Another excellent book from this author. Perfect for fans of Irish Literature. The characters are well developed. One of which is based on the authors grandmother. A well written book

Really enjoyable read.Set in Ireland based on historical facts around Irelands history.Loved that it was fiction based on Irelands ot so distant past.

My first book by this author, and I can understand her popularity. The story is set in Ireland during the war for independence and the civil war. There were many other difficult subtopics to this such as domestic violence, women’s rights and TB. I felt that events in the book were obvious and easy at times. The main character Winnie, was depicted as a strong independent woman, but in ways she just followed other characters in the book. Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy.

Sheila is just phenomenal. The talent is endless and each book gets better. I have loved The Woman on the Bridge.

This transports us to the harrowing setting of 1920s Ireland. This was truly eye opening for me. There was so much that I was unaware of from the fight for independence. The lack of rights for women and the fact she could be beaten by her husband for no reason have been particularly standout for me.

Winnie and Joseph are characters I couldn’t help but become invested in. They are characters that stole a part of my heart and kept me turning page after page. I was desperate to see what choices would be made.

This has been unique, it covers a part of history that is not talked about enough. I adore this author- I don’t need a synopsis to know I need to read the book. I have not been disappointed by this book, this has been a phenomenal read.

This is well written and transported me. I have been taken on a rollercoaster and became lost in the pages of this book. This is captivating from beginning to end. The Woman on the Bridge is an emotional read and a book that has been on my mind long after finishing.

I loved the pace, we see how actions impact on others among the pages. This is a book that sucked me in and became impossible to put down.

There is nothing negative I can say about this book. This is an author who gets better and better with every book.

A must for the TBR.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Ensure that you have a steaming cup of cocoa, perhaps some complementary mint ice-cream and a box of tissues at hand before you dive into this gorgeous book!

Fabulous book, beautiful characters and a whole lot of Irish history! I loved this book and learning about my ancestor’s and how they may of lived. Winnie grows up and becomes a fascinating women, I loved seeing how her relationship grew with her family and the women around her, she fell in love and had to try to fit in with the in-laws (a tale as old as time).
Winnie has a generous zest for life, and is very conscientious - glad of the ending. Perfect reading!

I have been a huge fan of this author ever since I read her first book ‘Dreaming of a Stranger’ back in 1997. Since then I’ve read and loved all her books, so when I had the opportunity to join the blog tour for ‘The Woman On The Bridge’ I was giddy with excitement. Reading the blurb I realised this was a different genre to O’Flanagans unusual contemporary fiction/romance genres. So I was slightly nervous starting this one for fear I wouldn’t love it as much as her previous books. Well there was certainly no need to feel concerned as this book was absolutely magnificent in every way. The main character Winnie is a such a strong inspirational woman and will do anything for her family. In fact all the woman in this novel are strong characters in their own way. This story has me completely absorbed from the very beginning. Although I knew quite a bit about the political events in Ireland during this time having studied it in history classes at school, it was still such an interesting read. To know that this book was inspired by the authors grandparents made it even more of a poignant read. This is a book that I recommend 100% .

I have read nearly all of Sheila O Flanagan’s novels and The Woman on the Bridge is completely different. It’s set in Ireland in the 1920s and is a historical novel focused on Winnie and Joseph’s relationship. . I didn’t enjoy it as much as her other novels although I did find the subject quite interesting as I didn’t know that much about Irish history.
Thanks to Netgalley, Headline Books and Sheila O Flanagan for an early copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Review for my copy of #TheWomanOnTheBridge by #SheilaO’Flanaghan

This was a departure from any of the other books I have read by this author and not one of the best to my mind.
It was based on her grandmother and felt different to the novels I have enjoyed so much before.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

This is a different kind of book for Sheila O'Flanagan but it was still enjoyable. I first requested to read this book as I have really enjoyed her books before, but I quickly came to realise that this book was completely different to anything she had written before.

The backdrop for this book is centered around the Irish fighting against British rule and the civil war this created. This book centers around Winnie, a young girl who works in a material shop in Dublin around the 1920s. One day at work there is a protest outside her shop which gets out of hand and the shop window gets a brick through it, terrified Winnie hides so that she is not seen by the protesters, when suddenly the door is opened and in stroll lieutenant Joseph Burke to check that everyone is okay, he then faces the fury of Winnie as she rallies against him about the window and how she could have been injured or killed. He agrees to get her window fixed and this begins their love story.

The story follows the Burke family and how they were involved in Southern Ireland's independence. I was not aware of how the split came about in Ireland before but I had heard of some of the names that are mentioned in this book.

Sheila has written the book following the story of her Grandmother and what it was like for her to be brought up in these troubling times. I would recommend this book as it is a fascinating read with an interesting view of Ireland recent history

I've read and very much enjoyed all of @sheilaoflanagan 's books, all contemporary fiction. This one however is her first historical fiction book, inspired by memories with her grandmother, and it's definitely my favourite.

Winnie and Joseph's fictional love story brings us on a journey through one of the most difficult periods in Irish History including Ireland's fight for freedom, The Anglo-Irish Treaty and the Irish Civil War. This is a poignant tale full of drama, tragedy, love and war; of broken hearts, shattered friendships and families torn apart, as people are forced to take sides, to stand up for their beliefs and fight. There are many secondary characters, representing a range of views reflective of the times and I particularly loved the strong female cast.

I was wholly immersed in this book. The factual historical detail was effortlessly interwoven ; however the fictional elements meant that overall it was an easy read I couldn't put down. If only my history books in school were like this; I would have enjoyed the subject alot more. If you enjoy historical fiction I recommend this one with ease.

This book is out today ; many thanks to @netgalley and @headlinebooks for an advance copy; I'll definitely be paying this one forward 💕

The Woman on the Bridge is a complete change of genre for Sheila O’Flanagan. It takes her away from what we have come to know and love her for – women’s fiction and instead delves into historical fiction specifically Ireland’s fight for independence. I admit I was hesitant, given that historical fiction is one of my all-time favourite genres, that the author would be able to switch genres just like that. Well, I can safely say, I needn’t have had any worries at all. The Woman on the Bridge provides the reader with a fascinating insight into the life of an ordinary young woman living in Dublin in the 1920’s detailing her experiences of Ireland’s struggle to win independence form the British.

I learnt so much about this topic in school and it’s commonplace that the people of Ireland know what went on over 100 years ago. How so many brave and loyal people fought for what they believed was right and without them Ireland would not be in the position we are in today. Sheila O’Flanagan has shone a light on this time with a detailed and informative story. One which will help readers new to the topic become familiar with the struggle and for those of us that already know all about it she really has encapsulated the daily fear the citizens of Ireland went through and how at the times people were firmly divided as to what side they were on.

It’s the summer of 1920 in Dublin and Winifred (Winnie) has been working in Mrs Kelley’s drapery shop for five years. She is hard working and all she wants is a practical, quiet and peaceful life but the War of Independence rages around her and the streets are not safe. The last several years have been emotionally fraught full of violence and unrest. The Easter Rising of 1916 was unsuccessful and the fight for independence from the British rule rages on with people firmly divided as to what side they are on. Winnie is tired of the fighting, the curfews, the restrictions and the fear that is with her every day. The rebels and revolutionaries continue their fight and will not stop until their goal has been achieved. Not one family has been spared from the effects of the war. Her family were touched when her father was shot several years ago. Her younger brother has been sent to life in the countryside where her sister Katy is married keeping him away from the fighting. Two older sisters are now in England and Belgium respectively and Marianne who is in service to a doctor soon leaves with a young man bound for America. So it is just Winnie and her parents, Annie and Thomas, who remain at home sharing some rooms in a building. The desperate living conditions that existed at the time and the lack of good housing is explored here and it just serves as a reminder as to how far we have come in some ways and in others not very far at all.

The war comes calling directly at Winnie’s doorstep when a rock comes through the window of the drapery shop. Winnie is scared and traumatised and her anxiety is only heightened. Why is there so much violence and destructiveness? She knows things need to change especially for the working-class people but must this be achieved through death, harshness and brutality? Winnie wants change but not if it means so many lives are lost and ordinary working class people’s lives are turned upside down and in the end it could all be for nothing. Joseph Burke, a lieutenant in the Third Battalion in the Dublin Brigade, arrives at the shop to get the window fixed and the shop cleared up. The incident was merely an accident. The shop and its owner Mrs Kelley were not the intended target even though she is a Protestant. Right from the moment Winnie sets eyes on Joseph, I felt there was a real spark between the pair. Winnie becomes forthright and opinionated and gives Joseph a right going over in terms of her opinion of the incident and the situation as a whole. She knows nothing can happen without sacrifice and Joseph does have very strong views in what the long term result should be and his family are on the a different side to Winnie’s. But still there is a connection there and you can’t fight love when it comes calling.

The pair begin to step out and are soon engaged. There is a bit of trouble which causes a delay to their wedding and the story moves forward at a nice pace from that point on. The story moves from 1920 and takes us right up to 1927 and yes there was an awful lot to fit in, in terms of significant events that occur in terms of the cause as a whole and also other social aspects in terms of housing and the TB crisis but it never felt like these things were being thrown in just because they occurred during the period was set in. It all felt natural and just added to the story and they gave the reader a deeper appreciation of what people were experiencing at the time. An awful lot of ground is covered and it could have felt crammed and too rushed but instead it all weaves wonderfully around Joseph and Winnie.We see how they grow and evolve as a couple. How Winnie is tested when she realises just how involved Joseph’s family are with the cause? Sacrifices, hardship and separation come their way and a lot of commitment, responsibilities and dedication are needed from both Winnie and Joseph. There is a lot sent their way which tests their relationship and to read about it all was so fascinating and engrossing. Of course, I knew how the political situation would turn out but what kept me reading was to see would everything going on just cause too much of a strain on Winnie and Joseph’s relationship or were they strong enough to weather the many storms sent their way?

There were lots of mentions of historical figures which are well known to us all now. It felt strange to read of them in existence so to speak as Winnie encounters some of them. People that have found a place in Irish history yet at the time the significance and long last impact of what they were doing didn’t occur to those living through the time. I will say that there are several Irish terms and details of places and events that occur throughout the book and as I knew about them it was fine for me and I understood them. The inclusion of a glossary of terms at the back was welcome and is very beneficial for readers new to the topic. Although I think it would be best placed at the beginning of the book with perhaps a brief paragraph explaining the political situation at the time. I know this was explained as the story developed but people totally new to the topic a bit of initial background I feel would be helpful. That’s not to say you can’t follow the story, it is easy to comprehend but a introduction to the bigger picture would be useful.

The Woman on the Bridge was a very good read with a main character who certainly went through many changes in her stance regarding the war and the fight for freedom. In the beginning, she hadn’t wanted to be involved preferring to just continue on with her practical life. But love came calling and that changed everything and we see Winnie alter, and adapt to her new situation. She became like many other women, a woman who knew what she wanted and went about getting it. Winnie became a strong woman living in a turbulent period in a city full of danger and unease and she weathered the storms with grace and loyalty. For her first foray into historical fiction Sheila O’Flanagan did a great job and this read as if she has been writing in this genre for a long time. At no point, did it feel like I was reading a history book. Instead the historical facts and events intertwined seamlessly with the personal and emotional story that unfolded. I found it to be a quick read which you easily get sucked into as it’s a real page turner. It’s a just one more chapter kind of book and before you know it lots of pages have been turned. All in all, it’s a successful change for the author and I hope she does continue to write in this genre as well as continuing to write the stories she has become known for.

A young woman caught up in Ireland’s struggle for freedom.
Set in 1920’s Dublin.
Love comes when you’re not expecting it and that what happens with Winnie O’Leary when Irish rebel Joseph Burke breaks a window in her workplace.
He comes to apologise and arrange replacing the window and he’s “the handsomest man (she’s) ever seem”
As the relationship grows, Winnie has a dilemma, will she choose love and take up the cause with Joseph and the Burke Republican family, or wait for a peaceful solution with her pacifist O’Leary family
Will their budding relationship survive?
Loved that it was inspired by the story of the author’s grandmother and we were taught about Irish history, with strong believable characters.
Thanks @sheilaoflanagan @headlinepeg & @netgalley for the eARC

Having read Sheila O'Flanagan's previous books, I was keen to read her latest with this historical novel. Unfortunately, for me, it just didn't strike the right note and I really struggled to connect with the characters and the storyline (not something I usually struggle with when reading Sheila's books).

I am not a great lover of historical fiction but found this one very hard to put down. Very enjoyable and well written by Sheila.

This was such a change from Shelia’s usual genre. I found this interesting and informative. The story set in Ireland in the 1920’s through to the1930’s was a good one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I was totally engrossed by it and have read it over one day. As a Dubliner this book educated me further about my city and my history. Dublin in the 1920s and 1930s, the two wars, the Irish against the English and then against each other, provides the backdrop for the story of Winnie a shop girl, her coming of age, her life, her loves, her struggles and her family. Brilliantly told its a family saga and a historical novel which brings to life the tumultuous times it covers. Well rounded with believable characters, it’s one of my favourite reads of the year so far.
I’d love to read a sequel to this to find out how she and her family faired.

A story of two halves. In one there is the fight for Irish independence and the other is the life of Winnifred O’Leary.
The fight was so interesting to read about, esp reading about Padraig Pearse when I’d finished the book. The character Joseph Burke was really a loveable rogue.
Winnifred O’Leary was the dependable daughter/sister of the family who wasn’t interested in men, she lived for her work at Mrs Kelley’s store.
Winnie was everyone’s friend, was there a special someone there for her.
Mrs Burke sounded like a real firebrand.

One of the best books I have read in a long time. It tells the story of a live between two people that blossomed through the hard times of the troubles in Ireland during the 1920s. I would have covered this in history in school but this book gives a great insight in what exactly happened during this time.

Absolutely loved this new book from Sheila O'flanagan. Not the usual setting but the usual enjoyment of reading her books. Based in 1920s and 1930s Dublin- it follows the life of Winnie during the war of independence and the civil war. Depicting the reality of these hard times in Ireland, with The love of her husband and family makes her way through it . A gorgeous story beautifully told