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The Reunion
'A thoughtful, engrossing read. Warm and insightful. Roisin Meaney is a skillful storyteller' - Sheila O'Flanagan, author of The Missing Wife , on The Reunion .
It's their twenty-year school reunion but the Plunkett sisters have their own reasons for not wanting to attend ...
Caroline, now a successful knitwear designer, spends her time flying between her business in England and her lover in Italy. As far as she's concerned, her school days, and what happened to her the year she left, should stay in the past.
Eleanor, meanwhile, is unrecognisable from the fun-loving girl she was in school. With a son who is barely speaking to her, and a husband keeping a secret from her, revisiting the past is the last thing on her mind.
But when an unexpected letter arrives for Caroline in the weeks before the reunion, memories are stirred.
Will the sisters find the courage to return to the town where they grew up and face what they've been running from all these years?
The Reunion is a moving story about secrets, sisters and finding a way to open your heart.
It's their twenty-year school reunion but the Plunkett sisters have their own reasons for not wanting to attend ...
Caroline, now a successful knitwear designer, spends her time flying between her business in England and her lover in Italy. As far as she's concerned, her school days, and what happened to her the year she left, should stay in the past.
Eleanor, meanwhile, is unrecognisable from the fun-loving girl she was in school. With a son who is barely speaking to her, and a husband keeping a secret from her, revisiting the past is the last thing on her mind.
But when an unexpected letter arrives for Caroline in the weeks before the reunion, memories are stirred.
Will the sisters find the courage to return to the town where they grew up and face what they've been running from all these years?
The Reunion is a moving story about secrets, sisters and finding a way to open your heart.
432 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2016
345 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Roisin Meaney
44 books386 followersBorn on 3rd September.
A published author of twenty books for adults and three for children, Roisin worked as an advertising copywriter for a number of years, and brings a vast amount of experience to the editing team. Her first novel, The Daisy Picker, won a Write a Bestseller competition. Her third novel, The Last Week of May reached number one on the Irish bestseller list and her fourth, The People Next Door reached number two. Her books have been translated into several languages, and two, Semi-Sweet and Life Drawing for Beginners, have been published in the US. She is currently working on her next book, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2023. She is also plotting another children's book - shhhhh.
A published author of twenty books for adults and three for children, Roisin worked as an advertising copywriter for a number of years, and brings a vast amount of experience to the editing team. Her first novel, The Daisy Picker, won a Write a Bestseller competition. Her third novel, The Last Week of May reached number one on the Irish bestseller list and her fourth, The People Next Door reached number two. Her books have been translated into several languages, and two, Semi-Sweet and Life Drawing for Beginners, have been published in the US. She is currently working on her next book, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2023. She is also plotting another children's book - shhhhh.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
November 24, 2023
EXCERPT: She studies the envelope as she climbs the stairs. A new enquiry, maybe - she still gets the occasional letter, although most people email or phone now.
In her room she takes the reunion invitation from the wastepaper basket and studies it for several seconds before tearing it into pieces that float back down like snowflakes. Despite what Florence says, she has nothing she wants to prove: let them reunite without her.
She slides a finger under the flap of the other envelope. She pulls out the single page and unfolds it and begins to read.
Her hand flies to her mouth.
She sinks onto a chair.
Her eyes fill. The words swim together.
ABOUT 'THE REUNION': It's their twenty-year school reunion but the Plunkett sisters have their own reasons for not wanting to attend ...
Caroline, now a successful knitwear designer, spends her time flying between her business in England and her lover in Italy. As far as she's concerned, her school days, and what happened to her the year she left, should stay in the past.
Eleanor, meanwhile, is unrecognisable from the fun-loving girl she was in school. With a son who is barely speaking to her, and a husband keeping a secret from her, revisiting the past is the last thing on her mind.
But when an unexpected letter arrives for Caroline in the weeks before the reunion, memories are stirred.
Will the sisters find the courage to return to the town where they grew up and face what they've been running from all these years?
MY THOUGHTS: I started reading The Reunion thinking it was one thing, but it quickly changed into something else, and what a read! I finished reading this morning with tears sliding silently down my cheeks - tears of joy, of sadness, of appreciation at the sheer beauty of the writing.
This is not simply about a school reunion to which neither of the sisters wants to go for various reasons. It is a story about reunions of other kinds, the important kinds. It is a story that I immediately got lost in, my heart breaking for each of the sisters in different ways while at the same time wanting to give each of them a wake-up call.
I loved Caroline's loyalty. She is a very strong woman in most ways but riddled with self-doubt in others. You would wonder how she could have sprung from her mother's loins . . . I also loved Florence, Caroline's mother's cousin. Gruff but kind, she provides a refuge for Caroline when she needs it most and runs interference with Caroline's stuck-up, status conscious mother. There are some really wonderful characters in this book - mostly friends of Florence and who add color and charm to the storyline.
The Reunion has been sitting on my shelf since 2016. Apologies to the author and publisher. I wish I had read it sooner. In the meantime, I have missed out on many more wonderful books by this author. I won't be missing out on any more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheReunion #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I was born in the beautiful market town of Listowel in Co Kerry, (host to the famous Writers’ Week Festival every summer), and my growing-up years were spent mainly in Limerick city. After leaving school I qualified as a teacher and taught in Dublin for a handful of years, taking a few breaks along the way – two years teaching English in Zimbabwe (wonderful), three years working as an advertising copywriter in London (exciting) – until finally in 2001 I decided to try my hand at writing a book, something that I’d been thinking about for years. I took another break from teaching and flew to San Francisco, where one of my brothers lived, and it was there I wrote my debut, The Daisy Picker. To my delight, it won a ‘Write a Bestseller’ competition that Tivoli, a new Irish publishing house, was running to launch itself, and my prize was a two-book deal. I returned to the Irish classroom and wrote in my spare time, and in 2006, with two published books and another just completed, I signed up with Hodder Headline Ireland, Tivoli sadly having folded. In 2008 I took a deep breath and gave up teaching to become a fulltime writer, and so far, so good.
These days I divide my time between Limerick city and Miltown Malbay in West Clare. I take breaks from writing to drop into schools and chat about being an author, and to tell stories to tots in libraries.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland for providing a digital ARC of The Reunion by Roisin Meaney for review. All opinions expressed in this revie are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
In her room she takes the reunion invitation from the wastepaper basket and studies it for several seconds before tearing it into pieces that float back down like snowflakes. Despite what Florence says, she has nothing she wants to prove: let them reunite without her.
She slides a finger under the flap of the other envelope. She pulls out the single page and unfolds it and begins to read.
Her hand flies to her mouth.
She sinks onto a chair.
Her eyes fill. The words swim together.
ABOUT 'THE REUNION': It's their twenty-year school reunion but the Plunkett sisters have their own reasons for not wanting to attend ...
Caroline, now a successful knitwear designer, spends her time flying between her business in England and her lover in Italy. As far as she's concerned, her school days, and what happened to her the year she left, should stay in the past.
Eleanor, meanwhile, is unrecognisable from the fun-loving girl she was in school. With a son who is barely speaking to her, and a husband keeping a secret from her, revisiting the past is the last thing on her mind.
But when an unexpected letter arrives for Caroline in the weeks before the reunion, memories are stirred.
Will the sisters find the courage to return to the town where they grew up and face what they've been running from all these years?
MY THOUGHTS: I started reading The Reunion thinking it was one thing, but it quickly changed into something else, and what a read! I finished reading this morning with tears sliding silently down my cheeks - tears of joy, of sadness, of appreciation at the sheer beauty of the writing.
This is not simply about a school reunion to which neither of the sisters wants to go for various reasons. It is a story about reunions of other kinds, the important kinds. It is a story that I immediately got lost in, my heart breaking for each of the sisters in different ways while at the same time wanting to give each of them a wake-up call.
I loved Caroline's loyalty. She is a very strong woman in most ways but riddled with self-doubt in others. You would wonder how she could have sprung from her mother's loins . . . I also loved Florence, Caroline's mother's cousin. Gruff but kind, she provides a refuge for Caroline when she needs it most and runs interference with Caroline's stuck-up, status conscious mother. There are some really wonderful characters in this book - mostly friends of Florence and who add color and charm to the storyline.
The Reunion has been sitting on my shelf since 2016. Apologies to the author and publisher. I wish I had read it sooner. In the meantime, I have missed out on many more wonderful books by this author. I won't be missing out on any more.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheReunion #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: I was born in the beautiful market town of Listowel in Co Kerry, (host to the famous Writers’ Week Festival every summer), and my growing-up years were spent mainly in Limerick city. After leaving school I qualified as a teacher and taught in Dublin for a handful of years, taking a few breaks along the way – two years teaching English in Zimbabwe (wonderful), three years working as an advertising copywriter in London (exciting) – until finally in 2001 I decided to try my hand at writing a book, something that I’d been thinking about for years. I took another break from teaching and flew to San Francisco, where one of my brothers lived, and it was there I wrote my debut, The Daisy Picker. To my delight, it won a ‘Write a Bestseller’ competition that Tivoli, a new Irish publishing house, was running to launch itself, and my prize was a two-book deal. I returned to the Irish classroom and wrote in my spare time, and in 2006, with two published books and another just completed, I signed up with Hodder Headline Ireland, Tivoli sadly having folded. In 2008 I took a deep breath and gave up teaching to become a fulltime writer, and so far, so good.
These days I divide my time between Limerick city and Miltown Malbay in West Clare. I take breaks from writing to drop into schools and chat about being an author, and to tell stories to tots in libraries.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland for providing a digital ARC of The Reunion by Roisin Meaney for review. All opinions expressed in this revie are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
February 28, 2018
I have read almost everything Roisin Meaney has written, and will continue to buy whatever she sells. She writes chick-lit, yes, but her stories always go deeper and are never merely about romance or silly antics. If you enjoy authors like Lisa Jewell or Marian Keyes, give Meaney a try:-)
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
June 4, 2018
Trigger warning: Rape.
I tend to not do spoiler reviews. However, I realized that I wouldn't be able to show what I didn't give this book over two stars without spoiling the book.
Well good news is that this only cost me $.99. Bad news is that I didn't really think I got my money's worth. I have liked/loved most of Meaney's works, but this one just fell flat to me throughout the book. Ostensibly about two sisters (Caroline and Eleanor) going to their twenty year reunion in Ireland, the book jumps back and forth showing Caroline and Eleanor and their lives twenty years ago, and to the present day. I felt for both women's stories, but ended up liking Caroline's more, I just hated how her story-line got resolved. I also think that Eleanor's story-line just magically poof got better with no real repercussions for what happened to her family after she just opted out of things.
"The Reunion" starts with sisters Caroline and Eleanor receiving an invitation to their 20 year reunion. Neither of them wants to go for different reasons. Receiving the invitation though has both of them remembering things that they rather not dwell about now in their late 30s.
Meaney goes back and forth to show both women's POV throughout the book.
Caroline's story-line was shocking. She is raped by a family friend and falls pregnant. When she goes to her mother, her mother informs her that she will be sent to England for an abortion and even slaps her when Caroline realizes that her mother maybe harbored a secret fantasy about this family friend. I felt for Caroline and everything she went through. Her finding a real friend in her cousin Florence was welcome. Caroline is shown missing her son after giving him up for adoption. However, Meaney then throws a love interest in Caroline's story that didn't feel realistic at all. I was fine with her being a successful businesswoman. Having her in a romance that felt off to me (she meets this man when he is a young teen and they have a relationship about ten years later) and honestly it skeeved me out.
Eleanor seemed to have a slightly charmed life. Dating the most handsome boy at her school who is also the son of a rich man, Eleanor sees her life with him going smoothly with them eventually marrying. He has other ideas and breaks up with her. For most of the story-line with Eleanor you know that she doesn't let this relationship go easily, and that she had a child that died. It takes a while for you to figure out who Eleanor marries. And I have to say, that romance had zero chemistry when Meaney finally shows it to us. I did feel sympathy for Eleanor for her loss, but we find out she refused to be a mother or wife to her family for 14 years after the accidental death of her child. I didn't want her to be left alone and mourning forever. But I thought how Meaney resolved things with no real repercussion to Eleanor was a freaking cop out. It seemed that for a bit there Meaney was going to reveal that Eleanor's husband sought out a relationship elsewhere, but that went nowhere fast.
I think the secondary characters were not developed that well. Eleanor's husband barely feels present, along with Caroline and Eleanor's parents. I thought the only character that was sketched reasonably well was cousin Florence.
The writing was good. I was just more invested in Caroline's story. Eleanor's chapters felt bogged down to me while I was reading. Nothing much seems to happen to her until she goes off to work in a restaurant. The flow was up and down going back and forth. When Meaney goes back in time (so to speak) to show the women's lives twenty years back and then suddenly we are just in the present day it felt weird to me. Meaney does show the years/month so you know what timeline you are in. Thank goodness for that since a few times I was a bit lost.
The ending didn't satisfy me at all. Eleanor's family is bailed out by a rich relation and she and her husband magically make things work. I wish we had them having more conversations with each other. Instead, we just hear how they are now sharing a bedroom again. I also wish that Caroline's mother had been made to face up to what she had done, but she wasn't.
I tend to not do spoiler reviews. However, I realized that I wouldn't be able to show what I didn't give this book over two stars without spoiling the book.
Well good news is that this only cost me $.99. Bad news is that I didn't really think I got my money's worth. I have liked/loved most of Meaney's works, but this one just fell flat to me throughout the book. Ostensibly about two sisters (Caroline and Eleanor) going to their twenty year reunion in Ireland, the book jumps back and forth showing Caroline and Eleanor and their lives twenty years ago, and to the present day. I felt for both women's stories, but ended up liking Caroline's more, I just hated how her story-line got resolved. I also think that Eleanor's story-line just magically poof got better with no real repercussions for what happened to her family after she just opted out of things.
"The Reunion" starts with sisters Caroline and Eleanor receiving an invitation to their 20 year reunion. Neither of them wants to go for different reasons. Receiving the invitation though has both of them remembering things that they rather not dwell about now in their late 30s.
Meaney goes back and forth to show both women's POV throughout the book.
Caroline's story-line was shocking. She is raped by a family friend and falls pregnant. When she goes to her mother, her mother informs her that she will be sent to England for an abortion and even slaps her when Caroline realizes that her mother maybe harbored a secret fantasy about this family friend. I felt for Caroline and everything she went through. Her finding a real friend in her cousin Florence was welcome. Caroline is shown missing her son after giving him up for adoption. However, Meaney then throws a love interest in Caroline's story that didn't feel realistic at all. I was fine with her being a successful businesswoman. Having her in a romance that felt off to me (she meets this man when he is a young teen and they have a relationship about ten years later) and honestly it skeeved me out.
Eleanor seemed to have a slightly charmed life. Dating the most handsome boy at her school who is also the son of a rich man, Eleanor sees her life with him going smoothly with them eventually marrying. He has other ideas and breaks up with her. For most of the story-line with Eleanor you know that she doesn't let this relationship go easily, and that she had a child that died. It takes a while for you to figure out who Eleanor marries. And I have to say, that romance had zero chemistry when Meaney finally shows it to us. I did feel sympathy for Eleanor for her loss, but we find out she refused to be a mother or wife to her family for 14 years after the accidental death of her child. I didn't want her to be left alone and mourning forever. But I thought how Meaney resolved things with no real repercussion to Eleanor was a freaking cop out. It seemed that for a bit there Meaney was going to reveal that Eleanor's husband sought out a relationship elsewhere, but that went nowhere fast.
I think the secondary characters were not developed that well. Eleanor's husband barely feels present, along with Caroline and Eleanor's parents. I thought the only character that was sketched reasonably well was cousin Florence.
The writing was good. I was just more invested in Caroline's story. Eleanor's chapters felt bogged down to me while I was reading. Nothing much seems to happen to her until she goes off to work in a restaurant. The flow was up and down going back and forth. When Meaney goes back in time (so to speak) to show the women's lives twenty years back and then suddenly we are just in the present day it felt weird to me. Meaney does show the years/month so you know what timeline you are in. Thank goodness for that since a few times I was a bit lost.
The ending didn't satisfy me at all. Eleanor's family is bailed out by a rich relation and she and her husband magically make things work. I wish we had them having more conversations with each other. Instead, we just hear how they are now sharing a bedroom again. I also wish that Caroline's mother had been made to face up to what she had done, but she wasn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2016
Opening a school reunion invitation brings feelings of uncertainty for sisters, Caroline and Eleanor Plunkett. Do they want to return to their past? Caroline is now a successful designer, splitting her time between the UK and Italy. Eleanor is stuck in a rut, overweight and struggling to connect with her husband and son. Both women may have been born to the same parents, but their lives began to split while they were still in their teens. Can facing up to the past help them improve their present, or is going back the wrong thing to do?
It's funny how two siblings can end up in completely different situations. Caroline was the studious one, destined for a career in academia, whilst younger sister Eleanor was the more fun-loving of the two; more interested in her boyfriend and having a laugh with her mates. However, one fateful evening changes their paths in life. Caroline soon finds herself pushed away from the family home and Eleanor's boyfriend dashes all hopes for her own future. In the midst of all this change is the girls mother, who is more concerned with the goings-on of her neighbours than of her own two daughters. Secrets are kept, lies are told and damage is done.
Roisin Meaney has a way of telling a story that makes you feel like you are in a room with the characters, hearing them chat to each other, rather than reading words on a page. From very early on in the novel, there is a feeling of genuine concern as to how these two girls will handle their own stories. Caroline is the victim of the most despicable crime, yet is treated as if she is to blame. Her mother takes control of the situation and God help anyone who tries to object. A distance cousin, Florence, steps up to the plate and becomes Caroline's saviour. A wonderfully warm and quirky character, she has a delightful presence throughout the novel. Back in Ireland, Eleanor is weighed down with personal grief and is scared to face up to her past. Her story is addressed further into the book, with memories unfolding which help to explain her distance.
The Reunion is a book about families and how they can sometimes be fractured and displaced. The keeping of secrets, the hiding of home-truths and the attempt at showing a united front are not always the right approach to take. Most families have drama within their folds. Sometimes admitting your flaws is the only way to gain solidarity. By using two sisters, both with hidden traumas, the author has created a novel which is both endearing and astute. The dual time frame is very cleverly used and every single character adds something to the overall narrative. Florence is fantastic and her group of older-generation friends are a breath of fresh air. Her bijoux cottage sounds like a place that we would all love to visit, with its mis-matched decor and charity shop finds. Added to the narrative are Caroline's trips to Italy, with its stunning surroundings, warm family get-togethers and an air of change.
It's easy to see why Roisin Meaney is one of Ireland's best-loved authors. She has a way of bringing her characters to life, making them part of your world as you move from chapter to chapter. Should you spot this on a bookshelf, grab a copy. This is what female fiction is all about.
It's funny how two siblings can end up in completely different situations. Caroline was the studious one, destined for a career in academia, whilst younger sister Eleanor was the more fun-loving of the two; more interested in her boyfriend and having a laugh with her mates. However, one fateful evening changes their paths in life. Caroline soon finds herself pushed away from the family home and Eleanor's boyfriend dashes all hopes for her own future. In the midst of all this change is the girls mother, who is more concerned with the goings-on of her neighbours than of her own two daughters. Secrets are kept, lies are told and damage is done.
Roisin Meaney has a way of telling a story that makes you feel like you are in a room with the characters, hearing them chat to each other, rather than reading words on a page. From very early on in the novel, there is a feeling of genuine concern as to how these two girls will handle their own stories. Caroline is the victim of the most despicable crime, yet is treated as if she is to blame. Her mother takes control of the situation and God help anyone who tries to object. A distance cousin, Florence, steps up to the plate and becomes Caroline's saviour. A wonderfully warm and quirky character, she has a delightful presence throughout the novel. Back in Ireland, Eleanor is weighed down with personal grief and is scared to face up to her past. Her story is addressed further into the book, with memories unfolding which help to explain her distance.
The Reunion is a book about families and how they can sometimes be fractured and displaced. The keeping of secrets, the hiding of home-truths and the attempt at showing a united front are not always the right approach to take. Most families have drama within their folds. Sometimes admitting your flaws is the only way to gain solidarity. By using two sisters, both with hidden traumas, the author has created a novel which is both endearing and astute. The dual time frame is very cleverly used and every single character adds something to the overall narrative. Florence is fantastic and her group of older-generation friends are a breath of fresh air. Her bijoux cottage sounds like a place that we would all love to visit, with its mis-matched decor and charity shop finds. Added to the narrative are Caroline's trips to Italy, with its stunning surroundings, warm family get-togethers and an air of change.
It's easy to see why Roisin Meaney is one of Ireland's best-loved authors. She has a way of bringing her characters to life, making them part of your world as you move from chapter to chapter. Should you spot this on a bookshelf, grab a copy. This is what female fiction is all about.
March 17, 2017
4.5 Stars
What can I say about The Reunion, other than it was a fabulous story, and that I was hooked from the first few pages. The story was a reasonably quick read and when I first looked up I couldn't believe how much I had already read, and how much I was enjoying the content too.
This is the story of two sisters, and it spans around 22 years since they were teenagers to the adults they are today. It is predominately spread around two particular time frames, although there are additional flashbacks in places. Thanks to all of this by the time you get to the main section about the present day, I felt very connected to both Eleanor and Caroline and was fully engaged with their stories.
Equally I loved the section based in Ireland in the early 1990s, as it really shows how times and attitudes have changed over the years, with regards to certain issues. It was Caroline's early story that I was most interested in, and just why it was she went to England and turned out how she was. And by the present day though it was perhaps Eleanor that attracted more of my interest.
In each segment of the book, the story would alternate between the two sisters, and I just had great sympathy for the family as a whole. The other character I really enjoyed reading about was their older cousin Florence. She isn't the easiest of ladies to get to know but had a wonderful group of friends and was a massive unexpected support to Caroline.
The Reunion is all about family, although the title refers to a school reunion which triggers the sisters reminiscing, there are some secrets to come out of the woodwork, and a whole variety of mini reunions going on throughout the book too. It is great to see a title that really does sum up some of the theming of the novel.
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading The Reunion, and taking another chance on a Roisin Meaney book. I will be mentally adding her to my much loved Irish Women's fiction authors list and will try to remember to read more books from her in the future, as I definitely love her writing style and way she tells a story.
Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
What can I say about The Reunion, other than it was a fabulous story, and that I was hooked from the first few pages. The story was a reasonably quick read and when I first looked up I couldn't believe how much I had already read, and how much I was enjoying the content too.
This is the story of two sisters, and it spans around 22 years since they were teenagers to the adults they are today. It is predominately spread around two particular time frames, although there are additional flashbacks in places. Thanks to all of this by the time you get to the main section about the present day, I felt very connected to both Eleanor and Caroline and was fully engaged with their stories.
Equally I loved the section based in Ireland in the early 1990s, as it really shows how times and attitudes have changed over the years, with regards to certain issues. It was Caroline's early story that I was most interested in, and just why it was she went to England and turned out how she was. And by the present day though it was perhaps Eleanor that attracted more of my interest.
In each segment of the book, the story would alternate between the two sisters, and I just had great sympathy for the family as a whole. The other character I really enjoyed reading about was their older cousin Florence. She isn't the easiest of ladies to get to know but had a wonderful group of friends and was a massive unexpected support to Caroline.
The Reunion is all about family, although the title refers to a school reunion which triggers the sisters reminiscing, there are some secrets to come out of the woodwork, and a whole variety of mini reunions going on throughout the book too. It is great to see a title that really does sum up some of the theming of the novel.
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading The Reunion, and taking another chance on a Roisin Meaney book. I will be mentally adding her to my much loved Irish Women's fiction authors list and will try to remember to read more books from her in the future, as I definitely love her writing style and way she tells a story.
Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland and Netgalley for this copy of the book which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 5, 2025
*Revelations*
**4.5 Stars**
This captivating story follows the lives of two very different sisters, Caroline and Eleanor, set against the backdrop of Ireland and London.
Caroline, the eldest, was a quiet and studious academic with high hopes. However, a traumatic event left her life forever changed. Without the support she needed from her mother, she was sent away to London to save face. Her domineering mother, driven by appearances, often held the last word. This traumatic event shaped Caroline, who found solace with a relative, Florence, a kind and straightforward woman. Though her manner often came across as brusque, her heart was always in the right place.
Eleanor, on the other hand, was outgoing, full of personality, and not afraid to stand up for herself. She navigated life with ease, popular with boyfriends and friends.
Fast forward to the present day, the sisters receive an invitation to their school reunion. For different reasons, both decide not to attend. Caroline, living in London, faces the prospect of confronting a past she would prefer to forget. Meanwhile, another significant person from her past reconnects with her.
Eleanor, still living in Ireland, has suffered a heartbreaking loss and has never dealt with it. She felt detached from her life, as if she were asleep while her son and husband were going through difficult times. She had mentally checked out, but now she must confront her emotions.
Despite their long-standing stilted relationship, Caroline and Eleanor decide to take a chance and connect properly. As they start to bond, truths begin to unravel. Will they decide to attend the reunion? Ultimately, the reunion serves as a catalyst for change in their lives.
**4.5 Stars**
This captivating story follows the lives of two very different sisters, Caroline and Eleanor, set against the backdrop of Ireland and London.
Caroline, the eldest, was a quiet and studious academic with high hopes. However, a traumatic event left her life forever changed. Without the support she needed from her mother, she was sent away to London to save face. Her domineering mother, driven by appearances, often held the last word. This traumatic event shaped Caroline, who found solace with a relative, Florence, a kind and straightforward woman. Though her manner often came across as brusque, her heart was always in the right place.
Eleanor, on the other hand, was outgoing, full of personality, and not afraid to stand up for herself. She navigated life with ease, popular with boyfriends and friends.
Fast forward to the present day, the sisters receive an invitation to their school reunion. For different reasons, both decide not to attend. Caroline, living in London, faces the prospect of confronting a past she would prefer to forget. Meanwhile, another significant person from her past reconnects with her.
Eleanor, still living in Ireland, has suffered a heartbreaking loss and has never dealt with it. She felt detached from her life, as if she were asleep while her son and husband were going through difficult times. She had mentally checked out, but now she must confront her emotions.
Despite their long-standing stilted relationship, Caroline and Eleanor decide to take a chance and connect properly. As they start to bond, truths begin to unravel. Will they decide to attend the reunion? Ultimately, the reunion serves as a catalyst for change in their lives.
June 18, 2016
I found this book to be a little gem. The storyline is based around two sisters, Caroline and Eleanor, who just received invitations to their 20th year class reunion. Caroline is a year older than Eleanor, but because of circumstances, she graduated a year late with her sister. Neither wants to go to the reunion, but it has each of them reflecting on the past twenty some years of their lives and how the events of the past, some absolutely devastating, and decisions that were made, brought them to their present situations in life.
This book was well written and really kept my interest all the way through. I especially enjoyed the dual POV writing style. Every other chapter was dedicated to Caroline's story and then the other chapter was Eleanor's story, as the years progressed.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
*I received a copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
This book was well written and really kept my interest all the way through. I especially enjoyed the dual POV writing style. Every other chapter was dedicated to Caroline's story and then the other chapter was Eleanor's story, as the years progressed.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
*I received a copy of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
July 7, 2016
Róisin Meaney is a vastly under rated Irish author who in my opinion deserves much more recognition. She is a gifted storyteller who has the knack of drawing you in from the very first page and doesn't relinquish her grip until you have satisfyingly read the last word. I really enjoy her writing and believe she gets better and better with each new book published. I particularly love her series set on the island of Roone off the Irish coast. I recommended these books to a friend who had heard of the author but something was stopping her picking one up but soon like me she was hooked and could see the wide appeal of Róisin Meaney. Apart from the books set on the island I have fallen in love with each of the books she has written and this new book The Reunion jumped out at me the moment I saw the cover revealed on Twitter. It was so summery and inviting and demanded you pick it up and indulge in a truly heartfelt story that was beautifully written.
The title suggests the sole focus of this book will be on a reunion but more or less straight away we figure out that this is not the case. Normally when a book suggests from the title what the plot will be about I rely on the fact that this will be the case, when it turns out not to be the way I find this very frustrating and misleading. But here I didn't mind in the slightest as the arrival of an invitation for a twenty year old reunion for sisters Caroline and Eleanor is the spark that leads to the past coming into the present with secrets about to be revealed and feelings and emotions long buried coming to the surface. Confrontations and acceptance need to be addressed and the sisters will see tough times and things they wished hidden come to the fore. The Reunion proved to be a skillful piece of work that had such depth and substance and proved hard to put down once I had started.
Eleanor is married to Gordon Fennelly and they have a teenage son Jacob. Living in Galway they run a successful restaurant but times are tough in this economic climate and Gordon spends most of his time away from the house attempting to keep the restaurant afloat. The reader can sense early on that despite the distinctive age gap between the couple they hold a deep love and respect for each other but they are struggling to express this amidst a sadness that permeates the house and the lives of the people who live in it. Eleanor is hiding and affected by something that happened many years ago yet still she carries the burden to this day. This is affecting their son Jacob who is sullen, uncommunicative and disconnected from his mother. Eleanor just feels she is going through the motions, the bright, vibrant woman that Gordon fell in love with is no longer there and she is also battling with her weight. Truly Eleanor is not a happy woman and it's made clear from the first chapter. As we delve deeper into her background and the reasons become apparent the reader feels such empathy with her and hopes after all this time that she can express what she is going through and find the help she needs to climb out of this pit of despair that has plagued her for so long. 'There's nothing left of what she and Gordon had nothing except Jacob to hold them together, for however long he does'. Will the invitation to see people she has not heard from in twenty years prove the catalyst for change that she needs even if she can't see it herself?
Caroline is living in London with a distant older cousin of the family Florence. Now a successful knitwear designer she is enjoying a relationship with Italian Matteo that is carefree as she only sees him when she visits on work trips. Again like Eleanor the reader comes to understand fairly early on that Caroline has been through heartbreak and tragedy and is still suffering. Things have been hidden and brushed over for too long and need to come to light and be acknowledged and talked about. There is an air of sadness and melancholy surrounding our two main protagonists they are stuck in the past at a period of time which lead to great change and emotional upheaval which is preventing them from enjoying and embracing the present and looking forward to the future. Caroline is a woman who has been deeply hurt by the action of others and when her secret is revealed you can't help but feel empathy for the situation she found herself in many years ago. In fact the author does such a good job of setting the scene and explaining how the characters have reached the point they find themselves in today that your emotions are torn in two as to whether it is Eleanor or Caroline you are meant to have the most inclination towards.
A clever aspect used by the author for part one of the novel was to take us back in time to 1993 when all the emotional upheaval and events occurred. It gave the reader great insight as to the background of the story. I did at one stage feel this section was becoming slightly too long but just as I had reached saturation point we were taken back to the present and all the emotional turmoil and upset came spilling out and was written which such compassion that you couldn't fail to be moved. Although Caroline is a year older than Eleanor as they were growing up she was always the sensible one, who studied hard and was determined to do well in her exams and get a good job. Eleanor was carefree, not that interested in school rather more interested in a local boy Andrew who in turn broke her heart. But what happens to Caroline turns everything on its head and she is viewed as the one who lost the plot, brought disgrace on both herself and the family and she will never be viewed in the same light. Without going into further detail the way Caroline was treated was abhorrent, surely at a time like that your family are the ones who should be by your side defending you, supporting you and offering as much comfort and solace as possible. The girls mother was despicable and I know this was the way Irish Mammys reacted but in 1993 I would have thought this was really gone by the wayside. She seemed to have a 1950's attitude as opposed a more modern day way of thinking about things. But maybe I am really naive in thinking this could be the case. The way the whole situation was dealt with was just despicable to me and poor Eleanor had to cope with the fallout and become the darling girl her mother had wished Caroline could be. I'd have to say that the girls Dad was a gent and I could see he was backed into a corner under pressure from his wife and really just wanted everything to be OK for his darling girl. If I had been in Caroline's situation I would have hoped for more support and that my family would be understanding and try to help me overcome the situation in the best way possible. Florence was a shining star throughout this book and without her Caroline would have been lost. She was never pushy but always there when needed and I wished she could have been a relative of mine as you knew she would offer the biggest cuddle just at the right time.
The Reunion really is a powerful book that clearly Róisin Meaney put her heart and soul into writing as the emotions leap from the page and I felt part two really upped the ante and took the story to another level. I had such respect for Eleanor and how she finally has the tenacity to confront everything as she realised the world was slipping her by. In fact and I don't say this lightly she inspired me in a way not because I endured the same circumstances she found herself in but that she found the courage to get up and do something to change her life. That anything is possible, the first step maybe the hardest but after that it gets a little bit easier day by day. Caroline too worked towards finding a resolution but it was Eleanor who really struck a chord with me in the later half of the novel. As I've said before the fact the reunion barely featured didn't bother me in the slightest it was more the thing for the story to come to light but it was nicely slipped in ever so briefly towards the end and it was apt for the time in the book. Róisin Meaney should be proud of the book she has written, it was absorbing from beginning to end and will deeply satisfy her fans and hopefully new readers will discover this Irish talent.The number thirteen may be unlucky for some but book thirteen proved to be a triumph for Róisin Meaney and here's to many more.
The title suggests the sole focus of this book will be on a reunion but more or less straight away we figure out that this is not the case. Normally when a book suggests from the title what the plot will be about I rely on the fact that this will be the case, when it turns out not to be the way I find this very frustrating and misleading. But here I didn't mind in the slightest as the arrival of an invitation for a twenty year old reunion for sisters Caroline and Eleanor is the spark that leads to the past coming into the present with secrets about to be revealed and feelings and emotions long buried coming to the surface. Confrontations and acceptance need to be addressed and the sisters will see tough times and things they wished hidden come to the fore. The Reunion proved to be a skillful piece of work that had such depth and substance and proved hard to put down once I had started.
Eleanor is married to Gordon Fennelly and they have a teenage son Jacob. Living in Galway they run a successful restaurant but times are tough in this economic climate and Gordon spends most of his time away from the house attempting to keep the restaurant afloat. The reader can sense early on that despite the distinctive age gap between the couple they hold a deep love and respect for each other but they are struggling to express this amidst a sadness that permeates the house and the lives of the people who live in it. Eleanor is hiding and affected by something that happened many years ago yet still she carries the burden to this day. This is affecting their son Jacob who is sullen, uncommunicative and disconnected from his mother. Eleanor just feels she is going through the motions, the bright, vibrant woman that Gordon fell in love with is no longer there and she is also battling with her weight. Truly Eleanor is not a happy woman and it's made clear from the first chapter. As we delve deeper into her background and the reasons become apparent the reader feels such empathy with her and hopes after all this time that she can express what she is going through and find the help she needs to climb out of this pit of despair that has plagued her for so long. 'There's nothing left of what she and Gordon had nothing except Jacob to hold them together, for however long he does'. Will the invitation to see people she has not heard from in twenty years prove the catalyst for change that she needs even if she can't see it herself?
Caroline is living in London with a distant older cousin of the family Florence. Now a successful knitwear designer she is enjoying a relationship with Italian Matteo that is carefree as she only sees him when she visits on work trips. Again like Eleanor the reader comes to understand fairly early on that Caroline has been through heartbreak and tragedy and is still suffering. Things have been hidden and brushed over for too long and need to come to light and be acknowledged and talked about. There is an air of sadness and melancholy surrounding our two main protagonists they are stuck in the past at a period of time which lead to great change and emotional upheaval which is preventing them from enjoying and embracing the present and looking forward to the future. Caroline is a woman who has been deeply hurt by the action of others and when her secret is revealed you can't help but feel empathy for the situation she found herself in many years ago. In fact the author does such a good job of setting the scene and explaining how the characters have reached the point they find themselves in today that your emotions are torn in two as to whether it is Eleanor or Caroline you are meant to have the most inclination towards.
A clever aspect used by the author for part one of the novel was to take us back in time to 1993 when all the emotional upheaval and events occurred. It gave the reader great insight as to the background of the story. I did at one stage feel this section was becoming slightly too long but just as I had reached saturation point we were taken back to the present and all the emotional turmoil and upset came spilling out and was written which such compassion that you couldn't fail to be moved. Although Caroline is a year older than Eleanor as they were growing up she was always the sensible one, who studied hard and was determined to do well in her exams and get a good job. Eleanor was carefree, not that interested in school rather more interested in a local boy Andrew who in turn broke her heart. But what happens to Caroline turns everything on its head and she is viewed as the one who lost the plot, brought disgrace on both herself and the family and she will never be viewed in the same light. Without going into further detail the way Caroline was treated was abhorrent, surely at a time like that your family are the ones who should be by your side defending you, supporting you and offering as much comfort and solace as possible. The girls mother was despicable and I know this was the way Irish Mammys reacted but in 1993 I would have thought this was really gone by the wayside. She seemed to have a 1950's attitude as opposed a more modern day way of thinking about things. But maybe I am really naive in thinking this could be the case. The way the whole situation was dealt with was just despicable to me and poor Eleanor had to cope with the fallout and become the darling girl her mother had wished Caroline could be. I'd have to say that the girls Dad was a gent and I could see he was backed into a corner under pressure from his wife and really just wanted everything to be OK for his darling girl. If I had been in Caroline's situation I would have hoped for more support and that my family would be understanding and try to help me overcome the situation in the best way possible. Florence was a shining star throughout this book and without her Caroline would have been lost. She was never pushy but always there when needed and I wished she could have been a relative of mine as you knew she would offer the biggest cuddle just at the right time.
The Reunion really is a powerful book that clearly Róisin Meaney put her heart and soul into writing as the emotions leap from the page and I felt part two really upped the ante and took the story to another level. I had such respect for Eleanor and how she finally has the tenacity to confront everything as she realised the world was slipping her by. In fact and I don't say this lightly she inspired me in a way not because I endured the same circumstances she found herself in but that she found the courage to get up and do something to change her life. That anything is possible, the first step maybe the hardest but after that it gets a little bit easier day by day. Caroline too worked towards finding a resolution but it was Eleanor who really struck a chord with me in the later half of the novel. As I've said before the fact the reunion barely featured didn't bother me in the slightest it was more the thing for the story to come to light but it was nicely slipped in ever so briefly towards the end and it was apt for the time in the book. Róisin Meaney should be proud of the book she has written, it was absorbing from beginning to end and will deeply satisfy her fans and hopefully new readers will discover this Irish talent.The number thirteen may be unlucky for some but book thirteen proved to be a triumph for Róisin Meaney and here's to many more.
August 10, 2016
Roisin Meaney is one of my favorite authors, there is just something about her books. The novel tells the story of the Plunkett sisters, Catherine and Eleanor. Both just received invitations to their twenty year school reunion. The novel alternates between Catherine and Eleanor and the past and present. Both lead extremely different lives. Catherine was always the book worm while Elaeanor was more of a wild child. That all changes when Catherine becomes pregnant after being raped by a family friend. I have to say I despised their mother, she would have to be on a list of worst mothers. I couldn't believe her reaction when her seventeen year old daughter told her she was raped. Catherine was shipped off to England for a little holiday by her mother, which was really code for abortion. Catherine does the unthinkable and defies her mother. She stays in England with a wonderful, supportive woman, Florence, has the baby and gives him up for adoption. Eleanor and her husband lost a child while they were on a holiday and Eleanor is not able to recover from the loss. She no longer connects with her husband or her son and has just let herself go. Eventually Eleanor motivates herself to start fixing the problems. I loved reading about the sisters. They grew up together, had different struggles throughout their lives but in the end they are able to come together. Florence was a wonderful part of the book. She was able to be the mother that Catherine didn't have and her group of friends gave Catherine a family. I loved this book and can't wait to read more.
Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Books Ireland and the author for a free electronic ARC of this novel
Thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Books Ireland and the author for a free electronic ARC of this novel
July 5, 2016
Sisters Eleanor and Caroline have never been that close while growing up. Only when an event during their teens mean a move to England for Caroline, the more studious and quieter one, does Eleanor realise she misses her.
Twenty years on both sisters have done little to change their long distance relationship. Caroline has a successful career but has her ghosts from her past. Eleanor, unable to put the tragic death of her toddler behind her, now sees her life tearing apart.
Roisin Meaney, as always, provides an enchanting story with characters you feel you have known for a lifetime. Her feel for family relationships is faultless. Every aspect of this book falls naturally into place: from their tragedies and the practical solutions, to the colours of the fabrics and wools used by Caroline in her work as a designer, and the simple, wholesome descriptions of their cooking.
Pure simple pleasure.
Thanks to Hatchette Ireland who provided a copy of this book via NetGalley
Twenty years on both sisters have done little to change their long distance relationship. Caroline has a successful career but has her ghosts from her past. Eleanor, unable to put the tragic death of her toddler behind her, now sees her life tearing apart.
Roisin Meaney, as always, provides an enchanting story with characters you feel you have known for a lifetime. Her feel for family relationships is faultless. Every aspect of this book falls naturally into place: from their tragedies and the practical solutions, to the colours of the fabrics and wools used by Caroline in her work as a designer, and the simple, wholesome descriptions of their cooking.
Pure simple pleasure.
Thanks to Hatchette Ireland who provided a copy of this book via NetGalley
July 19, 2019
I absolutely love stories set in Ireland. As an avid reader from Ireland and living in UK these are stories I crave for. This author was written a fabulous story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
As you can guess from the title this story is about a reunion of the Plunkett sisters back in their hometown.
Caroline and Eleanor are sisters but completely different. The story spans from when they were teenagers to adults which I really liked.
I thought this was a really enjoyable story about one family. An ideal beach read.
As you can guess from the title this story is about a reunion of the Plunkett sisters back in their hometown.
Caroline and Eleanor are sisters but completely different. The story spans from when they were teenagers to adults which I really liked.
I thought this was a really enjoyable story about one family. An ideal beach read.
June 27, 2016
I loved this book. I thought it may be a bit fluffy but it was not at all. A really great story running consecutively over many years about two sisters leading very different lives. Really gripping with lots of emotion. I will be going to get some more books from Roisin Meaney as loved her writing. Thanks to NetGalley and Hatchette Books for the Advanced copy.
June 25, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This was just a fabulous book to get lost in! I loved all of the characters and found myself rooting for both sisters and hoping each would have a happy ending. The writing was excellent and I highly recommend this wonderful book!
April 9, 2018
WOW I absolutely loved this book stayed up till 2am the night I started reading I couldn't put it down
September 2, 2018
This novel was a little slow to start but paid dividends for sticking with it. Some parents don't deserve love and respect from their kids, at least in novels we find incredible support like the character Florence, not always true in life.
Read
August 17, 2016How I enjoyed this book ... it was like a lovely plump sandwich, full of tasty morsels and, just when you thought you'd had it all you came across another yummy bit! I don't tend to choose books about sisters - having no love for mine - but this novel was SO much more. Eleanor and Caroline's lives do intertwine from time to time but they are two totally different people, unfortunate enough to have the kind of buttoned-up mother so many of us have suffered.
I do enjoy reading Irish authors works, and Roisin Meaney is definitely one of the best. A really enjoyable, satisfying book which I can heartily recommend. I will definitely be on the look out for more by this author.
I received an arc of this book from Net Galley for my honest and unbiased review.
I do enjoy reading Irish authors works, and Roisin Meaney is definitely one of the best. A really enjoyable, satisfying book which I can heartily recommend. I will definitely be on the look out for more by this author.
I received an arc of this book from Net Galley for my honest and unbiased review.
November 10, 2018
A Wonderful Book!
I am so glad I took a chance on this book! It is such a good read for romance lovers. Reminds me somewhat of Catherine Cookson's books. Well written characters you can care about and sympathize with. Complicated plotlines that keep you guessing, keep you reading; making you sad, angry, outraged in turns, and maybe even laugh or cry unexpectedly. If you like modern romances with a cosmopolitan air, set in Ireland, England, and other European locales, this book is sure to appeal to you! KUDOS to Roisin Meaney, you have a gift for storytelling! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!
I am so glad I took a chance on this book! It is such a good read for romance lovers. Reminds me somewhat of Catherine Cookson's books. Well written characters you can care about and sympathize with. Complicated plotlines that keep you guessing, keep you reading; making you sad, angry, outraged in turns, and maybe even laugh or cry unexpectedly. If you like modern romances with a cosmopolitan air, set in Ireland, England, and other European locales, this book is sure to appeal to you! KUDOS to Roisin Meaney, you have a gift for storytelling! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!
July 18, 2018
Wonderful Book!
I love Roisin Meaney's writing, and this book might be my favorite so far - a wonderful story with characters you care about - I actually teared up several times, that's how immersed I became in the lives of the characters!
I love Roisin Meaney's writing, and this book might be my favorite so far - a wonderful story with characters you care about - I actually teared up several times, that's how immersed I became in the lives of the characters!
July 9, 2016
To be featured in Women's Fiction Blog at www.heroesandheartbreakers.com
One of my favorite books for July
One of my favorite books for July
January 15, 2018
Another page turner.
Love this style of writing with wonderful and engaging characters. Every book I have read by Roisin Meaney has been great.
Love this style of writing with wonderful and engaging characters. Every book I have read by Roisin Meaney has been great.
April 23, 2018
Ireland
Loved the book, can't wait for the next one. I like good story told well, and this one was exceptional.
Loved the book, can't wait for the next one. I like good story told well, and this one was exceptional.
May 11, 2018
Family life
Excellent and easy reader
Tells story of hope, sadness, anger and unending friendship of strangers
Some lovely characters who really show all elements of human life.
Excellent and easy reader
Tells story of hope, sadness, anger and unending friendship of strangers
Some lovely characters who really show all elements of human life.
July 22, 2018
Interesting story
Sometimes difficult to follow with so many characters involved better if you can read in one sitting rather than a part each night
Sometimes difficult to follow with so many characters involved better if you can read in one sitting rather than a part each night
October 30, 2019
This down to earth story made quite a change from the thrillers I have recently been reading. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the events which can be quite captivating at times. Good Read
September 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
The Reunion is the story of one family, The Plunketts, really the story of their daughters Caroline and Eleanor and all the "disasters" that befall them between their Leaving Cert years of 1993/1994 and their school reunion in 2015. Caroline is the "good daughter", works hard at school and appears to have a glittering future and Eleanor is the "black sheep", never quite good enough at school and more interested in her love life with Andrew D'Arcy (yes really, D'Arcy!) than in her education.
I wanted to love this book as much as I have previous Roisin Murphy books but somehow I found it to be particularly hard going for about 60% of the book. The later sections did redeem the book for me though but I was still left feeling slightly disappointed overall. Whilst the characters are as rounded as I have come to expect from the author they just felt a little cookie cutter - the mother who is so concerned about appearences she cannot support her daughter after she is assaulted by a local businessman. The slightly "odd" Aunt who has relocated to England and lives a rather enigmatic life - indeed, we learn little about Florence and she is probably the most interesting character in the whole book. The woman whose whole life falls apart at the death of her infant daughter and leads her to estrange herself from her friends and, most damningly, her family. All the way through you know it will all be resolved in the end - May to December relationships for both sisters and all - and it is.
The writing is clear, concise and propels the plot along nicely but there are no surprises here, no real revelations about the characters of the women involved. All a little flatter than the author's usual output. I did find myself enjoying the later sections dealing with the older Plunkett sisters and found them both to be, ultimately, empathetic characters. With the current climate in Eire challenging laws around the right of a woman to choose it was quite a timely read, dealing as it does with ostracism because of pregnancy due to assault, but at least the author never hits you with her own views on the subject, she allows you to make up your own mind just as Caroline makes up hers.
Not a bad book but not one of Ms Meaney's best.
The Reunion is the story of one family, The Plunketts, really the story of their daughters Caroline and Eleanor and all the "disasters" that befall them between their Leaving Cert years of 1993/1994 and their school reunion in 2015. Caroline is the "good daughter", works hard at school and appears to have a glittering future and Eleanor is the "black sheep", never quite good enough at school and more interested in her love life with Andrew D'Arcy (yes really, D'Arcy!) than in her education.
I wanted to love this book as much as I have previous Roisin Murphy books but somehow I found it to be particularly hard going for about 60% of the book. The later sections did redeem the book for me though but I was still left feeling slightly disappointed overall. Whilst the characters are as rounded as I have come to expect from the author they just felt a little cookie cutter - the mother who is so concerned about appearences she cannot support her daughter after she is assaulted by a local businessman. The slightly "odd" Aunt who has relocated to England and lives a rather enigmatic life - indeed, we learn little about Florence and she is probably the most interesting character in the whole book. The woman whose whole life falls apart at the death of her infant daughter and leads her to estrange herself from her friends and, most damningly, her family. All the way through you know it will all be resolved in the end - May to December relationships for both sisters and all - and it is.
The writing is clear, concise and propels the plot along nicely but there are no surprises here, no real revelations about the characters of the women involved. All a little flatter than the author's usual output. I did find myself enjoying the later sections dealing with the older Plunkett sisters and found them both to be, ultimately, empathetic characters. With the current climate in Eire challenging laws around the right of a woman to choose it was quite a timely read, dealing as it does with ostracism because of pregnancy due to assault, but at least the author never hits you with her own views on the subject, she allows you to make up your own mind just as Caroline makes up hers.
Not a bad book but not one of Ms Meaney's best.
March 24, 2017
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes
The Reunion took a number of tricky family dynamics and put them together in a novel that covered two time period in sisters' lives. Their teenage years were mostly focused on Caroline and an event that shaped her future and for Eleanor her present day story as an adult is monopolized by a recent part of her history. An invitation to their high school reunion opens up Caroline's past and makes Eleanor consider her commitment to her family.
I found the connection between the two women interesting. As teenagers Eleanor wasn't able to comprehend the horror of what had happened to Caroline and yet she still felt that her sister had been neglected by their mother by her blatant lack of support. Despite years of unease there was still a tenuous bond as sisters and mothers that brought them back to helping each other. My feelings for their mother were probably pretty obvious but what made her behaviour more inexcusable was that their father seemed to grasp the damage that was being done in pushing their child out the door and she refused to relent. Having been sent to England, to not bring disgrace on the family, Caroline was lucky to be given warmth and support by distant cousin Florence. Their relationship was built on respect and understanding which just highlighted her conflict with her mother.
Eleanor's story of loss was raw. The loss of their child was visible in her marriage and her relationship with her teenage son, he had also lost his mother by default. I can’t imagine how the guilt weighed on her but
felt myself only partially accepting her ways of coping with her tragedy as her son’s needs were so very visible to her.
For both sisters the loss of a child shaped their present though their losses occurred very differently. Despite the painful subject matter I was engrossed in their stories all the way through.
Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
The Reunion took a number of tricky family dynamics and put them together in a novel that covered two time period in sisters' lives. Their teenage years were mostly focused on Caroline and an event that shaped her future and for Eleanor her present day story as an adult is monopolized by a recent part of her history. An invitation to their high school reunion opens up Caroline's past and makes Eleanor consider her commitment to her family.
I found the connection between the two women interesting. As teenagers Eleanor wasn't able to comprehend the horror of what had happened to Caroline and yet she still felt that her sister had been neglected by their mother by her blatant lack of support. Despite years of unease there was still a tenuous bond as sisters and mothers that brought them back to helping each other. My feelings for their mother were probably pretty obvious but what made her behaviour more inexcusable was that their father seemed to grasp the damage that was being done in pushing their child out the door and she refused to relent. Having been sent to England, to not bring disgrace on the family, Caroline was lucky to be given warmth and support by distant cousin Florence. Their relationship was built on respect and understanding which just highlighted her conflict with her mother.
Eleanor's story of loss was raw. The loss of their child was visible in her marriage and her relationship with her teenage son, he had also lost his mother by default. I can’t imagine how the guilt weighed on her but
felt myself only partially accepting her ways of coping with her tragedy as her son’s needs were so very visible to her.
For both sisters the loss of a child shaped their present though their losses occurred very differently. Despite the painful subject matter I was engrossed in their stories all the way through.
Thank you to Hachette Books Ireland for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
July 14, 2022
„Rocznica” opowiada kilka dni z życia rodziny Murphy. Lily i Charlie byli małżeństwem przez dwadzieścia sześć lat, jednak rozstali się i oboje układają sobie życie na nowo u boku innych partnerów. Mimo to zachowują pozornie dobre relacje i wyjeżdzają na weekend do domku w Land’s End. Oboje z nowymi partnerami. Dołącza do nich ich córka Poll ze swoim partnerem Aidenem oraz syn Thomas.
Czy połączenie tych trzech par i singla pod jednym dachem przez kilka dni nie doprowadzi do wrzenia ? Czy taka rodzina patchworkowa będzie w stanie funkcjonować razem przez kilka dni? A co jeśli dodać do tego, że każde z nich ma swoje sekrety i walczy z własnymi demonami?
Dostajemy tutaj opowieść, która mimo tego że obejmuje jedynie tydzień życia bohaterów prowadzona jest dość niespiesznie. Narracja prowadzona jest w trzeciej osobie, do tego z perspektywy pięciu osób. I o ile nie jestem zwolennikem trzecioosobowej narracji tak pomysł wniknięcia do głowy każdego z bohaterów pozwolił w tym wypadku dużo lepiej zrozumieć ich postępowanie.
Książka ma też w sobie dość emocjonalny ładunek bo bohaterowie oprócz walki ze swoimi słabościami próbują również poradzić sobie z żałobą po stracie bliskiej osoby.
Zabrakło mi jedynie jakiegoś mocniejszego akcentu w całej historii, jednak jeśli lubicie melancholijne opowieści ta opowieść Was z pewnością urzeknie!
Czy połączenie tych trzech par i singla pod jednym dachem przez kilka dni nie doprowadzi do wrzenia ? Czy taka rodzina patchworkowa będzie w stanie funkcjonować razem przez kilka dni? A co jeśli dodać do tego, że każde z nich ma swoje sekrety i walczy z własnymi demonami?
Dostajemy tutaj opowieść, która mimo tego że obejmuje jedynie tydzień życia bohaterów prowadzona jest dość niespiesznie. Narracja prowadzona jest w trzeciej osobie, do tego z perspektywy pięciu osób. I o ile nie jestem zwolennikem trzecioosobowej narracji tak pomysł wniknięcia do głowy każdego z bohaterów pozwolił w tym wypadku dużo lepiej zrozumieć ich postępowanie.
Książka ma też w sobie dość emocjonalny ładunek bo bohaterowie oprócz walki ze swoimi słabościami próbują również poradzić sobie z żałobą po stracie bliskiej osoby.
Zabrakło mi jedynie jakiegoś mocniejszego akcentu w całej historii, jednak jeśli lubicie melancholijne opowieści ta opowieść Was z pewnością urzeknie!
March 22, 2023
Great, easy read book. Nailed it in two days due to the authors easy read style.
This book is about two sisters, Caroline & Eleanor, their upbringing, the events - good and really terrible - that they experience growing up as teenagers in the mid-nineties, and their ensuing relationship with each other, their family & friends.
While it is an easy read, this story covers some quite heavy subjects but not in a lingering overly detailed way. Which is perfect.
As two quite different sisters; Caroline, the older sister, studious, quiet and very focused on her future, which is to go to college (university) to study History. Then there's Eleanor, one year younger than Caroline, vivacious, fun loving, no plans other than to marry her gorgeous boyfriend Andrew in a few years' time when he's qualified from Teachers College. Then disaster strikes...The events that follow are life changing for not just the sisters but also for the wider family. These events see Caroline dropping out of school & moving to England. Lots of lies are told and secrets kept. There are some really enjoyable older, characters in this book, giving sage advice.
The Reunion - is actually lots of little reunions throughout the latter part of the book, as well as the school reunion. This is my first Roisin Meaney novel and I enjoyed it enough to seek out more of her books.
This book is about two sisters, Caroline & Eleanor, their upbringing, the events - good and really terrible - that they experience growing up as teenagers in the mid-nineties, and their ensuing relationship with each other, their family & friends.
While it is an easy read, this story covers some quite heavy subjects but not in a lingering overly detailed way. Which is perfect.
As two quite different sisters; Caroline, the older sister, studious, quiet and very focused on her future, which is to go to college (university) to study History. Then there's Eleanor, one year younger than Caroline, vivacious, fun loving, no plans other than to marry her gorgeous boyfriend Andrew in a few years' time when he's qualified from Teachers College. Then disaster strikes...The events that follow are life changing for not just the sisters but also for the wider family. These events see Caroline dropping out of school & moving to England. Lots of lies are told and secrets kept. There are some really enjoyable older, characters in this book, giving sage advice.
The Reunion - is actually lots of little reunions throughout the latter part of the book, as well as the school reunion. This is my first Roisin Meaney novel and I enjoyed it enough to seek out more of her books.
March 5, 2021
Wow!
This is I believe my 4th Roisin Meaney book! I stumbled upon my first through Book Bub. There they compared her to Maive Binchy. As I loved every one of Binchy's works, I took a chance and boy am I glad I did!!!
Roisin Meaney brings her characters to life... They and their life stories draw you in. By the last page you do NOT want to leave them... You want more!!!
Each of the 4 books I have read, has tragedy, real life encounters, hope, love, forgiveness or the lack there of,joy, laughter, absurdity and the list goes on.... Most of all, the lead characters are women who find there way through tough situations, often together, to discover the road(s) to healing!
This book in particular touched my heart! I know women who have traversed similar life journeys. These are imaginary characters living out real life journeys... With all the choices, real life people face!!!
Do I recommend Roisin's work? A resounding, "YES!". Enjoy!!!
This is I believe my 4th Roisin Meaney book! I stumbled upon my first through Book Bub. There they compared her to Maive Binchy. As I loved every one of Binchy's works, I took a chance and boy am I glad I did!!!
Roisin Meaney brings her characters to life... They and their life stories draw you in. By the last page you do NOT want to leave them... You want more!!!
Each of the 4 books I have read, has tragedy, real life encounters, hope, love, forgiveness or the lack there of,joy, laughter, absurdity and the list goes on.... Most of all, the lead characters are women who find there way through tough situations, often together, to discover the road(s) to healing!
This book in particular touched my heart! I know women who have traversed similar life journeys. These are imaginary characters living out real life journeys... With all the choices, real life people face!!!
Do I recommend Roisin's work? A resounding, "YES!". Enjoy!!!
July 31, 2017
A really good family oriented book that was as easy to read as it was compelling to read. It wasn't fast paced or full of drama as at times it was rather slow but it was heart warming and nice.
I wasn't really drawn to either sister in the beginning at present day tho I felt that Caroline was rather boring and Eleanor a rather dull overweight housewife cliche. But I preferred Eleanor more, it felt that she had more drama to her life.
When the book goes back 20 odd years to the sisters growing up in Ireland I much preferred Eleanor's accounts even though it was Carolines who was full of angst and heartbreak.
Like I said it was easy to read and it was all wrapped up rather neatly but I really liked the ending for them both,it was fitting.
I wasn't really drawn to either sister in the beginning at present day tho I felt that Caroline was rather boring and Eleanor a rather dull overweight housewife cliche. But I preferred Eleanor more, it felt that she had more drama to her life.
When the book goes back 20 odd years to the sisters growing up in Ireland I much preferred Eleanor's accounts even though it was Carolines who was full of angst and heartbreak.
Like I said it was easy to read and it was all wrapped up rather neatly but I really liked the ending for them both,it was fitting.
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