Friends Forever

by Lyn Andrews

Best friends Bernie and Molly are just seventeen when they set off from Ireland in 1928, heading for Liverpool. They quickly find jobs and rooms; soon both women are in love with local men. Tragically, though, Biddy is widowed when she's still barely an adult, while Molly has chosen a bad 'un and faces the deepest shame when he deserts her. But this bad start only reinforces the bond between the women, and gives them the strength to build a brighter future...

Genres: Fiction, Romance

288 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2005

About the author

Lyn Andrews is one of the the UK's top one hundred paper-back bestsellers. Born and brought up in Liverpool, she is the daughter of a policeman who also married a policeman. After becoming the mother of triplets, she took some time off from her writing whilst she raised her children. Shortlisted for the romantic Novelists' Association Award in 1993, she has now written twenty-one hugely successful novels. Lyn Andrews divides her time between Merseyside and Ireland.

Reviews

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, light, easy read by Lynn Andrews. It's about two friends, Molly and Bernie, who leave their homes and families in Ireland to find jobs and new lives for themselves in Liverpool. To begin with Liverpool doesn't live up to their expectations, but they settle down and are excited about the future, of course there are difficulties and problems to be overcome. Their friendship is the key to the story.

[Umm Sulaym · Rating 4 out of 5]

القصص القديمة بتاع زماااااان :)

ايام ما كان عادات الاجانب قريبة من تربيتنا -ال الناس بيحاولوا باقصى جهدهم انهم يغيروها-

جو جمييييل :)

[OxoNewbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing with my experiment of reading writers with surnames beginning with A from the local library.

Genre - Women's Fiction, Sub-Genre - Saga. This book is about the friendship between Bernie O'Sullivan and Molly Keegan and how they left Ireland for a new life in Liverpool. The detail about how life was back then (the grinding poverty, the lack of opportunity) was captured very well. The book moves along at a gentle pace and I think it is aimed at a certain readership. It's a solid book in the sub-genre but nothing groundbreaking.

3 stars.

[Nina A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This was very good. But I'm a sucker for people dying lol* Friends Forever" is a really good book by Lyn Andrews! I'd give it four stars. It's about friendship and how people can get through tough times together. The characters feel like real people, and you really care about what happens to them. The story is interesting and keeps you wanting to know more. Maybe some parts were a little slow, but overall, it's a great book that makes you feel good. If you like stories about strong friendships, you'll probably like this book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Francine Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another beautiful read from Lyn Andrews. I always read her books when I want something comforting and wholesome. Being from Liverpool it’s great to picture the scenes in the book from back in the day. This book shows the true meaning of friendship and no matter the hardships the People of Liverpool will always look out for each other, no matter the background

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book fine change from the books I usually read.

[Kanwar Rajinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice decent clean book

[Linda Leedham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant storyline, but nothing dramatic .

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book although I thought it ended a bit abruptly. I would have liked the girls to have had some luck with starting their own businesses and maybe seen them both find love and settle down.

[Jane Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Friends

Brilliant book. Full of ups and downs and shows how Families/friends stick together no matter what. Always there for each other.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opinions in this review are MY OWN...so dont judge too much! I LOVED this book!!!!! The desription was fine and beautiful. The description of their home (in Ireland) at the beginning really reflected how innocent and naiive the girls really were. Moving to Liverpool seemed to be a big advenure for them and I as a reader seemed to share that with them. Then, when they moved to Liverpool, they (Molly and Bernie) had to get on their feet and find jobs etc. This did bore me slightly at first, but still, I read on and I'm glad that I did. At first, molly was my heroine of the story, as she was much more hardworking, and new how to do necessary things (like sewing!), and was much more patient and willing to learn. However, I think she was stupid to just give in to Billy as she did, and she didn't keep to her plans and morals for life...she just gave in, so naiive-ly. And i really felt Bernie's loss after Jimmy died, and I truly belive that they were soul mates <3 It was a shame that molly had a miscarraige, but I'm so glad that Joe was there for her, and was also there for her throughout her pregnancy. I'm also glad that Mrs Hayes didn't mind too much (that Molly was pregnant....under the given circumstances), and still kept the pair on to live at her house. I generally think that it was a great book and I will definately read it again!
After the end... Me, being my imaginary self, I do carry on past the ending (and sometimes write fanfiction!), and decide their ending after the ending (that makes NO sense...owell).
I believe that Molly ad Joe do fal in love (love is blind <3), and by the time she's 21, they marry, and that's when Molly has her own soft furnishings business, and Bernie doesn't fall in love/marry again but lives with Mrs Hayes (which will be close by to Joe and Mollys'), and gets a big business in baking and selling raditional Irish Confectionery-all good :o)

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends for ever

Good read. A bit up and down with emotions which I like. I do enjoy reading Lyn Andrews books. Seeing as I come from Liverpool but not lived there for a long time it's nice going down memory lane

[Tracy Barrall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of hardship in 1920's and 1930's Liverpool. Two 17 year old friends move from Ireland to Liverpool in hope of a better life, oh boy out of the frying pan and into the fire they go. But they are determined to change their lives for the better and with your best friend by your side anything is possible! Lovely read

[Juliana Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library as I needed a talking book for my car and there weren't many to choose from. I actually really enjoyed this book even though i wouldn't necessarily have picked it as my first choice and will certainly read others by her. An interesting storyline and believable characters. A pleasant surprise!

[Kingfan30 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just been passed this book by my mum. I have read this sort of book before and find them quite predictable as far as the story line goes. However I did find this book quite a pleasant easy to read book.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn Andrews books captivate your interest and attention to the story immediately!

Love her style of writing. Have never been disappointed with any of her books.

[Renae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, although it did leave me wanting more. Luckily I've just found out that there is more!

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good reading. Very interesting book.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful story of 2 young irish girls who go to liverpool looking for work

[Claire Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and it was a quick read although almost too quick. I thought the ending was rushed and I wanted to know more about what happened to the characters.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable look forward to reading the sequel

[Lisa's · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book.

Perfect book for a cold Autumn night ( or any time). An easy read and very enjoyable with characters that warm your heart.

[LAURA JONES · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my fave authors this book follows two girls Bernie and Molly who live in Ireland and decide to travel to Liverpool to live with a relative to seek work. they are under the impression the relative lives in a good area with a husband in a good job. traveling over they meet Jimmy who doesn't like to tell the girls they could find things different to what they imagine. they soon find the relative lives in a slum with a husband who has long lost his job. they make the best of a bad job and Bernie finds that Jimmy comes back into her life when he attempts to save a young boy from drowning. they start a relationship and it is soon the girls find a job Bernie working for a lady who is recovering from illness and molly in a dept store then lodging with a rather severe lady who turns out to be a dear friend who helps them through bad times. bernie marries Jimmy but in less than a year, tragedy strikes molly starts seeing someone who everyone knows is a bad lot when she finds she has terrible personal news with seemingly no way out. in the end, life turns out different to how anyone expects and on the way makes a dear friend a compelling story which is really a page turner and like all lyn Andrews books well written and a great read