I really enjoyed this story of someone who'd been through a few tragedies in her life, but was working through her grief towards a better life for herself and her daughter.

Eden lost her parents when she was young, and was brought up by her aunt and uncle, who were childless and didn't really know what to do with her. So they all just muddled along the best they could, until Eden left home and then they hardly saw each other as the aunt and uncle moved to France. It's funny how you see things as a child and as an adult though, and how looking back with an adult perspective puts a totally different outlook on things, as Eden finds out later in this book when there's a medical emergency with her aunt.

The main story is about Eden, who is a nurse/personal carer, but also has a sideline in calligraphy which was something a bit different but a really nice addition to the story, and her loving but quite controlling in-laws, mostly her mother-in-law. Eden's husband was a firefighter and died before their daughter was born, so his family stepped in and did everything for Eden initially. But as time has gone on they continue to assume Eden will go along with their plans all the time and it becomes more difficult as she doesn't want to hurt them, but equally she is more than capable of deciding what, or who, she wants in her life. It's difficult though as the dead son/husband has been put on a pedestal by his mother so there's a fine line to tread.

Then Eden bumps into an old friend, Rafe, who has recently moved back to Dublin from the States, and also has a young daughter and has been through a personal tragedy, and they start getting close again, much to the anxiety of both families.

I really enjoyed all the characters in this book, even the nosy women on the WhatsApp group in Sycamore Grove the Close where Rafe lived, all trying to get to meet him first and the oneupmanship that was always in the background! Eden was caring for a lovely elderly lady in the same Close, Elizabeth, who'd been robbed and had a fall, so a fair bit of the story happens around this Close.

This was just a really delightful read about loss, families and trying to make your own way along in life, coming out the other side stronger and happier.

I was delighted to receive an early copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review – many thanks to the publisher. I'm a big fan of Sheila O'Flanagan's books.

The strongest part of this book was the characterisation and I particularly appreciated the use of a WhatsApp group which made this novel particularly current. Although the book dealt with difficult topics, it also had lighter moments that made me smile.

A definite five stars from me.