#BookReview of Secrets Between Friends by Sheila O’Flanagan | @sheilawriter.bsky.social

‘Three women, each at a turning point in her life, are drawn together by old secrets and new dilemmas.‘

[ About Secrets Between Friends ]

Ailie, Sybil and Rua can take care of themselves. But when they form an unexpected friendship, they discover new perspectives on old problems.

Ailie is recently widowed, and struggling. At least she can cut ties with her toxic Italian in-laws. Except her teenage daughter is joining them in Trieste. Should Ailie follow, and confront the family who can’t forgive her?

Sybil has learned to be happy alone. But her younger sister, Tansy, thinks Sybil needs to find a man before it’s too late. And she has the perfect candidate. Can Sybil cope with Tansy interfering – again?

Twice Rua has faced the worst, and twice she’s started over. All that matters now is protecting her daughter. Yet she’s kept the full story from her. Is it time to trust Brontë with the truth?

[ My Review ]

Secrets Between Friends by Sheila O’Flanagan (March 26th, 2026 with Headline Review) is described as ‘an intriguing and sparkling story about women discovering their strength – and loving life.

Three women meet accidently, resulting in an unanticipated, but welcome, friendship in this gorgeous new book from Sheila O’Flanagan. An author with a large fan base, and for all the right reasons, O’Flanagan’s work is affecting and kind, connecting with many readers. In her latest novel, the focus is on three women of different ages who all share a common denominator, they are all at different stages of grief.

Ailie, Sybil and Rua are all facing uphill struggles in their lives as they contemplate moving forward without their life-partners. Sybil, the eldest of the three, is quite forthright about what she likes and doesn’t like, which frustrates her younger sister, Tansy. Convinced that Sybil is moving toward a lonely life, Tansy’s attempts at matchmaking cause much strife between the siblings. Sybil has no children and is happy with her choices and the independence it provides her with. She worked as a professional all her life supporting her husband as his business took off, finally nursing him through illness. Financially secure, Sybil considers herself to be content, until she meets Ailie and Rua. Sybil hasn’t had many female friendships and suddenly realises the difference this companionship makes to her daily life.

Ailie has recently suffered a great loss with the very sudden death of her husband Giorgio Marchetti. Throughout their marriage he kept her at a distance from his family in Italy, but now, following his death, Ailie is forced to accept that she will have to communicate with them. Flavia, her daughter, wants a closer relationship with her Italian cousins and intends travelling to Trieste to work in the Marchetti business. Ailie is struggling to deal with her grief and Flavia’s wishes, unsure of how to decide without Giorgio by her side. Her meeting with Rua and Sybil could not have come at a better time as she struggles to move through her days.

Rua has been forced to make life-altering adjustments more than once. Her daughter, Brontë, is spreading her wings, about to embark on her own adventure, but Rua is struggling to release her. Having suffered more than her fair share of pain, she fears for what the future may hold for Brontë. As the years passed by, she had been able to protect her daughter from her own personal anguish but now, with Brontë asking questions about her earlier life, Rua is faced with a dilemma. Rua and Sybil come along just at the right time providing her with the much needed company and listening ears.

The friendship develops slowly over coffee, lunches and a few drinks, with each of the women finding unexpected solace. They start to trust each other more and, as the months pass, they each reveal little snippets about their past and their hopes for the future. In a beautiful developing manner, these three wonderful women discover more about themselves and what they are capable of. Their bond strengthens as they laugh, cry and support each other when needed. Taking the reader from Ireland to France and Italy, Sheila O’Flanagan gently steers the course of the narrative around challenging obstacles and emotional moments. Sybil, Rua and Ailie’s chance encounter is a life-saving moment for all three as they navigate through the twists and turns of life. Grief is a very individual experience and, alongside other emotive themes, Sheila O’Flanagan writes with great sensitivity and a gentle hand.

The women’s three different stories are all seamlessly woven together in this compassionate and touching tale. A contemporary novel about female friendship and how empowering its support can be, Secrets Between Friends is one that will resonate with many. Uplifting and affecting.

[ Thank you to Hachette Ireland and Plunkett PR for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review ]

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