Patricia Scanlan – The Family Reunion

‘The Family Reunion’ by Patricia Scanlan is a story of three generations of Irish women who have all struggled in one way or another at some point in their lives.

Marie-Claire found out that her partner Marc had cheated on her she has revenge on her mind. She decides to travel from Toronto, Canada to Ireland and the house of Four Winds for her Great Aunt Reverend Mother Brigid’s eightieth birthday celebration. Here we don’t just witness a birthday, we see three generations of women who have never got along, back together. Marie-Claire, her mother Keelin and her grandmother Imelda too. The tensions run high and long-held secrets and resentments threaten to bubble over in an explosive family get together.

Imelda decides she is going to make the most of this opportunity and makes a shocking revelation that causes hell to break loose. Four women are left to confront demons they spent their lives running away from. They start questioning their choices and the truths they took for granted. Making each one wondering if there is a way back from this family reunion that has cracked the very foundations of the family.

A saga from Patricia Scanlan is always an excellent book. She has the skill of creating characters that make you care for them and situations that are believable too. Each character had their own flaws and that makes them real as they can be in a book. They almost jump out at you, when that happens you can most certainly say the book came alive and it can be an engrossing read.

This may be a family saga but Patricia Scanlan has skilfully woven sociology, history, geography and everyone’s favourite, religion, into this interesting and emotive story. It has taught me some things I wasn’t aware of and feel like it wasn’t just an entertaining read but also an educational one. It is sure to divide some readers opinions but, that is personal to them and it certainly adds a flavour to the book.

This is a relatable story and one which shows how the elements from the past can become a foundation for the future.

Thanks got to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours and Simon & Schuster UK for the copy of the book.