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Yours, Faithfully

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Sheila O'Flangan's wonderfully gripping, dramatic and touching novel YOURS, FAITHFULLY is essential reading for fans of Marian Keyes and Freya North.

Iona Brannock has always been impatient. Not one to hang around, she married her gorgeous husband just months after meeting him and they have lived happily ever since. Now all she needs is a baby and her life will be perfect.

Sally Harper has been blissfully married for almost twenty years. She has a beautiful daughter, a loving husband and a great job. Her life is complete. But a surprise pregnancy is about to change everything.

Two women - strangers leading separate lives. But their two worlds are about to collide in the most shocking way...

599 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

141 people are currently reading
938 people want to read

About the author

Sheila O'Flanagan

95 books1,200 followers
As you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.

As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.

I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.

I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.

But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.

I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.

And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.

When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:

* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last

I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.

I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.

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5 stars
1,083 (36%)
4 stars
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3 stars
648 (21%)
2 stars
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72 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
Profile Image for Nadia.
69 reviews6 followers
July 2, 2008
At the beginning of 'Yours, Faithfully' we meet Iona Brannon. She has been happily married to her husband Frank, who she wed in the Carribean, for the last five years. They are desperately trying for a baby to make their family complete - although unfortunately Iona has just discovered that she is not pregnant this month. Iona and Frank have a very strong idyllic marriage even though his business takes him away such a lot.

In the next chapter we meet Sally who has been happily married to her husband for at least twenty years and they have a teenaged daughter, Jenna. Much to her amazement, Sally has discovered that she is expected a baby and has quite ambiguous feelings about this - and especially about how she is going to tell her husband - Frank who is away on business at the moment. Are you thinking what I was thinking at this stage in the book?

Yes, ten out of ten if you were thinking that both husbands are indeed the same man. For some explicable reason Frank has married both women, virtually twenty years apart, and has been managing to maintain a dual existance for the last five years with neither 'wife' suspecting a thing! And of course the plan was to continue with this double life for as long as he could - apart from the fact that fate intervenes and due to a freak accident Frank ends up in hospital in a coma.

And it is there at the hospital. virtually across Frank's bed that the two women meet and discover the existence of the other. At first there is open hostility and animosity but as Frank continues in his coma, the two women get to know each other and gradually form a strong bond. As they do this, they learn a lot, not only about each other, but also about themselves.

All three of the main women characters were really strong and well developed and I enjoyed the way they moved from open hostilities to an uneasy truce to a firm friendship. It was interesting the way the reader was privy to their thoughts particularly about each other. It is apparent from quite early on that the two 'wives' are extremely different in almost every way, and neither can understand why their Frank was attracted to the other. I also sympathised greatly with Iona who had to come to terms with the fact that Sally is carrying Frank's baby which she so dearly wishes could be hers.

I really liked all the characters and started to care about what would happen to them. All the way through I was thinking how on earth could all this turn out. It was such a tangled web that at least one if not all was going to end up hurt. As I said before I'm not going to say what did happen but I will tell you, that for me at least the last fifty pages or so were a real emotional rollercoaster. I was actually reading the book in quite a public place and was really embarrassed to discover tears trickling down my face - so be warned - it's best to finish off this book at home in the privacy of your own company with a box of tissues nearby.

So overall I felt this was a really good read. It is 600 pages long but I didn't think that it lost its way or even meandered at all. And even after all those pages I was quite sorry when I had finished the book and it was all over!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Joan.
462 reviews19 followers
January 7, 2024
Good story of a man who made some pretty bad choices in life.
Profile Image for Divya Sharma.
44 reviews20 followers
September 27, 2016
Two women, do not know each other, have never crossed paths, living in two different parts of the country, happy and content in their respective lives, but they have one thing in common, and i.e. their husband.

Iona, an employee in a rental company is happily married to Frank, who travels a lot for his business. Both are planning to take their relationship to next level and eagerly trying for a baby. Fate plays its role when Iona finds out that she is not pregnant and calls Frank to break this news only to discover that Frank has met with an accident.

Sally and her husband Frank are married since past 20 years, have a teenaged daughter named Jenna. Sally, who works in a school has to deal with her daughter’s mood swings with Frank being away on business trips most of the times. Things get tricky when suddenly one day Sally finds out about her unplanned pregnancy. And just when she is trying to come to terms with this development, comes a phone call informing her about Frank's accident.

It is only when they meet in the hospital, both being introduced to each other as Mrs. Harper that this dirty truth comes out in the light and their whole life turns upside down. In between all this mess, there is a local policewoman Siobhan Farrell who is also the investigative officer of this case. Siobhan, whose personal life is also in turmoil, ends up sharing more than a professional relationship with the two victimized women and they become pals in no time.

Why did Frank marry twice? Why did he cheat at all? What was going on in his mind? Are there more Mrs. Harpers out there? So many questions but the one who had all the answers was there on the hospital bed, in coma with no hope to come out of it anytime sooner. All these questions definitely make it a page turner and had me glued to this book day and night.

Sheila O’Flanagan is a very talented author. She has elaborated all the characters in a very fine way making this book an interesting and simple read. Her writing is very expressive and she knows exactly how to maintain mood throughout. With little bit of lows here and there, this fiction novel is a sure shot page turner.
76 reviews
February 22, 2022
Love it, but think it could have finished a lot sooner, saying that I was not bored by the story. And with 595 pages, was a big book too.
2 reviews
December 10, 2016
I struggled to finish the book. You know when you watch a movie where the plot is so unrealistic, the acting so awkward, and the development so messy that it makes you cringe? This book is nearly as bad. I only tried to finish it because I wanted to know the ending. I do appreciate the postive vibe the author wants this book to give off, but that's about it.

I guess my biggest problem with the book is that I couldn't connect with the characters, I couldn't "feel" them. Imagine someone tells you they're heartbroken with a poker face. You don't feel the sadness from them; you have to consciously convince yourself that that person is indeed sad and pretend to sympathize. That's exactly what I did with the characters in this book.

I was also very annoyed at the redundancy of details and characters. I feel like the story would have unwrapped just fine without half of the events and characters. I especially didn't understand what purpose one of the main characters, Siohban, served in the story. Her side story was so irrelevant to the plot.

The writing style is also very bland. It sounds like something I would have written in my Intro to Creative Writing class in college. (No I didn't major in anything remotely related to Writing, it was just a required core class)
Profile Image for Nikki.
183 reviews34 followers
June 16, 2015
Je leest het verhaal vanuit de perspectieven van de twee vrouwen Iona en Sally met heel af en toe een klein hoofdstukje vanuit het perspectief van Frank. Ik kwam maar moeilijk door het verhaal. Eigenlijk vond ik het verschrikkelijk om te lezen, maar toch legde ik het niet weg. Ik moest en zou weten wat Frank als uitleg zou hebben waarom hij twee vrouwen heeft. Toen ik eindelijk bij het stuk aankwam waarin de 'uitleg' zou komen werd ik zwaar teleurgesteld. Moesten we het met dit 'antwoord' doen? Voor mijn gevoel had ik toen helemaal het boek voor niks gelezen. Het verhaal is erg voorspelbaar. De vrouwen haten elkaar, maar komen toch dichter bij elkaar. Het enige wat mij echt heeft verbaasd is de verhaallijn over Frank. Alleen was ik daar juist niet blij mee. Daarnaast heb ik mij ook erg geïrriteerd aan de schrijffouten. Het is een slechte woordgrap, maar dat past dan weer bij het boek want ik voel me 'bedonderd'.

Zoals jullie kunnen lezen kan ik er weinig positiefs over zeggen. Dit boek is dan ook zeker geen aanrader.
Profile Image for Hsiau Wei.
1,808 reviews7 followers
January 17, 2012
I find it pathetic the story plot of this blog. A husband who has two families has been successfully hiding from them the dual families that he have for four years.

And to have both wife in the hospital looking for the same husband is real tragic to me. How could a man do that to their loved ones? And to have the reason of insecurity as the reason behind his bigamist act??

As I continue reading this book, all I have in the end is the anger that I have for Frank and to have him died in the end of the book is something that I think is the right thing that the author did.

I got to admit that reading this book has makes me very emotional..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Chloe (Always Booked).
3,166 reviews122 followers
May 31, 2018
This book was so cute! I'm being really stingy with my 5 star ratings lately, but this one was close! It's about Iona and Sally and their husband Frank. That's right- 2 women, 1 husband- but they have no idea until he is in a terrible accident that renders him in a coma.
With Sally, he has an 18 year long marriage and a daughter, Jenna.
With Iona, he has a 4 year marriage and they are trying to conceive.
As the story goes along, the women initially are very angry and hateful toward each other but they eventually band up and I LOVED that. Together they discover that Frank's business partner was doing them dirty and they get it all taken care of and start running the business themselves. Frank is in a coma for the whole book until the end when he wakes up, says he's so sorry, and then has an aneurism and dies.
The reason for Frank's bigamy was mommy issues. His mom had abandoned him and his dad was just fine, so Frank really really longed for a big family of his own. I think the author maybe wanted you to feel sorry for Frank but I never did. He was an ass and I'm not sad he died, but the book wasn't really about him- it was about the women and their friendship. When he woke up, they were deciding who was going to take him- almost like it was more of an obligation than a joy! Funny.
Also in the story was the female cop that is assigned to the case. She was another strong woman that I really enjoyed. By the end, the 3 women all get together socially.
This book is long, but I didn't feel like it was too long. We have the story of the cop and her cheating fiance, Iona and her sister as well as a love interest that comes along, and Sally and her daughter and both of their love interests. These weren't necessarily pivotal to the story, but I really liked getting to know these 3 women so I liked it.
Overall I would recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rowena Reads Books.
118 reviews2 followers
September 30, 2024
Sheila has written a great story which has verisimilitude whilst still keeping the reader interested. Not what you would normally expect, but the characters keep the story going. There isn’t much romance in this book, seeing that Frank spends the majority of it in a coma! But the way that it has been written, being from each character’s point of view ensures that Frank has as much depth and interest as the other characters. I was left questioning at a few points how Sheila was going to resolve the bigamy issue if Frank wakes up. The book builds speed as it goes along, dangerously so as Sheila ties up the loose ends quite quickly at the end. But I feel that it is the right ending. Unlike some books I’ve read where they feel unfinished at the end, I’m grateful for the last few chapters.

Ireland has always been some magical place for me, another country so close to my own, but then again so far away as a different way of life. Sheila has drawn a perfect picture of this, having never been she’s described it well – so well that I could picture myself sitting on a wooden lounger on Enrique’s patio in the sun.

If you want a raunchy read this book isn’t for you. However the unusual storylines make this book interesting and compelling.

I would recommend this book and rate it as a Good Read.
Profile Image for Sharon.
539 reviews1 follower
October 28, 2025
I couldn't connect with the characters. I particularly couldn't fathom Frank out. He seemed so happy and relaxed about his two wives and lives, no stress about what he was doing and at the same time running a successful company almost single handedly. Amazing.
The story idea its self was interesting. Christine Franks mother who didn't want anything to do with him from the time he was a couple of years old and his father who tried but struggled as a single Parent. This sets the scene for Frank making a hash out of his and two women's life apparently.
It was a sad tale but amongst this there were some interesting characters.
Profile Image for Hazel J .
9 reviews
February 4, 2018
A friend gave this book to me so I gave it a go and I’m not one for starting and not finishing a book. Not the type of book for me unfortunately. I found the lack of resentment towards Frank and the friendship between Sally and Iona completely unrealistic. The story itself was slow moving, and I found it easy to put down in part because the writing was repetitive. I prefer books with more depth and less predictability.
374 reviews1 follower
June 20, 2021
I have always loved SheilaO's books. This is an honest review of this book : Good storyline/plot and interesting characters. The book started out strong and exciting. The ending was good too even though not what I expected. But in between my opinion is some of the chapters can be cut off. Too many details and chapters, making the story too lengthy and boring at times. But overall it is still a good read. She is one of my favorite Irish author.
Profile Image for Glenys.
455 reviews5 followers
October 28, 2025
4 chapters in and what the hell.... 3 separate opening chapters so as to speak and then an accident that reveals a bigamist following a collapsed wall engulfing the loo of the adjoining building. Then it all pulls together as the two wives discover each other, and spend time at the hospital as their hubby is in a coma.
Lovely ending which was what I was hoping for.
Profile Image for Rachel.
41 reviews5 followers
March 12, 2018
I loved this book overall. As some did say on this page, it was a bit slow going at times, but it was a fantastic concept for a novel and it did have so many twists and turns that I wasn't expecting.

Again, so glad I can now more comfortably find unfamiliar authors to read; yay for iBooks!
Profile Image for Marisa.
1,583 reviews
April 23, 2018
Really what a load of rubbish, Frank the adulterous idiot, and the worst for me are the two idiot wives that stay by his bedside the entire time, really ladies have some self respect why don’t you. This would have been a better read if it was Yours, unfaithfully, cause that’s how he rolled.
Profile Image for Lou.
7 reviews
May 15, 2018
I almost gave up a third of the way through but felt like I has invested too much time in it to abandon it.
I found the lack or anger and resentment, or their ability to quickly get over it unrealistic. There were parts that were quite repetitive and then it felt it parts like it dragged on.
Profile Image for Pinkscrapbooker.
6 reviews
November 4, 2019
Fun read

A bit predictable, but overall a fun read. I’m always amazed at how often authors get their medical stuff right, but then fail with their nursing. Is Terri the only nurse in the whole hospital, and does she ever go home? Just one of my pet hates
94 reviews
March 2, 2021
A really warm tale of female friendship blossoming under bizarre circumstances. When Frank, a bigamist goes into a coma after an accident, his two wives (completely unaware of each other) meet at the hospital. This is wonderful Sheila O’Flanagan storytelling; warm, witty and wise.
Profile Image for Marni.
1,182 reviews
May 9, 2021
Frank Harper is hospitalized in a coma after a freak accident and police discover two mobile phones in his possession - each has a 'Home' number programmed in and they are not the same. It seems he has two wives.....
40 reviews
June 25, 2021
Great book title.

This book on the face of it was a simple story of adultery. Sheila O'Flanagan took us through a tidal wave of despair, anger, melancholy and joy. The people I hated I grew to admire. A cracking read.
542 reviews1 follower
August 9, 2022
Heartwarming

A man with 2 wives is not a typical story line. Sheila never follows a common thread. It makes each new book a discovery. It's hard to comment on this story without giving too much away. Good work.
Profile Image for amelia:).
24 reviews
September 25, 2022
just think the detective was being a bit unprofessional with becoming best friends with like the victims of the case but I mean each to their own ALSO super quick ending line why do they have to rush things?!?
14 reviews
December 12, 2024
The twist was honestly so unexpected for me. I had a suspicion that the two families would be linked but not to the extent they were. The way the plot moves towards the end is also a surprising, but really good way to end the book, and a nice way for the characters to move forward.
Profile Image for MiRaCle.
32 reviews
August 8, 2017
That was a long prolific read but God it put me inside an exquisite bubble of sympathy, suspense and contemplation.
Profile Image for Linda.
402 reviews53 followers
February 9, 2018
Really enjoyed this book and was intrigued about what the outcome would be. It had me wondering if in real life if it could ever happen and you not knowing, maybe!
Profile Image for Orma.
672 reviews15 followers
October 24, 2018
Sì, vabbè... è l'esclamazione ricorrente durante la lettura. Non per la trama in sé (esistono casi anche peggiori!) ma per ciò che comporta poi; solo in un libro andrebbe tutto così.
Profile Image for Emma.
23 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2019
Totally 100% chick lit but I enjoyed it! Sometimes you need a storyline that’s ridiculous.
Profile Image for Pauline McFarlane.
45 reviews
February 1, 2020
Absolutely amazing, not my usual genre but I have made and effort to step out of my box lately, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews

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