#Review The Family Next Door by Caroline Finnerty

August 2, 2023 Fee Boldwood Books, Rachel's Random Resources

#Review The Family Next Door by Caroline Finnerty
#TheFamilyNextDoor #bolwoodbloggers @boldwoodbooks @cfinnertywriter @rararesources

The Family Next Door

**No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors.**

On the quiet street of St Brigid’s Terrace in Dublin, Eileen Murphy lives alone at number 26 with her dog Dora. Virtually a recluse, she keeps herself to herself as she tries to come to terms with her tragic past.
Next door in number 28 lives beautiful Lucy Walsh, her husband Neil and their 5-year-old daughter Anabel. To Eileen, who watches from her window, the Walshes are the perfect family.
But one fateful night, Eileen is pulled into their world and she realises that Lucy Walsh’s life isn’t as perfect as she thought.
With the unexpected help from little Anabel, the women become a lifeline for each other to overcome the demons in their lives.
Through Eileen’s help, Lucy finds the courage to overcome her fears and in aiding Lucy, Eileen is forced to emerge from her solitary world and take baby steps to confront her own past.
As the bonds of friendship change these women forevermore will Lucy find the courage to forge a new life for herself and her daughter and will Eileen find it within herself to forgive for her old mistakes?

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/Familynextdoorsocial

REVIEW

**TW** Domestic Violence. Mental Health Issues

The old adage ‘No one really knows what goes on behind closed doors’ rings true for this tale. Form the outside looking in Eileen Murphy is virtually a recluse living with her dog Dora and rarely going out, and to her, her neighbours – Lucy who lives with her husband Neil and their daughter Anabel, with their flashy cars and show home quality interior seem to be the perfect family.

Each neighbour commenting and surmising on the other, but yet both woman are more alike than they will ever know until one night Eileen discovers that Lucy doesn’t have the perfect life after all. When Eileen tries to get Lucy to see sense after seeing her with a bruise that is hard to cover up with makeup – Lucy dismisses it as an accident, that is until Eileen has called to the house by Anabel and finds Lucy laying on the floor next to a pacing Neil.

Once Lucy is recovered she makes and effort to get to know Eileen and soon discovered that she has her own secrets from her past that led her this point in her life. Lucy and Eileen embark on a friendship of sorts brought together by there similarities, and in doing so Lucy tries to help Eileen undo the mistake from her past.

This was a great domestic drama, and despite all the heavy topics it was and engaging read.

5 stars

Author Bio –

Caroline Finnerty is an Irish author of heart-wrenching family dramas and has compiled a non-fiction charity anthology. She has been shortlisted for several short-story awards and lives in County Kildare with her husband and four young children.