Book Review: Moving On by Roisin Meaney

About the book

Three great loves. Two very different countries. One step closer to finding her way home...

As a new decade begins, hopeless romantic and big dreamer Ellen is finally moving on from her hometown. In Galway she takes a job in a bookshop, and somewhere between the dusty bookshelves and the quiet afternoons, a bookseller named Ben finds a place in her heart. Fast forward, and the bright lights (and cosy flats) of London are calling Ellen's name.

There she meets Leo, a charming, attentive city banker who's everything she's ever wanted. And wherever she goes, her heart beats in time with her childhood friend, Danny - though they never seem to be in the right place at the right time. If home is where the heart is, where will Ellen's lead her.

Why we love it

A warm-hearted uplifting story that's perfect for getting lost in on a lazy afternoon curled up with a pot of tea.

Moving On tells the story of Ellen Sheehan over the course of a lifetime. At the start of the book, Ellen is a young woman, just out of school, looking for adventure and hoping to find a grand love affair, just like the ones she reads about in her much loved books.

Over the decades, we follow Ellen as she navigates the highs and lows of life, moving first to Galway and then on to the bright lights of London. Alongside moments of joy and youthful excitement comes heartbreak and loss but throughout it all, Ellen remains fearless in constantly moving forward to build a better life for herself.

Roisin Meaney has a knack for creating characters you're immediately invested in and Ellen is no exception. She’s kind-hearted and bright, and through all her trials and tribulations you can’t help but root for her to find a happy ending.

Ellen's story explores the idea that the places we choose to settle in and the people we surround ourselves with shape us in ways we can't possibly anticipate. It makes for a bittersweet yet still hopeful read that delves into all the messy changes and transitions that make up a lifetime.

If you love well-written character-driven stories that take place over decades, you'll love this. Thoroughly recommended!