The Bookshop Ladies

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Bookshop Ladies by Faith Hogan, read by Flora Montgomery.

A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance, The Bookshop Ladies is the perfect escape!' Evie Woods, author of The Lost Bookshop

***

From bestselling Irish writer, Faith Hogan, comes another gripping saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets in this story of a widow in search of answers to a shocking confession by her dying husband.

Joy Blackwood has no idea why her French art dealer husband has left a valuable painting to a woman called Robyn Tessier in Ballycove, a small town on the west coast of Ireland, but she is determined to find out.

She arrives in Ballycove to find that Robyn runs a rather chaotic and unprofitable bookshop. She is shy, suffering from unrequited love for dashing Kian, and badly in need of advice on how to make the bookshop successful.

As Joy becomes entangled in the daily dramas of Ballycove, uncovering the secrets behind her husband's painting grows increasingly challenging. When she finally musters the courage to confront the truth, her revelation sends shockwaves through the tight-knit community she's grown to love.

***

PRAISE FOR FAITH HOGAN:

'Utterly enchanting! I would wholeheartedly welcome a week or two being looked after by Esme in beautiful Ballycove' Heidi Swain
'Once again Faith pulls you into her world instantly and never lets you go, with such an incredibly real cast of characters who you feel actually exist. A Life affirming and unputdownable read' Trisha Ashley
'I LOVED it. There is a glow that comes from all of Faith's books that warms every part of me' Cathy Kelly
'A beautiful and intriguing story celebrating self-discovery, friendship and family bonds' Phaedra Patrick, bestselling author of The Library of Lost and Found
'What a delight this book is. A gorgeous cast of characters, the perfect seaside setting and Faith Hogan’s wonderful talent for dialogue all come together to make this a lovely feel-good story with an ending that will cheer your heart' Imogen Clark, bestselling author of Impossible to Forget

Critics Review

A captivating read, written with warmth and elegance, The Bookshop Ladies is the perfect escape!
Evie Woods
Charming and relatable, I devoured The Bookshop Ladies and loved every page
Trisha Ashley
Heartfelt and satisfying, The Bookshop Ladies is a story about unlikely relationships, second chapters, and what it means to feel truly whole, shining a warm light on the role of friends and family on the road to self-discovery
Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings
I loved this book. It had me intrigued from the start... an emotion-filled story and will tug at your heartstrings. Highly recommended
Jennifer Page
Faith Hogan never disappoints! There’s everything in her latest offering - The Bookshop Ladies - emotion, family secrets, love, intrigue and, of course, books. Once again Hogan takes us to Ireland to the village of Ballycove where Joy, an American living in Paris comes to find answers to burning questions as to the identity of her husband’s former lover and child. As readers, we are tempted and intrigued by anything bookish, and bookshops particularly are special. What reader doesn’t love a story about a bookshop? Faith Hogan has the ability to spin a tale so well that once started it is impossible to put down. Beautifully constructed with characters that are well fleshed out and likeable, this is a pacy novel with a great ending. Five stars from me!
Julie Houston
This is an endearing tale [that] shows the importance of friendship and family, but also the caustic nature of a long-held secret. Above all, it allows the reader a chance to escape into a sweet bookshop, and what could be more pleasing than that?
Love Reading
This feel-good story has a believable plot and endearing characters
Candis Magazine
Hot Right Now [list] ...shortlisted just for you
Chat Monthly Magazine
A genuinely heart-warming story of friendship and betrayal, beautifully told
Woman's Weekly
A saga of friendship, betrayal and secrets
Yours (Get summer holiday ready with our pick of the best fiction books for 2024)
If you’re looking for a read that’ll pull you into the world of family upheaval, relationship woes and an independent bookshop, ensure you pick up Faith Hogan’s latest novel
Belfast Telegraph
Emotional and so heartwarming
Bishop's Stortford Independent

User Reviews

Book 3.5
Narration 5.0
3.0
5.0
The Bookshop Ladies was a nice pallet cleanser from my usual psychological thrillers! I listened to the audiobook over a few months - it took me a while to get into it, but after 50% I was invested in Joy and Robyn reviving the second hand bookshop and putting it back on the map again, making it a successful business. The ladies in the book all had a special relationship, and all helped each other heal and get through the problems they were facing. Nice and wholesome, and I’d recommend it for anyone who is into uplifting women’s fiction.
Erzua 11/11/2025
4.0
5.0
laferme 05/05/2025

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