City Lives: Warmth, wisdom and love on every page - if you treasured Maeve Binchy, read Patricia Scanlan (The City Girls series)

City Girls #2

by Patricia Scanlan

*** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR *** Devlin, Caroline and Maggie. Women in their prime. They have it all. Careers. Success. Marriage. They are the envy of their peers. But at what price? Just when Devlin has everything she has ever dreamed of, a callous betrayal shows her that there's no room for friendship and loyalty in business. Can she be as tough as she needs to be in a world of deceit and double-dealing, where honesty and integrity are rare commodities? Caroline, fed up being a victim, is no longer shy, unsure and needy. She's about to take a step that will change her life. Then tragedy strikes, and her plans change completely. But as one door closes...another opens. And Maggie, alone, unsupported and unhappy in her marriage, has to make a choice that will put her children's needs before her own. Has she the strength to do what she has to do? City Lives is the story of three women who have one great certainty in their lives. Their friendship. The enduring bonds of loyalty and love will carry them through the worst of times and the best of times.Warmth, wisdom and love on every page - if you treasured Maeve Binchy, read Patricia Scanlan. Number 1 bestselling author Patricia Scanlan is set to capture the hearts and enchant the minds of a whole new generation of readers who will fall in love with her sublime storytelling. A trailblazing women’s fiction author, all of her novels have been #1 international bestsellers, most recently With All My Love, A Time for Friends, Orange Blossom Days and A Family Reunion. She writes multi-generational family dramas with compassion and authenticity, and a hint of comforting escapism. ‘If you love Maeve Binchy, you MUST try Patricia Scanlan' Woman & Home 'Utterly magical and wonderful... warmth and compassion shine through' MARIAN KEYES 'Like being enfolded in a hug from the great writer warm, comforting and full of love' CATHY KELLY 'There can be little doubt that Patricia Scanlan is the prolific queen of contemporary Irish popular fiction' Sunday Times 'There is a heartbreaking authenticity in her observations' Irish Times 'The ultimate comfort read' Glamour ‘If you love Maeve Binchy, you will love Patricia Scanlan’ Mirror

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Irish Literature

484 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2015

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

[Nicole Gust · Rating 2 out of 5]

By the time you read this, the 3rd book in the series, it was pretty much repetation...

[Carrie Reeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely end to the trilogy. I would love to know what happens in the future for the trip of friends. My only complaint about the book as a lack of continuity. What happened to Maggie's caravan, she found such peace there and did Richard not sell the penthouse near Devlin when he went to Boston with Charles?

[Eimsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Shocking. Terrible. So many inaccuracies about ireland it's embarrassing

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time taken to read - on and off over 4 days

Pages - 484

Publisher - Simon & Schuster UK

Blurb from Goodreads

Devlin, Caroline and Maggie. Women in their prime. They have it all. Careers. Success. Marriage. They are the envy of their peers. But at what price?

City Livesis the story of three women who have one great certainy in their lives: their friendship. The enduring bonds of loyalty and love will carry them through the toughest times towards a brighter future.

'A page-turner for romantics'Ireland on Sunday



My Review

This is book two of a trilogy, if you haven't read the first one I would recommend it however you could get away with reading this as a standalone. I think you would enjoy it more though having the background info.

Three very different women, Devlin is a successful business woman with her own chain of beauty salons, married and in love she has everything she could want from life. Caroline, married to a man with his own demons and over bearing mother. When they agree to divorce and pursue happiness, Caroline's Mother in Law has other plans. And Maggie, a now well known author, a husband with more than a roving eye, young babies and the struggle between her own happiness and that of her children. The trio have already overcome so much together, now taking scary steps in each of their own lives to achieve what we all want, happiness.

I do like Scanlan's writing, it is like slipping into an episode of one of your favourite sitcoms, the writing flows and you're quickly drawn into the world created and following the ladies recent adventures. I think within the characters there will be someone each reader can identify with, even though they have fame or money they still experience the same woes as everyone else. I will buy the third part of this series as I want to know what is next for the ladies, a perfect read for round the pool or just to switch off from your own every day, 3/5 for me this time.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

gosh I wish she’d write another one ! ! !

A trilogy is not enough . . . missing Caroline & Co. already. I felt like I’d made friends with them. Traveled to the desert, lived in Galway, started a business.
I first read Patricia Scanlan back in the nineties; Apartment 3B & Finishing Touches were two of my favorite novels. Recently bought them both on Kindle and settled down to a good long reread which kicked straight into the City Girl trilogy and now I need more!
Off to the kindle store to see what book of hers I’ll start next.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn’t realised when I picked this up it was part of a series - however - there was enough basic information during the course of the book to pick up the salient points.

Really enjoyed it - not the usual chic lit in that it’s more gritty - more real life if you like for the most part.

Will definitely be looking out for the other books in the series

[Adeline Kam · Rating 5 out of 5]

City Lives by Patricia Scanlan. A beautifully written story. Love the characters and storyline. A wonderful friendship of 3 women, who is there for each other through thick and thin. The lives and paths they go through. I enjoyed reading this book. Patricia Scanlan is truly my favorite author.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the trilogy and it did not disappoint. I've read this a few times over the years and it's just as good as the other two. The main characters are very likeable and I just love the ups and downs they have to deal with. Patricia Scanlan is an amazing writer and I love all her books.

[Noms Haugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

City lives is the story of three women who have one great certainty in their lives;their friendship.the enduring bonds of loyalty and love will carry them through the worst of times and the best of times.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, I realise it has inaccuracies but it got my reading mojo back.

[Nada Sami]

Is this the second or the the third in the series ?? Because on wiki it is the second only on this website readers mentioned it is the third ??

[Piisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light holiday reading, yawn.

[Lynne Foster-Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

better than the 1st one in the series

[Liz Pozar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, loved seeing a closure for the girls. It was interesting to see more points of views, though some made me hate the characters more.

[Kim Solleder · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this series of Books, great reading, the story could keep going,, excellent,

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25*

[Ella Buzas · Rating 2 out of 5]

So cringey but a fabulous hate-read. Good if you need a book to turn your brain off for a second

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wonderful

[christine verrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book.

Loved it, the characters were strong and it was lovely to read about the three friends again. A good read.

[pauline webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant feel like your watching a film in your head

I love the friendship of Devlin, Maggie and Caroline. Can't wait too read the last chapter of their lives. 😊

[Sarah Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had completely forgotten how this story went and had mixed it up with something else 🙈🤣 I can’t wait to see where the new one takes these characters and how their lives have changed 😊

[philomena barron · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing read. I couldn't put it down.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re reading this series before starting an ARC of City Girls Forever.
Brings back lovely memories of reading these back in the 90’s.

[Nicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this is my least favorite series by Patricia Scanlan, this third and final novel is my favorite of the three. She definitely improved greatly as an author over time, and there's a few contradictions and plots that that don't overlap properly over the three, but for the most part this was an enjoyable light read.
It was very predictable and I could see what was going to happen with Alma and also Matthew a mile off. However, Patricia has a way with chick lit and I still found I wanted to keep reading on and see it unfold! Three and a half stars.

[Joolz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fancied a bit of Chick Lit (not like me at all!!) and borrowed this from our Exchange Book Shelf we have at work (you borrow, read, put back for someone else). Very easy reading, quite believable characters, yet run of the mill, could be watching Holly Oaks for similar lol. Still enjoyed its few twists and turns, the kind of book you buy for reading on the beach, and for times when you dont want anything too heavy!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

3rd in the series, again as before

[Noemia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story set in Ireland, good reading....

[Tania Easton]

another 1 to the set. good read.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this tiilogy

[Sharon Reeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book before reading the other 2, so in the wrong order. A comfortable read.