The Ibiza Crone Club: New Beginnings

by Josephine O'Brien

Maeve Binchy meets Marian Keyes in the occasionally bawdy, often hilarious but always touching and heartfelt Ibiza Crone Club.
The magic begins when the three women meet in the emergency room of a hospital and realise that more than their medical issues need help. Tanit, the goddess of women, fertility, and water is on hand to help.
Pot, Prosecco, pals, and the paranormal, what more does a woman need?

"What sets "The Ibiza Crone Club" apart is O'Brien's masterful ability to create an atmosphere that's both vibrant and immersive. The sun-soaked beaches, the bustling markets, and the rich cultural tapestry of Ibiza come alive under her pen. It's not just a story of women finding themselves, but also a love letter to the island itself.
If you're in need of a novel, that's equal parts escapism and soul-searching, "The Ibiza Crone Club" is an absolute must-read. Josephine O'Brien's gift for storytelling shines through in every line, making it impossible to put the book down.
"This novel is a delightful gem that warms the heart." Literary Titan.
" A book with real emotional heart and a fab sense of place."

Genres: Amazon, Womens Fiction, Fiction

303 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2022

About the author

Even at this age, I still half hope/expect to find a magic lamp or save a magical creature and be given three wishes.
My first series Shared Skies and now The Ibiza Crone Club are both informed by this feeling that magic, other worlds, or mystical powers are just an invisible fingertip away.
I am an Irish writer, artist, and teacher. Married with five children and a growing number of grandchildren, I move between Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and Ibiza.

Reviews

[Soozee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blaithin has had a failed marriage, had the same job for decades only to find herself being made redundant at an age when she will struggle to find more work. Her boss, in a fit of conscience, offers her his apartment in Ibiza at a reduced rent (not a great deal, given he wouldn't be able to rent it out over winter anyway). Cassandra has flitted through life, is also divorced and the job that brought her back to Ibiza has just folded. Pamela moved to Ibiza with her daughter Susan and her family, she loves painting but is the main babysitter for the children and as she lives with them, her time isn't really her own.

The three ladies have mishaps and end up at the hospital at the same time, when they strike up a friendship. From there they form the Ibiza Crone Club, acolytes of the goddess Tanit, and their lives strike out in ways that each of them could never have predicted.

Its not terribly believable but nonetheless a fun read. The characters who really stood out for me were Diarmaid and Pauline, Blaithin's brother and sister in law; their sadness at the deal life has given them and how they try to overcome it are heartbreaking. As you'd expect, older ladies having fun and misbehaving and learning they don't have to please everyone else anymore. A great holiday read, great fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Books Go Social for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a Netgalley ARC of this book.
It’s difficult to review without giving away much of the storyline and spoiling the fun, so I will have to comment very generally here. First, the writing style and narrative flow are excellent, and the plot is complex enough to keep me interested without losing track of the storyline. The characters are easy to identify with and feel compassion for, but each has enough quirks to individualize them and make them real. The setting is, of course, also ‘exotic’ but not ´stagey’—not the paradise it is presumed to be. How these women end up forming tight bonds on a number of levels is a really heartwarming reminder of the value of friendship in all stages of life, and especially as we get older. But ‘crones’ or not, this isn’t a book just for seniors by any means. It should be enjoyed by all. I’m pleased that it’s meant to be the first in a series and look forward to much more from a very talented author.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was initially drawn in by the cover. It's lovely. The author drew me in from page one. She has created a book with a multitude of fabulous, well detailed characters that seemed so very real, they are each different from one another and yet I can see myself in each of them, each one of them. The characters all meet accidentally and soon develop a friendship that enriches them each, as they don't only learn about one another but they learn more about themselves. This is a beautifully written book about friendship, camaraderie and self-discovery. I hated for it to end.

[Tiffany (areyoutellingstories) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light read that emphasizes that age is nothing but a number. These women are beautiful, strong and radiant!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ibiza, three women meet in the emergency waiting room and form a tenuous friendship. Their ability to communicate with each other is amusing and heartfelt. As they decide to meet again, the women find an avenue for self-discovery and a joining of talents humorous as well as a breath of fresh air. This is a delightful and quick read into the backgrounds and commonalities of each as they find themselves meshed with the culture of Ibiza.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three women meet in the emergency room of a hospital and realize that more than their medical issues need help. Tanit, the goddess of women, fertility, and water is on hand to help. Different ages make their ideas different and lots of discussion is needed to get them all in agreement. At times, funny or sad these ladies are certainly different. This appears to be book 1 in a series.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny read about three women who meet at a club as well as a hospital. See just how they will all get on and how they will deal with everything thrown at them. A great story which will have you in fits of laughter
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and it was a really fun tale

[Jean Carter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise was good. Sentence structure was difficult at times. Was not overly excited about the book and pushed to finish to the end. I knew it had to have a happy ending, which leads into book 2. I will not be continuing with this author.

[CC-PRIME Pat Costello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good story with love and magic

So many intersecting stories. So many past memories and relationships to resolve. All done with a hint of the metaphysical magic.

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ibiza Crone Club by Josephine O’Brien presents an ideal choice for a captivating vacation read. Following Cassandra’s return to her spiritual hometown, a place that has never disappointed her, she embarks on a quest for something more profound—a fresh and invigorating experience that might have eluded her. While Pamela cherishes her friends, family, and daughter, the ups and downs of life, coupled with the passage of time, have left her yearning for a touch of magic and excitement. In an unforeseen twist of fate, three strangers converge, and with the assistance of an ancient goddess, their encounter surpasses mere medical assistance, kindling a glimmer of hope for the manifestation of true magic in their lives.

The narrative blends moments of laughter and levity, skillfully capturing the very essence of enchantment. Readers will find themselves fully immersed in the intricacies of the plot, the vividness of the setting, and the depth of the characters. Each character, skillfully portrayed with their idiosyncrasies, particularly Cassandra with her vibrant personality, succeeds in captivating the reader from the outset. Throughout the book, recurring themes of hope and magic resonate, while the characters’ relationships evoke a delightful sense of nostalgia.

This novel is a delightful gem that warms the heart. Despite its concise length, The Ibiza Crone Club leaves an indelible impression, leaving readers longing for more. The raw emotions conveyed within its pages are not only perceptible to the eye but palpable to the soul. Among the many standout qualities of the book, the setting stands tall, accompanied by the author’s boundless creativity. The vivid depiction of Ibiza and the characters’ profound connection to the place awakens a deep longing within readers, igniting their desire to experience the sense of belonging so beautifully portrayed in the novel.

This work transcends mere humor; it seamlessly intertwines emotional depth, resulting in a truly remarkable fusion. The novel is an exquisite blend of hilarity and heart, as skillfully exemplified in its pages.

[F.E. Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We don’t have problems because we’re getting older—we have problems because we’re human.” With this statement, Cassandra demanded that the group she named the Crone Club, still needs to seek adventure and fulfillment.
Cassandra met the women on the island of Ibiza, a Mediterranean island known for wild bacchanals during the summer tourist season. Seemingly random events put all three women on Ibiza in the off-season. Each is deep in self-doubt and questions what she should do with her life as a middle-aged single woman.
They meet in the waiting room of the local emergency room. Cassandra twisted her ankle when her stiletto heel caught in a crack in the cobblestones. The same cobblestones claimed Pamela who was walking with her granddaughter. Blaithín (pronounced blaw reen) passed out while touring the Phoenician cemetery on the hill above the town.
A friendship grows among the women. Ultimately, they all admit to being afraid of the future and angry and becoming invisible just because they are “past childbearing.” The ancient mother goddess Tanit’s visit galvanizes Cassandra to use her formidable organizing skills to create the Crone’s Club. The Crones support each other while they follow their artistic and sexual passions—occasionally with a nudge from Tanit.
With Tanit’s assistance, the Crones foil a greedy real estate developer, permanently establishing themselves on Ibiza.
The characters are engaging, Ibiza is faintly magical, and the story kept me waiting to see what would be next. Buried in the gentle story is a demand that women not allow themselves to become invisible. It’s not a strident call to arms but a steady, gentle push.

[Richard Derus · Rating 2 out of 5]

PEARL RULED @ 53%

I gave up at the end of chapter twenty, when the Scoobygroup of older women toast their decision to become the Crone Goddesses in order to have for themselves exciting and interesting lives by topping up their glasses of wine.

Getting drunk together now that you're free of the Awful Men who've been So Nasty and Ruined Your Lives could, by now, be the subtitle of all the mediocre uninteresting "women's fiction" in the world. I'm not the target audience so the appeal is lost on me, and the writing isn't deft or original enough (really, at all) to draw me along in spite of my utter lack of interest in this kind of story.

[Malia Arries · Rating 5 out of 5]

FUN, ENCOURAGING, CRAZY
The three late middle age main characters in this adventure, with help from each other, became confident and comfortable with their social, cultural, and artistic desires - to where they reached a celebratory roar as individuals and as friends. I think I wanna join the club!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this slightly bizarre, adventurous, funny, magical,
Coming of (slightly advanced) age book! A book about discovery, rediscovery, self discovery. This book came out in August of 2022 and states that it is book 1
but I haven't been able to find anything else out about another book in this series. I'm really hoping there is more, I'd love to see where this is going!

[Josephine O'Brien]

This is my own book, so what can I say…!😊An uplifting, fun read.