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Life's a Beach #1
Best of Friends
They're friends for life...and life is for living.
In the picturesque harbour town of Dunmore, four friends are facing hard times. Abby's TV career is taking off, but her marriage to Tom is rocky. Meanwhile, her teenage daughter Jess despairs of ever finding a boyfriend. Lizzie has time for everyone - her family and friends, but never for herself. And Erin, married and back in Ireland after eight years in Chicago, is finding it hard to face up to her past.
When tragedy strikes, it rocks the small town. Drawn together in their sadness, the four women suddenly realise what is important - life is for living and they must grab it with both hands.
521 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
209 people are currently reading
2578 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Kelly
115 books1,088 followersBorn in Belfast but raised in Dublin, Cathy initially worked for thirteen years as a newspaper journalist with a national Irish Sunday newspaper, where she worked in news, features, along with spending time as an agony aunt and the paper’s film critic. However, her overwhelming love was always fiction and she published her first international bestseller, Woman To Woman, in 1997. She did not become a full-time writer until she had written another two books (She’s The One and Never Too Late) and finally decided to leave the world of journalism in 2001, moving to HarperCollins Publishers at the same time.
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
Someone Like You and What She Wants followed in successive years. Her sixth novel, Just Between Us, was her first Sunday Times number one bestseller, while her eighth novel, Always and Forever, topped the UK bestseller lists in October 2005, displacing Dan Brown and J. K. Rowling. In 2007, Past Secrets in was also a number one paperback bestseller.
Lessons in Heartbreak was shortlisted for the Eason Irish Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in April 2009. In September 2009, Once in a Lifetime topped the UK bestseller lists for three weeks. In March 2011, Homecoming achieved the same feat. Her latest novel is It Started With Paris, published by Orion in 2014.
In Autumn 2011, Cathy headlined a search for a new writer on ITV’s The Alan Titchmarsh Show.
Cathy’s trademark is warm story-telling and she consistently tops the bestseller lists around the world with books which deal with themes ranging from relationships and marriage to depression and loss, but always with an uplifting message and strong female characters at the heart.
Cathy also has a passionate interest in children’s rights and is an ambassador for UNICEF Ireland. Her role for UNICEF is a Global Parent, which means raising funds and awareness for children orphaned by or living with HIV/AIDs.
She lives with her husband, John, their twin sons, Dylan and Murray, and their three dogs in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
To contact Cathy email info@cathykelly.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
September 3, 2024
This wasn't a bad Cathy Kelly book it just dragged painfully long. I know I read this one years and years ago but I just wanted to refresh my memory of it. It wasn't really into this and it wasn't until the very very end that parts of the book even came back to me. It's an OK book just not very memorable.
Full review:
Yeah this wasn't bad compared to her other works. I just call BS on the timelines we get. For example, since we are following three characters (Abbie, Lizzie, and Erin) we go back over the same months/timeline for each of them. I just realized at one point, we had chapters upon chapters and the only month that we went through was August. I just wish that the flow had been better. And I have to say, Lizzie stayed exhausting from beginning to end. I thought her storyline was the worst of the bunch. Abbie's was the most interesting I thought with Erin being in the middle. Per usual though, it just read like a book about a bunch of things happening to people who happened to live in the same town. The glue of Sally felt very flimsy and I just didn't buy it or the endings we get.
Full review:
Yeah this wasn't bad compared to her other works. I just call BS on the timelines we get. For example, since we are following three characters (Abbie, Lizzie, and Erin) we go back over the same months/timeline for each of them. I just realized at one point, we had chapters upon chapters and the only month that we went through was August. I just wish that the flow had been better. And I have to say, Lizzie stayed exhausting from beginning to end. I thought her storyline was the worst of the bunch. Abbie's was the most interesting I thought with Erin being in the middle. Per usual though, it just read like a book about a bunch of things happening to people who happened to live in the same town. The glue of Sally felt very flimsy and I just didn't buy it or the endings we get.
March 10, 2022
This was a slow paced mellow audio read for me. I guess one could compare this author to a young Maeve Binchy, not that I should be comparing authors, but the Irish slant just leans me that way.
I thought this was going through the story quite fast, and disappointingly, I realised, just toward the end, that this was an abridged recording. It made me question, who even does that anymore, is it a thing? The concept entirely reminds me of old hard covered Reader's Digest items in old waiting rooms.
The story did not seem to have all its parts intact. No wonder I was wondering about one of the women. Chick lit, women's fiction, whatever you'd like to call it, this is about a group of women facing death, childbirth, infidelity, career challenges and friendship and not forgetting their lost loved one. The stories showed signs of strength, but not enough time to be fully fleshed out given the version I listened to. That being said, I still own a handful of Cathy Kelly books on my physical shelf, which I will certainly read. She's sweet, and her stories show the good in people amongst the struggle.
This was through the Overdrive platform, I wouldn't imagine this happening through BorrowBox, I feel it's a better platform with more choice.
I thought this was going through the story quite fast, and disappointingly, I realised, just toward the end, that this was an abridged recording. It made me question, who even does that anymore, is it a thing? The concept entirely reminds me of old hard covered Reader's Digest items in old waiting rooms.
The story did not seem to have all its parts intact. No wonder I was wondering about one of the women. Chick lit, women's fiction, whatever you'd like to call it, this is about a group of women facing death, childbirth, infidelity, career challenges and friendship and not forgetting their lost loved one. The stories showed signs of strength, but not enough time to be fully fleshed out given the version I listened to. That being said, I still own a handful of Cathy Kelly books on my physical shelf, which I will certainly read. She's sweet, and her stories show the good in people amongst the struggle.
This was through the Overdrive platform, I wouldn't imagine this happening through BorrowBox, I feel it's a better platform with more choice.
November 5, 2018
4.5 stars
It’s been quite a while since I read a book by Cathy Kelly, a blogger I’m following suggested I work one into a reading challenge which I thought was a grand idea as I desperately needed a book to fit the bingo square ‘a book more than 500 pages,’ and as I have a few of Ms Kelly’s books on my shelf the suggestion was perfect and so was Best of Friends. There are no two ways about it this was a chunky monkey of a book and took me over a week to read, which is understandable in a book of this size, and it definitely didn’t prevent me from enjoying it, after all it was chic lit, a genre I LOVE.
This had everything I adore in a novel - a good amount of drama, uplifting romance, fantastic supporting characters and heart. I was totally drawn into the lives of the four protagonists - they were interesting and charming and kept the story moving at a great pace. There is a section that is sad so the reader might want a box of tissues nearby.
A hugely enjoyable and entertaining read.
#Book Bingo 2018: ‘A book more than 500 pages’ - Best of Friends by Cathy Kelly
August 29, 2007
Here's a great example of why British chick lit is usually so much better than its American counterpart. I don't know why it is; perhaps British chick-lit writers are better at characterizations, or maybe it's just that British characters are more appealing to me. In any event, this was a wonderful, absorbing read.
August 11, 2013
I decided to read this book because my cousin recommended it to me (and when I say recommended I really mean she half shoved it down my throat). To be completely honest I wasn't entirely pleased. 'Best of Friends' seemed such a cheesy title and it didn't seem like the type of book I would enjoy at all. However as soon as I got over my prejudice and opened the book I realised that I liked the style of writing immensely and discovered it was exactly 'my kind of book'. It was near addictive.
'Best of Friends' fills the category 'A book recommended to you by a member of your family' on my bingo board.
This book follows the lives of four women, Abby, Jess, Lizzie and Erin. Abby has a famous TV career and everything she has ever dreamed of, but now the one person she always believed would be there for her, seems to be taking her for granted and when someone from her past makes her feel wanted, she is tempted to stray away from her marriage. Jess hates being a teenager. She is painfully shy and feels she will never be able to catch up to her peers as they blossom into confident young women. Erin loves her present and her future with her lovely husband, but she is constantly haunted by the past she left behind and wonders if she will ever be able to face the family who chased her away. Lizzie is caring and gentle and has time for everybody. Her grown children, neighbours, friends and even her ex-husband. At 60 she wonders if she will ever find someone who truly cares for her. One of the many things I enjoyed about this book was the many different point of views. It was extremely interesting to see the world from an older persons view (most of the books I read tell the story of naïve, lovesick teenagers and though many of these books are good, it does get rather tiring!. The different point of views also rather frustrated me because everytime we, the reader, reached a climax in one of our characters lives, the P.O.V. would change and we were left to leaf desperately through someone elses life before finding out what happens.
It was really hard for me to choose my favourite character, as they are all so complex and had so much personality (it was rather like having to choose between best friends. I would have to say Jess, because she was the one I could relate to the most. She has just made the dreadful change from child to something else. That awful stage when you're not a child but you're not an adult either. She is constantly searching for her niche, in life and is always finding herself lost and no knowing what to do. I love her character, because she is a thinker and not a talker, but we get to see her thoughts and they are the most beautiful, wise things I have ever read or heard. I also loved living her transformation, from the beginning of the book, when she was fragile and sensitive, to the end when she becomes stronger and more confident in herself.
My favourite quote from 'Best of Friends' is naturally from Jess. " It was like watching the hundredth sheep baaing about how original it was before trotting off to join the other sheep in the barn." I think this really portrayed how Jess felt about high school pupils. Jess also felt very 'strongly' about high school itself. I gathered this when she said "high school is where dreams go to die". I admire how Jess can carry on and have a positive attitude about her life even when she is being bullied. I can also relate a little to what she was feeling, because I myself didn't very much enjoy the transition between intermediate to high school.
Something new I learned from this book was a how it would feel to be older. As a fourteen year, I do feel that I have a lot of problems in my life, but the problems that my characters have are so different and they have so much more to lose if it is not solved. To me 60 seems so old, but when I read from Lizzies perspective she doesn't feel old at all. I guess it really does establish the point that you are only as old as you feel.
I really enjoyed 'Best of Friends'. I think it was a really fun, easy book to read, with beautiful, melancholy moments as well as the funny, witty moments nearly all books have.
'Best of Friends' fills the category 'A book recommended to you by a member of your family' on my bingo board.
This book follows the lives of four women, Abby, Jess, Lizzie and Erin. Abby has a famous TV career and everything she has ever dreamed of, but now the one person she always believed would be there for her, seems to be taking her for granted and when someone from her past makes her feel wanted, she is tempted to stray away from her marriage. Jess hates being a teenager. She is painfully shy and feels she will never be able to catch up to her peers as they blossom into confident young women. Erin loves her present and her future with her lovely husband, but she is constantly haunted by the past she left behind and wonders if she will ever be able to face the family who chased her away. Lizzie is caring and gentle and has time for everybody. Her grown children, neighbours, friends and even her ex-husband. At 60 she wonders if she will ever find someone who truly cares for her. One of the many things I enjoyed about this book was the many different point of views. It was extremely interesting to see the world from an older persons view (most of the books I read tell the story of naïve, lovesick teenagers and though many of these books are good, it does get rather tiring!. The different point of views also rather frustrated me because everytime we, the reader, reached a climax in one of our characters lives, the P.O.V. would change and we were left to leaf desperately through someone elses life before finding out what happens.
It was really hard for me to choose my favourite character, as they are all so complex and had so much personality (it was rather like having to choose between best friends. I would have to say Jess, because she was the one I could relate to the most. She has just made the dreadful change from child to something else. That awful stage when you're not a child but you're not an adult either. She is constantly searching for her niche, in life and is always finding herself lost and no knowing what to do. I love her character, because she is a thinker and not a talker, but we get to see her thoughts and they are the most beautiful, wise things I have ever read or heard. I also loved living her transformation, from the beginning of the book, when she was fragile and sensitive, to the end when she becomes stronger and more confident in herself.
My favourite quote from 'Best of Friends' is naturally from Jess. " It was like watching the hundredth sheep baaing about how original it was before trotting off to join the other sheep in the barn." I think this really portrayed how Jess felt about high school pupils. Jess also felt very 'strongly' about high school itself. I gathered this when she said "high school is where dreams go to die". I admire how Jess can carry on and have a positive attitude about her life even when she is being bullied. I can also relate a little to what she was feeling, because I myself didn't very much enjoy the transition between intermediate to high school.
Something new I learned from this book was a how it would feel to be older. As a fourteen year, I do feel that I have a lot of problems in my life, but the problems that my characters have are so different and they have so much more to lose if it is not solved. To me 60 seems so old, but when I read from Lizzies perspective she doesn't feel old at all. I guess it really does establish the point that you are only as old as you feel.
I really enjoyed 'Best of Friends'. I think it was a really fun, easy book to read, with beautiful, melancholy moments as well as the funny, witty moments nearly all books have.
September 11, 2021
Este harlequín lo leí en español, Una amistad inquebrantable que tenía esta misma portada, allá por el año 1990. Es una de mis novelas favoritas, dentro de este género cortito e intrascendente. Me parece un tratamiento modélico del tópico friends to lovers, en la versión más sencilla que puedas imaginarte. Por eso la he releído varias veces, y hasta la comenté en mi blog. En la universidad se conocieron Richard «Lonny» Alonso, empresario de la construcción, de buena familia, y Samantha Janek, ejecutiva de una empresa de cosméticos, de procedencia modesta. Ella siempre ha estado enamorada de él, pero se ha resignado a ser su amiga, porque él la ve así y de hecho ignora totalmente los sentimientos de ella. Las cosas cambian cuando Samantha, dolida por el engaño de su novio, va a pasar unos días a la casa de la playa de Lonny. Es entonces cuando él empieza a mirarla de otra manera. La parte romántica coincide con un momento decisivo para ambos en lo profesional.
February 24, 2012
I must say, I give strong credit to the author for such strong use of character development. It's nice to see a novel where people actually resolve their problems and conflict in a reasonable way that's true to their character, and while each character has flaws, they know about their flaws, they understand their flaws, and they genuinely want better for themselves and the people they love. It was nice to read something so wholesome and focused on so many aspects of family life in a way that makes you believe these families could exist somewhere, and aren't just a cliched, fake reproduction in the book for the sake of drama and plot.
Favourite characters: Erin and Sally, although I must say in the end, Abby and Lizzie grew on me immensely. Jess I found hard to deal with sometimes but was more interesting towards the end of the book. I genuinely disliked Lizzie's daughter Debra, and am so glad Lizzie's sister had the guts to put this spoilt brat in line. Shannon angered me and I felt there still could have been a little more resolution between Erin and Shannon.
The downsides: This book was so long and getting through it took about 9 days just because of the size of it. I didn't like how it just skipped over weeks or months really quickly, then slowed right down in parts that didn't need to be so heavily concentrated. While it did need to be this long to cover the lives of all four women (five including Jess I guess), it still could have benefited from a little more resolution. While reading a book of this size, at the end I was hoping to find out what Erin's baby was and whether Abby took the chat show job in Dublin. Two little things that I would have even been satisfied knowing in a short epilogue or something. I mean you don't write a 520 page book and not tell me whether the baby was a boy or girl seeing how it had been a plot device for Erin most of the way. But if that is the book's only flaw, then it isn't too bad at all.
I'm glad I picked up more of Cathy Kelly's books from Lifeline, I plan on moving onto another quite soon (if it's a shorter one maybe)
Favourite characters: Erin and Sally, although I must say in the end, Abby and Lizzie grew on me immensely. Jess I found hard to deal with sometimes but was more interesting towards the end of the book. I genuinely disliked Lizzie's daughter Debra, and am so glad Lizzie's sister had the guts to put this spoilt brat in line. Shannon angered me and I felt there still could have been a little more resolution between Erin and Shannon.
The downsides: This book was so long and getting through it took about 9 days just because of the size of it. I didn't like how it just skipped over weeks or months really quickly, then slowed right down in parts that didn't need to be so heavily concentrated. While it did need to be this long to cover the lives of all four women (five including Jess I guess), it still could have benefited from a little more resolution. While reading a book of this size, at the end I was hoping to find out what Erin's baby was and whether Abby took the chat show job in Dublin. Two little things that I would have even been satisfied knowing in a short epilogue or something. I mean you don't write a 520 page book and not tell me whether the baby was a boy or girl seeing how it had been a plot device for Erin most of the way. But if that is the book's only flaw, then it isn't too bad at all.
I'm glad I picked up more of Cathy Kelly's books from Lifeline, I plan on moving onto another quite soon (if it's a shorter one maybe)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2018
3.5 stars ✨
July 31, 2020
Friends-to-lovers, contemporary romance, originally published in 1987 by Harlequin American
When they were in college together, Lonny Reed was a handsome, athletic, serial dater, and Samantha (Sam) Janek was shy, insecure and plump. Early in their acquaintance, while Lonny was on-again-off-again dating her dorm roommate, he friend-zoned Sam. Though she was head over heels for him, within the first two years of their friendship, Sam accepted that, for her, enduring the pangs of unrequited love was far better than suffering the pain of losing Lonny entirely. The two of them have remained close since college, in spite of her living in New York City and his living in New Jersey. Their platonic dynamic has never changed while Lonny has flitted in and out of doomed relationships, and Sam has been in a committed relationship the past four years.
But suddenly, both of them are single at the same time when her boyfriend cheats on her and dumps her, and Lonny blithely invites her to rest and recover from this betrayal at his beachside fixer-upper on the New Jersey shore. It has been years since Sam was carrying excess weight and only semi-joking as she frequently lobbed insults at herself about it. For a long time now she has been slender and lovely. But Lonny has never previously paid any attention to her appearance. Fat or skinny, it hasn’t mattered to him. She’s just been good old Sam. So why, all of a sudden, is he noticing the fact that Sam is not merely an androgynous confidante, but one of the most desirable women he’s ever known?
Sam at first wonders if she’s imagining the fact that there seems to be actual desire in Lonny’s gaze, something she has long since abandoned any hope of ever seeing him direct at her. It stirs up fluttery feelings she’d successfully suppressed for years. The temptation is strong to respond to his subtle overtures, but how can she dare to take the chance of changing the rules of their relationship at this late date? Lonny means far too much to her to throw away the best friendship she’s ever likely to have by allowing something as undependable as sexual desire to muddy the waters.
Ms. Arnold is an excellent, award-winning writer, who is very skilled at writing a classic, no-cheating, dual-point-of-view, HEA romance.
Given the fact that this novel is over 30 years old, the author’s approach to the ever-popular romance trope of “friends become lovers” is a bit dated. But it is quite refreshing that there is no foul language, and there are no crude, meaningless sex scenes to wade through.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, non-melodramatic, comfort read.
I rate this story as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Beach Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
When they were in college together, Lonny Reed was a handsome, athletic, serial dater, and Samantha (Sam) Janek was shy, insecure and plump. Early in their acquaintance, while Lonny was on-again-off-again dating her dorm roommate, he friend-zoned Sam. Though she was head over heels for him, within the first two years of their friendship, Sam accepted that, for her, enduring the pangs of unrequited love was far better than suffering the pain of losing Lonny entirely. The two of them have remained close since college, in spite of her living in New York City and his living in New Jersey. Their platonic dynamic has never changed while Lonny has flitted in and out of doomed relationships, and Sam has been in a committed relationship the past four years.
But suddenly, both of them are single at the same time when her boyfriend cheats on her and dumps her, and Lonny blithely invites her to rest and recover from this betrayal at his beachside fixer-upper on the New Jersey shore. It has been years since Sam was carrying excess weight and only semi-joking as she frequently lobbed insults at herself about it. For a long time now she has been slender and lovely. But Lonny has never previously paid any attention to her appearance. Fat or skinny, it hasn’t mattered to him. She’s just been good old Sam. So why, all of a sudden, is he noticing the fact that Sam is not merely an androgynous confidante, but one of the most desirable women he’s ever known?
Sam at first wonders if she’s imagining the fact that there seems to be actual desire in Lonny’s gaze, something she has long since abandoned any hope of ever seeing him direct at her. It stirs up fluttery feelings she’d successfully suppressed for years. The temptation is strong to respond to his subtle overtures, but how can she dare to take the chance of changing the rules of their relationship at this late date? Lonny means far too much to her to throw away the best friendship she’s ever likely to have by allowing something as undependable as sexual desire to muddy the waters.
Ms. Arnold is an excellent, award-winning writer, who is very skilled at writing a classic, no-cheating, dual-point-of-view, HEA romance.
Given the fact that this novel is over 30 years old, the author’s approach to the ever-popular romance trope of “friends become lovers” is a bit dated. But it is quite refreshing that there is no foul language, and there are no crude, meaningless sex scenes to wade through.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, non-melodramatic, comfort read.
I rate this story as follows:
Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 3 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Beach Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
June 22, 2022
4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Dagelijkse beslommeringen in een makkelijk "spijker-jasje".
Vier verschillende vrouwen met een ieder zijn eigenlijke dagelijkse beslommeringen en persoonlijke worstelingen.
Ze kennen elkaar niet, maar wat gemeen hebben is dat ze in hetzelfde Ierse plaatsje Dunmore wonen en daarnaast een gezamenlijke vriendin hebben.
Door een tragische gebeurtenis leren ze het leven nog beter kennen. Ze beseffen zich dat ze er zelf wat van moeten maken voordat het niet meer kan.
In dit verhaal werd goed beschreven dat iedereen zo zijn eigen worstelingen kent en moet waarderen wat hij heeft.. dus pas op de plaats!
Veel vrouwen zullen zich herkennen in de personages. het is daarmee ook echt een typisch vrouwenboek. Geen hoogstaande literatuur, maar wel heerlijk om je eigen dagelijkse worstelingen even te vergeten.
Dagelijkse beslommeringen in een makkelijk "spijker-jasje".
Vier verschillende vrouwen met een ieder zijn eigenlijke dagelijkse beslommeringen en persoonlijke worstelingen.
Ze kennen elkaar niet, maar wat gemeen hebben is dat ze in hetzelfde Ierse plaatsje Dunmore wonen en daarnaast een gezamenlijke vriendin hebben.
Door een tragische gebeurtenis leren ze het leven nog beter kennen. Ze beseffen zich dat ze er zelf wat van moeten maken voordat het niet meer kan.
In dit verhaal werd goed beschreven dat iedereen zo zijn eigen worstelingen kent en moet waarderen wat hij heeft.. dus pas op de plaats!
Veel vrouwen zullen zich herkennen in de personages. het is daarmee ook echt een typisch vrouwenboek. Geen hoogstaande literatuur, maar wel heerlijk om je eigen dagelijkse worstelingen even te vergeten.
June 15, 2019
Loved it. Very good characters, I was drawn to them all. I liked how the book would switch to the next characters narrative. Full of valuable lessons and allows you to see all points of view. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading about dysfunctional families, drama but with also a heartfelt message.
April 27, 2021
I found this book an enjoyable and entertaining read about three very different women with very different lives who were brought together by Sally who was caring vivacious and she and her husband held the very best parties. Each of them comes to a life decision when tragedy touches them. "Life is for the living and that they need to grab it with both hands"
May 10, 2024
❕BOOK REVIEW❕
⭐️ Rating - 4 stars
✨”Best of friends” by Cathy Kelly ✨
This book is a gripping exploration of the complexities of love, friendship, and personal development. The story revolves around four women—Abby, Jess, Lizzie, and Erin—who come from different backgrounds and become close friends. Then tragedy hits, affecting them all and teaching them that life is meant to be lived and fully experienced.
All of Abby's dreams have come true, including a well-known TV career, but she feels as though the one person who would always support her is taking advantage of her.
Jess is annoyed by being a teenager, Believing she will never be able to catch up to her friends as she is extremely shy.
Though Erin loves her present and her future with her handsome husband, she is often troubled by the history she left behind.
Lizzie is kind and patient, and she makes time for everyone. Currently sixty years old, she questions whether she will ever find true love.
The author skillfully demonstrates the depth of connection and support that genuine friendship brings through the experiences of the main characters, showing the value of friendship, loyalty, and understanding.
I really enjoyed this book since it had a great plot, excellent character development, and wonderfully written character life stories. I was quite moved by the last part. But the outcome was beautiful. I don't regret reading this, even if it started out slowly and boringly.
⭐️ Rating - 4 stars
✨”Best of friends” by Cathy Kelly ✨
This book is a gripping exploration of the complexities of love, friendship, and personal development. The story revolves around four women—Abby, Jess, Lizzie, and Erin—who come from different backgrounds and become close friends. Then tragedy hits, affecting them all and teaching them that life is meant to be lived and fully experienced.
All of Abby's dreams have come true, including a well-known TV career, but she feels as though the one person who would always support her is taking advantage of her.
Jess is annoyed by being a teenager, Believing she will never be able to catch up to her friends as she is extremely shy.
Though Erin loves her present and her future with her handsome husband, she is often troubled by the history she left behind.
Lizzie is kind and patient, and she makes time for everyone. Currently sixty years old, she questions whether she will ever find true love.
The author skillfully demonstrates the depth of connection and support that genuine friendship brings through the experiences of the main characters, showing the value of friendship, loyalty, and understanding.
I really enjoyed this book since it had a great plot, excellent character development, and wonderfully written character life stories. I was quite moved by the last part. But the outcome was beautiful. I don't regret reading this, even if it started out slowly and boringly.
September 9, 2011
Another easy summer read. A book that is good for relaxing although the author does touch on some difficult topics like breast cancer.
Thi is my second book by Cathy Kelly and I am enjoying them so far. Still have one left which I got from the library.
Glad that I decided to give her a try cause thse are perfect books after reading some heavier stuff.
Thi is my second book by Cathy Kelly and I am enjoying them so far. Still have one left which I got from the library.
Glad that I decided to give her a try cause thse are perfect books after reading some heavier stuff.
June 26, 2015
Interesting book :) I like very much the idea of inventing a cancer charity called "Life Beats Cancer"...I really like that ! And one more thing, I like that Cathy Kelly is an optimistic woman and she'd made a beautiful ending where everything was getting better and better :)
April 10, 2020
This was a wonderful easy read and I love stories about women and all the issues and connections and strength they demonstrate. 7/10
July 30, 2019
This is a pleasant read about four separate couples or families who live in, or near a small village in Ireland. They have separate stories that somewhat intertwine; when a tragedy happens, it brings them a little closer. But not to the extent of being 'best of friends'.
On the negative side, it took a while to get going as there's a large cast. I found some of the writing a bit rambling and introspective in a repetitive way. I never really believed in one character doing something utterly stupid, and I had a hard time with another who is likeable and generous, but apparently blind to her adult daughter's immense selfishness. And I really didn't believe in two sudden dramatic changes of heart, one of which happened after a relatively mild frank exchange with an aunt.
But on the plus side, it's a readable book with the sub-plots developed alongside each other, and a positive and encouraging ending. I found myself caring about a couple of the characters, and so irritated by another that she had evidently got under my skin. It's over 600 pages but I finished it in just three days. I would recommend it in a low-key way to anyone who likes character-based women's fiction with no surprises or shocks (even the tragedy is entirely expected by the time it happens). It would make good holiday reading.
Three-and-a-half stars would be fairer.
Full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
On the negative side, it took a while to get going as there's a large cast. I found some of the writing a bit rambling and introspective in a repetitive way. I never really believed in one character doing something utterly stupid, and I had a hard time with another who is likeable and generous, but apparently blind to her adult daughter's immense selfishness. And I really didn't believe in two sudden dramatic changes of heart, one of which happened after a relatively mild frank exchange with an aunt.
But on the plus side, it's a readable book with the sub-plots developed alongside each other, and a positive and encouraging ending. I found myself caring about a couple of the characters, and so irritated by another that she had evidently got under my skin. It's over 600 pages but I finished it in just three days. I would recommend it in a low-key way to anyone who likes character-based women's fiction with no surprises or shocks (even the tragedy is entirely expected by the time it happens). It would make good holiday reading.
Three-and-a-half stars would be fairer.
Full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
April 17, 2023
It was interesting getting to know all the main characters - women who became friends in a town in Ireland. Their bonding came about through their work, lifestyles and within the community they lived in. Family strife, divorce, health and their children... Abby, a homebody turned into a TV personality whose financial elevation affected her marriage and the mental well-being of her teenage daughter, Jess. Lizzie, however, came into this story already divorced with grownup son and daughter (who was still acting like a spoilt child). Lizzie was nearly 50 and she coveted a life of her own. Now Erin, who spent years in Chicago, followed her husband back to her home Ireland but was she ready to face up to her past? But there was one family where tragedy sadly struck - Sally was a bubbly homebody with a business where she made women in her area forget about their troubles and enjoy life as it was. Sally had a loving husband and two beautiful young boys and this was the type of relationship all the women wanted...
December 30, 2019
Whilst this is an easy read it is not without depth. The story is about friendships between women in an Irish town and talks of relationships between mother and daughter, husband and wife and friends. It hinges around a woman who is diagnosed with late stage breast cancer and whilst sad the novel gives out the message that life is for living. Some of the characters are a trifle annoying, Lizzie seems initially to be a bit of a doormat especially where her daughter is concerned but has strength of character which eventually comes through. The three central characters Abbey, Lizzie and Erin are defined by their childhoods and it is interesting how this reflects in their own relationships with their children. A good read.
December 18, 2025
Close friends in a small Irish town, one a successful TV personality who has an ill-advised fling with an old fame, causing her husband to leave and teenage daughter to be unhappy, another a vivacious beauty salon owner who gets breast cancer, and dies very quickly, a third is a 49 year old woman looking for love and being thwarted by her difficult daughter, and finally a pregnant young woman estranged from her family who comes back to Ireland from Chicago because of her husband’s job. The three surviving ones organise fund raising events for a cancer charity, and all works out well in their various problems.
February 6, 2021
This is a real feel-good kind of book about 4 women from quite different lifestyles who become firm friends. Then tragedy strikes - a tragedy which affects all of them yet makes them realise that life is for living and enjoying to the full. Readers will be able to identify with each of the characters in some way. Some of them are slightly irritating, (like Lizzie for example) - but only until you realise the reason behind why they behave as they do. It's a fabulous contemporary novel and a new author for me, I'll go on to read her others.
October 2, 2017
Je m'attendais vraiment à un "feel-good-book" et même si on est dans l'esprit, le début est plutôt loin d'être rose, entre une mère qui ne supporte plus son mari et qui n'arrive plus à communiquer avec son ado, une autre qui se laisse tyranniser par sa fille qui va se marier... Bon, ça s'améliore par la suite, et c'est très facile à lire, mais il y a beaucoup trop de clichés à mon goût et c'est moralisateur sans aucune subtilité.
Pas vraiment conquise par cette lecture.
Pas vraiment conquise par cette lecture.
June 28, 2018
I usually found Cathy Kelly's books were easy to read and comforting in many level. This one though was abit of a drag to read. I was impatient to turn the page and skimmed read most of it because they were all too 'good to be true' and everything was so peachy... it's like reading really boring fairy tales for adults.
May 2, 2020
2.5 stars. I expected more due to the length. I was expecting more excitement. I felt that the story was just going through the daily lives of a long list of characters. The characters had an abrupt development at the end. I like the style of the book however for being "best friends" they hardly had any interaction.
September 19, 2021
An old Cathy Kelly, and not a great one. Typically Irish and confusing relationships, horrible daughter and put-upon mother (do any mothers actually let their adult children get away with such behaviour at Debra does?) I guess I was disappointed by the title, these women were much more good acquaintances than friends, certainly not best friends.
December 27, 2021
I absolutely loved this books and the emotions it put you through and how the author did this properly! I'm sad that it will be hard to find more books from this author as she is a UK author and I live in the states! I do look forward to the challenge though! This book was so good it had me wanting to move over seas just to meet ppl like the characters in the book! Well done!
June 16, 2022
Kept me reading to the wee small hours. They say people can recognise themselves sometimes in characters and I wanted to shake Debra, but at the same time hug my Mum to apologise if I behaved like Debra when we planned our wedding and apologise to my very patient husband for everything!! LOVED IT!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2025
I found this book quite boring. Couldn’t take to any of the characters, thought they were very irritating (especially Lizzie!). The plots were very predictable with everything tied up neatly at the end. And for women who were supposedly best of friends they hardly ever spoke to each other. Disappointing.
October 24, 2017
Great plot and as from different perspectives i found i couldnt put it down!! It is funny frustrating devastatingly sad!! But brilliant all at same time typical strong women doing their thing love it
January 8, 2019
I enjoyed this book, but I have to say Lizzie's daughter's selfishness drove me crazy! I couldn't believe that Lizzie would let her get away with what she did, so it took away some of the enjoyment of the book.
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