Three estranged sisters. Six months to come back together.
When Georgie, Iris, and Nola’s mother died and their father disappeared into his grief, the sisters made a pact: they would always be there for one another, no matter what.
Now, decades later, they haven’t spoken for years and can barely stand to be in the same room. As his health declines, their father comes up with a plan to bring them back to one another. In his will, he states that before they can claim their inheritance, they must spend six months living together in their childhood home in the village of Ballycove, Ireland, and try to repair their broken relationships.
As the months progress, old resentments boil over, new secrets threaten to come out and each sister must decide what matters more: their pride, or their family. Can they overcome their past and find a way to love each other once more?
Bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan’s The Gin Sisters’ Promise is an emotional, uplifting story about forgiveness, second chances, and the importance of family, for fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Heidi Swain, and Liz Fenwick.
My Rating:
Favorite Quotes:
The cry that emitted from Nola came as gasping gulps, as if she was going under, smothering in the cold waters of despair. She was far too small for her feet to touch the bottom of her grief, far too young to navigate these treacherous waters.
Georgie had two left feet and a voice to put the crows out of business.
She almost felt as if she was somehow outside herself, looking in at a snapshot of time that wasn’t quite real. She was out of kilter with everything around her, so she almost felt as if she might lose her balance just standing still.
Catherine smiled at Myles and although she looked like a harmless old pensioner, Iris could almost hear the soundtrack to Jaws gearing up from the far corner of the room.
My Review:
Faith Hogan is one of my all-time favorite authors, her thoughtful and emotive writing resonates with me despite the differences in our cultures and the oceans between us. I always look forward to reading her work. Her characters tend to be complicated, deeply flawed, and unfailingly real while also endearing in their authentic and original storylines and insights. I adore her observant and brilliantly paced storytelling and know I’m going to be in for a heart-squeezing and keenly perceptive tale when I pick up my Kindle to dive in.
The disaffected sisters were an annoying bunch of testy siblings full of long-festering resentments with each putting up a front while hiding their secrets, failures, and personal miseries from the group. I wanted to give each one a pop to the back of the head and a pinch or two, while at the same time I was invested in their story and hoping for better futures for all three.
In addition to an evocative, satisfying, and involving read, I also picked up a new addition to my Irish word list with boxty, which is a potato pancake and sounds delish.
About the Author
Faith Hogan is an Irish award-winning and bestselling author of five contemporary fiction novels. Her books have been featured as Book Club Favorites, Net Galley Hot Reads, and Summer Must Reads. She writes grown-up women’s fiction which is unashamedly uplifting, feel-good, and inspiring.
She is currently working on her next novel. She lives in the west of Ireland with her husband, four children, and a very busy Labrador named Penny. She’s a writer, reader, enthusiastic dog walker, and reluctant jogger – except of course when it is raining!
I think I need to check out this authors books. Great review.