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Finfarran Peninsula #5
The Transatlantic Book Club
The beloved author of The Mistletoe Matchmaker returns with an enchanting new novel, perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Nina George, and Nancy Thayer, about residents of Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula who set up a Skype book club with the little US town of Resolve, where generations of Finfarran's emigrants have settled.
Distance makes no difference to love...
Eager to cheer up her recently widowed gran, Cassie Fitzgerald, visiting from Canada, persuades Lissbeg Library to set up a Skype book club, linking readers on Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula with the US town of Resolve, home to generations of Finfarran emigrants.
But when the club decides to read a detective novel, old conflicts on both sides of the ocean are exposed and hidden love affairs come to light. As secrets emerge, Cassie fears she may have done more harm than good. Will the truths she uncovers about her granny Pat's marriage affect her own hopes of finding love? Is Pat, who's still struggling with the death of her husband, about to fall out with her oldest friend, Mary? Or could the book club itself hold the key to a triumphant transatlantic happy ending?
The Transatlantic Book Club continues the stories of the residents of the Finfarran Peninsula and introduces readers to new characters who they will surely fall in love with.
Distance makes no difference to love...
Eager to cheer up her recently widowed gran, Cassie Fitzgerald, visiting from Canada, persuades Lissbeg Library to set up a Skype book club, linking readers on Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula with the US town of Resolve, home to generations of Finfarran emigrants.
But when the club decides to read a detective novel, old conflicts on both sides of the ocean are exposed and hidden love affairs come to light. As secrets emerge, Cassie fears she may have done more harm than good. Will the truths she uncovers about her granny Pat's marriage affect her own hopes of finding love? Is Pat, who's still struggling with the death of her husband, about to fall out with her oldest friend, Mary? Or could the book club itself hold the key to a triumphant transatlantic happy ending?
The Transatlantic Book Club continues the stories of the residents of the Finfarran Peninsula and introduces readers to new characters who they will surely fall in love with.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2019
242 people are currently reading
3989 people want to read
About the author
Felicity Hayes-McCoy
34 books546 followersUSA Today bestselling Irish writer Felicity Hayes-McCoy is the author of the 'Finfarran' novels, set in a fictional county on Ireland's West Coast. Marian Keyes calls her writing "a pitch-perfect delight", Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of "Between Sisters" and "Secrets of a Happy Marriage", has described the Finfarran books as "a delicious feast", and "sunshine on the page", while Jenny Colgan, bestselling author of "The Cafe by the Sea", calls them "charming and heartwarming".
Felicity's latest book, a standalone novel, The Keepsake Quilters (Hachette Irl), was published in October 2022 to critical acclaim. Best-selling Irish authors Roisin Meaney and Carmel Harringon called it "the perfect festive read" and "warm and wise ... an absolute joy"; Claudia Carroll and Patricia Scanlan wrote of it as "warm, funny and full of heart" and "a fascinating, beautifully-written generational saga"; and television presenters Barbara Scully and Mary Kennedy have described it as "a gorgeous novel" and "a beautifully-crafted story."
Finfarran #1, The Library at the Edge of The World, was published in June 2016: The Sunday Times called it "engaging, sparkling and joyous" and The Sunday Independent wrote "If you like reading a feelgood novel, take a journey to the edge of the world. An easy, pleasant summer read for fans of Maeve Binchy".
Summer at The Garden Café, the second in the Finfarran series, came out in the UK & Irl May 2017, The Mistletoe Matchmaker, a warm, empowering Christmas story, in October 2017, and The Month of Borrowed Dreams, in June 2018: The Irish Independent's review called it "a heartwarming novel which will leave you longing to read the earlier ones". The best-selling author Marian Keyes said she was "utterly charmed" by Finfarran #5, The Transatlantic Book Club, which was published in 2019.
A US & Canadian edition of The Library at the Edge of The World, published by Harper Perennial in Nov 2017, was chosen as a LibraryReads Pick. The US & Canadian edition of Summer at The Garden Café was published in 2018, The Mistletoe Matchmaker followed in 2019, The Transatlantic Book Club in 2020, The Month of Borrowed Dreams in 2021, and The Heart of Summer in 2022.
Finfarran #7, The Year of Lost and Found, was published by Hachette Irl in May 2021, and praised as "the perfect, page-turning escape" and "the best book of the year so far for me" by best-selling Irish authors Sinéad Moriarty and Claudia Carroll. It was preceded in 2020 by Finfarran #6, The Heart of Summer, of which Ireland's Sunday Business Post reviewer wrote "This works perfectly well as a standalone novel ... her writing sings", and bestselling author Patricia Scanlan commented "Fans of Maeve Binchy will adore it - she just gets better and better!"
The Finfarran novels have been translated into seven languages and can also be purchased in English as ebooks and audiobooks.
Described as 'wise, funny' and 'blazingly beautiful' by actress and writer Joanna Lumley, Felicity's first memoir, The House on an Irish Hillside was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2012. It takes the author to London, where she worked as an actress and met her English, opera-director husband, and back to Ireland, to a remarkable stone house on the Dingle peninsula.
Enough Is Plenty: The Year on the Dingle Peninsula, a sequel to The House on an Irish Hillside, was published by The Collins Press in 2015. Illustrated with photographs by Felicity and her husband, and with a foreword by the best-selling Irish writer Alice Taylor, it charts the cycle of the Celtic year in Felicity's own house and garden.
A second memoir, A Woven Silence: Memory, History & Remembrance, described by The Sunday Times as 'a powerful piece of personal and political history', was published in September 2015, also by The Collins Press. Inspired by the lost story of her grandmother's cousin Marion Stokes, one of three women who raised the tricolour over Enniscorthy town in Wexford dur
Felicity's latest book, a standalone novel, The Keepsake Quilters (Hachette Irl), was published in October 2022 to critical acclaim. Best-selling Irish authors Roisin Meaney and Carmel Harringon called it "the perfect festive read" and "warm and wise ... an absolute joy"; Claudia Carroll and Patricia Scanlan wrote of it as "warm, funny and full of heart" and "a fascinating, beautifully-written generational saga"; and television presenters Barbara Scully and Mary Kennedy have described it as "a gorgeous novel" and "a beautifully-crafted story."
Finfarran #1, The Library at the Edge of The World, was published in June 2016: The Sunday Times called it "engaging, sparkling and joyous" and The Sunday Independent wrote "If you like reading a feelgood novel, take a journey to the edge of the world. An easy, pleasant summer read for fans of Maeve Binchy".
Summer at The Garden Café, the second in the Finfarran series, came out in the UK & Irl May 2017, The Mistletoe Matchmaker, a warm, empowering Christmas story, in October 2017, and The Month of Borrowed Dreams, in June 2018: The Irish Independent's review called it "a heartwarming novel which will leave you longing to read the earlier ones". The best-selling author Marian Keyes said she was "utterly charmed" by Finfarran #5, The Transatlantic Book Club, which was published in 2019.
A US & Canadian edition of The Library at the Edge of The World, published by Harper Perennial in Nov 2017, was chosen as a LibraryReads Pick. The US & Canadian edition of Summer at The Garden Café was published in 2018, The Mistletoe Matchmaker followed in 2019, The Transatlantic Book Club in 2020, The Month of Borrowed Dreams in 2021, and The Heart of Summer in 2022.
Finfarran #7, The Year of Lost and Found, was published by Hachette Irl in May 2021, and praised as "the perfect, page-turning escape" and "the best book of the year so far for me" by best-selling Irish authors Sinéad Moriarty and Claudia Carroll. It was preceded in 2020 by Finfarran #6, The Heart of Summer, of which Ireland's Sunday Business Post reviewer wrote "This works perfectly well as a standalone novel ... her writing sings", and bestselling author Patricia Scanlan commented "Fans of Maeve Binchy will adore it - she just gets better and better!"
The Finfarran novels have been translated into seven languages and can also be purchased in English as ebooks and audiobooks.
Described as 'wise, funny' and 'blazingly beautiful' by actress and writer Joanna Lumley, Felicity's first memoir, The House on an Irish Hillside was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2012. It takes the author to London, where she worked as an actress and met her English, opera-director husband, and back to Ireland, to a remarkable stone house on the Dingle peninsula.
Enough Is Plenty: The Year on the Dingle Peninsula, a sequel to The House on an Irish Hillside, was published by The Collins Press in 2015. Illustrated with photographs by Felicity and her husband, and with a foreword by the best-selling Irish writer Alice Taylor, it charts the cycle of the Celtic year in Felicity's own house and garden.
A second memoir, A Woven Silence: Memory, History & Remembrance, described by The Sunday Times as 'a powerful piece of personal and political history', was published in September 2015, also by The Collins Press. Inspired by the lost story of her grandmother's cousin Marion Stokes, one of three women who raised the tricolour over Enniscorthy town in Wexford dur
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
November 8, 2021
This is a cute addition to the series. Please note that although this is the 5th in the series, it is only the 4th book released in the US. That is a bit sad to me, hopefully book four will be released here at some point. I don't feel like there were any glaring holes like I had missed something, but I think I will pick up book 4 from Book Depository in order to get caught up on some of the characters that were totally absent from this book.
I liked the storyline of Pat and her adjustment to dealing with Ger's death. I appreciated how her past visit to the US before she got married was woven between the narrative of the present day. It gave me a deeper understanding into her life journey and the choices she had to make. It was definitely the strongest portion of the book. I also really enjoyed the transatlantic book club meetings and could totally picture all of it in my head.
The main shortfall of this book were the portions with Cassie. I didn't quite buy the relationships with either of the men she was attempting to decide between, because in the previous book she had been portrayed as knowing her own mind even as she travels the world for her job on cruise ships. In this book, she's much more "dithery" and the relationship development felt kind of awkward in both cases and I never felt the connection between her and either of the men.
Overall though, I liked the book and there is a great deal of humor and so many familiar characters. This is definitely a series to read from the beginning, because there are so many events that have taken place that totally shape what is happening in this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I liked the storyline of Pat and her adjustment to dealing with Ger's death. I appreciated how her past visit to the US before she got married was woven between the narrative of the present day. It gave me a deeper understanding into her life journey and the choices she had to make. It was definitely the strongest portion of the book. I also really enjoyed the transatlantic book club meetings and could totally picture all of it in my head.
The main shortfall of this book were the portions with Cassie. I didn't quite buy the relationships with either of the men she was attempting to decide between, because in the previous book she had been portrayed as knowing her own mind even as she travels the world for her job on cruise ships. In this book, she's much more "dithery" and the relationship development felt kind of awkward in both cases and I never felt the connection between her and either of the men.
Overall though, I liked the book and there is a great deal of humor and so many familiar characters. This is definitely a series to read from the beginning, because there are so many events that have taken place that totally shape what is happening in this book.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 23, 2020
Cassie Fitzgerald returns with her grandmother Pat, from the US town of Resolve to Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula. Her aim is to help her grandmother after the death of Ger, her husband of many years. Having read the other books about Finfarran in this series I was keen to read this one. The title and the blurb though are a bit misleading in that the formation of the book club via Skype between Resolve and Finfarran does not actually happen till about midway through the story. Till then it is a chance to catch up with inhabitants of the town of Finfarran and in that sense for this reader it was like settling in in with old friends. Cassie gets a part time job at the library with Hannah. The relationship between Hannah and her mother Mary is still uneasy at best. Hardly surprising given the fractious nature of Mary, who is quite annoying much of the time. How she and Pat have remained friends over so many year, since childhood is a mystery in itself. Cassie is energetic, enthusiastic and full of good ideas and it is from her that the idea for the transatlantic book club originates .But does she have an ulterior motive?
Two of my favourite characters in this series are Fury and his dog The Divil. They provide a number of moments of amusement. I also liked Cassie and Pat, who has a secret of her own she has kept for many years. The community of Finfarran comes across as a great mixture of people each with their own foibles and peculiarities. It’s very much a gentle character driven novel rather one with a lot of action. Though I enjoyed it and settled happily with the inhabitants, it did mean that at times it seemed a little slow to move, especially waiting for the book club idea to surface. But it is still a pleasant place to settle down and spend some time.
Not my favourite book in this series but still a lovely read. If you have not read the earlier books, it may be difficult to keep up with who is who and how they fit in. But why start here? Why not start with the earlier books and get to know these engaging characters? Like any story of family and friendship there is also a side order of romance. Or maybe more than one. An enjoyable read that leaves you with a smile on your face.
Two of my favourite characters in this series are Fury and his dog The Divil. They provide a number of moments of amusement. I also liked Cassie and Pat, who has a secret of her own she has kept for many years. The community of Finfarran comes across as a great mixture of people each with their own foibles and peculiarities. It’s very much a gentle character driven novel rather one with a lot of action. Though I enjoyed it and settled happily with the inhabitants, it did mean that at times it seemed a little slow to move, especially waiting for the book club idea to surface. But it is still a pleasant place to settle down and spend some time.
Not my favourite book in this series but still a lovely read. If you have not read the earlier books, it may be difficult to keep up with who is who and how they fit in. But why start here? Why not start with the earlier books and get to know these engaging characters? Like any story of family and friendship there is also a side order of romance. Or maybe more than one. An enjoyable read that leaves you with a smile on your face.
August 28, 2020
Really a 2.5 for me
I was quite disappointed in this. With the title I expected it to be about a book club but that was mainly a side story and I don't think the selected book, The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham was ever discussed. It is a really gussied up romance novel.
Cassie is staying with her grandmother in the fictional Finfarran Peninsula, clearly modeled on the Dingle Peninsula where the author lives. Raised in Toronto she has just made contact with her Irish relatives when her grandfather dies so she stays on to help out. There is a town in New York called Resolve where many Finfarran emigrants have settled. The two towns decided to have a Skype book club. As is true in many book clubs, it becomes more social and the book never figures into it.
There are lots of delightful characters and the book depicts the area knowingly. You know the author knows and loves the area. She relates a true story of where she got the idea that was quite interesting. I just wish the book had been as interesting. It deserved to be more than it was. It was a terrific idea.
I was quite disappointed in this. With the title I expected it to be about a book club but that was mainly a side story and I don't think the selected book, The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham was ever discussed. It is a really gussied up romance novel.
Cassie is staying with her grandmother in the fictional Finfarran Peninsula, clearly modeled on the Dingle Peninsula where the author lives. Raised in Toronto she has just made contact with her Irish relatives when her grandfather dies so she stays on to help out. There is a town in New York called Resolve where many Finfarran emigrants have settled. The two towns decided to have a Skype book club. As is true in many book clubs, it becomes more social and the book never figures into it.
There are lots of delightful characters and the book depicts the area knowingly. You know the author knows and loves the area. She relates a true story of where she got the idea that was quite interesting. I just wish the book had been as interesting. It deserved to be more than it was. It was a terrific idea.
March 12, 2021
Cassie, a Toronto native, spent time on Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula with her grandmother, Pat, after her grandfather's death. Cassie worked part-time at the library driving a bookmobile around the beautiful peninsula. She also suggested a virtual book club to connect the Irish residents of Finfarran with a group of Irish-Americans in Resolve, a fictional town in northern New York. Many Irish townspeople had emigrated to Resolve so the book club also served as a social connection to friends and family.
Much of the story tracks the friendship between Pat and Mary, a difficult woman who is also a recent widow. Pat had been holding secrets for decades, and there are interesting flashbacks to her younger years. Her handyman friend, Fury, offered wisdom and humor.
Cassie is a free spirit who worked as a hair stylist on cruise ships before her interlude in Ireland. She seems attracted to two very different men, and we wonder where those relationships are heading.
"The Transatlantic Book Club" can be read as a stand-alone book, although it is part of a series. The end of the book seems to be setting up for the next story. This is a relaxing read with a slow-moving plot, and filled with many instances of everyday activities like making tea. Strengths are the lovely descriptions of the Irish countryside, and the sense of community in the small Irish town.
Much of the story tracks the friendship between Pat and Mary, a difficult woman who is also a recent widow. Pat had been holding secrets for decades, and there are interesting flashbacks to her younger years. Her handyman friend, Fury, offered wisdom and humor.
Cassie is a free spirit who worked as a hair stylist on cruise ships before her interlude in Ireland. She seems attracted to two very different men, and we wonder where those relationships are heading.
"The Transatlantic Book Club" can be read as a stand-alone book, although it is part of a series. The end of the book seems to be setting up for the next story. This is a relaxing read with a slow-moving plot, and filled with many instances of everyday activities like making tea. Strengths are the lovely descriptions of the Irish countryside, and the sense of community in the small Irish town.
November 10, 2020
To cheer up her grandmother who just lost her beloved husband, Cassie, a free spirit, decided to start a transatlantic book club.
The book club was going to have readers from Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula and the town of Resolve in the United States where many Irish folks lived.
This book club had its problems just like any book club....which book to choose that everyone can agree on and which will please everyone as well as the problem that some members do not read the chosen book for whatever reason.
Did the book club stir up things that shouldn’t have been stirred up instead?
There are a lot of quirky but fun characters. Some lovable some not so much.
A book about a book club always catches my attention. We also get lovely descriptions of the countryside and landmarks.
I do have to say it’s a bit wordy, but still interesting.
I may have missed some background on the characters since I hadn’t read the previous novels, but it was still easy to follow.
There also are some love stories mixed in and lovely information about a traveling library.
Readers who enjoy family connections over generations, nostalgic scenes, and joining in on a book club should enjoy THE TRANSATLANTIC BOOK CLUB. 4/5
This book was given to be by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The book club was going to have readers from Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula and the town of Resolve in the United States where many Irish folks lived.
This book club had its problems just like any book club....which book to choose that everyone can agree on and which will please everyone as well as the problem that some members do not read the chosen book for whatever reason.
Did the book club stir up things that shouldn’t have been stirred up instead?
There are a lot of quirky but fun characters. Some lovable some not so much.
A book about a book club always catches my attention. We also get lovely descriptions of the countryside and landmarks.
I do have to say it’s a bit wordy, but still interesting.
I may have missed some background on the characters since I hadn’t read the previous novels, but it was still easy to follow.
There also are some love stories mixed in and lovely information about a traveling library.
Readers who enjoy family connections over generations, nostalgic scenes, and joining in on a book club should enjoy THE TRANSATLANTIC BOOK CLUB. 4/5
This book was given to be by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2020
I received a complimentary copy of this eBook ARC from the author, publisher, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie's grandfather has passed away. She returns with her Grandmother Pat back to Finfarren Ireland to help her out and keep her company. When the library she works at decides to create a transatlantic book club to help the family keep in touch, Cassie and Pat discover some deep buried family secrets. Can they solve the family mystery? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good women's fiction novel. If you love books about family, book clubs, and more then be sure to check this book out for yourself when it officially hits bookstores and wherever books and ebooks are sold on November 10, 2020.
Cassie's grandfather has passed away. She returns with her Grandmother Pat back to Finfarren Ireland to help her out and keep her company. When the library she works at decides to create a transatlantic book club to help the family keep in touch, Cassie and Pat discover some deep buried family secrets. Can they solve the family mystery? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good women's fiction novel. If you love books about family, book clubs, and more then be sure to check this book out for yourself when it officially hits bookstores and wherever books and ebooks are sold on November 10, 2020.
May 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book as I have read all the other Finfarran books in the series up to now so I was delighted to have the opportunity to review this book courtesy of Netgalley.
This book continues the series about the lives of Hanna, her mother Mary, Fury and the Divil and a.number of other familiar characters who live in this small community. What I enjoy most about this series is the fact that in each book there is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Felicity Hayes-McCoy writes with a warmth that invites us into the lives of the characters in the story. There is a great sense of community in the story and the library and mobile library help to provide this. Even though events move at a slow pace in the story there is enough happening to keep the reader interested until the last page. The interactions between the characters in particular Mary and Pat provide an interesting human interest story. The transatlantic book club provides the reader with a rich cast of characters who are easy to relate to. Where Felicity McCoy excels is in the way in which she writes about people. Her characters are real, flawed people who are easy to relate to. Despite being part of a series, this book could be read as a stand alone story but if you are lucky to have read some of the other books in the series it does add further to the enjoyment.
This book continues the series about the lives of Hanna, her mother Mary, Fury and the Divil and a.number of other familiar characters who live in this small community. What I enjoy most about this series is the fact that in each book there is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Felicity Hayes-McCoy writes with a warmth that invites us into the lives of the characters in the story. There is a great sense of community in the story and the library and mobile library help to provide this. Even though events move at a slow pace in the story there is enough happening to keep the reader interested until the last page. The interactions between the characters in particular Mary and Pat provide an interesting human interest story. The transatlantic book club provides the reader with a rich cast of characters who are easy to relate to. Where Felicity McCoy excels is in the way in which she writes about people. Her characters are real, flawed people who are easy to relate to. Despite being part of a series, this book could be read as a stand alone story but if you are lucky to have read some of the other books in the series it does add further to the enjoyment.
December 30, 2020
This was a perfect feel good read that transported me to the Irish countryside and completely immersed me into this fun story.
I enjoyed the characters and the premise of the story. This was a heartwarming and lovable read I really enjoyed.
Though this is the fifth book in the series, I was able to jump right in and enjoy this gem!
McCoy certainly had a knack for drawing the readers in with her beautiful and light hearted writing that made this read the perfect book for enjoying in a relaxing afternoon.
I enjoyed the characters and the premise of the story. This was a heartwarming and lovable read I really enjoyed.
Though this is the fifth book in the series, I was able to jump right in and enjoy this gem!
McCoy certainly had a knack for drawing the readers in with her beautiful and light hearted writing that made this read the perfect book for enjoying in a relaxing afternoon.
December 6, 2020
Give me a book that makes me feel, smell, and long for the Irish countryside any day of the week! Cassie Fitzgerald has figured out what would be my dream job. A book club and bookmobile did you say?! YES, PLEASE!! The Transatlantic Book Club is an endearing read filled with fantastic characters and a loving undertone that keeps the reader invested till the very end.
Absolutely lovely.
~Tanja
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Absolutely lovely.
~Tanja
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March 1, 2021
What a disappointment! I wanted to like this book so much, it has everything I tend to like: family drama, book clubs, libraries, Ireland, romance...and it just fell flat.
So, this is apparently a “stand alone novel,” but it’s the fifth-ish in a series of books about the fictional Irish town of Finnhan (or something). I haven’t read any of the other books and didn’t think I’d need to, but I’m wondering whether I’d have liked the book more if I had already been introduced to some of the characters. Honestly, the first five chapters or so just kept introducing new people and I had a terrible time trying to keep them all straight and trying to connect to any of them.
I was disappointed that the library/book club wasn’t more central to the story. In fact, I don’t think I could even really tell you what the central part of the story is! I was nearly a third of the way through before the transatlantic book club was even mentioned, halfway through before their first meeting, and three quarters of the way through before they picked the dang book. And in the mean time, Cassie is working two jobs and falling in love with two different men, Mary and Hanna have a troubled mother daughter relationship, Pat is grieving Ger, Frankie is creepy and suspicious and kind of a dick, Pat and Mary explore the ins and outs of being lifelong friends in a small village... seriously, this book is all over the place. And it ended SO abruptly.
I think the one thing I did like was the Irish heritage. I’m not Irish myself, but I did enjoy seeing the transatlantic book club on the Irish side become reacquainted with the long-lost family and friends on the American side. I picked this book up because of (the book club, obviously) Covid, and thought it would be fun to read about people who don’t let distance stand in the way of their socializing. And I was right, that part of the book I did enjoy. I will also say I read this in February, so almost time for St Patrick’s day, and it was kind of fun to read the beautiful (though maybe overly wordy) descriptions of Ireland and some of the Irish small-village culture.
So I didn’t hate it, but I really didn’t like it and would be hesitant to recommend it. Solid 2 stars. Sadly.
So, this is apparently a “stand alone novel,” but it’s the fifth-ish in a series of books about the fictional Irish town of Finnhan (or something). I haven’t read any of the other books and didn’t think I’d need to, but I’m wondering whether I’d have liked the book more if I had already been introduced to some of the characters. Honestly, the first five chapters or so just kept introducing new people and I had a terrible time trying to keep them all straight and trying to connect to any of them.
I was disappointed that the library/book club wasn’t more central to the story. In fact, I don’t think I could even really tell you what the central part of the story is! I was nearly a third of the way through before the transatlantic book club was even mentioned, halfway through before their first meeting, and three quarters of the way through before they picked the dang book. And in the mean time, Cassie is working two jobs and falling in love with two different men, Mary and Hanna have a troubled mother daughter relationship, Pat is grieving Ger, Frankie is creepy and suspicious and kind of a dick, Pat and Mary explore the ins and outs of being lifelong friends in a small village... seriously, this book is all over the place. And it ended SO abruptly.
I think the one thing I did like was the Irish heritage. I’m not Irish myself, but I did enjoy seeing the transatlantic book club on the Irish side become reacquainted with the long-lost family and friends on the American side. I picked this book up because of (the book club, obviously) Covid, and thought it would be fun to read about people who don’t let distance stand in the way of their socializing. And I was right, that part of the book I did enjoy. I will also say I read this in February, so almost time for St Patrick’s day, and it was kind of fun to read the beautiful (though maybe overly wordy) descriptions of Ireland and some of the Irish small-village culture.
So I didn’t hate it, but I really didn’t like it and would be hesitant to recommend it. Solid 2 stars. Sadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2019
I decided to pick this book up because it seemed like an easy read and it is set to release later this week. It offered a different type of tale then I anticipated.
The best part of this story, is the unexpectedness of what people have to offer. I will explain a little further shortly. The story is not of one person or a family but a town in Ireland with strong ties (largely due to systemic emigration) to another in the US. Family histories are recited with just the family's names by anyone in the know (which constitutes a large section of the populace). The book club itself only comes into the picture farther in the story itself, almost close to the middle of the entire story. It is a pretty interesting idea that I already have contacted friends of mine (who read) to give it a shot!
In the beginning I found it hard to follow the narration and thought it a little clunky but it turned out that I was making too many assumptions. As the people became more familiar to me, so did their personal affectations which made me enjoy the story. It is not a light feel-good story in its purest sense because there are a lot of faults that rear their ugly heads, even in our main protagonists but that is taken as part and parcel of life itself and therefore just dealt with in a sensible fashion. Every time a person is depicted a certain way, the complacent reader will decide that it is inevitable what would happen next and in a couple of places it seemed obvious like the writer wanted our minds to go down that path (if I had not spotted that in quite a few instances, this would have been a five star read for me). Then the next few pages play a mean trick on the complacent reader and waves the actual turn of events in front of them.
I may not like or agree with everything or everyone in the story (as in real life) but it was a pretty great read.
I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely made up of my own reading experience.
The best part of this story, is the unexpectedness of what people have to offer. I will explain a little further shortly. The story is not of one person or a family but a town in Ireland with strong ties (largely due to systemic emigration) to another in the US. Family histories are recited with just the family's names by anyone in the know (which constitutes a large section of the populace). The book club itself only comes into the picture farther in the story itself, almost close to the middle of the entire story. It is a pretty interesting idea that I already have contacted friends of mine (who read) to give it a shot!
In the beginning I found it hard to follow the narration and thought it a little clunky but it turned out that I was making too many assumptions. As the people became more familiar to me, so did their personal affectations which made me enjoy the story. It is not a light feel-good story in its purest sense because there are a lot of faults that rear their ugly heads, even in our main protagonists but that is taken as part and parcel of life itself and therefore just dealt with in a sensible fashion. Every time a person is depicted a certain way, the complacent reader will decide that it is inevitable what would happen next and in a couple of places it seemed obvious like the writer wanted our minds to go down that path (if I had not spotted that in quite a few instances, this would have been a five star read for me). Then the next few pages play a mean trick on the complacent reader and waves the actual turn of events in front of them.
I may not like or agree with everything or everyone in the story (as in real life) but it was a pretty great read.
I received a copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is completely made up of my own reading experience.
May 9, 2019
If you love a book about relationships, then you will love this book. There are the two old friends who know all each others secrets or do they? There is the difficult family relationship compounded by the question about the land, it is set in Ireland after all. There is the sub-text in every conversation and the trouble that comes when that is misunderstood. Then there are the different needs of those who went away, those who stayed at home and those who came back. I have been a #Finfarran fan from the beginning but this one is exceptional. It stands beside Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends in it's attention to the minutiae of complex relationships in Ireland.
November 30, 2020
The Transatlantic Book Club is actually the latest book in Felicity Hayes-McCoy's 'Finfarran Peninsula' series. It's the first I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I didn't feel out of step at all from not reading the ones before - if anything, I just found some new titles to add to my list!
After the death of her Irish grandfather, Cassie Fitzgerald decides to travel from Canada to Ireland to stay with her grandmother Pat. Cassie easily settles into life in Lissberg, working as a hairdresser and driving the mobile library van. Well, that cemented things for me - a mobile library would be my dream job! The bricks and mortar library also starts an online book group with the US town of Resolve. Most of the members have roots in Finfarran. I thought this was fantastic idea - and discovered in the author's notes that it indeed had its roots in reality.
Hayes-McCoy explores love, loss, grief, hope, friendship and more in this multi-generational tale. I really liked Cassie as a lead character. She's one of those bright moments in a book - not perfect, but giving it her best. She comes off as quite real. I was also drawn to the enigmatic Fury O'Shea, who seems to turn up at the right time and know what is, or isn't needed. But the character who stole the show for me is The Divil - Fury's dog. Loved him! I didn't love Frankie - he's definitely the 'villain' in the book.
I appreciated the descriptions of the Irish countryside. Hayes-McCoy has a cottage of her own in Ireland and the setting details benefitted from this first hand knowledge. And I think I would love to live in Pat's wee flat above the store - it sounds so cosy.
The Transatlantic Book Club was a perfect feel-good read for me . Fans of Jenny Colgan would enjoy this book.
After the death of her Irish grandfather, Cassie Fitzgerald decides to travel from Canada to Ireland to stay with her grandmother Pat. Cassie easily settles into life in Lissberg, working as a hairdresser and driving the mobile library van. Well, that cemented things for me - a mobile library would be my dream job! The bricks and mortar library also starts an online book group with the US town of Resolve. Most of the members have roots in Finfarran. I thought this was fantastic idea - and discovered in the author's notes that it indeed had its roots in reality.
Hayes-McCoy explores love, loss, grief, hope, friendship and more in this multi-generational tale. I really liked Cassie as a lead character. She's one of those bright moments in a book - not perfect, but giving it her best. She comes off as quite real. I was also drawn to the enigmatic Fury O'Shea, who seems to turn up at the right time and know what is, or isn't needed. But the character who stole the show for me is The Divil - Fury's dog. Loved him! I didn't love Frankie - he's definitely the 'villain' in the book.
I appreciated the descriptions of the Irish countryside. Hayes-McCoy has a cottage of her own in Ireland and the setting details benefitted from this first hand knowledge. And I think I would love to live in Pat's wee flat above the store - it sounds so cosy.
The Transatlantic Book Club was a perfect feel-good read for me . Fans of Jenny Colgan would enjoy this book.
December 10, 2020
I have to say I really like the cover. It is about a virtual book club connecting the US town where the Finfarran emigrants live with Ireland’s Finfarran Peninsula . The first book they choose for their book club is a detective novel that ends up creating conflicts on both sides of the ocean.
It was so heartwarming that Cassie started the book club for her grandmother to cheer her up. the time they spent together.
I enjoyed the plot of Pat and her adjustment to dealing with Ger’s Death. The countryside vibe and historical side of the plot were what I liked the most. It is a story of family and friendship with a great deal of humor.
It is a very easy book to read. A bit slow at the beginning though
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It was so heartwarming that Cassie started the book club for her grandmother to cheer her up. the time they spent together.
I enjoyed the plot of Pat and her adjustment to dealing with Ger’s Death. The countryside vibe and historical side of the plot were what I liked the most. It is a story of family and friendship with a great deal of humor.
It is a very easy book to read. A bit slow at the beginning though
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February 16, 2023
This book was a slow start for me and it took a while to get to the actual plot and story that I was interested in when I picked it up. It might have helped to have read the previous books in the series, but eventually they all sorted themselves out and got on with the premise of the books. I truly enjoyed the Irish setting and the contrast between the Irish members of the book club and the Americans. The story was charming.
did-not-finish
November 27, 2020I loved every other book in this series, including the one not yet published in the US that I had to get from Book Depository. But.....I just don’t care about Pat and Mary’s history and love Hanna’s generation so much more. DNF.
April 13, 2019
This is the first book in the Finfarran series that I have read, and I think it reads well as a stand-alone novel. It’s also the first of Felicity Hayes-McCoy’s novels I have read. But it definitely won’t be the last.
The reading was a little difficult due to the formatting being a bit all over the place (changing to bold or caps mid sentence and having sentence breaks in all the wrong places) but I’m sure that will be taken care of prior to official publication. That aside, it was an enjoyable read with well written characters and lovely details of their different personalities woven into the storytelling. I particularly liked the friendship between Pat and Mary, all the hallmarks of a lifelong friendship and the (at times) brutal honesty between them, always knowing their relationship could take it.
I loved that it was written about a real transatlantic book club too, what a great idea that is and proved to be a superb basis for the story.
I’m hoping that there will be a follow up to Cassie’s story, so I’ll be keeping my eyes open for the next Finfarran book.
The reading was a little difficult due to the formatting being a bit all over the place (changing to bold or caps mid sentence and having sentence breaks in all the wrong places) but I’m sure that will be taken care of prior to official publication. That aside, it was an enjoyable read with well written characters and lovely details of their different personalities woven into the storytelling. I particularly liked the friendship between Pat and Mary, all the hallmarks of a lifelong friendship and the (at times) brutal honesty between them, always knowing their relationship could take it.
I loved that it was written about a real transatlantic book club too, what a great idea that is and proved to be a superb basis for the story.
I’m hoping that there will be a follow up to Cassie’s story, so I’ll be keeping my eyes open for the next Finfarran book.
December 18, 2020
I don't understand the enthusiasm that so many readers are showing for "The Transatlantic Book Club." It is a fairly mediocre girl-meets-boy, girl-pines for-boy that she can't have . . . yet fluff piece.
Either author Felicity Hayes-McCoy was brilliant in shifting the "big reveal" from what readers naturally expected, or she was trying desperately to be clever and succeeded merely in introducing a pretty lame controversy. Either way, the supposed secrets being kept were pretty unsatisfying.
The characters were not well-developed. The plot was silly. Certain characters were ridiculous cliches.
The book was so underwhelming that I almost didn't finish it. I trudged on, hoping to discover its appeal.
If there was appeal, I missed it.
Either author Felicity Hayes-McCoy was brilliant in shifting the "big reveal" from what readers naturally expected, or she was trying desperately to be clever and succeeded merely in introducing a pretty lame controversy. Either way, the supposed secrets being kept were pretty unsatisfying.
The characters were not well-developed. The plot was silly. Certain characters were ridiculous cliches.
The book was so underwhelming that I almost didn't finish it. I trudged on, hoping to discover its appeal.
If there was appeal, I missed it.
May 1, 2019
I requested this book because I found the blurb interesting and thought I was going to like it.
As a matter of fact I loved it and I also discovered a new to me author and a lovely series.
The book is engaging, entertaining, and heartwarming.
I liked the concept of a transatlantic book club as much as I loved the well written cast of characters and the plot.
I think will look for the other books in this series and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
As a matter of fact I loved it and I also discovered a new to me author and a lovely series.
The book is engaging, entertaining, and heartwarming.
I liked the concept of a transatlantic book club as much as I loved the well written cast of characters and the plot.
I think will look for the other books in this series and look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 18, 2020
I'm a sucker for any book with "book club" in the title and I'm probably not Robinson Crusoe here. Felicity Hayes-McCoy might even have thought about this when she wrote "The Transatlantic Book Club" and set the trap for us. Actually, the Book Club is a minor feature and no book is ever discussed! This is a (quite enjoyable) old-fashioned romance with standard characters and obvious plot. I found the Irish phrases sprinkled through the dialogue added a little charm, but some might find them annoying.
July 15, 2019
If you're looking for a novel with charming descriptions of beautiful Irish countryside, intrigue, a little romance, varied and realistic characters, a good storyline and a feel good factor, this is it. Set in Finfarran again but with connections to Resolve in the US, there's plenty of intrigue to keep you turning the pages as there are a few little mysteries to be solved.
April 27, 2020
Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review having read a few of the other books comes as no surprise as to how excellent this one is can be a stand alone totally captivating from first chapter can't praise this book enough deserves more stars than I can give
November 3, 2021
Very enjoyable to revisit old friends from previous Finfarran books. The ending seemed a bit abrupt to me, possibility compounded by the fact that there's a quanity of supplemental material at the end of the book so it appears longer than it actually is. Still it was interesting to have the additional info available: About the Author (author bio), About the Book (how the idea for the book came about), Read On (descriptions and reviews of the author's other books).
3.5 stars
A rather disgruntled note on the Publishing:
I really, really wish Felicity Hayes-McCoy's U.S. publisher was more on the ball. The 6th and 7th books in the series have already been released in the UK, May 2020 and June 2021, respectively. Yet here we're still waiting on #6 which won't be released until July 2022. C'mon, over two years?! To make matters worse they've published previous books out of order. They need to get their act together. I've been purchasing the books from the UK which probably means other US readers have as well.
3.5 stars
A rather disgruntled note on the Publishing:
I really, really wish Felicity Hayes-McCoy's U.S. publisher was more on the ball. The 6th and 7th books in the series have already been released in the UK, May 2020 and June 2021, respectively. Yet here we're still waiting on #6 which won't be released until July 2022. C'mon, over two years?! To make matters worse they've published previous books out of order. They need to get their act together. I've been purchasing the books from the UK which probably means other US readers have as well.
July 10, 2023
I feel like I had issues with this for the same reason I didn’t enjoy book 3 as much. They both had many POVs from Cassie Fitz in it, Pat’s granddaughter from Canada. Which isn’t a problem, if not for the fact that her thoughts and dialogue are the same as the Irish townsfolk, despite the fact that she was born in Canada and she’s only been in Ireland for a few weeks. It kept taking me out of the story whenever I remembered she’s supposed to be Canadian, on her first visit to Ireland
There were also some American characters in this, from places like New York and California, yet the dialogue was still full of Irish phrases, which doesn’t make sense 😅
I also missed Hanna & Brian getting a storyline, Conor, and Jazz
There were also some American characters in this, from places like New York and California, yet the dialogue was still full of Irish phrases, which doesn’t make sense 😅
I also missed Hanna & Brian getting a storyline, Conor, and Jazz
December 31, 2020
This was my first time reading this author and I didn't know there were books before this one. This was a really good read and I liked most of the characters as well as the Irish countryside. I recommend this. I'm looking forward to reading the other books. This is a good book for book clubs.
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
March 30, 2023
This book was like a lukewarm cup of tea: good, but not at its peak. It's "comfortable" but not fascinating, lots of characters on both sides of the Atlantic with multiple story lines, like catching up with friends who you like but don't really feel a need to see all that often.
Read
May 23, 2021DNF
July 26, 2022
It is so great to read about the stories of the Finfarran community, and how different generations come together and share life stories about love, family, growth and future.
March 18, 2024
I had no idea till just now this was book 5 in a series. Wasn’t awful, but not great. As a side note Mrs. Quinn never had a boarding house and definitely wasn’t afraid of mice. My Grandmother was much to tough for that.
May 28, 2021
A quick summer read.
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