This is a book about first love, lifelong friendships, community and the way that families can lie at the core of your life, in both positive and negative ways. It's a love story, but entwined with life in 1990s Dublin, the angst of being a teenager and all those 'could have, should have' moments. I found the dual timeline very effective but, personally, I didn't need the 'twist' at the end. The writing and the characters were enough to carry the story.

I absolutely loved Boys Don't Cry, but unfortunately I didn't connect with this book or its characters in the same way. I wanted to so badly, but sadly it didn't hit the same high notes.

Billed as a Hollywood weepie love story set around a Dublin hairdressing salon, Dean and Shauna are a couple who seem destined for each other, but life and familial circumstances keep getting in the way. Shauna has increasing responsibilities in her mother's salon and at home. Dean comes from an abusive home and can't seem to catch a break.

I loved the 1990s pop culture references and Dublin setting. There's a nostalgic quality to a lot of it for anyone my age (mid 40s) but it veers too far into schmaltz at times and it jarred with me. The ending left me unmoved; I saw it coming.

Other readers are rave-reviewing this one so it's a case of me rather than the book. It's been weeks since I finished it and I still can't help feeling regretful I didn't enjoy it more. 3/5 stars

*Sincere thanks to Faber Books for the advance proof copy. May All Your Skies Be Blue will be published in February 2025. As always, this is an honest review.

Fíona Scarlett's May All Your Skies Be Blue may be a short novel, but it is brimming with emotion and heartache.

From the outset, it’s clear that this is a devastating love story where a happy ending feels heartbreakingly out of reach.

As the story unfolds, the deep connection between the two main characters grows, making each chapter more poignant and heart-wrenching.

Beyond the love story, Scarlett deftly explores the dynamics of friendship.

The relationships between the four friends are beautifully crafted, capturing the ups and downs of growing up and coming of age with authenticity and nuance.

The novel doesn’t shy away from tackling heavy themes such as the impact of dementia and alcoholism on families, yet it avoids being overly sentimental.

Instead, Scarlett’s hallmark Irish humour and irreverent, sweary edge bring a fresh, authentic voice to the narrative, striking a perfect balance between heartbreak and levity.

This book is an emotional rollercoaster that will leave readers reaching for tissues, but it’s also a testament to Scarlett’s talent as a writer.

There;s lots of humour and raw emotion within the pages.

May All Your Skies Be Blue is a book that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

If you’re looking for a deeply moving and unforgettable read, this is it—pre-order it now!

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

I've just read this whole novel in one sitting and it has broken my heart but wow, what a stunning book it is! It's set in Ireland and it follows Shauna in two timelines - the present day, and back with her group of friends starting in the early 1990s through to the point when the timelines converge. I loved the way this story is told, there is a lingering sense of sadness running all the way through the novel but at the same time you can feel the optimism of these characters in their youth when all the future looks bright. The characters are the same age as me so it was a nostalgic read as well as being just so beautiful and engaging. I could really identify with Shauna and the sacrifices she made in her life, the things she gave up and I felt broken for her. I feel like she is someone who is really going to stay with me. This is an incredible novel and I'll be recommending it to everyone. It's stunning!

Not typically my sort of book, but beautifully written. I enjoyed the characters who seemed relatable and was invested in their stories. The timeline was interesting too.

Sentimental throughout with layers of tradgedy and romance. Overall, a really enjoyable read.

found the begin slightly confusing as i got used to the format and structure of the novel, but once i was in, i was IN. this book was really beautiful and tragic. my heart strings were definitely pulled! this was my first book by the author & will definitely be reading her previous publications. thank you again netgalley for the ARC🫶

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for sharing an early copy of 'May All Your Skies Be Blue'. It is a beautifully written story of love, hopes and dreams told through one day in the life of Shauna. Mostly set in 1990's Ireland it's nostalgic and emotional. It made me cry, laugh and cry again and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. A highly recommended 5*'s from me.

I knew this would be something exceptional, but it exceeded my already high expectations.

May All your Skies Be Blue is the definition of a devastatingly beautiful novel. It broke my heart and made me cry (not once!), but also made me smile and filled my heart with so much love and warmth. Scarlett's writing is so easy and authentic, and has so much depth. With its funny witty Irish dialogues the novel explores serious topics like dementia, alcoholism and the consequences these may have on families. Though, mainly, this book is still a love story and it will not disappoint you. It took me about 25 pages to get into it and then I just inhaled it in 2 days (including waking up very early in the morning to read).

The novel will be published on 13 February 2025 and I highly recommend pre-ordering it (and having a date with this book for Valentine's Day) 🙈

Synopsis: Shauna and Dean meet as children in suburban Dublin, and together with Pam and Mark form a tight friendship. Shauna and Dean's friendship develops into a beautiful love story, but as they grow up, family issues threaten to pull them apart. How will their story unfold?

A quirky love story set over 2 time zones with Shauna as a young girl just arriving in the area and then as a woman looking back. A bit sentimental for me but I can see the appeal.

This completely captured me from the first page, and broke me by the very end. I loved every minute of it. Each nuanced character, each piece of 1990s nostalgia, each breadcrumb of the inevitable twists of the journey, and each morsel of hope weaving through this loving yet troubled little community. Simply beautiful.

I adored Fiona’s first novel Boys Don’t Cry so was delighted to get to read this one via Netgalley.
Starting in Summer early 90’s this novel follows the first love story of Shauna and Dean.Authentically chronicling the 1990’s and being a teenager in Dublin we follow Shauna,Dean,their families and friends to almost three decades later.
The love between Shaun and Dean is never doubted but as often happens life and events have other ideas.
I enjoy dual times in a novel but l found it did get a little too complicated at times for me to follow.However this is a beautiful novel and the end broke me.

A beautifully written story about friendship, love and loss. Such a captivating Irish novel, short chapters and 90s nostalgia - my only criticism was that I read it to quickly! I expect this to be very successful.

May All Your Skies Be Blue is a beautifully written, heartfelt story that explores love, loss, and resilience. Scarlett’s writing captures raw emotions with a gentle touch, making it easy to empathise with the characters. Though a bit slower in pace than I expected, the novel’s depth and poignancy made it a memorable read. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy reflective, character-driven stories.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC!

A beautifully written story of love and friendship in a small town in Ireland. Incredibly well written and highly recommended.

This book had me head over heels, absolutely fell in love with it. I knew it would be good after reading her debut book ‘boys don’t cry’ but honestly it blew me away. Loved the originality of the storyline and the characters. I wish I could read it all over again!

I didn’t warm to the characters and I didn’t enjoy the short snatches in different timelines that get us from beginning to end.

A lovely story of young love and loss in Ireland two main characters Shauna and Dean along with their amazing friends Mark and Pamela set mainly in a hairdressers salon.Beautifully written love and friendship story with lots of happenings I was in bits on and off throughout the book.Would highly recommend this book Will definitely be looking to read further stories from this author.
Thankyou to the author, publisher and net galley

This book follows various events over the years of Shauna and her friends, in particular, Dean. It also follows one day in her life as an adult. A story of love and loss. Very well written and kept me following every step from start to finish. I would definitely read other books by Fiona Scarlett. Highly recommended.

I was lucky enough to receive this as an advanced reader copy and leave this review willingly.

beautiful, devastating and raw. I don’t think this book will ever leave me.

in ireland 1991 shauna and dean meet as teenagers, and now their lives will never be the same. This book follows them across 30 years, written in beautiful prose.

a profound story of love, loss, regret and the impact of life itself. i found myself really rooting for the characters.

this book left me feeling overwhelmed in every emotion in the best way. fiona scarlett has an incredible talent, and i’ll be recommending this book to anybody and everybody.

Absolute corker of a book, that I will be recommending to absolutely everyone .
It was a warm nostalgic look at childhood, the friendship, the parents.
The struggles we go to in pretending all is alright.
As time crept forward, and the glances at today left clues as to what was happening.
I was crying before hitting the last few chapters.
I'm left feeling a little bit broken for what could have been, and what is.

Boys don't cry was the first book I read this year, and it too left me in bits.
It's safe to say I'm going to be reading everything this author writes from now on.