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My Favourite Goodbye
Ash O'Halloran knows she should be having the time of her life. She's twenty-nine, single and self-supporting. So, shouldn't she be out there every night, swilling Chardonnay and falling in love? Or, if she isn't, at least having a great time moaning about it with her best friends?
Doesn't she know how to be a single woman?
Trouble is, Ash likes things as they are. She doesn't do impulsive and relationships scare her to death. At the first hint of commitment, it's goodbye. No way is she going to let herself get hurt.
But as Ash watched Dan Morland - who employed her to cook the ultimate dinner the night he proposed to his girlfriend - trying to sort out a life with the woman he loves, she begins to wonder if being Miss Self-Contained-and-Secure might also mean Missing Out...
598 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
78 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,201 followersAs you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.
I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.
I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.
But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.
I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.
And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.
When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:
* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last
I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.
I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 27, 2015
I'm not entirely sure why I finished this. The very definition of a beach read, and I suppose lying on a beach in perfect relation made me a little more open to finishing anything, even this unbelievable fluff. Ash's anxiety came across as very unbelievable to me, and (having experienced huge anxiety I think it's within my rights to say this) came across as very clichéd. The ending was terrible. really, really terrible.
The focus on money was alien to me, the disregard for basic human feelings exhibited by all of the main characters made me hate nearly all of them, and there were only a few really likeable moments, all of which I have now forgotten. Didn't stop me picking up another book by the same author (happened to be a few of her books at the bach I was staying at) but I would not really suggest you do the same where "My Favourite Goodbye" is concerned.
The focus on money was alien to me, the disregard for basic human feelings exhibited by all of the main characters made me hate nearly all of them, and there were only a few really likeable moments, all of which I have now forgotten. Didn't stop me picking up another book by the same author (happened to be a few of her books at the bach I was staying at) but I would not really suggest you do the same where "My Favourite Goodbye" is concerned.
July 14, 2012
Completely pedestrian writing. What a slog to get through. Not sure why I bothered.
May 2, 2022
A really good chick lit read - a sleep loser. Possibly a useful read for someone who suffers from anxiety and how to deal with it as the main character of the story has, Despite appearing to be calm and have her life in order somethings couldn't be further from the truth. Well worth the time
dropped
February 6, 2016I don't want to force myself. It's just too bland and nothing is making me want to know what's going to happen next.
July 14, 2015
3.5 reminiscent stars
I remember lining up at borders many years ago and getting the author's autograph and book and advice on writing. she spoke with a lilt and I realized she is Irish. I didnt plan on going there to meet her and while browsing through books , an annoucement was made about an author meet and greet session and so I skipped away.
I was kind of skeptical as I was a teenager and wasnt into the chick lit genre but more into historical romance.
I picked up the one I though I would read and picked my favorite goodbye.
I enjoyed this story and it is quite long. The book is rather thick.
Four stars because I was an innocent teenager practically a chick lit virgin and I enjoyed it immensely.
I enjoyed Ash and how she overcome obstacles in her life to enjoy an intimate relationship. It was a rather easy read.
I remember lining up at borders many years ago and getting the author's autograph and book and advice on writing. she spoke with a lilt and I realized she is Irish. I didnt plan on going there to meet her and while browsing through books , an annoucement was made about an author meet and greet session and so I skipped away.
I was kind of skeptical as I was a teenager and wasnt into the chick lit genre but more into historical romance.
I picked up the one I though I would read and picked my favorite goodbye.
I enjoyed this story and it is quite long. The book is rather thick.
Four stars because I was an innocent teenager practically a chick lit virgin and I enjoyed it immensely.
I enjoyed Ash and how she overcome obstacles in her life to enjoy an intimate relationship. It was a rather easy read.
July 18, 2021
I’m a bit shocked at the negative reviews on this one! I adored it. The characters are flawed in a believable way, it feels authentic . I related to Ash just a little bit too much, the slow burn is predictable (obviously) but so satisfying. The best Shelia I’ve read so far !
August 23, 2020
light easy read...disappointed with the "recipes" they sounded good but not enough detail
January 9, 2022
Ik heb het aantal sterren naar boven afgerond, want ik vind 3,5 ster het beste bij dit boek passen. Het is een heerlijke chicklit. In het begin had ik wel wat moeite om echt een connectie te maken met het verhaal, omdat ik steeds maar korte stukjes las. Toen ik meer tijd uittrok om te lezen, ging het verhaal mij ook meer doen. Ik ben blij met het einde. Ik was even bang dat Ash zou kiezen voor wat men van haar verwachtte. Gelukkig deed ze dat niet. Tegen het einde verandert Ash best wel veel. Dat vond ik niet helemaal geloofwaardig. Als je altijd heel zuinig bent geweest met geld ga je niet ineens honderden ponden uitgeven. Toch vind ik het leuk dat Ash wel iets losser werd in haar gedrag, want dat was wel nodig. Ondanks dat ik het met Ash eens ben dat het leven niet alleen draait om een man vinden, trouwen en kinderen krijgen, had Ash wel een heel eenzaam leven. Want ze liet ook geen familie en vrienden dichtbij komen. Dat had te maken met haar jeugd. Daardoor heeft het verhaal ook wel een serieus tintje, zonder dat het ooit zwaar wordt.
August 26, 2020
Sheila O is my favorite author. I have collected many of her books and is still doing so. Reading her books are just soothing to the soul....this is another great book by her. Set in the beautiful country of Dublin, with exciting food menus and a happy ending. Good storyline and interesting characters.
October 14, 2024
3.5 stars. A bit too long but a good read nonetheless. Ash is a caterer for corporate lunches and small parties. She’s employed to cook dinner for two for Dan who is planning to propose to his girlfriend. Dan’s relationship changes when his fiancée moves temporarily to the US for work and he gets to know Ash better. A bit predictable
February 27, 2018
Couldn’t read this without falling in love with Ash. I warmed to her fragility and insecurities. This is Sheila O’Flanagan at her best. The ending is magical.
July 22, 2018
Easy to read and an ok love story. However, not the kind of book that is hard to put down. Nevertheless, will read two more of her books before i can write her off.
November 15, 2018
Book was good, ending was rushed, predictable, but it felt like the author had run out of room and so had to squeeze the finale into the last two pages, which just didn’t feel right to me.
June 7, 2020
Yet another good read
June 2, 2021
Really loved reading this book so so good and a real feal good factor.
February 19, 2017
Excellent read. Very enjoyable.
Read
January 25, 2009A lovely read, all girls who choose the single way of life should read it, it's as your own story is being told. Very real and has most of the phrases I normally quote to family and friends. very entertaining.
July 9, 2013
Someone left this book in our villa last summer so I took it to read every day on the beach. Perhaps not one I would have chosen simply because of its huge size on holiday. My first Sheila o'flanagan but I loved it. Hope to enjoy more if her books. A good story with a HEA!
July 17, 2013
Aslında 1.5... Anlamadım ki. İyi gidiyor gibiydi... Sonra bir ona gitti karakter, bir buna gitti. Saçma sapan bir ilerleme, arka kapak yazısı desen içindekiyle alakası yok. İlk defa bir kitabın kapağını kapattığımda "bu neydi yahu?" dedim... Sahurlarımı buna harcadığıma yanarım :/
October 27, 2015
This took a bit time than I expected to finish. A bit of monologue on her insecurities and how she is such a freaky person when it comes to relationships. The casual way she dumps guys is unheard of. But read to the end. The end was okayish I guess. Not one of the good books I`v read.
May 14, 2011
Really enjoyable read - lovely characters and descriptions. Easy to get lost in their worlds and hard to put down.
Read
August 7, 2011a rather slow building chick lit adventure.good for a rainy day..when you don't have anything else to read.
October 16, 2012
Enjoyed this as I have all of her books
August 7, 2013
Easy to read but found it easy to put down and become distracted.
August 9, 2014
A massive brick-size volume almost 600 pages long, but I went through it at a very brisk pace. Needless to say then that I loved it!
November 3, 2016
A nice, light read.
January 20, 2017
A nice easy read whilst nursing a cold. Predictable and safe but enjoyable along the way.
September 27, 2008
Predictable, but enjoyable. Not the best writing, but a good story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews