a connection with the main characters, but then I did and the book just took off. Starting in Paris then quickly moving to Ballycove, Ireland, this is a heart warming and very moving tale of friendship and love. I have no business experience so reading about building up a business is fascinating for me. I highly recommend this book.

A very enjoyable book. Loved the setting - who wouldn't want to live in a village like Ballycove! What a wonderful sounding place, with a community that really looks out for one another. And how fantastic to feel welcomed into such a family. I struggled with the writing a little at times but that could be me, rather than the story.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

I loved this book, really enjoyed it. A beautifully written story about friendship, family, betrayal, secrets and new beginnings.
Widow Joy Blackwood is in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband Yves Bachand. After finding out he left a painting to a Robyn Tessier in his will, Joy leaves Paris to deliver the painting in person. This takes her to Ballycove in Ireland and a job in a bookshop.
You are just drawn into the story right from the beginning. I was totally hooked and couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed the interweaving stories told through different perspectives of Joy, Robyn and Fern, who are well developed, strong and interesting female characters. All the characters are well written. I just loved Albie and how he welcomed Joy into his family.
I loved the setting of the bookshop and the descriptions of Ballycove, written in a way that makes you picture yourself right there walking along the beach, looking in all the little nooks of the bookshop and sitting outside with a coffee enjoying the view.
Overall, a cosy emotional and warm hearted captivating read. Definitely recommend this one.
With thanks to #NetGallery @ariafiction #AriaAndAries for an arc of #TheBookshopLadies by @FaithHoganAuthor in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 6 June 2024.

The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hagan

Having read this author before , I knew I was in for a treat by reading this. I was not disappointed.
Great plot and characters , and mainly set in Ballycove , Ireland.
Would recommend.

Faith hogan is an absolutely incredible author, I just love her style and how her characters work so well together once again another amazing read.

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

Title: The Bookshop Ladies
Author: Kirsty Hogan
Star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know exactly what I was expecting from this read but yeah, this weren’t it. The title and cover drew me in, and don’t get me wrong it’s a cute feel good story, it’s just a tad predictable and boring.

The characters were ok and the setting was sweet, and that’s about all I have to say unfortunately 😅😅

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it 🤷🏽‍♀️

What a gentle, lovely read! I really enjoyed this book. This isn't my first Faith Hogan book and it won't be my last.
Three lady's lives are entwined by one man. Not a love triangle but something quite different. An affair, a daughter and an artist; all linked by one magical Irish town and its bookshop. Simply charming!

A Faith Hogan book is always going to be a comforting read, and The Bookshop Ladies didn't disappoint. Feel good, heart-warming and a book about books always gets my vote.

We travel from Paris to Ballycove and the three main characters are Joy, Fern and Robyn. Their stories are interlinked and complex. A secret revealed could have devastating consequences but the women are all so awesome that it becomes the glue that binds them.

It was such a joy to return to Ballycove and this human interest story was beautifully written and a joy to read.

Yves Bachand a well know renowned and respected figure in the Art world lives in Paris with his wife Joy. Their life is about to begin a new chapter when things take a turn for the worse and go horribly wrong.
What will be the next step for Joy? And will she find the answers she seeks?

The book features three very strong and interesting female characters, all in their own ways. Joy, Fern Tessier and her adult daughter Robyn Tessier.
From the start of the book I was drawn in and hooked. An absolutely lovely read.
Friendship, love, loyalty and family bonds.
I could picture every aspect of the bookshop, and so would have loved to have been able to visit, choose a book and have a coffee there.
Simply delightful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.