What do you think?
Rate this book
That Girl
Three young women leave the cloying atmosphere of Catholic Ireland for the freedom of swinging 60s London, all in search of a new beginning.
You can escape a place. But you can't escape yourself. Hanna flees the scene of a terrible crime in her native Sligo. If she can just vanish, re-invent herself under a new name, perhaps the police won't catch up with her. London seems the perfect place to disappear. Lara has always loved Matthew and imagined happy married life in Dublin. Then comes the bombshell – Matthew says he wants to join the priesthood. Humiliated and broken-hearted, Lara heads to the most godless place she can find, King's Road, Chelsea. Matthew's twin sister, Noreen, could not be more different from her brother. She does love fiance John, but she also craves sex, parties and fun. Swinging London has it all, but without John, Noreen is about to get way out of her depth. All three girls find themselves working for Bobby Chevron – one of London's most feared gangland bosses – and it's not long before their new lives start to unravel.
You can escape a place. But you can't escape yourself. Hanna flees the scene of a terrible crime in her native Sligo. If she can just vanish, re-invent herself under a new name, perhaps the police won't catch up with her. London seems the perfect place to disappear. Lara has always loved Matthew and imagined happy married life in Dublin. Then comes the bombshell – Matthew says he wants to join the priesthood. Humiliated and broken-hearted, Lara heads to the most godless place she can find, King's Road, Chelsea. Matthew's twin sister, Noreen, could not be more different from her brother. She does love fiance John, but she also craves sex, parties and fun. Swinging London has it all, but without John, Noreen is about to get way out of her depth. All three girls find themselves working for Bobby Chevron – one of London's most feared gangland bosses – and it's not long before their new lives start to unravel.
372 pages, Paperback
Published January 22, 2018
37 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kerrigan
32 books244 followersKate Kerrigan is an author living and working in Ireland. Her novels are Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, The Miracle of Grace, Ellis Island, City of Hope, Land of Dreams and The Lost Garden.
Kate began her career as an editor and journalist, editing many of Britain’s most successful young women’s magazines before returning to her native Ireland in the 1990’s to edit Irish Tatler. She writes a weekly column in the Irish Mail about her life in Killala, County Mayo – and contributes regularly to RTE's radio's Sunday Miscellany.
Her novel, The Dress, published by Head of Zeus was shortlisted at the Irish Book Awards in 2015, and her new novel, It Was Only Ever You, was published in hardback edition, October 2016.
www.katekerrigan.ie
I devoured this book in one sitting. I LOVED it!
Marian Keyes
This story is written with so much heart you can hear its beat and feel its pulse in every word on every page.
Cecelia Ahern
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
January 13, 2018
10☆ Powerful Story of friendship and New Beginnings.
Wow oh Wow That Girl was one Powerful Rollercoaster ride that had me hooked from the very first few chapters!
That Girl is a story of New Beginnings, Family, Heartbreak, Secrets, Lies, Murder, Gangsters, Relationships, Learning to Trust, Finding Love, Finding ones identity, Breaking Boundaries, Courage, Strength... the list could go on and on it's that good.
The story is set around London.
Three Young Irish Girls escape Ireland for very different reasons.
All ending up meeting in London and living together. Well Two of them are Best Friends.
No questions asked, just a sheer bond between them, they are all from Ireland, all damaged Souls, all needing refuge, a job and security.
That comes when Lara meets Coleman who owns the Stripper Club. They give Lara the flat to live in and a place to work!
Lara meets Annie in the Cafe that helped Lara when she needed a meal and a job.
Annie starts to work in the Cafe and she couldn't be happier.
Annie/Hanna for me was my favourite of the three girls. She has a tortured Soul, she is vulnerable, but has so much beauty and her need to nurture and love shines through!
Her past is horrific, and I was so glad she escaped. But we all know you can't run away from your past forever!!!.... or can you??
Lara comes to London to mend her broken heart and persue her passion for fashion.
She comes across as a little guliable, but her passion for fashion and art sees her grow from strength to strength.
Her sizzling connection between Lara and Coleman is brilliant.
He is a big hard gangster but when it comes to Lara he is putty in her hands!!
Then we have Noreen.... now she is Lara's best friend from Ireland. She leaves her boyfriend and sets off to have an adventure in London.
She isn't the best Character she's selfish, rude, but when it counts she stands up and prooves she cares!
I can't say anymore than this as I truly don't want to give anything away.
But be prepared for Twists, Fun, Shocks, emotion and heartwarming moments.
This book is a fantastic Tapestry of Emotions, Twists, Secrets, Passion and most of all Friendship!
It's a story of three girls and how their very different lives entwine, but somehow connect.
That Girl had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through, I couldn't put it down.
It's a beautifully Heartwarming, Poignant read that literally has a lil of everything!
You know when a book is the one!,when it makes your spine tingle, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and fall in love with the Characters.
I can't recommend this book enough.
If there is going to be one book you read this month let it be 'That Girl ' you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Wow oh Wow That Girl was one Powerful Rollercoaster ride that had me hooked from the very first few chapters!
That Girl is a story of New Beginnings, Family, Heartbreak, Secrets, Lies, Murder, Gangsters, Relationships, Learning to Trust, Finding Love, Finding ones identity, Breaking Boundaries, Courage, Strength... the list could go on and on it's that good.
The story is set around London.
Three Young Irish Girls escape Ireland for very different reasons.
All ending up meeting in London and living together. Well Two of them are Best Friends.
No questions asked, just a sheer bond between them, they are all from Ireland, all damaged Souls, all needing refuge, a job and security.
That comes when Lara meets Coleman who owns the Stripper Club. They give Lara the flat to live in and a place to work!
Lara meets Annie in the Cafe that helped Lara when she needed a meal and a job.
Annie starts to work in the Cafe and she couldn't be happier.
Annie/Hanna for me was my favourite of the three girls. She has a tortured Soul, she is vulnerable, but has so much beauty and her need to nurture and love shines through!
Her past is horrific, and I was so glad she escaped. But we all know you can't run away from your past forever!!!.... or can you??
Lara comes to London to mend her broken heart and persue her passion for fashion.
She comes across as a little guliable, but her passion for fashion and art sees her grow from strength to strength.
Her sizzling connection between Lara and Coleman is brilliant.
He is a big hard gangster but when it comes to Lara he is putty in her hands!!
Then we have Noreen.... now she is Lara's best friend from Ireland. She leaves her boyfriend and sets off to have an adventure in London.
She isn't the best Character she's selfish, rude, but when it counts she stands up and prooves she cares!
I can't say anymore than this as I truly don't want to give anything away.
But be prepared for Twists, Fun, Shocks, emotion and heartwarming moments.
This book is a fantastic Tapestry of Emotions, Twists, Secrets, Passion and most of all Friendship!
It's a story of three girls and how their very different lives entwine, but somehow connect.
That Girl had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through, I couldn't put it down.
It's a beautifully Heartwarming, Poignant read that literally has a lil of everything!
You know when a book is the one!,when it makes your spine tingle, makes you laugh, makes you cry, and fall in love with the Characters.
I can't recommend this book enough.
If there is going to be one book you read this month let it be 'That Girl ' you won't be disappointed!
Thank you to Aria for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my blog website:
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
November 8, 2022
Love, suspense a bit of everything... Binge read, pure joy! I fell in love with Kate's writing with her debut novel "Recipes", and that love is persistent... I'm specially soft on my Irish authors, they are born storytellers! To be honnest, for someone who reads too much (as a part of my job) it is not easy to be swept of my feet... I usually read 4-5 books at the same time... a bit of each daily... But when I am swept of my feet I read just one until I read it to the end... And those books have that "something special"... They win awards, become huge bestsellers etc. I predict a bright bestselling future of this book... From start to end perfectly styled, nothing to be added or changed! Pure bliss! Must read! A+ quality of contemporary women fiction. Can be found on Scribd, 24symbols, Playster...
January 16, 2018
Compelling, beguiling, and undeniably moving!
That Girl is an enthralling story about dreams, courage, heartbreak, goals, secrets, adventure, new love, self-discovery, and friendship all set against the backdrop of 1960s London when King's Road was alive and grooving and had more than its fair share of velvet, miniskirts, pubs, gangsters, and violence.
There are three main Irish lasses in this novel; Hanna, a young woman running from an abusive past; Lara a hardworking, brokenhearted seamstress; and Noreen a fun-loving gal, looking for a good time.
The prose is expressive and effortless. The characterization is spot on with a wonderful cast of characters, including some determined, fearless women who learn through friendship and compassion to let go of the past and embrace the future. And the plot is the perfect blend of heart, humour, hope, surprises, and drama.
Overall, I have to say that Kerrigan has done a smashing job on this novel. That Girl is truly a fantastic read with a little bit of everything, suspense, romance, and even a dab of dark comedy and just in case you couldn't tell already, I absolutely loved it!
Thank you to Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
That Girl is an enthralling story about dreams, courage, heartbreak, goals, secrets, adventure, new love, self-discovery, and friendship all set against the backdrop of 1960s London when King's Road was alive and grooving and had more than its fair share of velvet, miniskirts, pubs, gangsters, and violence.
There are three main Irish lasses in this novel; Hanna, a young woman running from an abusive past; Lara a hardworking, brokenhearted seamstress; and Noreen a fun-loving gal, looking for a good time.
The prose is expressive and effortless. The characterization is spot on with a wonderful cast of characters, including some determined, fearless women who learn through friendship and compassion to let go of the past and embrace the future. And the plot is the perfect blend of heart, humour, hope, surprises, and drama.
Overall, I have to say that Kerrigan has done a smashing job on this novel. That Girl is truly a fantastic read with a little bit of everything, suspense, romance, and even a dab of dark comedy and just in case you couldn't tell already, I absolutely loved it!
Thank you to Head of Zeus for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
All my reviews can be found on my blog at https://whatsbetterthanbooks.com
January 21, 2018
Favorite Quotes:
Unlike Italy , with its Popes and volcanos and sunshine and pasta, Ireland had nothing of note. Just nuns, rain and potatoes. It was an unremarkable place to anyone but the Irish themselves. In fact, mostly to them as well.
… as if a piece of him had gone missing in her presence. He was afraid that if he gave her what she wanted, then she would leave the room and, if she did that, he might never get it back.
You could catch up on a month’s gossip in Lyons’s in less than an hour if you knew who to sit next to.
Business took precedence over pleasure, always. The dead don’t book in and they don’t bury themselves, her father used to say.
He instinctively understood things about her that he knew were true… Without her saying a word, he could see in her beautiful eyes that she was carrying something that did not belong to her. It was a lifetime in a moment; this was the world standing still.
Sure all them miniskirts around here would turn a blind man horny!
My Review:
Visiting Ireland remains on my Bucket List, I’m sure I have distant ancestral roots of some sort and would just love to see the Old Sod, although these three Irish gals didn’t seem to be enjoying their life there in the turbulent 60’s and fled for “Swinging London.” Although, each of the three had fled for a different reason. Hanna was running from the brutality of her life, Lara was striving toward a different future, and Noreen was desperately seeking adventure. From the cover, you might be expecting a breezy and light-hearted book, well, think again. The well-crafted and engaging storylines were packed with drama, quirky gangsters, betrayal, suspense, angst, tension, heartache, aspirations, anxiety, intrigue, and excellent writing. The 60’s and 70’s were a period of profound and explosive social change worldwide, which was as confusing as it was exciting. I came of age a decade after these gals, but could easily identify with the issues.
I quickly slipped into the story and only fell deeper with the addition of each new character. The writing was emotive, observant, and descriptive enough to place me within each scene; I could hear the music, smell the food, feel the tension, and recognize the entire peculiar cast of characters by sight. It was hard to put my Kindle down and even though I had not lived their experiences, I could fully relate and empathize with each of the female characters as well as a few of the men. But I tilted the most toward the couple of Lara and Coleman. Poor Lara, when the love of your life informs you he has decided to be a priest because, “I suppose I love God more than I love you.” Ouch. I would have hightailed it out faster than Lara had, although I would have torn a pound of flesh off of the weasel first. The suspense and tension were maintained beginning to end and oh, how I reveled at the sweet and well-deserved endings for each one. As if reading a superbly written book wasn’t pleasure enough, I have new additions to my British Isles Vocabulary List, which I’ve recently realized I needed to rename from My Brit Word List due to the inclusion of Scottish and Irish colloquialisms. My new collection includes, “clobber” which the Urban Dictionary defined as new clothes or personal items; and “face like a spanner” which means ugly. It’s always a red-letter day when I can boast of expanding my verbosity.
Unlike Italy , with its Popes and volcanos and sunshine and pasta, Ireland had nothing of note. Just nuns, rain and potatoes. It was an unremarkable place to anyone but the Irish themselves. In fact, mostly to them as well.
… as if a piece of him had gone missing in her presence. He was afraid that if he gave her what she wanted, then she would leave the room and, if she did that, he might never get it back.
You could catch up on a month’s gossip in Lyons’s in less than an hour if you knew who to sit next to.
Business took precedence over pleasure, always. The dead don’t book in and they don’t bury themselves, her father used to say.
He instinctively understood things about her that he knew were true… Without her saying a word, he could see in her beautiful eyes that she was carrying something that did not belong to her. It was a lifetime in a moment; this was the world standing still.
Sure all them miniskirts around here would turn a blind man horny!
My Review:
Visiting Ireland remains on my Bucket List, I’m sure I have distant ancestral roots of some sort and would just love to see the Old Sod, although these three Irish gals didn’t seem to be enjoying their life there in the turbulent 60’s and fled for “Swinging London.” Although, each of the three had fled for a different reason. Hanna was running from the brutality of her life, Lara was striving toward a different future, and Noreen was desperately seeking adventure. From the cover, you might be expecting a breezy and light-hearted book, well, think again. The well-crafted and engaging storylines were packed with drama, quirky gangsters, betrayal, suspense, angst, tension, heartache, aspirations, anxiety, intrigue, and excellent writing. The 60’s and 70’s were a period of profound and explosive social change worldwide, which was as confusing as it was exciting. I came of age a decade after these gals, but could easily identify with the issues.
I quickly slipped into the story and only fell deeper with the addition of each new character. The writing was emotive, observant, and descriptive enough to place me within each scene; I could hear the music, smell the food, feel the tension, and recognize the entire peculiar cast of characters by sight. It was hard to put my Kindle down and even though I had not lived their experiences, I could fully relate and empathize with each of the female characters as well as a few of the men. But I tilted the most toward the couple of Lara and Coleman. Poor Lara, when the love of your life informs you he has decided to be a priest because, “I suppose I love God more than I love you.” Ouch. I would have hightailed it out faster than Lara had, although I would have torn a pound of flesh off of the weasel first. The suspense and tension were maintained beginning to end and oh, how I reveled at the sweet and well-deserved endings for each one. As if reading a superbly written book wasn’t pleasure enough, I have new additions to my British Isles Vocabulary List, which I’ve recently realized I needed to rename from My Brit Word List due to the inclusion of Scottish and Irish colloquialisms. My new collection includes, “clobber” which the Urban Dictionary defined as new clothes or personal items; and “face like a spanner” which means ugly. It’s always a red-letter day when I can boast of expanding my verbosity.
February 5, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
That Girl is a women’s fiction tale of friendship, love, self discovery and new beginnings that harks back to the shifting times of the swinging sixties. Author Kate Kerrigan crosses life in small town Ireland, with life in the hustle and bustle of busy London. That Girl is an engrossing tale of three women making a new life and name for themselves.
That Girl is the story of three young women who all make the brave move to London, escaping their pasts in Ireland for different reasons. Hanna makes the tumultuous move to London, after fleeing the scene of an awful crime that took place in her home, the small Irish village of Sligo. For Hanna, London offers her a chance to reinvent herself, change her name and stay hidden from the police. Lara, Kerrigan’s second main protagonist of That Girl is desperately broken hearted after her plans to marry long time love Matthew fall in spectacular heap. With Matthew plans to enter priesthood instead of marriage, Lara makes the journey to hedonistic King’s Road in London. Matthew’s twin sister Noreen makes up the third and final main protagonist in That Girl. Noreen is a free spirit and in Ireland, feels shackled to her relationship with .London seems like an acceptable place for Noreen to spread her wings and live life to the fullest. All three women have different reasons for settling in the big smoke of Britain’s capital, but they are soon thrust together by one common factor, Bobby Chevron, a well known gangland figure operative in London. That Girl is the remarkable story of how the past and the present converge, as this trio tries to make something of their exciting new life in London.
That Girl isn’t the first book I have read by talented storyteller Kate Kerrigan. After rating Kerrigan’s previous novel, It was Only Ever You, as one of my top ten reads of 2016, I was excited about the prospect of reading and reviewing her much anticipated latest release. A back cover author endorsement via bestselling author Cecelia Ahern states, ‘mesmerising and moving. Just beautiful’. I couldn’t agree more, this is a very apt quote and perfectly encapsulates Kerrigan’s writing.
Kerrigan’s latest is told from the viewpoints of three main characters. I quickly developed a strong level of empathy for Hanna. Poor Hanna who suffers incredible abuse at the hands of her stepfather and I wasn’t at all surprised by the turn of events that took Hanna away from her home in Ireland. I was on edge for most of this book, wondering if the past would catch up with Hanna. Supporting Hanna in the spotlight is Lara. I also felt very sorry for Lara, who lost her long time love to the priesthood. I also cheered Lara on, in the hope she would succeed in breaking into the fashion business in London. The third and final primary character in Kerrigan’s novel is Noreen. I felt only a small connection to Noreen. However, I did think that Kerrigan did a good job with this character. Through Noreen, Kerrigan shows the changes and new forms of freedom women of this era began to experiment with. Noreen was certainly free spirited and spunky! Rounding off the character list are a number of supporting characters, most of these are male, some are agreeable and some I wanted to see the very back of. Each character Kerrigan placed in That Girl was well formed and had a decent role to play in the events of the book.
The best part about That Girl was the era and setting. When the three girls in this novel make the move to London, they base themselves in King’s Road. This specific area of London holds a personal connection for me. My father and his family lived in this area, until they moved to Australia in the 1970’s. With my family roots grounded in the main locale of Kerrigan’s latest, it was easy to develop affection for this book. Recalling some locale anecdotes from my father and grandmother of their old stomping ground, I believe Kerrigan has done a brilliant job of bringing to light this setting. Kerrigan’s inclusion of the glamour of this strip, the hub for mod culture and the heavy influence of fashion, is also offset by the darker side of this area. The references to gangland bosses, dodgy nightclub operatives, violence, booze, drugs and the sex industry reveal the murky side to London in the 1960’s.
Kerrigan also does a very good job of capturing the social attitudes and changing moral codes of this time, particularly through her exploration of the character of Noreen. This is contrasted to the restrictive and prescriptive life of Ireland, which all three women in these novel were hoping to escape from. This aspect makes up the crux of the novel and the way in which it all pans out, complete with a few twists, turns, complications and intrigue makes the reader want to see this novel through until the bitter end. I must mention how much I liked how Kerrigan wrapped up That Girl. Kerrigan flashes forward in time to the year 1975, where we get an update on the changed lives of the characters we have grown to know and care about through the experience of reading That Girl.
All in all, I can safely say I very much enjoyed my experience with That Girl. I loved how the book was able to transport me to the swinging sixties in a progressive city of the time, flashy London. I hope this proves to be a book that reaches out to many readers.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins Books Australia. To read the original review on the Beauty and Lace website please visit http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
That Girl is a women’s fiction tale of friendship, love, self discovery and new beginnings that harks back to the shifting times of the swinging sixties. Author Kate Kerrigan crosses life in small town Ireland, with life in the hustle and bustle of busy London. That Girl is an engrossing tale of three women making a new life and name for themselves.
That Girl is the story of three young women who all make the brave move to London, escaping their pasts in Ireland for different reasons. Hanna makes the tumultuous move to London, after fleeing the scene of an awful crime that took place in her home, the small Irish village of Sligo. For Hanna, London offers her a chance to reinvent herself, change her name and stay hidden from the police. Lara, Kerrigan’s second main protagonist of That Girl is desperately broken hearted after her plans to marry long time love Matthew fall in spectacular heap. With Matthew plans to enter priesthood instead of marriage, Lara makes the journey to hedonistic King’s Road in London. Matthew’s twin sister Noreen makes up the third and final main protagonist in That Girl. Noreen is a free spirit and in Ireland, feels shackled to her relationship with .London seems like an acceptable place for Noreen to spread her wings and live life to the fullest. All three women have different reasons for settling in the big smoke of Britain’s capital, but they are soon thrust together by one common factor, Bobby Chevron, a well known gangland figure operative in London. That Girl is the remarkable story of how the past and the present converge, as this trio tries to make something of their exciting new life in London.
That Girl isn’t the first book I have read by talented storyteller Kate Kerrigan. After rating Kerrigan’s previous novel, It was Only Ever You, as one of my top ten reads of 2016, I was excited about the prospect of reading and reviewing her much anticipated latest release. A back cover author endorsement via bestselling author Cecelia Ahern states, ‘mesmerising and moving. Just beautiful’. I couldn’t agree more, this is a very apt quote and perfectly encapsulates Kerrigan’s writing.
Kerrigan’s latest is told from the viewpoints of three main characters. I quickly developed a strong level of empathy for Hanna. Poor Hanna who suffers incredible abuse at the hands of her stepfather and I wasn’t at all surprised by the turn of events that took Hanna away from her home in Ireland. I was on edge for most of this book, wondering if the past would catch up with Hanna. Supporting Hanna in the spotlight is Lara. I also felt very sorry for Lara, who lost her long time love to the priesthood. I also cheered Lara on, in the hope she would succeed in breaking into the fashion business in London. The third and final primary character in Kerrigan’s novel is Noreen. I felt only a small connection to Noreen. However, I did think that Kerrigan did a good job with this character. Through Noreen, Kerrigan shows the changes and new forms of freedom women of this era began to experiment with. Noreen was certainly free spirited and spunky! Rounding off the character list are a number of supporting characters, most of these are male, some are agreeable and some I wanted to see the very back of. Each character Kerrigan placed in That Girl was well formed and had a decent role to play in the events of the book.
The best part about That Girl was the era and setting. When the three girls in this novel make the move to London, they base themselves in King’s Road. This specific area of London holds a personal connection for me. My father and his family lived in this area, until they moved to Australia in the 1970’s. With my family roots grounded in the main locale of Kerrigan’s latest, it was easy to develop affection for this book. Recalling some locale anecdotes from my father and grandmother of their old stomping ground, I believe Kerrigan has done a brilliant job of bringing to light this setting. Kerrigan’s inclusion of the glamour of this strip, the hub for mod culture and the heavy influence of fashion, is also offset by the darker side of this area. The references to gangland bosses, dodgy nightclub operatives, violence, booze, drugs and the sex industry reveal the murky side to London in the 1960’s.
Kerrigan also does a very good job of capturing the social attitudes and changing moral codes of this time, particularly through her exploration of the character of Noreen. This is contrasted to the restrictive and prescriptive life of Ireland, which all three women in these novel were hoping to escape from. This aspect makes up the crux of the novel and the way in which it all pans out, complete with a few twists, turns, complications and intrigue makes the reader want to see this novel through until the bitter end. I must mention how much I liked how Kerrigan wrapped up That Girl. Kerrigan flashes forward in time to the year 1975, where we get an update on the changed lives of the characters we have grown to know and care about through the experience of reading That Girl.
All in all, I can safely say I very much enjoyed my experience with That Girl. I loved how the book was able to transport me to the swinging sixties in a progressive city of the time, flashy London. I hope this proves to be a book that reaches out to many readers.
*Please note that a free copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes through Beauty and Lace and Harper Collins Books Australia. To read the original review on the Beauty and Lace website please visit http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
January 11, 2018
THAT GIRL by Kate Kerrigan is a very special book that centres around three girls who have all escaped Ireland in the 60's for different reasons (some more horrific than others) and headed for the bright lights and anonymity of London. As they try to discover who they are away from their families, their past, and their religion, Hanna, Lara, and Noreen find themselves together sharing a flat and mixing among the powerful and the criminal. But as things slowly begin to fall into place for the women they will all realise that you cannot simply walk away from who you were before as the past always seems to find a way to catch up to you.
The three main characters are superbly detailed in this novel and I really felt as though I knew them. While I loved Lara's passion for fashion and making her own way and Noreen's spunk and lack of fear, it was Hanna's character who really got under my skin as she regained a piece of herself every day, slowly but surely learning more about what she wanted from her future. Hanna is such a strong character in the face of adversity and for that reason, she was my favourite. The swinging sixties and fashionable London scene are wonderfully descriptive in this story and I lost myself easily among the pages.
THAT GIRL by Kate Kerrigan made me smile, made me tear up, and made me think about the value of friendship and forging your own path regardless of what anyone else thinks or says. A truly fabulous novel!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
The three main characters are superbly detailed in this novel and I really felt as though I knew them. While I loved Lara's passion for fashion and making her own way and Noreen's spunk and lack of fear, it was Hanna's character who really got under my skin as she regained a piece of herself every day, slowly but surely learning more about what she wanted from her future. Hanna is such a strong character in the face of adversity and for that reason, she was my favourite. The swinging sixties and fashionable London scene are wonderfully descriptive in this story and I lost myself easily among the pages.
THAT GIRL by Kate Kerrigan made me smile, made me tear up, and made me think about the value of friendship and forging your own path regardless of what anyone else thinks or says. A truly fabulous novel!
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
January 5, 2018
I must admit to enjoying this novel a little too much!! The era and narration is something unique (to me, at least) and the gangster mole character makes for some feisty femme fatales in this tale of three women, each with very different backgrounds but all looking for one thing — genuine and lasting love.
Kate teases us with a complex cast of characters and a story with a simmering speakeasy feel.
Then, wham! The pace and the plot-twists grab you by the throat and you discover what a woman is capable of when she’s desperate and pushed to the edge by a man.
The narration is clear and colourful and befitting the fabulous period depicted in That Girl.
I’m now slowly working my way through Kate Kerrigan’s backlist.
Kate teases us with a complex cast of characters and a story with a simmering speakeasy feel.
Then, wham! The pace and the plot-twists grab you by the throat and you discover what a woman is capable of when she’s desperate and pushed to the edge by a man.
The narration is clear and colourful and befitting the fabulous period depicted in That Girl.
I’m now slowly working my way through Kate Kerrigan’s backlist.
January 25, 2018
This is a very memorable story, focussing on the lives of three Irish girls, Hanna, Lara and Noreen and their lives. As the girls escape their very different lives in Ireland to move to London with very different motives and reasons for their escape. It is a real page turner, an enthralling read, transporting the reader back to the ‘swinging sixties’ and gangland London. It is a story of how the girls’ separate lives start to entwine, creating a tapestry that slowly develops to reveal a bigger picture filled with danger, angst and turmoil.
I’m trying not to give anything away about the plot! The story has great characters and is an emotional roller coaster ride! There are shocks and surprises along the way - and tumultuous times for all three girls as they become more involved in working for one of London’s most feared gangland bosses. There’s additional danger when people from their past come to call . . . .
This is a shocking, heartwarming, surprising and moving story of the three girls, their hopes, dreams, secrets, fears and friendship are all key to this amazing, dramatic story which I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
I’m trying not to give anything away about the plot! The story has great characters and is an emotional roller coaster ride! There are shocks and surprises along the way - and tumultuous times for all three girls as they become more involved in working for one of London’s most feared gangland bosses. There’s additional danger when people from their past come to call . . . .
This is a shocking, heartwarming, surprising and moving story of the three girls, their hopes, dreams, secrets, fears and friendship are all key to this amazing, dramatic story which I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending.
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
December 18, 2017
Review to follow.
April 16, 2019
Hanna leave her native town, Sligo to escape the crime of her past. Her father died early, her mother didn’t survive the “virus” and eventually died too—she had no one. With a broken soul filled with fear, guilt, and shame, she guise as
Annie Austen
and ended up in the wandering streets of London. There she met Lara who helped her find the new beginning and freedom she was looking for.
Lara always knew that Matthew is the one whom she will spend the rest of her life with but it seems like it wasn’t the same for Matthew. Nursing a broken heart, she arrived in London seeking anonymity with nothing but a sewing machine and her sketchpad, trying to live her dreams by pursuing fashion with the help of Coleman, the club manager where she worked.
But when feelings started to grow between Lara and Coleman, everything got really complicated as they’ve caught up in a tricky arrangement with the gangster nightclub owner, Bobby Chevron.
All the while, Noreen, Lara’s best friend, saw what her life could be flash in front of her. Overwhelmed with the idea that she will be married soon to John Connolly, their local guard, and furious how her life mapped out—predictable and monotonous; she decided to call off the wedding and run to London seeking her independence, having an adventure before settling down.
When secrets of the past came to the surface to haunt them, Hanna, Lara, and Noreen were tangled in the same web, bonded, and shared the same connection— finding That Girl in them.
Kate Kerrigan wrote a vivid, complex and well-developed cast of characters. Each, pitch a different story that didn’t suppress the element of danger, thrill, and surprise. I couldn’t say how much I love this book! It has the romance, drama and the suspenseful turn of events, everything rolls into one. Before I knew what was happening, I got really invested knowing each one of them.
The setting also added peak with the gangland London in the swinging sixties, the plot hasn’t been more perfect as it added a colorful context and influence the character's attitude towards the story’s main conflict.
That Girl is a story about friendship, redemption and finding new beginnings, set in a timeless, iconic era where the trend is changing and women like Annie, Lara and Noreen discover optimism through change and freedom. It is daunting, climatic and a heart stopper that will make you fall in a minefield of shock and anticipation.
Thank you to Melanie Price of Head of Zeus for including me on this blog tour, to Netgalley and Kate Kerrigan for providing me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Full Review - Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
Lara always knew that Matthew is the one whom she will spend the rest of her life with but it seems like it wasn’t the same for Matthew. Nursing a broken heart, she arrived in London seeking anonymity with nothing but a sewing machine and her sketchpad, trying to live her dreams by pursuing fashion with the help of Coleman, the club manager where she worked.
But when feelings started to grow between Lara and Coleman, everything got really complicated as they’ve caught up in a tricky arrangement with the gangster nightclub owner, Bobby Chevron.
All the while, Noreen, Lara’s best friend, saw what her life could be flash in front of her. Overwhelmed with the idea that she will be married soon to John Connolly, their local guard, and furious how her life mapped out—predictable and monotonous; she decided to call off the wedding and run to London seeking her independence, having an adventure before settling down.
When secrets of the past came to the surface to haunt them, Hanna, Lara, and Noreen were tangled in the same web, bonded, and shared the same connection— finding That Girl in them.
Kate Kerrigan wrote a vivid, complex and well-developed cast of characters. Each, pitch a different story that didn’t suppress the element of danger, thrill, and surprise. I couldn’t say how much I love this book! It has the romance, drama and the suspenseful turn of events, everything rolls into one. Before I knew what was happening, I got really invested knowing each one of them.
The setting also added peak with the gangland London in the swinging sixties, the plot hasn’t been more perfect as it added a colorful context and influence the character's attitude towards the story’s main conflict.
That Girl is a story about friendship, redemption and finding new beginnings, set in a timeless, iconic era where the trend is changing and women like Annie, Lara and Noreen discover optimism through change and freedom. It is daunting, climatic and a heart stopper that will make you fall in a minefield of shock and anticipation.
Thank you to Melanie Price of Head of Zeus for including me on this blog tour, to Netgalley and Kate Kerrigan for providing me an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Full Review - Tale Out Loud | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
February 7, 2018
This is my first read by this author. I can’t believe I’ve not heard about her before. I usually inhale any Irish authors I’ve been recommended so I’ll be catching up on this authors previous books soon.
Three young Irish girls, Hanna, Noreen and Lara flee Ireland in the 1960’s for a life in London. Each girl has their own reason for running.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt is not to judge a book by its cover. If I had seen this cover I’d probably have passed on it but thankfully the blurb pulled me in.
If your looking for a really well written romantic suspense then I highly recommend you read this. I loved it.
Three young Irish girls, Hanna, Noreen and Lara flee Ireland in the 1960’s for a life in London. Each girl has their own reason for running.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt is not to judge a book by its cover. If I had seen this cover I’d probably have passed on it but thankfully the blurb pulled me in.
If your looking for a really well written romantic suspense then I highly recommend you read this. I loved it.
April 20, 2018
Other than the gorgeous cover that drew me in from the moment I saw it, I did not know what to expect from That Girl. Then, I read the first three chapters and had to take a small break because all mind kept saying over and over again was "What did I just read?" and "Wow, did that really just happen?". From there, I was hooked and could not wait to see what else lay ahead.
That Girl centers around three women from Ireland who, each for different reasons, travel to London during the 1960s for a fresh start. Hanna, who becomes Annie Austen, has fled after a terrible crime has been committed, holding tight to her new identity in order to forget her past. Lara comes to London to also escape and start over after her boyfriend, Matthew declares he wants to become a priest stating that even though he loves her, he loves God more. Noreen, Matthew's twin sister and Lara's best friend, gets tired of her boring predictable life. Her future is set for her to marry her fiance John and then take over her family's pub but Noreen wants more she follows Lara to see what Swinging London has to offer.
I honestly don't know where to start. This book has a little bit of everything to it. It has romance, amazing female friendship, self-discovery, suspense, and much more. While you have the three main characters who all come to live together in London, each of their individual storylines introduces you to a large cast of side characters as well. As the story unfolds you get engrossed into this world, following each of the girl's on their journeys as Hanna/Annie makes herself a new life, Lara follows her passion in fashion, and Noreen sets out to find the exciting life and independence she didn't have back in Ireland. And with the backdrop being London in the 1960s, it was just so much fun to just immerse myself and travel back in time. I became just as intrigued about the time period as I did with the story.
The only issue I had while reading this book was the switching of perspectives that happened within the story, sometimes without any indication of who it switched to. In the beginning, you knew who's perspective you were reading from but as the story goes on and more characters are introduced and the plot becomes much more intricate, it became rather difficult to determine who was speaking from time to time.
Overall, this was such a surprising read and I am so happy I got to read it. Kate Kerrigan did such an amazing job pulling me in from the very beginning and transporting me back to Swinging London. I fell in love with each of the characters until at one point I thought they were real people. If you are looking for a character-driven book with a little bit of everything, then check this book out.
That Girl centers around three women from Ireland who, each for different reasons, travel to London during the 1960s for a fresh start. Hanna, who becomes Annie Austen, has fled after a terrible crime has been committed, holding tight to her new identity in order to forget her past. Lara comes to London to also escape and start over after her boyfriend, Matthew declares he wants to become a priest stating that even though he loves her, he loves God more. Noreen, Matthew's twin sister and Lara's best friend, gets tired of her boring predictable life. Her future is set for her to marry her fiance John and then take over her family's pub but Noreen wants more she follows Lara to see what Swinging London has to offer.
I honestly don't know where to start. This book has a little bit of everything to it. It has romance, amazing female friendship, self-discovery, suspense, and much more. While you have the three main characters who all come to live together in London, each of their individual storylines introduces you to a large cast of side characters as well. As the story unfolds you get engrossed into this world, following each of the girl's on their journeys as Hanna/Annie makes herself a new life, Lara follows her passion in fashion, and Noreen sets out to find the exciting life and independence she didn't have back in Ireland. And with the backdrop being London in the 1960s, it was just so much fun to just immerse myself and travel back in time. I became just as intrigued about the time period as I did with the story.
The only issue I had while reading this book was the switching of perspectives that happened within the story, sometimes without any indication of who it switched to. In the beginning, you knew who's perspective you were reading from but as the story goes on and more characters are introduced and the plot becomes much more intricate, it became rather difficult to determine who was speaking from time to time.
Overall, this was such a surprising read and I am so happy I got to read it. Kate Kerrigan did such an amazing job pulling me in from the very beginning and transporting me back to Swinging London. I fell in love with each of the characters until at one point I thought they were real people. If you are looking for a character-driven book with a little bit of everything, then check this book out.
February 5, 2018
It's 1961 and Hanna, whose future at first seemed so promising, now leads a terrible life. She's isolated and there's nobody she can turn to for help. To escape she commits an awful crime and flees her home in Ireland. She thinks London is the place to start over and there she'll be Annie, a girl brave and powerful enough to live life on her own terms. When she arrives in London she has nowhere to go, but she meets Lara, another Irish girl, who offers her a place to stay. Will Annie have happier times ahead of her or will her past eventually catch up with her?
Lara and Matthew have been together for a long time. Lara is convinced they will get married and start a family, but Matthew is having doubts. He eventually decides to join the priesthood instead and leaves Lara with a broken heart. Lara needs a fresh start and London is the perfect place for her to be free. She's a fashion designer and while she first finds employment in a club, she soon starts to aim for more. However, the club's owner is a dangerous criminal and she has more ties to him than she likes. Is this going to cause problems eventually?
Matthew's twin sister Noreen and Lara have always been best friends. Noreen loves her fiancé John, but she doesn't want to get married and be tied down from a young age. She should have an adventure first. Lara is already in London and it seems like the perfect place for Noreen to be as well. When she arrives something has changed though, Lara has built a life for herself and it isn't as easy for Noreen to fit in as she thought it would be. Will she regret leaving John behind for the idea of something more, an experience that might not be as good as she thought it would be?
That Girl is a fantastic story about three very different girls. I was immediately intrigued by Hanna/Annie. She's shy, but she's also brave and resilient and I was curious to find out what she'd be like when she'd come out of her shell. She and Lara become good friends straight away. Lara is talented and smart. Matthew hurt her, but she also knows she has to keep going and if she wants to find love again she needs to let go of the past. That was an interesting journey to witness. Noreen wants more than becoming a wife and mother, she craves sex and adventure. She's bold and outspoken, but also impulsive and naive and that gets her into trouble. It was fascinating to see where that would lead. Kate Kerrigan kept me glued to the pages with their stories and I couldn't read quickly enough to find out what would happen to the three girls.
Kate Kerrigan combines a story about three fabulous girls starting over in the energetic and hip London of the sixties with gripping scenes about dangerous criminals, betrayal and secrets. I was immediately mesmerized by That Girl and couldn't put it down. The story is incredibly well written, there's plenty of action and there are many complex relationships to read about. Kate Kerrigan kept surprising me over and over again, which is something I absolutely loved about the story. That Girl is a brilliant book, it's entertaining, unexpected, compelling and dynamic.
Lara and Matthew have been together for a long time. Lara is convinced they will get married and start a family, but Matthew is having doubts. He eventually decides to join the priesthood instead and leaves Lara with a broken heart. Lara needs a fresh start and London is the perfect place for her to be free. She's a fashion designer and while she first finds employment in a club, she soon starts to aim for more. However, the club's owner is a dangerous criminal and she has more ties to him than she likes. Is this going to cause problems eventually?
Matthew's twin sister Noreen and Lara have always been best friends. Noreen loves her fiancé John, but she doesn't want to get married and be tied down from a young age. She should have an adventure first. Lara is already in London and it seems like the perfect place for Noreen to be as well. When she arrives something has changed though, Lara has built a life for herself and it isn't as easy for Noreen to fit in as she thought it would be. Will she regret leaving John behind for the idea of something more, an experience that might not be as good as she thought it would be?
That Girl is a fantastic story about three very different girls. I was immediately intrigued by Hanna/Annie. She's shy, but she's also brave and resilient and I was curious to find out what she'd be like when she'd come out of her shell. She and Lara become good friends straight away. Lara is talented and smart. Matthew hurt her, but she also knows she has to keep going and if she wants to find love again she needs to let go of the past. That was an interesting journey to witness. Noreen wants more than becoming a wife and mother, she craves sex and adventure. She's bold and outspoken, but also impulsive and naive and that gets her into trouble. It was fascinating to see where that would lead. Kate Kerrigan kept me glued to the pages with their stories and I couldn't read quickly enough to find out what would happen to the three girls.
Kate Kerrigan combines a story about three fabulous girls starting over in the energetic and hip London of the sixties with gripping scenes about dangerous criminals, betrayal and secrets. I was immediately mesmerized by That Girl and couldn't put it down. The story is incredibly well written, there's plenty of action and there are many complex relationships to read about. Kate Kerrigan kept surprising me over and over again, which is something I absolutely loved about the story. That Girl is a brilliant book, it's entertaining, unexpected, compelling and dynamic.
February 4, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I really enjoyed this book - it has a great storyline and I was hooked as soon as I started to read it - by the first few chapters I knew it was going to be a book I would need to read in one sitting!
I loved the three main characters of Hanna, Noreen and Lara for different reasons, they work really well within the book to carry the story forward. It is an excellent plot and not what you really expect from seeing the cover - this one for me proves the old adage - never judge a book by its cover - as you get so much more from this one - the writing style alone is superb!!
This is most definitely not your bog standard chick lit/rom com book - you get suspense, drama and a really moving story that will hook you in and grip you to the end - Five stars from me for this one - I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it!!
I really enjoyed this book - it has a great storyline and I was hooked as soon as I started to read it - by the first few chapters I knew it was going to be a book I would need to read in one sitting!
I loved the three main characters of Hanna, Noreen and Lara for different reasons, they work really well within the book to carry the story forward. It is an excellent plot and not what you really expect from seeing the cover - this one for me proves the old adage - never judge a book by its cover - as you get so much more from this one - the writing style alone is superb!!
This is most definitely not your bog standard chick lit/rom com book - you get suspense, drama and a really moving story that will hook you in and grip you to the end - Five stars from me for this one - I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it!!
January 25, 2018
Wow!!! I absolutely loved this book. I didn't want to put it down, I just had to keep reading until the end. I will definitely be reading Kate's other books.
January 2, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers, Head of Zeus for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to Melanie, from Head of Zeus, for organising the blog tour. I'm also excited to be able to share an extract of the first chapter, which I've added below my review!
This was so not the book I was expecting to read. I initially judged this book purely by the front cover. I thought it was going to be a chick-lit type of book, even to the point of a Young Adult or Teen book. The cover seemed to scream that, and it gave no indication whatsoever about what this book was really about. So, to begin with I started reading this a bit half-heartedly, not really expecting to like it. Well, the old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” couldn’t be more appropriate in this book’s case! Read on……!
This book is about three different woman, all from Ireland but now living in London during the Swinging Sixties. They are all in London for different reasons, but the thing that connects them is that they are all running away from something. Hanna has been abused by her step-father for as long as she can remember. It started after her mother died, and she’s never been able to tell anyone as her stepfather is a well-respected local GP. After committing a horrific crime, Hanna runs away to London, hoping that no one will ever find her there. Lara has always loved Matthew and imagined that she would marry him and live their lives together. One day, Matthew tells her that he wants to become a priest. Humiliated that he loves God more than her, Lara also decides to flee to London to start a new life. And finally, there is Noreen. Noreen is Lara’s best friend, and also Matthew’s twin sister. She can’t believe what Matthew did to her friend and his family, but when faced with the reality of marrying her fiancé, John she realises that she wants what Lara has – the freedom to do what she wants – and goes to London to join her. All three girls end up living and working together, in a gangster’s nightclub on the trendy Kings Road.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so not what I expected, but I was dragged into it by the first chapter. The book initially starts off with telling each of the girls’ stories. I think Hanna’s was the hardest story to read and she was the only character who I really felt for. I won’t spoil the story by giving away what she did to make her flee to London, but it was obvious that something like that was going to happen. I also did feel some empathy for Lara and I really liked her character. When we first meet her in London, she already seems like such a strong character but as the story goes on you also see her vulnerable side. Noreen was funny, but not very likeable until the end! Leaving her fiancé before their wedding to go and have some “fun” was never going to make her come across as a good person, but by the end of the book you see that she has changed for the better.
The setting for this book was great as well and it captured Swinging Sixties in London perfectly (from what I’ve heard anyway, I’m a bit too young to remember it!!) I was able to picture all the fashions that were being described from the miniskirts to the Mary Quant hairstyles and know some of the places such as Kings Road and Carnaby Street!
In my opinion, this is not a chick-lit book but a book of friendship, love and heartache. I loved the way that you see the girls from their lowest points and watch how being in London makes them blossom into the people that they should be. The story is so captivating that I could not put it down and finished it in just over a day. I’m so pleased that I didn’t look at the cover and think that this was not the book for me. If I had done, I would have missed out reading one of the best books I’ve read this year. Absolutely brilliant!
This was so not the book I was expecting to read. I initially judged this book purely by the front cover. I thought it was going to be a chick-lit type of book, even to the point of a Young Adult or Teen book. The cover seemed to scream that, and it gave no indication whatsoever about what this book was really about. So, to begin with I started reading this a bit half-heartedly, not really expecting to like it. Well, the old saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” couldn’t be more appropriate in this book’s case! Read on……!
This book is about three different woman, all from Ireland but now living in London during the Swinging Sixties. They are all in London for different reasons, but the thing that connects them is that they are all running away from something. Hanna has been abused by her step-father for as long as she can remember. It started after her mother died, and she’s never been able to tell anyone as her stepfather is a well-respected local GP. After committing a horrific crime, Hanna runs away to London, hoping that no one will ever find her there. Lara has always loved Matthew and imagined that she would marry him and live their lives together. One day, Matthew tells her that he wants to become a priest. Humiliated that he loves God more than her, Lara also decides to flee to London to start a new life. And finally, there is Noreen. Noreen is Lara’s best friend, and also Matthew’s twin sister. She can’t believe what Matthew did to her friend and his family, but when faced with the reality of marrying her fiancé, John she realises that she wants what Lara has – the freedom to do what she wants – and goes to London to join her. All three girls end up living and working together, in a gangster’s nightclub on the trendy Kings Road.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so not what I expected, but I was dragged into it by the first chapter. The book initially starts off with telling each of the girls’ stories. I think Hanna’s was the hardest story to read and she was the only character who I really felt for. I won’t spoil the story by giving away what she did to make her flee to London, but it was obvious that something like that was going to happen. I also did feel some empathy for Lara and I really liked her character. When we first meet her in London, she already seems like such a strong character but as the story goes on you also see her vulnerable side. Noreen was funny, but not very likeable until the end! Leaving her fiancé before their wedding to go and have some “fun” was never going to make her come across as a good person, but by the end of the book you see that she has changed for the better.
The setting for this book was great as well and it captured Swinging Sixties in London perfectly (from what I’ve heard anyway, I’m a bit too young to remember it!!) I was able to picture all the fashions that were being described from the miniskirts to the Mary Quant hairstyles and know some of the places such as Kings Road and Carnaby Street!
In my opinion, this is not a chick-lit book but a book of friendship, love and heartache. I loved the way that you see the girls from their lowest points and watch how being in London makes them blossom into the people that they should be. The story is so captivating that I could not put it down and finished it in just over a day. I’m so pleased that I didn’t look at the cover and think that this was not the book for me. If I had done, I would have missed out reading one of the best books I’ve read this year. Absolutely brilliant!
January 8, 2018
3.5 stars.
The story follows three young women from Ireland that more or less suddenly find themselves in the London's swinging 60's. It is my second book lately that was set in this time in London and I must admit that "That Girl" was much better than the other one - it was fast - paced and, above all, the characters felt realistic, they were so vivid and so easily brought to life by the author. So back to our main characters - they are very different but there is one thing that they have in common - they all run away from something. Hanna's was probably the most shocking story and I so incredibly fell for her - after her mother has died, her step - father started to abuse her and she lived her life as his prisoner. She could do nothing about it - let's not forget, it was Ireland and he was a very respected local doctor - until one day, when after coming to her limits Hanna leaves for London, trying to cover her tracks..
Lara is in love with Matthew, she's always has been, and already envisions them married. However, one day, just out of the blue, Matthew tells her something that shatters Lara's whole world. To flee the humiliation, Lara decides to leave for London to start a new life there. She quickly finds herself in the big city and I probably liked her most out of the three girls.
Noreen was the one that I liked the least. She was this kind of person that would elbow her way to the top and it's not my favourite kind of person. She's Matthew's twin sister and Lara's best friend. She can't believe what her brother has done to her friend, however after seeing them both, Matthew and Lara, leaving the little town in Ireland to follow their dreams, she gets itchy feet as well and she decides that while she loves her fiancée John very much, she first wants to see and try different life, to taste the freedom - and so she goes to London as well.
All the three girls end up living together in one apartment above the gangster's nightclub, and initially also working together but then their lives take different paths.
There were plenty of moments that took me absolutely by surprise and I would never in a million years guess that the story is going to take such turns! It starts telling Hanna's story and then introducing us to the other girls, and it was so fast - paced that I didn't have time to think what the three girls can have in common. I think Hanna's story was the most shocking one, and I liked this girl, I simply liked her and I wished all best for her. Also Lara was my kind of person, she was not afraid to follow her dreams and to try. She wanted people to think she's a tough cookie but there was also this vulnerable side to her. And as I have already mentioned, Noreen was my least favourite character, while you can admire her chutzpah and determination, especially in the 60's Ireland, she was too egoistic for me, thinking only about herself and not respecting other people and their wishes.
It was different to what I was expecting but of course it's not the book's fault but I just had a feeling it's too much of everything. It often felt too far - fetched and the ending felt much too rushed and somehow unrealistic. Everything fell always so neatly in the right places and you just knew that no matter what and how, everything is going to turn OK. I was expecting more depth from this author, and while this book was really great to read I had a feeling that there was tons of potential that was not made use of. It was as if there was an idea but the delivery and conclusion of it was missing.
The author has brought the swinging London perfectly to life and I love all the descriptions of the places and clothes (but again, I had a feeling that the author started something, like That Girl, described few dresses and then it was all. A few comparisons to some models of those times and nothing more. It just often felt that some of the subplots started but weren't finished, or ended too abruptly). The atmosphere was there on the pages and the characters were changing, turning into people they wanted to be.
So yes, guys, this book gave me a headache - I liked it, please don't get me wrong, but after reading "The Dress" by the same author I was expecting something more deep and complex. "That Girl" was about friendship, about love and relationships, about hurt and betrayal. The book was good guys, it was a mix of suspense, romance, dark comedy but maybe this was my problem because it felt as if the story doesn't know what it wants to be. However, Kate Kerrigan is a great story - teller and this was a really well written and character driven story set in the swinging sixties in London. The book has it all: fashion, drama, sex, gangsters and crime but in the foreground there are stories of three different girls, Hanna, Lara and Noreen. There is a lot happening and the author mixes perfectly humour with drama, tragedies and funny moments. The author is not afraid to write about abuse and violence but it's such an integral part of this story, and even if there are some moments with all the gory details for you, it works in this book, and also you have a feeling that it was deserved and couldn't be different. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
The story follows three young women from Ireland that more or less suddenly find themselves in the London's swinging 60's. It is my second book lately that was set in this time in London and I must admit that "That Girl" was much better than the other one - it was fast - paced and, above all, the characters felt realistic, they were so vivid and so easily brought to life by the author. So back to our main characters - they are very different but there is one thing that they have in common - they all run away from something. Hanna's was probably the most shocking story and I so incredibly fell for her - after her mother has died, her step - father started to abuse her and she lived her life as his prisoner. She could do nothing about it - let's not forget, it was Ireland and he was a very respected local doctor - until one day, when after coming to her limits Hanna leaves for London, trying to cover her tracks..
Lara is in love with Matthew, she's always has been, and already envisions them married. However, one day, just out of the blue, Matthew tells her something that shatters Lara's whole world. To flee the humiliation, Lara decides to leave for London to start a new life there. She quickly finds herself in the big city and I probably liked her most out of the three girls.
Noreen was the one that I liked the least. She was this kind of person that would elbow her way to the top and it's not my favourite kind of person. She's Matthew's twin sister and Lara's best friend. She can't believe what her brother has done to her friend, however after seeing them both, Matthew and Lara, leaving the little town in Ireland to follow their dreams, she gets itchy feet as well and she decides that while she loves her fiancée John very much, she first wants to see and try different life, to taste the freedom - and so she goes to London as well.
All the three girls end up living together in one apartment above the gangster's nightclub, and initially also working together but then their lives take different paths.
There were plenty of moments that took me absolutely by surprise and I would never in a million years guess that the story is going to take such turns! It starts telling Hanna's story and then introducing us to the other girls, and it was so fast - paced that I didn't have time to think what the three girls can have in common. I think Hanna's story was the most shocking one, and I liked this girl, I simply liked her and I wished all best for her. Also Lara was my kind of person, she was not afraid to follow her dreams and to try. She wanted people to think she's a tough cookie but there was also this vulnerable side to her. And as I have already mentioned, Noreen was my least favourite character, while you can admire her chutzpah and determination, especially in the 60's Ireland, she was too egoistic for me, thinking only about herself and not respecting other people and their wishes.
It was different to what I was expecting but of course it's not the book's fault but I just had a feeling it's too much of everything. It often felt too far - fetched and the ending felt much too rushed and somehow unrealistic. Everything fell always so neatly in the right places and you just knew that no matter what and how, everything is going to turn OK. I was expecting more depth from this author, and while this book was really great to read I had a feeling that there was tons of potential that was not made use of. It was as if there was an idea but the delivery and conclusion of it was missing.
The author has brought the swinging London perfectly to life and I love all the descriptions of the places and clothes (but again, I had a feeling that the author started something, like That Girl, described few dresses and then it was all. A few comparisons to some models of those times and nothing more. It just often felt that some of the subplots started but weren't finished, or ended too abruptly). The atmosphere was there on the pages and the characters were changing, turning into people they wanted to be.
So yes, guys, this book gave me a headache - I liked it, please don't get me wrong, but after reading "The Dress" by the same author I was expecting something more deep and complex. "That Girl" was about friendship, about love and relationships, about hurt and betrayal. The book was good guys, it was a mix of suspense, romance, dark comedy but maybe this was my problem because it felt as if the story doesn't know what it wants to be. However, Kate Kerrigan is a great story - teller and this was a really well written and character driven story set in the swinging sixties in London. The book has it all: fashion, drama, sex, gangsters and crime but in the foreground there are stories of three different girls, Hanna, Lara and Noreen. There is a lot happening and the author mixes perfectly humour with drama, tragedies and funny moments. The author is not afraid to write about abuse and violence but it's such an integral part of this story, and even if there are some moments with all the gory details for you, it works in this book, and also you have a feeling that it was deserved and couldn't be different. Recommended!
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
August 4, 2018
A good read though a little sluggish with the plot at times.
Great strong female characters and also the men were likeable.
Three girls lives become entwined when they all meet in London in a way that has dramatic circumstances for each of them as they find a way around their new lives and new found loves!
Great strong female characters and also the men were likeable.
Three girls lives become entwined when they all meet in London in a way that has dramatic circumstances for each of them as they find a way around their new lives and new found loves!
January 26, 2018
This book very much reminded me of a Monica McInerney novel. That said, I did quite enjoy it!
It tells the story of three Irish girls who are all at a sort of crossroads in their life and wanting a change in their lives for various reasons.
Hannah is escaping the unwelcome clutches of her step-father, Lara has just broken off with her boyfriend who has decided to go into the priesthood, and Noreen just craves the sort of wild life that other girls of her age are experiencing before becoming tied down in life.
They go to London in search of a more exciting life, and end up in predicaments that they all never saw coming. This book was a little bit chick-lit for my liking but the the story lines were quite good for each girl, but I felt it finished rather abruptly with a wrap up of "where they were now".
Thank you to Beauty & Lace Bookclub for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
It tells the story of three Irish girls who are all at a sort of crossroads in their life and wanting a change in their lives for various reasons.
Hannah is escaping the unwelcome clutches of her step-father, Lara has just broken off with her boyfriend who has decided to go into the priesthood, and Noreen just craves the sort of wild life that other girls of her age are experiencing before becoming tied down in life.
They go to London in search of a more exciting life, and end up in predicaments that they all never saw coming. This book was a little bit chick-lit for my liking but the the story lines were quite good for each girl, but I felt it finished rather abruptly with a wrap up of "where they were now".
Thank you to Beauty & Lace Bookclub for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
January 24, 2018
This is a great romance, with some thrilling crimes thrown in.
I liked how the girls’ lives paralleled each other. All three women are from Ireland, and they moved to London to escape the men in their pasts. They all end up together in the same apartment above a night club. Eventually, their pasts catch up to each of them.
The sixties atmosphere was great in the story. I found Lara’s “rags to riches” story a little optimistic. She goes from being a waitress to a designer in a matter of months, which is unrealistic, but it worked in the story.
Some parts of the story were quite slow. There were many parts where the characters reflected on things they had already done. But then something huge would happen that got the story going again. If it were a little shorter and more fast paced, the story would have been much better.
This story was an entertaining and thrilling romance.
I received a copy of this book on NetGalley.
I liked how the girls’ lives paralleled each other. All three women are from Ireland, and they moved to London to escape the men in their pasts. They all end up together in the same apartment above a night club. Eventually, their pasts catch up to each of them.
The sixties atmosphere was great in the story. I found Lara’s “rags to riches” story a little optimistic. She goes from being a waitress to a designer in a matter of months, which is unrealistic, but it worked in the story.
Some parts of the story were quite slow. There were many parts where the characters reflected on things they had already done. But then something huge would happen that got the story going again. If it were a little shorter and more fast paced, the story would have been much better.
This story was an entertaining and thrilling romance.
I received a copy of this book on NetGalley.
January 7, 2018
New to me author Kate Kerrigan delivers a spectacular romantic suspense story set in London in the 1960's. I found myself swept up into the lives of Annie/Hanna, Lara, and Noreen as they escape their lives in Ireland and forge friendships and careers in this most grooviest of place and times, the Chelsea district in 1966.
The story unfolds perfectly and the unexpected occurs at almost every turn. Although all three woman have their story, Lara is the center. She befriends Annie and with the appearance of Noreen, the story takes off. Soon these three are living together and Annie's secrets, Noreen's audacity and Lara's ingenuity create a story line that kept me transfixed.
While Lara and Annie are easy to get behind, Lara is admirable and Annie is easy to feel compassion for, Noreen was another story. She grated on my nerves and it was hard to find anything vaguely likable about her. Her actions set in motion a series of events that tear away at the stability Annie is building and her jealousy undermines Lara's happiness. She makes a great antagonist but I will admit that as the story closes she redeemed herself a bit.
The characters are well developed and the the twists in the story, the way some of the secondary characters add a great deal of mystery. Being new to Kerrigan I had no idea just how far she'd take certain elements and I thought it was a perfect balance of romance and suspense. If you are looking for something a little different, That Girl offers a great escape into a time and place that I didn't even know I was curious about.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The story unfolds perfectly and the unexpected occurs at almost every turn. Although all three woman have their story, Lara is the center. She befriends Annie and with the appearance of Noreen, the story takes off. Soon these three are living together and Annie's secrets, Noreen's audacity and Lara's ingenuity create a story line that kept me transfixed.
While Lara and Annie are easy to get behind, Lara is admirable and Annie is easy to feel compassion for, Noreen was another story. She grated on my nerves and it was hard to find anything vaguely likable about her. Her actions set in motion a series of events that tear away at the stability Annie is building and her jealousy undermines Lara's happiness. She makes a great antagonist but I will admit that as the story closes she redeemed herself a bit.
The characters are well developed and the the twists in the story, the way some of the secondary characters add a great deal of mystery. Being new to Kerrigan I had no idea just how far she'd take certain elements and I thought it was a perfect balance of romance and suspense. If you are looking for something a little different, That Girl offers a great escape into a time and place that I didn't even know I was curious about.
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
January 9, 2018
Thanks Head of Zeus and netgalley for this ARC.
Really gives a sense of the 60's in London. I loved the way friendship became family to overcome a dreadful childhood. This book has adventure, love, action, and dangerous passion.
Really gives a sense of the 60's in London. I loved the way friendship became family to overcome a dreadful childhood. This book has adventure, love, action, and dangerous passion.
January 4, 2018
This is a well- written character driven story, set against the background of the 'swinging sixties' in London. There's crime, fashion and sex but this all takes second place to the stories of the three Irish girls Hanna, Lara and Noreen. Their courage, humour and tragedies keep the reader enthralled, empathic and shocked in this page-turning read.
The girls share a common heritage, and their lives become increasingly interlinked as the story progresses with devasting consequences for one of them, The setting of a gangland club in Chelsea, captures the vibe of the sixties and the unique mix of fashionable and sordid which made this time in London iconic and a honey trap for naive girls.
The story doesn't shy away from abuse and violence because this is integral to the plot, but it is sensitively written and ensures the reader empathises with the heroines instantly. The ending is suspenseful, as you begin to wonder if everything the girls have achieved will be lost.
This is a memorable story, punctuated with vivid imagery and believable characters, not to be missed.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The girls share a common heritage, and their lives become increasingly interlinked as the story progresses with devasting consequences for one of them, The setting of a gangland club in Chelsea, captures the vibe of the sixties and the unique mix of fashionable and sordid which made this time in London iconic and a honey trap for naive girls.
The story doesn't shy away from abuse and violence because this is integral to the plot, but it is sensitively written and ensures the reader empathises with the heroines instantly. The ending is suspenseful, as you begin to wonder if everything the girls have achieved will be lost.
This is a memorable story, punctuated with vivid imagery and believable characters, not to be missed.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 11, 2018
Just finished reading this book and I totally loved it. It had everything, suspense, humour, great characters and a plot with a few twists in it. The ending was a bit predictable but very enjoyable and satisfying.
Three Irish girls, all with their own unique backstory and future plans, all linked by threads (invisible at times) but all convincing and really well developed characters. Kate Kerrigan is a really good storyteller. #Netgalley #ThatGirl
Three Irish girls, all with their own unique backstory and future plans, all linked by threads (invisible at times) but all convincing and really well developed characters. Kate Kerrigan is a really good storyteller. #Netgalley #ThatGirl
January 1, 2021
‘That Girl’ is a romance with a twist, set in the fascinating world of London during the swinging sixties.
Three girls leave Ireland to start lives in London where they get caught up in the grimy underworld of the sleazy gangster, Bobby Chevron where they discover that no matter how far you run your past will always catch up with you in the end.
Hanna is trying to escape from a horrifying crime, Lara is running away from a broken heart, while Noreen is looking for a final fling before she settles down to married life in her small Irish town. These three main characters were completely different, but they complemented each other perfectly. They all had their reasons for heading to London and dealt with the adversity they were faced with in different but equally strong ways. ‘That Girl’ really is a story of strong female characters getting stuff done no matter what.
I am a sucker for good historical fiction and Kate Kerrigan always does a brilliant job of setting the scene. I almost felt as though I was walking down King’s Street in its heyday and my feet were stuck to the floor of Bobby Chevron’s gangster nightclub. Five out of five stars!
Thank you Head of Zeus and Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a review copy.
Three girls leave Ireland to start lives in London where they get caught up in the grimy underworld of the sleazy gangster, Bobby Chevron where they discover that no matter how far you run your past will always catch up with you in the end.
Hanna is trying to escape from a horrifying crime, Lara is running away from a broken heart, while Noreen is looking for a final fling before she settles down to married life in her small Irish town. These three main characters were completely different, but they complemented each other perfectly. They all had their reasons for heading to London and dealt with the adversity they were faced with in different but equally strong ways. ‘That Girl’ really is a story of strong female characters getting stuff done no matter what.
I am a sucker for good historical fiction and Kate Kerrigan always does a brilliant job of setting the scene. I almost felt as though I was walking down King’s Street in its heyday and my feet were stuck to the floor of Bobby Chevron’s gangster nightclub. Five out of five stars!
Thank you Head of Zeus and Harper Collins Australia for providing me with a review copy.
May 26, 2018
How the hell does this have such good ratings? The writing is clunky and the characters and plot are hammy. Initially I thought it might be so bad it’s good, but no, it’s just bad.
I read a quarter of it, then skipped to the last chapter and it didn’t get any better.
I believed the praise and that’s $2 and two hours I’m not getting back....
I read a quarter of it, then skipped to the last chapter and it didn’t get any better.
I believed the praise and that’s $2 and two hours I’m not getting back....
February 18, 2018
I have been a long-time fan of Irish Kate Kerrigan since her first book, Recipes for a Perfect Marriage, came out in 2005. Since then I have devoured her standalone books, including her latest, That Girl. With its bold cover, That Girl is a warm tribute to London’s swinging 60s and the power of female friendship. It also sensitively deals with child abuse, sexual freedom and marriage through the three leading ladies Hanna, Lara and Noreen.
Whenever I read a chic lit book, I usually have a favourite character. To my surprise, I enjoyed spending time with all women equally. Told in the third person, the story begins with Hanna as she deals with the fallout of death in her family. Hanna has a heart-breaking history that had me riveted, especially when she took matters into her own hands. Initially quiet and submissive, Hanna was stronger person then I thought she was as she escaped Ireland and headed to London, where she met Lara.
Lara was the total opposite of Hanna, outgoing and confident, despite her rocky start to romance. Lara is running away from her partner who has made a decision that is not compatible with marriage. She too is unwaveringly brave as she moves to London where she unknowingly takes up a job with gangsters. Lara’s true passion lies in fashion though and I enjoyed reading about the clothes from this era. The pain that Lara felt from her finance could have hardened her heart against life but she keeps her innate kindness when she takes Hanna under her wing.
The third and final member of the gang is Noreen, probably the one girl I could least relate to as she was the polar opposite of me in many respects. Noreen is Lara’s finance’s sister who decides that marriage is no longer for her. As a long time friend of Lara’s, she finds her to London to experience the freedoms that it has to offer. Physically, Noreen is very much a country girl with her curvey pale skin but she is outspoken and bold, unafraid to stand up for herself and those around her.
Learning about 60s London together with the girls was a lot of fun but also a lesson in far women’s rights have come.
#Thanks to Beauty and Lace/Harper Collins Australia for providing me a free copy for review purposes#
Whenever I read a chic lit book, I usually have a favourite character. To my surprise, I enjoyed spending time with all women equally. Told in the third person, the story begins with Hanna as she deals with the fallout of death in her family. Hanna has a heart-breaking history that had me riveted, especially when she took matters into her own hands. Initially quiet and submissive, Hanna was stronger person then I thought she was as she escaped Ireland and headed to London, where she met Lara.
Lara was the total opposite of Hanna, outgoing and confident, despite her rocky start to romance. Lara is running away from her partner who has made a decision that is not compatible with marriage. She too is unwaveringly brave as she moves to London where she unknowingly takes up a job with gangsters. Lara’s true passion lies in fashion though and I enjoyed reading about the clothes from this era. The pain that Lara felt from her finance could have hardened her heart against life but she keeps her innate kindness when she takes Hanna under her wing.
The third and final member of the gang is Noreen, probably the one girl I could least relate to as she was the polar opposite of me in many respects. Noreen is Lara’s finance’s sister who decides that marriage is no longer for her. As a long time friend of Lara’s, she finds her to London to experience the freedoms that it has to offer. Physically, Noreen is very much a country girl with her curvey pale skin but she is outspoken and bold, unafraid to stand up for herself and those around her.
Learning about 60s London together with the girls was a lot of fun but also a lesson in far women’s rights have come.
#Thanks to Beauty and Lace/Harper Collins Australia for providing me a free copy for review purposes#
April 20, 2023
Giving it 3.75 stars. Not because I didn’t enjoy it but want to allow more room for books that deserve more. Like the read very much. The connections between all the characters was done well, with surprise twists throughout. A novel I wouldn’t have picked for myself (it came in a mystery book-advent calendar I got from christmas in 2021). Yes, took me over a year to pick up and read but glad I did.
The swinging 60’s, sparking the second wave feminism movement. Liked how the three main women were trying to break out of their ‘lot’ in life and take something for themselves - escaping an abusing step-father, healing a broken heart, being more than just a wife, following your own dreams. And understanding what real love means to them.
Once again, everything seamed to come to an end quickly, though I liked how Kate concluded each character, allowing them to be who they choose to be - fashion designer, model, wife, mother.
The swinging 60’s, sparking the second wave feminism movement. Liked how the three main women were trying to break out of their ‘lot’ in life and take something for themselves - escaping an abusing step-father, healing a broken heart, being more than just a wife, following your own dreams. And understanding what real love means to them.
Once again, everything seamed to come to an end quickly, though I liked how Kate concluded each character, allowing them to be who they choose to be - fashion designer, model, wife, mother.
September 13, 2022
This is such a lovely book about friendship and love. There’s some hard reading in parts but the whole story flows so smoothly.
It’s one of those books that you don’t want to end.
It’s one of those books that you don’t want to end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews