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Primrose Square #2
The Women of Primrose Square
When Frank Woods at number seventy-nine Primrose Square comes home to a surprise birthday party thrown by his wife and adoring children, it is his guests who get the real surprise.
Finding himself alone, he befriends the cantankerous Miss Hardcastle, who hasn't left her home for decades, and Emily Dunne - fresh out of rehab and desperate to make amends.
As gossip spreads through Primrose Square, every relationship is tested, and nothing in this close-knit community will ever be the same again . . .
Finding himself alone, he befriends the cantankerous Miss Hardcastle, who hasn't left her home for decades, and Emily Dunne - fresh out of rehab and desperate to make amends.
As gossip spreads through Primrose Square, every relationship is tested, and nothing in this close-knit community will ever be the same again . . .
432 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2019
64 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Claudia Carroll
42 books454 followersClaudia was born in Dublin and is a graduate of UCD, the College of Music and of the Gaiety School of Acting. Since then she has worked extensively as an actress on the Irish stage, but is probably best known for her role as TV’s Nicola Prendergast in the long running Dublin soap opera, ‘Fair City.’
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 8, 2019
I really enjoyed The Secrets of Primrose Square so I was really happy to see Claudia Carroll had based another book here. Although the location is the same we meet some different but fascinating residents with some great stories with merely a nod to the past book so this could easily be a stand-alone book too, at the very least I didn’t need to remember the previous stories to enjoy this. I was amused how Frank didn’t work out why literally everyone was busy on the night of his birthday however I didn’t see how that was going to turn out! His story and that of his wife Gracie were sympathetically told, I could have happily read just about these two as the story of their family could easily have filled the book and I’m glad Amber dealt with things as she did, children are genuinely able to cope with the truth. Emily and Violet were both prickly characters with good stories, Violet’s was horrifying but Emily’s whilst upsetting would have benefitted from a little more back story. These characters all developed well throughout the book and the storylines were solidly written, this is a lovely warm hearted read.
May 24, 2020
I loved the premise of the book, a man on his 50th surprise birthday shocks his family and friends by being dressed as a woman.... What happens next? A woman comes out from alcohol rehab and breaks the last time with the only member of her family who would have anything to do with her....what happens next? Miss Violet Hardcastle, she can only be called that, the witch of Primrose Square, the joke of the community, why is she that way? I've always loved the way stories set in Ireland are told, ordinary people living ordinary lives and being sledgehammered by this struggle called life, just like all of us. I've been blessed with nuggets of deep wisdom in these seemingly simple stories.
The end of the book tied up a bit too perfect, but then that's exactly why I love these books. They give us hope that even if it isn't all perfect it can be perfect at just this moment 💥💥💥💥💥
The end of the book tied up a bit too perfect, but then that's exactly why I love these books. They give us hope that even if it isn't all perfect it can be perfect at just this moment 💥💥💥💥💥
November 13, 2019
This is a heartwarming book that will give you hope in humanity. Another wonderful book by Claudia Carroll... It's the second time I come visit the Primrose Square and its inhabitants. This time we enter the home of Frank and his family, Violet and Emily. Frank who is going through a gender transformation, Emily who is recovering from an alcoholic past and trying to regain the love of her family and Violet who is trying to make peace with her past. This is a wonderful book with 3 very serious topics but so heartwarming that it will touch you deep inside. And it's so well written! a 5 stars book!!!! I highly recommend it! If you want high quality women's fiction / chicklit book, this is the one!!!
October 25, 2021
Second book in a series, which can be read individually, as the connection between the books is simply the place where the main characters live: the fictional Primrose Square, in Dublin city. This is a character-driven story, but the characters are not that well build in my opinion, they all feel quite fictional and for me it was hard to connect with them.
It attempts to be an emotional, and for moments funny story, but it did not make me feel much (beyond boredom), or made me laugh at all. Every time I felt the story was getting somewhat interesting it would be for just a few pages and then back to being boring. I really tried to keep reading but I couldn’t even make it to half of the book, and decided it wasn’t working for me.
Lots of characters are involved in the story, but there are three main ones, and the chapters mostly focus in one of them at the time, with few parts focussed on other characters related to one of those three. The excuse of following these three stories is that the characters move together to the same house early in the book, the one that belongs to one of them: Violet. She is a bitter old lady, probably agoraphobic, which up to that moment was living all alone in a rather deteriorated Victorian house. Violet adores the UK’s royalty and hates almost everybody else. She has little to no money, so she agrees to take in some lodgers in her house. One of them is Emily, an alcoholic just out of rehab, which due to her addiction is not in good terms with her family, and practically has no one in her life. As far as I read, we get to know a bit of her past, and then her story is focussed on her trying to be forgiven by her family. She’s not an enjoyable character to read, and her story was very slow and a big snooze, as far as I got to read. On the other hand, we also get to know about Violet’s past, which I guess would explain why she is such a hateful person (and a traumatized one?), but couldn’t get to know much about her either. It did seem to be a slightly more interesting story arch, but it was so interrupted by the other stories that her past was unfolded too slowly, it was hard to understand this character more deeply and I lost interest in her. And then, the third character is, I guess, the story that most people would be interested in: Frank/Francesca. The story starts following them as Frank, a middle age man, father and husband, that suddenly gets caught living their “secret life” as a trans woman. Hmm… The character is not that unlikeable, and the topic ‒ if written correctly ‒ can be definitely very interesting, but I don’t think the matter is correctly addressed in the book. An obvious point is that the author did not even bother to use the correct pronouns with them, even if Frank says they always felt like a woman, the author keeps using “he/him/his” for many chapters. I had the impression that Frank can’t be considered fully a woman (from their point of view, and the author’s one) if they are not looking like a ‒ rather traditional ‒ woman; that is, to wear make-up, a dress and high heel shoes. So at the end of the day, I couldn’t like this story line much either. This is also due to the fact of how it starts; the situations are so negative and sad that it was not pleasant to read. I have no doubt that trans lives are not easy, even in today’s time and in somewhat progressive countries (like Ireland is), but I’m sceptical that a trans person can be so extremely rejected by ALL of their loved ones and their peers. Francesca is initially rejected by everybody but their new therapist, with some people apparently not totally rejecting them but without offering real support and a friendship either. The least realistic part is that Frank is quite discriminated at the office, somebody even leaves a note that reads “FREAK” in their desk… which in today’s Ireland would be a big issue, I reckon that most companies wouldn’t let it pass without consequences. So, at the end of the day, this story too felt quite fictional, slow and not enjoyable.
I also had issues with smaller details of the book and, as people that know me can say, I’m really into details. One of the things that I disliked from the book is how plain most of the secondary characters are. I guess some of them must be the protagonists of the first book, but in this occasion they are all presented in such a plain way that it felt like they were all the same character (despite having different names), they all played the “good and kind female neighbour” role. It added to the main issue of the book: its artificiality and lack of depth. When I started to read the book, those interactions between the neighbours made me roll my eyes quite often, because the contrast between “this character is a nice person, this character is not” was so obvious, it felt very cheap.
It attempts to be an emotional, and for moments funny story, but it did not make me feel much (beyond boredom), or made me laugh at all. Every time I felt the story was getting somewhat interesting it would be for just a few pages and then back to being boring. I really tried to keep reading but I couldn’t even make it to half of the book, and decided it wasn’t working for me.
Lots of characters are involved in the story, but there are three main ones, and the chapters mostly focus in one of them at the time, with few parts focussed on other characters related to one of those three. The excuse of following these three stories is that the characters move together to the same house early in the book, the one that belongs to one of them: Violet. She is a bitter old lady, probably agoraphobic, which up to that moment was living all alone in a rather deteriorated Victorian house. Violet adores the UK’s royalty and hates almost everybody else. She has little to no money, so she agrees to take in some lodgers in her house. One of them is Emily, an alcoholic just out of rehab, which due to her addiction is not in good terms with her family, and practically has no one in her life. As far as I read, we get to know a bit of her past, and then her story is focussed on her trying to be forgiven by her family. She’s not an enjoyable character to read, and her story was very slow and a big snooze, as far as I got to read. On the other hand, we also get to know about Violet’s past, which I guess would explain why she is such a hateful person (and a traumatized one?), but couldn’t get to know much about her either. It did seem to be a slightly more interesting story arch, but it was so interrupted by the other stories that her past was unfolded too slowly, it was hard to understand this character more deeply and I lost interest in her. And then, the third character is, I guess, the story that most people would be interested in: Frank/Francesca. The story starts following them as Frank, a middle age man, father and husband, that suddenly gets caught living their “secret life” as a trans woman. Hmm… The character is not that unlikeable, and the topic ‒ if written correctly ‒ can be definitely very interesting, but I don’t think the matter is correctly addressed in the book. An obvious point is that the author did not even bother to use the correct pronouns with them, even if Frank says they always felt like a woman, the author keeps using “he/him/his” for many chapters. I had the impression that Frank can’t be considered fully a woman (from their point of view, and the author’s one) if they are not looking like a ‒ rather traditional ‒ woman; that is, to wear make-up, a dress and high heel shoes. So at the end of the day, I couldn’t like this story line much either. This is also due to the fact of how it starts; the situations are so negative and sad that it was not pleasant to read. I have no doubt that trans lives are not easy, even in today’s time and in somewhat progressive countries (like Ireland is), but I’m sceptical that a trans person can be so extremely rejected by ALL of their loved ones and their peers. Francesca is initially rejected by everybody but their new therapist, with some people apparently not totally rejecting them but without offering real support and a friendship either. The least realistic part is that Frank is quite discriminated at the office, somebody even leaves a note that reads “FREAK” in their desk… which in today’s Ireland would be a big issue, I reckon that most companies wouldn’t let it pass without consequences. So, at the end of the day, this story too felt quite fictional, slow and not enjoyable.
I also had issues with smaller details of the book and, as people that know me can say, I’m really into details. One of the things that I disliked from the book is how plain most of the secondary characters are. I guess some of them must be the protagonists of the first book, but in this occasion they are all presented in such a plain way that it felt like they were all the same character (despite having different names), they all played the “good and kind female neighbour” role. It added to the main issue of the book: its artificiality and lack of depth. When I started to read the book, those interactions between the neighbours made me roll my eyes quite often, because the contrast between “this character is a nice person, this character is not” was so obvious, it felt very cheap.
August 20, 2019
I was thrilled to see that Claudia Carroll had decided to write a follow up story to her brilliant book The Secrets of Primrose Square which was published last year. I had enjoyed that story so much and felt Claudia had created a wonderful space packed full of characters with realistic, difficult but ultimately heart-warming and life affirming stories to tell. I had wondered would she write anything else set on Primrose Square as there was a real feeling at the end that there could be a lot more to come from the residents and that several were waiting in the wings to share their various stories. Thankfully Claudia felt the same and now here we are a year later and we have The Women of Primrose Square which was another fantastic, at times hard hitting and a very much thought provoking story.
This is a brilliant, dynamic and modern story with three very distinct characters at its centre all battling with problems and issues which affect how they are living their lives on a day-to-day basis but soon connections are established between the trio and it's not long before the magic of Primrose Square, the strength and resilience of the characters and above all else the bonds of friendship and community spirit start to weave their spell. Will all involved find the resolution, forgiveness, acceptance and understanding they so desperately seek and very much deserve?
As I write this review The Women of Primrose Square sits at number one in the Irish original fiction charts and this is a place it very much merits. I quickly become all consumed by the storylines and it felt like I was returning to a familiar setting even though the characters that featured in the first book very much play a secondary role in this new story if any part at all. That didn't bother me at all because this wasn't a continuation of their lives rather we were expanding further into Primrose Square to meet different people and to see how their lives have been altered by the situation they find themselves in. This can easily be read as a stand alone book but I would urge you to read The Secrets of Primrose Square at some point too simply because these are two excellent books which highlight that Claudia Carroll is enjoying her writing just as much as she ever has and that she shouldn't be classed as light women's fiction because this story has so much depth and emotion and deals with topics very relevant to the ever shifting tides in today's society.
The characters in this story are complex and flawed but never dull and they each have some unique qualities hidden deep down that when they come to the surface they can use these to help others. Sometimes you need other people's viewpoints in order to make sense of your own situations. I can't say I favoured one character over the other because they each had such varied stories that kept me interested and intrigued as to how their problems could be overcome. That's testament to Claudia's writing that I liked all of the three main characters equally because usually I am drawn to one character.
In an absolute cracker of an opening chapter, that leaves you open mouthed in shock but yet really does set the scene for the themes of the book, we meet Frank Woods. He is just about to turn 50 and unusually for his personality he would love to have a fiftieth birthday party but everyone he asks be it family members, work colleagues or the residents of Primrose Square all say they are too busy. He is devastated that wife Gracie, son Ben and daughter Amber apparently couldn't care less about this milestone birthday. As he arrives home dejected and wanting to let loose and be his normal self, he opens the door and in that moment his life is changed forever. It's not Frank who gets the biggest surprise rather it's his friends and family who have gathered to throw a surprise party. What that surprise was you'll just have to read this wonderful book and see.
Frank was such a brilliantly written character who had so many sides to his personality. Such research must have been undertaken in order to portray him in a meaningful, considerate and respectful manner. He is a multi faceted person and I was glad he wasn't over the top instead we follow him as he attempted to come to terms with the events at the party. All poor Frank wants to do is reach out to his family, to explain and to be understood but Gracie is so wrapped up in her work as a lawyer that she is easily able to compartmentalise things and she is just not that open to speaking at all.
As for Ben and Amber the words anger yet innocence spring to mind. The scene between the pair as they enjoy a movie night was one of the best I have read in a book in a long long time. Such a simple explanation if only the entire world could view things the way Amber does – uncomplicated with no strings attached and just letting things be the way they are with no need for change. To many Frank may seem staid, boring and unpredictable but he was a character with such depth and layers who as with the others showed normal and predictable don't exist. Before he knows it Frank finds himself inhabiting one of Violet Hardcastle's rooms and through his own circumstances he can perhaps set about changing the fortunes of a woman who has not left her house in years.
Violet, or 'Violent' Hardcastle as she is known, is the resident crank of the square who sits in her window yelling expletives at those she judges to commit misdemeanours. She writes letter of complaint at every opportunity and really is a woman who was old before her time and is being eaten up with something hidden very much deep in the recess of her heart and mind. The house is falling down around Violet who has a layer of armour surrounding her as well as hoards of junk and royal souvenirs but this was not always the case as the house was once one of the grandest on the square. Due to her financial difficulties and the fact she can not even cross the threshold of her own house out into the open air she agrees when pressed by neighbour Jayne to take in some lodgers to earn some money.
Violet is full of sharp comments and retorts and is known as mad and a lunatic she doesn't want to get close to anybody but slowly starts to realise she needs company and that if she continues the way she has been going she will slowly fade away in her house. She is sour, bad tempered, uptight and not someone you would wish to sit down with and have a nice cup of tea and a chat. Surely there had to be a very valid reason for the way Violet was acting? She couldn't have been like that all her life. There is always a reason behind the actions, views and opinions of people and when the truth emerges re Violet. It's bitter-sweet and heartbreaking and again another storyline written to perfection.
The final piece of the puzzle is Emily Dunne, who herself had made a very brief appearance in the previous book. She is recently discharged from rehab and deep down she knows she has an awful lot to make amends for. But she is struggling with accepting that all her cruel, hurtful and detrimental actions of the past had such devastating, far reaching long lasting consequences on those around her. I felt Emily even though she had gone through the process of rehab was still rebelling against it and that she still had a long road on her journey to getting back to the person she was before drink took a firm hold that's even if she remembered who that person had been.
Emily was eaten up by anger and resentment and she was very much down on her luck with all family doors being closed to her due to her actions that to many were very much unforgivable but when you are in the deep grips of an illness you really have no idea what you are doing or capable of not to mention you have scant regard for those around you who love you. As Emily reluctantly accepts a room with Violet the pair really rub each other up the wrong way and the reader wonders will Emily ever be able to apologise to those who are desperately waiting to hear it in meaningful way or has she gone too far down the path of hurt and destruction and doors will forever remain closed to her?
Emily was a character who was opinionated, unruly and at times very rude. It was like she couldn't leave her wild days behind her that the essence of that person still has residues left inside her. She needed to exorcise them before she could seek the forgiveness of those who had been affected most by her actions. But slowly I started to warm to her and again it's because of the way Claudia wrote her character. She really does show the warts and all of everyone and I love that everything is not all sweetness and light. That the characters are struggling for various reasons because life is not a bed of roses for everyone in reality so why should it be the same for people in books.
So many themes, emotions and issues are explored throughout The Women of Primrose Square and all are handled and dealt with so well. Never once do they feel forced or contrived instead all the strands of the story work separately when the need arises but when brought together combine to make a truly memorable and remarkable story. Honesty, equality, loyalty, acceptance, forgiveness, pain, humiliation, suffering, trauma, love and understanding. All these feelings and many more are explored in this book that has you from the very first chapter and it is impossible to stop reading once you begin. Claudia Carroll deserves every success with this superb read and please don't say it will be the last we have heard from Primrose Square.
This is a brilliant, dynamic and modern story with three very distinct characters at its centre all battling with problems and issues which affect how they are living their lives on a day-to-day basis but soon connections are established between the trio and it's not long before the magic of Primrose Square, the strength and resilience of the characters and above all else the bonds of friendship and community spirit start to weave their spell. Will all involved find the resolution, forgiveness, acceptance and understanding they so desperately seek and very much deserve?
As I write this review The Women of Primrose Square sits at number one in the Irish original fiction charts and this is a place it very much merits. I quickly become all consumed by the storylines and it felt like I was returning to a familiar setting even though the characters that featured in the first book very much play a secondary role in this new story if any part at all. That didn't bother me at all because this wasn't a continuation of their lives rather we were expanding further into Primrose Square to meet different people and to see how their lives have been altered by the situation they find themselves in. This can easily be read as a stand alone book but I would urge you to read The Secrets of Primrose Square at some point too simply because these are two excellent books which highlight that Claudia Carroll is enjoying her writing just as much as she ever has and that she shouldn't be classed as light women's fiction because this story has so much depth and emotion and deals with topics very relevant to the ever shifting tides in today's society.
The characters in this story are complex and flawed but never dull and they each have some unique qualities hidden deep down that when they come to the surface they can use these to help others. Sometimes you need other people's viewpoints in order to make sense of your own situations. I can't say I favoured one character over the other because they each had such varied stories that kept me interested and intrigued as to how their problems could be overcome. That's testament to Claudia's writing that I liked all of the three main characters equally because usually I am drawn to one character.
In an absolute cracker of an opening chapter, that leaves you open mouthed in shock but yet really does set the scene for the themes of the book, we meet Frank Woods. He is just about to turn 50 and unusually for his personality he would love to have a fiftieth birthday party but everyone he asks be it family members, work colleagues or the residents of Primrose Square all say they are too busy. He is devastated that wife Gracie, son Ben and daughter Amber apparently couldn't care less about this milestone birthday. As he arrives home dejected and wanting to let loose and be his normal self, he opens the door and in that moment his life is changed forever. It's not Frank who gets the biggest surprise rather it's his friends and family who have gathered to throw a surprise party. What that surprise was you'll just have to read this wonderful book and see.
Frank was such a brilliantly written character who had so many sides to his personality. Such research must have been undertaken in order to portray him in a meaningful, considerate and respectful manner. He is a multi faceted person and I was glad he wasn't over the top instead we follow him as he attempted to come to terms with the events at the party. All poor Frank wants to do is reach out to his family, to explain and to be understood but Gracie is so wrapped up in her work as a lawyer that she is easily able to compartmentalise things and she is just not that open to speaking at all.
As for Ben and Amber the words anger yet innocence spring to mind. The scene between the pair as they enjoy a movie night was one of the best I have read in a book in a long long time. Such a simple explanation if only the entire world could view things the way Amber does – uncomplicated with no strings attached and just letting things be the way they are with no need for change. To many Frank may seem staid, boring and unpredictable but he was a character with such depth and layers who as with the others showed normal and predictable don't exist. Before he knows it Frank finds himself inhabiting one of Violet Hardcastle's rooms and through his own circumstances he can perhaps set about changing the fortunes of a woman who has not left her house in years.
Violet, or 'Violent' Hardcastle as she is known, is the resident crank of the square who sits in her window yelling expletives at those she judges to commit misdemeanours. She writes letter of complaint at every opportunity and really is a woman who was old before her time and is being eaten up with something hidden very much deep in the recess of her heart and mind. The house is falling down around Violet who has a layer of armour surrounding her as well as hoards of junk and royal souvenirs but this was not always the case as the house was once one of the grandest on the square. Due to her financial difficulties and the fact she can not even cross the threshold of her own house out into the open air she agrees when pressed by neighbour Jayne to take in some lodgers to earn some money.
Violet is full of sharp comments and retorts and is known as mad and a lunatic she doesn't want to get close to anybody but slowly starts to realise she needs company and that if she continues the way she has been going she will slowly fade away in her house. She is sour, bad tempered, uptight and not someone you would wish to sit down with and have a nice cup of tea and a chat. Surely there had to be a very valid reason for the way Violet was acting? She couldn't have been like that all her life. There is always a reason behind the actions, views and opinions of people and when the truth emerges re Violet. It's bitter-sweet and heartbreaking and again another storyline written to perfection.
The final piece of the puzzle is Emily Dunne, who herself had made a very brief appearance in the previous book. She is recently discharged from rehab and deep down she knows she has an awful lot to make amends for. But she is struggling with accepting that all her cruel, hurtful and detrimental actions of the past had such devastating, far reaching long lasting consequences on those around her. I felt Emily even though she had gone through the process of rehab was still rebelling against it and that she still had a long road on her journey to getting back to the person she was before drink took a firm hold that's even if she remembered who that person had been.
Emily was eaten up by anger and resentment and she was very much down on her luck with all family doors being closed to her due to her actions that to many were very much unforgivable but when you are in the deep grips of an illness you really have no idea what you are doing or capable of not to mention you have scant regard for those around you who love you. As Emily reluctantly accepts a room with Violet the pair really rub each other up the wrong way and the reader wonders will Emily ever be able to apologise to those who are desperately waiting to hear it in meaningful way or has she gone too far down the path of hurt and destruction and doors will forever remain closed to her?
Emily was a character who was opinionated, unruly and at times very rude. It was like she couldn't leave her wild days behind her that the essence of that person still has residues left inside her. She needed to exorcise them before she could seek the forgiveness of those who had been affected most by her actions. But slowly I started to warm to her and again it's because of the way Claudia wrote her character. She really does show the warts and all of everyone and I love that everything is not all sweetness and light. That the characters are struggling for various reasons because life is not a bed of roses for everyone in reality so why should it be the same for people in books.
So many themes, emotions and issues are explored throughout The Women of Primrose Square and all are handled and dealt with so well. Never once do they feel forced or contrived instead all the strands of the story work separately when the need arises but when brought together combine to make a truly memorable and remarkable story. Honesty, equality, loyalty, acceptance, forgiveness, pain, humiliation, suffering, trauma, love and understanding. All these feelings and many more are explored in this book that has you from the very first chapter and it is impossible to stop reading once you begin. Claudia Carroll deserves every success with this superb read and please don't say it will be the last we have heard from Primrose Square.
November 12, 2019
The end of the first chapter had me still gasping a couple of hours later! This book goes for the big punch straight away and makes you want to keep reading.
This is the second book in the Primrose Square series, following the residents of a leafy Dublin suburb. This time we are following Frank who has been keeping a secret for as long as he can remember and it is going to be exposed in the most public fashion. We also meet Violet Hardcastle, an elderly lady who sees the bad in everyone and everything. However, she has a tragic past that has made her the way she is. We also see Emily again; we first met her at the rehab centre in the first book. This time, though, she gets a starring role, but can she hack the pressure?
When I saw the title of the book ‘the women’ and read the blurb, I was a little perplexed as Frank is mentioned; however, it all begins to make sense the more you read.
I loved Violet’s backstory. I could have read an entire book about her and what had happened to her. It was beyond tragic. It was hard to believe her past was set in the 60s as it seemed more like the Victorian era. The way she spoke and the actions of those around her were so antiquated and didn’t sit well with the love harmony that you think of being the 60s. This is intentional, though. It was very well done.
Frank’s story was very hard to get my head around. I thought the author navigated what could have been potentially a million minefields very well and certainly opened my eyes to the struggles of people in similar circumstances to Frank.
It was great for there to be cameos from the ‘cast’ we had met in the first book. We got to see Jayne again, who is such a heart-warming character!
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read that covered a range of issues and topics. I really hope that this isn’t the end of Primrose Square and we get to go back soon to meet some of the other crazy characters that must be living behind those doors!
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
This is the second book in the Primrose Square series, following the residents of a leafy Dublin suburb. This time we are following Frank who has been keeping a secret for as long as he can remember and it is going to be exposed in the most public fashion. We also meet Violet Hardcastle, an elderly lady who sees the bad in everyone and everything. However, she has a tragic past that has made her the way she is. We also see Emily again; we first met her at the rehab centre in the first book. This time, though, she gets a starring role, but can she hack the pressure?
When I saw the title of the book ‘the women’ and read the blurb, I was a little perplexed as Frank is mentioned; however, it all begins to make sense the more you read.
I loved Violet’s backstory. I could have read an entire book about her and what had happened to her. It was beyond tragic. It was hard to believe her past was set in the 60s as it seemed more like the Victorian era. The way she spoke and the actions of those around her were so antiquated and didn’t sit well with the love harmony that you think of being the 60s. This is intentional, though. It was very well done.
Frank’s story was very hard to get my head around. I thought the author navigated what could have been potentially a million minefields very well and certainly opened my eyes to the struggles of people in similar circumstances to Frank.
It was great for there to be cameos from the ‘cast’ we had met in the first book. We got to see Jayne again, who is such a heart-warming character!
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read that covered a range of issues and topics. I really hope that this isn’t the end of Primrose Square and we get to go back soon to meet some of the other crazy characters that must be living behind those doors!
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
November 26, 2019
Nice easy read but fairly superficial. Some really meaty topics which were dealt with and sorted by the end of the story.
June 6, 2022
This isn't damning with faint praise, but I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would! The cover and blurb put me off a bit; I do not enjoy so-called "chick-lit", but was pleasantly surprised. At the end of the day, this is a novel about realising who you are, and asking people to accept that. OK, there is a reasonable amount of fluff with this, but it was well written, with good characterisation (even if some of it was a bit one-dimensional in places).
Blurb:
Welcome to Primrose Square.
When Frank Woods at number seventy-nine Primrose Square comes home to a surprise birthday party thrown by his wife and adoring children, it is his guests who get the real surprise.
Finding himself alone, he befriends the cantankerous Miss Hardcastle, who hasn't left her home for decades, and Emily Dunne - fresh out of rehab and desperate to make amends.
As gossip spreads through Primrose Square, every relationship is tested, and nothing in this close-knit community will ever be the same again ...
You can see why the blurb put me off. As did the lilac cover with a squirly font. Put that behind you, and have some solid holiday reading.
Thanks to A Box of Stories #ABoS for the inclusion of this in one of my boxes. I subscribed to ABoS to read things that I wouldn't have picked up from a book shop, and this fits the bill nicely. Not a keeper, and it will go to the charity shop, but it was OK.
Blurb:
Welcome to Primrose Square.
When Frank Woods at number seventy-nine Primrose Square comes home to a surprise birthday party thrown by his wife and adoring children, it is his guests who get the real surprise.
Finding himself alone, he befriends the cantankerous Miss Hardcastle, who hasn't left her home for decades, and Emily Dunne - fresh out of rehab and desperate to make amends.
As gossip spreads through Primrose Square, every relationship is tested, and nothing in this close-knit community will ever be the same again ...
You can see why the blurb put me off. As did the lilac cover with a squirly font. Put that behind you, and have some solid holiday reading.
Thanks to A Box of Stories #ABoS for the inclusion of this in one of my boxes. I subscribed to ABoS to read things that I wouldn't have picked up from a book shop, and this fits the bill nicely. Not a keeper, and it will go to the charity shop, but it was OK.
August 19, 2019
Pure unadulterated feel-good reading at its best. This book is bra off, pj's on, Yorkshire tea and a chocolate Hobnob while snuggled up in a comfy armchair kind of read. Who doesn't love a happy ending, and alright, you just know there'll be one, but enjoy the journey, - relish the happiness! Doom, gloom and dystopia has its place in the literary world, but not on Primrose Square it doesn't. These householders may not initially cause you to gravitate towards them, - some may even make you want to lob a brick through their window, but life in the Square and Claudia Carroll decrees everyone will get what they deserve in the end. Karma. What goes around comes around and all that jazz. Poor Frank. The stuff he has to endure in the workplace makes you want to leap to his defence and punch his colleagues in the throat. But then, poor Gracie, the forlorn wife who's not half the woman he is... My loyalties fluctuated like a see-saw with a motorised V8 engine. Each and every page had me aglow with contentment and pleasure and as the book progressed, so did my liking of this oddball little community. Great read.
September 11, 2019
I listened to this as an audio book rather than read it.
This book was about some very serious topics and certainly gives the reader a lot to think about. It was great being back in primrose Square but this book could be read as as a standalone as it doesn't really cross over with the first book too much.
It flowed really well and was very enjoyable to listen to. I shall certainly seek out more books by Claudia Carroll in the future.
This book was about some very serious topics and certainly gives the reader a lot to think about. It was great being back in primrose Square but this book could be read as as a standalone as it doesn't really cross over with the first book too much.
It flowed really well and was very enjoyable to listen to. I shall certainly seek out more books by Claudia Carroll in the future.
January 3, 2020
Absolutely loved it! The characters really draw you in!
February 8, 2020
Claudia has done it again. She manages to address serious issues in such a charming way and with lots of humour. Loved the new characters in Primrose Square and really enjoyed the ‘back to the past’ chapters.
More Primrose Square books, please!
More Primrose Square books, please!
April 4, 2024
What an incredibly strange book
March 12, 2021
3 / 5 ⭐
📖
This was an easy, quick read, just when I wanted something lighthearted!
Claudia Carroll does a fantastic job of describing "ordinary" people in "ordinary" Ireland; a bit like all our lives really! Some serious issues are woven in to the storyline of the book, however, even though i assumed there would be a happy ending, it was all sewn up a little too neatly in my opinion.
Overall though, a light, funny read over a weekend that kept me turning the pages!
📖
This was an easy, quick read, just when I wanted something lighthearted!
Claudia Carroll does a fantastic job of describing "ordinary" people in "ordinary" Ireland; a bit like all our lives really! Some serious issues are woven in to the storyline of the book, however, even though i assumed there would be a happy ending, it was all sewn up a little too neatly in my opinion.
Overall though, a light, funny read over a weekend that kept me turning the pages!
July 1, 2020
Listened to this in audiobook format - really enjoyed the story, but the voice the narrator puts on for the male characters in the book (lower and heavy and 'man-like') really began to grate on my nerves. Still, the plot line was interesting, dealt with some big issues, and kept me listening till the end!
June 1, 2020
An easy feelgood read. I read this over a sunny weekend and it ticked all the boxes.
January 4, 2020
I didn’t expect to adore this The Women of Primrose Square as much as I did, and while it is not without flaws, this is a feel-good, tearing up on the bus 5-star read.
Frank is dependable, he is loved by his family, but he is also wallpaper, and whether he is at work or at home, he is taken for granted. On the day of his 50th, he makes a choice that blows up in his face the minute he walks through the door to be faced with everyone that ignored him all day on his birthday there for his surprise party… and all eyes are on him.
Emily is a recovering alcoholic, who has been disowned by her family for basically drinking her parents’ house away. Freshly out of rehab she is bitter, and doesn’t quite know what to do with herself until her AA sponsor, Leon, starts her on the 12 step program that includes making amends with everyone she’s hurt. It’s then that Emily starts to see and acknowledge the hurt she’s caused and begins to want to try, properly, to make amends.
Violet Hardcastle is a hardcase. She has lived on the Square for decades, and everyone knows her and everyone hates her. She’s the woman who’ll write scathing letters to everyone that she can view from her window messing up the square or daring to darken her front door — like Ben, Frank’s son, who knocked on her door when he was eight for Halloween candy, earning his parents a scathing letter from Violet about how his knocking scratched the paint on the door.
However, there’s a fourth woman, Grace, who is Frank’s wife. And while she may not be on the cover, she’s worth a mention because his story can’t be told without her.
Frank
I’m not going to say the decision Frank made on his birthday, but I will say it breaks his family apart. It’s probably not what you think though.
He moves into Violet’s house as a lodger, to remain close to his family while he makes decisions about his future, and Grace is left trying to figure out how her family broke apart in one night, and how she never really knew her husband. It’s all going to sound like he’s having an affair, but he’s not.
Frank loves Grace, he really does. But he’s spent a lifetime hiding who he is and his birthday party forces him to own up to what he wants. In a life being the perfect someone for everyone else, that’s a revelation for Frank, and it scares the crap out of him because it could cost him his family. Together, he and Grace try to navigate this new world he’s thrust them into without ever asking her.
That’s the beauty of this book — I was firmly Team Frank, because Carroll beautifully portrayed someone delighting in acknowledging all parts of himself, but who loves his family. And Grace, who is so angry and bitter at Frank for putting their kids in such a confused position — as she should be. But Grace also loves Frank, and to read her as she begins to understand him, is so wonderful — there are no lightning rods, per say, but Grace forces herself to examine who she is, who she wants to be as a person as she considers Frank’s decisions.
I will say that I wish that sort of depth had been given to their kids as they come to terms with their father’s choice, but that didn’t detract from the joy of this book.
Emily
Emily is lost. Alcohol has been her BFF for so long, that after rehab there are days where she doesn’t know what do with herself, besides arguing with Violet. However, Leon forces her to get started on making amends with her family, and it’s then the book delves into her past a bit, about who she was and what she’s truly done.
Her family have every right to hate her, but she is trying to make amends at the same time, acknowledging the hurt she’s caused, and knowing whatever she does may never be enough. Again, Carroll makes you see two sides to every story.
It’s a wonderful character exploration of someone who realises they actually can be better than they think.
Violet
Violet grew up knowing she had to be perfect, she had to present the refined cultured Dublin High Society face to the world — the one her strict father wanted. When she doesn’t, she is discarded by her father, and forced to endure life in a Magadalene convent that were notorious for the way they treated women who were fallen.
Years later, we realise that Violet’s grouchy exterior hides a deep-seated fear borne of those experiences. It’s on an anniversary that Emily begins to realise just how complex a character Violet is.
Throw these women together and you have a set of housemates and characters who work well off each other and make the story such a joy to read. I wanted more from certain parts of the ending for these women, but at the same time, it’s not the ending that really matters — it’s their journey there which is what this book is all about.
Frank is dependable, he is loved by his family, but he is also wallpaper, and whether he is at work or at home, he is taken for granted. On the day of his 50th, he makes a choice that blows up in his face the minute he walks through the door to be faced with everyone that ignored him all day on his birthday there for his surprise party… and all eyes are on him.
Emily is a recovering alcoholic, who has been disowned by her family for basically drinking her parents’ house away. Freshly out of rehab she is bitter, and doesn’t quite know what to do with herself until her AA sponsor, Leon, starts her on the 12 step program that includes making amends with everyone she’s hurt. It’s then that Emily starts to see and acknowledge the hurt she’s caused and begins to want to try, properly, to make amends.
Violet Hardcastle is a hardcase. She has lived on the Square for decades, and everyone knows her and everyone hates her. She’s the woman who’ll write scathing letters to everyone that she can view from her window messing up the square or daring to darken her front door — like Ben, Frank’s son, who knocked on her door when he was eight for Halloween candy, earning his parents a scathing letter from Violet about how his knocking scratched the paint on the door.
However, there’s a fourth woman, Grace, who is Frank’s wife. And while she may not be on the cover, she’s worth a mention because his story can’t be told without her.
Frank
I’m not going to say the decision Frank made on his birthday, but I will say it breaks his family apart. It’s probably not what you think though.
He moves into Violet’s house as a lodger, to remain close to his family while he makes decisions about his future, and Grace is left trying to figure out how her family broke apart in one night, and how she never really knew her husband. It’s all going to sound like he’s having an affair, but he’s not.
Frank loves Grace, he really does. But he’s spent a lifetime hiding who he is and his birthday party forces him to own up to what he wants. In a life being the perfect someone for everyone else, that’s a revelation for Frank, and it scares the crap out of him because it could cost him his family. Together, he and Grace try to navigate this new world he’s thrust them into without ever asking her.
That’s the beauty of this book — I was firmly Team Frank, because Carroll beautifully portrayed someone delighting in acknowledging all parts of himself, but who loves his family. And Grace, who is so angry and bitter at Frank for putting their kids in such a confused position — as she should be. But Grace also loves Frank, and to read her as she begins to understand him, is so wonderful — there are no lightning rods, per say, but Grace forces herself to examine who she is, who she wants to be as a person as she considers Frank’s decisions.
I will say that I wish that sort of depth had been given to their kids as they come to terms with their father’s choice, but that didn’t detract from the joy of this book.
Emily
Emily is lost. Alcohol has been her BFF for so long, that after rehab there are days where she doesn’t know what do with herself, besides arguing with Violet. However, Leon forces her to get started on making amends with her family, and it’s then the book delves into her past a bit, about who she was and what she’s truly done.
Her family have every right to hate her, but she is trying to make amends at the same time, acknowledging the hurt she’s caused, and knowing whatever she does may never be enough. Again, Carroll makes you see two sides to every story.
It’s a wonderful character exploration of someone who realises they actually can be better than they think.
Violet
Violet grew up knowing she had to be perfect, she had to present the refined cultured Dublin High Society face to the world — the one her strict father wanted. When she doesn’t, she is discarded by her father, and forced to endure life in a Magadalene convent that were notorious for the way they treated women who were fallen.
Years later, we realise that Violet’s grouchy exterior hides a deep-seated fear borne of those experiences. It’s on an anniversary that Emily begins to realise just how complex a character Violet is.
Throw these women together and you have a set of housemates and characters who work well off each other and make the story such a joy to read. I wanted more from certain parts of the ending for these women, but at the same time, it’s not the ending that really matters — it’s their journey there which is what this book is all about.
June 16, 2021
The Woman Of Primrose Square is Irish author Claudia Carroll’s sequel to The Secrets Of Primrose Square. It has been languishing of my bookshelf for the last two years and I decided to listen to it on audible instead. Aoife McMahon is the narrator, and she had a pleasant voice. However, I struggled with the character voices McMahon employed. Being ridiculously deep, the voices used for the different males were too similar while the children’s voices were annoyingly squeaky. Being a fan of Carroll helped me get through the difficulties I had to enjoy a storyline that dealt with contemporary issues. From transgender to alcoholism to the Mary Magdalene Laundry, the topics were dealt with sensitively yet realistically.
It all begins at 79 Primrose Square. It is the night of Frank Woods surprise birthday party thrown by his wife, Gracie, and children Amber and Ben. When Frank opens the front door, he is greeted by friends and family, who are all unexpectedly shocked at the sight of him. Frank has dressed for himself and in a manner that no one has seen before. A night that began with good intentions has become a disaster and Frank finds himself looking for new lodgings just days after the party.
Frank moves in with the elderly Violet ‘Violent’ Hardcastle. Violet has not left her house in decades and due to circumstances, needs a tenant. Initially, she was a difficult character to like. Violet had a haughty, irritable personality with little compassion for those who were different to her. I was surprised that she agreed to Frank moving in with her and it proves to be a true test of character. As I got to know Violet over the course of her journey, I came to see that life had shaped Violet into the woman she was so the growth she made was a pleasure to witness.
Former alcoholic Emily Dunne is the other tenant. Emily has been disowned by her family and needs the chance to start over, in both her personal and professional life. I was cheering for Emily as she reluctantly began the AA process because I knew it would help her in every aspect of life. It doesn’t happen overnight though as Emily is not always easy to get along with. Blunt and prickly, she was very similar in personality to Violet, so it was fun to see them clash. Emily presents a much needed challenge to Violet and stands up to her, Frank bringing the pastoral care side.
With its positive vibe, The Women Of Primrose Hill left will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
It all begins at 79 Primrose Square. It is the night of Frank Woods surprise birthday party thrown by his wife, Gracie, and children Amber and Ben. When Frank opens the front door, he is greeted by friends and family, who are all unexpectedly shocked at the sight of him. Frank has dressed for himself and in a manner that no one has seen before. A night that began with good intentions has become a disaster and Frank finds himself looking for new lodgings just days after the party.
Frank moves in with the elderly Violet ‘Violent’ Hardcastle. Violet has not left her house in decades and due to circumstances, needs a tenant. Initially, she was a difficult character to like. Violet had a haughty, irritable personality with little compassion for those who were different to her. I was surprised that she agreed to Frank moving in with her and it proves to be a true test of character. As I got to know Violet over the course of her journey, I came to see that life had shaped Violet into the woman she was so the growth she made was a pleasure to witness.
Former alcoholic Emily Dunne is the other tenant. Emily has been disowned by her family and needs the chance to start over, in both her personal and professional life. I was cheering for Emily as she reluctantly began the AA process because I knew it would help her in every aspect of life. It doesn’t happen overnight though as Emily is not always easy to get along with. Blunt and prickly, she was very similar in personality to Violet, so it was fun to see them clash. Emily presents a much needed challenge to Violet and stands up to her, Frank bringing the pastoral care side.
With its positive vibe, The Women Of Primrose Hill left will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
May 2, 2021
Frank lives at 79 Primrose Square, his fiftieth birthday is coming up but everyone including his family are too busy to celebrate so he decides to do it his own way. This leads to not only Franks family but also neighbors, old friends and work colleagues getting a real surprise at Franks surprise birthday party. Finding himself cast out he becomes friends with the local busybody Miss Hardcastle and her new logier Emily Dunne. Emily is just out of rehab and is desperately trying to make amends with those she has hurt. As gossip spread and pasts are reviled will anything be the same again.
The book deals with some very serious topics which are so prevalent in today's Irish society and in some cases beyond. We see how people cope differently with changes in their lives and how secrets can affect our lives also.
I was a bit hesitant at first when I relisted what this story was about and hoped it would be well handled. I needn't have worried. It is in my opinion FANTASTIC. It showed the struggles each character in the narrative went through both separately and as a group. Hoe even though they all struggled they could each be there when called opinion as support or just a shoulder to cry on.
The book deals with some very serious topics which are so prevalent in today's Irish society and in some cases beyond. We see how people cope differently with changes in their lives and how secrets can affect our lives also.
I was a bit hesitant at first when I relisted what this story was about and hoped it would be well handled. I needn't have worried. It is in my opinion FANTASTIC. It showed the struggles each character in the narrative went through both separately and as a group. Hoe even though they all struggled they could each be there when called opinion as support or just a shoulder to cry on.
February 11, 2021
The Women of Primrose Square is the follow on story from The Secrets of Primrose Square, both set in Ireland. Although it's not essential to have read the first book as this second book focuses on different characters, it would help to build the background especially for Emily who is one of the three main characters of this book. The book centres on Violet, Emily and Gracie and Francesca. All three are very different and have huge issues to work through. Violet, Emily and Francesca end up living in the same house on the square and though they are all very different they end up becoming friends and a huge support to each other despite their own struggles. I absolutely loved this story, I listened to it on Borrowbox and having it read to me by a lady with a wonderful Irish accent really added to the story as it brought the dialect to life beautifully. I binged the last hour early this morning and did shed a little tear. Triggers for those that may need them: alcoholism, transgender transitioning, Magdalen laundries.
January 4, 2023
Francesca a transwoman who experiences about every slur you can think of whilst adjusting to life in her new body
Emily an alcoholic learning how to reintegrate into society and earn back the trust of her loved ones
Violet or Violent as she's often referred to an agoraphobe with a hidden past.
The three create an unbreakable bond when two are left without a home and one is in desperate need of lodgers for a cash injection. Well it was like being assaulted by sadness from every angle. I very nearly DNF'd when ready the hate that Francesca was subjected to, then I remembered that whilst this is a work of fiction it is very much reflective of general public opinion. It happens in a much tighter timescale in terms of the gratefully accepted acceptance but it was a heartwrencher for sure.
Emily an alcoholic learning how to reintegrate into society and earn back the trust of her loved ones
Violet or Violent as she's often referred to an agoraphobe with a hidden past.
The three create an unbreakable bond when two are left without a home and one is in desperate need of lodgers for a cash injection. Well it was like being assaulted by sadness from every angle. I very nearly DNF'd when ready the hate that Francesca was subjected to, then I remembered that whilst this is a work of fiction it is very much reflective of general public opinion. It happens in a much tighter timescale in terms of the gratefully accepted acceptance but it was a heartwrencher for sure.
February 25, 2025
A book that will stay with me for a very long time.
There are moments of heartache, and emotional devastation, but it's also filled with so much love and uplifting inspirational people.
I loved the first book; the characters, the sense of community and the multiple POV way of storytelling, so I was doubtful that this second book would live up to my expectations.
I can happily admit that I was so, so wrong. Somehow, I loved this book even more. I think this is partially because we got to know other people on Primrose Square that we got to see how our friends were doing since we last saw them, and that they were quite pivotal in helping our new friends through their situations.
A truly fantastic book. An inspiring community. Possibly the luckiest neighbours ever, because they have each other.
There are moments of heartache, and emotional devastation, but it's also filled with so much love and uplifting inspirational people.
I loved the first book; the characters, the sense of community and the multiple POV way of storytelling, so I was doubtful that this second book would live up to my expectations.
I can happily admit that I was so, so wrong. Somehow, I loved this book even more. I think this is partially because we got to know other people on Primrose Square that we got to see how our friends were doing since we last saw them, and that they were quite pivotal in helping our new friends through their situations.
A truly fantastic book. An inspiring community. Possibly the luckiest neighbours ever, because they have each other.
August 5, 2019
I really enjoyed The Secrets of Primrose Square and, when I reviewed it, I said that I’d love it if the author took us back to Primrose Square in the future. She did!
This time, the focus is on the women who live in this leafy Dublin square, although there are some male characters involved. Frank and Emily both have life-changing situations to cope with, and the author dealt with these real-life issues in a compassionate, well-researched way.
We also meet their landlady, Violet Hardcastle, who had dealt with a difficult past, and Frank’s wife, Gracie, whose life has been turned upside down.
A beautiful book that I didn’t want to put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
This time, the focus is on the women who live in this leafy Dublin square, although there are some male characters involved. Frank and Emily both have life-changing situations to cope with, and the author dealt with these real-life issues in a compassionate, well-researched way.
We also meet their landlady, Violet Hardcastle, who had dealt with a difficult past, and Frank’s wife, Gracie, whose life has been turned upside down.
A beautiful book that I didn’t want to put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
August 31, 2019
I had enjoyed reading The Secrets of Primrose Square so was looking forward to reading this sequel. I wasn't disappointed, this was a lovely easy to read book. I really liked the three main characters and could empathise with each of them.
Although this book as with the previous one is based in Primrose Square, the story could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. This is a well written story of family, friendship, relationships and new beginnings. I enjoyed how the characters developed throughout the book and liked the satisfying ending.
A perfect summer holiday read or for a wet afternoon on the sofa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Although this book as with the previous one is based in Primrose Square, the story could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel. This is a well written story of family, friendship, relationships and new beginnings. I enjoyed how the characters developed throughout the book and liked the satisfying ending.
A perfect summer holiday read or for a wet afternoon on the sofa.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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February 10, 2020Life sometimes makes people who they are. You would be surprised to see that beneath the hardness that a lot of people exhibit outwardly is a fractured soul.....oh Violet! I actually had to Google Magdalene Laundries to see if they really existed. I can never fathom where those deadly ideas spring from.
Emily, addiction is so so hard. But seeing people get back on track after a hard time is something that blesses my soul. We all need a Leon in our lives
Frank, I honestly cannot understand this part. I still think about that selfishness. It's never as easy as portrayed in this book. Never! It takes a major toll on a family.
All in all, life would be easier if we all had amazing support structures in our lives. Life is never meant to be lived alone...
Emily, addiction is so so hard. But seeing people get back on track after a hard time is something that blesses my soul. We all need a Leon in our lives
Frank, I honestly cannot understand this part. I still think about that selfishness. It's never as easy as portrayed in this book. Never! It takes a major toll on a family.
All in all, life would be easier if we all had amazing support structures in our lives. Life is never meant to be lived alone...
April 5, 2022
As soon as I had finished the first book in this series I moved on to the sequel. This book focuses on other people so can easily be read as a stand-alone.
The characters are so well written I feel like I personally know them. I was also happy to see Jane reappear in this book!
The main characters are all dealing with serious stuff, but it is dealt with in a way that still makes this a pleasant and heartwarming story. The characters are all real and far from perfect. In fact, I didn't even like Viole(n)t for about 95% of the story! I guess it's true none of us are born mean and grumpy and difficult, but things that happen in our lives can make us that way.
The narration once again helped make this a wonderful story to listen to.
The characters are so well written I feel like I personally know them. I was also happy to see Jane reappear in this book!
The main characters are all dealing with serious stuff, but it is dealt with in a way that still makes this a pleasant and heartwarming story. The characters are all real and far from perfect. In fact, I didn't even like Viole(n)t for about 95% of the story! I guess it's true none of us are born mean and grumpy and difficult, but things that happen in our lives can make us that way.
The narration once again helped make this a wonderful story to listen to.
August 20, 2019
I loved this book. These women tortured by demons that have taken over their lives, who pull together to create characters both utterly believable and totally magical.
Diverse subjects are given voice in this book. The way these sensitive subjects were so boldly covered makes for light relief in our over PC world. The young are the most tolerant and love keeps everything together.
The narrator of this book is also one of my very favourites. She draws me to Irish history and to books I might not of read otherwise.
Diverse subjects are given voice in this book. The way these sensitive subjects were so boldly covered makes for light relief in our over PC world. The young are the most tolerant and love keeps everything together.
The narrator of this book is also one of my very favourites. She draws me to Irish history and to books I might not of read otherwise.
February 19, 2020
The book is brilliant, funny and a book that you just don’t want to put down. The characters in it are easy to picture, and the storyline is captivating. The lady who wrote the book, Claudia Carroll who plays Nicola in Fair City is very talented at what she does. If you’ve read The Secrets of Primrose Square then you’ll definitely want to read this book as it has bc some of the characters in it that were in the first book I mentioned. I highly recommend it to all of my friends who like to read chick lit.
March 10, 2020
A surprise party for Frank Woods that delivers one hell of a surprise and sets off a chain of inevitable events. Primrose Square was once a genteel place and Miss Violet Hardcastle deplores what it has become. She’s the self-appointed arbiter of standards, firing off angry missives to all and sundry. Then there is Emily Dunne, out of rehab and out of chances. I found their stories realistic and entertaining. Claudia Carroll writes with compassion and warmth and I will look for other books by this author
June 20, 2022
This book is so "not my type" that I was really not expecting to enjoy it, the cover and the blurb did not interest me in the slightest, but a subscription book box is all about trying different things so I went for it anyway and was pleasantly surprised.
I liked the intertwining of different stories and thought being told from various viewpoints worked really well, despite not relating to any of the characters personally I felt for them all.
It's not a must read but I'm happy to have read it.
I liked the intertwining of different stories and thought being told from various viewpoints worked really well, despite not relating to any of the characters personally I felt for them all.
It's not a must read but I'm happy to have read it.
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