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A Time For Friends: Warmth, wisdom and love on every page - if you treasured Maeve Binchy, read Patricia Scanlan
When are the boundaries of friendship pushed too far, and when is it time to stop flying over oceans for someone who wouldn't jump over a puddle for you? There comes a time when Hilary Hammond has to make that call. Hilary and Colette O'Mahony have been friends since childhood, but when irrepressible Jonathan Harpur breezes into Hilary's life and goes into business with her, Colette is not best pleased. After their first encounter Colette thinks he's a 'pushy upstart' while he thinks she's 'a snobby little diva'. And so the battle lines are drawn and Hilary is bang in the middle. But as the years roll by and each of them is faced with difficult times and tough decisions, one thing is clear...to have a friend you must be a friend. And that's when Hilary discovers that sometimes your best friend can be your greatest enemy...
624 pages, Paperback
First published February 26, 2015
91 people are currently reading
1176 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Scanlan
71 books399 followersPatricia 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
March 30, 2015
Is there ever a right time to break up with your best friend?
Despite having very different upbringings and backgrounds, Hillary and Colette have been friends forever. They have watched each other grow up, get married, have kids and while they live in different countries, the friendship has weathered the storm.
Hillary is the down to earth, hard working woman with a big heart. A mother of two girls and happily married, she would bend over backwards for her friends and family.
Colette is the wealthy diva, having had everything handed to her on a platter since birth. Also married, with one daughter, she is not so generous with her time and thinks of herself before anyone else.
Jonathan is Hillary's new best friend. A complete breath of fresh air, he is quick to point out the imbalance in the girls relationship and Hillary begins to see how she has been duped by Colette over the years. But her good heart means she struggles to let go of the friendship. Until one New Years Day, when a mis-dialled phone call reveals Colette's true nature...
This is basically a tale of three characters, over three decades. Pre-Celtic Tiger, The Boom Years and The Recession. Hillary, Colette and Jonathan each have their stories to tell and the spiderweb that links them is what makes this a complete package. Hillary is a little it too perfect, rarely getting anything wrong (great mother, wife and daughter-in-law, astute business woman, fantastic friend and has good conservative financial sense), whereas Colette is a real Cruella DeVille. (Hard, lacking maternal gene, distant wife and no need to worry about money). She has taken Hillary for granted her whole life and is not about to change now, just because her friend has a new bestie, Jonathan. He is a flamboyant interior designer with a damaged past but sees the goodness in Hillary. Unfortunately, he also sees through Colette. Three becomes a crowd and tensions build.
Patricia Scanlan has done it again. Another warm and effective character based novel that will envelope you like a cuddle from your favourite Auntie. She uses throwbacks to the past decades cleverly and the changes in fashion, interior design and even food is a great way of getting the reader to connect with the story. A look at abuse within the church is a brave move for female fiction in this country and there is no hiding the corrupt politicians either. The greediness of the Celtic Tiger era is addressed and the only qualm I had was that the big fish didn't really seem to suffer too much from the fallout.
The Queen of Irish Fiction has still got it and her fans can sit back and relax, as she's delivered another bestseller.
Despite having very different upbringings and backgrounds, Hillary and Colette have been friends forever. They have watched each other grow up, get married, have kids and while they live in different countries, the friendship has weathered the storm.
Hillary is the down to earth, hard working woman with a big heart. A mother of two girls and happily married, she would bend over backwards for her friends and family.
Colette is the wealthy diva, having had everything handed to her on a platter since birth. Also married, with one daughter, she is not so generous with her time and thinks of herself before anyone else.
Jonathan is Hillary's new best friend. A complete breath of fresh air, he is quick to point out the imbalance in the girls relationship and Hillary begins to see how she has been duped by Colette over the years. But her good heart means she struggles to let go of the friendship. Until one New Years Day, when a mis-dialled phone call reveals Colette's true nature...
This is basically a tale of three characters, over three decades. Pre-Celtic Tiger, The Boom Years and The Recession. Hillary, Colette and Jonathan each have their stories to tell and the spiderweb that links them is what makes this a complete package. Hillary is a little it too perfect, rarely getting anything wrong (great mother, wife and daughter-in-law, astute business woman, fantastic friend and has good conservative financial sense), whereas Colette is a real Cruella DeVille. (Hard, lacking maternal gene, distant wife and no need to worry about money). She has taken Hillary for granted her whole life and is not about to change now, just because her friend has a new bestie, Jonathan. He is a flamboyant interior designer with a damaged past but sees the goodness in Hillary. Unfortunately, he also sees through Colette. Three becomes a crowd and tensions build.
Patricia Scanlan has done it again. Another warm and effective character based novel that will envelope you like a cuddle from your favourite Auntie. She uses throwbacks to the past decades cleverly and the changes in fashion, interior design and even food is a great way of getting the reader to connect with the story. A look at abuse within the church is a brave move for female fiction in this country and there is no hiding the corrupt politicians either. The greediness of the Celtic Tiger era is addressed and the only qualm I had was that the big fish didn't really seem to suffer too much from the fallout.
The Queen of Irish Fiction has still got it and her fans can sit back and relax, as she's delivered another bestseller.
February 10, 2016
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy of this title...
Is there ever a right time to break up with your best friend?
Despite having very different upbringings and backgrounds, Hillary and Colette have been friends forever. They have watched each other grow up, get married, have kids and while they live in different countries, the friendship has weathered the storm.
Hillary is the down to earth, hard working woman with a big heart. A mother of two girls and happily married, she would bend over backwards for her friends and family.
Colette is the wealthy diva, having had everything handed to her on a platter since birth. Also married, with one daughter, she is not so generous with her time and thinks of herself before anyone else.
Jonathan is Hillary's new best friend. A complete breath of fresh air, he is quick to point out the imbalance in the girls relationship and Hillary begins to see how she has been duped by Colette over the years. But her good heart means she struggles to let go of the friendship. Until one New Years Day, when a mis-dialled phone call reveals Colette's true nature...
This is basically a tale of three characters, over three decades. Pre-Celtic Tiger, The Boom Years and The Recession. Hillary, Colette and Jonathan each have their stories to tell and the spiderweb that links them is what makes this a complete package. Hillary is a little it too perfect, rarely getting anything wrong (great mother, wife and daughter-in-law, astute business woman, fantastic friend and has good conservative financial sense), whereas Colette is a real Cruella DeVille. (Hard, lacking maternal gene, distant wife and no need to worry about money). She has taken Hillary for granted her whole life and is not about to change now, just because her friend has a new bestie, Jonathan. He is a flamboyant interior designer with a damaged past but sees the goodness in Hillary. Unfortunately, he also sees through Colette. Three becomes a crowd and tensions build.
Patricia Scanlan has done it again. Another warm and effective character based novel that will envelope you like a cuddle from your favourite Auntie. She uses throwbacks to the past decades cleverly and the changes in fashion, interior design and even food is a great way of getting the reader to connect with the story. A look at abuse within the church is a brave move for female fiction in this country and there is no hiding the corrupt politicians either. The greediness of the Celtic Tiger era is addressed and the only qualm I had was that the big fish didn't really seem to suffer too much from the fallout.
The Queen of Irish Fiction has still got it and her fans can sit back and relax, as she's delivered another bestseller.
Is there ever a right time to break up with your best friend?
Despite having very different upbringings and backgrounds, Hillary and Colette have been friends forever. They have watched each other grow up, get married, have kids and while they live in different countries, the friendship has weathered the storm.
Hillary is the down to earth, hard working woman with a big heart. A mother of two girls and happily married, she would bend over backwards for her friends and family.
Colette is the wealthy diva, having had everything handed to her on a platter since birth. Also married, with one daughter, she is not so generous with her time and thinks of herself before anyone else.
Jonathan is Hillary's new best friend. A complete breath of fresh air, he is quick to point out the imbalance in the girls relationship and Hillary begins to see how she has been duped by Colette over the years. But her good heart means she struggles to let go of the friendship. Until one New Years Day, when a mis-dialled phone call reveals Colette's true nature...
This is basically a tale of three characters, over three decades. Pre-Celtic Tiger, The Boom Years and The Recession. Hillary, Colette and Jonathan each have their stories to tell and the spiderweb that links them is what makes this a complete package. Hillary is a little it too perfect, rarely getting anything wrong (great mother, wife and daughter-in-law, astute business woman, fantastic friend and has good conservative financial sense), whereas Colette is a real Cruella DeVille. (Hard, lacking maternal gene, distant wife and no need to worry about money). She has taken Hillary for granted her whole life and is not about to change now, just because her friend has a new bestie, Jonathan. He is a flamboyant interior designer with a damaged past but sees the goodness in Hillary. Unfortunately, he also sees through Colette. Three becomes a crowd and tensions build.
Patricia Scanlan has done it again. Another warm and effective character based novel that will envelope you like a cuddle from your favourite Auntie. She uses throwbacks to the past decades cleverly and the changes in fashion, interior design and even food is a great way of getting the reader to connect with the story. A look at abuse within the church is a brave move for female fiction in this country and there is no hiding the corrupt politicians either. The greediness of the Celtic Tiger era is addressed and the only qualm I had was that the big fish didn't really seem to suffer too much from the fallout.
The Queen of Irish Fiction has still got it and her fans can sit back and relax, as she's delivered another bestseller.
July 13, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Atria via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 14th 2015.
If you are looking for a story about friendship, then this is a good pick. If you are looking for a story about one sided friendships, even more so. Essentially this book tells the story of two friendship. Hilary and Colette who grew up together and then Hilary and Jonathan who meet as adults. One is a dysfunctional friendship while the other is the type of friendship that will never die.
Hilary - She was the type of person we all aspire to be however lets be honest are really too selfish to emulate. The perfect friend, wife, mother and professional. I am having a good day if I can get ready for work and my outfit fits on the first try meanwhile Hilary juggled everything. Although throughout the story she showed signs of being human she was selfless for the most part. The way she tolerate Colette was infuriating yet admirable and the way she was at Jonathan's side was heartwarming.
Colette - Could you find a more selfish person! From the way the story starts you expect that Colette will redeem herself at some point in the story but in my opinion it never happened. The way she took advantage of Hilary's friendship and used her to boost herself up was disgusting. If a friend ignored me for years and then all of a sudden expected me to drop everything and fly to the other side of the world, I would tell them exactly where to go! I could go on and on and ask the question why friendships are almost always one sided but I decided not too go too deep with this one. I choose to dislike this character...strongly.
Jonathan - I'm not going to say much but he was a character that made me smile. I really liked everything about him and would love a friend like him.
Ultimately this was a story where not too much happens however you see the lives of these characters over the span of many years. Occasionally the writing would switch to the point of views of a secondary character which was a little odd however not a deal breaker. If you enjoy a story that delves in to the topic of friendship then this just may be the one for you.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Atria via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is July 14th 2015.
If you are looking for a story about friendship, then this is a good pick. If you are looking for a story about one sided friendships, even more so. Essentially this book tells the story of two friendship. Hilary and Colette who grew up together and then Hilary and Jonathan who meet as adults. One is a dysfunctional friendship while the other is the type of friendship that will never die.
Hilary - She was the type of person we all aspire to be however lets be honest are really too selfish to emulate. The perfect friend, wife, mother and professional. I am having a good day if I can get ready for work and my outfit fits on the first try meanwhile Hilary juggled everything. Although throughout the story she showed signs of being human she was selfless for the most part. The way she tolerate Colette was infuriating yet admirable and the way she was at Jonathan's side was heartwarming.
Colette - Could you find a more selfish person! From the way the story starts you expect that Colette will redeem herself at some point in the story but in my opinion it never happened. The way she took advantage of Hilary's friendship and used her to boost herself up was disgusting. If a friend ignored me for years and then all of a sudden expected me to drop everything and fly to the other side of the world, I would tell them exactly where to go! I could go on and on and ask the question why friendships are almost always one sided but I decided not too go too deep with this one. I choose to dislike this character...strongly.
Jonathan - I'm not going to say much but he was a character that made me smile. I really liked everything about him and would love a friend like him.
Ultimately this was a story where not too much happens however you see the lives of these characters over the span of many years. Occasionally the writing would switch to the point of views of a secondary character which was a little odd however not a deal breaker. If you enjoy a story that delves in to the topic of friendship then this just may be the one for you.
July 24, 2016
A thoroughly enjoyable book about friendship, and what it should be and how much you should forgive before enough is enough.
I liked the characters because they felt real and it made me reflect on how you can have a friend for years and then a new person comes into your circle and instantly you recognise friendship.
I liked the characters because they felt real and it made me reflect on how you can have a friend for years and then a new person comes into your circle and instantly you recognise friendship.
Read
December 2, 2021No rating. Disappointing, predictable, preachy in tone and too much telling instead of showing. I just couldn’t be motivated to read any more. But there will be plenty of others who will like it. Just not my cup of tea.
June 29, 2018
Patricia Scanlan’s book always deliver! A page turner.
She delves into all the emotions of a long term friendship which began in childhood, the emotional needs of both parties, the unequal sides to the friendship, the ‘giver’ & the ‘taker’.
Hilary & Colette have been friends forever, through thick and thin and all life threw at both of them. Their lives take them down different roads. But what will it take to end this friendship?
There are lots of family members in this story. Hilary, Niall, their parents, & their two daughters Sophie & Millie. Collette & Des, their parents, and their daughter Jasmine. Des’s sister Sue also features. Jonathan, Hilary’s best friend, and his Mam Nancy. His two sisters are mentioned very briefly at times and known as ‘the girls’ but other than that we know nothing about them. I don’t recall them being named! Wonder why! This I found slightly strange. But did not take from story at all.
She delves into all the emotions of a long term friendship which began in childhood, the emotional needs of both parties, the unequal sides to the friendship, the ‘giver’ & the ‘taker’.
Hilary & Colette have been friends forever, through thick and thin and all life threw at both of them. Their lives take them down different roads. But what will it take to end this friendship?
There are lots of family members in this story. Hilary, Niall, their parents, & their two daughters Sophie & Millie. Collette & Des, their parents, and their daughter Jasmine. Des’s sister Sue also features. Jonathan, Hilary’s best friend, and his Mam Nancy. His two sisters are mentioned very briefly at times and known as ‘the girls’ but other than that we know nothing about them. I don’t recall them being named! Wonder why! This I found slightly strange. But did not take from story at all.
March 3, 2017
An epic story of friendship over the decades, Patricia Scanlan has weaved a brilliant story of three families starting in the 90s and coming right up to the present. The book is split into parts, each marking a significant portion of time moved forward, and although it takes a chapter or two at the start of each part, to get up to date with the new circumstances for the characters, its a great mechanism of allowing us to know the characters so much better.
I loved seeing them all grow, and the various dilemmas they faced, and it touches on a whole manner of big issues including abuse, care of the elderly, the financial situation throughout the past couple of decades and much more.
Hilary and Colette have been best friends since childhood, or at least friends of convenience. It may not be the most equal of friendships and I definitely loved Hilary a lot more than Colette for the majority of the book. However if was the introduction of Jonathan, and his dynamic with Hilary that really lifts the book in my mind.
I loved every scene that Jonathan and Hilary were together, especially the way in which they met, and generally their conversations.
Over the course of the book we also get to know the extended families of the three main characters, so we get to know their children and see how they develop as they grow up, and also the parents and just what happens in all the families.
I was a bit apprehensive before starting this book, as although I have read and enjoyed Patricia Scanlan before, it has been a while since I last read one, and also been ages since I voluntarily and knowingly sat down to read a 600+ page book. Thankfully I needn't have worries as I found it to be a surprisingly easy to read book, and completely gripping. I was continually eager to know what would happen next, and it probably took me about half the anticipated time to read.
There are so many ups and downs in the story, in addition to many secrets, and all manner of revelations. It was fun trying to work out, or guess just how it may all work out in the end for everyone.
A Time For Friends was a highly enjoyable story and a fabulous saga that I would definitely recommend.
I loved seeing them all grow, and the various dilemmas they faced, and it touches on a whole manner of big issues including abuse, care of the elderly, the financial situation throughout the past couple of decades and much more.
Hilary and Colette have been best friends since childhood, or at least friends of convenience. It may not be the most equal of friendships and I definitely loved Hilary a lot more than Colette for the majority of the book. However if was the introduction of Jonathan, and his dynamic with Hilary that really lifts the book in my mind.
I loved every scene that Jonathan and Hilary were together, especially the way in which they met, and generally their conversations.
Over the course of the book we also get to know the extended families of the three main characters, so we get to know their children and see how they develop as they grow up, and also the parents and just what happens in all the families.
I was a bit apprehensive before starting this book, as although I have read and enjoyed Patricia Scanlan before, it has been a while since I last read one, and also been ages since I voluntarily and knowingly sat down to read a 600+ page book. Thankfully I needn't have worries as I found it to be a surprisingly easy to read book, and completely gripping. I was continually eager to know what would happen next, and it probably took me about half the anticipated time to read.
There are so many ups and downs in the story, in addition to many secrets, and all manner of revelations. It was fun trying to work out, or guess just how it may all work out in the end for everyone.
A Time For Friends was a highly enjoyable story and a fabulous saga that I would definitely recommend.
September 12, 2015
I received this book free from good reads. Thank you. Sorry it has taken me so long to finish it. I have been sick.
I really enjoyed this book-good story line. Interesting characters and settings. It's the story mostly about 2 women who grew up together as friends, on poor and the other rich. Their friendship continued into their into married years, but it was becoming apparent to one that the rich woman only called the other when she wanted something something done for her. The rich woman was spoiled and expected every one to cater to her. I will not tel you the end of the story. I'll let you find that out when You read it.
I Think a lot of you would like to read this book. It is long, but worth reading.
I really enjoyed this book-good story line. Interesting characters and settings. It's the story mostly about 2 women who grew up together as friends, on poor and the other rich. Their friendship continued into their into married years, but it was becoming apparent to one that the rich woman only called the other when she wanted something something done for her. The rich woman was spoiled and expected every one to cater to her. I will not tel you the end of the story. I'll let you find that out when You read it.
I Think a lot of you would like to read this book. It is long, but worth reading.
January 14, 2016
Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful.
The blurb at the back talked about a friendship between a lovely lovely girl and a completely spoiled madam. 94 pages and a week in, the cliches had been ladled on and I put the book aside for good.
Found it a couple of months later, and before I gave it to a charity shop, I read the last 20 pages just to be certain that I hadn't misjudged it. Nope - the madam had got her comeuppance, the lovely girl had risen to new glories and most importantly, had realised that their friendship was toxic and told the madam to get lost.
Would have made a good Young Adult short story. Oh yeah - in fact, it has been done. A thousand times.
The blurb at the back talked about a friendship between a lovely lovely girl and a completely spoiled madam. 94 pages and a week in, the cliches had been ladled on and I put the book aside for good.
Found it a couple of months later, and before I gave it to a charity shop, I read the last 20 pages just to be certain that I hadn't misjudged it. Nope - the madam had got her comeuppance, the lovely girl had risen to new glories and most importantly, had realised that their friendship was toxic and told the madam to get lost.
Would have made a good Young Adult short story. Oh yeah - in fact, it has been done. A thousand times.
August 1, 2020
My only issue with the book is that we never saw the friendship between Hilary and Colette when it worked well, which is why so many reviewers here ask why Hilary didn't drop her during childhood already. I have a friend that treats me incredibly well half of the time and very badly the other half. This creates an emotional conflict in me when she treats me badly. But since we only saw Colette treat Hilary badly, that whole inner conflict is absent. And that is meant to be at the heart of the book and at the heart of Hilary's decision to give up the friendship.
May 17, 2016
A lot of words about not a lot……the best thing about this book was the high number of pages, so it kept me reading for longer than usual, so offered better value for money than some!! But to say the storyline was weak would be an understatement. The story takes place within three blocks of time, with what feels like, an awful lot of 'lost' time or 'lost' detail. It is certainly an easy way to move the story forward without really doing any writing….
July 27, 2015
Unfortunately I couldn't finish this book I made it to 300 pages but there didn't seem to be anything building in this storyline, so not one for me :-(
June 1, 2015
A bit fat book to plough through. I did enjoy the characters but the styline was slow to go anywhere - you knew what was coming but it didn't happen right till the very end.
July 14, 2015
I normally enjoy Patricia Scanlan novels but this one I struggled to finish because I found it too long and predictable.
January 11, 2016
Love and friendship
Really good read the characters believable made me think about friendships and they do have to work both ways to be sustained.
Really good read the characters believable made me think about friendships and they do have to work both ways to be sustained.
February 17, 2019
A beautiful tale of friendship and betrayal. Totally relatable..
February 22, 2019
At last, I am proud to say tat I completed #ATimeForFriends book with an active baby around 😊 #PatriciaScanlan you really made me hooked to this book.. I was literally living with Hilary, Colette n Johnathan all these days..
Your message about Child Sexual Abuse n d worst phycological depression it caused in children.. how their lives got messed up due to the trauma n d open wounds which they carried to their graves.. this is indeed a great message! Johnathan's life proves tat boys are also vulnerable to such sick harassments..
The betrayals of Frank to Jacqueline, Des to Colette, Leon to Johnathan, Colette to Hilary was heart wrenching..
I couldn't guess d next page wen I close d book every time..
This is an ultimate comfort read n I thoroughly enjoyed it.. A real treat for my soul.. #ThankYou for making me read after a very long time..
#MyBooks #Reading #BookCollections
Your message about Child Sexual Abuse n d worst phycological depression it caused in children.. how their lives got messed up due to the trauma n d open wounds which they carried to their graves.. this is indeed a great message! Johnathan's life proves tat boys are also vulnerable to such sick harassments..
The betrayals of Frank to Jacqueline, Des to Colette, Leon to Johnathan, Colette to Hilary was heart wrenching..
I couldn't guess d next page wen I close d book every time..
This is an ultimate comfort read n I thoroughly enjoyed it.. A real treat for my soul.. #ThankYou for making me read after a very long time..
#MyBooks #Reading #BookCollections
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 30, 2018
When are the boundaries of friendship pushed too far, and when is it time to stop flying over oceans for someone who wouldn't jump over a puddle for you? There comes a time when Hilary Hammond has to make that call.
Hilary and Colette O'Mahony have been friends childhood, but when irrepressible Jonathan Harpur breezes into Hilary's life and goes into business with her, Colette is not best pleased.
After their first encounter, Colette thinks he's a 'pushy upstart' while he thinks she's 'a snobby little diva'. And so the battle lines are drawn and Hilary is bang in the middle.
But as the years roll by and each of them is faced with difficult times and tough decisions, one thing is clear......to have a friend you must be a friend.
And that's when Hilary discovers that sometimes your best friend can be your greatest enemy.....
Hilary and Colette O'Mahony have been friends childhood, but when irrepressible Jonathan Harpur breezes into Hilary's life and goes into business with her, Colette is not best pleased.
After their first encounter, Colette thinks he's a 'pushy upstart' while he thinks she's 'a snobby little diva'. And so the battle lines are drawn and Hilary is bang in the middle.
But as the years roll by and each of them is faced with difficult times and tough decisions, one thing is clear......to have a friend you must be a friend.
And that's when Hilary discovers that sometimes your best friend can be your greatest enemy.....
April 27, 2019
This was my first book by Patricia Scanlan. I picked it up on a rainy day at Waterstones in Piccadilly. I started reading it soon after.
The plot builds up nicely. The characters are well-developed. But by the time we were reaching the end, I began to hate the story. This is because I somewhat found Hillary stupid to have always been there for her selfish friend Colette. She was extremely compromising and would be there for her. I wish she had left Colette long before Colette set eyes on Hillary’s husband. And Hillary realised the extent of Colette’s true, toxic, selfish and abusive nature.
It’s a good story about hard work, true friendships, responsibilities, family relationships and priorities in life. We see contrasting characters here. It’s a good read if you need something that could last long. But it has a very typical story that I felt I wasted my time reading it.
The plot builds up nicely. The characters are well-developed. But by the time we were reaching the end, I began to hate the story. This is because I somewhat found Hillary stupid to have always been there for her selfish friend Colette. She was extremely compromising and would be there for her. I wish she had left Colette long before Colette set eyes on Hillary’s husband. And Hillary realised the extent of Colette’s true, toxic, selfish and abusive nature.
It’s a good story about hard work, true friendships, responsibilities, family relationships and priorities in life. We see contrasting characters here. It’s a good read if you need something that could last long. But it has a very typical story that I felt I wasted my time reading it.
December 1, 2022
Hilary and Colette have known each other since childhood but these two women couldn't be more different.
Colette's wealthy family gave her every privilege imaginable except the comfort of a stable and loving home. Now she's married to a stockbroker, has a spoiled daughter Jasmine, and lives a life of luxury where designer clothing and exotic getaways are the norm. Nobody knows that she secretly feels like an imposter and struggles with an eating disorder.
Hilary's lifestyle is a lot less luxurious but she's married to Niall, the love of her life, and has two gorgeous daughters Millie and Sophie.
Both Hilary and Colette learn about friendship, relationships and boundaries in this entertaining, although not unique, novel. Three stars for this easy beach read.
Colette's wealthy family gave her every privilege imaginable except the comfort of a stable and loving home. Now she's married to a stockbroker, has a spoiled daughter Jasmine, and lives a life of luxury where designer clothing and exotic getaways are the norm. Nobody knows that she secretly feels like an imposter and struggles with an eating disorder.
Hilary's lifestyle is a lot less luxurious but she's married to Niall, the love of her life, and has two gorgeous daughters Millie and Sophie.
Both Hilary and Colette learn about friendship, relationships and boundaries in this entertaining, although not unique, novel. Three stars for this easy beach read.
August 28, 2018
I picked this book up while on vacation. I've read this author before and knew what to expect. This book didn't disappoint. Little soapbox lectures (this one had "not caring for elderly patients," "accept gay people," and "you shouldn't have to pay for parking at hospitals"), lots of filler, blissfully happy couple (though with a nice twist in the tolls childcare takes on a marriage), irredeemable villain, and lots of designer labels and high-end living. I did find this one a bit boring; it has a great many pages on which nothing happens except some rather old-fashioned description. Still, it was a nice beach read and a slice of "Celtic Tiger" life I hadn't seen before.
June 1, 2020
I loved the book...The story brought me back to the years it was based in so effortlessly ...It brought back so many memories - I felt a bit nostalgic. And believe it or not, it was the 1st book I'd read by this author - She reminds me of an Irish Jane Green, which is great, because Jane Green is my all-time favourite author - But MY GOD - The book was LONG! Really Looooong! So be prepared if you are planning on reading a book in 1 day...you wont be sleeping - AT ALL! I'm not a slow reader - but it took me a good 12 hours to read it :)
May 24, 2022
I found this book enjoyable in some places but it is too long and very stereotyped! I suppose it’s the type of book you read on holidays! It’s not taxing, you can leave it, pick it up again!
I am sure if you are a fan of the author you will love it but if you are not, maybe think again about starting it! I don’t think I will pick up another Patricia Scanlan book in a hurry!
I am sure if you are a fan of the author you will love it but if you are not, maybe think again about starting it! I don’t think I will pick up another Patricia Scanlan book in a hurry!
May 1, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, it has every emotion, I even physically cried at one point. Don't let the >600 pages out you off, they're all relevant and it flies by.
The cover wouldn't have drawn me in either, I was gifted the book and kept putting off reading it but glad I did as I would not have picked it off the shelf.
The cover wouldn't have drawn me in either, I was gifted the book and kept putting off reading it but glad I did as I would not have picked it off the shelf.
May 16, 2023
Always enjoy reading Patricia Scanlan books. she is a fantastic author and very good at portraying the everyday character and emotional and character Trates and family conflicts.
Loved all the characters in this book even Jonathon and could imagine him sauntering through the streets with his winklepicker shoes and flowing scarf.
Loved all the characters in this book even Jonathon and could imagine him sauntering through the streets with his winklepicker shoes and flowing scarf.
July 8, 2024
It's about the friendship of Colette and Hilary and Jonathan.. I only gave 3 stars because it doesn't focus more on the friendships story of the main characters, it also talks about how to deal with life, family etc. the climax is from the last pages.. what I like about this book is the quote of Hilary says, "to have a friend, you have to be a friend". A very simple phrase but deep meaning
December 14, 2017
Love, love, love!!
How I love these stories. So beautifully written and the characters leap off the pages. Lovely reminders of the craic in my childhood home, where I learned the art of the spoons!. Great
How I love these stories. So beautifully written and the characters leap off the pages. Lovely reminders of the craic in my childhood home, where I learned the art of the spoons!. Great
March 25, 2019
A story of family and friendship. An interesting book to read but I feel it is too lengthy. Eventhough I enjoyed every chapters, I think the story can be shortened. Anyway it was a good read.....I always enjoyed reading her books.
May 9, 2017
Brilliant. Loved the story. The character of Hilary demonstrates the true meaning of friendship
May 9, 2017
A warm, enveloping read with humour, wise advice and memorable characters who navigate the choppy waters of relationships and childhood trauma. Best served with a cup of hot chocolate.
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