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Hungry Hill
Grace Cavanaugh is intelligent, kind-and a bit of a wise ass. Lately, though, she's also something else: completely lost and just a little crazy. Her entire world has collapsed since Valentine's Day, when her husband, Michael, died unexpectedly after a romantic dinner celebrating their devotion. With her world turned upside down, she abandons the couple's gorgeous Victorian mansion and retreats to a cramped apartment with their three dogs in tow. Living in misery, barely finding energy to walk the dogs, Grace succumbs to her sorrow.
Just as she hits bottom, a relative she hasn't seen in years calls out of the blue. Maggie Reilly, her eighty-six-year-old great aunt who still lives in the house she was born in, has troubles of her own. She desperately needs a family member to take care of her, so she reaches out to Grace hoping the bond they shared decades ago remains strong enough to bring her great niece back home.
Hungry Hill is a story navigating the complexities of love in its many forms and how it endures. It explores our desire to belong to each other and to live a life of connectedness. It also reminds us to keep our sense of humor no matter what life brings, and to never underestimate the power of a great pair of shoes.
Just as she hits bottom, a relative she hasn't seen in years calls out of the blue. Maggie Reilly, her eighty-six-year-old great aunt who still lives in the house she was born in, has troubles of her own. She desperately needs a family member to take care of her, so she reaches out to Grace hoping the bond they shared decades ago remains strong enough to bring her great niece back home.
Hungry Hill is a story navigating the complexities of love in its many forms and how it endures. It explores our desire to belong to each other and to live a life of connectedness. It also reminds us to keep our sense of humor no matter what life brings, and to never underestimate the power of a great pair of shoes.
- GenresFiction
261 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2021
6 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 4, 2025
1st review of 2025!
Published in 2021, this is the author's debut novel.
Hungry Hill tells the story of a woman named Grace who suddenly loses her husband to a brain aneurism. Not knowing how to move forward, she agrees to take care of her great-aunt (Maggie), who has a terminal illness. The two ladies lean on each other for support through their tragic circumstances and find peace along the way.
______________________________________________
Things I loved about this novel:
1. This book is based on a real neighborhood called Hungry Hill, located in Springfield, MA. The readers really get the small-town vibes as local neighbors, and the priest come together to support Grace and Maggie.
2. The book cover. It's stunning! 💞
3. Also, I like the fact that the author doesn't shy away from detailing the sometimes-painful, drawn-out process it entails for the body to pass over.
Things I didn't like about the novel:
1. It's length! This book would have made a great novella. It should have been 100 pages shorter. I felt like I was in Groundhogs Day reading it. Every day was the same thing with minor alterations. By the end of the story, I was ready for it to end.
2. Some of the slang is kind of cheesy and a bit dated.
3. Also, Grace doesn't need to have a wiseass comment in every response. It was a bit too much.
Published in 2021, this is the author's debut novel.
Hungry Hill tells the story of a woman named Grace who suddenly loses her husband to a brain aneurism. Not knowing how to move forward, she agrees to take care of her great-aunt (Maggie), who has a terminal illness. The two ladies lean on each other for support through their tragic circumstances and find peace along the way.
______________________________________________
Things I loved about this novel:
1. This book is based on a real neighborhood called Hungry Hill, located in Springfield, MA. The readers really get the small-town vibes as local neighbors, and the priest come together to support Grace and Maggie.
2. The book cover. It's stunning! 💞
3. Also, I like the fact that the author doesn't shy away from detailing the sometimes-painful, drawn-out process it entails for the body to pass over.
Things I didn't like about the novel:
1. It's length! This book would have made a great novella. It should have been 100 pages shorter. I felt like I was in Groundhogs Day reading it. Every day was the same thing with minor alterations. By the end of the story, I was ready for it to end.
2. Some of the slang is kind of cheesy and a bit dated.
3. Also, Grace doesn't need to have a wiseass comment in every response. It was a bit too much.
June 4, 2021
Yet another book where the cover, title and blurb lull you into making assumptions and the book turns out to be something else entirely.
The story is told to us in first person from the point of view of Grace Cavanaugh, a city slicker who is depressed after the sudden death of her husband. She is summoned for help by her grand aunt Maggie, an eighty-six year old who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Realising that a change of place and pace will work wonders for her, Grace decides to pack up her bags and her two dogs, and move to Maggie's locality, a blue-collar neighborhood called Hungry Hill. There, she finds what she was looking for, and even more in the form of a hot younger neighbour Matt, who reciprocates her attraction.
For a book to work for you, at least one of three things must click: the characters, the plot, and the match with your expectations (what mood you are in and what you were looking for when you picked up the book.) Unfortunately, all three points failed for me to varying extents.
Expectations:
The Goodreads summary made me feel that this would be a thoughtful and emotional read. But the story barely touched any deep chords in my heart. It kept flitting from one scene to another and even the terminal diagnosis of a lovable character didn't make me feel sad.
Characters:
There is only one true lead character in the story and that's Grace. The two main secondary characters are Maggie and Matt. Of these, Maggie is the only one with whom I felt a connect. She is sassy, funny and bold, and doesn't allow her age or illness to break her down.
Matt's character, though in a key role, is quite underdeveloped. He comes in only to serve as eye candy or emotional support as required. There is neither depth nor growth in his arc. I didn't understand the chemistry between Grace and him at all. Their romance felt very rushed.
All this could have been ignored if the lead character were strong. But I couldn't identify with Grace even a little bit. Grace is very snobbish, too vain about her looks, quite materialistic, overly brand conscious, excessively flirtatious, and a huge spendthrift, none of which are qualities I like. To add to this, her character arc is confusing. On one hand, she is shown mourning her dead husband to the extent that she can't even sell their house. On the other, she lusts after the 29 year old Matt, flirts with him openly, and doesn't shy away from going on dates or getting physical. Grace's age is never revealed in the entire story, though it comes up many times by virtue of Matt being "much younger". That missing information makes positioning her thoughts and decisions even more difficult. One more thing that irritated me about her was that when she had to visit multiple shops, she went by alphabetical order of shop names rather than by location or proximity. Who the heck does that!?!?
The rest of the characters are very minor and come and go from the story as required. Not a single one of them is developed clearly.
Plot development and writing:
Almost the entire plot can be narrowed down to four basic events: dinners, shopping, lust/love between Grace/Matt/dead husband, and health concerns for Maggie. The story keeps flitting across these four plot points and it gets boring and repetitive after a while.
The writing is just about average. Sometimes, the thoughts and ideas are repeated after a few sentences, giving you a weird sense of déjà-vu. A few word uses are incorrect. For instance, a Catholic priest Father Brian claims that he has to "perform Mass". No priest will consider mass a performance. A priest celebrates mass.
Maybe my expectations were the main problem because I had pictured a very different book from the title and cover image and this was too shallow in comparison. If you are looking for a very light read that doesn't tax your brain too much, this could be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kinsale Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
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The story is told to us in first person from the point of view of Grace Cavanaugh, a city slicker who is depressed after the sudden death of her husband. She is summoned for help by her grand aunt Maggie, an eighty-six year old who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Realising that a change of place and pace will work wonders for her, Grace decides to pack up her bags and her two dogs, and move to Maggie's locality, a blue-collar neighborhood called Hungry Hill. There, she finds what she was looking for, and even more in the form of a hot younger neighbour Matt, who reciprocates her attraction.
For a book to work for you, at least one of three things must click: the characters, the plot, and the match with your expectations (what mood you are in and what you were looking for when you picked up the book.) Unfortunately, all three points failed for me to varying extents.
Expectations:
The Goodreads summary made me feel that this would be a thoughtful and emotional read. But the story barely touched any deep chords in my heart. It kept flitting from one scene to another and even the terminal diagnosis of a lovable character didn't make me feel sad.
Characters:
There is only one true lead character in the story and that's Grace. The two main secondary characters are Maggie and Matt. Of these, Maggie is the only one with whom I felt a connect. She is sassy, funny and bold, and doesn't allow her age or illness to break her down.
Matt's character, though in a key role, is quite underdeveloped. He comes in only to serve as eye candy or emotional support as required. There is neither depth nor growth in his arc. I didn't understand the chemistry between Grace and him at all. Their romance felt very rushed.
All this could have been ignored if the lead character were strong. But I couldn't identify with Grace even a little bit. Grace is very snobbish, too vain about her looks, quite materialistic, overly brand conscious, excessively flirtatious, and a huge spendthrift, none of which are qualities I like. To add to this, her character arc is confusing. On one hand, she is shown mourning her dead husband to the extent that she can't even sell their house. On the other, she lusts after the 29 year old Matt, flirts with him openly, and doesn't shy away from going on dates or getting physical. Grace's age is never revealed in the entire story, though it comes up many times by virtue of Matt being "much younger". That missing information makes positioning her thoughts and decisions even more difficult. One more thing that irritated me about her was that when she had to visit multiple shops, she went by alphabetical order of shop names rather than by location or proximity. Who the heck does that!?!?
The rest of the characters are very minor and come and go from the story as required. Not a single one of them is developed clearly.
Plot development and writing:
Almost the entire plot can be narrowed down to four basic events: dinners, shopping, lust/love between Grace/Matt/dead husband, and health concerns for Maggie. The story keeps flitting across these four plot points and it gets boring and repetitive after a while.
The writing is just about average. Sometimes, the thoughts and ideas are repeated after a few sentences, giving you a weird sense of déjà-vu. A few word uses are incorrect. For instance, a Catholic priest Father Brian claims that he has to "perform Mass". No priest will consider mass a performance. A priest celebrates mass.
Maybe my expectations were the main problem because I had pictured a very different book from the title and cover image and this was too shallow in comparison. If you are looking for a very light read that doesn't tax your brain too much, this could be the book for you.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kinsale Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
November 28, 2022
I'm always eager to try new authors, and this debut novel did not disappoint.
Grace Cavanaugh was a charming character. She was spirited, intelligent, and had a great sense of humour. Her great aunt, eighty-six year old Maggie Reilly, was also a quirky and likeable woman.
The title of this novel originates from the setting. Hungry Hill is a section of Springfield, Massachusetts. This is the neighbourhood where great aunt Maggie has lived her entire life. Grace moves from her home in Greenwich, Connecticut to help her.
This novel covered themes of loss, starting over, and the challenges that being a caregiver can present. I was a bit surprised at the amount of lust and sexual innuendo, but I got over that. Grace was trying to accept the loss of her husband and she found that her Aunt Maggie needed her - possibly as much as Grace needed a change of scene to move on from her loss.
Grace's two dogs added some levity to the story (and some solace for Maggie). Dog lovers will be especially appreciative of this novel. Ellen was an gigantic Irish Wolfhound, and Stogie, was a small terrier/mutt who resembled a fat brown cigar.
Written with compassion and humour, this novel was an entertaining and compassionate read. Recommended!
Grace Cavanaugh was a charming character. She was spirited, intelligent, and had a great sense of humour. Her great aunt, eighty-six year old Maggie Reilly, was also a quirky and likeable woman.
The title of this novel originates from the setting. Hungry Hill is a section of Springfield, Massachusetts. This is the neighbourhood where great aunt Maggie has lived her entire life. Grace moves from her home in Greenwich, Connecticut to help her.
This novel covered themes of loss, starting over, and the challenges that being a caregiver can present. I was a bit surprised at the amount of lust and sexual innuendo, but I got over that. Grace was trying to accept the loss of her husband and she found that her Aunt Maggie needed her - possibly as much as Grace needed a change of scene to move on from her loss.
Grace's two dogs added some levity to the story (and some solace for Maggie). Dog lovers will be especially appreciative of this novel. Ellen was an gigantic Irish Wolfhound, and Stogie, was a small terrier/mutt who resembled a fat brown cigar.
Written with compassion and humour, this novel was an entertaining and compassionate read. Recommended!
July 19, 2021
4.5⭐ I can't believe this was a debut novel. This one was such lovely story. It dealt with difficult topics, yet made me laugh too. The banter between the characters were great.
Grace is grieving after the sudden, and unexpected loss of her husband. She feels lost in her life now, succumbing to her sorrow. She receives a call from her great Aunt Maggie, who's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She asks Grace if she would be able to come stay with her, in Hungry Hill, and help care for her. Grace was close with Maggie growing up and thinks it'll be a good idea to do that! Maybe she needs the change of scenery and to rekindle her relationship with Aunt Maggie. I just loved Aunt Maggie. She was witty and spunky, and really just made me laugh. Grace also winds up in a relationship with Maggie's neighbor Matt who is many years younger than Grace. I thought that was a fun side story as well. I enjoyed reading about Maggie and Graces relationship and was sad reading as Maggies health declined. If you want a nice family story, that will make you get all the feels, you really need to check this one out.
Grace is grieving after the sudden, and unexpected loss of her husband. She feels lost in her life now, succumbing to her sorrow. She receives a call from her great Aunt Maggie, who's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She asks Grace if she would be able to come stay with her, in Hungry Hill, and help care for her. Grace was close with Maggie growing up and thinks it'll be a good idea to do that! Maybe she needs the change of scenery and to rekindle her relationship with Aunt Maggie. I just loved Aunt Maggie. She was witty and spunky, and really just made me laugh. Grace also winds up in a relationship with Maggie's neighbor Matt who is many years younger than Grace. I thought that was a fun side story as well. I enjoyed reading about Maggie and Graces relationship and was sad reading as Maggies health declined. If you want a nice family story, that will make you get all the feels, you really need to check this one out.
May 31, 2021
I went into this expecting nothing new...another bittersweet story of grief and learning to carry on, with some lovable characters thrown in. It was indeed nothing new, and unfortunately for me, lacking in lovable characters. The stereotypical feisty old woman was fun. However, I couldn’t relate to or enjoy the wealthy, snobbish “completely devastated” widow, who (while otherwise unable to cope socially since her loss) was capable of gleeful horniness with her younger neighbor. Not a bad book, just...nothing special
July 30, 2021
This was a beautifully written story, about Grace Cavanaugh, who is grieving the loss of her husband, and her great Aunt Maggie, who is dying. Grace decides to go stay with her great aunt, They found they had a deep connection, and when Matt, the young man next door met her, there was a connection there too. The connections, I think it what made this a beautiful story. Before I started reading it, I thought I would cry, and it would be difficult to read. As I read it, it became a journey, of finding special moments, creating wonderful memories, finding things to laugh about, and the surrounding people, added a lot to the story. Grace brought her two dogs with her and the dogs, was a comfort to Maggie. They would watch over her, she would talk to them and laugh, and they lifted her spirits.
When Maggie's time was getting shorter, they fired a nurse. The doctor knew the perfect nurse and when he told Grace who it was, she didn't think so, but the doctor told her it would be fine. This just added to the story, with humor, with understanding, and having the nurse there was comforting because he knew what would be happening as the time went on.
This gave me an insight on grieving, and being there for someone dying, Grace lifted my spirits with her sassy attitude, still grieving her husband, but finding comfort in helping her great aunt during her difficult time. Grace and Maggie comforted each other. Grace, I think, inherited her sassy attitude from her aunt, because the things those two did, had me laughing quite a bit.
I received an ARC from Kinsale Press, through NetGalley. This is Eileen Patricia Curran debut novel, and I was surprised because this book brought out so many emotions, but reading it, I felt such peace.
When Maggie's time was getting shorter, they fired a nurse. The doctor knew the perfect nurse and when he told Grace who it was, she didn't think so, but the doctor told her it would be fine. This just added to the story, with humor, with understanding, and having the nurse there was comforting because he knew what would be happening as the time went on.
This gave me an insight on grieving, and being there for someone dying, Grace lifted my spirits with her sassy attitude, still grieving her husband, but finding comfort in helping her great aunt during her difficult time. Grace and Maggie comforted each other. Grace, I think, inherited her sassy attitude from her aunt, because the things those two did, had me laughing quite a bit.
I received an ARC from Kinsale Press, through NetGalley. This is Eileen Patricia Curran debut novel, and I was surprised because this book brought out so many emotions, but reading it, I felt such peace.
July 28, 2021
I enjoyed this book. It’s a heartwarming read about love, loss, and healing.
Grace’s emotional journey gripped me from the first page, especially how she cares for and connects to her Aunt Maggie, who by the way is smart and sassy at 86 years old.
Everyone needs an Aunt Maggie to liven things up!
The banter between Grace and Maggie is humorous, and I found myself laughing out loud. The relationships in this book are endearing and there is very little conflict which was refreshing. The love interest part of this story is on fire.
It’s a feel good read even though some of it is heart wrenching.
Grace’s emotional journey gripped me from the first page, especially how she cares for and connects to her Aunt Maggie, who by the way is smart and sassy at 86 years old.
Everyone needs an Aunt Maggie to liven things up!
The banter between Grace and Maggie is humorous, and I found myself laughing out loud. The relationships in this book are endearing and there is very little conflict which was refreshing. The love interest part of this story is on fire.
It’s a feel good read even though some of it is heart wrenching.
August 1, 2021
Fantastic… about unexpected loss, grieving, and moving on without your lost loved ones.
August 10, 2021
I received a free electronic ARC of this excellent debut novel on July 15, 2021, from Netgalley, Eileen Patricia Curran, and Kinsale Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read Hungry Hill of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Ms. Curran writes a tight, well-peopled tale with heart and soul. She understands the angst of grief and portrays it very well. I hope she will write many more books. She is the kind of author I try to follow.
Grace Cavanaugh was called to the bedside of her great-aunt Maggie Reilly in Springfield, Massachusetts, the suburb of Hungry Hill, hometown to most of their extended and now scattered family. Maggie, well-loved by all, was the only Cavanaugh/Reilly family member left in the Springfield area. Maggie had cancer and it was terminal. Gracie wasn't sure she could handle her care after losing her husband unexpectedly just months before, but she was the only person in the immediate family who would be able to drop everything and take care of Maggie. Maggie never married and her generation was all gone. Grace's parents were on a long-awaited tour in Europe, and everyone else had children or important jobs or just couldn't handle the grief. In her youth Grace and Maggie had always had a very close relationship. Although they had lost that close contact over time they had always shared a birthday.
Grace and her dogs Ellen and Stogie make their way to renew ties with Maggie and the friends she grew up with as a child in Hungry Hill. And watching Maggie begin to fail intensified all the grief she had buried after the sudden loss of her husband Michael. Grief that was keeping her hostage from the world, from healing and getting on with life. Grief that she had to get past before she could move on. But with the help of Maggie and her next-door neighbor Matt, Grace could begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
pub date June 1, 2021
rec July 15, 2021
Kinsale Press
Reviewed on August 10, 2021, on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
Grace Cavanaugh was called to the bedside of her great-aunt Maggie Reilly in Springfield, Massachusetts, the suburb of Hungry Hill, hometown to most of their extended and now scattered family. Maggie, well-loved by all, was the only Cavanaugh/Reilly family member left in the Springfield area. Maggie had cancer and it was terminal. Gracie wasn't sure she could handle her care after losing her husband unexpectedly just months before, but she was the only person in the immediate family who would be able to drop everything and take care of Maggie. Maggie never married and her generation was all gone. Grace's parents were on a long-awaited tour in Europe, and everyone else had children or important jobs or just couldn't handle the grief. In her youth Grace and Maggie had always had a very close relationship. Although they had lost that close contact over time they had always shared a birthday.
Grace and her dogs Ellen and Stogie make their way to renew ties with Maggie and the friends she grew up with as a child in Hungry Hill. And watching Maggie begin to fail intensified all the grief she had buried after the sudden loss of her husband Michael. Grief that was keeping her hostage from the world, from healing and getting on with life. Grief that she had to get past before she could move on. But with the help of Maggie and her next-door neighbor Matt, Grace could begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
pub date June 1, 2021
rec July 15, 2021
Kinsale Press
Reviewed on August 10, 2021, on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, and BookBub. Not available for review on Kobo or GooglePlay.
June 20, 2021
I loved it, a great summer read. As someone that lives in the Springfield area the descriptions of restaurants and stores made me wonder which places she was referring to, I have them all picked out in my head. The characters were relatable and like so many people that are Western Mass born and bred. From the references to Springfield College, the Holyoke Mall and Bay State Medical Center I could picture Grace pulling her beemer or cube into the parking lots. The relationship with her aunt was heartwarming, funny and sad all at the same time. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that wants a nice, light read. A sequel would be great!
June 10, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I laughed, out loud and shed a tear or two. Grace Cavanaugh finds herself at the end of a deep, dark and solitary year, mourning for a husband and life lost, barely existing in a barren lonely apartment with three dogs and little else. With such a dark and dreary start I was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing, out loud, only two chapters in. Grace is a bit of a wise ass, her comebacks and quips are unexpected and hilarious. Favoured Aunt Maggie Reilly, a rather independent salty soul needs her help. Grace weaves her way to discovering how to live life again, while navigating how to care for such an independent and outspoken soul, knowing full well the ending will bring her even more loss. Like all good novels, I was sad when it ended. I look forward to reading more from Eileen Curran
May 28, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Initially I was sceptical about reading a book written by and based in the US with American-isms, but this was quickly dispelled and I found myself living every moment and completely absorbed in the story. It was so true to life and engaging.
This is an extremely sensitive and meaningful novel about watching a loved one suffer and slowly pass away. It is written with a great deal of compassion and understanding of the complexities of love, loss and grief.. Beautifully written and for a debut novel the author has excelled.
Initially I was sceptical about reading a book written by and based in the US with American-isms, but this was quickly dispelled and I found myself living every moment and completely absorbed in the story. It was so true to life and engaging.
This is an extremely sensitive and meaningful novel about watching a loved one suffer and slowly pass away. It is written with a great deal of compassion and understanding of the complexities of love, loss and grief.. Beautifully written and for a debut novel the author has excelled.
July 2, 2021
Synopsis: Grace Cavanaugh suddenly became a widow when her husband Michael, died unexpectedly. She misses Michael so much that she can’t stand living in the house that they shared with all of their things but she also can’t stand the thought of someone else living in it so she hires someone to look after the house and grounds and she rents a cramped apartment for her and her dogs. About sixteen months later, Grace receives a phone call from her 86-year-old great aunt Maggie asking Grace for her assistance. Maggie has cancer and is dying and she needs someone to stay with her. Maggie still lives in the house that she was raised in and she doesn’t want to have to move to assisted living if she doesn’t have to. Grace has fond memories of her great-aunt and sees this as an opportunity to maybe get a break from all the memories of the town she and Michael lived in.
My thoughts: I thought that the overall premise and theme of the book was great. We have Grace coming back to look after her dying great-aunt and not only does she have to confront her grief associated with Michael but also prepare herself for Maggie’s upcoming death. Now, the problems that I had with the book …. So we’re told that Maggie is grief stricken over her husband’s death to the point where she can’t even bring herself to go into the house they shared yet shortly after she arrives at Maggie’s, she starts a sexual relationship with the neighbor. Personally, if I’m that grief stricken over someone I had a long-term intimate relationship with, I wouldn’t be looking at jumping into bed with someone else. I also think that Maggie’s reaction to Grace having this relationship is very odd; for example, she asks Grace if she and the neighbor have “done the nasty” yet. Maggie has self-described herself as an 86 year old virgin. She also is very connected to her Catholic faith and attends Mass every night and has for years. I just don’t believe that a woman of that generation who is that connected to her church and is an 86 year old virgin would be asking her great-niece this question. I just felt that there was a disconnect on some of the ways that the characters acted.
As stated previously, I think the premise of the story was good and I really liked Maggie as she was quite spunky but I definitely feel that the book had some issues. Thank you to Netgalley and Kinsale Press for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My thoughts: I thought that the overall premise and theme of the book was great. We have Grace coming back to look after her dying great-aunt and not only does she have to confront her grief associated with Michael but also prepare herself for Maggie’s upcoming death. Now, the problems that I had with the book …. So we’re told that Maggie is grief stricken over her husband’s death to the point where she can’t even bring herself to go into the house they shared yet shortly after she arrives at Maggie’s, she starts a sexual relationship with the neighbor. Personally, if I’m that grief stricken over someone I had a long-term intimate relationship with, I wouldn’t be looking at jumping into bed with someone else. I also think that Maggie’s reaction to Grace having this relationship is very odd; for example, she asks Grace if she and the neighbor have “done the nasty” yet. Maggie has self-described herself as an 86 year old virgin. She also is very connected to her Catholic faith and attends Mass every night and has for years. I just don’t believe that a woman of that generation who is that connected to her church and is an 86 year old virgin would be asking her great-niece this question. I just felt that there was a disconnect on some of the ways that the characters acted.
As stated previously, I think the premise of the story was good and I really liked Maggie as she was quite spunky but I definitely feel that the book had some issues. Thank you to Netgalley and Kinsale Press for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2021
Title: Hungry Hill
Author: Eileen Patricia Curran
Publisher: Kinsale Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Hungry Hill" by Eileen Patricia Curran
My Opinion:
'Hungry Hill' was a good read that had me laughing out loud and tearing up with this likable, true-to-life story of what can happen when a loved one dies. As this was for the heroine of our story, Grace Cavanaugh had suffered both ways in losing her husband, Michael, and her great aunt Maggie Reilly. What will happen when her aunt asks Grace to come and take care of her due to her illness? The author gives the reader quite a read as one watches a loved one suffer and slowly pass away. The supporting characters like [Matt, Henry] were all well-developed and well defined, helping to give the reader an understanding of the emotional complexities of what it means when one has lost to love and grief as it was for Grace. This was a beautiful story of one dealing with grief and moving on. Oh, and the dogs, Ellen and Stogie, were quite a part of this story that would put a smile on your face. Grace was really something with her sassy attitude but finding comfort in helping her great-aunt was really something that presented a realness to the story.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a requested advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Eileen Patricia Curran
Publisher: Kinsale Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Hungry Hill" by Eileen Patricia Curran
My Opinion:
'Hungry Hill' was a good read that had me laughing out loud and tearing up with this likable, true-to-life story of what can happen when a loved one dies. As this was for the heroine of our story, Grace Cavanaugh had suffered both ways in losing her husband, Michael, and her great aunt Maggie Reilly. What will happen when her aunt asks Grace to come and take care of her due to her illness? The author gives the reader quite a read as one watches a loved one suffer and slowly pass away. The supporting characters like [Matt, Henry] were all well-developed and well defined, helping to give the reader an understanding of the emotional complexities of what it means when one has lost to love and grief as it was for Grace. This was a beautiful story of one dealing with grief and moving on. Oh, and the dogs, Ellen and Stogie, were quite a part of this story that would put a smile on your face. Grace was really something with her sassy attitude but finding comfort in helping her great-aunt was really something that presented a realness to the story.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a requested advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2021
I'm truly torn on this one....I loved the writing and the story. I loved all of the characters, except for Grace, which is why I'm so torn.
I initially picked up the book because it takes place in Springfield, MA, where I live! How cool! And, the story line piqued my interest, as well. Grace, a 40+ year old woman how unexpectedly losses her husband, gets a call from her 86 year old great aunt who is dying of cancer and needs someone there with her. Grace is your typical "Karen". She lived in Greenwich, has a lot of money, and is a bit racist. While she is doing everything in her power to not mourn the loss of her husband (moving into an apartment, keeping everything the way it was), she still finds it within herself to start a fling with her great aunt's neighbor?!? I'm no expert on grief and I guess everyone grieves differently, but it didn't sit well with me. Grace is also a snobby brat. There are so many references to her Beemer and the price tag on her clothes. I truly did not like her and had to put the book down for a while. Once, I set that aside, I was able to get through it. I love her great aunt Maggie and Matt, the boy toy next door. All of the other characters were amazing and how could I not give mention to her two sweet dogs, Ellen and Stogie! I also loved the writing and all of the emotions that were brought into play.
I initially picked up the book because it takes place in Springfield, MA, where I live! How cool! And, the story line piqued my interest, as well. Grace, a 40+ year old woman how unexpectedly losses her husband, gets a call from her 86 year old great aunt who is dying of cancer and needs someone there with her. Grace is your typical "Karen". She lived in Greenwich, has a lot of money, and is a bit racist. While she is doing everything in her power to not mourn the loss of her husband (moving into an apartment, keeping everything the way it was), she still finds it within herself to start a fling with her great aunt's neighbor?!? I'm no expert on grief and I guess everyone grieves differently, but it didn't sit well with me. Grace is also a snobby brat. There are so many references to her Beemer and the price tag on her clothes. I truly did not like her and had to put the book down for a while. Once, I set that aside, I was able to get through it. I love her great aunt Maggie and Matt, the boy toy next door. All of the other characters were amazing and how could I not give mention to her two sweet dogs, Ellen and Stogie! I also loved the writing and all of the emotions that were brought into play.
January 2, 2022
Hungry Hill is a multi-generational story about two women: Grace Cavanaugh and her great aunt, Maggie Reilly, who never married and lives alone in a house in Hungry Hill, an Irish Catholic neighborhood in Springfield. Both women are in a personal crisis and haven't seen each other in years. Grace has lost her husband, and Maggie is fighting breast cancer. The story is about how Maggie reaches out to Grace, wallowing in grief after her husband's death. Maggie convinces Grace to move in with her to help Maggie fight metastatic breast cancer. The two live together and reconnect. They build a village of people in the neighborhood and help each other through their situations.
Even though this is a book about someone grieving over a lost love, there's a lot of humor in the novel. It was fun to see how humor can be used to tease each other, to become intimate, and to make their circumstances tolerating. There's a lot of angst in the book, but the humor mitigates it. There's a playfulness to the whole thing from the start when Grace moves to Maggie's house, and you know that antics will ensue.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/eil...
Even though this is a book about someone grieving over a lost love, there's a lot of humor in the novel. It was fun to see how humor can be used to tease each other, to become intimate, and to make their circumstances tolerating. There's a lot of angst in the book, but the humor mitigates it. There's a playfulness to the whole thing from the start when Grace moves to Maggie's house, and you know that antics will ensue.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/eil...
August 4, 2021
Grace is adrift and bereft after the sudden and unexpected death ofher beloved husband Michael. When she is asked to move in with her elderly great aunt, who has a few months to live, and to take care of her, she responds to the challenge. She rediscovers their old bond, meets new people and finds that, as Maggie’s life draws to a close, hers is still worth living. The subject of the novel makes it sound heavy and depressing, but it is not like that at all- laced generously with humour, warmth and even joy, it is rather a feelgood story of how life continues and love never dies, but is always around us if we look for it. Maggie’s illness is treated sensitively, although her passing is comparatively gentle and easy, in contrast with the brief description later in the book of Michael’s horrible, shocking collapse and death. Grace begins to find herself again as she makes the most of Maggie’s last weeks, enjoying simple pleasures and little luxuries and finding acceptance of her loss. Sometimes everyone seems a little too nice- every character from neighbours to workmen to carers fall over themselves to be generous and helpful- but this is balanced by the sadness of Maggie’s deterioration. Grace’s two dogs are also a total delight and make a great case for dogs for therapy! A lovely, thoughtful read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the proof in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley for the proof in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2021
3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed this but with a couple of personal irritations.
It’s actually a two-fold story. Grace, a 40+ year old who lost her husband 15 months before to a sudden aneurysm, moves in with her 86-year-old great-aunt during her final stage of cancer. Grace also begins a May-December liaison/romance with her aunt’s 29-year-old neighbor Matt, almost immediately upon her arrival.
While I think the author intended the reader to have empathy for Grace, I really didn’t muster much. To me, she came off as a spoiled and immature woman. I won’t go into detail here, but just say that I feel I would have enjoyed the story better if I could have connected more with Grace. I loved her irrepressible Aunt Maggie (so funny!) and Matt, who seemed less selfish and more mature than Grace.
All of that said, this is a well done debut novel, and I plan to keep an eye out for future offerings from this author.
My thanks to #NetGalley and #KinsdalePress for providing me the free arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
I enjoyed this but with a couple of personal irritations.
It’s actually a two-fold story. Grace, a 40+ year old who lost her husband 15 months before to a sudden aneurysm, moves in with her 86-year-old great-aunt during her final stage of cancer. Grace also begins a May-December liaison/romance with her aunt’s 29-year-old neighbor Matt, almost immediately upon her arrival.
While I think the author intended the reader to have empathy for Grace, I really didn’t muster much. To me, she came off as a spoiled and immature woman. I won’t go into detail here, but just say that I feel I would have enjoyed the story better if I could have connected more with Grace. I loved her irrepressible Aunt Maggie (so funny!) and Matt, who seemed less selfish and more mature than Grace.
All of that said, this is a well done debut novel, and I plan to keep an eye out for future offerings from this author.
My thanks to #NetGalley and #KinsdalePress for providing me the free arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.
November 5, 2023
Family. A part of who we are today and who we were before. When Grace's husband dies unexpectedly, a piece of who she is dies with him. It's that black curtain no one wants to look behind for fear of seeing their own future. But look she has and Grace can see no future before her, her life has stopped. So she moves from the house she shared with her husband, takes her dogs and waits for the nothingness to swallow her. Her family is gone.
Then, her great aunt calls. She's dying and she needs family. Remembering the times she and her aunt shared seems like a life time ago, but she's family and Grace needs someone to need her. So Grace and the dogs move in with her aunt, determined to ease the burdens her aunt is facing. Together they will learn to live while healing. The story is emotional, It's well written with excellent characters that will touch your heart and leave you feeling better about those family members who've been irritating you.
Then, her great aunt calls. She's dying and she needs family. Remembering the times she and her aunt shared seems like a life time ago, but she's family and Grace needs someone to need her. So Grace and the dogs move in with her aunt, determined to ease the burdens her aunt is facing. Together they will learn to live while healing. The story is emotional, It's well written with excellent characters that will touch your heart and leave you feeling better about those family members who've been irritating you.
June 16, 2021
This book took me a minute to actually get into. There were sad parts, funny parts, touching moments, a bit of romance, and a lot of longing for what might have been. The relationship between Grace and her great aunt Maggie was touching and beautiful, and I can only say that I hope someone will be there for me like Grace was for Maggie if I’m ever in that position. From the middle of the book until very near the end, the book had me captured and I enjoyed what I was reading. However, I was very disappointed in the ending. It felt as if there wasn’t really an ending, but that the book just stopped. Had I known that at the beginning, I would not have even ventured to read it. Yet, I am glad I did and for that reason I would probably rate the book 3 1/2 stars, but because I enjoyed the good in it, I will give it a generous four stars. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.
August 18, 2021
This book was a nice break from my typical fast paced thrillers. A story of grieving and healing and the importance of the connections we make with others in the process. I loved the relationship that developed between Grace and her great-aunt Maggie and how their shared experience led them each to grow in their own ways. The side characters may have been my favorites though, from the sexy neighbor Matt to the playfully cheeky nurse Henry - and of course Ellen and Stogie - it was easy to feel a part of the community in Hungry Hill. I didn’t connect with Grace as much as I would have liked, and if I had, I definitely would have enjoyed the story more. I felt like she was confused in her grief - understandably, and everyone manages their grief different - but she flip flopped between her feelings and actions a little too quickly to be believable for me.
July 15, 2021
What I loved about this book: Maggie, the dogs and the relationship Maggie had with them and Grace. Maggie was a hoot and I loved the interactions Grace and her had. I also enjoyed how the author gave both the dogs human traits. Grace had a great sense of humor which made the dialogue the best part of the book.
However I really didn't enjoy the style of writing. There was so much tell, it grated on me. Surely that is a writing no no? I also didn't enjoy all the trappings of wealth Grace spoke about and the detail about house design. Not something I am particularly interested in. I would have enjoyed reading about Maggie and Graces relationship, their history and maybe even Maggie when she was young. There was no real depth to the book.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
However I really didn't enjoy the style of writing. There was so much tell, it grated on me. Surely that is a writing no no? I also didn't enjoy all the trappings of wealth Grace spoke about and the detail about house design. Not something I am particularly interested in. I would have enjoyed reading about Maggie and Graces relationship, their history and maybe even Maggie when she was young. There was no real depth to the book.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
June 1, 2021
I loved this debut novel by Eileen Patricia Curran. This novel took an excellent look at loss and grief, heartbreak, love and connection, moving on and resilience—all wrapped up in one. And it was freaking hilarious, too! I found myself laughing out loud multiple times.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with every single character. She had a way of making the characters come to life, and they’ll definitely stay with me long past finishing this book. I feel like I know them in real life 😂
It was witty, charming, romantic, light-hearted, real, and heavy all at once. I can’t wait to see more from this author in the future.
I couldn’t help but fall in love with every single character. She had a way of making the characters come to life, and they’ll definitely stay with me long past finishing this book. I feel like I know them in real life 😂
It was witty, charming, romantic, light-hearted, real, and heavy all at once. I can’t wait to see more from this author in the future.
July 13, 2021
After suffering a personal loss, Grace moves in with her great-aunt, Maggie, to care for her. What follows is a story of friendship and love. Grace and Maggie support one another and give each other what they need, including the needed space for Grace to process her loss and find the strength to move forward. The supporting characters were excellent and well written as well. Two special characters were the neighbor, Matt, and the nurse, Henry, who added a lot to the story and made me smile. It's always nice to read about men who are strong and genuinely nice guys.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this book.
June 3, 2022
Grace Cavanaugh just lost her husband. She moved out of their beautiful Victorian home and moved into an apartment with her dogs. She is depressed and doesn't know what to do. She hears from her aunt who she hasn't seen in years. They were very close years ago and now Maggie, who is 87 years old needs her help. This would mean moving into her aunt's house which Grace sees as a good change for her. The relationship between Grace and Maggie reignites and the banter between them is humorous and realistic. Grace also meets Maggie's neighbors who are two young brothers who help Grace to care for her aunt and also help Grace to come back to life.
July 27, 2021
This debut novel hit all the feels. It was beautifully written and took me on a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I cried, and sometimes both happened at the same time. This is a novel about true love, loss, and the journey of recovery from the intense pain and learning to live life again. This was a page=turning do not put down until the end book. However, the end left me wanting more of Grace and her story of learning to love and live again.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a requested advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for a requested advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2021
Stereotypical great-aunt, superficial protagonist, and a too-perfect romantic character undermine the potential for an emotionally-sensitive portrayal of different types of end-of-life experiences and grief. Basically a dressed-up romance. Disappointing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kinsale Press for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kinsale Press for the ARC.
June 8, 2021
I was granted a free copy of this text by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book was tough to read for me because the loss of a patriarch for a family is fresh in my brain. Definite trigger warning. Overall though, the ending was worth the read.
July 20, 2021
"Hungry Hill" was the first book I have read by Eileen Patricia Curran. The characters were very well developed and likable. I enjoyed the book but felt like the ending need more closure.
February 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this book and was surprised the ending came so quickly. I wanted more of Grace Cavanaugh!
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