The Sandycove Knitting Circle: A BRAND NEW heartwarming seaside story of friendship and new beginnings

by Siân O'Gorman

Discover the BRAND NEW uplifting beautiful read from BESTSELLER Sian O'Gorman Praise for Sian O'

'Utterly irresistible and joyful - the perfect summer read!' Faith Hogan

' Truly Amazing...Another outstanding story from Sian, you just can't go wrong with her books 📚,they are impossible to put down. I would definitely recommend that you read this book,you won't be disappointed.' - Reader Review

'A gorgeous story of friendship, community and starting over' Jessica Redland

'What a truly wonderful book. I loved everything about this book. Sian has the gift of story telling. Can't wait for her next book' - Reader Review

'A book with everything. A real 5 star read.' Claudia Carroll

'Loved this book. Fantastic book about life and love and families. I read it really quickly and thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t want it to end' - Reader Review

'Delicious! An upbeat, witty read about friends, family and following your dreams.' Gillian Harvey

'Joyful, uplifting and hugely entertaining tale about living life to the fullest, the power of friendship and finding your voice you are going to love' - *Reader Rev

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2026

About the author

For Once In My Life...

A Tale of Love, Discovery, and Second Chances...
In the bustling world of Dublin's advertising scene, Kitty O’Sullivan, a copywriter, feels an unexplainable void in her life that she can't quite pinpoint. Her five-year relationship with Dave is stagnant, her creative juices have dried up and she’s even entertaining thoughts of marriage as a cure-all! Something’s missing from her life but she can’t work out exactly what it is…

When Dave decides to take time out from ‘them’, Kitty finds herself momentarily liberated to explore life and have some fun. She and best friend Shazza are corralled into joining a five-aside football team where she meets the intriguing Sweetman brothers, Tom and Rory.

As they sail around the enchanting coast of Dublin, engage in fierce football battles and stumble upon a magical secret drinking den, Kitty falls in love with her new life - and her new self - but is it only temporary until Dave returns?

Will Kitty find the answers to life's mysteries and take charge of her future?

Join Kitty on this journey of love, self-discovery, and the pursuit of a life truly worth living.

Siân is on instagram as sianogorman1. Come and say hello!

Reviews

[Cindy P Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75⭐️’s I would have given this five stars, except for too many mentions of Oprah, who I believe has gotten lost along her way. As far as the book I adore this author and all of the Sandycove books. This one like all of the other ones is great at telling a story and developing characters that you can relate to along with wonderful examples of who they are and what developed them along their way. (Also many same people are in her books which I love) Should be on everyone’s summer beach or pool read list.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kerry-Anne was so immersed in grief she was about to settle for a dire man child like Millhouse. He wasn’t even second beat he was pond swill. Once Kerry-Anne accepted that she needed a holiday the story took off. Finding herself in Ireland and immersed at Sandycove she began to feel relaxed and her self belief grew. She began making friends and submerging herself in the healing waters and the female friendships she really needed. Once she saw the knitting she was hooked. This is a great sweet book which I really recommend.
I have read a few of this authors books and she doesn’t let you down.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

[Neha Thakkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful with a twist I saw coming from a mile away but still enjoyed!

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sandycove Knitting Circle by Sian O'Gorman is a wonderfully cozy and uplifting read that celebrates the power of friendship, community, and fresh starts. It's the kind of book that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy afternoon—comforting, heartfelt, and impossible not to enjoy.

What I loved most was the sense of community that runs through every page. The knitting circle is about so much more than yarn and patterns; it's a place where people find support, healing, and genuine connection. Each member brings their own struggles and personality to the group, and watching those relationships grow was one of the highlights of the story.

The characters felt authentic and relatable, each carrying emotional baggage while searching for happiness in their own way. I appreciated that no one's journey was perfect. Their personal growth unfolded naturally, making their triumphs feel earned and their setbacks believable. It was easy to become invested in their lives and root for them along the way.

The Irish coastal setting was another standout. O'Gorman paints such a vivid picture of Sandycove that I could almost imagine walking through the village myself. The charming atmosphere adds an extra layer of warmth to the story and perfectly complements its themes of home, belonging, and second chances.

The pacing is gentle and character-driven, which suited the novel well. There were a few slower moments where the story lingered a bit longer than necessary, but they also allowed the emotional connections between the characters to deepen.

Overall, The Sandycove Knitting Circle is a heartwarming and comforting novel about friendship, resilience, and finding family in unexpected places. If you enjoy uplifting women's fiction with charming small-town settings, memorable characters, and plenty of heart, this is a lovely book to curl up with.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a knitting circle in a seaside Irish village - being a knitter myself, how could I resist starting this one ?
I didn't take to Kerry-Anne at first, for a supposedly successful business woman she lacked serious self esteem, and the fact that she thought a wedding could be a good distraction from her grief, and even considered marrying Millhouse with all his stupid stipulations very much annoyed me.
The story improves once we get to Sandycove, and I enjoyed the setting there, and the descriptions of the village life, going sailing and swimming in the Irish sea, and the overall slice-of-life pace. There are many characters that are introduced, and the plot itself is predictable but enjoyable. However I continued to find Kerry-Anne a bit unlikeable and not that relatable, so her story never really moved me. Even the romance was not very engaging (but it's also a minor part in the plot). I also wish we could've gotten to know some of the secondary characters better, but with such a large cast it was just not possible.
The knitting circle and the history behind it were for me the most interesting aspects, and they were right that one of the more important things about knitting is the community that is built around it and being together - that part really resonated with me.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

After losing her best friend Caitlin, Boston business owner Kerry-Anne Daly needs a change - fast. Discovering her boyfriend's betrayal seals the deal. On impulse, she heads to Ireland and the seaside village of Sandycove, hoping for a quiet escape. Instead she finds something better. Drawn into village life, Kerry-Anne discovers the joys of sailing with lively Sylvia and her charming brother Henry, braving the forty foot icy waters, and embracing the kind of laughter she thought she'd lost. When a group of formidable women ask for help turning their knitting circle into a business, Kerry-Anne dives in, uncovering both opportunity and long-buried secrets beneath Sandycove's welcoming surface.

Kerry-Anne was grieving the loss of her friend Caitlin, so she went to Ireland to Sandycove, a place she had visited years ago, but never stayed. Kerry-Anne is a character that slowly grows on you. I didn't really care for the story that was set in Boston, but it did improve once we moved to the small Irish village of Sandycove. The story has been descriptively written and I found myself longing to be back on the Irish shores. There were quite a few characters to remember.

Published 12th July 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #SianOGorman for my ARC of TheSandycoveKnittingCircle in exchange for an honest review.

[Mo Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely enjoyed every minute I spent reading The Sandycove Knitting Circle. Warm, uplifting and full of heart, this is a beautiful story of friendship, healing and new beginnings, brought to life by a wonderfully welcoming cast of characters.

The real heart of the novel lies in the community of Sandycove. Every character adds something special, creating a seaside village that feels so authentic and inviting that I found myself wishing it really existed. The pacing allows Kerry-Anne's journey to unfold naturally, making her story both uplifting and rewarding to follow.

Having previously visited Sandycove through Sian O'Gorman's earlier novels, it felt like catching up with old friends. Although each book stands perfectly well on its own, returning to this charming community was an absolute pleasure.

A thoroughly enjoyable feel-good read that left me smiling long after I turned the final page. If only Sandycove were a real place, I think we'd all want to visit whenever life called for the healing power of friendship.

For my full review, visit my blog, MoMoBookDiary.

[Katie Awdas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I have read from the author and it won't be the last! I thoroughly enjoyed it and could feel myself in Ireland in Sandycove. I wasn't sure how I was going to find the book at the start of the story in Boston but once the story moved to Ireland I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was heart warming how the community came together and welcomed a newcomer. I myself thought the MMC sounded lovely (especially with a strong Irish accent!) and couldn't understand how the FMC could ever consider marrying Millhouse! The book was well written with lovely descriptions of the Irish seaside town.

I read the book in two sittings in just 24hours which I think shows how much I enjoyed it! I would certainly recommend it to others and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review a preview copy.

[Marianne Craenen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book of Siân O'Gorman's that I read, and definitely not my last. Kerry-Ann's best friend Caitlin has just passed away, and she thinks she should be fine. Her boyfriend Millhouse, Mil, fills in a few of the gaps, but making sure she works super hard, makes that she has no time to think of her grief. Then her mother decides it's time to marry and that Mil would be a perfect match. When she proposes to him he agrees, but does have a whole set of rules she will have to follow. And then she decides to take a week of vacation, to think about Mil and their future life, and goes to a small Irish village. I won't tell how the week goes, besides that it starts in pouring rain, but by the end of the book I wanted to go there too to see the area, eat the food and meet all the wonderful people.

Please keep writing Siân and 'show' me more of Ireland!!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading anything by Sian O'Gorman. As a knitter and a grief coach, the description caught my attention and I truly loved it. This was a cozy and hopeful book about what it means to move forward after losing someone that means so much to you. I loved the knitting aspect--though turning knitting into a business seems like a stretch, it was a great move in the book. I loved this as a summer read, but can see it being something that one would turn to in the gloomier months when you needed a bit of hope. The theme of sailing is also awesome as it's not something I'm familiar with, but I could see how healing this would be!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Kalexreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry-Anne thinks she has everything together, especially how she's dealing with her best friend's death. It takes finding out some truths about her boyfriend/sort of fiancee to kick her into gear. She takes a very impromptu vacation to Sandycove in Ireland to try to get things back into perspective. Instead, she finds so much more than she thought she would. She rekindled her love for the type of work she's been doing. She finds her self-respect, and she finally begins to grieve her best friend's death. I loved the characters and the slight twist about some family secrets that came to light. It was very light on the romance, but it was a really lovely story about finding yourself. Loved it!!!

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay story, but I struggled with the beginning. The FMC was so focused on getting married that she was willing to settle for a man who was clearly not right for her, which made it difficult for me to connect with her choices. That said, I think that frustration was intentional and helped set up her growth throughout the story.

Once the additional characters were introduced, the book really came to life. The relationships became more engaging, the story gained heart and charm, and I found myself much more invested in what was happening. While the first part was a bit of a hurdle for me, the second half was much stronger and ultimately made this an enjoyable read.

[Joanne Rawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet, feel-good story. Kerry-Ann has been grieving the loss of her best friend when she's encouraged to take a trip. She ends up in the town of Sandycove, Ireland and immediately seems to fall into place in the town. Drawn into life in the town Kerry- Ann learns to sail, braves the cold water for refreshing dips in the sea that remind her of her own childhood, and starts to talk about the friend she lost. She tries to help reinstate the Sandycove Knitting Circle when asked and makes all sorts of wonderful new friends. She slowly feels herself falling in love, not just with the place, but with all the people she finds. I just loved it.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorably wonderful story that takes place in a delightful Irish town on the Irish SEa. Kerryanne left Boston, her work, and her supposed fiance in a rapid departure to work out things in her life. She travelled to Sandycove, a place she had been to but never stayed. The death of her best friend plus exaggerated stipulations to marriage from her fiance has caused her to question everything. Sandycove proves to be just what she needs-new friends, a business proposition, and a chance at real love.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read and review this book.

I haven't read any book by this author before, but the book title, cover and description caught my attention. It sounded like my kind of book!

Initially I didn't like the main character if I'm honest, she frustrated me and if I could have grabbed her and shook some sense into her I would have! But I'm guessing this is what the story is about. She did see sense (not giving away any spoilers) and I did grow to love her.

After a few chapters I started to enjoy where the story was going.

It has the happy ending I was hoping for- perfect.

I'll certainly look out for more books by Sian O'Gorman.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy Sian O’Gormans books, as they are full of lively characters and a wonderful sense of community. In this book, Kerry-Anne is mourning her best friend Caitlin, and her world is drab. She heads to Ireland for a break and finds a whole new world, which also has links to her grandmother and a tragedy that happened 50 years ago. I particularly enjoyed the depictions of Millhouse and had several chuckles, as well as appreciating the feisty older women of Sandycove. This a wonderful warm, humorous and engaging book that also looks at grief and how it is handled. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sharing this book with me.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the Sandycove Knitting circle. Although the story isn't heavy with the mechanics of the craft of knitting it honors the tradition and skill. This book tells of grief recovery, love, sailing, old friendships and new. Old lifestyles are put in the past as Kerry-Anne Daly finds herself again as she takes a much needed holiday leaving Boston heading to her grandmother's homeland.
I really enjoyed this book and the characters who have stories to tell.
Five stars from me along with my thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to early read.

[Stephanie Bull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this gorgeously uplifting story. It starts in the USA with Kerry-Anne, a successful business woman who is consumed with grief. She has an on/off no apparent strings attached relationship with the most infuriating, bombastic character I have met in a long while. Kerry-Anne is pressured into taking a well deserved holiday and travels to Ireland, the birthplace of her beloved maternal grandmother.

This is a delightful tale full of community and the power of friendship. Full of character driven joy and wonderful descriptions of the Irish landscape this is the perfect book to enjoy on holiday, at the beach or lazing in the garden. Whilst the plot was a touch predictable it was no less upbeat, heartfelt and charming for it. I have read books by Sian O'Gorman before, this is one of her best.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for my draft copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

[Julie Brookes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely book, I have seen that there are others in this series but this felt like a stand alone novel.

The MFC was a little irritating to start with but I think this was intentional to see how she grew, the characters were very well written and Sandycove sounds like a wonderful place and although there is a Knitting Circle this was not a massive part of the book.

This is a first for my by this author but I don't think it will be the last.

I did a mixture and reading and audio book

Give yourself a treat and pick up this book

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Sandycove Knitting Circle, by Sian O'Gorman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Kerry-Anne is not the most likable character, wanting to marry a man, who is a walking red flag, screams desperation and no self esteem. I loved that she went to Ireland, but it didnt make her more likeable, unfortunately. I loved the setting, but not the main character.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Sandycove Knitting Circle by Sian O'Gorman, published by Boldwood Books

Another great story about Sandycove! Different characters, all the feel-good and happy ending.
I enjoyed the characters, they were well introduced and described.  Good plot with lots going on, friendships to be made and the past to make peace with.
I have ready several of Sian's Sandycove Books and enjoyed them all. This was very good and I'd recommend has a great cozy read.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sweet story but, also a good one. It's mainly set in Ireland which was interesting and it also involved knitting which is one of my hobbies so, I found that side of the story Interesting too. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Kimberley Horning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story - Ireland, knitting, loss & love

Very enjoyable story and characters; although you smh at Kerry-Ann. goodness for new friends, peace, healing of Ireland.
Definitely want to seek out hand made cardigans, soda bread and sailing.

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book a struggle I didn't really like Kerry-Anne character and found the book boring
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely gentle read with themes of grief, friendship and community running throughout.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grand gentle read.
As always the author takes you to a delicious place of escapism.
It took me a few chapters to get into this but once I was I was hooked.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is new to me. I really enjoyed the book. A story of life, friends and family. I look forward to reading more of Sian’s books.

[patricia mctaggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story ...Give us more

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale

One of the better stories I've read. Heartwarming, family oriented, fun. Great characters. Made me want to visit Sandy cove.