Two for Joy

by Patricia Scanlan

Oliver Flynn's wedding is the social event of the year, and the crème de la crème of Kilronan are happy to boast of being invited.

Noreen, his new wife, has finally outclassed her two sisters, who think they are better than her in every way. Not any more! But there is one nagging doubt: does Oliver REALLY love her? Would he have married her if she hadn't done the proposing herself?

Cora Flynn, Oliver's bitter mother, has boycotted the wedding. She is determined that her detested new daughter-in-law will not become the number one woman in her son's life.

Wedding guest Lorna Morgan can't wait to shake the dust of Kilronan off her shoes. She's destined for bright city lights, unlike her stick-in-the-mud cousin, Heather Williams, who was only invited to the 'afters' with her clodhopper boyfriend, Neil. But then, in Lorna's eyes, Heather's just an 'afters' sort of person and always will be.

But worms turn, and what a difference a year makes. In Dublin, London and New York there is no respite for Noreen, Lorna or Heather. Only in Kilronan can the Pandora's box that was opened at Oliver Flynn's wedding finally be closed.

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction

624 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

About the author

Patricia Scanlan was born in Dublin, where she still lives. Her #1 bestsellers include Apartment 3B; Finishing Touches; Foreign Affairs; Promises, Promises; Mirror, Mirror; City Girl; City Woman; City Lives; and Francesca’s Party. She has sold millions of books worldwide and is translated into many languages. Patricia is the series editor and a contributing author to the award winning Open Door literacy series, which she developed for adult literacy.

Reviews

[Khurshid Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a heart warming read, if you like Cathy Kelly you will love Patricia Scanlan.

A book starting around one wedding leading towards different storylines. The characters of Oliver, Heather, Lorna, Noreen and Cora I loved.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish chick lit. Very much in the vein of Maeve Binchy, this novel tells of a few young girls in an Irish touch outside of Dublin and how things go over the course of the year. Relationships are formed and broken, jobs are found and lost and lives go up and down. Of course, I liked it. I love books set in Ireland.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

[Debs Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this... personally I would love a book about Lorna...I would be very interested in what happens to her.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

None of the characters in this novel was particularly pleasant: bullies, doormats, users with little excuse for their behaviour or feasible explanation were the main protagonists. In the background there were parents demonstrating some kindness, but this was overlaid by the behaviour of their off spring. Somehow, Scanlan failed to give any of them any warmth.

Heather, with all the signs available to her, works a full day in her partner's business and returns to her flat to prepare his meal. he moves between her flat and his father's home to sleep - surely there should be a clue to his lack of independence in this? But no, Heather is oblivious until a friend tells her is not to be trusted. Laura has no redeeming features, and the explanation of her inability to form close relationships does not ring true. Ruth, Heather's twin is possibly a positive character - but her case is weakened by the level of her punishment of Heather's erring partner. Noreen is a bully to her weak and indecisive husband, although Scanlan does her best to find reasons for the behaviour of both.

And this is the problem. Scanlan does not spend enough time working through her characters to give them any depth. They provide a story that is fine for a quick read on the beach, but little more.

[Eileen Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book filled with lots of great characters

Another great book by Patricia Scanlan. She has a way of pulling you in and feeling like you know all these people personally and you miss them when you come to the end of the book.

[Hasna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dont really like the drama while its going on but the ending is very satisfying.. as usual the characters were always well described and real

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for a holiday

[Althea]

bebssdadad

[Kim Solleder · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book Patricia Scanlan's story telling is wonderful, just a lovely read to escape from everything,

[Mrs M Caines & Mr Rob Caines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Far too predictable.

[Máire O’Leary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bitchy, small minded, nasty me féiners. I didn't like most of the characters but I still enjoyed the read. The trauma of infertility was dealt with very well throughout the book.

[Kirti Vyas · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy Maeve Binchy, you’ll enjoy this book.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romped through this one - good book to tuck up and immerse yourself in on a cold wet weekend.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy Patricia Scanlan's books because of the characters she creates. She is an Irish author and this book takes place in both Dublin and Kilronan. In the story she follows the lives of several different main characters who live in either place amd in some cases move back and forth trying out the city or the countryside. Complex problems arise in every life including the lives of her characters. All of the problems reach conclusions of one type or another at the end of the book. Our library system only had two of her titles and I have now read them both. I am going to ask Em and Barb to check their systems for titles and have them borrow books for me. Then I have searched on Amazon and will purchase some used titles that seem to be better rated than others. My good friend, Anita has read several of hers and will help to steer me towards the titles that are more enjoyable. All in all, I have certainly enjoyed her stories enough to have her on my list of authors to look for and read.

[Jillean Whyte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read the brill City Series & Promises Promises/Mirror Mirror by the hugely talented Patricia Scanlan. So although not as good as them I still really liked this one. It was very easy to read, hard to put down and enjoyable. She creates and captures characters it's easy to relate to them or know someone like them. The story flows like pure gold and is very typical of Irish life, apart from the 'wagon' never heard it until book. Scanlan just has 'it' she makes you laugh, cry, care and wonder about the characters no matter how good or bad they may be. A little predicable at ending, saw it coming a couple chapters before the ending. A great summer beach read or in front of fire at winter and all in between. Scanlan fails to disappoint.

[Betty Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two For Joy is a very readable story of the relationships in a small town just outside Dublin. Central characters include sisters and their cousin and the men they interact with. Their search for grown up jobs that satisfy and love takes them from home town to Dublin and New York.
The family relationship is very real, everyone has a cousin they can live without!

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Patricia Scanlan book I've read and it definitely won't be the last. I laughed and cried my way through it, devouring every last word. It was so easy to read and I found myself able to picture the characters clearly. Their behaviour is realistic and I was genuinely interested in the eventual outcome for each one of them

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good chick lit. Though Patricia isn't the greatest writer, her style is easy to read and keeps you interested with good characters.
The worst part about this is the title. I was seriously embarrassed reading it on the train as it sounds like a bad Mills & Boon! It's actually closer in style to a Cathy Kelly.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book by Patricia Scnalan is not my usual fare but I can see why she has a following and a good number of books. The characters are sketched out so you think you know them and the plot is interesting. What more do you really want? I would call it a woman's book but a man can read and enjoy it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the "Isms" and "Wesley's Wars"

[Ilva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gluži pieņemams romāns par trīs sieviešu dzīve līkločiem. Ja meklē labu lasāmvielu atslodzei, kad var mierīgi ielasīties citu sieviešu dzīves stāstos, viņu problēmās, priekos un bēdās, tādējādi atslēgties pašai no savām ikdienas rūpēm, tad šis nu ir pietiekami labs lasāmgabals. Mazliet gan iepriekšparedzams, bet tādi jau ir lielākā daļa visi attiecību romāni.

[CLM · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very odd - I don't think I read this before but I can predict every single thing that is going to happen before it does. Maybe this is because I have read so much Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes, and this author imitates them well...

Predictible but a pleasant summer read.

[Sharon Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another comfortable, easy read. It was not the best Patricia Scanlan book, but still I enjoyed her characters. The character Oliver, really frustrated me at times, and I felt like shaking him!

[Kerin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had my fare share of Neils and still awaiting my Oliver. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the settings.. I must say I picked the ending about 1/4 the way through but reslly enjoyed the read.

[Minty McBunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read all Patrician Scanlan's books, they never fail to be enjoyable and predictably fun. Scanlan and Cathy Kelly are my go to for comforting and entertaining Irish ChickLit and this is a good example of the genre.

[Kajol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish there was half star to add. This just seem a bit too scanty and if I give it a three, it will seem a bit too much. Such a dilemma!

[Susan O · Rating 4 out of 5]

very gikood bo

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my normal fare, but it was a good read. Realistic characters, and I wanted to see how their lives turned out. More of a woman's book.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story and very easy to read