Book: The Last Summer in Ireland
Author: Noelle Harrison
Pub Day: Oct 3rd 2022
About the Book:
A lost girl. A mysterious house in Ireland. An invitation that changes everything.
Twenty years ago, at the end of a long hot Irish summer, three sisters submerge themselves in the cool lake at their home, Swan Hall. As Maeve and Aisling watch their beautiful younger sister Nuala laughing and splashing, droplets of water clinging to her dark hair, it is hard to hide their envy of her. But later that day, when Nuala drowns, they are devastated.
Now, as Iris scatters the ashes of her beloved mother Aisling onto the golden leaves of Central Park, she feels very alone. But then hope comes in an invitation across the sea to Ireland from her mother’s sister, Maeve – the sister Aisling left behind and never spoke to again.
Swan Hall is more than Iris could ever have dreamed, sitting on the edge of a lake, full of history. But its dark corridors and staircases are caked in dust, and Iris feels a sense of unease. And then she finds a diary – Nuala’s diary from the long hot summer she disappeared.
Iris’ mother never mentioned Nuala. Why would she have lied? As Iris reads Nuala’s slanting script, she uncovers dark secrets and shocking betrayals, and she begins to wonder: was Nuala’s death really an accident? Can Iris find the truth, and will it change everything she knows about her mother… and herself?
A completely compelling and gripping read about the heartbreak and secrets that tore three sisters apart. Fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas will love The Last Summer in Ireland.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Last Summer In Ireland' by Noelle Harrison.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Noelle Harrison, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 3rd October 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that 'Fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas will love The Last Summer in Ireland.' I am a fan of Lucinda Riley so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a fan of Noelle and if this book is as good as 'The Girl Across The Sea' it is guaranteed to be a page turner. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 35 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Brooklyn, USA 🇺🇸 and Roscommon, Ireland 🇮🇪, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Iris, Aisling and Nuala. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
'The Last Summer In Ireland' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Noelle discusses/includes abortion.
This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions that leaves you tasting the ocean scene and feeling the sand in your hair. The cover, title and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.
This book is a slow burner but also completely engaging, captivating and makes you travel through time. It felt like I packed my case and went on a journey from Ireland to New York and then sadly it came for me to unpack my case and return to Wales. It felt like I had been on a trip of a lifetime and not only around the world but through time. I loved reading the history of Aisling,Iris and Nuala and being drip fed information bit by bit until it came to the shocking reveal!!! I was NOT expecting that twist so well done Noelle!!! It's getting harder and harder to shock me and you've managed it so congratulations!! This storyline is filled with love, family, heartbreak, romance, sadness, betrayal, lives, loyalties, history and so much more!! It is a story of 3 sisters and a daughter looking for the truth of what happened between them. It delves into the complications of the rights and wrongs of abortions and the affect it has on women when it is illegal to have one. I became completely engaged and captivated throughout. The reveal was absolutely heartbreaking when you consider the affects it had had on one of the characters for the whole of their lives. It is so sad to think how things could have been so much different for the Kelly sisters. The setting and atmosphere is perfect for the storyline being set in the gothic Swan Hall surrounded by trees and one lake with a devastating history. If you want to know more you'll just have to pick up a copy and delve into this family drama.
It is set over/includes multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters are strong and each had their own strong personalities. I loved going on a journey with Iris and discovering what happened between the Kelly sisters but also what was going on in her life, where she went and what led her there. I felt hearrtbroken for Aisling, Maeve and Nuala for different reasons. These three sisters lost their mum at such a young age and were left with a cruel father. When three sisters became two and then those two went their own way it felt absolutely tragic that instead of coming together and being brought closer by their loss they became even more distant. I could not stand their father and Cinrad was just as bad I found them to be cruel, twisted and evil although I won't say more than that as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Love them or hate them each of the characters worked perfectly for this heartbreaking story.
Well done Noelle on another absolutely stunning yet heartbreaking story of love, family, loss and so much more. I'm looking forward to reading more of your books!!!
Overall a heartbreaking story that will take you from New York to Ireland and though time, filled with love, betrayal, loss, romance and so much more.
Genres covered in this book include Literary Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction and Women's Women's Romance Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Lucinda Riley and Louise Douglas.
334 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or £8.99 in paperback at time of review via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 4 /5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews
@NoelleHarrison @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86
Author Bio
Noelle is an Irish author who's been writing novels and plays for nearly thirty years and her books have been published in over 12 different countries.
She is also published under the pen name Evie Blake and her Valentina Trilogy hit the Der Spiegel Bestseller List in 2013.
In 2014 Noelle was one of 56 Irish Writers included in the anthology and exhibition Lines of Vision Irish Writers on Art at the National Gallery of Ireland, and published by Thames & Hudson.
She has also written five plays - Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife, The Good Sister, and Witches' Gets, which featured in Cymera and Audacious Women Festivals in Edinburgh to sell out houses.
Noelle currently lives in Edinburgh in Scotland, and is one of the founders of Aurora Writers’ Retreats, and part of the wellness hub The Space To BE.
If you like stories written from the heart, historical with contemporary timeslip, family mysteries and secrets, and always, always a love story set against evocative landscapes, you might like to pick up one of her books. Her aim is to tell women's stories from the past and present and to give voice to those who are rarely heard. Want to know more about Noelle and her writing, go to www.noelleharrison.com
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Purchase Link
Amazon : https://geni.us/B0B5LYRFFWsocial
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