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The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle
It's the summer of 1982. The Man from Snowy River is a box office hit and Paul Hogan is on the TV.
In a seaside suburb of NSW, housewife Theresa Howard takes up swimming. She wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves.
From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, bathing is the one constant in her new life.
After finding herself in a desperate situation, 26-year-old Leanne only has herself to rely on. She became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself.
Elaine has recently moved from England. Far from home without her adult sons, her closest friend is a gin bottle.
In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive shark sightings, bluebottle stings and heartbreak; they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean's salt. They will find solace and companionship in their friendship circle, and learn that love takes many forms.
Praise for Sophie Green's The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club
'Tender, intimate, heartwarming, fulfilling and Australian as a lamb roast and full-bodied shiraz' The Australian Women's Weekly
'An absolute gem of a novel, with the most evocative sense of place . . . A treat for any book club' BETTER READING
'Wonderfully atmospheric' Sunday Mirror
425 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2019
294 people are currently reading
2364 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Green
33 books244 followersSophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 459 reviews
February 25, 2020
It took me a while to get into this one and I had a bit of trouble keeping the four ladies in the swimming circle separate in my mind. Maybe I just need to concentrate harder!
Anyway it got better as it went along and ended up quite dramatic and interesting. Not a bad story, entertaining characters and well written, but a bit too long for what it was. Definitely a beach read. What better than reading about the ocean while you are sitting on the sand watching it?
Anyway it got better as it went along and ended up quite dramatic and interesting. Not a bad story, entertaining characters and well written, but a bit too long for what it was. Definitely a beach read. What better than reading about the ocean while you are sitting on the sand watching it?
September 19, 2019
Four very different women arrange to meet for a daily swim at an Australian beachside suburb. Marie, a widow who has been swimming daily all her life, lonely Elaine who has recently moved from England with her surgeon husband, leaving her adult children and friends behind, Theresa married to a man who would rather spend time at the pub with his mates than with her and their children and Leanne, a young nurse who has few friends and has just learned to swim. Together they share the lows and highs of their lives and find that their commitment to their daily commune with the ocean and their friendship sees them through all the difficult times in their lives.
This is a very engaging read and a lovely and intimate insight into the friendships these women have which become just as important to them as their families. Sophie Green has depicted them and Shelly Bay so well that you could imagine finding them shaking the salt water from their hair and chatting on the beach one morning.
This is a very engaging read and a lovely and intimate insight into the friendships these women have which become just as important to them as their families. Sophie Green has depicted them and Shelly Bay so well that you could imagine finding them shaking the salt water from their hair and chatting on the beach one morning.
July 19, 2019
By the ocean in the suburb of Shelly Bay in NSW, four women lived their lives. They didn’t know one another, but soon they would. Theresa, mother of two young children, a husband who never helped around the house and her Nonna all lived in one house; Elaine, originally from England where her two adult sons still resided moved to Shelly Bay with her Australian surgeon husband, James. Marie, widowed for the past five years had a quiet, lonely existence while Leanne kept her past locked away, working as a nurse in the local hospital.
Marie swam every day, whatever the season and when Theresa started her early morning swimming – to have some time for herself – she and Marie soon swam together. Elaine was the third to venture to the ocean and when Leanne, having recently learned to swim in the local pool, braved the water the group became four. Gradually the four different women became friends, shared secrets and heartache, were there for one another. Their friendship was the one constant in their lives; the ocean their solace.
After loving Aussie author Sophie Green's The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, I was really looking forward to The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and it didn’t disappoint. A wonderful, heartfelt, feel-good, wrap-you-in-a-hug story, there is sadness, loss, happiness, love – but most of all friendship. Set in Australia, it begins in the summer of 1982, giving us the insights into four people’s lives over a period of two years. An absolute delight, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is one I highly recommend and I’m looking forward to seeing what Ms Green comes up with next.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Marie swam every day, whatever the season and when Theresa started her early morning swimming – to have some time for herself – she and Marie soon swam together. Elaine was the third to venture to the ocean and when Leanne, having recently learned to swim in the local pool, braved the water the group became four. Gradually the four different women became friends, shared secrets and heartache, were there for one another. Their friendship was the one constant in their lives; the ocean their solace.
After loving Aussie author Sophie Green's The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, I was really looking forward to The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle and it didn’t disappoint. A wonderful, heartfelt, feel-good, wrap-you-in-a-hug story, there is sadness, loss, happiness, love – but most of all friendship. Set in Australia, it begins in the summer of 1982, giving us the insights into four people’s lives over a period of two years. An absolute delight, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is one I highly recommend and I’m looking forward to seeing what Ms Green comes up with next.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2020
This book starts in spring 1982 and takes place over a little more than two years. Marie, a widow after the death her husband five years earlier, finds swimming a great habit in her life. She enjoys the benefits of living at Shelly Bay, and especially her sunrise swims. Theresa, who is housewife, mum of two, and volunteer at the hospital, comes along to take up swimming. The two strike up a sort of friendship despite the big difference tin the ages. The third woman to join the group is 25 year old Leanne. A nurse, Leanne is great with her child patients but not so good with adults or with making friends. Leann tends to keep to herself, Theresa who volunteers at the same hospital has found. And then there is Elaine, English born and missing her two adult sons since her husband James wanted to move back to his homeland of Australia. Without her family nearby or her interior decorating business to fill her days, Elaine takes her refuge in the gin bottle. Somehow though Elaine finds herself drawn to this group of swimmers and learns to make new friends. Each of these woman have their own issues to deal with as changes occur in their lives.
It takes a little while to get to know the four women as each of them are introduced. Marie and Theresa are a more open than the other two initially. At least one of the men in this story is a real jerk for want of a better word but a couple of the other men are lovely. Ultimately though, this is a story pf women overcoming different obstacles and supporting each other in friendship. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and their individual circumstances. One quibble is that I did find the repeated idea of women always being subservient and putting the needs of others before their own pushed too heavily. But that aside this is a lovely picture of friendship that reaches across differences, upbringing and background, circumstances and age groups.
I was keen to read this as I loved The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by this author. While I thoroughly enjoyed this one too and would certainly recommend it as a great read, for me it just wasn’t quite up to the high level of that first one. Maybe that’s because, even though I live near the coast and love walking by the beach, I have no passion for swimming. Or maybe it was because of the repeated idea of women always giving in to the needs of others that grated a little. But I still did enjoy it immensely and would definitely recommend it to all who love a good Aussie story about women, and how they cope with the things life throws at them. A feel good read that I didn’t manage to get through without anger at some characters, and a few tears but also plenty of smiles. As well as realistic characters, the city beach setting is beautiful too. A recommended read.
It takes a little while to get to know the four women as each of them are introduced. Marie and Theresa are a more open than the other two initially. At least one of the men in this story is a real jerk for want of a better word but a couple of the other men are lovely. Ultimately though, this is a story pf women overcoming different obstacles and supporting each other in friendship. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and their individual circumstances. One quibble is that I did find the repeated idea of women always being subservient and putting the needs of others before their own pushed too heavily. But that aside this is a lovely picture of friendship that reaches across differences, upbringing and background, circumstances and age groups.
I was keen to read this as I loved The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by this author. While I thoroughly enjoyed this one too and would certainly recommend it as a great read, for me it just wasn’t quite up to the high level of that first one. Maybe that’s because, even though I live near the coast and love walking by the beach, I have no passion for swimming. Or maybe it was because of the repeated idea of women always giving in to the needs of others that grated a little. But I still did enjoy it immensely and would definitely recommend it to all who love a good Aussie story about women, and how they cope with the things life throws at them. A feel good read that I didn’t manage to get through without anger at some characters, and a few tears but also plenty of smiles. As well as realistic characters, the city beach setting is beautiful too. A recommended read.
November 13, 2019
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**4.5 stars**
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Club by Sophie Green. (2019).
It's 1982 in Australia. Housewife Theresa takes up swimming at sunrise to get fit and have a few minutes to herself. Marie, a widower, swims from the same beach as it's her one constant in her new life without her husband. 25 year old Leanne suffered through a trauma and relies on herself only. She's a nurse to help others but she resists help for herself. Elaine has recently moved from England, leaving her adult sons behind. Her new closest friend is a gin bottle.
These four women will find each other in the waters of Shelly Bay and build friendships to cherish.
This book ended up being a lot deeper than what I expected. I thought it would be a light chick lit read and it was in one way but it also went much more emotional and hit the heart. I think this book really demonstrated how important it is to have at least a couple of friends in your life that you know you could turn to for both physical and emotional support when things are rough. All of the women in this story had their own issues going on and it was lovely to see that by the end they knew they could rely on one another. I liked that the women were all different ages at different stages of life and yet found a common interest in swimming that led to so much more. At over 400 pages it's a fairly large book but it didn't feel that way, it felt like an easy quick read. I'd happily recommend this novel, I really enjoyed it.
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**4.5 stars**
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Club by Sophie Green. (2019).
It's 1982 in Australia. Housewife Theresa takes up swimming at sunrise to get fit and have a few minutes to herself. Marie, a widower, swims from the same beach as it's her one constant in her new life without her husband. 25 year old Leanne suffered through a trauma and relies on herself only. She's a nurse to help others but she resists help for herself. Elaine has recently moved from England, leaving her adult sons behind. Her new closest friend is a gin bottle.
These four women will find each other in the waters of Shelly Bay and build friendships to cherish.
This book ended up being a lot deeper than what I expected. I thought it would be a light chick lit read and it was in one way but it also went much more emotional and hit the heart. I think this book really demonstrated how important it is to have at least a couple of friends in your life that you know you could turn to for both physical and emotional support when things are rough. All of the women in this story had their own issues going on and it was lovely to see that by the end they knew they could rely on one another. I liked that the women were all different ages at different stages of life and yet found a common interest in swimming that led to so much more. At over 400 pages it's a fairly large book but it didn't feel that way, it felt like an easy quick read. I'd happily recommend this novel, I really enjoyed it.
July 21, 2019
“In the past she's never had reason to contemplate the idea that families aren't necessarily made from blood. Now she knows that the family you create, voluntarily, can bring joy instead of pain, and support and love and strength.”
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is the second novel by Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. Even if her husband has mentioned her weight more that once recently, that’s absolutely not the reason that Theresa Howard is planning a daily ocean swim. Improved fitness would be a welcome side-effect, but the real attraction of a sunrise swim at Shelly Bay is the chance of time to herself in her constantly busy day.
Marie has been swimming at sunrise in Shelly Bay for most of her life. But since Norm died and her best friend Gwen moved to a Retirement Village some distance away, it’s just her and her dog, Charlie Brown, in the sandstone cottage. And Marie’s not sure for how much longer she can manage that…
Originally from Devon, Elaine Schaeffer has accompanied her Australian husband (a heart surgeon, no less!) back to Australia. His demanding profession has James out until late, and the isolation Elaine feels is understandable: she has left behind her successful interior decorating business and the status that gave her, her adult sons, her ageing parents and her friends. She knows her increasing reliance on gin and tonic is not the answer but, after an earlier rejection at tennis, is hesitant to join the ladies swimming in Shelly Bay every sunrise.
Leanne loves her job on the paediatric ward at the Northern Hospital. Making her young patients feel safe and comfortable and cared for is all she wants to do. She doesn’t mind living alone in a tiny flat, having decided years before that trusting adults is fraught with danger. But the women in Shelly Bay are difficult to resist.
Whether for the sake of convenience, or by invitation, these four very different women eventually find themselves in the water together. As swimmers, some are experienced, strong and confident; others, novices or still a bit tentative; but soon it doesn't matter. Soon, it's a routine they hate to miss.
“They part each day knowing that they can take the morning with them, and tomorrow they'll be here again to repeat the actions but have a different experience. Each day is precious, new. Each morning is alive with vigour and a certain rapture.” As they negotiate life’s challenges, and there are several, they discover that these women provide more than company.
Green easily captures the feel of an Australian seaside suburb in the 1980s: the current affairs, dialogue and community attitudes are all redolent of the era. Green’s protagonists are so very relatable: human for all their flaws and filled with good intentions: “She walks slowly so that Elaine can accompany Marie into the surf, her earlier disappointment put aside. It's been lovely - a privilege - having Marie to herself but she's really too special to hoard.” And while her male characters may not be perfect, we all need a Matt or a James or a Gus in our lives, and we'd all like to throttle an Andrew or Trev or at least read them the riot act.
Green forces these women to deal with more than just bluebottles, jellyfish, seaweed and dumpers: if a neglected garden, ageing and a car accident seem minor, then grief, loneliness, infidelity, alcoholism, first love, past traumas, family reconciliation, mature-age love, cancer and surgery are certainly less so. They share lots of laughter, but also tears. Above all, though, these four women share the deep love that comes from abiding friendship.
Green has a marvellous turn-of-phrase, and it’s difficult to resist including many quotes: “He sees her problems through the prism of his experience” and “It's what they're used to, after all: being alone together in the water, each woman inside her own head. The comfort of wordless company that understands you implicitly” and “She has, on occasion, wondered if Gerard's not really an alcoholic but rather an actor paid to run these meetings. He seems to know just which expressions to use to get the outcome he wants” are examples.
It’s probably a close thing, but Green’s latest novel is even better than The Fairvale Ladies. Moving, heart-warming and uplifting, this is another brilliant read.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Hachette Australia.
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is the second novel by Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. Even if her husband has mentioned her weight more that once recently, that’s absolutely not the reason that Theresa Howard is planning a daily ocean swim. Improved fitness would be a welcome side-effect, but the real attraction of a sunrise swim at Shelly Bay is the chance of time to herself in her constantly busy day.
Marie has been swimming at sunrise in Shelly Bay for most of her life. But since Norm died and her best friend Gwen moved to a Retirement Village some distance away, it’s just her and her dog, Charlie Brown, in the sandstone cottage. And Marie’s not sure for how much longer she can manage that…
Originally from Devon, Elaine Schaeffer has accompanied her Australian husband (a heart surgeon, no less!) back to Australia. His demanding profession has James out until late, and the isolation Elaine feels is understandable: she has left behind her successful interior decorating business and the status that gave her, her adult sons, her ageing parents and her friends. She knows her increasing reliance on gin and tonic is not the answer but, after an earlier rejection at tennis, is hesitant to join the ladies swimming in Shelly Bay every sunrise.
Leanne loves her job on the paediatric ward at the Northern Hospital. Making her young patients feel safe and comfortable and cared for is all she wants to do. She doesn’t mind living alone in a tiny flat, having decided years before that trusting adults is fraught with danger. But the women in Shelly Bay are difficult to resist.
Whether for the sake of convenience, or by invitation, these four very different women eventually find themselves in the water together. As swimmers, some are experienced, strong and confident; others, novices or still a bit tentative; but soon it doesn't matter. Soon, it's a routine they hate to miss.
“They part each day knowing that they can take the morning with them, and tomorrow they'll be here again to repeat the actions but have a different experience. Each day is precious, new. Each morning is alive with vigour and a certain rapture.” As they negotiate life’s challenges, and there are several, they discover that these women provide more than company.
Green easily captures the feel of an Australian seaside suburb in the 1980s: the current affairs, dialogue and community attitudes are all redolent of the era. Green’s protagonists are so very relatable: human for all their flaws and filled with good intentions: “She walks slowly so that Elaine can accompany Marie into the surf, her earlier disappointment put aside. It's been lovely - a privilege - having Marie to herself but she's really too special to hoard.” And while her male characters may not be perfect, we all need a Matt or a James or a Gus in our lives, and we'd all like to throttle an Andrew or Trev or at least read them the riot act.
Green forces these women to deal with more than just bluebottles, jellyfish, seaweed and dumpers: if a neglected garden, ageing and a car accident seem minor, then grief, loneliness, infidelity, alcoholism, first love, past traumas, family reconciliation, mature-age love, cancer and surgery are certainly less so. They share lots of laughter, but also tears. Above all, though, these four women share the deep love that comes from abiding friendship.
Green has a marvellous turn-of-phrase, and it’s difficult to resist including many quotes: “He sees her problems through the prism of his experience” and “It's what they're used to, after all: being alone together in the water, each woman inside her own head. The comfort of wordless company that understands you implicitly” and “She has, on occasion, wondered if Gerard's not really an alcoholic but rather an actor paid to run these meetings. He seems to know just which expressions to use to get the outcome he wants” are examples.
It’s probably a close thing, but Green’s latest novel is even better than The Fairvale Ladies. Moving, heart-warming and uplifting, this is another brilliant read.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Hachette Australia.
May 23, 2024
EXCERPT: . . . he's gone, and she puts down the receiver and her house has never seemed so empty, her life never so pointless. Her son is engaged - he is making a whole new life without her or James - and she's not there. What is she doing? Why are they here? They should be there, with Marcus, with Henry. She doesn't want to be the mother who turns up just for the wedding. She wants to be there for the weeks beforehand. The months afterwards.
She wishes she didn't love her husband; she would never have followed him here. This country is absurd - in a different hemisphere, thousands of miles from another continent, with ridiculous weather and strange animals. The people couldn't round a vowel if their lives depended on it, and they think it's funny to have a prime minister who holds the world record for drinking beer quickly. Yes, she's made friends. Lovely people. And she enjoys the swimming. But is that it? Is that all Australia can offer her?
ABOUT 'THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE': It's 1982 in Australia. THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is a box office hit and Paul Hogan is on the TV. In a seaside suburb, housewife Theresa takes up swimming. She wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves. From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, bathing is the one constant in her new life. After finding herself in a desperate situation, 25-year-old Leanne only has herself to rely on. She became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself. Elaine has recently moved from England. Far from home and without her adult sons, her closest friend is a gin bottle. In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive bluebottle stings and heartbreak; they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean's salt. They will find solace and companionship and learn that love takes many forms. Most of all, they will cherish their friendship, each and every day.
MY THOUGHTS: I started off by not liking this as much as Sophie Green's first book, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. But by the end, I loved it just as much. I laughed, I cried, I had my heart put through the wringer and I finished this read with brimming eyes and a smile on my face.
Sophie Green has written another tender, heartwarming book about female friendship. I like that the four main characters are at different points in their lives: Leanne is the youngest, a nurse estranged from her family; Theresa is mother to two youngsters, and has a husband who contributes little more than a portion of his wage to the household; Elaine, mother of two adult sons, is floundering in this new and seemingly hostile country; and Marie, widowed, is lost without her beloved husband Norm and her best friend Gwen. Together they form an ocean swimming group which slowly evolves into a support network. And do they ever need it.
Although it is a slow start as we get to know the characters, the plot takes a rather dramatic turn, one which had me anxiously flipping the pages desperate to find out what happened to the women in the group.
The narrative moves easily among the four main characters, each of whom is hiding things from the others. Together they share the highs and lows of their lives, supporting one another through various crises including marital difficulties, family estrangement, ill health, isolation and alcoholism to name but a few.
Green writes with a consummate ease - the writing flows, the plot is realistic and the characters relatable. I would love to be friends with these women who remind me of some of the members of the swimming group I belong to. There's laughter and tears, but most of all - respect. I love these women and am going to miss them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheShellyBayLadiesSwimmingCircle @WaitomoDistrictLibrary.
THE AUTHOR: Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
She wishes she didn't love her husband; she would never have followed him here. This country is absurd - in a different hemisphere, thousands of miles from another continent, with ridiculous weather and strange animals. The people couldn't round a vowel if their lives depended on it, and they think it's funny to have a prime minister who holds the world record for drinking beer quickly. Yes, she's made friends. Lovely people. And she enjoys the swimming. But is that it? Is that all Australia can offer her?
ABOUT 'THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE': It's 1982 in Australia. THE MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER is a box office hit and Paul Hogan is on the TV. In a seaside suburb, housewife Theresa takes up swimming. She wants to get fit; she also wants a few precious minutes to herself. So at sunrise each day she strikes out past the waves. From the same beach, the widowed Marie swims. With her husband gone, bathing is the one constant in her new life. After finding herself in a desperate situation, 25-year-old Leanne only has herself to rely on. She became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself. Elaine has recently moved from England. Far from home and without her adult sons, her closest friend is a gin bottle. In the waters of Shelly Bay, these four women find each other. They will survive bluebottle stings and heartbreak; they will laugh so hard they swallow water, and they will plunge their tears into the ocean's salt. They will find solace and companionship and learn that love takes many forms. Most of all, they will cherish their friendship, each and every day.
MY THOUGHTS: I started off by not liking this as much as Sophie Green's first book, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club. But by the end, I loved it just as much. I laughed, I cried, I had my heart put through the wringer and I finished this read with brimming eyes and a smile on my face.
Sophie Green has written another tender, heartwarming book about female friendship. I like that the four main characters are at different points in their lives: Leanne is the youngest, a nurse estranged from her family; Theresa is mother to two youngsters, and has a husband who contributes little more than a portion of his wage to the household; Elaine, mother of two adult sons, is floundering in this new and seemingly hostile country; and Marie, widowed, is lost without her beloved husband Norm and her best friend Gwen. Together they form an ocean swimming group which slowly evolves into a support network. And do they ever need it.
Although it is a slow start as we get to know the characters, the plot takes a rather dramatic turn, one which had me anxiously flipping the pages desperate to find out what happened to the women in the group.
The narrative moves easily among the four main characters, each of whom is hiding things from the others. Together they share the highs and lows of their lives, supporting one another through various crises including marital difficulties, family estrangement, ill health, isolation and alcoholism to name but a few.
Green writes with a consummate ease - the writing flows, the plot is realistic and the characters relatable. I would love to be friends with these women who remind me of some of the members of the swimming group I belong to. There's laughter and tears, but most of all - respect. I love these women and am going to miss them.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheShellyBayLadiesSwimmingCircle @WaitomoDistrictLibrary.
THE AUTHOR: Sophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
April 29, 2020
This book brings together four very different women, each of whom seems to have hit a point of loneliness in their lives.
Theresa is the bubbly friendly mother of two young children. And while she is outwardly happy and upbeat her marriage appears to be on the rocks. Marie is a widow who is lonely, she has an adult daughter who is busy with her own life and Marie is stuck in a rut and starting to realise that financially she may be forced to sell her house. Elaine is English having moved to Australia with her Australian husband, her boys are grown up and she has sold her decorating business. To numb the pain of her loneliness she turns to a bottle of gin. Then Leanne a young nurse, estranged from her family and keeping everyone at arm's length.
As these ladies open their hearts to each other, through a morning swim in the sea, they find that it enriches other parts of their lives and that they are ready to face their demons.
The last couple of chapters were a bit blurry as I kept tearing up, but I can highly recommend this lovely book about friendship.
Theresa is the bubbly friendly mother of two young children. And while she is outwardly happy and upbeat her marriage appears to be on the rocks. Marie is a widow who is lonely, she has an adult daughter who is busy with her own life and Marie is stuck in a rut and starting to realise that financially she may be forced to sell her house. Elaine is English having moved to Australia with her Australian husband, her boys are grown up and she has sold her decorating business. To numb the pain of her loneliness she turns to a bottle of gin. Then Leanne a young nurse, estranged from her family and keeping everyone at arm's length.
As these ladies open their hearts to each other, through a morning swim in the sea, they find that it enriches other parts of their lives and that they are ready to face their demons.
The last couple of chapters were a bit blurry as I kept tearing up, but I can highly recommend this lovely book about friendship.
March 15, 2020
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‘Last one in’s a rotten egg!’ cries Theresa as she takes off at a trot, and within a minute they are a mass of arms and legs pushing and kicking and diving, four unlikely mermaids swimming for the distant shore.
The bonds of female friendship in Sophie Green’s second novel are cemented through the act of ocean based swimming in The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle. Sophie Green’s follow up to her top 10 bestseller The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, is another warmhearted tale of unconditional friendship, support and positivity. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the members of The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle.
Opening in the Spring of 1982, The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle introduces four unforgettable friends. Theresa is a harried housewife, who swims in an effort to improve her fitness. Theresa has only a few precious moments to herself, so swimming keeps her grounded. Theresa is determined to stick to her new fitness regime. Alongside Theresa is Marie, a widower who breaks up her long and lonely days with swimming, it is her only constant. While Leanne, a young woman of twenty five, has started using swimming as a form of therapy to help her overcome her tragic past. Finally, Elaine has recently settled in Shelley Bay from the UK. Elaine turns to drinking to distract her from the distance she feels from her family in England. Swimming is Elaine’s outlet and the one thing that stops her from drinking. Together, these very different women find the healing power of the ocean and the support of new friends to get them through the tough times.
It was a nice feeling to return to the writing of Sophie Green. I really enjoyed her 2017 release, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club (I still adore this title). The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is somewhat linked to Green’s first novel. It explores friendships formed and cemented, with a group of women from contrasting backgrounds. Despite their clear differences, friendship is the overall winner, reminding the audience of the sheer importance of surrounding yourself with a good circle of friends.
I really loved the structure of The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle It opens in Spring 1982 and it travels through the various seasons, which are clearly marked out for the reader. The book closes in the summer of 1984. I liked how the book changed with the seasons and we see how the women’s swimming habits change to accommodate the weather, seasons and their life changes. I think this was a creative narrative format. I also liked that the narrative shifted between each of the four pivotal characters, so the audience gets know each one quite intimately.
The characterisation in The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is absolutely wonderful. I developed a clear picture of each woman, her life situation, her moods, her shortcomings, assets and hopes. Although I bonded with each of the four women in their own way, I think I made a special connection to Theresa. I could relate to her life situation as a housewife, mum of two and her feelings towards her marriage. I also understood how she felt so strongly towards her swimming, as it was the one thing that defined her as person, rather than a mother, wife, granddaughter, or volunteer. Theresa’s story moved me immensely and it really pushed this one to a five star read for me.
Within this involving story Green succinctly explores a plethora of themes that seem to speak very well of the issues that concern women of any age or background. From marital issues, parenting, body image, infidelity, care of the elderly, ageing, family obligations, stoicism, expectations, alcoholism, loneliness, isolation, migration, trauma, sexual assault, adoption, family estrangement and depression the list is quite long, but these are all affecting themes. Green treats each of these concerns with a sensitive and thoughtful approach. I felt Green really understood what makes women laugh, cry, despair and turn to their friends for support. It really reiterated for me the need to nurture the female friendships and different companions I have in my life.
There was a delightful sense of nostalgia that went with the time period in which this book is set, the heart of the early eighties. Although I was born when this decade began, I still look to this time and the memories I have growing up as a young child with fondness. I connected to the pop culture references, such as Paul Hogan and The Man From Snowy River. I loved this simpler time, but it also reminded me of the restrictions on women at this time, particularly those in loveless and toxic marriages. This was a time when divorce was still frowned upon and women were not supported to go it alone. It is a very authentic depiction of the time, thanks to Green’s in touch writing. There are some pertinent observations on women’s thought patterns during this particular era that struck a chord with me.
‘Elaine wants to laugh from dismay, because she understands too well: it’s the story of her life, to not make a big fuss. She is sure Theresa doesn’t make big fusses either, not Marie or Leanne. They are all so well trained. They’re women. Nothing that happens to them is a big fuss, the subtext being that their not important enough to have big fusses. They exist to take care of other people’s big fusses.’
The keynote setting of Shelley Bay and the ocean ripples right through Sophie Green’s novel. This is a place I felt firmly rooted in as the book travelled from the opening to the end point. The sense of place is depicted with clarity and care by the author. The setting is what makes this novel a very special rendition to the power of female friendship and the personal sense of attainment linked to the act of ocean based swimming.
From nostalgia, love, laughter, understanding, tears, sorrow, anger, joy and relief, The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is an emotive, life affirming and uplifting tale from an author who is in touch with the realms of female friendship. I highly recommend this one, it is not a maybe read, but a must read.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is book #26 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Book Bingo 2020 Round 3: 'Family, Friendship and Love.'
‘Last one in’s a rotten egg!’ cries Theresa as she takes off at a trot, and within a minute they are a mass of arms and legs pushing and kicking and diving, four unlikely mermaids swimming for the distant shore.
The bonds of female friendship in Sophie Green’s second novel are cemented through the act of ocean based swimming in The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle. Sophie Green’s follow up to her top 10 bestseller The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, is another warmhearted tale of unconditional friendship, support and positivity. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all the members of The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle.
Opening in the Spring of 1982, The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle introduces four unforgettable friends. Theresa is a harried housewife, who swims in an effort to improve her fitness. Theresa has only a few precious moments to herself, so swimming keeps her grounded. Theresa is determined to stick to her new fitness regime. Alongside Theresa is Marie, a widower who breaks up her long and lonely days with swimming, it is her only constant. While Leanne, a young woman of twenty five, has started using swimming as a form of therapy to help her overcome her tragic past. Finally, Elaine has recently settled in Shelley Bay from the UK. Elaine turns to drinking to distract her from the distance she feels from her family in England. Swimming is Elaine’s outlet and the one thing that stops her from drinking. Together, these very different women find the healing power of the ocean and the support of new friends to get them through the tough times.
It was a nice feeling to return to the writing of Sophie Green. I really enjoyed her 2017 release, The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club (I still adore this title). The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is somewhat linked to Green’s first novel. It explores friendships formed and cemented, with a group of women from contrasting backgrounds. Despite their clear differences, friendship is the overall winner, reminding the audience of the sheer importance of surrounding yourself with a good circle of friends.
I really loved the structure of The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle It opens in Spring 1982 and it travels through the various seasons, which are clearly marked out for the reader. The book closes in the summer of 1984. I liked how the book changed with the seasons and we see how the women’s swimming habits change to accommodate the weather, seasons and their life changes. I think this was a creative narrative format. I also liked that the narrative shifted between each of the four pivotal characters, so the audience gets know each one quite intimately.
The characterisation in The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is absolutely wonderful. I developed a clear picture of each woman, her life situation, her moods, her shortcomings, assets and hopes. Although I bonded with each of the four women in their own way, I think I made a special connection to Theresa. I could relate to her life situation as a housewife, mum of two and her feelings towards her marriage. I also understood how she felt so strongly towards her swimming, as it was the one thing that defined her as person, rather than a mother, wife, granddaughter, or volunteer. Theresa’s story moved me immensely and it really pushed this one to a five star read for me.
Within this involving story Green succinctly explores a plethora of themes that seem to speak very well of the issues that concern women of any age or background. From marital issues, parenting, body image, infidelity, care of the elderly, ageing, family obligations, stoicism, expectations, alcoholism, loneliness, isolation, migration, trauma, sexual assault, adoption, family estrangement and depression the list is quite long, but these are all affecting themes. Green treats each of these concerns with a sensitive and thoughtful approach. I felt Green really understood what makes women laugh, cry, despair and turn to their friends for support. It really reiterated for me the need to nurture the female friendships and different companions I have in my life.
There was a delightful sense of nostalgia that went with the time period in which this book is set, the heart of the early eighties. Although I was born when this decade began, I still look to this time and the memories I have growing up as a young child with fondness. I connected to the pop culture references, such as Paul Hogan and The Man From Snowy River. I loved this simpler time, but it also reminded me of the restrictions on women at this time, particularly those in loveless and toxic marriages. This was a time when divorce was still frowned upon and women were not supported to go it alone. It is a very authentic depiction of the time, thanks to Green’s in touch writing. There are some pertinent observations on women’s thought patterns during this particular era that struck a chord with me.
‘Elaine wants to laugh from dismay, because she understands too well: it’s the story of her life, to not make a big fuss. She is sure Theresa doesn’t make big fusses either, not Marie or Leanne. They are all so well trained. They’re women. Nothing that happens to them is a big fuss, the subtext being that their not important enough to have big fusses. They exist to take care of other people’s big fusses.’
The keynote setting of Shelley Bay and the ocean ripples right through Sophie Green’s novel. This is a place I felt firmly rooted in as the book travelled from the opening to the end point. The sense of place is depicted with clarity and care by the author. The setting is what makes this novel a very special rendition to the power of female friendship and the personal sense of attainment linked to the act of ocean based swimming.
From nostalgia, love, laughter, understanding, tears, sorrow, anger, joy and relief, The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is an emotive, life affirming and uplifting tale from an author who is in touch with the realms of female friendship. I highly recommend this one, it is not a maybe read, but a must read.
*Thanks is extended to Hachette Australia for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Shelley Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is book #26 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
Book Bingo 2020 Round 3: 'Family, Friendship and Love.'
August 19, 2019
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle was the August pick for Books With Heart Book Club. It took me a few attempts to get into this story but then I ended up enjoying it. It's a story about new friendships, family tragedies and relationships.
August 29, 2021
Wat een prachtig geschreven, realistisch boek is dit. Verhalen over vriendschap boeien mij uiteindelijk meer dan verhalen over romantische liefde denk ik. Warm aanbevolen, dit boek is één en al genieten.
July 25, 2019
I am not sure where to start with this book, I can tell you how fabulous it is and how much I loved it and how well this one is written and that MS Green has bought together four strangers who over the seasons of a couple of years swim and become the best of friends who are there for each other no matter what, it is set in the beautiful beachside suburb of Shelly Bay and that it really is a must read.
Theresa is married to Andrew they have two children and Theresa has decided that she wants to lose a bit of weight and get fit and seeing as they are close to the beach and she loves swimming an early morning swim will also give her some much need time to herself.
Marie is widowed and in her sixties and has swam every morning no matter what the season for decades, it is something that she has always loved.
Leanne is single and in her twenties a nurse and very much a loner and there are reasons for that, but she has been having swimming lessons and decides that trying to swim in the ocean is something that she really wants to do.
Elaine is married to a doctor, but has moved from England to Australia and left her adult sons behind and is trying very hard to fit in and as swimming was something she did when she was young taking it up again is what she does.
These four woman meet by chance at Shelly Bay and then every morning just on dawn they swim through different weather and become fast friends, they are all from different backgrounds and have different personalities, they learn to open up to each other, there is heartbreak and happiness through some very difficult situations, but above all they cherish their time together and the bond and companionship that grows and the love they have for each other.
I cried and I smiled throughout this book, and still tear up thinking about it even though I finished it yesterday, it really will be a book that stays with me for a long time to come. We all need our best friends those people that are there to laugh with and cry with and help whatever the problem is, I am lucky enough to have those and I hope that you pick this book up and love it as much as I did.
Theresa is married to Andrew they have two children and Theresa has decided that she wants to lose a bit of weight and get fit and seeing as they are close to the beach and she loves swimming an early morning swim will also give her some much need time to herself.
Marie is widowed and in her sixties and has swam every morning no matter what the season for decades, it is something that she has always loved.
Leanne is single and in her twenties a nurse and very much a loner and there are reasons for that, but she has been having swimming lessons and decides that trying to swim in the ocean is something that she really wants to do.
Elaine is married to a doctor, but has moved from England to Australia and left her adult sons behind and is trying very hard to fit in and as swimming was something she did when she was young taking it up again is what she does.
These four woman meet by chance at Shelly Bay and then every morning just on dawn they swim through different weather and become fast friends, they are all from different backgrounds and have different personalities, they learn to open up to each other, there is heartbreak and happiness through some very difficult situations, but above all they cherish their time together and the bond and companionship that grows and the love they have for each other.
I cried and I smiled throughout this book, and still tear up thinking about it even though I finished it yesterday, it really will be a book that stays with me for a long time to come. We all need our best friends those people that are there to laugh with and cry with and help whatever the problem is, I am lucky enough to have those and I hope that you pick this book up and love it as much as I did.
October 6, 2020
“In the past she's never had reason to contemplate the idea that families aren't necessarily made from blood. Now she knows that the family you create, voluntarily, can bring joy instead of pain, and support and love and strength.”
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is the second novel by Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. The audio version is narrated by Anthea Greco. Even if her husband has mentioned her weight more that once recently, that’s absolutely not the reason that Theresa Howard is planning a daily ocean swim. Improved fitness would be a welcome side-effect, but the real attraction of a sunrise swim at Shelly Bay is the chance of time to herself in her constantly busy day.
Marie has been swimming at sunrise in Shelly Bay for most of her life. But since Norm died and her best friend Gwen moved to a Retirement Village some distance away, it’s just her and her dog, Charlie Brown, in the sandstone cottage. And Marie’s not sure for how much longer she can manage that…
Originally from Devon, Elaine Schaeffer has accompanied her Australian husband (a heart surgeon, no less!) back to Australia. His demanding profession has James out until late, and the isolation Elaine feels is understandable: she has left behind her successful interior decorating business and the status that gave her, her adult sons, her ageing parents and her friends. She knows her increasing reliance on gin and tonic is not the answer but, after an earlier rejection at tennis, is hesitant to join the ladies swimming in Shelly Bay every sunrise.
Leanne loves her job on the paediatric ward at the Northern Hospital. Making her young patients feel safe and comfortable and cared for is all she wants to do. She doesn’t mind living alone in a tiny flat, having decided years before that trusting adults is fraught with danger. But the women in Shelly Bay are difficult to resist.
Whether for the sake of convenience, or by invitation, these four very different women eventually find themselves in the water together. As swimmers, some are experienced, strong and confident; others, novices or still a bit tentative; but soon it doesn't matter. Soon, it's a routine they hate to miss.
“They part each day knowing that they can take the morning with them, and tomorrow they'll be here again to repeat the actions but have a different experience. Each day is precious, new. Each morning is alive with vigour and a certain rapture.” As they negotiate life’s challenges, and there are several, they discover that these women provide more than company.
Green easily captures the feel of an Australian seaside suburb in the 1980s: the current affairs, dialogue and community attitudes are all redolent of the era. Green’s protagonists are so very relatable: human for all their flaws and filled with good intentions: “She walks slowly so that Elaine can accompany Marie into the surf, her earlier disappointment put aside. It's been lovely - a privilege - having Marie to herself but she's really too special to hoard.” And while her male characters may not be perfect, we all need a Matt or a James or a Gus in our lives, and we'd all like to throttle an Andrew or Trev or at least read them the riot act.
Green forces these women to deal with more than just bluebottles, jellyfish, seaweed and dumpers: if a neglected garden, ageing and a car accident seem minor, then grief, loneliness, infidelity, alcoholism, first love, past traumas, family reconciliation, mature-age love, cancer and surgery are certainly less so. They share lots of laughter, but also tears. Above all, though, these four women share the deep love that comes from abiding friendship.
Green has a marvellous turn-of-phrase, and it’s difficult to resist including many quotes: “He sees her problems through the prism of his experience” and “It's what they're used to, after all: being alone together in the water, each woman inside her own head. The comfort of wordless company that understands you implicitly” and “She has, on occasion, wondered if Gerard's not really an alcoholic but rather an actor paid to run these meetings. He seems to know just which expressions to use to get the outcome he wants” are examples.
It’s probably a close thing, but Green’s latest novel is even better than The Fairvale Ladies. Moving, heart-warming and uplifting, this is another brilliant read.
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is the second novel by Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. The audio version is narrated by Anthea Greco. Even if her husband has mentioned her weight more that once recently, that’s absolutely not the reason that Theresa Howard is planning a daily ocean swim. Improved fitness would be a welcome side-effect, but the real attraction of a sunrise swim at Shelly Bay is the chance of time to herself in her constantly busy day.
Marie has been swimming at sunrise in Shelly Bay for most of her life. But since Norm died and her best friend Gwen moved to a Retirement Village some distance away, it’s just her and her dog, Charlie Brown, in the sandstone cottage. And Marie’s not sure for how much longer she can manage that…
Originally from Devon, Elaine Schaeffer has accompanied her Australian husband (a heart surgeon, no less!) back to Australia. His demanding profession has James out until late, and the isolation Elaine feels is understandable: she has left behind her successful interior decorating business and the status that gave her, her adult sons, her ageing parents and her friends. She knows her increasing reliance on gin and tonic is not the answer but, after an earlier rejection at tennis, is hesitant to join the ladies swimming in Shelly Bay every sunrise.
Leanne loves her job on the paediatric ward at the Northern Hospital. Making her young patients feel safe and comfortable and cared for is all she wants to do. She doesn’t mind living alone in a tiny flat, having decided years before that trusting adults is fraught with danger. But the women in Shelly Bay are difficult to resist.
Whether for the sake of convenience, or by invitation, these four very different women eventually find themselves in the water together. As swimmers, some are experienced, strong and confident; others, novices or still a bit tentative; but soon it doesn't matter. Soon, it's a routine they hate to miss.
“They part each day knowing that they can take the morning with them, and tomorrow they'll be here again to repeat the actions but have a different experience. Each day is precious, new. Each morning is alive with vigour and a certain rapture.” As they negotiate life’s challenges, and there are several, they discover that these women provide more than company.
Green easily captures the feel of an Australian seaside suburb in the 1980s: the current affairs, dialogue and community attitudes are all redolent of the era. Green’s protagonists are so very relatable: human for all their flaws and filled with good intentions: “She walks slowly so that Elaine can accompany Marie into the surf, her earlier disappointment put aside. It's been lovely - a privilege - having Marie to herself but she's really too special to hoard.” And while her male characters may not be perfect, we all need a Matt or a James or a Gus in our lives, and we'd all like to throttle an Andrew or Trev or at least read them the riot act.
Green forces these women to deal with more than just bluebottles, jellyfish, seaweed and dumpers: if a neglected garden, ageing and a car accident seem minor, then grief, loneliness, infidelity, alcoholism, first love, past traumas, family reconciliation, mature-age love, cancer and surgery are certainly less so. They share lots of laughter, but also tears. Above all, though, these four women share the deep love that comes from abiding friendship.
Green has a marvellous turn-of-phrase, and it’s difficult to resist including many quotes: “He sees her problems through the prism of his experience” and “It's what they're used to, after all: being alone together in the water, each woman inside her own head. The comfort of wordless company that understands you implicitly” and “She has, on occasion, wondered if Gerard's not really an alcoholic but rather an actor paid to run these meetings. He seems to know just which expressions to use to get the outcome he wants” are examples.
It’s probably a close thing, but Green’s latest novel is even better than The Fairvale Ladies. Moving, heart-warming and uplifting, this is another brilliant read.
October 4, 2019
An easy read that started really well for the first half but then started going downhill in terms of story development and the characters I got bored with. Happy endings all round but too saccharine for my taste
September 2, 2019
FABulous read again by Sophie Green who has the ability to make you feel comfortable and at home with all your friends. The book is set on the beautiful NSW coast in the 1980's, about four women who meet and come together to swim every morning and development their bonds through loss, grief, inspiration, family and very special friendships. Each of their stories was great and how they all leaned on each other was lovely. This testament to friendship, like Sophie’s previous book, is an easy 5 star read for me.
August 5, 2021
Australië, 1982. Op het strand van het stadje Shelly Bay komen iedere dag vier vrouwen samen om in zee te zwemmen. Deze zwemclub is spontaan ontstaan, maar krijgt steeds meer betekenis voor iedereen. Maak kennis met Therese, wiens leven in dienst staat van haar man en kinderen en voor wie de zwemtocht haar enige moment voor zichzelf is. Voor de eenzame weduwe Marie is de zee er altijd geweest, op goede en slechte dagen. De net verhuisde Elaine mist haar volwassen kinderen en voelt zich verscheurd, waardoor ze steeds vaker drinkt. De jonge, onzekere verpleegkundige Leanne draagt een groot geheim mee uit haar verleden en vindt het moeilijk om zich open te stellen voor anderen.
Deze vrouwen hebben uiteenlopende leeftijden, zitten in verschillende levensfasen en hebben allemaal hun eigen problemen, moeilijkheden, verlangens en wensen, rugzakken uit het verleden en hindernissen om te overwinnen, maar in zee vinden ze elkaar. Bij elkaar vinden ze steun, een luisterend oor, een klankbord, advies, wijsheden en vriendschap. Het vaste zwemmoment zorgt voor structuur in hun dag, ze moeten er soms hun doorzettingsvermogen voor aanspreken, maar met het verstrijken van de tijd halen ze er ook steeds meer kracht uit.
Het ontstaan van de vriendschap en de ontwikkeling daarvan wordt mooi beschreven en in de twee jaar die het boek beslaat maken de vrouwen veel mee, terwijl er ook regelmatig wordt teruggegrepen op gebeurtenissen uit het verleden. Enkele elementen hadden voor mij net wat verder uitgewerkt mogen worden, voor iets meer diepgang op sommige momenten, maar de auteur heeft wel een mooie balans gevonden om de verhalen van de vrouwen evenveel aandacht en voldoende geloofwaardigheid te geven.
Door de afwisseling van perspectieven, korte hoofdstukken, goed uitgewerkte personages en de vlotte, soepele schrijfstijl vlieg je door het boek heen, ga je met de vrouwen meeleven en zie je de kracht van hun vriendschap. Het is sfeervol, emotioneel, meeslepend, warm en gelaagd en het zorgt voor een fijn gevoel tijdens het lezen. Een aanrader voor iedereen die behoefte heeft aan een aantal ontspannen leesuren met een mooi boek!
Deze vrouwen hebben uiteenlopende leeftijden, zitten in verschillende levensfasen en hebben allemaal hun eigen problemen, moeilijkheden, verlangens en wensen, rugzakken uit het verleden en hindernissen om te overwinnen, maar in zee vinden ze elkaar. Bij elkaar vinden ze steun, een luisterend oor, een klankbord, advies, wijsheden en vriendschap. Het vaste zwemmoment zorgt voor structuur in hun dag, ze moeten er soms hun doorzettingsvermogen voor aanspreken, maar met het verstrijken van de tijd halen ze er ook steeds meer kracht uit.
Het ontstaan van de vriendschap en de ontwikkeling daarvan wordt mooi beschreven en in de twee jaar die het boek beslaat maken de vrouwen veel mee, terwijl er ook regelmatig wordt teruggegrepen op gebeurtenissen uit het verleden. Enkele elementen hadden voor mij net wat verder uitgewerkt mogen worden, voor iets meer diepgang op sommige momenten, maar de auteur heeft wel een mooie balans gevonden om de verhalen van de vrouwen evenveel aandacht en voldoende geloofwaardigheid te geven.
Door de afwisseling van perspectieven, korte hoofdstukken, goed uitgewerkte personages en de vlotte, soepele schrijfstijl vlieg je door het boek heen, ga je met de vrouwen meeleven en zie je de kracht van hun vriendschap. Het is sfeervol, emotioneel, meeslepend, warm en gelaagd en het zorgt voor een fijn gevoel tijdens het lezen. Een aanrader voor iedereen die behoefte heeft aan een aantal ontspannen leesuren met een mooi boek!
January 21, 2020
I loved this story of 4 women who meet when they start swimming at the beach, but their acquaintance grows into a friendship and they become involved in each others lives.
I listened to it as an audiobook, and Anthea Greco is a wonderful narrator - I could easily tell which of the four women were talking.
I loved the description of the water and the beach and swimming. It spurred me on to exercise, although my exercise is mostly done on land, but it was still nice to listen to these women battling the waves while I was pounding the pavement or lifting weights!
I really enjoyed the first book I read of Sophie Green's - The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, but this one is even better!
I listened to it as an audiobook, and Anthea Greco is a wonderful narrator - I could easily tell which of the four women were talking.
I loved the description of the water and the beach and swimming. It spurred me on to exercise, although my exercise is mostly done on land, but it was still nice to listen to these women battling the waves while I was pounding the pavement or lifting weights!
I really enjoyed the first book I read of Sophie Green's - The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club, but this one is even better!
July 10, 2019
Copy received from Hachette Australia for an honest review
I enjoyed Sophie Green's first book, so it was a treat to receive an early copy of The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle.
Stories with an ensemble cast can go one of two ways from me - it can be well written and I thoroughly enjoy meeting all the characters, or it can be train wreck.
Thankfully, this book was the first, and I have enjoyed reading each day in my lunch break.
As an adult, I know how hard it can be to make new friends - I mean, who doesn't have friends that I have known for 30 years, but the thought of making a new friend makes me break out in hives!
Marie, Theresa, Elaine and Leeane, all at different ages and stages of their lives. meeting and becoming great friends , each having a different kind of relationship with the surf they swim in every morning (I couldn't be in this swimming circle, what if Jaws got me!).
I loved how each of our lovely ladies stories progressed. Their tales were told lovingly, and you can't help be adore each and every one of them. Love, loss, personal growth - there is a bit of it all in this story.
Sophie Green writes with a loving style that had me right back in the 80s with this awesome foursome.
I can't wait to see what Ms Green brings us next.
April 22, 2020
Four women from every different backgrounds meet on the beach and they decide to start swimming together. None of them realize the effect that this will eventual have on all of their lives.
This is a novel about friendship and the unexpected places you can find it. It is about family both the one your a born with and the one you select for yourself. It is about love, life and moving on.
It is also very much about identity and sense of self and what we do to ourselves.
This book will have you laughing, crying and nodding with sympathy with these women.
This is a novel about friendship and the unexpected places you can find it. It is about family both the one your a born with and the one you select for yourself. It is about love, life and moving on.
It is also very much about identity and sense of self and what we do to ourselves.
This book will have you laughing, crying and nodding with sympathy with these women.
July 14, 2019
I received an ARC of this book.
Sophie Green has a lovely way with words and bringing together a group of women who, from the outside, don’t make sense. As with Fairvale Ladies Book Club, these women have one thing that unites them, swimming at the beach at sunrise. As they begin to swim together, they begin to share and friendships are born.
This book is set in the early eighties and each of the four women are undergoing some sort of decision about their lives. Will they choose the change or stay the same? How do the ladies affect this process? The book is about how even the unlikeliest of friendships can develop and can become an important part of your life. We are not solitary creatures and we all need to navigate our lives with someone invested in us. This group is that, even when they don’t realise it.
The Swimmjng Club is a book for people who enjoy reading about friends who are all dealing with something big in their lives. Great for Moriarty fans and who like to read Aussie fiction.
Sophie Green has a lovely way with words and bringing together a group of women who, from the outside, don’t make sense. As with Fairvale Ladies Book Club, these women have one thing that unites them, swimming at the beach at sunrise. As they begin to swim together, they begin to share and friendships are born.
This book is set in the early eighties and each of the four women are undergoing some sort of decision about their lives. Will they choose the change or stay the same? How do the ladies affect this process? The book is about how even the unlikeliest of friendships can develop and can become an important part of your life. We are not solitary creatures and we all need to navigate our lives with someone invested in us. This group is that, even when they don’t realise it.
The Swimmjng Club is a book for people who enjoy reading about friends who are all dealing with something big in their lives. Great for Moriarty fans and who like to read Aussie fiction.
July 3, 2025
An engaging story of female friendship and personal growth, told through the connections of four very different women who find each other in the waters of Shelly Bay.
A fantastic story from Australian author Sophie Green.
A fantastic story from Australian author Sophie Green.
January 26, 2022
I read this book on a recommendation from a friend and thought it would be a 'nice' holiday read. It was so much more. I just loved the characters, their strength, their failings, their friendship which never waivers. Set in 1980s 4 women from different backgrounds and at different times in their lives become friends through their love of swimming.
I have two circles of friends and could identify with the Shelley Bay Women's Swimming Circle. One group I run with and we call ourselves the Saturday Sisters and have been running weekly for over 10 years.
The other is an online circle who came together during COVID and have been a lifeline. I had known these women through blogging which was our original connection. We meet weekly and in both circles I've found a deep friendship - no judgement, fun, laughter and knowing that we have each other's back.
I would highly recommend this book, thank you Sophie Green.
I have two circles of friends and could identify with the Shelley Bay Women's Swimming Circle. One group I run with and we call ourselves the Saturday Sisters and have been running weekly for over 10 years.
The other is an online circle who came together during COVID and have been a lifeline. I had known these women through blogging which was our original connection. We meet weekly and in both circles I've found a deep friendship - no judgement, fun, laughter and knowing that we have each other's back.
I would highly recommend this book, thank you Sophie Green.
December 9, 2019
- thanks to @hachetteaus for sending the copy my way💕
NSW, 1982. Housewife Theresa takes up swimming. She wants to get fit and also wants a few precious minutes to herself. Widowed Marie swims; with her husband gone, swimming is the one constant in her new life. Leanne only has herself to rely on; she became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself. Elaine has recently moved from England; far from home, her closest friend is a gin bottle...
I found myself immediately immersed in the lives of these four completely distinct women. They have nothing in common but the fact that they all take up swimming at sunrise every day, for different reasons. They are all going through tough experiences and they found themselves unexpectedly growing fond of each other.
.
I liked how the author portrayed each one of the main characters in many horrible but typical situations for women back in the '80s. It wasn't hard at all to empathise with them, which made it super easy to engage with their stories; however, it felt like plot-wise, not much happens. Each one of them is presented with several life challenges, but the scenes that really matter are left for the readers imagination (confrontations, romantic encounters, etc.). It's like 'oh yes, this is finally happening' but the author does not provide details about it and just moves straight onto the aftermath.
Although it wasn't hard to empathise with the main characters, I did not buy their friendship at all. Again, I think this is a case of missing really important scenes where the action happens; it felt like their whole friendship was based on asking each other how they are, two minutes conversations and a occasional hug after years of 'friendship'. The dialogue between them was simple and superficial, which was quite disappointing, especially considering the convenient and predictable ending of the novel.
Overall, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is a sweet and simple story that celebrates the lives and achievements of four women surviving in the Sydney of the '80s. Not too shocking or profound, perfect for a summer read!
NSW, 1982. Housewife Theresa takes up swimming. She wants to get fit and also wants a few precious minutes to herself. Widowed Marie swims; with her husband gone, swimming is the one constant in her new life. Leanne only has herself to rely on; she became a nurse to help others, even as she resists help herself. Elaine has recently moved from England; far from home, her closest friend is a gin bottle...
I found myself immediately immersed in the lives of these four completely distinct women. They have nothing in common but the fact that they all take up swimming at sunrise every day, for different reasons. They are all going through tough experiences and they found themselves unexpectedly growing fond of each other.
.
I liked how the author portrayed each one of the main characters in many horrible but typical situations for women back in the '80s. It wasn't hard at all to empathise with them, which made it super easy to engage with their stories; however, it felt like plot-wise, not much happens. Each one of them is presented with several life challenges, but the scenes that really matter are left for the readers imagination (confrontations, romantic encounters, etc.). It's like 'oh yes, this is finally happening' but the author does not provide details about it and just moves straight onto the aftermath.
Although it wasn't hard to empathise with the main characters, I did not buy their friendship at all. Again, I think this is a case of missing really important scenes where the action happens; it felt like their whole friendship was based on asking each other how they are, two minutes conversations and a occasional hug after years of 'friendship'. The dialogue between them was simple and superficial, which was quite disappointing, especially considering the convenient and predictable ending of the novel.
Overall, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is a sweet and simple story that celebrates the lives and achievements of four women surviving in the Sydney of the '80s. Not too shocking or profound, perfect for a summer read!
July 24, 2019
The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle by Sophie Green is an inspirational and heartwarming testament to female friendship.
In need of some time for herself, busy wife and mother Theresa Howard opts for a daily dawn swim at Shelly Bay Beach. It’s there that she meets the widowed Marie, who has swum from Shelly Bay to Little Beach, and back again, almost every morning of her long life. The two women are soon joined by Elaine Schaeffer, the British wife of an Australian heart surgeon, who is struggling with homesickness, and somewhat reluctantly, Leeane, a young pediatric nurse with a painful past. Little more than strangers to one another, these four women soon become the closest of friends.
Beginning in the summer of 1982, the companionship that Theresa, Marie, Elaine and Leeane find in the water, slowly moves beyond the shore of Shelley Bay Beach, and as each woman encounters a myriad of life changes over the next two years, they reach out to one another in friendship. Getting to know these four authentically written characters is gratifying journey as we share their journeys through happiness and sorrow.
While Green sensitively explores difficult, but not uncommon, challenges faced by women such as infidelity, divorce, grief, loneliness, ageing, alcoholism, family estrangement, sexual assault and illness, her characters share moments of joy and laughter too. They find within themselves, and each other, the strength and courage, to love, and live, their lives fully.
“They’re all women she loves, and she knows they love her in return. It’s been enough to get her through some days, and she knows what Marie would say: it never ends. Love is eternal...”
Written with heart, humour and compassion, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is a wonderful read.
In need of some time for herself, busy wife and mother Theresa Howard opts for a daily dawn swim at Shelly Bay Beach. It’s there that she meets the widowed Marie, who has swum from Shelly Bay to Little Beach, and back again, almost every morning of her long life. The two women are soon joined by Elaine Schaeffer, the British wife of an Australian heart surgeon, who is struggling with homesickness, and somewhat reluctantly, Leeane, a young pediatric nurse with a painful past. Little more than strangers to one another, these four women soon become the closest of friends.
Beginning in the summer of 1982, the companionship that Theresa, Marie, Elaine and Leeane find in the water, slowly moves beyond the shore of Shelley Bay Beach, and as each woman encounters a myriad of life changes over the next two years, they reach out to one another in friendship. Getting to know these four authentically written characters is gratifying journey as we share their journeys through happiness and sorrow.
While Green sensitively explores difficult, but not uncommon, challenges faced by women such as infidelity, divorce, grief, loneliness, ageing, alcoholism, family estrangement, sexual assault and illness, her characters share moments of joy and laughter too. They find within themselves, and each other, the strength and courage, to love, and live, their lives fully.
“They’re all women she loves, and she knows they love her in return. It’s been enough to get her through some days, and she knows what Marie would say: it never ends. Love is eternal...”
Written with heart, humour and compassion, The Shelly Bay Ladies Swimming Circle is a wonderful read.
October 6, 2022
This light and satisfying read is a celebration of friendship through the interwoven lives of four women living in Sydney. The difficulties of familial relationships, marriage, motherhood, alcoholism and illness are touched on as the women support one another through each of their trials. It’s a heartwarming and uplifting tale. I enjoyed the positive exploration of female friendship but thought some of the characters were one dimensional and many of the issues were not explored deeply enough. I love the familiarity of the setting and the activity that binds the women. I will definitely read more of Sophie Green’s novels.
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April 15, 2022The cover tricked me into thinking this was a feel good book. This was not a feel good book although I wanted it to be. I'm not giving this a rating because it would not be fair considering it ís a good book just not what I wanted to read atm.
This was a very painful book with a lot of heavy heaaaaavy problems I did not want to read about. Half way through I thought: 'Oh! Maybe all the problems are getting solved now! This will be a feel good!'. I was mistaken. The worst had yet to come. And I'm not even talking about the all the ways the characters don't stick up for themselves and keep apologizing to some serious assholes who keep ruining their life!!! So I truly am in desperate need for some *light fun comical book* :((
This was a very painful book with a lot of heavy heaaaaavy problems I did not want to read about. Half way through I thought: 'Oh! Maybe all the problems are getting solved now! This will be a feel good!'. I was mistaken. The worst had yet to come. And I'm not even talking about the all the ways the characters don't stick up for themselves and keep apologizing to some serious assholes who keep ruining their life!!! So I truly am in desperate need for some *light fun comical book* :((
August 12, 2019
Another great read from Sophie Green. Some wonderful characters & others with some very undesirable traits that you love to hate.
April 30, 2023
A lovely story of friendship, different lives, different stories, different ages.
December 31, 2023
Such a beautifully written book about friendships and how hard it can be to make friends as an adult. It’s true that we are not an island and having important people in your life can make such a difference. Thankful for all my friends 😌
July 30, 2024
very cute and corny and australian. would make a wholesome lifetime movie.
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