The Transatlantic Book Club: A Novel (Finfarran Peninsula, 4)

Thanks to Book Club Cookbook & Harper Perennial for a gifted copy. All comments and opinions are my own. This title was irresistible, and it takes place in Ireland! This was book #5 in the series - how could I have missed the first four? I will definitely be returning to the Finfarran Peninsula. The novel works as a stand-alone, but the characters continue from the first four novels so I look forward to visiting with them again in the earlier books. This was a heartwarming story that takes place in Ireland, with recently widowed Pat, her adult granddaughter Cassie from Canada, and a collection of quirky small town characters. In addition to the library's new Skype book club between Finfarran and the US town of Resolve, the novel includes family secrets, a bit of romance, a library bookmobile, and beautiful descriptions of the Irish countryside. I recommend curling up with a hot cup of tea and this enjoyable, comfortable read.

This story bounces across generations, cultures, continents and personality types effortlessly. Wonderful mix of characters. The Irish landscape is almost an additional character.

The title of this latest in a series of novels set in Finfarren Ireland (perfectly readable as a standalone btw) is a bit deceptive. It's not really about a book club but rather about Pat, whose husband Gerry has just died, and her granddaughter Cassie who has come from Canada (well, really from her roaming) to stay for a bit. While it's largely set in the present, it does flash back to 1962, when Pat traveled to Resolve, in the US for a consequential summer and where, in the present, she and Cassie visit again. While there, Cassie meets Jack and falls for him. Back in Finfarren, however, she also meets Bradley, who works on a cruise ship. She's cobbled together two jobs - at the library and at the local spa-and she most enjoys driving the library van. Pat, meanwhile, is struggling to deal with her oldest son Frankie (a snot). This is very much about village life- there's scenes at the pub, at a bake sale, and there are fun characters such as Fury and his dog the Divil. It's a tad sharper than a Colgan but with the same sense of small town community. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. It's a good read and no spoilers from me!

Thanks to The Book Club Cookbook & Harper Perennial for a gifted copy. I enjoyed this charming story taking place in the Finfarran Peninsula of Ireland. While "Transatlantic Book Club" is the title, it isn't necessarily about the book club. It is about Cassie and her recently widowed grandmother. Cassie decides to follow her grandmother home to Ireland to try and cheer her up. Cassie persuades her friend, Hanna ~ librarian of the local library ~ to set up a Skype book club linking readers on Ireland's Finfarran Peninsula with the US town of Resolve, home to generations of Finfarran emigrants. Hayes-McCoy explores love, loss, grief, hope, friendship and more in this multi-generational story. Curl up in your favorite reading spot and make yourself a cup of tea and be transported to this wonderful Irish village.

The Transatlantic Book Club is actually the latest book in Felicity Hayes-McCoy's 'Finfarran Peninsula' series. It's the first I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I didn't feel out of step at all from not reading the ones before - if anything, I just found some new titles to add to my list! After the death of her Irish grandfather, Cassie Fitzgerald decides to travel from Canada to Ireland to stay with her grandmother Pat. Cassie easily settles into life in Lissberg, working as a hairdresser and driving the mobile library van. Well, that cemented things for me - a mobile library would be my dream job! The bricks and mortar library also starts an online book group with the US town of Resolve. Most of the members have roots in Finfarran. I thought this was fantastic idea - and discovered in the author's notes that it indeed had its roots in reality. Hayes-McCoy explores love, loss, grief, hope, friendship and more in this multi-generational tale. I really liked Cassie as a lead character. She's one of those bright moments in a book - not perfect, but giving it her best. She comes off as quite real. I was also drawn to the enigmatic Fury O'Shea, who seems to turn up at the right time and know what is, or isn't needed. But the character who stole the show for me is The Divil - Fury's dog. Loved him! I didn't love Frankie - he's definitely the 'villain' in the book. I appreciated the descriptions of the Irish countryside. Hayes-McCoy has a cottage of her own in Ireland and the setting details benefitted from this first hand knowledge. And I think I would love to live in Pat's wee flat above the store - it sounds so cosy. The Transatlantic Book Club was a perfect feel-good read for me . Fans of Jenny Colgan would enjoy this book.