The Love of Her Life

by Kate McCabe

Hachette Ireland

If you’re planning a relaxing spring break, then Kate McCabe’s The Love of Her Life is the book to pack.

Meet Ellie, a lady who has it all. Married to star journalist Joe, she has a high-powered job, three marvellous children and a fantastic house overlooking Dublin Bay.

However, that all gets thrown into disarray when she arrives home one evening to find that her husband has died tragically in London.Her life gets even more complicated when it turns out he died in a hotel, leading to the revelation he was having an affair.

What we love about Kate’s novels is, although the main story is set in Ireland, she often takes us away to an exotic destination. This book is no different, bringing us from Dublin to the sun-drenched beaches of Marbella.

This is really Kate’s niche and makes her books distinctive. However, each book brings an element of surprise. Like wise with The Love of Her Life, when it turns out that Ellie can find joy where she least expected it.

On a totally different spectrum to Shane Dunphy (whose new book is reviewed on this page), Kate’s books aren’t very deep, but sometimes an easy read is exactly what you’re looking for.

Making It Up As I Go Along

by Marian Keyes

Penguin

When it comes to Irish female fiction, Marian Keyes has established herself as one of the real greats. (Seriously, Rachel’s Holiday might be nearly 20 years old, but we can still enjoy it like it has just been published).

Marian hasn’t just limited herself to fiction, though. As well as her gorgeous bakery book, Saved by Cake, we got a snapshot into Marian’s life when she released Under the Duvet.

Once again, with her new book Making It Up As I Go Along, we get a real glimpse into the author behind the books, as she muses on everything from fabulous shoes to badly-made stews. There is even a very beneficial guide on breaking up with your hairdresser.

The collection of autobiographical stories ranges from previously published magazine articles to brand-new musings. You really will be nodding in agreement and laughing along as she reflects on surviving Christmas, dealing with family weddings, turning 50 and even how to tip.

A good laugh and, as the pieces are each just a few pages long, this is a book you can pick up and put down whenever you need a giggle or a fresh perspective on life.

The Boy They Tried To Hide

by Shane Dunphy

Hachette Ireland

A bit of a darker book, this month we’re reading Shane Dunphy’s The Boy They Tried to Hide. Shane is a really interesting author with a very unique perspective. For 15 years, he worked as a frontline child protection worker.

Now living in Wexford, he teaches social studies and psychology, but some of the cases he dealt with over those years were so powerful, they have become the key focus of his books.

While people’s identities have been concealed, the stories are true, including the three featured in his latest book.

The main story focuses on a case where Shane was contacted by a mother looking for advice. Her youngest son was running away into the nearby woods, a very isolated area, to play with a child called Thomas.

While Shane presumes this was an imaginary friend, after time it appears to be something more. Simultaneously, a sexual predator – who Shane helped bring to justice years before – re-appears and is looking to settle a score.

What is really startling about this is it’s not a figment of an over-active imagination. It is a very real story and illustrates how such events can resonate in communities of rural Ireland.

A dark but interesting read.