Absolutely wonderful book, I loved every moment spent in the world of the characters. Dilemmas and joys all expertly crafted thank you!

My first book by this author. Quite enjoyed the quirky cast of characters. Listened to this one on audio.

This book is based round the 3 main characters of Tessa, Conn and Chloe.

They all are facing different challenges and are at different stages of life but they end up sharing a house.
When they first meet, the dynamics are of three very different individuals but as we progress through the book, we find out a bit about each of them and their story thus far.
Will they forge relationships that will be life changing?
Or is it too late for them to move on and make new decisions.

A lovely book that I really enjoyed.

What a fabulous read, I loved Eithne Shortall's writing style. Took a while to warm up but I really did fall in love with Chloe and Conn. Their own secrets rooted in tradegy brings obstacles for them, but watching them work through it was something special. I found myself emotional, frustrated and warmed. Would definitely read Shortall's work in the future.

The Lodgers
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

69 year old Tessa is unable to live alone after a recent fall, so decides to take in a lodger, or two. After an hilarious audition process the rooms are given to the only two ‘contestants’, Conn who has returned to Ireland after the death of his brother and Chloe, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time!

Along with Tessa’s friends from her ‘militant activism’ group, the trio come together to stop the closure of the local community centre.

With the authors previous book It Could Never Happen Here being one of my favourites from last year I was excited to start reading this one, and it didn’t disappoint.

This was a brilliantly heartfelt book with lots of humour thrown in, and perfect for anyone who like me enjoys a ‘found family’ read. Would recommend to fans of The People On Platform Five and All The Lonely People.

Easy reading. It took a while to become interested in the characters and to see the point of the story. I think that it would have been more interesting if Conn and Tessa had shared their tragedies earlier. Also Chloe's earlier life could have been explored more deeply. I did enjoy it however.

So beautifully written. I really adored Shortall's writing style - I felt it was engaging and incredibly descriptive without being overly flowery in language.
The way characters are written can make or break a book, and in this case they absolutely made it. The relationship dynamics between them, as well as the characters own personalities were so well done.

Completely effortless read.

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️
Rounded up to 5 stars
 
Beautifully written by Eithne Shortall, who has a refreshing, engaging writing style that pulled me in from the first page. The setting was so well described that I could visualise it clearly in my mind’s eye.
 
The characterisation is spot-on, with a compact cast of down-to-earth, relatable characters. I loved the dynamic between the three main characters: Chloe, Tessa, and the swoon-worthy Conn, and the chemistry and witty banter between Chloe and Conn. Chloe is a girl after my own heart. I also loved filterless Malachy, whose observations and comments made me laugh out loud.
 
The Lodgers is heartwarming, but it also has a poignant side, perfectly balanced out with the humour that runs throughout.

I really enjoyed the sense of community that shone through the character-driven story. It’s a fabulous, uplifting story of belonging, of family, friendship, and love.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Eithne Shortall in the near future.

An emotional read. Conn and Chloe are lodgers in Tessa's house. They each have their own reasons for being there, but secrets are being kept. A great read, I liked how it is told from different points of view.

Fabulous characters and a lovely setting.
A joyful read full of wit and compassion, laugh out loud and emotional moments.
Thanks for an uplifting read.
Thanks @eithne.shortfall, @atlanticbooks & @netgalley for the eARC

I really enjoyed previous books by this author and this one was no different.

Tessa is reluctant to leave her huge family home, despite a recent fall meaning she is not able to get around it as easy.
Chloe is a courier who takes advantage of a lucrative job to escape her difficult home life.
Conn is a former lawyer who is reluctant to tell why he wants the tenancy so much and spend his nights 'owl-watching'.

When our unlikely trio come together in very coincidental circumstances, they could have had no idea the impact they would have on each other and the surrounding community.

This was a lovely read with some great characters who you can't help but root for. Recommended if you are in the mood for a heart-warming tale about what can happen when a community comes together.

Hope House is located just off the cliff walk in Howth. Far enough away that strangers don’t wander upon the house in search of the trail. Close enough to the stunning Howth scenery.

Rattling around in the old ramshackle house on her own, Tessa realises with a start that she is becoming a burden on her family. Especially after a fall that has led to the use of walking stick while healing.

She decides to take action and put an advert in the local community centre for a lodger. Not in the normal sense, she’s willing to let them stay with her rent free in return for some light chores and house work.

Chloe and Conn both respond to the advert. Each for their very own reasons. During the course of the story the three make the unlikeliest of bonds.

I loved this story. There were so many layers and unique parts to the story. I loved the community centre aspect and the fact that a group was brought together for common interest trying to save it. I also enjoyed getting to know both lodgers and their enigmatic host Tessa.

After reading a piece by the author I know that Hope House is fictional of course but based very much on her Granny’s house in the midlands and picked up and brought to the cliff side in Howth. I can imagine exactly where I would find it should I go looking!

Congratulations and Happy Publication day to all involved on a wonderful book. An excellent story with so many different topics handled and wrapped up nicely within the covers. I have no doubt this will do well.

I've been meaning to read Eithne Shortall, but this is the first book I've actually managed. From the start, I knew I was going to really enjoy it.

Tessa, approaching seventy, is determined to retain her independence after experiencing a fall which has limited her mobility and worried her son. He wants her to sell her too-large house; as a compromise, she agrees to take in lodgers who can be on hand in an emergency.

Said lodgers, Chloe and Conn, each have their own issues - courier Chloe is fleeing her home and mother for reasons which take time to become apparent (though it's not that hard to guess); former lawyer Conn has his own reasons for wanting to live in Tessa's house, and goes out every night for some unspecified purpose (I definitely didn't guess this one, but it's not owl-watching.)

And there's a sad mystery around Tessa's daughter Bea, who disappeared ten years ago and is presumed dead. What's the connection with Muriel, a woman across the Irish Sea in Blackpool, and a misplaced parcel?

Alongside all these mysteries, the local community hall/education centre is threatened with being sold off to a developer, and led by crusader Tessa, everyone gets involved in the fight to save it. There's a fun collection of hall-users involved in the campaign (Malachy was a treasure, if a rather aggressive one).

It was a lovely read with really engaging characters - I was rooting for Chloe and Conn throughout. Chloe, perhaps more than anyone, really goes on a journey here, but all the characters have their stories, and the ending is satisfying.

This is one of these books were you have to keep reading to find out what happens, the author is one that I haven't read much of before will will look out for in the future, This is a story of how three strangers, Tessa, an elderly lady who takes on two strangers (Chloe and Conn) as tenants to stop her son from worrying about her living alone in her big house. What transpires is a story of how these 3 characters almost fix each other and how community support can be used for good - a heartwarming story that has stuck with me long after reading it.

The Lodgers by Eithne Shortall

Tessa, usually a very active 69 year old, agrees to take in two lodgers, Conn and Chloe, while she is recovering from a fall. As the three fight to save their local community hall, they become vital support for each other and their wider circle of friends.

What a beautiful book! It has everything - fabulous characters, lovely setting, a sprinkling of romance and mystery, poignant, funny.... everything! I absolutely loved it and I'm really sorry to leave them behind - a Netflix adaptation please! Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

This was a warm-hearted yet at times soul searching book about three strangers with individual issues who become housemates and also unite with some other local characters (in every sense of the word) in a bid to save the local community hall. Told primarily from the viewpoints of Tessa who takes in two lodgers to give her some support whilst she recovers from a broken hip and of Chloe one of her lodgers who has more issues with her mum than she actually realises. This is a brilliant character read with a slow paced but engaging story, some very heartfelt moments but equally some brilliant humour throughout, all in all it was very original and highly enjoyable. 9/10

"You need to stop thinking about yourself as an extension of other people. You're your own person. Remember that."

A heartwarming, sweeping story about the beauty of human connection that is so full of heart and warmth.

Our unlikely trio find themselves brought together in unlikely circumstances, with people they’d likely never speak to each other in their lives before — all of them were so real, their personalities quickly distinguished with unique voices that take their turns telling the story.

I adored Tessa’s dry wit and her strength and Chloe’s hopeful optimism and determination. Conn was a bit prickly, abrasive — but there was definitely something more going on under the surface. Every one of our characters has a secret, something heartbreaking they're running from — but their individual journeys and stories slowly merge together into one as they join together for a common cause to save their community centre which turns into a hilarious, chaotic adventure with a brilliantly eclectic cast of characters.

The story is slow, but well paced — spending plenty of time just being with our trio and watching their lives in their unexpected new home together. The setting was beautiful, invoking a sense of calm and bliss all around, a warm and comforting feeling of home and family.

Cosy, emotional and bittersweet — The Lodgers is the type of story to get lost in.

I loved this book! Fantastic characters, all different, all true to life, albeit some a bit heightened, all really well done. Lots of laugh out loud moments and many more moments that will make you smile at the witty dialogue. But it's also really touching and quite sad in places. In particular I felt for Conn. The three main characters will capture your heart and the plot, with its mysteries along the way, will have your heart racing. The kind of book that will keep you reading but leave you sorry you finished it.