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Someone Special
Romy Kilkenny loves her life in Australia - she has her dream job, lots of mates, and a best friend in Keith, who understands her better than anyone. Best of all, she couldn't be further from her family. But when her brother rings to say she's needed back in Ireland right away, Romy's world is turned upside down. Flying home to see her mother and her half-siblings, Romy doubts she'll fit in better now than she ever did, and she's still not ready to forgive her mother for her truly disgraceful behaviour a few years earlier. Romy also worries that the accidental half-kiss with Keith at the airport may have brought their easy friendship to a sudden end. Whatever lies ahead, it's not what Romy's expecting - even the people we grow up with can surprise us, and if love is to be found, it will find a way.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
170 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,203 followersAs 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
December 14, 2008
I agree with the only other reviewer of this book - normally her books are really enjoyable - gentle, but very readable. THis was a drag with no real direction - I mean, who cares?
July 3, 2011
This is the worst book I have ever read in my life. I'm usually a fast reader, but this was so boring it took me forever to read. The characters were so boring and self-involved. I seriously almost fell asleep while reading this several times. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
November 3, 2012
Like all her previous novels, Sheila O' Flanagan's Someone Special also features her heroine tracing her roots back to Ireland, a welcome change from all the London based chick lits. I loved the unique flavor which one experiences in the book. Although the concept of family troubles is not entirely new, the way Flanagan expertly brings it out in this book is one of its many charms.
The story starts with passionate archaeologist, Romy Kilkenny being asked or rather ordered by her half brother Darragh Dolan ,to return back home to care for her glamorous, ill mother, Veronica. Admist hesitation, misgivings and utter confusion due to having kissed her best friend Keith at the airport, Romy returns home.
Although, I loved Romy right away, I found Kathryn and Veronica interesting too. Romy can be seen to be a bit self piteous at times but that passes when you get to know the real reason. The end part involving Kathryn's husband Alan reminded me of Danielle Steele's Journey but it certainly kept the plot running and interesting.
Someone Special is certainly not Sheila O' Flanagan's best considering I had read Bad Behavior before this one but it is definitely recommended.
The story starts with passionate archaeologist, Romy Kilkenny being asked or rather ordered by her half brother Darragh Dolan ,to return back home to care for her glamorous, ill mother, Veronica. Admist hesitation, misgivings and utter confusion due to having kissed her best friend Keith at the airport, Romy returns home.
Although, I loved Romy right away, I found Kathryn and Veronica interesting too. Romy can be seen to be a bit self piteous at times but that passes when you get to know the real reason. The end part involving Kathryn's husband Alan reminded me of Danielle Steele's Journey but it certainly kept the plot running and interesting.
Someone Special is certainly not Sheila O' Flanagan's best considering I had read Bad Behavior before this one but it is definitely recommended.
December 8, 2023
Not the greatest. I didn’t care about any of the characters or whatever plot there may have been.
August 21, 2010
This book explores the tensions and joys of beig part of a family. The main character Romy Kilkenny who is living in Australia, is enjoying live and a career aswell as sharing a house with her best friend Keith. One day she gets a call to say she's needed back in Ireland. Her nice and easy live is about to get turned upside down.
Romy's mother Veronica is a very glamerous socialite who has never understood her youngest daughter who has neither interest in fashion nor social graces. To make it worse, Romy is a half sibling to Darragh and Kathryn,from her mothers first marriage, who always made her feel second best. Coming home was the last thing on her mind. And to make things worse she tried to kiss her best friend Keith goodbye at the airport. Would this be the end of their friendship?
Really enjoyed this book. It has a good story with lots of interesting characters. There's also the added bonus of a bit of romance. As one reads on more and more is revealed about each character and their not so perfect life.
Romy's mother Veronica is a very glamerous socialite who has never understood her youngest daughter who has neither interest in fashion nor social graces. To make it worse, Romy is a half sibling to Darragh and Kathryn,from her mothers first marriage, who always made her feel second best. Coming home was the last thing on her mind. And to make things worse she tried to kiss her best friend Keith goodbye at the airport. Would this be the end of their friendship?
Really enjoyed this book. It has a good story with lots of interesting characters. There's also the added bonus of a bit of romance. As one reads on more and more is revealed about each character and their not so perfect life.
March 7, 2012
I've always enjoyed Sheila O Flanagan's writing but this is not her best by any means. It's easy to read, the plot is OK and characters well drawn but the story line is weak in comparison to her other books.
June 28, 2022
This was dire… pages and pages of inner thoughts of each character which is just repeated throughout. 3 siblings who hate each other and the mother who is a pain in the arse has surgery. That’s the plot. The end.
June 19, 2021
3.5 stars
October 17, 2021
Okay this book was not too bad , the twist was good but the rest was actually pretty boring. Still enjoyed this book :)
May 2, 2020
Rating to come.
April 26, 2012
this is my first book from her!!! n i reallly loved it!!!
it ws diff to read smthn relatd to family emotions n loads of drama. smthn dt happens in my life too.. i ws pessimistic jst like romy abt my future wt my family, wat wt all d arguments n nvr ending differences btwn me n my dad... although im d orginal daughter of d family, like romy i felt outcasted for unknwon reasons..somethn i made up in my mind... i guess dt ha to go... and i realised evry family cn live wt each odr , withholdign each odrs grudges n tryn to c past it.. this book really helped me look at things 4m a better view....
the book has a beeen stretched a little too far.. bt it ws necessary to bring along the emotions relevant inside it. just like kathryn, i m obstinate and forevr demanding... just like darragh im bossy n consider myslf superior to all... i guess alll ths wl hv to let go for a betr humble person in me...
thnks for writing ds n helping me personally.... im truly grateful!!! :)
it ws diff to read smthn relatd to family emotions n loads of drama. smthn dt happens in my life too.. i ws pessimistic jst like romy abt my future wt my family, wat wt all d arguments n nvr ending differences btwn me n my dad... although im d orginal daughter of d family, like romy i felt outcasted for unknwon reasons..somethn i made up in my mind... i guess dt ha to go... and i realised evry family cn live wt each odr , withholdign each odrs grudges n tryn to c past it.. this book really helped me look at things 4m a better view....
the book has a beeen stretched a little too far.. bt it ws necessary to bring along the emotions relevant inside it. just like kathryn, i m obstinate and forevr demanding... just like darragh im bossy n consider myslf superior to all... i guess alll ths wl hv to let go for a betr humble person in me...
thnks for writing ds n helping me personally.... im truly grateful!!! :)
July 26, 2016
I've always quite enjoyed Sheila O'Flanagan books in the past but this one seemed to go on and on. I wasn't particularly eager to get to the end and find out what happened to the main character because the ending was fairly obvious from the first couple of chapters. It's a large-ish book at 500 pages but not one I'd particularly recommend.
September 15, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, though it was a bit slow. I liked the differences between characters, what they have gone through and how react when they need each other. It was my first book by Sheila and I will definitely read more!
March 18, 2010
I do agree that this book did drag but I enjoyed it
March 21, 2012
Really good read. I didn't think I was going to like it in the beginning as did find it hard to get in too, but then I couldn't get enough of it an found it hard to put down.
January 7, 2016
I read this book a long time ago and I agree with other reviewers that though the book had all the drama but it was bit of a drag. And ending very predictable.
October 22, 2017
På svenska: Syskonkärlek
Fantastiskt trevlig chic-lit bok
Myste mig igenom den och den blev aldrig ointressant
Fantastiskt trevlig chic-lit bok
Myste mig igenom den och den blev aldrig ointressant
January 4, 2021
Jag gillar huvudkaraktären, Romy, men de andra karaktärerna hade jag lite svårt för även om det blev bättre mot slutet av boken.
Jag förstår att Romy känner sig utanför eftersom hennes syskon, framförallt brodern gör allt för att påminna henne om att hon minsann inte är lika fin som de. Men han hade ju även samma attityd mot Kathryn emellanåt, han tyckte sig vara bättre än henne. Han känns väldigt självisk och snobbig och tror att han är bättre än alla andra. Gillade honom lite bättre senare.
Kathryn gillade jag väl lite mer, hon var ju snällare mot Romy och för det mesta verkade det som att de kom ganska bra överens åtminstone. Jag förstår att hon känner sig lite underlägsen brodern också eftersom han tyckte han var bäst på allt.
Veronica vet jag inte vad jag ska tycka om. Hon hade väl bra sidor hon med. Hon är ju ingen elak människa men jag har svårt för den där utseendefixeringen hon står för och att hon tycker att Romy inte duger som hon är.
Giselle vet jag inte vad hon fyllde för funktion mer än att man skulle reta sig på henne. Hon verkade mest bara lalla runt hemma och inte göra ett vettigt handtag. De hade hushållerska och städerska trots att Giselle själv är hemma om dagarna. Hon är också mycket utseendefixerad och känns som en mycket stel och humorbefriad människa. Hon tyckte också att Romy var en sämre människa för att hon inte bryr sig om sitt utseende och har andra intressen. En sak som var konstig var att det stod att Giselle är modemedveten, men på nåt ställe i boken hade hon ugg-stövlar på sig. Det är väl inte ett tecken på god smak??
Boken var lite för lång tyckte jag, men jag vet inte vad som skulle kunna kortas ner. Det hade varit kul med en epilog, att man hade fått veta vad som hade hänt ett år senare eller nåt sånt för jag hade velat veta om Romy stannade på Irland eller var hon tog vägen.
Jag förstår att Romy känner sig utanför eftersom hennes syskon, framförallt brodern gör allt för att påminna henne om att hon minsann inte är lika fin som de. Men han hade ju även samma attityd mot Kathryn emellanåt, han tyckte sig vara bättre än henne. Han känns väldigt självisk och snobbig och tror att han är bättre än alla andra. Gillade honom lite bättre senare.
Kathryn gillade jag väl lite mer, hon var ju snällare mot Romy och för det mesta verkade det som att de kom ganska bra överens åtminstone. Jag förstår att hon känner sig lite underlägsen brodern också eftersom han tyckte han var bäst på allt.
Veronica vet jag inte vad jag ska tycka om. Hon hade väl bra sidor hon med. Hon är ju ingen elak människa men jag har svårt för den där utseendefixeringen hon står för och att hon tycker att Romy inte duger som hon är.
Giselle vet jag inte vad hon fyllde för funktion mer än att man skulle reta sig på henne. Hon verkade mest bara lalla runt hemma och inte göra ett vettigt handtag. De hade hushållerska och städerska trots att Giselle själv är hemma om dagarna. Hon är också mycket utseendefixerad och känns som en mycket stel och humorbefriad människa. Hon tyckte också att Romy var en sämre människa för att hon inte bryr sig om sitt utseende och har andra intressen. En sak som var konstig var att det stod att Giselle är modemedveten, men på nåt ställe i boken hade hon ugg-stövlar på sig. Det är väl inte ett tecken på god smak??
Boken var lite för lång tyckte jag, men jag vet inte vad som skulle kunna kortas ner. Det hade varit kul med en epilog, att man hade fått veta vad som hade hänt ett år senare eller nåt sånt för jag hade velat veta om Romy stannade på Irland eller var hon tog vägen.
July 14, 2020
I liked this book and the way the characters and the relationships have been described. However, there are places and instances where the book has been dragged where it need not be done so but it has been done. A few times it felt like a bore but I loved the scenes involving Giselle. She brings drama to the narrative. She is one of such character who if left out, the narrative will fall down. It will become so boring otherwise. She makes it interesting.
I like the book and the narrative and the story but there are points and parts where it is such a drag! The narrative becomes quite boring by the end. However there are points which are interesting as well. This book has a mixed kind of feelings. A bit boring mixed with a lot of good vibes.
For an in dept review, check out my blog: https://thetravelfreak2000.wordpress....
I like the book and the narrative and the story but there are points and parts where it is such a drag! The narrative becomes quite boring by the end. However there are points which are interesting as well. This book has a mixed kind of feelings. A bit boring mixed with a lot of good vibes.
For an in dept review, check out my blog: https://thetravelfreak2000.wordpress....
August 6, 2018
This novel is about a family needing to find themselves. However I did not like a majority of the characters, that is just a preference because she wrote them so well that I had to not like them because of a few things. The writing style of having a perspective for each of the characters instead of just staying with one definitely helped elevate the story. The climax wasn't what I thought it would be at all but it all came together in the end.
April 9, 2023
The someone special exists for like 5 pages at the start 3 at the end and a handful in between. In the meantime its just boring repetitive sibling arguments and everyone is insufferable.
I picked this up just because I needed something mindless to read. Well it was so much so I was getting annoyed at everything. No craft to the writing at all. I had low expectations but they were exceeded in all the wrong ways.
I picked this up just because I needed something mindless to read. Well it was so much so I was getting annoyed at everything. No craft to the writing at all. I had low expectations but they were exceeded in all the wrong ways.
September 4, 2017
I found this book a little hard going. I liked the basic premise of the story but it seemed to take way too long to get there and I kept waiting for something to happen. Even when there were big events in the book I still didn't find them particularly engaging. Overall I was disappointed.
October 6, 2020
I enjoy reading Sheila O'flanagan a lot, like the dynamic and the story's she write, they are usually cozy and heartwarmin. This one had similar feelings to it but wasn't as good as I remember the other, but still a pleasant read about family.
October 10, 2022
I agree with the criticisms about it being a bad book. It finally woke up on page 268, 100 pages could have been cut from earlier in the book. I only kept going because I always enjoy Sheila books and thought sometine must happen eventually, and it did.
July 31, 2024
Think of a good family movie in book form. Lovely novel of a normal family (maybe with more money) with their feuds, sibling rivalry, relationship problems, misunderstandings etc and a hope that as we mature, we can agree to disagree and yet realize that family matters.
September 29, 2017
I loved every page. I felt that I knew Romy so well. I loved her doubts and insecurities yet admired her passion for what she loved.
This was a hair’s breadth away from a five star rating.
This was a hair’s breadth away from a five star rating.
September 6, 2018
Absolutely AWFUL. Took me forever to finish this tripe.
January 24, 2019
A nice fluffy chic lit that flowed nicely and ended well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews