Seven Year Itch

by Lyndsey Gallagher

Twenty-seven-year-old Lucy O’Connor has been asked to be her future sister-in-law’s bridesmaid despite the fact they don’t see eye to eye. The last thing she expected was to fall in love with a complete stranger at the hen weekend. Which wouldn’t be a problem apart from the teeny tiny fact that she’s already married to somebody else…

Is it a case of the Seven-Year-Itch or could it be the real deal? Lucy needs to decide if she is going to leave the security of her stale marriage in order to find out if the grass is indeed greener on the other side, or whether it’s worth having one more go at watering her own garden.

Could this party-loving, city girl really leave the country she loves for a farmer from the West of Ireland?

Is there such a thing as fate?

What about karma?

Is John Kelly all that he seems?

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2019

Reviews

[One chapter more · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was one of the lovliest romances I have put my teeth in, especially knowing that it was inspired by real life events. Absolutely enchanting and once you start you won't be able to put this pink book down!

[Ellie Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seven Year Itch was a wonderful read filled with a straightforward “no nonsense“ manner of speaking. Realistic settings and characters brought the story to life. I highly recommend it!

[Therese Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

small bit drawn out; but an easy read

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first novel from Gallagher and I really enjoyed changing up from my normal genres. It's unusual for me to read books about relationships but I found myself drawn into the main character and identifying with her on a personal level. I don't know whether it's because the storyline touches on similarities in my own life, but the writing style made the character lovable, respectable and easy to empathise with.
My Synopsis: Lucy is in an unhappy marriage and feels guilty about thinking if leaving her husband of 7 years. She goes with friends on a hen weekend away and there meets the man of her dreams. This book follows a story of love, lust, passion and heartbreak whilst reminding us that we only have 1 life and we should live it.

[Gill D. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyndsay is a clever and witty author who brings her characters alive in a believable way. Great holiday read!

[Vikkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness what a book!!!
This has been an Instagram suggestion, that I decided to give a go after reading the description. I am definitely not disappointed by this magical book. Now, it’s no secret- I’ve wanted to visit Dublin and Sligo since I turned 11 and developed a huge crush on Nicky and Shane from Westlife. Although this book isn’t set in Sligo, the links were enough to make me feel as though I had escaped. This book made me giggle at moments but other parts made me a little emotional. I love main character Lucy! She is a character anyone could relate to, plus being Welsh I adore the Irish accent so could imagine it easily throughout this book. A truly wonderful story which easily deserves hundreds of stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Ellie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨BOOK REVIEW✨ The Seven Year Itch by @lyndseygallagherauthor

What a wonderful love story!!

I loved this book so much, I became so attached to Lucy within the first few pages. I really wanted to cry for her in the beginning and was so happy to see her grow and recognise her own worth as the story progressed. Lyndsey did such a great job of portraying Lucy’s emotions it really felt l was living the story with her. The relationship with John felt so exciting and genuine and his parents were just the icing on the already wonderful cake.

Also… the spice was 🥵🌶🔥

It’s no secret that Lyndsey is one of my top 3 favourite authors and I’d whole heartedly recommend this book!

[Jillian James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can Lucy be my BFF please? I loved her! She was funny, flawed, and so believable! I believed in her and John the whole way and was cheering them on. This was a first by this author for me and will not be my last. Her writing is bright and brilliant and gave me just enough of the feels without too much heaviness. Loved

[M.S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A relatable, steamy, and enjoyable love story

This book is like being in the head of one of your very best girlfriends while you watch her realize her marriage is a sham and that there is so much more to life. In this case, another man, which makes for no lack of self-doubt, drama, and difficulty. Especially when your friend realizes that the grass isn’t necessarily greener. In any case, there was plenty to like about this book. It was relatable, had a good helping of steaminess, and a beautiful ending. Definitely an enjoyable read!

[Pauline Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Lyndsey’s first book, The Seven Year Itch!
Very enjoyable read, all the relationships made very real. Thought provoking about what is important in our lives!
Can highly recommend.

[C Standing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I loved every minute of it!

Lucy is my kind of heroine! Fun, down to earth, and definite BFF material.

After being married to her husband for seven years, lucy finds herself stuck in a rut. She needs something to change. Some spontaneity. Something different than their everyday life.

She goes away with her friends on a hen do and meets John.

John shows her that life doesn't have to be one long monotonous ride. There are inclines, drops, twists and turns. He brings the fun and colour back into her black and white life.

This was such a sweet little read!

[Mary Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the opening paragraph! It was so relatable, the characters quickly felt like friends! I laughed and cried in places, it brought home the realities of modern day life and complicated love. The description of the Irish countryside made me want to go and visit! I was sorry to finish it. Hoping for a sequel 👏🏻

[N Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful Romance

I loved this book. So romantic, sweet, sometimes steamy! I just need to know how to find this myself now! A great read x

[T.A. Rosewood · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely easy read.
And to find out it was based on a true story was cute too.
So glad 'Lucy' found happiness and love in the end. So sweet.

[Maggie McGuinness · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Seven Year Itch is a fast-paced story of falling in love - when you're already married. The main character, Lucy, is funny and full on, and the sort of girl who would be great fun to meet for a chat and a glass of wine (or 5!) I enjoyed reading about how she met the man of her dreams and then how the relationship progressed. Was it the real deal, or simply too good to be true? My only reservation is that it seemed unlikely that a man of John's age (with so much going for him) was so lacking in relationship history. I thought more could have been explored there, rather than writing off all his previous flings as being meaningless and/or crazy. Overall, though, I enjoyed the read, and found some of the minor characters, like Lucy's friends, to be very entertaining. My favourite was John's dad - an absolute crack up! This book is a great holiday read and keeps you turning the pages to find out if love really does conquer all.

[Kathy Lewison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dental hygienist Lucy is married, however this is not a happy marriage. When she meets John on a hen weekend in Ireland she starts to re-examine her life. Is this really the Seven Year Itch? As Lucy spends more weekends with John. She is convinced he is too good to be true Has Lucy agreed to hang up the Jimmy Choos and spend a simple life in a simple town?

[David Lastinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Lyndsey through Instagram and it turns out we have more in common than I thought. I have family in the immediate area of where most of the Ireland portion of this story occurs.
I have not been able to put this down short of being late for work, dinner, etc. She tells a great story and it's sure to capture you as well.

[L.M.R. Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dental hygienist Lucy meets The One, and unfortunately it's not her husband. It's a red-headed Irish dairy farmer named John. I'm not a romance reader, but I enjoyed the narrative. Gallagher explores the complexities of relationships and emotions well. At times humorous, at times steamy, and filled with great depictions of the settings, this is a must-read for romance fans.

[Áine Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any hopeless romantics out there (like myself) , this is a must have for your shelf!! Gripping, from start to finish, this emotional page turner will have you eeee-ing and aweee-ing throughout!! Knowing it was based on true events made it even more enthralling!!

I love the absolute honesty of the author and her willingness to pour her heart out onto every page .. 5 stars !!

[Ceri Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg @lyndseygallagherauthor I am crying! This book is so beautiful.
So perfect. ♥️
It reminds me so much of my own story.
I left my partner after five years of unhappy marriage & fell into a whirlwind with someone new and after 15 months...
He is my family now, and my home. I feel lost without him. I am Lucy and he is John.
Ahhhhh♥️ Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.
5 beautiful stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Siobhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful writer! Funny, emotional and very relatable story. I enjoyed every page and was actually quite sad when I had to leave Lucy behind!!

Looking forward to more from this very talented writer!!!

[Jenny Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fun read

A fun contemporary romance for anyone looking to escape. I loved the way the protagonist meets her Irishman, and found myself invested in her story.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Seven Year Itch
Author: Lyndsey Gallagher
Hero/Heroine: John and Lucy
Trope: Love at first sight/Meet Cute

When Lyndsey Gallagher messaged me to ask if I would like to read her book, I jumped at the chance. I still get that giddy feeling when an author approaches me, and I don’t think that will ever change.

The Seven Year Itch is a story that delves into the intricacies of relationships, marriage and love at first sight. Our heroine Lucy is on a hen do when she meets the love of her life... the only problem is that she’s already married. Talk about a difficult situation!

John and Lucy were great characters and complimented each other brilliantly. Whereas Lucy is the type of person that has to have control over every situation, John was your typical laid back Irishman who took everything in his stride. With Lucy dealing with the breakdown of her marriage, and John entering into his first serious relationship, these pair together experience the highs and lows of love at first sight. Lucy spends most of the book punishing herself for how quickly she entered into a new relationship so soon after her divorce, which added depth to both the story and her character.

With complex yet lovely characters and a thought provoking storyline, The Seven Year Itch was a great read from beginning to end.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Great characters and an engaging storyline all set within a gorgeous Irish location ☘️
STEAM RATING: 🔥🔥🔥
STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Crystal Estell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one lovely book. At many times, I found myself falling into John and Lucy's love story, almost as if I were there to witness it all. Lyndsey has brought raw and realistic emotion into every sentence, almost as if I was reading her personal diary. And let me not neglect the epic love story that she tells, two people destined to be together, despite less than desirable circumstances. A couple fighting the odds for a love that most rarely find, or rather rarely allow themselves to find. Which brings me to my other point. I believe Lucy is an inspiration for women who are stuck in a rut, or have accepted the status quo just because that's what life's supposed to be, or what they're supposed to do. She's brave and doesn't let the myth of a "Seven-Year Itch" keep her from what she knows will bring her the greatest joy ever. Instead, she steps out on faith in hopes of landing her happy ever after. Far too often, people get stuck in a situation and can't, or won't, recognize the way out. They succumb to a blah life and accept that true happiness is nothing but a crazy dream. But what we can all learn from Lucy is that life is short, self-worth is important, and a happy ever after is probably closer than you think... if only you set yourself free to find it.

[Helena Huang · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the climax twist of this book and the characters, I’d say this is a good book to read for free with the membership . This is an easy read as well . The plot is a tad drawn out as others have said and the story builds but doesn’t reach the climax until 90% of the book is read . Still it is a good story.

Also , I’ve actually read “ The Midwife Crisis “ before this book and I’d say reading one of the two books would be a five star rating , but after reading both I’m starting to see how similar the storylines are in both books . The story is a bit predictable when the storylines are very similar . The only thing I would suggest is for the author to write books with new plots so the ending is less predicable that way .

[Renee Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have never been one to believe in love at first sight, this story will certainly change your mind. Based on how the author met her real life husband, The Seven Year Itch is a charming, witty, and romantic story about two people who are just meant to be. John and Lucy never expected to meet each other in the hotel bar, but fate had a plan. The writing is exceptional, as are all Gallagher’s novels, with the perfect combination of humor, passion, and solid storytelling. I so enjoyed this story and especially loved the beautiful descriptions of John’s home in Ireland. Well done!

[eileen fothergill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern easy reading.

I really enjoyed the flow of this easy to read story .Story revolves around the breakdown of a marriage and the beginnings of a new relationship .Amongst the love story we get into the pain and misery involved in the breakdown but also great happiness that can be found in finding someone new. There's a lot of great characters and friendships mentioned throughout and the only reason I didn't give it 5* was that the end was a bit rushed ..

[Claire · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like the bitter, cutting undertone of this book towards other women. For example, aside from the main protagonist and her friends who are described in glowing terms, the author depicts any women who were previously involved with the main male character as pitiful, ugly ("frogs") etc. In doing so, she glorifies bad behaviour or gaslighting, as was noted by a couple of other readers. There was also a throwaway comment made about suicide ideation which I found to be in poor taste. After reading that sentence, I sped read just to finish it.

[KatReadsRomance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Write what you know…

I’m very impressed that this is Lyndsey Gallagher’s first book. I’ve read lots of her books (and they’re lovely contemporary romances that ooze sexytimes), but this one is very close to her heart. It’s her story. Likely things have been subtly changed for a better story, but I feel the truth shining through.

Well done Lyngdseykins, I’m sure glad you stuck with it and kept on writing the other thirteen!

[Shaztwirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Entertaining Read

This was a nice character driven story with the prerequisite total failure to communicate right towards the end. Is there even a story if one character at least doesn't jump to an almighty conclusion without just openly talking to the other? I enjoyed it,though.