#BookReview of #TheGoodMistress by Anne Tiernan

‘That’s it, it’s all she gets. Fragments. Discarded scenes she rescues from the cutting-room floor that she replays, knows by heart’
– The Good Mistress

[ About The Good Mistress ]

The affair is over – so what does she have to lose?

Juliet never planned to be the other woman, but Rory was the only man she’d ever loved. Then he went and died. At his funeral, Juliet hides shamefully at the back, while his wife and their son rightfully grieve up front. What does her life look like now, without him?

Erica was the perfect wife, but Rory knew things about her that no one else can ever know. And now she’s left with a question she doesn’t want the answer to: had she lost Rory long before he died?

Maeve, Rory’s childhood friend, now a bestselling novelist, appears to have it all – except any time for herself. Between her exasperating husband, two teenage sons, and ailing mother, Maeve’s success feels hollow. And when she uncovers a disturbing secret, her carefully constructed life begins to unravel.

As three women’s lives collide, they must reconcile the realities of love, betrayal, and the limits of forgiveness – because what does it truly mean to be ‘good’, anyway?

[ My Review ]

The Good Mistress by Anne Tiernan published April 15th 2025 with Hachette and is described as ‘a compelling, powerful story of love, family, betrayal and forgiveness’.

The lives of three women collide over the years in this second novel from Anne Tiernan, following on from her absolutely stunning 2023 debut The Last Days of Joy. Juliet has been living in Auckland, having left her home in Ireland many years previously. Unsettled and dissatisfied Juliet has always presented herself as quite anarchic in her actions, always rebelling against societal expectations and what is considered the norm. Her mother, Denise, is unwell so Juliet returns to Ireland with her teenage daughter, Ruby but she also has an ulterior motive. The one man she ever truly loved, Rory, has died and she wants to be present at his funeral.

Juliet and Rory shared a history from childhood and, as the pages turn, we get flashbacks to their fraught and anxiety-riddled teenage years. One summer, when hanging out, they crossed paths with the new girl in town, Maeve, who very quickly became part of their gang. With Dan, the local doctor’s son, they made up a foursome that remained close until tragedy struck. Over the years that followed their contact, as a group, fizzled out, but now, with Juliet’s return, old memories are brought to the fore.

Maeve remained in town, married with two boys and a husband, and a career as a successful writer. On paper, Maeve would appear to be happy with her life choices. But Maeve is frustrated with her life. Her mother, who has been diagnosed with dementia, is living with them and Maeve feels her own connection to reality slowly slipping away. She is frazzled with the demands on her time, even more so after meeting up with Juliet after all these years. Maeve and Juliet are connected by a past that forever entwines them but now, with Rory buried, they need to delve deep into their relationship and create a new future for themselves.

Erica, Rory’s wife, has always curated an illusion of perfection, leaving others with the impression that she is remote and in control. But Erica is far from perfect. Following Rory’s death she is faced with some stark realities and as the days pass, she discovers hidden secrets, while also being forced to accept some truths about herself.

These three women have all come to a juncture in their lives, with storylines that will resonate with many readers. Anne Tiernan highlights multiple themes, including marriage, friendships, aging parents, betrayal, grief and loss, all sensitively and authentically handled. Juliet, Maeve and Erica are all trying to solidify their place in the world. Juliet has been running away for years, Maeve has been living a dissatisfied existence and Erica has been living a lie. Combining the past and the present, Anne Tiernan has written a beautiful story, exploring the fragility of life and how, although there are some things that are out of our control, we do have a say in our destiny. Many of us are caught up in our busy lives, unable to see the wood from the trees, and The Good Mistress is almost like a stop sign, forcing us to relook at where we are. Our happiness is vital to our health and this very emotive tale encourages us to just slow down a little.

A very captivating read, The Good Mistress, is an intimate and evocative story, another well-crafted novel from this gorgeous writer.

[Thank you to Hachette Ireland for a copy of The Good Mistress in exchange for my honest review]

[ Bio ]

Born in Zambia, Anne Tiernan grew up in Navan, County Meath. She studied English Literature and Psychology at Trinity College Dublin and spent seven years working in banking.

Anne left Ireland with her husband in 2004 to travel the world, arriving in New Zealand in 2005 where they still live – now with three children together.

Anne’s debut novel, The Last Days of Joy, was shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award 2023. The Good Mistress is her second novel.
Instagram – @annetiernanwriter