It's great to be in a position to recommend much more diverse books to our young people at school. Building the senior school library as a place where students actually come and find books that they want to read as opposed to books that teachers think they ought to read is an important responsibility and one we take really seriously.
Books like this are such a positive move as they will appeal to a broader set of readers than we are usually attracting. Dealing with modern issues in a clear and captivating way with a strong narrative voice and characters that the students can relate to is critical as we move forwards. This book is both an intelligent and compelling read that will hold even the most reluctant reader's attention and keep them turning the pages long into the night. It keeps the reader on their toes and ensures that you give it your full attention too. I found myself thinking about its characters and events even when I wasn't reading it and looking forward to snatching kore time with it and I hope that my students feel the same. An accessible, gripping and engrossing read that I can't recommend highly enough. Will absolutely be buying a copy for the library and heartily recommending it to both staff and students.

I really tried to like this book, but unfortunately I couldn't make it past 32%. There are so many different characters to keep track of in this book, with different relationships - and some of then have very similar names such as Eddy and Edie. It all just got a bit confusing for me I'm afraid. When I was skimming it at 30% I knew that wasn't a good sign.

A good story of truth and lies and how they play out amongst the main characters, I really enjoyed the pace of the book and the humour involved and read in one sitting

Loved the Big Little Lies vibe and the hilarious WhatsApp group messages. Great characters and looking forward to reading more from the author.

Total Big Little Lies vibe, but set in Dublin, where small town mentality is abound! The WhatsApp group messages between the residents on their street are hysterically funny. SO much gossip! It was a quick easy read and I really enjoyed the characters. Each brings their own humor and secrets to the street. Would recommend as a fantastic enjoyable read.

A short story that was an easy read but did not fully engage me. Didn't grip me but glad I read it as there was a good twist at the end that I did not see coming.

Woah, so many characters with similar names too! Not at all helpful and I think this was possibly why I found this such a difficult book to get in to.

This is the story of the lives of Pine Road in an upmarket part of Dublin.

Martha, Robert and their daughters, Sinead and Orla are the newest to the road. The two girls managing to get into the local school at very short notice which has the other neighbours in the street gossiping, not to mention the fact that nobody has set eyes on Martha yet.

Edie is desperate to make friends with the others in the street but not as desperate as she is to become pregnant which she is happy to tell to all and sundry.

Robin has returned to Pine Road with her son, Jack to live with her parents after splitting up with Jacks' father, Eddy who has a bit of a shady past.

With all of this going on behind closed doors, the WhatsApp group texting between the members of the Pine Road Poker Group which fill in some of the gaps regarding all of the other bits of gossip.

There are of course, the othe rgoings on in the street which makes up life. Issues with parking, the head of the local school who lives in the same street as many of her students, trying to maintain a work / life balance which is threatening to come crashing around her ears as a "LIST" is discovered on the wall of the boys toilet. There is a Pre-Easter Street Party being organised down to the last second, rat holes discovered in a garden, a dog who may or may not have attacked a child and relationships that don't look like they are going to make it to end of the week - let alone the book.

There are plenty of red herrings and a wonderful cast but sadly, I didn't enjoy the book enough.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book-perfect reading for a rainy afternoon to take my mind off the situation outside!It’s got a well constructed plot with a range of characters, humour and some gripping moments too.I was sorry to leave the inhabitants of Pine Road!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy .

An interesting premise for a story. A tangled web of lies and untold truths takes it toll on a family.
An enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved this book. It took me a few chapters to get into it as there are quite a lot of characters but once I had got a handle of the main characters I simply couldn’t put the book down. I finished it in one sitting! I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.

This was a good read; well-written although slightly predictable at times. It was very pacy Would recommend for fans of thrillers.

I found this to be an engaging story although far fetched.
The characters are varied and there was some nice humour that made me chuckle.
Only problem is there are better authors and stories out there.
Hence only 2 stars.

What a nice find. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

I struggled with this book at first, I wasn't sure it was for me. I persevered and I did find it humorous. Life on Pine Road is certainly not boring with so many secrets and lies. I did find the characters a little confusing. Overall a great read. Recommended.

Set in a well-to-do road in Dublin this is a story about a cliquey group of neighbours, their lives and their exclusive WhatsApp group. Gradually you get to know the stories of these women, things they have been keeping secret, their lies, disputes and the things that go on behind their closed doors. It is an easy and enjoyable read with short chapters and WhatsApp chats written in the style of Marian Keyes and her ilk and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The online chats between the characters made me laugh - they were reminiscent of the chats I've had with a group of friends, however the rest of the story I found a little slow to get started. I did enjoy the story once I got into it though. 3 stars for me - I liked it, but I didn't love it.

An enjoyable, entertaining story with lots of colourful characters.

This novel follows three women all living on Pine Close, all is not as idyllic as it seems in this neighbourhood, we soon get wrapped up in the lives of Edie, Martha & Robin. The narrative is regularly interspersed with WhatApp message threads which provide amusing insights to the other characters in the neighborhood and the latest gossip.

It missed out on 5⭐ because I didn't find it as engaging as I'd hoped to, it didn't meet my maybe too high expectations of Shortall as I completely devoured and absolutely loved her previous novel Grace After Henry.

Overall this witty look into suburbia contains some fabulous neighbourly put-downs and a twisty mystery which will delight fans of Desperate Housewives.

Thanks to Corvus & Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Who wouldn't love this book!? The characters make you feel you are part of their lives, you experience their highs and lows just as you would in your own lives with the hope that the ending would turn out well for them, after all a fairy tale always does doesn't it? This is a fabulous book, humorous, poignant and a true reflection of modern life. A great read - highly recommended.

This was a really good readers. The characters were strong and I really wanted to engage with them. I'm a big fan of Maeve Binchy and this book was very similar, Irish families, neighbours, support, intrigue and gossip. Would look out for this author in the future