Only time can tell…

Synopsis

Three generations; Two families; One secret.

After another relationship disaster Alice Littleton returns home to spend summer in Dublin’s Sandycove with her Mum, Ciara and beloved grandmother Eva at their family deli and grocers.

As Alice settles back into her old life with best friend Becca and her new boyfriend Conal Blake, she begins to fall in love with the comings and goings of their family shop and once more enjoying the rhythms of Irish life.

Meanwhile her mother Ciara, is consumed with running the family deli. Single and with mid-life looming, she feels life is passing her by until best friend Mary-Marg suggests they restart the disco they used to run as teenagers. Could this be what Sandycove’s millennials need or will there be murder on the dancefloor?

But it seems that all small-towns have their fair share of secrets and the past will always catch up with you.

Why does Conal’s grandmother insist on meeting Alice and what happened between her and Eva?

And why hasn’t Ciara spoken to Conal’s father, Paddy, for thirty years?

Is it time for the truth to be told so they can change their future?

My review

Alice Littleton decides to return back home for the summer after the end of her relationship. At a younger age, she couldn’t wait to leave Sandycove and even move to Australia. But now what she needs, is the comfort of her home. Her mother Ciara and her grandmother Eva couldn’t be more happier with the return of Alice, as they have obviously missed her dearly. Quickly Alice adapts back to her old life, and rekindles old friendships and meets new people. Seeing her best friend Becca again is lovely, and Alice couldn’t be happier to meet Becca’s new boyfriend Conal. And with helping Ciara in the family shop, Alice finds the peace and calmness she much needed to heal her broken heart. Ciara herself meanwhile is struggling, as she feels that her life is passing by too quickly and she isn’t living it at the fullest. So when her own best friend Mary – Marg suggests to reopen the disco they used to tun as teenagers, perhaps this is the fire Ciara needed to have back in her life. Meanwhile Alice tries to figure out from Eva why Conal’s own grandmother is so persistent on meeting her. Could it be that there is a secret that has been being kept for years? But what is it exactly and is that part of the reason that Ciara isn’t talking to Conal’s father Paddy for over thirty years?

I have visited Sandycove a few times by reading this author’s books. And each time I enjoy my time there, as I feel so much love and warmth while reading the stories.

And I have said it before, I always like reading stories where the main character returns home for one reason or another.

While often in books, it’s as the main character does not have another choice, and is forced to return to the place he/she wanted to escape, I loved how for Alice it wasn’t the case.

Because yes, her relationship ended, but she could have easily stayed in Australia. But no, she needed the comfort, love and support from home. And I could understand that, as something you need to be surrounded by your loved ones.

It was sweet to read how easily Alice adapts back to the life she once left behind. That for sure is proof that home will always be home, no matter how far you went and for how long. But it was also great to see how with age comes wisdom, and Alice has some great ideas to  turn the family shop into a bigger success, to attract even more customers.

Customers that are obviously all part of the wonderful community that Sandycove is, customers and thus people that are welcoming Alice back with open arms, not resenting her for a tiny bit for leaving them. Friends that are just happy to see Alice again. And the new people Alice meets in Sandycove that also have a lasting impact on Alice.

Initially I was wondering why the focus was so much, also in the blurb, on the friendship with Becca and Becca’s boyfriend Conal. Why was Conal so important for the storyline? But without giving anything away, let me tell you that Conal very much is part of the bigger picture in this book.

A bigger picture that involves also Alice’s mother Ciara and grandmother Eva. Both of them are strong women, that also have been through a lot, and that maybe now need to face the music.

Not that Ciara and Eva have some dark secrets, but there is something… Something that will be revealed in time, also leaving me a bit shocked, but that something also came at the right time, after the pair of them also have been through some growth.

And that was another beautiful thing in this book, because we see even people in a further stage in their lives, still growing a lot, still evolving a lot.

In Ciara’s case, we also see how she feels like stuck in a rut. And even if she has every reason to be happy and content with her life, there is just something missing.

So I was both happy and curious to see when the idea came to fruition to restart the disco once again. And I found it that Claire (and also and perhaps even especially Mary – Marg) show that age is just a number and that you are never too old for anything!

And with Eva, we see how it’s never too late to lay the past to rest.

I absolutely loved reading this book, as it shows real people with real struggles and real situations. Life isn’t always a walk in the park, and there are indeed issues and troubles, but it is also about taking life back in own hands, and try to make change.

And sometimes, going back home is exactly what your heart needs to heal and to feel alive again.

Oh, and yes, I still have that Cher song now stuck in my head! 🤣