Member Reviews

Firstly I love books by Cecelia Ahern, each with their own unique, quirky, touching story. Secondly this one really connected with me personally as Enya faces a point in her life that I too have faced and the emotions described were so on point.
This is a raw, emotional and captivating story, delving into Irish folklore and traditions, as well as giving the reader a flavour of life in a remote country town in Ireland.
I loved the characters, some drew chuckles, some empathy and some total distaste. The settings are gorgeous and clearly portrayed.
It is difficult to reveal more without giving any plot spoilers. Simple to say, I loved it and was transported to dwell alongside Enya.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a wonderful and moving book about loss and delayed grief.

I loved the Celtic history in the book, and found the rag tree so fascinating.

A wonderfully written story and I loved every minute of it! I normally have more to say about a book after reading, but this book left me speechless!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this one. I was completely hooked from the first page. It just pulls you in. It’s immersive and emotional. A dark and atmospheric story about grief, self discovery, love, family, mental health and so much more.
It’s beautifully written, with an engaging storyline and it’s easy to follow.
GP Enya is driving in a storm and comes across a hit and run accident where she helps a teenage boy, Ross, who reminds her so much of her own son Finn. Enya is grieving her mum, struggling with her marriage and relationship with her son, as things spiral she moves away to rural Abbeydooley to take over a medical practice.
It’s a thought provoking read with several twists and turns. The mystery of who hit Ross keeps you guessing with many suspects, with a brilliant ending.
Enya is a believable and relatable character who you feel empathy for. All the characters are well written. I especially liked Margaret with her straight talking and sarcasm. I also enjoyed the friendship that formed between Enya and Margret. Just beautiful.
Definitely recommend. It’s well worth a read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUK @harperfiction for an arc of #IntoTheStorm in exchange for a honest review. Book publishes 10 October 2024.
My review will be posted on Instagram @allthingsbookswithclaire

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book as I've loved all her books I liked the way Enya's story slowly unfolded and the shock ending made this a very worthwhile read can't wait for her next book would definitely recommend

Was this review helpful?

A mysterious story, starting with a hit and run on the edge of a road on a stormy night. Enya is driving home when she comes across a taxi in the middle of the road, flagging down her car to help with the barely breathing body of a young teen he claims to have discovered. She performs CPR, the boy survives but the accident forever changes her, and she flees her husband, her son and her seemingly idyllic life to run a small doctor's practice in rural Ireland. But she struggles to cope there too and is finally forced to face the demons that have plagued her since childhood.
A fantastic read, as we follow Enya on her journey trying to get her life back together after everything fell apart.

Was this review helpful?

GP Dr Enya Pickering, driving home during a bad December storm, comes across a young man, lying in the road badly injured. A taxi driver arriving ahead of her has phoned the emergency services. Enya gives CPR and stabilises the young man, waiting with the taxi driver until the ambulance and police arrive. Despite her intervention, as she resumes her journey home, it’s clear from her thoughts that she is a troubled woman. She is married to a difficult man (Alex, also a GP), with a very low tolerance level and her happy relationship with her teenage son Finn appears to have stalled. Deciding to abandon both Alexander and Finn she takes up a GP post in Abbeydooley far away from Dublin. She is looking for space and the chance to find inner peace. But from being a safe haven, her arrival in the small community not only brings her personal problems into sharper focus, it appears the events of that rainy night have also followed her there.
Enya is a dedicated doctor. Unfortunately, she is married to the most awful, uncaring man and her son, with whom she has had a close bond, currently appears to prefer his own company. With her mind in turmoil, she hopes the move will stabilise things. On the positive side, escaping to Abbeydooley does give her the challenges she needs - a new environment, with different medical challenges. However, the death of her mother still continues to haunt her, coupled with the fact, she fears for her own mortality. Her 46th birthday is approaching and coincides with the exact age mother experienced her fatal heart attack.
I enjoyed Enya’s journey, her life in Abbeydooley and the friends she made while there. I would love Alex to have had some sort of karma visited on him, particularly as there was a mystical element to the story with the rag tree. But you can’t have everything, and I was pleased with how, despite many obstacles, she learned to face her fears, enabling things to work out in the end.
I would like to thank Harper Collins, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of Into the Storm in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

When GP Enya saves a teenage boy after a hit and run, her life falls to pieces. She leaves her family to start a new life in a remote Irish location. Will Enya recover from that night or will the storm catch up with her?

This started strongly and the central drama starts almost straight away. I was interested to see where it would go and think the writing style was done well, managing to evoke a range of emotions, while reflecting a rather bleak, sensitive narrative. Unfortunately I struggled to stay connected to the storyline due to the slow pace and finding the main character unlikeable and difficult to connect with. I am also not a massive fan of folklore, which this story had elements of. Overall this wasn’t a bad read but not my favourite and I am certainly not put off reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

An enjoyable read about Enya, a doctor struggling with her relationships with her husband and son along with the death of her mother. A heartbreaking story but one that I would definitely recommend to be read.

Was this review helpful?

Into the Storm by Cecelia Ahern takes readers on a compelling journey through the life of Enya Pickering, a GP grappling with the consequences of her choices.

Enya seems to have it all: a loving husband, Xander, and their young son, Finn.

However, her life is turned upside down one fateful night when, after excusing herself from a dinner party, she meets her lover.

In a dramatic turn of events, she stumbles upon a horrific accident and, in a moment of quick thinking, saves the life of a young man.

This decision sets off a series of repercussions that forces her to leave her home and take over a struggling medical practice in Abbeydooley.

As Enya tries to settle into her new role, the weight of her actions begins to haunt her.

The ongoing investigation into the accident, her troubled marriage, her affair, and a mysterious rag tree in her garden all contribute to an atmosphere of tension and unease.

Ahern skillfully explores themes of guilt, infidelity, and the moral complexities of human relationships, prompting readers to reflect on the choices we make and their impact on our lives.

While the narrative is engaging and easy to follow, Enya herself can be quite an unlikable character.

Her narcissism and self-pity often overshadow her journey, leading to frustration for the reader.

Many may find themselves rolling their eyes at her “woe is me” attitude as the plot unfolds.

In contrast, characters like Margaret, Enya's straightforward neighbor living above the surgery, provide a refreshing balance and offer a glimpse of clarity amid the chaos of Enya’s life.

Despite its predictability, with several twists and turns that may be anticipated early on, Into the Storm remains a thought-provoking read.

The exploration of serious subjects such as hit-and-run incidents, drinking and driving, adultery, and medical malpractice adds depth to the narrative, pushing readers to confront uncomfortable realities.

While Ahern's Into the Storm offers a captivating premise and a look at the complexities of human nature, it may leave some readers feeling frustrated with the protagonist.

Nevertheless, the book is worth reading for its insightful themes and engaging storytelling.

If you're looking for a story that examines moral dilemmas and personal struggles, this novel may resonate with you, even if Enya’s journey doesn’t always hit the mark.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Cecilia Ahern can do no wrong in my eyes - everything she writes is gold. I've been a fan since PS I Love You, and I've read everything else she's written so I was delighted to be granted early access to her newest book, Into The Storm.

A mysterious story, starting with a hit and run on the edge of a road on a stormy night. Enya is driving home when she comes across a taxi in the middle of the road, flagging down her car to help with the barely breathing body of a young teen he claims to have discovered. She performs CPR, the boy survives but the accident forever changes her, and she flees her husband, her son and her seemingly idyllic life to run a small doctor's practice in rural Ireland. But she struggles to cope there too and is finally forced to face the demons that have plagued her since childhood.

Enya is a brilliant main character, I loved her almost immediately. Her husband is a vile man and I was not surprised she left him! I adored her sister Flora and her chilled out family too - I'd really love to hang out with them. And I loved Margaret, the property manager who befriends Enya, although she wasn't who she seemed at first.....

There are far too many "jaw drop" moments for me to reference here, but it certainly kept me on my toes and it was another I couldn't put down. I've had some great reads recently and this is no exception.

Thank you to the publishers for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This story took a little work to get through, so more of a 3.5 star read for me. I felt it was a little disjointed, and I did not really connect to the character and her story as it was told. I mean, I really wanted to know what happened to the young boy who was hit! Who wouldn't! But her journey of reflection over her mother's death years before and the obsession with her birthday, the same one that claimed her mother, coming up just lost me. I get it. My mom died at almost 37, so it was on my mind when I reached an age she never did. I just felt the whole story did not have to be focused so much on that. The author lost me there. I did have it figured out pretty quickly, but I enjoyed that journey, at least. I hope everyone makes up their own minds and gives it a go! Hopefully you will enjoy it more than me!

Was this review helpful?

What a wonderful book by Cecelia Ahern. She doesn’t disappoint with this book.

The book is witty, yet sad in places. It shows how people can stumble across an incident and how it can change someone’s life.

I loved the setting in Ireland and the small village vines - the perfect read for Autumn.

Would highly recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for allowing me to review this title. I enjoy Cecelia Ahern' s books and looked forward to this one. It didn't disappoint. The story has many twists and turns, some of which I found very disturbing. The main character Enya, a GP, is worrying about her 47th birthday as that was when her mother died and this leads her to experience some strange thoughts. These impact on her ability to think straight. I was gripped by the story to the end which took me by surprise. Definitely a good read.

Was this review helpful?

2.5 ⭐️ Rounded up to 3.
Surviving the storm is only the beginning…It is a wild night in the middle of December, and GP Enya is crouched over a teenage boy, performing CPR in the freezing rain. She found him on a mountain road near Dublin, the victim of a hit-and-run.
The boy survives, but Enya goes to pieces. She leaves her husband, her son, and everything she knows to start a new life in remote rural Ireland.

I’ve been a lover of Cecelia Ahern’s books for years however this one fell flat for me. Thoroughly unlikeable main character who was really bad at lying (maybe that was intended)
I was annoyed with all the other characters for not seeing who had done the hit and run through the whole book.
Such a shame as I was looking forward to reading this and was disappointed.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Was this review helpful?

I don't think I've read a single Cecelia Ahern book and not cried! Her writing is exquisite, powerful and moving. The way this was laid out was endearing, with the sabbats and her mum's entries around them. Enya I really felt for, could be annoying at times, but mental health can do that, and this really shine through.
I loved Margaret and the other characters. Absolutely beautiful.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Into The Storm is a poignant tale about fresh starts, unresolved grief, standing up for oneself and coming into your own. It's moving, intriguing and humbling.

Dr. Enya Pickering saves an accident victim during an extremely rough storm. A victim close to her own teenage son's age. She also is struggling with a disconnected relationship with both, her husband and her son.Also, as she is getting closer to the age her mother died, anxiety and panic have started to set in about her own future and her ability to cope with it.

I loved this book and felt deeply for Dr. Enya Pickering.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This is well written with good characterisations and a gentle plot that builds. It's a story that you quickly fall in to and which feels believable and relatable to a certain extent. Some of the character connections felt a little tenuous and forced but generally an enjoyable read

Was this review helpful?

5 out of 5! I loved it! I was hooked throughout!
I love Cecilia Ahearn already so when I was given the opportunity to read this in return for an honest review I was really happy. I didn’t read the blurb so went into it blind as she’s an author I’ve usually always loved the work of. It didn’t disappoint!
Dr Enya Pickering is a troubled lady who on a night driving in bad weather comes across an accident. The story takes us along with her and her family and how the death of her mother and her impending birthday effect her.
Recommend this 100%!

Was this review helpful?

Part mystery, part family drama, with heaps of references to Irish folklore, “Into the Storm” is lots of things all in one book. The central character is Enya, a doctor who in the opening chapters gets flagged down in the middle of a storm to a road traffic accident where a teenage boy has been hit by a car. She attempts to save his life and is severely shaken by the incident. We discover over the course of the book how her life has already been shaken by the early death of her mother. As Enya approaches the age that her mother died, she worries that she won’t know how to live without her mother being ahead of her. We also learn that Enya’s marriage is on the rocks as is her relationship with her son Finn. Enya struggles to recover from the emotions caused by the accident and this moment in her life and isn’t sure how to move forward. When an opportunity arises in her career, she takes it. But she struggles to out run her troubles and to trust anyone around her. Can anything help her?

This is a really interesting book. As I said, it covers lots of areas, and I really enjoyed the folklore side particularly the important part played by the rag tree. I also enjoyed that the story didn’t feel stereotypical. I sometimes struggled with the behaviour of one or two of the characters but in the main, I would recommend the book to others.

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

Was this review helpful?

This was a compelling and gripping read about the breakdown of a family and of a woman and mother. I mostly enjoyed the story and enjoyed the twists and turns until the final one. It’s hard to explain without giving away spoilers but it just didn’t ring true for me. I’ve read lots by this author and enjoyed them but this one isn’t my favourite I’m afraid.

Was this review helpful?