#BookReview of The Last Week of Him by Ruth O’Leary | @ruthwriter.bsky.social

The reunion they never wanted. The truth they can’t ignore.

[ About The Last Week of Him ]

Nora Cunningham is walking her dog on a Dublin beach when a message flashes on her phone that shatters her world.

In London, Fern O’Malley is on her way to rehearsals at the Globe Theatre when the same message shocks her to the core.

Clo Kennedy is in the arms of her lover in New York City when they both get the devastating message.

Danny O’Connor – once the golden boy of their secondary school and a member of their sixth-year drama group – has died suddenly at forty-nine, in their hometown of Belmullet on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

As the friends return to the west of Ireland for the week-long funeral and memorial, old wounds are reopened, and long-buried secrets rise to the surface. Emotions run high as drama unfolds. What truths have they been hiding from one another – and from themselves?

Set against a wild and rugged landscape, this gripping novel is a story of friendship, betrayal and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

[ My Review ]

The Last Week of Him by Ruth O’Leary published March 4th with Poolbeg Press and is described as a novel that is ‘perfect for readers who enjoy moving women’s fiction full of emotion, atmosphere, and unforgettable characters.‘ I really enjoyed both of Ruth’s previous novels, The Weekend Break and A Week to Remember, so I was really looking forward to diving in.

When three friends, Fern, Clo and Nora, receive a shocking text that their old school friend, Danny O’Connor, has suddenly died, they are all extremely upset. In school they had been very close, in particular during their final year, when they all had bonded in a drama group. In the years that followed they remained in contact, catching up whenever life allowed it, with the intention that reunions would always be on the cards in their future.

Fern, was the backbone of the school drama group, fulfilling her acting ambitions when she moved to London. On hearing the tragic news, she leaves rehearsals at The Globe Theatre, catching a flight home to Ireland. Fern’s parents are away on holidays so Fern extends an invite to Nora and Clo to stay with her. Growing up, Fern’s house was where they all loved to hang out. Her parents were both creative types with a home that radiated love and warmth. They encouraged Fern in her career and she considered her childhood to be a happy one. Fern has been meaning to speak with Nora and Clo about something for quite some time so she decides that Danny’s funeral is the perfect opportunity to have that long-overdue chat.

Nora, now living in Dublin with her young daughter, Millie, has had to rebuild her life following a traumatic divorce. As a self-employed landscaper, she has adapted to this new world but Danny O’Connor’s death has really taken the wind out of her sails. Nora returns to Belmullet dreading the funeral and all that it entails. Seeing Danny in a coffin is not something she feels she can cope with. She knows the girls will have her back but, she is nervous, because like Nora, she too needs to talk to them privately.

Clo is the vivacious and flirty friend who grew up in a difficult environment but has always tried to step outside of it. When in New York, she comes alive in the arms of her secret lover but when they both receive the news that Danny is dead, the jolt to them both is palpable. Clo is reticent to return back to Belmullet. She has her own secrets that she is afraid will spill out over the few days. Can she protect herself? Can she keep her family intact?

Nora, Fern and Clo share a long history, with each thinking they know everything about the other but nothing could be further from the truth. All arrive in Belmullet for one week and as the days roll by, threads start to unravel and snippets of information begin to reveal themselves. Can this friendship survive the ripple effects that will inevitably transpire?

Location plays an important role throughout Ruth O’Leary’s work. She is an avid traveller, documenting her adventures via her travel blog Rambling Ruth. In The Last Week of Him, the gorgeous Wild Atlantic Way is beautifully depicted bringing the sounds and smells of the west coast of Ireland very much to life. Ruth has a wonderful way of describing the women she writes about, making them all very accessible to her readers. Across the decades, Nora, Fern and Clo have loved and forgave as friends should. Now, they face a challenge that could be detrimental to their friendship, one which they have never envisioned. During this one week in Belmullet, as they gather together to bury their dear friend, can they hold the strings together…or has too much damage been done?

Ruth O’Leary writes very emotive stories about women, capturing the complex challenges of life. The Last Week of Him is an atmospheric tale, a tender exploration of love, grief, friendships and relationships, an endearing and heart-warming novel.

{Thank you to Poolbeg Press for a copy of The Last Week of Him in exchange for my honest review}

[ Bio ]

Ruth O’Leary is an Irish Times Bestseller who lives in Dublin Ireland and works as a freelance movie extra. Her debut novel, The Weekend Break, was published in March 2024. Her second novel A Week to Remember, set on the Camino de Santiago, was published in March 2025. She is represented by Kate Nash of Kate Nash Literary Agency, London.

Her work can be found on her website rutholearywriter where she writes a blog called Rambling Ruth combining her love of travelling and writing.
She is also very active on social media on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Substack as rutholearywriter.