Dreaming of a Stranger

by Sheila O'Flanagan

Jane O'Sullivan is a dreamer. She dreams of white sands, blue skies and one true love, the man who will turn all her dreams into reality. Then Jane gets married. And she finds that real life isn't like any of her other dreams. That sometimes real life can be a nightmare. So Jane has to take control of her own destiny. And she does. Because sometimes life can be more satisfying than any dream. And dreams don't come true. Do they?

Genres: Chick Lit, Fiction, Romance, Irish Literature, Audiobook, Ireland

644 pages, Hardcover

First published July 7, 2003

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Steffi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it was quite good, but O'Flanagan can certainly do better than this.
I liked the idea. Jane dreaming about someone all the time, conjuring up some phantasies and then finding someone, who seems the perfect catch for her, but you know, that he can't be the one.
The thing that bothered me about this book were the 600 pages. The real story only started at about page 400 or something, so it took me a lot of time, to get through this book.

[Pete Harmes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ever sat on a train with two women facing you, who were complete strangers, but who nevertheless talk incessantly about nothing in particular, for hour after hour? If you were reading this book, you’d put it down and listen intently to their ramblings.
It is by far, the most boring book I have ever read. The final few pages are beautiful, but in no way rescue it. How it got past her literary agent is beyond me. It’s quite dreadful.
So unlike Sheila, who is a wonderful writer.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheila O'Flannigan tends to write these 600+ page books that probably don't need to be that long at all - but we forgive that fact because we still end up pretty gripped - even if the plot is sometimes cliche and sometimes unnecessary details and descriptions are given.

I loved curling up with this.

[Hannie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik word altijd vrolijk van de boeken van Sheila O'Flanagan. Ook al maken de hoofdpersonen soms minder leuke dingen mee. Wat mij verder aanspreekt is dat je de hoofdpersoon over een langere periode volgt dan bij de meeste andere chicklitschrijfsters. Sheila O'Flanagan maakt, verdeeld over het boek, vaak een paar sprongen in de tijd. Ook gaat het in haar boeken niet alleen over het vinden van Mr. Right. Wat een leuk detail is in dit boek is dat Nederland ook een klein rolletje heeft. Zo ontmoette Jane in het begin een Nederlander toen ze op vakantie was in Spanje. En op het eind was ze op vakantie in Bonaire (Nederlandse Antillen). Ik heb zeker genoten van dit boek. Toch springt het verhaal er niet echt uit, hoe leuk het ook is. Daarom heb ik het drie sterren gegeven.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book !
It took so long to get it of my bookshelf and read it, but so so glad l read it, one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
It was so hard to put down, and not be reading it.
It was honest, believable, romantic, and so straight forward l think a lot of marriages are so familiar.

I loved the characters, Jane was relatable. The friendship between the main characters was unbreakable, the type that you can get through anything.

Sheila O Flanagan is one of my favourite authors, l get so engrossed in her books.
This book is a MUST, especially if you married so many woman will relate.

[Youssef OUBIHI · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very beautiful, calm and simple story.

Jane is an ordinary young girl (21 years old), who wants to move on with her life and get released from her parents regards. Which would make it easy for her to meet her imaginary lover and settle down with him, get married and have kids, like any ordinary couple.

What I like the most about the novel, is how realistic the characters are. Leafing the book feels like setting with Sheila O'flanagan and listening to her life story.

Sometimes simplicity is what makes a work special.

[Linda Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh dear!

I’ve read most of Sheila o’Flannagan’s books, and sad to say this was not on par with the others. There was no real story, just endless repetition, I kept reading it because I was sure something would happen to make it special, and what a poor ending. So disappointed.

[Celine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started and stopped. And pick it up again. Because it’s cute and I liked the girls. But it’s really not a good story. Why does the good guy not tell her that he knew of her marital situation when he asks her out? Ridiculous. It was certainly written quickly. Sheila can do so much better.

[Joyce Grant]

I'm sorry the main character Jane I found very annoying, not one I could like at all. I managed to finish the book, but only just, not one of Ms O’Flanagans better books

[Xeandra Naicker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book made me want to puke several times. It was really difficult to finish.

[Alison Hurt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as others of hers that I've read, but a good read nonetheless.

[June Selby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usual good read from this author

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, just a good, entertaining story.
Will read more of this author as this was my first of hers.

[Bernie21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

compelling book!

[Angela Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story line was so amazing loved it from start to finish.

[Melissa Desilets · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by this author. This book starts slowly with character development. I enjoyed the story of the main character, Jane O’Sullivan and her three best friends as they progress through significant milestones - finishing school, getting their first jobs, moving into their first apartment, starting and establishing careers, marriage and children. The story is very predictable with perhaps the ending being the most obvious, however it doesn’t take away from the simple pleasure of reading the book and learning about how Jane comes into her own as a woman, professional, mother and partner.

[Hazim Bangwar · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the concept of Dreaming OF A Stranger was fantastic, and expected the book to be truthful to its title but half way through the book I was waiting for that to happen, but it didnt. The book by no means had any link with its title, however it was a story of a girls life that went on and on, from her teens years to late 30th. I've never read anything by this author before, and truth, after this I never will. It was a pure waste of time, as this book went on and on, with no edge to it.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realize the author was a big-wig in the banking world before becoming an author, but I'm getting a little tired of her characters working in banks. Surely she could come up with something else? A nice enough story, parts of which I could relate to quite well, but it seemed to go on and on with no real purpose and the ending was a bit disappointing.

[Stefanie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

""

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasant book about ordinary characters. Well written story.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tedious details of a dull life. Once she got married I stopped caring entirely. I never plan to finish this book.

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this on audio. It made me crazy -listening to how this woman put up with her husband. Maddening.

[Carol Jen]

I had nothing against this book... I just never got around to finish listening to it.

[Mithun · Rating 3 out of 5]

very much down to earth, i enjoyed the twist.

[Carinya Kappler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This falls into my category of good holiday romance reading. Quite forgettable in content while being extremely well written, amusing and even moving in parts.
Carinya

[Emma Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

It did enjoy this book although it was a shame that Jane wasn`t the one to walk away from the marriage. The husband was a vile man. It has a nice ending though which I like in a book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a great book. But it's a fast read and is charming if you like Irish slang. I would read more of her books even though she is no Marian Keyes.

[Sara Dimitry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written story with tiny details that I've enjoyed so much !

[Gemma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

very long novel...did pick up steam 1/2 way