X-Book

The Bridge to Always

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

'I stayed up far too late reading this, I couldn't put it down . . . I didn't want it to end' - Vogue Williams

'I loved The Bridge To Always. Marron has created a vibrant world, peopled with appealing characters caught, as we all are, in the net of their circumstances but struggling to be free. At the book's heart is a love story, but not the one I was expecting; something richer, sweeter and entirely compelling' - Emily Hourican, author of The Glorious Guinness Girls

A story about identity and place, about finding out who you are, who your people are, and what it means to be a family.

Maeve Gaffney arrives in a small West Cork town in pursuit of a dream: to be reunited with Tim, the lad she fell for years ago and who, unbeknownst to him, fathered her daughter, Emer.
For Tim, now married and a pillar of the community, Emer's existence is a shock - but the chance to rekindle an old flame with her mother is tempting.
For Agnes, a lonely landowner, Maeve and Emer's arrival is an opportunity to make money - and maybe new friends.
For Malachi, a man of few words but deep emotions, it's . . . complicated.
For Emer, it's about growing up and finding her voice.

For all five, the arrival of this beautiful, wild mother and her silent, observant daughter sparks a devastating chain of events none of them could have predicted.

Critics Review

'Beautifully drawn characters, sharp dialogue and astutely observed small town machinations - Lynda Marron is an exhilarating new voice in women's fiction'
author of The Houseshare
'Lynda writes memorable characters with great warmth and compassion, and The Bridge to Always is a compelling story of life, love and what really matters'
author of The Honeymoon Affair
'A heartfelt tale, told with great warmth and confidence'
Roisin Meaney
'Decisive women, passive men and one watchful child, this has the strong characters and everyday hope and heartbreak we can all recognise: A close look at the difference between having strength and having power, told with a hopeful heart'
Winter People
'The Bridge To Always is a wonderful story of family, identity and the unexpected ways we find our place in the world. Lynda Marron has a true gift for bringing characters to vivid life, weaving their stories together with compassion and sharp wit. Her keen eye for human nature and the warmth of her storytelling evoke Maeve Binchy while establishing her own distinct voice. I loved this book, and these characters, and it now lives with me, a life of its own, as all great stories do'
author of Boys Don't Cry
'I loved The Bridge To Always. Marron has created a vibrant world, peopled with appealing characters caught, as we all are, in the net of their circumstances but struggling to be free. At the book's heart is a love story, but not the one I was expecting; something richer, sweeter and entirely compelling'
author of The Glorious Guinness Girls
'I stayed up far too late reading this, I couldn't put it down . . . I didn't want it
to end'
Vogue Williams
'Lynda Marron is such a gifted storyteller. She writes with empathy and humour, and her characters are complex and flawed, but always deeply human . . . She is Ireland's answer to Elizabeth Strout and her books are the balm we all need right now'
Aoife Cassidy McMenamin (@littlecassreads)
'Lynda seamlessly immerses her readers right into her stories with beautiful prose, vividly described settings and an emotional thread that weaves its way in and around every word right into your heart'
Mairead Hearne (Swirl and Thread)
'A pure decent read, in the most Corkonian of ways'
Georgina Ingham (@read_eats_explores)
Author Lynda Marron
Narrator Aoife McMahon
Duration 9 hours and 41 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781804442173
Format x-book®
Publisher Eriu
Genre Fiction: general and literary, Modern and contemporary fiction, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Narrative theme: Love and relationships
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

More from the same

Author

Narrator

About xigxag and the x-book®

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by “x-book” to find them.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.