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Caroline's Sister
To her younger sister, Tessa, Caroline O'Shaughnessy has everything - great looks, easy charm, and the distinctly desirable Damien Woods. But for Caroline, things don't feel quite so rosy. She'd dreamed about moving in with Damien, but not about having his child, just yet. And though he did the honourable thing when she told him she was pregnant, it obviously wasn't what he wanted either. And as both of them struggle to make the best of a bad job, neither are prepared for the impact a moment of drunken indiscretion will have not just on their lives but on Tessa's too...
Paperback
First published November 4, 2002
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About the author
Sheila O'Flanagan
95 books1,206 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 37 reviews
September 25, 2016
Een heerlijk boek. Het leest echt heel vlot. Het boek is ruim 700 pagina's dik. Toch heb ik het vrij snel uitgelezen, aangezien ik ook een paar dagen weinig heb gelezen. Het had van mij trouwens nog wel dikker mogen zijn, want ik vind het gewoon jammer dat het uit is. Dit is zo'n verhaal dat nog makkelijk door had kunnen gaan. Ik heb inmiddels al een aantal boeken van Sheila O'Flanagan gelezen en meestal teleurstellen ze niet. Het zijn wel chicklits. Maar ze gaan net een stapje verder dan de meeste boeken in het genre. Ook draait het niet alleen om het vinden van de prins op het witte paard. In sommige opzichten doet haar schrijfstijl me aan Maeve Binchy en Marian Keyes denken. Wellicht zit het 'm in hun bloed. :-) (Het zijn allemaal Ierse schrijfsters.) Hun boeken eindig je meestal met een goed gevoel.
January 31, 2019
Un roman plăcut, deconectant, ai cărui eroi sunt oameni obișnuiți puși în fața unor situații mai mult sau mai puțin plăcute și care trebuie să își descopere propria cale.
Tocmai această lipsă de senzațional îl face potrivit pentru o lectură relaxată, nelipsindu-i însă stropul de element educativ. Îl recomand în special tinerelor în jurul vârstei de 18 ani, care pot extrage anumite învățăminte din povestea celor două surori, dar și oricui dorește o lectură ușoară și destinsă, frumos așternută pe hârtie și fără exagerări inutile. Impresiile mele pe larg le gasiti aici: https://adropofinspiration.wordpress....
Tocmai această lipsă de senzațional îl face potrivit pentru o lectură relaxată, nelipsindu-i însă stropul de element educativ. Îl recomand în special tinerelor în jurul vârstei de 18 ani, care pot extrage anumite învățăminte din povestea celor două surori, dar și oricui dorește o lectură ușoară și destinsă, frumos așternută pe hârtie și fără exagerări inutile. Impresiile mele pe larg le gasiti aici: https://adropofinspiration.wordpress....
November 29, 2018
What a couple of sad sacks the sisters were and men bar two were complete shits.
April 6, 2016
I always have to prepare myself before reading a Sheila O'Flanagan novel - purely for the sheer length of them! 'Caroline's Sister' managed to successfully fill 726 pages and yet despite that, I enjoyed all of it and didn't once think "WHEN will this END?". Sheila doesn't simply have a 'start' and 'end' to her books, she follows the characters through a period in their life in detail. No twists and juicy cliff-hangers, just decent story telling that many of us can relate to. This book followed a period in two very different sisters' lives - Caroline and Tessa. I liked this a lot.
August 15, 2018
I love, love, love Sheila O'Flanagan and I can read her books again and again and Caroline's sister is no exception.
In this book we follow the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of Caroline and her sister, Tessa from their teenage years into adulthood. We explore the reason for their family fallout and how the two sisters overcome this.
Also explored is the sexist world of finance that Tessa finds herself in.
The story is very well written. It does not idealise family, relationship, love etc. I was unable to put it down!
In this book we follow the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of Caroline and her sister, Tessa from their teenage years into adulthood. We explore the reason for their family fallout and how the two sisters overcome this.
Also explored is the sexist world of finance that Tessa finds herself in.
The story is very well written. It does not idealise family, relationship, love etc. I was unable to put it down!
October 4, 2019
I absolutely enjoyed reading this 📖 book.
Sheila O’ Flanagan is such a delightful author, she makes you fall in love with the characters, and makes her stories so real, seems like your living the story, her detail to scenes are interesting.
Her simple description of Caroline’s sister Tessa leads to the unexpected climax of the story one would never anticipate, actions that would lead to separation of the family and a end of a close bond that she once had with her sister.
This book is a perfect example that proves despite the tests that life throws we learn to forgive grow and make the best of our situations.
I recommend this book because not only it’s a page turner, but it proves that if we simply believe in ourselves, everything will fall in place.
This book is a nice light read, it’s lengthy, but you will get through it very quickly.
Sheila O’ Flanagan is such a delightful author, she makes you fall in love with the characters, and makes her stories so real, seems like your living the story, her detail to scenes are interesting.
Her simple description of Caroline’s sister Tessa leads to the unexpected climax of the story one would never anticipate, actions that would lead to separation of the family and a end of a close bond that she once had with her sister.
This book is a perfect example that proves despite the tests that life throws we learn to forgive grow and make the best of our situations.
I recommend this book because not only it’s a page turner, but it proves that if we simply believe in ourselves, everything will fall in place.
This book is a nice light read, it’s lengthy, but you will get through it very quickly.
April 11, 2020
There was no reason on earth for this book to be so long, it dragged and dragged. The story itself wasn’t too bad once it got going but Christ both the main characters were ridiculous ; absolutely no backbone, made stupid decisions just for the hell of it. I hated Tessa; I know the book is called Caroline’s sister but surely Caroline deserved some better conclusion than that? The men were all absolutely terrible; no personality and no character to them. Just vile and allowed to get away with it . So disappointing
March 3, 2019
One of the most boring books by O'Flanagan I've read. The characters are immature, the story is repetitive and way longer than necessary. Her other books, like The Missing Wife are so much better. This book misses the strong female characters she has accostumed us to.
July 13, 2017
It took a bit of time for the story to get going but once it did, it was easier to read.
I did enjoy this book, and will read more of her books in the future.
I did enjoy this book, and will read more of her books in the future.
July 27, 2020
Another brilliant read
May 18, 2021
One of my favourite reads.
July 7, 2021
It was a nice novel, easy language to follow but it didn't keep me at the edge of my seat.
However, I would recommend it to others as it is a nice summer read.
However, I would recommend it to others as it is a nice summer read.
March 3, 2022
This book is a good example of how the very best authors, the ones you read over and over, can fail miserably. I didn't even care how it ended and that is a very sad commentary.
January 31, 2023
Great read I enjoyed the crossed over stories
July 9, 2023
Interesting book for a teenager with some lessons in it
August 26, 2023
Carolines sister
Really enjoyed this book great read .ill be recommending it to my two sisters as we usually like same books
Really enjoyed this book great read .ill be recommending it to my two sisters as we usually like same books
November 12, 2023
Great read couldn’t put it down!
December 23, 2023
Well what a disappointment!!!!
July 17, 2024
Not sure this book deserves two stars, a totally rubbish ending!!
March 7, 2020
A little predictable
I did enjoy this book but I only gave it 3 stars because it was a little predictable. Pleasant but a bit “ beige”.
I did enjoy this book but I only gave it 3 stars because it was a little predictable. Pleasant but a bit “ beige”.
September 25, 2010
Life comes easy for Caroline O'Shaughnessy. She has good looks that make those around her adore her. She's her father's favourite. When she gets pregnant the first time she sleeps with new boyfriend Damien, he marries her and they create a family together. Caroline's little sister Tess doesn't have it as easy. She lacks her sister's good looks and easy charm, and it seems that absolutely nothing comes easily for her.
When Tessa makes a monumental mistake one night she leaves Ireland and tries to make a new life for herself in London. Caroline, meanwhile, isn't having an easy time of anything at the moment. She's struggling to make her young marriage work and raising her children with little help. Suddenly it doesn't look so easy being Caroline.
I picked this book up at the recent "Friends of the Library" sale that I attended. Funnily enough, when I got home I realized that I had bought the same book, with a different cover, at the previous year's sale. Even more humourous is the fact that I realized when I was about halfway through the book that I had already read this one. Minus points for memorability.
Ultimately this one ended up being just okay for me. Perhaps it would have been better if I didn't remember what happened at the end of the book, but I did. The characters were well-done and both sisters were ones that I could root for, the ending was satisfying enough, but something about the book just didn't grab me. This doesn't discourage me from reading more from Sheila O'Flanagan (which is good, as I have two more by her on my TBR shelves), but this isn't one that I'll go out of my way to recommend. "Caroline's Sister" is great if you're looking for a light read, but don't expect it to stick with you in the long run.
When Tessa makes a monumental mistake one night she leaves Ireland and tries to make a new life for herself in London. Caroline, meanwhile, isn't having an easy time of anything at the moment. She's struggling to make her young marriage work and raising her children with little help. Suddenly it doesn't look so easy being Caroline.
I picked this book up at the recent "Friends of the Library" sale that I attended. Funnily enough, when I got home I realized that I had bought the same book, with a different cover, at the previous year's sale. Even more humourous is the fact that I realized when I was about halfway through the book that I had already read this one. Minus points for memorability.
Ultimately this one ended up being just okay for me. Perhaps it would have been better if I didn't remember what happened at the end of the book, but I did. The characters were well-done and both sisters were ones that I could root for, the ending was satisfying enough, but something about the book just didn't grab me. This doesn't discourage me from reading more from Sheila O'Flanagan (which is good, as I have two more by her on my TBR shelves), but this isn't one that I'll go out of my way to recommend. "Caroline's Sister" is great if you're looking for a light read, but don't expect it to stick with you in the long run.
August 24, 2012
This is such a long book, which I don't usually mind but it did feel at times like this was padded out a bit, and it wouldn't have hurt the story if it had been shortened a little bit. It took a bit of time for the story to get going but once it did, it was easier to read.
I did enjoy this book, and will read more of her books in the future.
I did enjoy this book, and will read more of her books in the future.
June 26, 2016
I do love reading stories based in England and Ireland. Just the vivid setting, the lingo and the characters. Great read, filled with trials and tribulation, love, lust, life, decisions and how to live with what we have chosen. Well worth reading.
April 23, 2007
I very light read, but I couldn't put it down!
January 19, 2008
Have read ALL of Sheila O'flanagan's books and is my favorite "chick-lit" author! What is it about these Irish authors??????
June 16, 2011
Enjoyed this, although i felt the story could have been shorter. It did seem to go on a bit longer than necessary for me.
November 11, 2012
It was a good story although I felt the ending was a bit rushed for such a long book.
July 23, 2013
Really got sucked into the story, however, the characters were a bit flat and the book itself was very long. Did enjoy it though.
August 8, 2013
good storytelling - set in dublin. two sisters with different lives.
August 26, 2013
Loved the book, couldn`t put it down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews