The Bridge to Always

by Lynda Marron

'Marron has created a vibrant world ... At the book's heart is a love story, but not the one I was expecting; something richer, sweeter and entirely compelling' - Emily Hourican, author of The Glorious Guinness Girls

A story about identity and place, about finding out who you are, who your people are, and what it means to be a family.

Maeve Gaffney arrives in a small West Cork town in pursuit of a to be reunited with Tim, the lad she fell for years ago and who, unbeknownst to him, fathered her daughter, Emer.
For Tim, now married and a pillar of the community, Emer's existence is a shock - but the chance to rekindle an old flame with her mother is tempting.
For Agnes, a lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer's arrival is an opportunity to make money - and maybe new friends.
For Malachi, a man of few words but deep emotions, it's . . . complicated.
For Emer, it's about growing up and finding her voice.

For all five, the arrival of this beautiful, wild mother and her silent, observant daughter sparks a devastating chain of events none of them could have predicted.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction

Paperback

Reviews

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gentle story where I was shown lovely dialogue and imagery of a part of the world not seen before, phrases that caught my eye. This is an emotive journey, not only a love story, due to the terrific writing and the author’s enormous talent of building characters that have an innate sneaky way of almost watching over your shoulder, reading the story with you among their complicated lives. Thank you to the Better Reading preview campaign and Echo Publishing for my review copy.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard book to put down and I just sped through it. There are some really nasty characters here and I wish they’d got what they deserved but I guess that’s not how it works in the real world either. I was frustrated with the main character, Maeve and many of her actions. Her obsession with old boyfriend, Tim (one of the horrible characters) is hard to understand as he’s clearly a scumbag (attractive apparently). Luckily he’s got the wife he deserves. There are some flashbacks to when Maeve met Tim, and they’re interspersed with the main narrative. This structure worked well and I really enjoyed the read.

[tinkingaboutbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynda Marron's The Bridge to Always is set in the fictional small Irish town of Drohid in West Cork. The story follows Maeve, who relocates to Drohid following her Mam's death, driven by the hope of reuniting with Tim, the father of her child, Emer.

While the pacing is slow, the story (thankfully) avoids being an over-the-top romance. The emotional depth of the novel arises from the characters' situations and the complexities of their relationships.

The characters were believable, though flawed. While Emer was quiet and sweet, Maeve's unpredictable and moody nature, combined with unlikeable Tim, nearly led me to DNF the book. However, I recommend giving the book a go as the flawed nature of the characters ultimately makes for an engaging reading experience.

Thank you to @betterreadingau
for my ARC of The Bridge to Always.

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this title by searching the narrator rather than the author, in fact I had never even heard of Lynda Marron, so it’s a blessing that Aoife McMahon is one of my favourite narrators and I often search her name in audible.

Immediately I began listening I was immersed in the story and the lives of the characters. A slow and unassuming novel that’s beautifully written.

An east 4 🌟

[Veronica ⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!
After the death of her mother Maeve moves to a small town in Cork hoping to rekindle a romance with Tim, the father of her nine-year-old daughter Emer.

Tim is now married but is tempted by the vivacious Maeve. He goes to see her and is shocked to find out he has a daughter.
Maeve is a totally unlikeable character and at times I felt like screaming at her. She is the most frustrating character I've read for a while.

The story moves back and forward from now, with Maeve living in Drohid, Cork to ten years ago when she first met Tim.
In The Bridge to Always I was quickly drawn into the immersive tale of the citizens of Drohid, where even the most well meaning of people still, on occasion, looked out for themselves first.

I would recommend this affecting and moving novel to readers who enjoy stories on love, identity and finding yourself.

Read my full review at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gripped me in ways that most books don’t. I cannot say I enjoyed this book, but I also can’t say I didn’t. I struggle when I feel this way about a book and find it usually comes back to how I have resonated with the main character. I need to remind myself that I don’t always have to like them to enjoy a book. To be honest, I think Marron has just created one of the most frustrating characters ever. Maeve is a trainwreck that you just can’t look away from. Your eyes literally just keep coming back to the page, wanting to see what stupid decision she makes next. While Maeve rubbed me the wrong way, other characters such as Mal, Agnes & Emer all made me keep reading. Overall, Marron has wonderfully captured the people of a small town and how new residents can upend their everyday normal. This book was an easy read and I can see it being made into a short tv series.
Thank you to Better Reading and Echo Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Alice Houghton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up in a book shop in Dublin, having read no reviews or looking on good reads.

I adored this book. Complex, unlikeable characters, but still managing to be balanced with a floaty gentle Irish lit read. It had me hooked from the off, and builds until a very fast paced final few chapters.

A very unexpected 5 ⭐️ for me

[Aoife Cassidy McM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynda Marron’s sophomore novel The Bridge to Always was published this week (April 2025). It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I couldn’t wait to get back to it every evening and I ended up loving it. A moving story that snuck up on me, I shed a little tear in the closing chapters.

The Bridge to Always is different to Marron’s first novel Last Chance in Paris in the sense that it’s set entirely in Cork, but it gives the reader that same feeling of grounding and of comfort.

In the wake of her mum’s death, Maeve Gaffney decides to sell up in Dublin and move to Cork with her 9 year old daughter Emer. She buys a house in Drohid, a small town in Cork that is home to Tim, Emer’s father and the man Maeve had a passionate relationship with and has never been able to forget.

Maeve is impulsive and unpredictable, and she is determined that Tim will know Emer, but life is complicated. Tim is married with children, and his wife Nóinín is a powerful woman-about-town. Emer is quietly observing everything, the most perceptive of them all.

Lynda Marron is such a gifted storyteller. She writes with empathy and humour, and her characters are complex and flawed, but always deeply human. All of the characters in this book, including Maeve, Emer, Agnes, Mal and even loyal doggie Bran, are brilliantly written.

With The Bridge to Always, Lynda Marron has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me. She is Ireland’s answer to Elizabeth Strout and her books are the balm we all need right now ☺️. 4/5⭐️

[Roz Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautifully written story. I loved that we get to see each character in detail as it unfolded. Mal and Agnes were such lovely personalities, and little Emer was portrayed in such an innocent way. I love Maeve's energy and the home she was creating. I wanted her to find the happiness she craved but within herself rather than with Tim.

I love books set in Ireland as it reminds me of going home. I might be English by birth, but my maternal family are all from Dublin, including my mother. I was lucky enough to live in Dublin as a child, and this story made me feel so nostalgic. I loved the setting of Cork, which the author captured so perfectly, and the use of local dialect. It felt like a big, warm hug.

The plot was well thought out. It is a love story, a story about finding yourself and realising that what you want might not be what you need. It had me feeling all the emotions, and I was completely invested! I highly recommend if you like a contemporary story about life, loss, love, friendship and growth.

Huge thanks to the author, publisher and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review. 

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so charming! I adore books set in Ireland. I find them extremely enjoyable and this one certainly didn't disappoint me! The premise was brilliant.

The book was beautiful written and the imagery made this wee corner Cork seem so beautiful. It flowed well and there were no plot holes or unanswered questions.

The characters were wonderful and they were all so different. They complimented each other perfectly. Little Emer was adorable. Malachi was a good man and so kind. Maeve was fun. She was a whirlwind with her project house!

The book is written in third person from multiple points of view. This worked well and we got to see the story unfold along with the different characters.

I really recommend this to you all. It was charming.

[Jane Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sucked straight into this book, into Maeve’s life and needs and it didn’t let up. I found myself questioning Maeve’s choices but then realising how bereft she feels after the loss of her mother and life’s disappointments I knew why she sought what she thought would solve her problems. This is a journey of self discovery, a hard one at times and a lesson in seeing what is right before our eyes and learning to take joy in those things. I laughed, I cried and I was torn apart and built back up again. Thank you for the ride, Lynda.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘My mother was a cantankerous wagon. She was a pig-headed woman who never listened to a word of advice. She held everyone around her to impossibly high standards. She held herself to impossibly high standards. She was her own worst enemy, and mine. She disagreed with every word I said. She crossed me at every turn. She drove me mad. I’ll be glad to see the back of her.’

The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron publishes April 3rd with Eriu and is described as ‘a story about identity and place, about finding out who you are, who your people are, and what it means to be a family.‘

It’s absolutely no secret that I, as well as many others, are huge fans of Lynda Marron’s writing. Many of us discovered her view on the world via her wonderful posts on Instagram. Last year Lynda’s debut, Last Chance in Paris, was the perfect balm we all needed, one that, to this day, I keep recommending to folk. Lynda seamlessly immerses her readers right into her stories with beautiful prose, vividly described settings and an emotional thread that weaves its way in and around every word right into your heart.

The Bridge to Always is a little closer to Lynda’s home this time, as it’s set in the fictitious town of Drohid in West Cork, less than twenty kilometres from the city. Maeve Gaffney arrives into Drohid like a whirlwind providing plenty of fodder for the local community. With her young daughter, Emer, by her side, Maeve is renovating a local house with the intention of making it a home for herself and Emer. Maeve is grieving her mother’s death and although their relationship was fractious, her mother’s voice is still very clear in Maeve’s mind. As a single parent, Maeve has struggled through bad times but now she is convinced that this move from Dublin to West Cork could be the perfect new beginning for both of them.

Emer is a gentle and timid child and is very much in the shadow of the vivacious and unstoppable personality of her mother. As Maeve breaks down walls and starts renovating the house, Emer stands back and shares her perspective on her mother’s behaviour. Through the eyes of a child we see how erratic Maeve’s constant motion is. Emer tries her best to be present with her mother but sometimes it just gets too much. Watching Emer on this journey of self-discovery is quite affecting as she struggles to find her voice, to find her way.

Agnes is a neighbour with good intention, a woman who has lived in the parish for quite a number of years. Now in her seventies, Agnes never truly fitted in with the locals and spent much of her time alone but she sees something in Maeve and Emer, a possibility of a fresh start. But Agnes is keeping her own secret close to her heart, one that could instantly damage this new fragile friendship.

Malachi is quite an unusual character. We never really get inside his head. He has his own agenda and has a certain level of respect in the community but folk are unsure of him. Malachi befriends Maeve but there is a tangible presence that, as readers, is impossible to pin down.

Tim Corcoran is quite the boyo, part of a well-recognised golden couple in Drohid. Tim could have lead a very different and more loving life, but he chose what he thought was a more beneficial path and is now stuck in a fractious family dynamic, the son-in-law of a wealthy local property developer. When Maeve arrives into town, Tim is shocked and confused. His ordered existence is about to be upended in ways he could never have imagined.

For readers not familiar with Co Cork and its environs, Lynda Marron paints a perfect picture. The dialogue, the Corkonian phrases and banter are all lovingly interwoven into this extremely emotive tale. The Bridge to Always is a love story but with Lynda Marron at the helm it is so much more. Maeve Gaffney is a quirky individual whose actions are often questionable and her behaviour toward Emer did raise my heckles at times. And this is exactly what makes Lynda Marron’s writing so very authentic and so very special, with her characters all coming to life and their actions becoming almost personal.

There is no question that Lynda Marron writes from the heart. Anyone who knows Lynda, knows that her natural inclination is to hide away and not be the centre of attention. But Lynda you cannot hide away from the fact that your writing is exquisite and that you lend compassion and emotional resonance to all that you create, be it a corner of your garden, a lush cake or, for all us lucky readers, a stunning novel, bringing us all joy and the freedom to escape our own world for just a small while.

The Bridge to Always is another beauty, with a cast of perfectly flawed individuals and a fine spattering of Cork. Captivating, affecting and eloquent, it is quite simply a joy to read and a book I dearly hope you all get the opportunity to enjoy.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘My mother was a cantankerous wagon. She was a pig-headed woman who never listened to a word of advice. She held everyone around her to impossibly high standards. She held herself to impossibly high standards. She was her own worst enemy, and mine. She disagreed with every word I said. She crossed me at every turn. She drove me mad. I’ll be glad to see the back of her.’

The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron publishes April 3rd with Eriu and is described as ‘a story about identity and place, about finding out who you are, who your people are, and what it means to be a family.‘

It’s absolutely no secret that I, as well as many others, are huge fans of Lynda Marron’s writing. Many of us discovered her view on the world via her wonderful posts on Instagram. Last year Lynda’s debut, Last Chance in Paris, was the perfect balm we all needed, one that, to this day, I keep recommending to folk. Lynda seamlessly immerses her readers right into her stories with beautiful prose, vividly described settings and an emotional thread that weaves its way in and around every word right into your heart.

The Bridge to Always is a little closer to Lynda’s home this time, as it’s set in the fictitious town of Drohid in West Cork, less than twenty kilometres from the city. Maeve Gaffney arrives into Drohid like a whirlwind providing plenty of fodder for the local community. With her young daughter, Emer, by her side, Maeve is renovating a local house with the intention of making it a home for herself and Emer. Maeve is grieving her mother’s death and although their relationship was fractious, her mother’s voice is still very clear in Maeve’s mind. As a single parent, Maeve has struggled through bad times but now she is convinced that this move from Dublin to West Cork could be the perfect new beginning for both of them.

Emer is a gentle and timid child and is very much in the shadow of the vivacious and unstoppable personality of her mother. As Maeve breaks down walls and starts renovating the house, Emer stands back and shares her perspective on her mother’s behaviour. Through the eyes of a child we see how erratic Maeve’s constant motion is. Emer tries her best to be present with her mother but sometimes it just gets too much. Watching Emer on this journey of self-discovery is quite affecting as she struggles to find her voice, to find her way.

Agnes is a neighbour with good intention, a woman who has lived in the parish for quite a number of years. Now in her seventies, Agnes never truly fitted in with the locals and spent much of her time alone but she sees something in Maeve and Emer, a possibility of a fresh start. But Agnes is keeping her own secret close to her heart, one that could instantly damage this new fragile friendship.

Malachi is quite an unusual character. We never really get inside his head. He has his own agenda and has a certain level of respect in the community but folk are unsure of him. Malachi befriends Maeve but there is a tangible presence that, as readers, is impossible to pin down.

Tim Corcoran is quite the boyo, part of a well-recognised golden couple in Drohid. Tim could have lead a very different and more loving life, but he chose what he thought was a more beneficial path and is now stuck in a fractious family dynamic, the son-in-law of a wealthy local property developer. When Maeve arrives into town, Tim is shocked and confused. His ordered existence is about to be upended in ways he could never have imagined.

For readers not familiar with Co Cork and its environs, Lynda Marron paints a perfect picture. The dialogue, the Corkonian phrases and banter are all lovingly interwoven into this extremely emotive tale. The Bridge to Always is a love story but with Lynda Marron at the helm it is so much more. Maeve Gaffney is a quirky individual whose actions are often questionable and her behaviour toward Emer did raise my heckles at times. And this is exactly what makes Lynda Marron’s writing so very authentic and so very special, with her characters all coming to life and their actions becoming almost personal.

There is no question that Lynda Marron writes from the heart. Anyone who knows Lynda, knows that her natural inclination is to hide away and not be the centre of attention. But Lynda you cannot hide away from the fact that your writing is exquisite and that you lend compassion and emotional resonance to all that you create, be it a corner of your garden, a lush cake or, for all us lucky readers, a stunning novel, bringing us all joy and the freedom to escape our own world for just a small while.

The Bridge to Always is another beauty, with a cast of perfectly flawed individuals and a fine spattering of Cork. Captivating, affecting and eloquent, it is quite simply a joy to read and a book I dearly hope you all get the opportunity to enjoy.

[Helen_t_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve Gaffney arrives in a small West Cork town in pursuit of a dream: to be reunited with Tim, the lad she fell for years ago, and who, unbeknownst to him, fathered her daughter, Emer.

For Tim, now married and a pillar of the community, Emer's existence is a shock - but the chance to rekindle an old flame with her mother is tempting.

For Agnes, a lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer's arrival is an opportunity to make money - and maybe new friends.

For Malachi, a man of few words but deep emotions, it's . . . complicated.

For Emer, it's about growing up and finding her voice.

For all five, the arrival of this beautiful, wild mother and her silent, observant daughter, sparks a devastating chain of events none of them could have predicted....

I absolutely loved this novel, which was kindly AD-GIFTED to me by the publisher, Eriu Books, and I'm so very glad they did, or I may not have discovered Lynda Marron's wonderful writing!

TBTA is a heartfelt and heart-touching story, beautifully written, and with a real focus on character. If you love character-driven novels, as I do, then this one won't disappoint, because the author presents the reader with a cast of complex, flawed people, who are all well realised, and are written with enormous empathy.

From the opening pages Lynda Marron draws you into her story, and before you know it you're completely invested and hooked in, such is her skill at telling a compelling story.
I couldn't put it down, and when I had to, I couldn't wait to get back to it, hoovering it up in just two days.

Her characters are all flawed in some way, and they all make bad choices and poor decisions, because let's be honest, that's what it is to be human, and so we identify with them, and (mostly) forgive them for it.

Maeve is a grieving, single parent possessed of strength, determination, and a great creative flair for renovating old houses and turning them into stylish living spaces. But she's also headstrong, selfish, impetuous, inconsiderate and blind to the faults of herself and some of those around her, whilst failing to see the good in others. Sometimes I completely disliked her, and at other times I felt great sympathy for her.

Wise-beyond-her-years, quiet and timid, little Emer totally stole my heart and I loved her quiet inner strength and voice; entitled, spoilt, selfish Noinin made my teeth clench, as did her indulgent, equally entitled and selfish, Mr Fixit father, Paddy; whilst cowardly Tim walks a tightrope, juggling his status, family, and a would-be literary career, with a complex lovelife, trying to have everything.

Then there's Malachi, a quiet unassuming, big-hearted, truly decent, honest and upright man. An out and out good egg, his friendship with Agnes, the last in the long line of local gentry, is an absolute joy.

All these characters leap off the page and completely captivate you, ensuring that you keep on turning the page to see how events will unfold, so invested are you, in their fate.

Whilst this is, without doubt, a story about love, it's far from sentimental and twee, and it leaves you thinking about the complex issues of identity and discovering who you are; about finding your people, and above all, what it means to be a family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this satisfying, compelling story by a new-to-me Irish writer, and I'm now going to seek out her debut novel, Last Chance in Paris. Lynda Marron is definitely one to watch.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for Goodreads

[Chloe]

#Gifted

I loved Irish author Lynda Marron’s first novel, Last Chance in Paris, so I was delighted to receive a copy of her latest; The Bridge to Always.

Via a dual timeline we meet Maeve, currently uprooting her and her daughter Emer’s lives to move to West Cork village Drohid, in pursuit of Maeve’s one true love (and Emer’s dad, although she doesn’t know that yet, and neither does he for that matter). Tim is now married with kids, and is a pillar of the community. Maeve however, is beautiful and charming, so Tim will have his work cut out for him if he even attempts to avoid getting re-involved with her.

The second timeline brings us back to when Tim and Maeve first met and fell in love, and explains how we got to where we are today.

Back to the present day, and thankfully some of the locals are kind to Maeve, including Agnes, a lovely older woman, and Malachi, a farmer and gentle soul who is perhaps harbouring a bit of a soft spot for Maeve himself.

Emer meanwhile, is trying to find her own voice in the shadow of her enigmatic mother, but before they can really settle in to Drohid, everything starts to fall apart around them, literally and figuratively.

I found this to be a supremely comforting read. I flew through the first 100 pages while sitting in a CT waiting room, and didn’t notice the time going by at all. The nurse apologised for the wait and I replied it was fine; I had a good book with me 🥰

There’s always a gentleness to Lynda’s writing; you can tell she has an innate empathy for others and that shines through in her characters.
Maeve isn’t always likeable, but you can’t help but feel tor her at times. The small town mentality felt quite realistic too, and there’s a suitable amount of drama as the book progresses to keep you engaged.

I really enjoyed The Bridge to Always. If you like a story about ordinary, everyday life but with a focus on complex relationships and well-developed characters, this is the book for you.

With many thanks @eriubooks for my early copy. The Bridge to Always is available to buy now. All opinions are my own, as always.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am always a sucker for an Irish book, and I can’t remember where I saw this recommended, but of course I saw it was an Irish author and ordered. And, I found it to be kinda meh. Lynda Marron's The Bridge to Always is set in the fictional small Irish town of Drohid in West Cork. The story introduces us to Maeve, who moves to Drohid following her mother’s death. The reason for the move from Dublin Maeve’s hope of reuniting with Tim, the father of her quiet nine-year-old daughter Emer.
The pacing is slow, which I always prefer, but the third person narrative meant we don’t really get to know any of the characters well. Maeve lost her mother and certainly that features a bit, but I think I would expect more grief? Most of the characters except for Malachi and Agnes were pretty unlikeable. But I did like the setting (duh) and the flood climax was exciting, and the range of characters was interesting even if I felt the backstories could’ve used more attention, so I would read something else by Marron again.

[Emma Moon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron is set in West Cork Ireland.
It centres around single Mum Maeve, her daughter Emer, Tim, Emer's father who has only just discovered he has another child upon Maeve moving to Drohid. Other key characters are Agnes and Malachi, though to start off with its not clear just where they fit in.
It was an interesting story, I didn't love a lot of the characters, I found Maeve scatty, Tim was a weak, pompous snob, but I was sucked in wanting to see where the story went, what was Maeve's agenda with Tim? Where did Agnes and Malachi fit into the story? The book went from the present back into the past to give you tiny little snippets of information that gradually drew a much bigger picture than I expected
I quite enjoyed this book, it had me turning the pages eager for the next titbit of information to see how the story was going to unfold.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Echo Publishing or the copy to read and review.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bridge to Always tells the story of the impact one woman's arrival had on the local people of a small town in West Cork. 


Maeve Gaffney is grieving her mother's death (who's voice remains omnipresent throughout the book) when she arrives in the small fictional town of Drohid in West Cork with her nine year old daughter, Emer. Maeve is chaotic and impetuous, setting to work renovating a house that she bought for a price that seemed too good to be true. 


When local man, and one half of the town's "golden couple" finds out that Maeve is in town, a chain of events is set in motion that could upend the carefuly curated life he has made for himself. 


Agnes and Malachi befriend Maeve and Emer, helping them settle in to small town life. We see their relationships develop as we become more curious about what it is that Agnes and Malachi are keeping close to their chests. 


Cork in itself, is a main character in this story. The descriptions of Cork landmarks such as the Chetwynd Viaduct, Gougane Barra and Slí na Laoi, as well as the Shakey Bridge draw the reader in and, even if these places are not familiar to you, make you feel like you are right there. The "Corkisms" are perfection! 


Once again, and unsurprisingly, Lynda Marron has brought us on a journey, encountering complex characters and relationships along the way, surrounded by vivid descriptions and filled with so much heart. 


A joy to read, and one I will recommend to all!

[Emma Moon]

The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron is set in West Cork Ireland.
It centres around single Mum Maeve, her daughter Emer, Tim, Emer's father who has only just discovered he has another child upon Maeve moving to Drohid. Other key characters are Agnes and Malachi, though to start off with its not clear just where they fit in.
It was an interesting story, I didn't love a lot of the characters, I found Maeve scatty, Tim was a weak, pompous snob, but I was sucked in wanting to see where the story went, what was Maeve's agenda with Tim? Where did Agnes and Malachi fit into the story? The book went from the present back into the past to give you tiny little snippets of information that gradually drew a much bigger picture than I expected
I quite enjoyed this book, it had me turning the pages eager for the next titbit of information to see how the story was going to unfold.
Thank you Beauty and Lace and Echo Publishing or the copy to read and review.

[Brenda Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, and was ready to give it 5 stars up until about the last 20 to 30 pages. Great mix of characters with many shortcomings, where even the apparently decent and kind ones were not above what could be considered morally reprehensible actions in their own self interest. The dynamics of the central mother/daughter relationship was especially well written and poignant.
Really didn’t like the ending which seemed “a poor fit” for Maeve’s future, with all we had come to know about her from the rest of the book.

[Catherine Booknooksandlatte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bridge to Always is the second book from #corkauthor Lynda Marron, and as with her first novel, #lastchanceinparis , this is a book that will reach the hearts and minds of all readers. Set in Cork, Ireland Maeve is a single mother to the introverted and sweet Emer. Following the death of her mother, Maeve upsticks from Dublin with her little inheritance to start a new life in a small West Cork Town.

Unbeknown to Emer, the reason behind her move is to pursue her first love and father of Emer Tim, with the hope of rekindling their lost romance and creating the family she dreams of for Emer.
Arriving in this small town, where everyone knows everyone and everyone’s business, Maeve buys a ramshackle old cottage in the centre of the town from Agnes, a kind, lonely and infamous for being the last generation of a big landowning family in Drohid.

Malachi, a big burly bachelor farmer, is Agnes’ only friend and confident, and together, they keep an easy company full of teasing and banter. Malachi’s robust and straight talking demeanour hides a big heart, which is only ever spotted by his beloved dog and Agnes, though Malachi would argue against such sentimental observations.
Using her interior design skills, Maeve begins a huge renovation and is looked upon with scorn and envy by the women of the parish.

Everyone is curious as to why she has moved to such a backwater town and what secrets she could be hiding. When Emer eventually finds her feet in the strange and strict Catholic school and befriends the well to do daughter of Tim Corcoran, when a devastating event causes everyone’s world to implode.

Thoughts:
If you want a book that will keep you up until the dawn chorus in the hope of discovering what happens in this story, then keep on reading. The Bridge to Always is beautifully written in such a way that from the first chapter, you are immediately captivated by the characters. Lynda has a way of drawing the reader quickly into the multiple lives of characters that forces you into becoming a part of the story yourself as a voyeur.

The banter and chat between Maeve and her dead mother is so natural and clever, it reminded me acutely of how loudly I would hear my own mother’s voice instructing me or chatting to me, most loudly just after she died. Maeve is certainly a character that will split opinions as she is rambunctious, stubborn, self-willed, and at times, I find selfish and frustrating. Yet as much as I was shouting at her throughout, I understood completely her frame of mind and that she was only trying to do what she believed was the best.

I just loved little Emer, a timid, quiet child who, in fact, was both mother and grown up in this complicated relationship. Constantly walking on eggs shells, she tiptoed around her mums erratic moods and lived in a state of constant upheaval, yet she was so completely endearing that no one could refuse to play mousse with her. I cheered her on so loudly as she began to find her little voice and assert herself.

And then there’s Malachi or Mal as I now think of him. Who could possibly not love this big bear of a man! All I’ll say on Mal is that we all need a person like him in our lives.

This is a book of discovery, relationship breakdowns, romance, friendship, and familial. It’s powerful and encapsulating, full of drama, humour, and scandal. Twists and turns aplenty, I’ll say no more (phew I hear you say), but this is certainly a book for fans of all genres of reading and one that will keep a bookclub or friends talking for hours! An absolute MUST READ.

[Georgina Reads_Eats_Explores · Rating 5 out of 5]

#netgalley

When Maeve Gaffney’s mam dies, she moves from Dublin to the little West Cork town of Drohid. In the throes of her grief, she seizes this rare opportunity to chase her wildest dream: a reunion with Tim, the man who captured her heart years ago and, unbeknownst to him, is the father of her daughter, Emer.

The problem is Tim’s well settled now, married into one of Drohid’s most prestigious and influential families. Finding out he’s got a secret child? That’s one hell of a land. But the spark with Maeve? Ah, sure, some things never fully go out.

For Agnes, an achingly lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer’s arrival is an opportunity to make some much needed money—and, hopefully, new friends.

Then there’s Malachi, the taciturn but kindly farmer; he’d never admit it, but sure, it’s clear he feels everything ten times over.

For painfully quiet young Emer, it’s a transformative journey of self-discovery and finding her own voice amid the chaos of adult lives around here.

Marron, much like in her captivating debut Last Chance in Paris, has taken the bones of what, in less skilled hands, could be a pretty basic love story and brought everything vibrantly to life, so much so I could almost hear these characters in my mind’s eye. I laughed, cringed, and cried - albeit mostly for the dog, but still and all like, tears were shed.

The throwback chapters? Perfection. The small-town drama? You’d be glued. And the characters?
Perfectly curated if not always likeable - yes, Maeve, I’m looking at you.

Look, I'm running out of superlatives and don't want to go ruining the read for you with any spoilers, so I’ll end my review here - The Bridge to Always is a pure decent read, in the most Corkonian of ways. And by that, I mean I loved it.

Many thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy via NetGalley; as always, this is an honest review. The Bridge to Always is published on April 3rd—you’ll not want to miss it!

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars rounded up for this divisive Irish read.

Set entirely in Cork, the novel is a little more introspective than I anticipated, and it took me a while to connect with the characters. In fact, I restarted this novel twice. The pace is slow to build, and while the emotional payoff in the final chapters is there, reaching it required some patience.

The plot follows Maeve Gaffney, who relocates to Cork with her daughter Emer after her mother's death, buying a house in the same town as her former flame, Tim, who, inconveniently, is now married with children. While there’s emotional tension, the storyline felt familiar and occasionally veered into melodrama. This aspect of the novel was the part I enjoyed the least. The real strength of the novel lies in its quieter moments, primarily through Emer’s subtle, old-soul, watchful presence.

Marron’s writing is warm, empathetic, and very descriptive, but at times it can be a bit too sentimental. She definitely captures the complexities of small-town life and fractured relationships, but I didn’t quite resonate with Maeve - her outbursts, impulsivity, flightiness and treatment of Emer. Overall, the storytelling won me over. The characters are complex and flawed, yet deeply human, and the not-so-rosy ending felt completely real.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am delighted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Bridge to Always’ by Lynda Marron. From the first page I felt at home despite living in Australia for the past 40 years. Lynda writes with the soul of an Irish woman, and the language, cadences and nuances of Irish country life. The setting of the book is a fictional town near Cork City and is told in two timelines, then and now. Maeve is a complex character, beautifully developed throughout the story. Her recently deceased mother travels with her, in her head, and is an important character helping Maeve navigate her new life with Emer, her daughter, in Drohid. Maeve has moved across the country to be near Emer’s father who lives in Drohid with his wife and two children.
This is a love story, a story of a woman’s need to right wrongs and her journey to truly find herself. And a daughter’s story about her need to understand her mother. It is also the story of a weak man who doesn’t deserve the love he is offered. Every character is slowly developed becoming a part of Maeve and Emer’s lives and, as the story progresses, being there for them at their lowest points.
I highly recommend this book and thank Better Reading for an advance reader copy.

[Julia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Ireland, Maeve, who is a single mother grieving the loss of her own mother, decides to move to a small rural village with her nine year old daughter Emer.

The plan is to reunite with Emer’s Father, Tim, who she lost her heart to many years ago. There is just one slight complication to her plan though as Tim is now married and has a family of his own… and has no idea that he is the father of another child.

This was such an enjoyable read, even though I found Maeve to be so chaotic and unpredictable. I understand that this part of her charm as a character, but there were times that I found her a touch frustrating, although I do understand that “love” or our own interpretation of love, can make people do somewhat impulsive things. Emer is written absolutely beautifully – a gentle soul, who seems wise beyond her years.

I enjoyed this book, it was a story of individuals finding themselves, their voice and redefining their views and beliefs of the world around them. The characters are incredibly real and authentic, in the fact that they are almost unlikeable at times, but this is one of the captivating characteristics of this read in being able to see their growth and development throughout the chapters.

[Emma book blogger Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @eriu_books @bonnierbooks_uk @KellyALacey @lovebookstours #Ad #LBTCrew #BookTwitter For letting me be part of this tour and reviewing this book. Wow! And wow. The Bridge to Always is an outstanding read that made me laugh and cry. I read this in one sitting and could not put it down. This is the first book I have read by Lynda Marion and her writing style is easy to get into, and I will be definitely reading more of her books in the future. The story is about Maeve who moves to west Cork with her daughter Esme to fulfill her dream to find Tim her ex-boyfriend, but this does not go the way she thinks it’s going to go, on the way we meet some nice characters and not so nice characters. This is a heartwarming read and beautifully written. I liked Maeve and Esme a lot, plus her neighbors that I loved getting to know and Infelt like they were old friends. The story is written in third person which I quite enjoyed this style to listen to the other characters story from their perspective. I loved how the story was set in a village, and it sounded beautiful in Cork, made me what to visit. I strongly recommend this book, ii is spectacular. 5 stars.

[Ani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 9 out of 10

Moving, comforting, heartwarming, uplifling... this was an emotional read! The Bridge to Always had a lovely story at its heart, with very well-timed throwbacks, twists and revelations; it also had great characters (including Bran the doggie), and something that we all love - short chapters!!

Not a fan of Maeve (the main character), but also understand how truly blinding love (or obsession) can be, making you do silly things. She was a very realistic, flawed character though, and I appreciated that.

Overall this was an easy, enjoyable read.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @bonnierbooks_uk for the advance reader copy.

📖 Synopsis: After her mom dies, Maeve moves from Dublin to West Cork with her daughter, Emer in the hopes of reuniting with her long-lost love, Tim. Tim has his own family and does not know that Emer is in fact his daughter too. While trying to win Tim over, Maeve meets the small town's various inhabitants and slowly realises who really has her back and who doesn't.

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author and I wasn't really sure what to expect as I always go into books blind - I hate reading blurbs first.

This was such an easy and delightful read though and I was immersed throughout.

 

The setting was beautiful and really well described throughout.

I really love Ireland and it was lovely to revisit the stunning landscape through this story.

 

I was a little apprehensive at first going into this and I have to admit that I wasn't too keen on Maeve and the way that she went about things with Tim.

She certainly seemed to like doing things her way and on her terms with little regard for others' feelings.

But, I did come around gradually as we learnt more about the characters and the reasons why Maeve made those decisions and acted as she did.

 

Emer was just so sweet and it was interesting to watch the dynamics between mother and daughter - especially as Emer was such a gentle soul, the total opposite to Maeve.

I just wanted to reach out and help her find her voice.

 

This was an emotional read in places, but one of those that I could really connect with and it resonated with me.

The short chapters kept me racing through the pages and I kept squeezing in another chapter or two beyond my allotted time - I was totally transported.

 

A great first read and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Better Reading for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

"The Bridge to Always" was a quick and easy read, largely due to its short and concise chapters. However, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Maeve, in particular, didn’t resonate with me—her angry outbursts felt misplaced, and I struggled to understand her motivations. The dynamic between her and Tim also seemed unrealistic; after a decade apart, they effortlessly fall back into old patterns despite his marriage and children. Without giving too much away, Maeve's actions after being confronted by Tim's wife, left me questioning all her actions up to that point.

I enjoyed Agnes as a character, but Malachi left me confused. For most of the story, I assumed he was much older, only to learn near the end that he was actually Tim’s age.

While the book's pacing made for an easy read, I found myself increasingly frustrated as the story unfolded.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this slow paced, dual timeline story, which was mostly a beautiful journey of 5 people discovering secrets, and themselves. It had its sad moments, and some edge of the seat tension. But overall it was a lovely, gentle read.

I loved the writing of this book, especially the Irish dialect, I read those bits in an Irish accent in my head. The descriptions of the scenery were just perfect, without being too long or flowery.

I really liked the plot of this book. Stories about young, unmarried mothers will also have a special place in my heart. I really liked Maeve, but found her a little naive at times. Emer was a wonderful child, who seemed empathetic and wise beyond her years. And I didn't like Tim at all. He was thoroughly unlikeable and selfish!

This has been my first book by this author, but I'll definitely be looking out for more in future.