‘The Food of Love’ restaurant is a unique eatery just off the town centre. It was envisaged by Emily when her lovely grandmother died and she inherited her business, a Millinery supplies shop. Emily knows nothing about making hats, but she loves baking and, although the shop is tiny, she imagines her business being a niche type of place somewhere single diners could use for lunch or dinner yet still eat in a friendly and happy atmosphere. She commissions a carpenter to make a bespoke table made of sturdy, solid wood in a long oval shape that is just right for the new venture and will encourage customers to mix and make new friends. She hires a chef and puts her heart and soul into it, launching with a minimal menu but delicious and warming food and desserts.
The customers soon flock in and real, meaningful friendships are made. Emily is both full of empathy and compassion as she shows her guests to their seats. Word gets around and soon strangers come to explore the new restaurant that Emily has worked hard to make welcoming. Her regulars like lovely but lonely widower Bill, who is not in regular contact with his only child, senior citizen Astrid, who made Ireland her home when she fled her homeland in Austria because it was threatening to a small girl whose parents had been taken away during World War two and Heather, a single mother estranged from her parents who lived in America. They all came to think of ‘The Food of Love as their safe, welcoming place to go to and to share with others. It is a Godsend for them and Emily is so welcoming as well.
Then Emily’s circumstances unexpectedly change and she has serious decisions to make. Should she take a risk on love and join her ex fiancé in his home across the sea or should she stay safe and keep pouring her energy and love into her business and the ‘family’ she has come to really care about? Ciara’s new novel will give you all of the answers!
I enjoyed this read immensely. I cared about all of the main characters and their involving stories, I thought the storyboard was original, intriguing and the four different stories were beautifully written, full of modern day issues that are relevant and heart-warming. It was the first novel I have read that was written by this author and was gratified to discover a great back-catalogue for me to explore. I really admired the final page or two when one of the threads that I really enjoyed had a final surprise that completely rounded off the novel in the most satisfying way.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Hachette Books Ireland through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. This novel is a very good read and will keep you turning the pages, anxiously, excitedly and pleasurably. It is a 4.5* review from me.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading. The Restaurant by Roisin Meaney is a delightful book to sit and relax and enjoy reading. It is the story of the people who live, work and enjoy eating in the Restaurant. It opens for lunch and evening meal 5 days a week. There is only room for one oval table, so everyone must sit together and eat and hopefully talk and enjoy other people’s company. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly Recommended.

A fantastic premise for a story. I really enjoyed this book. All the characters were likeable and well-developed. I loved the idea of the one communal table in the restaurant. Some heavy issues were covered, which added depth. The romance was gentle and unassuming, but touching all the same. Just one thing, the way the dialogue was done at times, as though it was being re-told, meant it was sometimes a little hard to work out who was talking. Otherwise, a good read.

A thoroughly enjoyable read by Roisin Meaney. She never disappoints. Thank you to Hatchett and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Emily own and runs a little restaurant in a small establishment left to her by her grandmother. After being gilted at the alter she is busy making a life for herself and her quirky mix of customers. The book delves into the lives of each of her regulars. From Bill who recently lost both his wife and daughter, one to cancer and his daughter who now suffers at the hands of addiction to Astrid an elderly woman whose past haunts her. All their stories entwine.Just when Emily is happy the past comes back to haunt her when Ferg, her ex comes back on the scene. Will Emily give live another chance or is love already under her nose. A heartwarming read to cosy up to.

With thanks to netgalley and hachette books Ireland for an early copy in return for an honest review
Firstly I would just like to say what an amazing book.
Roisin has a way of delivering her characters that you actually feel there real this was quite a complex saga that dealt with quite a few complexities this was dealt with seamlessly the book flowed absolutely perfectly each characters having there own troubles but in the end through friendship trust and help all came good.
A very intriguing and well blended novel.

Enjoyable read
The story of Emily and her friends.
After her gran leaves her the shop and flat above she opens a restaurant.
Emily enjoys running it and seeing her friends and family who each have their own issues.
She receives a letter from her ex. He left her on their wedding day. The letter informs her that he’s coming back to Dublin and wishes to see her.
She agrees to meeting up when he contacts her and after a while agrees to giving things another go. But some of her friends and family think she’s making a mistake, especially when she informs them that she’ll be selling the restaurant.
Along with this her friends face their problems and twists and turns follow.
The surprise that I read about Emily at the end I was not expecting at all.

Love this author. Bookreminds me of Come Dine with me. Love the characters you feel you are actually meeting with them. Another brilliant book

What a delightful, thought-provoking and at times heartwrenching read! Do we really know how much hurt/horror is hidden behind a smile? Do we take the time to really get to know the people around us? And finally....can a leopard change its spots......

The Restaurant is a story about; well a restaurant! But not just an ordinary restaurant. There is nothing ordinary about ”The Food of Love". This is a magical place that brings people together. A place people can forget their worries and share a bowl of soup and freshly baked bread. A truly special place.

This is a book that tickles your senses and makes you salivate! A must-read, feel-good story that will pull at your heartstrings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Books Ireland for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read many books and every once in a while a story comes along that you can’t put down and don’t want to end, you kind of feel bereft when it’s finished and that’s the way I feel about Roisin meaneys book the reastaurant.
A beautiful tale of friendship and love, of over coming heartache and forgiveness.
This is the story of Emily who after being jilted on her wedding day decides to turn her life around when her beloved gran leaves her, her old hat shop and flat above.
Emily opens a single table restaurant called the food of love - a place for strangers to meet, the lonely to form new friendships and for anyone who just wants a bit of company.
This book tells the stories of several of the customers who come to dine.
Heather - Emily’s first customer who came to Ireland by running away from her home in America when she was 16.
Now 25 and a single parent to daughter Lottie and doing odd jobs for friends and neighbours, Heather is keeping a lot of secrets.
Bill whoose wife died of cancer several years ago and who works at the local care home. Who also harbours a secret crush on Emily, hasn’t told his friends about his drug addicted only daughter Christine who he is desperate to help.
Astrid - 93 years old. Austrian and Jewish.
Lost her whole family during the war when she was 11 years old. But still tells people she came to Ireland before the war.
All keeping secrets, all needing one another and all intertwining even if they don’t know it.
This is a wonderful story and had me hooked from the beginning to the end.
I loved it so much I’ve pre ordered Roisins next book called -it’s that time of year and can’t wait for it to arrive.