The Art of Friendship

by Erin Kaye

I get by with a little help from my friends! Chance brought Kirsty, Clare, Janice and Patsy together fifteen years ago. But friendship has bound them through time. Until now. Over the years, In the small town of Ballyfergus, these four women have shared tears of joy and sorrow, countless glasses of wine and cups of tea. Men have come and gone, children been born and left home. Life has taken them down paths they never expected, but through it all their relationship has endured. But all that's about to change - this year their friendship will be tested as never before as: / Widowed Kirsty falls in love with someone she shouldn't. / Patsy struggles to cope with her beloved husband's redundancy and a shocking revelation from her daughter. / Janice is forced to address ghosts from her past. / Clare takes control of her life, only to discover that her new-found independence comes at a high price. Can the sisterhood survive the strains placed upon it and come through it unscathed? Find out in this warm, emotive tale from a hot new talent, perfect for fans of Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Modern

464 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2010

About the author

Erin Kaye (real name Patricia Kay) was born in Larne, Northern Ireland in 1966. She studied Geography at the University of Ulster where she met her husband, Mervyn. They married ten days after graduating and moved to Scotland where Erin joined a Scottish bank as a graduate recruit. Ten years later she’d had enough of the long working-hours culture and decided to pack it all in to write her first novel. Mothers and Daughters was published in 2003, followed in 2004 by Choices, Second Chances in 2005, Closer to Home in 2006 and My Husband's Lover in 2008.

Erin lives in North Berwick on the East Coast of Scotland with her husband, two young sons, Ryan and Liam, and Murphy the dog.

Star sign: Scorpio
Middle name: Anne
Parents: Pat and Jim
Siblings: Mary, Janet, Jim and Susan

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first of Erin Kaye's books that I have read, and I will most definitely be looking out for her other novels. A really warm and well written story of four female friends, all living in a small town in Northern Ireland. Each of the characters are very well portrayed, all of them are very different, both in outlook and age but the sense of friendship and loyalty shines through.

The story starts on New Year's Eve and follows the four women through the next year of their lives. Every trial and tribulation is covered in detail, with serious issues such as abortion, redundancy and childhood issues covered alongside the everyday matters that blight people's lives.

Exploring friendships, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives and long held secrets this really is a great read, the perfect book to pick up on a chilly afternoon sitting by the fire.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. A perfect summer read but only problem there is no summer really ;)
Yes, I've always loved reading books that are about various women and their friendships. What happens to them and their relationships and how that affects their friendships. Well this was typical a book of that genre. I bought it on amazon.co.uk. Now they have free shipping even outside the UK if you buy over 25 pounds.
It was so much fun adding books to my basket. ;). I think this was recommended to me and i read the reviews and decided to give it a go. It was on sale. Glad I bought it.

I just wish one thing. With most of these books the ending always has to be good for every woman that's in it. So let's say its about 4 women they mostly end up being happy in the end with a man most of the time in not always.That's the only negative

[Naomi Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book mainly because I felt like I needed some girly frillyness to brighten my spirits a bit since I'm halfway through A-level revision, I was really disapointed as the women in the story face nothing but domestic disasters and misery throughout the bulk of the novel.

Also the novel was rather slow paced and I found myself wishing that it would end, but I willed myself to get through it as I hate leaving a book unfinished.

However the transition between the different characters lives worked really well as it did create some suspense as to what would happen next in their lives and it wasn't at all confusing or disordered as other books that switch from charater to character can be.

I wouldn't recommend reading this book, overall I found it rather dull and too drawn out, it didn't leave me feeling anything. But then again I don't really love chick-lit type novels so I could be judging this unfairly.

[Richard Pierce · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't help reading books with an editorial eye sometimes, and some of the change of scene editorial decisions here really raised my shackles. As for the narrative, I know real life is miserable a lot of the time, but there is precious little here in terms of the redemption which the book group reading guide at the end of the book speaks. A shame, because there are a lot of praiseworthy themes addressed in this.

[Fay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe I have read too many of these women with children juggling their lives and relationships ... but this one just didn't cut it for me. Fairly slow paced. Explored some important issues I suppose.

[Md9999 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light read.
Food for thought on a couple of issues, including teenage children.

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and easy to read x

[Sonia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't grab me. Moved onto something else

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the lives and friendships of four women over the course of a year. I was drawn to the book because these days, I am interested in reading about friendships. The women in this book go through a lot during the year and their relatiomships, both with each other, their spouses, their children and extended families are all put to the test.

I think the author was too ambitious trying to tell four stories of four women and their familial relationships in one book and as a result compromised on delving into the character and the relationships of each woman. At the end of the book, I felt that there was a lot more to be told of each women's story.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the story and as it unfolded it was interesting to see some of what lead each woman to where she was. I just think at the end of the book, I didn't know the women well enough.

[Sasha Dayo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think like the name suggest it really shows the strengths and weaeskness of friendship both potrayed by us and our friends. I am intersted with the four friends (Kirsty, Patsy, Janice and Clare) each having secrets and the level of them opening up to each othjer. to avoid breaking thjeir friendship and sisterhood. Birds of the same feathers flock but that does not mean they have everything in common. They are different in terms of opinoin, backgrounds, status but they come together to have a sense of belonging. We need friends in our life. One way or another. This books talks of that.Lemmi finish then will tell you mo0re.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of her books this is set in a fictional town of Ballyfergus . Being from that country and knowing the other real towns mentioned I kept wondering what town or village she was using which threw me a bit
That a side it is a great story of 4 women who have been through so much with their friendship over the years.
Now each face different trials
The ending was a bit rushed and could have been better but that aside it was a great read and once into it i was unable to put down until I finished it.
have read other books by same author and would read more by her.

[Megan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this books and fell in love with the four main women in the story - you lived their highs and their lows. Wanted that wee bit more from the story but overall loved it and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good 'chick-lit' book.

[EJ Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice story about friendship and how it gets you through the ups and downs in life. I could sympathize with most of the women. I liked widow Kirsty's story the best, and probably Clare's the least, as there were points I kind of wanted to smack Clare. Lol. But overall, a good story.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy reading in the Cathy Kelly style, just nothing special and have forgotten character names and storylines already...

[Sooze10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about keeping up appearances and the dynamics of a friendship group. If you liked this then you may like 'The Bridesmaid Pact' by Julia Williams.

[Nada Mostafa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 !

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book by Erin Kaye i could'nt put down, wants you open these books, you can't put them down, another lovely story, well worth a read, very enjoyable..

[Natalie Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable and a bit wishy-washy but a easy read for summertime

[Angela Swindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good storyline. Could happen in real life

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totay engrossing read ! Couldnt put it down

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly too sentimental for me but a very enjoyable read nonetheless!

[Sarah]

Struggling to finish this book, may even go unfinished as it is so badly written!!!!.No depth or imagination to the words. I've never been so frustrated with a book.

[Kerry Jones]

I really enjoyed The Art of Friendship. It was a nice light read, but the characters were ones to whom I could empathise with.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great holiday read

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this author!