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Something Old, Something New
Set in present day Dublin, this is the story of two women’s lifelong friendship and a betrayal that threatens to tear their lives apart.
Trish is left picking up the pieces following a terrible tragedy. Life has been cruel and now it lands another blow. Luckily, she has her best friend Karen by her side to help her through. Then a chance encounter on the French Riviera leads Trish to think that maybe la vie est belle after all.
Karen has it all. Sophisticated and successful, she is head of a Maternity & Fertility Clinic in Dublin’s city centre. Now, a new man who ticks all the boxes looks like he might be ‘The One’.
Olivia is the perfect daughter with a steady boyfriend and a steadier job. But she wants answers. Haunted by the fact that her life has been a matter of chance, she is on a mission to unearth the truth.
But, for each of them, the truth has the potential to blow their lives apart.
Trish is left picking up the pieces following a terrible tragedy. Life has been cruel and now it lands another blow. Luckily, she has her best friend Karen by her side to help her through. Then a chance encounter on the French Riviera leads Trish to think that maybe la vie est belle after all.
Karen has it all. Sophisticated and successful, she is head of a Maternity & Fertility Clinic in Dublin’s city centre. Now, a new man who ticks all the boxes looks like he might be ‘The One’.
Olivia is the perfect daughter with a steady boyfriend and a steadier job. But she wants answers. Haunted by the fact that her life has been a matter of chance, she is on a mission to unearth the truth.
But, for each of them, the truth has the potential to blow their lives apart.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2021
42 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2021
I had a great time reading this wonderful story. The pace is active throughout.
Wonderful characters, especially two wonderful women, Trish and Karen. Trish wasy personal favorite from the very beginning.
The storyline is solid and very entertaining. It was easy to read and kept me hoping for the happy endings.
I highly recommend
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Wonderful characters, especially two wonderful women, Trish and Karen. Trish wasy personal favorite from the very beginning.
The storyline is solid and very entertaining. It was easy to read and kept me hoping for the happy endings.
I highly recommend
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 2, 2022
Trish is just beginning to recover from the loss of her daughter when her husband announces he’s in love with another woman. Reeling from his departure, Trish escapes to her best friend Karen’s summer home on the French Riviera, where she meets Patrick, a man who might be able to help put her past behind him. Despite the attraction, Trish returns to her real life in Dublin, convinced she’ll never see him again.
Karen is, by all accounts, successful. She’s the head of Dublin’s most exclusive private maternity hospital and Director of a charity that builds orphanages in Sierra Leone. She’s also about to marry Richard, a man who is perfect on paper and happy to accommodate her grueling schedule. But is he too good to be true?
When Karen’s daughter comes in search of her birth mother, secrets long buried will be revealed, bringing to light deceptions that will change Karen and Trish’s lives in ways they never could have expected.
There’s a lot going on in this book. Either Trish or Karen could have commanded an entire novel just with their own storyline. Granted, several of the characters are intertwined in both main plots, but I think with a little juggling, this would have made a great two-book series - one for Trish and one for Karen. Because there might have been too much packed in here. There were several plot points that the author skimmed through that I would have loved for her to have explored deeper. But we probably would have had a 500-page book if everything had been fleshed out. Still, I would have liked Trish's romance and feelings for Patrick, or the chapters with Trish’s family, to have been handled less hastily than they were.
I also think this could (and probably should) have been presented with no more than three points of view - Trish, Karen, and Olivia (Karen’s daughter). That might have forced the author to dig deeper into each character, rather than switching points of view when convenient. One oddity I noted was that even though the first several chapters remained firmly in one point of view, from about the middle of the book on, the characters would head hop, primarily in the last few paragraphs of each chapter.
While this was a good story, I don’t think it lived up to what it could have been. I was also on the fence if it should be considered women’s fiction or chick lit/romance. The beginning chapters were heavy and some of the issues were deep, but this was very much a happily ever after sort of book, so hopefully I’ll have decided before I post this review. I may just go with both.
In the end, I rated this book 2.25 stars.
This was an Advance Reader Copy that I received and I’ve left this review voluntarily and honestly.
Karen is, by all accounts, successful. She’s the head of Dublin’s most exclusive private maternity hospital and Director of a charity that builds orphanages in Sierra Leone. She’s also about to marry Richard, a man who is perfect on paper and happy to accommodate her grueling schedule. But is he too good to be true?
When Karen’s daughter comes in search of her birth mother, secrets long buried will be revealed, bringing to light deceptions that will change Karen and Trish’s lives in ways they never could have expected.
There’s a lot going on in this book. Either Trish or Karen could have commanded an entire novel just with their own storyline. Granted, several of the characters are intertwined in both main plots, but I think with a little juggling, this would have made a great two-book series - one for Trish and one for Karen. Because there might have been too much packed in here. There were several plot points that the author skimmed through that I would have loved for her to have explored deeper. But we probably would have had a 500-page book if everything had been fleshed out. Still, I would have liked Trish's romance and feelings for Patrick, or the chapters with Trish’s family, to have been handled less hastily than they were.
I also think this could (and probably should) have been presented with no more than three points of view - Trish, Karen, and Olivia (Karen’s daughter). That might have forced the author to dig deeper into each character, rather than switching points of view when convenient. One oddity I noted was that even though the first several chapters remained firmly in one point of view, from about the middle of the book on, the characters would head hop, primarily in the last few paragraphs of each chapter.
While this was a good story, I don’t think it lived up to what it could have been. I was also on the fence if it should be considered women’s fiction or chick lit/romance. The beginning chapters were heavy and some of the issues were deep, but this was very much a happily ever after sort of book, so hopefully I’ll have decided before I post this review. I may just go with both.
In the end, I rated this book 2.25 stars.
This was an Advance Reader Copy that I received and I’ve left this review voluntarily and honestly.
October 1, 2021
This book pivots around the challenges that two long-term friends (Trish and Karen) face in terms of romantic relationships but also their own when they have to deal with the consequences and hurt of unintential betrayal. Although it touches on some sensitive subjects, the death of a child for example, it is ultimately a joyful tale. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, a fast-paced read that will keep you turning the pages. There are nice twists and turns, a rather predictable ending and maybe one too many cooincidences, but that doesn't detract from a well-written and well-thought out book with excellent character development.
There is a nice balance of sorrow, joy, mystery and crime and elements of the plot will take you by surprise. Highly recommended for a light read that you can easily dip in and out of.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There is a nice balance of sorrow, joy, mystery and crime and elements of the plot will take you by surprise. Highly recommended for a light read that you can easily dip in and out of.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 7, 2021
Trish is mourning the death of her only daughter several years ago when her husband tells her he is leaving her for his personal trainer at the gym. And that's just the beginning. The book is somewhat melodramatic with good and bad things happening every few chapters. And the chapters are short - often only two pages long. Trish's best friend, Karen, gets in on the action as well with her con-man fiancé. And who is Olivia in this scenario?
Barrett is a good writer in that she moves the story along quickly and it is easy to get lost in the details. This is a good beach read in that it ends happy - as happy as it could with a 44 year old new mum.
Barrett is a good writer in that she moves the story along quickly and it is easy to get lost in the details. This is a good beach read in that it ends happy - as happy as it could with a 44 year old new mum.
September 27, 2021
Great title.
Smashing read, I read it all at once. I haven't read this author before but am searching for her as soon as this is written. So many plot twists but not a bit of unkindness anywhere. It was on Prime too which is a bonus. If you are fed up and need a lift this is for you.
Smashing read, I read it all at once. I haven't read this author before but am searching for her as soon as this is written. So many plot twists but not a bit of unkindness anywhere. It was on Prime too which is a bonus. If you are fed up and need a lift this is for you.
June 29, 2021
Great book
I loved this book really enjoyed the relationship between Trish and Karen friends forever throughout all the ups and downs
Loved it 😊
I loved this book really enjoyed the relationship between Trish and Karen friends forever throughout all the ups and downs
Loved it 😊
July 22, 2021
Really enjoyable
An author whose books I never had read before
I really enjoyed this book read it in one sitting I will look for more
An author whose books I never had read before
I really enjoyed this book read it in one sitting I will look for more
August 8, 2021
An easy, if not very cheesy read!
February 24, 2022
3 1/2 ⭐️’s
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews