This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

This is a feel good novel from Caroline Grace Cassidy that illustrates the many threads that weave through relationships, be they family or friends. The cast is an interesting group, with their own flaws and foibles, especially the daughter of the protagonist who likes to keep her Mum on her toes especially. It is a well crafted book, well written and a good story that keeps you invested. I thoroughly recommend it.

I have only read I think one other Caroline Grace-Cassidy book and am certain I enjoyed it so have become determined to read some books on my Kindle that have been waiting for ages for me to read. The synopsis seemed okay for this story but I didn’t have any pre-conceived opinions and I was so happy I decided to read this as I really enjoyed it.

I did have a couple of niggles with the characters but aside from that this story really does highlight a theme of looking after yourself. Courtney is the lead character and is in her late 30’s with a teenage daughter Susan and an ex-husband. Courtney has spent her whole life devoted to her daughter and always putting her first, however when Susan announces she wants to live with her Dad and his new partner her life seems to have turned on its head.

She decides to take a chance and take a temporary job assignment down in Cornwall. Along with her closest friend Claire who also has her own problems they decide to take the bull by the horns. I admit I didn’t particularly have too much sympathy for Courtney in the beginning as she seemed such a doormat, however as the story progressed she grew on me.

By the halfway mark I was totally engrossed and the last half of the book absolutely flew by. It wasn’t quite what I was expecting but thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

When was the last time you put yourself first?

Meet Courtney Downey who is a thirty-eight-year-old divorcee and she has no idea who she is anymore.  She has a fifteen year old named Susan who is mad into the celebrity-obsessed, Snapchat-filtered teenage world but Courtney can't understand this kind of world and sadly they’re growing apart. But when Susan announces that she wants to live with her Dad, David and his new and much younger girlfriend, Courtney is beyond devastated. But could the end of one life be the beginning of another?

When Courtney is offered a job in beautiful, sun-kissed St. Ives in Cornwall, she and her bubbly best friend Claire whom has her own issues follow their hearts and leave their problems behind for a summer of sand, sea and second chances. And when she meets sexy but infuriating builder Tony, Courtney rediscovers her passions for life, for cooking and for love.

Just as Courtney is finally looking to the future, a crisis with Susan pulls her back to Dublin, and back into old habits. Will she ever be able to let go of the past and embrace the importance of being herself?

Well,I didn't like this, I absolutely LOVED it.  It is all about taking chances, following your heart and has made me think about putting myself first for a change.  It is a very bittersweet and heart-warming read, the story flows really well throughout the book. I loved the interactions of Susan and her Mum Courtney, it reminded me so much of me at that age growing up thinking I knew everything at fifteen. Ashamedly I admit that this is the first book I've read by Caroline and I really enjoyed Caroline's latest book which I read in less than 2 days, it kept me turning the pages until the very end. This story had it all a little bit of humor, love, family, friendship, protectiveness to more sensitive issues - I found I had a little tear in my eye at the end along with shedding a few along the way, so grab this book, curl up on the couch with a glass of wine and a box of chocolates and prepare to have a few lump in your throat moments too. It definitely didn't disappoint. I will definitely be reading more of Caroline's books and you should too.

This book was not exactly what I expected. It was much better.

It's the story of Courtney, who is separated from her husband, has a teenage daughter and who has to think about what her next stage in life should look like. Stay in Dublin at her job, live with her daughter in her former husband's house, while her daughter is craving freedom and wants to move in with her father and his new girlfriend; or move to a different country, start a new job?

Courtney's friend, Claire, has a similar decision to make. Become a freelance baker from her home, or open a bakery? When her life is turned upside down, the dice seem to have rolled.

I don't want to give too much away. I think this book is not a romance in the purest sense, it's a story about love and friendship, a romance with oneself, trying to honour the self. I learned a lot from this book, not least that I should not forget myself while being a mother to my children.

It is an empowering, but also very funny, story that is certainly going to stick with me for some time.

Thirty-something, Courtney is at a crossroads in her life, her daughter prefers to spend time with her father and his new, much younger, wife, leaving Courtney holding desperately onto a life that seems to be shattering into pieces. Making the momentous decision to change her life, Courtney moves to Cornwall in the hope that a new place, with new people ,will encourage her to take back control of her life.

In a way this is an adult coming of age story, which goes to show that we are never too old to start again, to make new friends, or to see new places and reinvent ourselves for a whole new chapter in our lives. The author has captured this time very well, the air of indecision , the upset of finding your husband with a younger wife, and the perceived desertion by a much loved child into a lifestyle over which you have no control.

The author writes well and imbues a real sense of character so that the people who flit into and out of the story feel genuinely authentic, with real feelings and emotions. True, it must be said, that I liked some characters more than others but that's what so important about good storytelling, that the characters come alive, with all their faults and failings right before your eyes.

I really enjoyed this story about the value of friendship, it's about finding new challenges but more importantly its about being kind to yourself and recognising that we all need to, at times, realise The Importance of Being Me.

What a delightful book. It was different from what I usually read and that was what I needed. Highly recommend. Just a lovely book

Cute! Very much an everyday story. Smiles and tears and a good ending!

This book follows Courtney for the most part as she begins to make a new life for herself after her husband leaves her, a fact that she does not feel bad about, in fact wanted him to be out of the picture. While the demise of her marriage is no big thing, the crumbling relationship with her daughter causes her immense despair....or does it? This is one area that I felt like the author wanted to convey but I'm not a true believer. On the surface it seems that Courtney is torn about taking a job promotion that requires relocating to her dream town yet uprooting her daughter. Her best friend Claire has a marital crisis of her own and the two decide to chase adventure together, leaving their problems behind. The title of the book is repeated several times throughout the book as justification for the decisions the two women make. For me, as I contemplate the book, the message is somewhat about accepting who you are and being comfortable with that (which I believe was the author's intention), but there is a very strong theme of selfishness running throughout the book in all the characters. The best example I can give is that as Courtney considers the promotion, all her thoughts center around what it will mean for her and never does she wonder at the implications it will have on her daughter.
The friendship between Courtney and Claire was one of encouragement and honesty. It was written in a fresh perspective compared to some other female friendship focused books I've recently read. While I had issues with the self-centered nature of the characters, I did enjoy reading the story. Grace-Cassidy has an easy writing style that is quick to read and I'd pick up her previous books to read.

The importance of being me was a book I read very quickly it was fantastic with a very compelling storyline. I could relate to the main character Courtney who has poured her life into raising her daughter Susan and had lost her self along the way.

With Susan becoming an independent teenager Courtney had to rethink her life and as a mother I could relate to this wholeheartedly.

Courtney has separated from her husband David who now lives with his new girlfriend. The book explores there relationship and how they navigate the way forward is well written.

Courtney best friend Claire seems to have the perfect life and marriage but a revelation shakes this in the book and explores the importance of friendship and moving forward to both woman.

With Courtney at a crossroads she has the opportunity to work in Cornwall for the summer. She finds happiness there and a little of the person she had lost along the way. Her struggles with Susan her teenage daughter and her relationship with David and his new girlfriend is real and I could relate to all her fears and feelings,

Courtney's beloved grandmother Alice has been Courtney's rock and even seems to be a presence in her future as well as her past.

This book is a compelling story of family, friendships, parenthood and the importance of holding on to yourself even when you become a wife and mother. It reinstates the need to enjoy the simple things in life and appreciate life is for living.

A great read , I was disappointed to finish it. Will be looking out for more Caroline Grace-Cassidy books.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for the opportunity to read this great book .

Gosh, if ever a book was the right one at the right time, then The Importance Of Being Me was the one for me. Parts of this book felt like it could've been written straight from my own life, as Courtney navigates the tricky world of teenager daughters seemingly drifting away and finding yourself at a certain age and thinking "and now what?"

Thirty Eight year old Courtney Downey is at a crossroads. She's been offered a job in Cornwall, a place she really loves and something she really wants to do. However, her daughter Susan, is dead set against it. But then, Susan is dead set against everything about Courtney these days, and is spending more and more time with her Dad and his new girlfriend, Mar-Nee. When Susan says she want to go and live with them, heartbroken Courtney is faced with a choice. Is it time she put herself first, and in doing that will she actually get her daughter back?

Ok, so my I'm not planning on moving away from my own, younger teenage daughter, but there was just something so recognisable in this relationship that I connected to Courtney right away. I've been having my own difficulties with my teen, and Caroline Grace-Cassidy captured the distancing, frustration, worrying and complete and utter bewilderment I find myself feeling at times. I also really got Courtney's need to do something for herself and learn who she is again, having recently experienced some similar feelings as my older child left home for uni and my youngest spends less and less time with me.

I loved the relationship between Courtney and best friend Claire. It was just so perfectly written, with the sharing of troubles, laughs, cake and wine. Reading their get togethers and chats felt like I was there with friends myself. I felt pain and frustration for Courtney as Susan shuns her for her Dad's new partner, and also pretty angry when neither of them backed Courtney up, making her situation with Susan even more difficult in my opinion. There's a section towards the end of the book that really struck a chord with me, when Susan tells her mum her feelings of anxiety and lack of self esteem, and they discuss social media. This is such a real issue for teenage girls these days, and like Courtney I've been finding it difficult to always understand. Caroline Grace-Cassidy explains it beautifully from Susan, and I really took something from this myself.

What I really enjoyed about this book though was the journey of self discovery that Courtney embarks on and thought it was inspiring. When Courtney realises that to make other people happy, she needs to be happy herself, she throws herself into something new and challenging. There's a romance to enjoy too in this book, and it's convincing, fresh and one readers can easily get behind. The Importance Of Being Me is an excellent portrayal of modern mother and daughter relationships and a coming of age story for child and parent alike. It's honest, funny, painful and uplifting all at once and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a book every woman - and especially every mum - should read - possibly several times.
It's a book for every woman who has ever felt taken for granted by her family - mostly especially her children (and let's face it, children have a habit of being terribly selfish creatures), or who has felt a yearning to rediscover her identity, or felt under-appreciated in work or finds herself unexpectedly single a little bit later in life and wondering whether it is worth the effort of even thinking about starting again.

Caroline Grace Cassidy is very skilled at cutting through the noise to get to the heart of a story - a story that will no doubt resonate with many women (as did her previous novels, especially her last book 'The Week I Ruined My Life' ).
She tells the story of Courtney Downey - newly single, desperate to cling on to the 'love of her life' (Her 15 year old daughter) and wondering how she lost her joie de vivre along the way - brilliantly. The addition of her quirky but vulnerable friend Claire adds to this brilliantly - as both women face personal crises in their lives.

It would be easy for a book such as this to slip into maudlin rhetoric littered with inspirational quotes and cliches - but what Caroline does in this book is interject the serious moments with laugh out loud humour, with stunning surroundings, and with much talk of mouth watering-ly delicious meals. (Can I be chief dessert taster, thank you very much?).

The women are real - flawed and funny and the story is a balm for the soul.
This book hits of a few punches along the way but remains gloriously predictable in that you just now our heroine is going to find herself and her happy ending - making this the perfect, uplifting summer read.
Do yourself a favour and pack this in your holiday case - and enjoy every deliciously crafted word.

The Importance of Me is the latest novel from Irish author Caroline Grace-Cassidy and is another cracker of a read from her which explores the tricky period following a divorce, and the complicated relationships that ensue between ex-spouses but especially in this instance between single mum Courtney and her teenage daughter Susan.

As the blurb says Courtney is given a great opportunity at work which would involve moving away for a couple of months but it's a difficult decision to make as she has others to consider as well as herself. I have to admit that at first I really wanted to shake Courtney and get her to stand up for herself as she was letting everyone, especially Susan, treat her as a doormat. But this was a story of three parts which showed how sometimes we need to take a step back and take a look at our lives to re-evaluate what we want out of life.

Part one was an introduction to Courtney, her family and best friend Claire and how both Courtney and Claire came to be at this unhappy stage in their lives. But it took the death of a beloved family member for Courtney to finally stand up for herself and do something that she wants to do and not just to please others.

What follows was a metamorphism of sorts as we follow Courtney's relocation to Cornwall where she fits right in with the lifestyle and rediscovers an old passion that gives her food for thought as to whether she could really start all over again at 38. But what would that mean for her relationship with her daughter if she doesn't return home?

At the same time we get a brief glimpse into the life of teenager Susan which explains why she was acting out the way she was. Not only was she having to cope with the after effects of her parents divorce, which makes her feel that she has to choose between her mam and her dad, but she's also desperately unhappy at school and suffering with lack of self-esteem due to the pressures of trying to fit in a modern day life that's filled with social media.

Another thought-provoking read that will make you realise that is OK to be selfish sometimes and take some time out to be you.

what a great book happy/sad and LOL moments .another successful and beautifully written book by one of my fave authors

A grown-up story about a grown up trying very hard to be grown up in a new direction. Caroline Grace-Cassidy has created an interesting group of characters led by Courtney Downey, a late thirties divorcee from Dublin who is finding out that life can move in different directions if you just take a chance.

Courtney, right from the start, does not seem that upset about losing her husband to a very botoxed plastic Mar-nee. She wasn't that surprised that her husband strayed and certainly did nothing to stop the situation but she is not that thrilled with the life she now finds herself living. Of particular concern is her relationship with her teenage daughter who seems to be slipping away from her and going to the dark side (well the place that Mar-nee and the ex-husband hang out). Fortunately, Courtney has people in her corner especially her best friend, Claire, and the two of them escape to Cornwall when Courtney is offered a job opportunity there. This works well for awhile even allowing Courtney to find a new lease on love but life, of course, is never that easily fixed and Courtney does find herself heading back to Dublin to sort out her daughter, Susan, whether she wants to be sorted or not.

I had a love-hate relationship with some of the characters and Courtney, herself, really frustrated me in places. I just wanted her to take chances more and really love her life. I think this is actually what the book did well because you did become very invested in what was happening. I did find the first third of the book needed to move a little faster for me but overall it was a really good story with lots to like. Well worth opening up the cover and diving in.

Courtney has devoted her life to her daughter Susan, but since her divorce Susan seems to want to spend more time with her father and his new partner Mar-nee who has a beauticians salon and is gradually pulling her away from her mother. Courtney doesn't know which way to turn, her previous easy relationship has gone and whatever she does starts a row, coupled with this her job want her to go to Cornwall for three months in the summer and she wont go unless Susan comes too and she is adamant that she wont......should she give up the opportunity of a life time!

When Susan decides that she wants to live with her father for the summer and work in the salon and Claire, Courtney's best friend needs to get away it seems like the decision is made and the two of them set off for St Ives for a summer in the sun. They soon fit in and Courtney is definitely taken with the hunky builder Tony who has been renovating their office....but can she let go of everything and build a life with him or will one phone call from Susan set her running back to Dublin and her old life?

A good story showing there is life after your children! Loved the descriptions of Cornwall, my favourite part of the country, and the great characters that they met and became friends with

I enjoyed this book but I can't say I really connected with it. It bothered me a little bit that the Mom was so disconnected with the current technology. Maybe that is more the norm than I am aware.

well written solid read

Three and a half, I thought this was going in a different direction, stars.

Courtney is a divorced mother of a fifteen year old daughter, Susan, living in Dublin. Her ex-husband David left Courtney to live with a beauty therapist called Mar-Nee. Ever since David left Courtney, Susan has been uncommunicative and recalcitrant. Courtney has been offered a fantastic temporary to permanent job opportunity in St Ives, Cornwall by her boss but she is hesitant to accept the offer given her family circumstances.

When I read the blurb for this book I assumed (yeah, I know what they say about people who assume) that this would be broken down one-third of the book with Courtney in Dublin explaining her situation then two-thirds in Cornwall making a new life for herself. The reality was that 64% into the book on my Kindle and she was still in Dublin!

Whilst I enjoyed this book I felt it was trying to be too many things. With a women's book set in Dublin the comparisons to [author:Marian Keyes|6104] are unavoidable, the descriptions of Mar-Nee and David felt very much like her kind of work. This was also an Eat, Pray, Love kind of journey (and I hated that film) for Courtney as she stops living life for her daughter and starts living for herself. There's a lot of cooking, every other page Courtney is whipping up mushroom vol-au-vents for the relentlessly vegetarian Susan.

I think my biggest problem with this book was Courtney. As a 51 year old woman I don't understand why a 38 year old woman living in a large city with an office job acts like an 80 year old when presented with technology. I agree I don't 'get' Snapchat, but I have an iPad, an iPhone and I regularly use various kinds of social media. Crikey, even my 78 year old parents have iPads and are on Facebook. Courtney was also a bit obsessive about Susan and tried to hover over her 24/7 whilst also being a doormat and allowing Susan to dictate their lives. As several people told her, you are the parent, not her BFF, you have to set the rules but no, Courtney just let Susan do whatever she wanted.

Overall, I was hoping for more self-discovery in Cornwall, less of the irritating Susan, more of the delicious sounding Tony Becker, and Granny Alice's recipe for seafood linguine of course!