A beautiful story of three women who come together on the small Pin Island in the west of Ireland. The island is so well represented that it’s a character in its own right. Elderly Constance’s life is drawing to a close while Ros is young and struggling to become established without any backup or security. Heather’s mid life change of circumstances has left her feeling adrift. There are themes of grief and loss and the impact of past events blighting lives for many years but the ramshackle house Oceans End provides redemption and healing for all three women. A wonderful atmospheric book which I wholeheartedly recommend.

I absolutely adored 'The Women at Ocean's End'!

Constance, Heather and Ros each have such interesting back stories and are all three equally well-rounded characters whose lives come together on Pin Hill Island.

This is a warm-hearted, feel-good novel that is filled with a generous helping of kindness and compassion.

Yes, it might be a little predictable in places, but I hugely enjoyed reading it from beginning to end.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Oh my, what a book. The sheer wildness and beauty of Pin Hill island, the constant movement of the sea and sky, the bleating of the goats… I was there.
The characters are wonderful too, as the way the story is woven. Constance; lonely, waiting out her days with resilience, forbearance, and only small joys. We see her now and as a terrified child who falls down a well in 1957, and at points in between, teased out as the mystery which binds her to Heather’s late mother is slowly revealed. Then Heather herself, discovering the books which will pull her from London and back to the place of her happiest childhood memories. And finally Ros, the youngest of the three, an incomer who perhaps loves the island more than anyone else.
I love stories of friendship and there is a real magic to this one, perhaps because the tensions which drive the novel forwards are not between the women, but around them. And Faith Hogan is such a skilled writer, mistress of her genre, and for me this wonderfully uplifting book is her best yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria and Aries Publishers for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that I struggled with this book but I think that was down to a recent bereavement more than the book itself. I found it hard to concentrate and my motivation to read was low, hence it taking so long to finish. I loved the setting of the story, an island off the west coast of Ireland. The writing is so evocative; I loved Ocean’s End, Pinn Hill, the goats, the sea, the cliff tops, the landscape and the isolated community. The characters were believable and the Irish warmth really came through.

Here’s the blurb: “Three women, all with secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Constance Macken, in her ninth decade, is looking back on a life filled with laughter and loss, tragedy and triumph, but knows it is time to right the wrongs from her past that have always haunted her.

Heather Banks arrives on the island to bury her mother. Already adrift with her business sold and her divorce finalised, time on the island may be the perfect opportunity to change the course of her future.

Ros Stokes has managed to slip into the perfect job, the perfect cottage and friends that feel like family. However, when the stitches of her life begin to unravel, she must find a way to hold onto the things that have become most dear to her and let go of what holds her back.

In a faded art deco house by the sea these women must come together to save the house they love and each other, because they might have run from their troubles but only time will tell if they can overcome their past.”

A book on friendship, Constance and Dotty were childhood friends and after a horrendous experience they never spoke again.
Constance's mother moves them to a large Art Deco house on a small island off Ireland after her books have been published.
Years later Dotty dies and her daughter Heather returns to the island to bury her mother's ashes and stays with Constance.
Ros is on the island on a temporary job looking after the island's wildlife, she is alone in life until she meets Constance and they form a deep friendship.
All three women are brought together through difficult and hard times, very emotional and a brilliant storyline.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review

"The Women at Ocean's End" are 3 women of different generations who form a friendship on the small Irish island of Pin Hill. As the relationships build they help each other to overcome various issues. This is a warm tale of life in more remote locations, and includes some romance as well as friendship. Issues dealt with include child abuse, alcoholism, lack of work and housing in rural areas and life after divorce. This is a well written and gentle story which is easy to lose yourself in.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

My first book from acclaimed writer Faith Hogan, and although it wasn’t as expected it surpassed my expectations.
Intriguing and poignant, charming and enthralling.
This is the tale of three ladies and the house on an island off Ireland who come together with some shared history and reasons to change their lives from their pasts, to right some wrongs and make their way forward.
The build up of the characters and their lives is brilliant and beautifully written. The island is atmospheric with hard subject matter composed sensibly and in a down to earth fashion. Friendship’s and relationships and how they evolve in time. Brilliant.
This book is touching, moving, and hard to read at times whilst altogether inspiring and gratifying at others. For me this was quite the unique read.
Hugely recommend this heart filling tale from Ireland.
Thank you NetGalley and Aria books for the early read.

A really lovely read set on a small Irish island, set around a crumbling Art Deco house right by the sea.

There are three main characters - Constance is an elderly lady living on her own at Ocean's End. Heather arrives on the island to scatter her mother's ashes, but is also at a bit of a crossroads in her life after both her marriage and business came to an end. Heather's mother Dotty was a great friend of Constance and both Dotty and Heather used to visit the island regularly when Heather was young, until they fell out years ago and never spoke again. And finally we have Ros, the youngest, who is on the island in a temporary capacity working for Parks & Wildlife and has no family and always feels very alone.

Ros comes across Constance one day when she gets locked out of her house and they forge a friendship, each one helping the other. Then Heather visits, bringing back lots of memories for Constance, and the three ladies all form a very special friendship. Constance's mother was a famous author whose books have gone out of print, so both Heather and Ros help her to re-issue the books and make some money in order to save the crumbling Ocean's End house.

A lot of the story centres around Constance and Dotty's relationship and why they fell out years ago. A very emotional story, but a real page-turner, lots of happy moments, but also some very sad ones, I did shed quite a few tears especially towards the end! A really wonderful book.

The Women at Ocean's End by Faith Hogan

Set on an island off the west coast of Ireland, this book tells the story of Constance, Heather (daughter of Constance's childhood friend Dotty) and Ros (newcomer to the island) in the present day and by returning to 1957 when Constance and Dotty were young.

Love, love, LOVE this book - what a beautiful and poignant read, I couldn't put it down! Faith Hogan is an auto-buy author for me - I've loved everything she's written and this is no exception... it may even be her best book yet! Very VERY highly recommended.

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

The book begins in the 1950s, with Constance as a young girl, moving on to her becoming an old women in her 90s recounting her past.

There is a real sense of character and setting, a remote island off the Scottish coast, with chapters written by Constance, Ros and Heather. Constance’s old home, Ocean’s End, has become delapidated and needs repair. Ros, who has a temporary job on the island, has been providing friendship and support to Constance. Heather, following a divorce, is feeling lost and alone, and the three women become friends, all having hidden secrets which are explored as this moving story unfolds.

This is a steady paced book, with beautiful descriptions of the old faded house, flora and fauna, and rugged coastlines surrounding the area. The two timelines and chapters written by the three women make a more rounded story, adding depth. Sensitively written, the story is about friendships, relationship, abuse with a hint of romance. Recommended.

A lovely book about found family and community. I loved the setting on the island and the relationship between the women. Highly recommended.

What an emotional rollercoaster this was. I cried buckets
Constance and Dotty form a friendship from an early age. Their bond so strong even after they fall out many years later after something devastating happens, and they make a pact to keep it secret.
Their lives turn out very diffently.
Dotty's daughter Heather decides to visit Constance after her divorce and mother's death. It's been many years since she has seen her.
Ros is filling in as temporary Ranger on the island off Ireland and befriends Constance after she accidentally locks herself out of her house.
This was such a heartwarming story of how these women's lives and friendships come together.
There is some drama along the way it they all find solutions.
This is definitely a different read from Faith's other books, which mainly centre around Ballycove, although it is mentioned.
Have plenty of tissues to hand. You'll need them.
It's a beautiful story in a beautiful setting.
Loved it.
Thanks to Aria and Aries for the invitation to read this in return for an honest review.

Faith Hogan's The Women at Ocean’s End is a deeply emotional and beautifully crafted novel about three women whose lives intertwine on a remote island off the Irish coast. Each woman carries her burden of secrets and pain, and the stunning backdrop of the island provides the perfect setting for healing, transformation, and the uncovering of the past.

Constance Macken, in her ninth decade, has lived a life full of both joy and sorrow. As she reflects on her past, she realises it is time to confront the wrongs that have haunted her for years. Heather Banks, freshly divorced and while burying her mother, comes to the island hoping for a fresh start. Finally, Ros Stokes seems to have found everything she ever wanted—perfect job, perfect home, and a family of friends—until the threads of her life begin to unravel, forcing her to face what has been holding her back.

The three women come together at a faded Art Deco house near the ocean’s edge, determined to save the house they all love. As they share their stories, the novel explores themes of lasting friendships, family bonds, grief, and the courage to let go of the past. The women support each other as they navigate trauma, loss, and the possibilities of new beginnings.

Hogan’s writing is poignant and powerful, offering a raw, honest look at grief and how it manifests in different forms. The depiction of mother-daughter relationships, the lingering effects of abuse, and the challenges of starting over after loss are all handled with care and depth. Ireland’s breathtaking landscape becomes almost a character in itself, adding a layer of beauty and solace to the story.

The Women at Ocean’s End is a moving, thought-provoking tale of healing, friendship, and redemption that will leave readers reflecting long after the last page. A truly touching read for anyone who enjoys deeply emotional stories set against a beautifully evocative backdrop.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

A heartwarming and compassionate story set on an island and shifts between the present day and the 1950s. Three disparate women are drawn together by Ocean’s End, the house Constance has lived in for most of her life. Elderly Constance is struggling by herself. Ros is grieving for her mother but enjoying her new job as the island’s ranger. Heather is the daughter of Dotty, who was Constance’s childhood friend until they fell out. She has come to visit the island to scatter her mother’s ashes. The three women are drawn together to save Ocean’s End, help Constance and save her mother’s literary legacy

The story shifts between the present day and the 1950s when Constance and Dotty were good friends until something happened to upset their friendship. A book to savour as Faith Hogan’s books always are.

This is a gentle but thought provoking story of three women. Their lives become entwined and their stories are played out against a rugged landscape of a tiny island. It felt odd going back into the 1950s but it was so well written. I enjoyed reading this book, and thank NetGalley for the chance to review i.

Wow! This book blew me away. I couldn't believe how good it was. It was emotional and being a book about second chances I absolutely connected with it. Highly recommend.

A beautifully woven heart warming read. The author brings all the characters to life and you care what happens to them. Caring friendships are at the heart of the story.

I loved this book, a powerful powerful story! Which left me crying many times! The book is an incredibly moving story that explores lasting friendships, family connections/mother daughter relationships, physical and emotional abuse, haunting secrets, separation/death, traumatic divorce, fresh starts and new love to name a few of the scenarios covered.
Set in Ireland on one of the small islands off the Mayo Coast, but references Ballycove.

Thanks to Aria publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

After reading this book, I have managed to read all of Faith's wonderful books, and cannot wait for her next novel.

Another fantastic Faith Hogan book following the stories of Constance, Dotty, Heather and Ros. Had me engaged from the start and whilst not always easy reading the friendships of the women was heartwarming and genuine.

This moving book tells the story of three women of different generations and their developing friendship. The book goes back in time for Heather and Constance, revealing incidents from their childhood and how these shaped the women they became. The characters are beautifully drawn, and stayed with me long after I had finished the book. The descriptions of the island are delightful. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it.