The Irish House by Ann O’Loughlin is a lovely, light tale set in the tiny village of Balgaddy in Wicklow. It’s March 2018 and Marianne has returned to the area following the death of her beloved grandmother Collie Keane. Marianne is full of regret and can’t forgive herself as she wasn’t able to be there when Collie passed away. She had desperately wanted to connect with her once last time and make peace. Kilteelagh House, where Collie had resided, has fallen into bad shape but it still holds many fond memories for Marianne having spent holidays there and in doing so formed a special bond with Collie. She plans to go to the reading of the will and then head back to New York where she is a fashion designer. But Collie has other plans in store for Marianne and the year that follows will prove an adventure and an experience that she will not forget in a hurry. It will alter her in ways she could never have imagined.

Marianne soon discovers that she has been left the house and has also been entrusted with the care of her two nieces, Rachel and Katie. The pair lived with Collie following the death of their mother. Marianne had never expected this and feels confused and adrift. Nor had her Aunt Katherine who presumed everything would be coming to her. Katherine is the typical family member when it comes to a will. The one who has done everything, all the caring of her mother, looking after the house etc and as she says herself what was it all for when all she is left is a field? I could understand Katherine’s bitterness but I thought she could have been much more welcoming and approachable and offer some advice to Marianne. Instead, for the majority of the book she remained hostile as did a lot of the villagers.

I admired Marianne right from the start, she was thrown in at the deep end and taken out of her comfort zone. She knew nothing about running a big house like Kilteelagh, the land around it or bringing up two girls who have already been through so much. Yet, she didn’t turn tail and run. She had to stay there for a year at least according to the will and then decide what she would do long term. Realistically, there is nothing left for her in New York as the company she worked for has gone bankrupt leaving everyone without a job. Challenges like this don’t often come our way and if Marianne didn’t try and make a go of it she would live to regret it. As she starts to settle in and navigate the new waters with Rachel and Katie, she receives letters every month prewritten by Collie. I thought this was a lovely touch and really helped the story as a whole. Collie knew that she was going to die and wanted to offer advice to Marianne and help her through the seasons at Kilteelagh House.

Even though Collie is gone she still came across as a very strong character through her words of wisdom in each letter. Bit by bit, she also slowly reveals her life story and hidden secrets. I could guess as to what her big secret was and it went a long way in explaining why she was so attached to the house. Why she couldn’t let it go even when it became a money pit? It also helped the reader to understand why Marianne had to stay there instead of just selling up and taking the girls somewhere else. It was really bittersweet but the letters and their content allowed Marianne to reconnect with her grandmother in a way she hadn’t been able to prior to her death.

I found the story moved along at what I would describe as a languid pace. I kept waiting for something that would really throw a spanner in the works or add some drama and tension to the story but it never really came. Yes, there was the revealing of Collie’s secret but it did seem very obvious when it came about as I could read between the lines as to what she was saying in her letters. Marianne is committed to the adjustments she has to make and yes there are a few incidents when things with Rachel are sent to try her but I just felt a little more depth was needed. It wasn’t all plain sailing for Marianne but still I wanted her to go through some more anguish and troubles just so she could really emerge stronger out the other side after her year at the house which would enable to know that she was making the correct decision no matter what it would be. The same could be said when it comes to her friendship with Jack, who is a mature student studying to be a lawyer but does work as a handyman. He is somewhat essential to Marianne as he does so much to improve the house but I just felt things were alluded to with the pair rather than we reading of Marianne’s perspective as to how she feels about him. Is he more than just a friend?

The strongest element of the book apart from Marianne herself, was the two supporting characters who become her bedrock. Dolores, who was a friend of Collie’s and Fiknete, a refugee who had been trained by Collie as a seamstress. Both of these women were incredible and I wanted to learn even more about them. They offered support and guidance and the hand of friendship when Marianne needed it the most. Dolores kept Marianne going when times got tough and in particular when she doubted her abilities as she worked on something very personal inspired by Kilteelagh House which really saw Marianne coming into her own and showcasing her talents. I just loved Dolores. She had an answer for everything and said the right words when needed and pushed Marianne forward when she doubted herself. Her organisational skills were second to none and she always seemed to anticipate every problem before it arose and provided a solution. She was the mother figure Marianne needed to sustain her through the many challenges she faced.

The Irish House was a bit of a mixed bag for me. At times I did find it slow and felt it needed a push forward but at other points it did feel magical and like I was being whisked away to Kilteelagh and that it was going to reveal all its secrets and I grew to are for the characters. The landscape, the lake and the horticulture etc were used very well to convey part of Collie’s story and I did enjoy reading how Marianne used the time at Kilteelagh to find out what she wanted from life.Overall, it is a charming, relaxing read full of heartbreak, grief but also a story of coming back to life. If you like books where the main character takes on a challenge and goes on a journey than this is the book for you.

I'd never read anything by this author before and I loved this gentle, sweet story that was sent in Ireland. It reminded me a lot of my favorite Irish writer, Maeve Binchy. It got me hooked from the beginning and all the way until the end.

Marianne arrives in Ireland from Manhattan for the reading of her grandma's will. Much to her surprise, her grandma has left her Irish home to her, along with her cousins who had been living with their grandma after their mom had passed away. This upset her aunt, who didn't want Marianne there and wanted to keep the house to herself. After losing her job in NYC, Marianne decides to settle down in Ireland, live in her grandma's house, and take care of her cousins. As she settles into the house and Ireland, her grandma sends her monthly letters with information about the girls, her grandma, and the house. During this time Marianne gradually re-invents herself and gets to know the others in the town, including a handsome handyman, who she gradually gets closer to. It makes me want to move to Ireland and stay there. Definitely recommend this great story!

I really enjoyed this one. Ann O’Loughlin writes so well about families and the complicated relationships that can be found within them.

It would have been really difficult to be in Marianne’s shoes at the beginning of the book. She has most unexpectedly been left Kilteelagh House when her grandmother, Collie, died, and also the care of two of her nieces. I admired her determination to fulfil her grandmother’s wishes, despite the fury and antagonsim of her aunt Katherine.

One aspect of the book I really enjoyed was Collie’s letters. Knowing she was unwell, she wrote letters to Marianne. These were delivered monthly after her death and reflected on what would be happening in the house and grounds. The natural beauty of the Irish landscape shone through. I really loved reading Collie’s words of encouragement as she explained to Marianne why she had left her the house, why she believed in her and also began to reveal some of the reasons why Kilteelagh was so special to her.

There were two beautiful love stories told within the book too. One was a slow burn romance while the other was a passionate forbidden relationship which endured. I liked the way that the author brought a resolution to both these romances in a very satisfying way.

The Irish House is a warm and uplifting story of determination, hope and love in which community plays a big part. It’s a moving book that celebrates creativity, healing and family.