A review by tessa_talks_books
Her Husband's Secret by Ann O'Loughlin

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 

What's it about (in a nutshell):

Her Husband's Secret by Ann O'Loughlin is the moving and masterfully plotted story of the secrets revealed when Cora's life partner died in a car accident across the ocean in Dublin, Ireland, as well as the complexities of love in all its many forms.

My Reading Experience:

I always enjoy the unearthing of secrets. It's so compelling and intriguing. How could I not? Not only what the characters lied about but why they are lying is what I tried to figure out alongside the main character as the story unfolds. There are plenty of mysteries and twists to hold my attention, too.

I loved how relatable the characters are and how easy it was to explore their lives with the empathy usually reserved for a close friend. Their causes became my causes, and I felt all the victories and defeats, sending me on an emotional rollercoaster that I didn't want to end.

I also found interesting the theme of love that ran throughout every vein of the story - the love between strangers, parents, children, spouses, or significant others, and even the redemptive qualities of love to some extent. The novel highlights how broad the concept of love is and how important.

Characters:

Cora was living the good life. A life partner she adored who adored her back. The beginnings of a successful career as an artist. Good friends and an excellent home rounded out her life Until the day her partner's boss came to the door, and her life turned upside down. Left with lots of questions and a house she didn't know about in Dublin, Cora sets out to find answers to her many questions.

Lily married a man her parents arranged to marry, leaving behind her true love, who disappeared soon after. Now a senior citizen, mother, and widower, she still finds herself comforted by the memories of lost love. She still lives in the same house she has lived in her whole life and has no thoughts of leaving.

Narration & Pacing:

The narration focuses on two characters. Cora, who is the main character, and Lily, who is her elderly neighbor in Dublin. Not focusing on Cora's tale slows up the story's pace. I tended to get a bit irritated when Cora's findings were interrupted by switching over to Lily and her tale. It could have been two novels - ones set in the same neighborhood type of companion novel.

Setting:

The story is set mainly in Dublin, Ireland, which I love. The setting is used chiefly discreetly by focusing on the changes happening to the city due to growth and increased crime. This is a sad reality, but the characters are fighting both in this story, which is a cause to get behind.

Read if you're in the mood for:

• A story that is full of insight and enlightenment
• Characters so well-developed that they instantly find a place in your heart
• The good that can come out of a bad situation