Welcome back again! It’s time for my review for The Family Next Door by Caroline Finnerty. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review.
No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.
On the quiet street of St Brigid’s Terrace in Dublin, Eileen Murphy lives alone at number 26 with her dog Dora. Virtually a recluse, she keeps herself to herself as she tries to come to terms with her tragic past.
Next door in number 28 lives beautiful Lucy Walsh, her husband Neil and their 5-year-old daughter Anabel. To Eileen, who watches from her window, the Walshes are the perfect family.
But one fateful night, Eileen is pulled into their world and she realises that Lucy Walsh’s life isn’t as perfect as she thought.
With the unexpected help from little Anabel, the women become a lifeline for each other to
overcome the demons in their lives.
Through Eileen’s help, Lucy finds the courage to overcome her fears and in aiding Lucy, Eileen is forced to emerge from her solitary world and take baby steps to confront her own past.
As the bonds of friendship change these women forevermore will Lucy find the courage to forge a new life for herself and her daughter and will Eileen find it within herself to forgive for her old mistakes?
Emotional and thought-provoking. Caroline Finnerty writes so skilfully about sensitive issues that I felt my heartstrings were being tugged at all the way through The Family Next Door.
We are introduced to Eileen Murphy, who lives alone with just her dog,Dora, for company. She lives at number 26 Brigits Terrace. Lucy, Neil and five year old Anabel live next door. Eileen herself is isolated from the world as she struggles daily with her past. She sees the family next door as a perfect picture. Then, one night, she discovers that Lucy’s life is not as she envisioned it at all.
If you read this book, be warned, you may just need tissues close by. Caroline Finnerty shows just how different appearances can be from the truth. Does anyone know their neighbours? This is the question that makes the reader think long after the book is finished.
The issues that are highlighted are important ones. Domestic violence and mental health. Both are highly emotive and have issues that should be more commonplace among conversations. The longer they are left in the dark, the more people are affected.
Lucy and Eileen are characters I was invested in. Both are strong, likeable, and authentic in their descriptions. I loved how their friendship grew and how they helped each other through.
Caroline Finnerty writes in such a way that I felt like part of their lives. It made it such an emotional read. I missed both the women when I finished the book. That’s how well they were made. I still think about The Family Next Door, so that’s a job well done!
Purchase Link https://mybook.to/Familynextdoorsocial
Author Bio
Caroline Finnerty is an Irish author of heart-wrenching family dramas and has compiled a non-fiction
charity anthology. She has been shortlisted for several short-story awards and lives in County Kildare
with her husband and four young children.
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