The Moment We Meet

by Sheila O'Flanagan

Who you meet can change your life for ever...

A wonderful collection of short stories from Sheila O'Flanagan, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE MISSING WIFE and THE HIDEAWAY. The Moment We Meet was previously published as Destinations .

Featuring an exclusive Q&A with Sheila O'Flanagan...

Perfect for readers of Catherine Alliott and Marian Keyes.

A young PR girl has the night of her life at a glitzy work event and finds more than just her face splashed across the newspapers the next day.

Two women listen in on each other's phone calls and learn more about themselves than they ever expected.

And a wife faces up to the truth that her husband isn't a man she feels safe with.

Everyone aboard this train is on a journey - and they all have a story to tell...

Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan's bestselling

'Wonderfully escapist...captivating' Daily Express

'A beautiful backdrop to the story of a woman finding acceptance and new beginnings' Woman & Home

'A hugely enjoyable romance, written with pace and heart' Sunday Mirror

'Page-turner' Bella

'I read the book in one sitting as it was so enjoyable, full of romance and kept you riveted until the last page' Woman's Way

Genres: Fiction, Romance

279 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2018

About the author

As you can see, a Dubliner all my life. My parents owned a grocery shop in the Iveagh Markets, in the Liberties area of the city and I guess city blood runs through my veins.

As a child I enjoyed reading and telling stories and everyone thought that I end up in a job which had something to do with books and literature. But though I applied for a job in the library all of the job offers I got were in commerce.

I turned down lots of them before my mother accepted one for me (I was on holiday at the time). It was in the Central Bank of Ireland and that’s how my career in financial services began.

I started out in administration and then moved jobs until finally I was working as a dealer in a commercial bank. Eventually I was promoted to Chief Dealer (the first female CD in the country). I traded lots of different things – foreign exchange, swaps, options, bonds…all of the kind of things you read about in the papers and that sound very technical and difficult. Of course once you’re doing it, it’s not half as technical as it sounds.

But I still loved reading and writing (which I did in my spare time) and I desperately wanted to write my own book. I guess I never quite got over the fact that I was never offered the library job! In my thirties I decided that it was now or never and I sat down, stuck Chapter 1 on a page, and started. I wrote the whole thing before sending it off.

I was offered a publishing deal (with no advance) by an Irish company but only if I wrote a different book! So back to the drawing board, I started again. It was another two years before it was published. It wasn’t until I’d written a few books and was offered a contract (this time with an advance!) from another publisher that I felt able to give up my trading job and write full time. So, even though it took a long time, I eventually realised my dream of being a full-time writer.

And now I also write a business column for the Irish Times.

When I’m writing a book I want to do three things:

* Tell a good story
* Make the reader feel like they know the characters
* Make each book better than the last

I don’t write for any particular audience but I suppose I must have people like me in mind – people who have busy lives and who like to escape into someone else’s for a while.

I love writing books. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Reviews

[Frenchorchidea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very happy to have read this collection of short stories by Sheila O'Flanagan! I read in the past a book from the author which left me a strong impression, I remember that I absolutely loved it. So I was excited to read those short stories. Usually I am not very attracted to short stories but I was willing to give this book a try. And I am so happy that I did! Every single of those short stories was excellent and powerful. For every story, it was like taking a peak in someone's life. I really loved it. Also all the stories take place in Dublin, Ireland. And they all have in common the "Dart" this commute train that pass by Dublin. In every stories you have a mention to the Dart. I thought it was nice to have a common thing between all the stories. I really recommend this book, you will enjoy it for sure!!!!

[Hannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik kwam er achter dat ik dit boek al gelezen heb. Alleen toen had het een andere titel, waardoor ik het dus dubbel gekocht heb. Heel irritant dat uitgeverijen dat doen. Ik vind het echter de eerste keer ook al een leuk boek en deze versie is geüpdatet. Daarom heb ik besloten het nog een keer te lezen. Ook deze keer heb ik er weer van genoten. Aan het eind staat ook nog een kort interview met de schrijfster. Daarin legt ze ook uit waarom ze het geüpdatet heeft. Soms herkende ik wel elementen uit een verhaal, maar aangezien ik zoveel boeken lees, was ik veel ook alweer vergeten. Daarom vind ik het niet erg dat ik het nogmaals gelezen heb.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not usually fond of reading a collection of short stories and wasn't certain whether this would be a book that i would enjoy. So glad that i did choose this book to read, as i very much enjoyed the stories. Well written. I hope to read more books by this author. Recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising start with uneven execution.

The collection of short stories were clear, easy to read, and even humorous at times. So raw that I was close to DNF-ing with the overwhelming ick I got from the men in the stories. The first half of the book kept me intrigued with its variety of storylines and the interesting way some stories interweave between different characters from the same setting.

However, the second half falters somewhat. The stories focused more on single parenting, raising children, and marital affairs – that weren't always pleasant to read and led to repetition. Despite that, there were 2 stories that stood out to me:

1. Recycled lovers: Seapoint - Trigger Warning: mentions of fat-shaming, homophobia
The dramatic plot with a huge twist at the end felt like watching a soap opera, but there's no justification to the insults used (as mentioned in the TW)

2. Mirror image: Killester
Favourite quote: 'I didn't have to look the way I felt'

[Justkeepreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely compodium of stories. Sheila is always a wonderful storyteller and always makes the books she writes pop and sparkle to life with the characters jumping of the pages and straight into your hearts. This book is no exception and all the stories in this book are utterly delightful. Full of love, Christmas magic and sparkle. This book is really lovely.

[Tamsyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually avoid short stories, which I didn't realize this was at first, so I definitely struggled getting into it. Then.i realized it was silly, short stories are perfect for the quick morning or bedtime 10 minute read, so I started to get into it. A couple stories were really charming and provided the escapism I initially thought this would be. But then i remembered why else I don't like short stories....some twists were downright disturbing or uncomfortable, and there's no resolution. And then randomly in a book of 19 stories, 3 of them are related. But only those 3. I read a lot of Irish authors so I'm relatively familiar with their deep cultural mores, dark undertones to their witty warmth, and ubiquitous plotlines surrounding an unwanted pregnancy; all on display here. But I found the collection was a bit uneven...some were light and entertaining meet cutes, some were bleak, and one details spousal abuse fairly graphically but doesn't actually conclude. Maybe this is how all short stories are and it's the point, but I would prefer a satisfying wrap up to the domesic abuse story. Also if you're going to toss a kidnapping right at the end, can THAT be one of the stories that has a sequel?

[Amber T · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I’m just not the target audience, but this book was just… repetitive. There’s casual homophobia and sexism littered throughout a majority of the stories, and a recurring theme seems to be that being married with children is the most important thing for a woman. There’s a part where one of the characters explains that she isn’t a lesbian because “her name doesn’t have lesbian connotations”, whatever that means. In the same short story, the same character explains that her roommate isn’t a lesbian because “she isn’t a girl wanting to be a man” which is not only transphobic but doesn’t even slightly correlate with being a lesbian. Every character felt the same, no matter the situation they were in. I loved the premise of the book, but ultimately it was very disappointing and I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a collection of stories which have been updated and work well as a collection of short stories, some sad, some funny but all written in Sheila Flanagan ‘s own style.
I am a fan of the author and enjoy her books for the humour and realistic look on life. This collection is easy read and ideal for a lazy weekend.
Highly recommended.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the first book I read written by Sheila O'Flanagan and it was a great discovery.
The stories are lovely, entertaining, and enjoyable.
I loved the style of writing and the characters.
A very good book, recommended!
Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley

[Mary Geraghty · Rating 4 out of 5]

People watching

I love people watching, this book was all that and more. One I could do this from the comfort of my home, yet feel I was there. Great stories, as ever. Love these books. 😊

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable selection of stories to suit all tastes

[Helen Chester · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that has been renamed. Such a pity as I bought it not knowing. Love Sheila. but please stop republishing books under a different name.

[Georgie Hallgath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok book but unable to finish due to different storylines every new chapter

[Julie Howes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of small stories, really enjoyed them all.

[Ruby Yate · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars, nice, light hearted read, was super easy and quick to get through. was a nice book to read in between heavy reads.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a collection of stories which have been updated and work well as a collection of short stories, some sad, some funny but all written in Sheila Flanagan ‘s own style.
I am a fan of the author and enjoy her books for the humour and realistic look on life. This collection is easy read and ideal for a lazy weekend.
Highly recommended.

[LimeCream · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit slow off the mark downloading this, and it was archived before I got the chance, so I bought a copy to review.

I'm fond of a short story - great for those snatched moments of time - and I really enjoyed this collection. I felt this was a nice mix and that it worked well.

Thank you for approving my request to review, and apologies for not taking you up on the offer.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit this is the first book I have read by Sheila O'Flanagan and won't be the last. A really enjoyable read. Hreat storyline and characters. I wizzed through this quickly. I would definitely reccommend this to others. I can't wait to read some of her others.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
FABULOUS short stories for reading on the go can highly recommend this book to friends and family

[Safiyya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The stories were engaging, but somewhat unfulfilling developments. Still too in love with The Missing Wife - I recommend that book instead.