Description
Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR POPULAR FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2023
'I defy anyone to read this without turning the final page with a great big smile on their face!' - Ruth Hogan
One house. Three strangers. A second chance at happiness.
Tessa's life as an activist and volunteer worker takes a hit after a fall. At the ripe young age of 69, she's no longer able to live alone and decides to take in two lodgers for free.
After the recent death of his brother, Conn is riddled with grief and determined to make amends. A free room seems too good to be true - until he meets the other lodger.
Chloe arrives at Tessa's house to deliver a package and leaves with a room. But she takes an instant dislike to Conn, who refuses to say where he disappears to at night.
With everyone so busy keeping their own secrets, the mysterious package is forgotten. It's addressed to Tessa's daughter who's been missing for 10 years - and only the contents have the answer to what happened...
'This moving, funny and charming novel is reminiscent of Marian Keyes' Louise O'Neill
Trade ReviewHeartwarming * Daily Mail *
Such
a joyful read, written with wit, compassion and humour - and the characters are all so relatable. Throughout the chaos, sadness and uncertainty, hope, community and friendship shine through.
I defy anyone to read this without turning the final page with a great big smile on their face! -- Ruth Hogan
This
moving, funny, and charming novel is
reminiscent of Maeve Binchy; what
an absolute joy it was to read -- Louise O'Neill
Romantic, witty and very engaging. A heartwarming read. -- Patricia Scanlan
Both laugh aloud and emotional ... epitomises true family, friendship and home. It's
fabulous. * My Weekly *
A sumptuous holiday read ... an endearingly oddball cast of characters, a lovely romance, and several intriguing mysteries, all in one gorgeous package -- Beth Morrey
Immersive, captivating, and full of heart, I fell in love with
The Lodgers. A story that's
deeply moving but also laugh out loud funny, this is Eithne Shortall at the absolute top of her game. -- Andrea Mara
Ideal summer read ... Expertly balances the joys and absurdities of everyday life with its tragedies ...
by turns hilarious and heartbreaking ... Shortall excels in
witty, character-driven plots ... you will find it
hard to put down * Irish Independent *
I just adored
The Lodgers. An evocative setting, page-turning plot and characters that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
Utterly wonderful. -- Becky Hunter
Packed with plot and character ... uplifting ... full of faith in collective action and the power of the many * Sunday Business Post *
With its rich cast of delightful characters, and a plot that swoops effortlessly from humour to tragedy and back again, The Lodgers is a warm embrace of a novel. A wonderfully life-affirming read.
-- Emma Rous
Shortall achieves that Marian Keyes feat of deftly weaving serious topics into her books, with a lightness of touch that never feels preachy * Irish Times *
A brilliantly observed, life-affirming story of friendship, community and hope. Prepare to be touched and tickled in equal measure * Sunday Independent *
I adored this. I love how effortlessly Shortall writes different people and makes them so very real. -- Maia Dunphy
