For the first time in her life, Evie McCarthy sees Death coming for her. Clear as day. She just wants enough time to help her family realise the important things in life.
Her big-hearted granddaughter Rosie is in love again. She falls in love too quickly and this time it’s serious.
Rosie’s married sister, new mum Molly, is sleep deprived, exhausted and wondering what happened to her life.
Rosie and Molly’s mum, Yvonne, is hiding her own devastating secret. Something so shameful she can’t face the consequences.
Between the jigs and the reels, they pull one another up and over and come to understand that sometimes you have to give up the life you planned to get the life that’s meant for you.
Funny, poignant, real and engaging, Family Matters is a thoroughly captivating story of three generations of women, each facing down their troubles to find the power of family.
Read some great reviews from our Preview readers here:
Family Matters by Ellie O’Neill is an entertaining story about 3 generations of women. Set in Ireland, it is a charming story about Evie, Yvonne, Rosie and Molly. It is about love, a pub, a dating app, misunderstanding, forgiveness and so much more. Written with insight and humour, it is an engaging novel, and a great way to spend a wintery weekend, reading an enjoyable book. Lisa, QLD, 5 Stars
Ellie O’Neill’s new novel, Family Matters, centers its story-line around the varying problematic lives of three generations of Irish women: grandmother Evie, daughter Yvonne and granddaughters Rosie and Molly. O’Neill creates characters that the reader can easily empathise with, cleverly alternating each chapter to capture the issues being faced by each woman. As the reader continues to be drawn into their lives, matters of the heart are examined with warmth and wit. The author connects their reader to issues that we all encounter, including financial hardships, parenting and care-giving, old age, and the relationships within our life that we treasure. This is a thoroughly engaging read that will warm your soul on a cold winter’s day and remind us that family truly does matter. Genene, SA, 5 Stars
Family Matters is a story about relationships: finding love, losing love, rekindling love, and supporting each other through the trials and tribulations of life. The story is told by four strong women, related by blood, who are each dealing with their own issues, but whose stories are understandably entwined. I loved getting to know these characters and sharing their journeys of self-discovery. Neralie, SA, 5 Stars
Family Matters is a charming lighthearted look into three generations of Irish women, taking on life and love’s challenges. The characters of Molly, Rosie, Yvonne and Evie are very relatable and feel like you are catching up with old friends while flicking through the pages. This was a great book to curl up with and get lost in the character’s lives. Veronica, QLD, 5 Stars
Family Matters by Ellie O’Neill is a poignant story of three generations of women. It shares their everyday routines, their problems and issues and how they interact with each other. It demonstrates how women can support each other, through thick and thin. A true example of what families should be all about. A well written, engaging and relatable read. Samantha, QLD, 5 Stars
What a great book, loved it. With a lot of humour and down to earth advise mixed in it reinforces those old family values of sharing problems with the family can help make them a lot less. Terry, SA, 5 Stars
This book was amazing. I loved how the story was woven and the rich characters and descriptions were warm and inviting. I was not in the mood to read this book as I was sick with Flu. I thought this book would be depressing but gosh no it surprised me, I laughed, smiled. and cried. I loved the scene with the Mums in the park and life with young children. I could identify with the stories and life’s of Grandma Evie, daughter Yvonne and granddaughters Molly and Rosie; you got to feel their lives. I enjoyed the story how it travelled and how the stories of the characters were resolved . I will definitely be looking out for the next Ellie O’Neill book. Judith, NSW, 5 Stars
I enjoyed reading about the lives of the four main characters in the book – Evie, Yvonne, Molly and Rosie. They certainly had a lot going on, and achieved so much. Pushed to near breaking point, they still manage to support and be there for each other. Exactly what families should be all about. I look forward to reading more books by this Author. Annette, NSW, 5 Stars
Family Matters is set in a small town in Ireland, it focuses on three generations of women. There is the matriarch, Evie McCarthy who has the gift of second sight and is convinced Death is coming for her. Her daughter Yvonne, who has a secret that makes her ashamed and she refuses to face up to her issues. The third generation are sisters, Rosie and Molly. Rosie is single and in love, Molly has two small boys is constantly tired and feels she has lost control of her life. The women in the novel are all at crossroads in their lives, and like many families there are tensions and misunderstandings but through coming together to support each other they realise just what is important in life. I really enjoyed this novel, the characters are all dealing with situations that many women find themselves in being betrayed by a partner, facing financial difficulties, being overwhelmed with parenthood and facing up to growing older. They are paths many of us have to navigate, and this novel highlights that family really does matter. Jacky, QLD, 5 Stars
Matchmaking is in her family so Rosie thinks she has found the answer with her boyfriends new revolutionary app. Little did she know it is not what it seems. This book is modern and touches on many issues such as new mothers, relationships and family. I really enjoyed this book as it kept you interested the whole way through. Renee, QLD, 5 Stars
Ellie is a new author to me and I thoroughly enjoyed her story. We are introduced to the McCarthy family made up of Evie who is the matriarch with a talent for matchmaking, her daughter Yvonne who is trying to run the McCarthy Pub, and her two granddaughters Molly, who is a stay at home Mum of two little boys and Rosie who along with Simon is releasing a online matchmaking service DeLuvGuru. Each chapter focuses on one of the ladies and we learn about their lives and problems and how they interact with each other. The ladies are all believable and I felt I was there looking on as the story evolved. I loved Evie, she is a well liked member of the BallyHay township and confronts life full on tackling what ever comes along. She loves her family passionately and dives in to help them in any way she can. Evie reminds me of some very important ladies who have guided me as I have grown up. Dianne, VIC, 5 Stars
A thoroughly relatable family, love able and flawed. 3 generations of women, all dealing with their own hopes, dreams, expectations, and disappointments in life but still pulling together supporting each other. A really lovely, feel good, easy read. Perfect with a cup of tea, to steal a a quiet moment away from the chaos of everyday life. Megan, NSW, 5 Stars
How very lucky am I to be able to preview Ellie O’Neill’s latest and wonderfully heartwarming novel! I am actually all ready to read it again and get a few copies for family and friends when it launches in June! I started out a little confused as there are 4 female family perspectives which jump around chapter by chapter but it very quickly ties all in and makes sense and I love the mystical magic of the lovematching storyline. My heart broke for each of the women but at the same time, what strong wonderful role models to inspire and give each other support to be better versions of themselves and eventually to be happy. I don’t want to reveal any spoilers but this story tied up everything so very well at the end and my heart was on fire at the end! Preeya, QLD, 5 Stars
I loved Family Matters from start to finish, although I hope there will be a sequel. If you enjoy reading Monica McInerney, Sheila O’Flanagan or Maeve Binchy, you will really enjoy ready Family Matters. Humour, love, sadness and joy are all covered. Couldn’t put it down. Martina, SA, 5 Stars
Such a fabulous read. Family Matters by Ellie O’Neill ticked all the boxes, a beautiful engaging book that I couldn’t put down! Following the lives of three generations of women each facing their own problems they help each other as families do and come to the realisation that life’s journey is not always what you hoped for but you can still find happiness and contentment. A charming book, funny (laugh out loud funny), sad, comforting and hopeful. Superbly written with great strong believable characters. Highly recommend. Ilona, VIC, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed this fictional story set in Ireland about three generations of the McCarthy family. Evie, mother to Yvonne and grandmother to Rosie and Molly, and Great grandmother to Molly’s two sons. Evie reads tarot cards and has a supernatural gift for matchmaking. She believes she is dying and wants to ensure her family have some of this magic. It was glad the storyline did not delve too much into the supernatural aspect. Yvonne, Evie’s daughter, has left her husband and is struggling with her finances. She has taken over the family pub but has expensive taste and is prone to one too many shopping expeditions. Having the pub drowning in debt, she doesn’t know where to get help. Rosie got herself romantically involved with a con artist and is in trouble with the police for the possible fraud of unsuspecting customers of a match making app. Molly is stuck in a rut in her marriage with two young children and a husband that works long hours. I could relate to Molly the most as she and her partner deal with everyday life. An easy read, with some interesting story plots. Alyssa, VIC, 4 Stars
Great little feel good read. Perfect book to curl up on a cold rainy day with a cuppa and relax. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it 🙂 Katrina, QLD, 4 Stars
Written by Australian author Ellie O’Neill, this is a light heartened story about the three generations of women in the McCarthy family. Matriarch Evie, much loved by her daughter and granddaughters, is the voice of wisdom, the wise ear and the gentle guiding hand. Daughter Yvonne is dealing with the breakdown of her marriage, finding her identity and learning to be independent, all while feeling responsible for looking out for her mother and her adult daughters. Daughter Molly is a new Mum and experiencing sleep deprivation and all the joys that has including impacts on relationships and self confidence. Younger daughter Rosie is sweet and naïve, giving her trust and her heart too easily and inevitably gets burnt. An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by this author. Bree, NSW, 4 Stars
Family Matters is a heart warming and delightful Irish novel that sweeps between four strong women, all with their troubles. Matriarch Evie McCarthy can see death in her fate, she worries about her daughter Yvonne and her granddaughters, Rosie and Molly. Evie sets out to help her family see what matters in life. It wouldn’t be a cracking Irish tale without a family Pub, which recently divorced Yvonne has taken to running. New Mum Molly is exhausted and suspects her husband is having an affair, and Rosie whose perfect life is not so perfect after a decision that has disastrous consequences. As the novel unfolds each woman discovers that letting go of the life you planned will mean you will get the life you were meant to have. For lovers of stories by Beth O’Leary and Maeve Binchy grab a cuppa and find a spot to loose yourself in Ellie O’Neill’s novel Family Matters. Jennifer, NSW, 4 Stars
Set in Ireland, Family Matters tells the stories of three generations of women. Each have their own secrets and hardships to deal with but they also have the love and support of each other. Told in chapters depicting individual names, the lives of these beautiful women are woven together in a rich tapestry and, at the end of the day, wisdom, empathy and love shine through. Christina, NSW, 4 Stars
Set in both Dublin and a small village Ballyhay follows four women, A Grandmother, Evie who has dealt herself the death tarot card and is seeing signs of her upcoming death all around her. Evie’s daughter Yvonne who has brought and runs the family pub find herself in debt. Yvonne’s daughters Molly and Rosie, Molly a mother of two boys drowning in parenthood and no sleep and Rosie who has found herself caught up in an online scam. Even though only Evie has dealt the card and is recognising signs of death all four women are dealing with an ending. Coming together as a family they are able to deal with each other’s life circumstances and re-adjust to life’s plans. Well written with a good flow having the four stories helped as each story and experience was different. Crystal, TAS, 4 Stars
Not a book I would have normally buy but wow what delight this story was. An easy going read that did have me captivated. A delight to get to know this 4 generations of an Irish Family, their highs and lows, how family love and support helps to over come problems and find solutions. Throughly loved the great description of the Irish pub and how important it is to everyone. A lovely book, one I would highly recommend. Christine, QLD, 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, and I will be looking to read other books written by Ellie O’Neill in the future. Family Matters is about three generations of women who are dealing with the stresses and traumas in their lives. The impact of their secrets and discovering what is important to them. Family is the heart of the story and I especially loved 79 year old Evie McCarthy the town matchmaker. There was heart felt moments and the ending brought some final surprises. Readers of Fiona Lowe will enjoy this book. Julie, NSW, 4 Stars
Family Matters by Ellie O’Neill is a very light and easy read. Mainly set in a small Irish town, tells the stories of 4 women across 3 generations; 2 sisters, their mum and grandma as they go through the ups and downs of life, trying to find their comfort zone through all this. No matter what happens in their life be it problems or romance, family is central to everything. I could easily imagine these characters. Thank you #BRPreview @betterreadingau. Marice, NSW, 4 Stars
Ellie O’Neill’s book ‘Family Matters’ brings a touch of the Irish wear my heart on my sleeves honesty to family life of ups and downs. From grandmother Evie down to her granddaughter Rosie. The topics aren’t new approaching death, expected birth, possible marriage. This is a book where life’s experiences and lessons are shared by each individual times to laugh and cry – Evie, Yvonne, Anna etc… It’s like being invited in for a cuppa and learning the art of just listening. Enjoy the experience. Robert, QLD, 4 Stars
One of the things I love about signing up for review copies is encountering books I’d never normally select and thoroughly enjoying them. I’d have missed this tale of three generations of Irish women and would never have got to know them all. While I had some initial confusion about the various ladies with similar names, Evie and Yvonne plus Anna and Angela, they are all very distinct personalities with very different content. Each of the short chapters is from the perspective of a different character which really gives an insight into their relationships and how they all feel about each other and the problems they are going through. I really felt for them throughout all the stress and trauma they were going through which meant once I was over about 10% of the way through, the pace really started to pick up and I had to read the whole thing within a couple of sittings. Seeing the end approaching I started to see the obvious ways all the problems would resolve and worried it might be a bit twee or predictable but there were more than a few surprises and the final sentence is perfection. Richard, VIC, 4 Stars
What a feel good story with lots of life lessons! The author makes you fall in love with the characters, being their personal cheerleader! I laughed I cried I yelled. Such a great story! Christie, NSW, 3 Stars
The beginning was very good. I was immediately engaged with all the characters. I especially liked Evie probably because she is more my demographic. I felt the plot lost steam about half way through and I started to lose interest. The idea of the story was good. Janette, TAS, 2 Stars
Thank you for the preview copy. The story is about 3 generations of women from 1 family. It follows the women through their troubled times within their families, work and their personal/love lives. They all ultimately find the strength and power of their families. It is a light read and at times predictable. Julie, QLD, 2 Stars
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