Make Yourself at Home by Ciara Geraghty

Thank you to Anne of Random Things Tours and Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read and review Make Yourself at Home by Ciara Geraghty for the blog tour.

Synopsis:

It’s the last place she wants to be. It’s the only place left to go

Marianne left home when she was fifteen following a family tragedy, one that changed all their lives.

She never planned to return. But when her carefully controlled life falls apart, she has no choice but to return to Ancaire, the ramshackle house overlooking the Irish Sea, where her mother, Rita, a flamboyant artist and recovering alcoholic still lives.

As her mother invites her to pull up a chair and make herself at home, alongside the friends, family and neighbours who wander its rooms. Marianne discovers that sometimes home isn’t a house, it’s a place in your heart.

Set on the wild Irish coast, with an unforgettable cast of characters, this deeply emotional novel is full of Ciara Geraghty’s trademark heart and poignancy.

‘Hugely entertaining…an instantly engaging read, what you might get if you mixed Jojo Moyes with Marian Keyes’ Sunday Independent

‘A fabulous read…you’re immediately immersed’ Sheila O’Flanagan, bestselling author of The Women Who Ran Away

My thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read by Ciara Geraghty and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Marianne left home due to a family tragedy when she was 15. She only returns to live there when her carefully curated life of a professional job, a marriage and an executive dwelling implodes.

As Marianne begins living back at her former family home, she finds herself being drawn into her mother’s new life, helping the members of the local addiction support group. However, it soon becomes apparent that she needs their help too.

This was an emotional read as Marianne started to think about what happened to her younger sister, Flo. As we find out more, we begin to understand why Marianne stayed away, and why her relationship with Rita, her mother was so difficult.

The book is full of self reflection, interesting characters, humour and relationships. Despite the difficult topics covered in the story, I found myself enjoying how the story evolved and was sad to say goodbye to the Get-Well-Sooners when the story ended.

Happy to recommend to readers looking for a modern story about relationships, addiction and self discovery, with a sprinkling of humour thrown in too.

Author Bio:

Ciara Geraghty was born and raised in Dublin. She started writing in her thirties and hasn’t looked back.

She has three children and one husband and they have recently adopted a dog who, alongside their youngest daughter, is in charge of pretty much everything.

Praise for Make Yourself at Home

‘A fabulous read … [the] characters are so real … you’re immediately immersed in their stories’ Sheila O’Flanagan

‘Written with Geraghty’s trademark humour and keen sense of observation, we go on a rollercoaster journey … A deeply satisfying read’ Patricia Scanlan

For more information please contact Alice Hill on alice.hill@harpercollins.co.uk