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Keeping It in the Family
It's tricky for Niamh O'Flaherty, growing up in a North London home that's a shrine to all things Irish. But it's even trickier being an adult and realizing that her family expects her to settle down with a nice Irish lad. When Niamh finally meets the love of her life he is the last person she would expect to fall for her.
357 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
76 people are currently reading
1117 people want to read
About the author
Sinéad Moriarty
31 books497 followersSinéad was born and raised in Dublin where she grew up surrounded by books. Her mother is an author of children’s books. Growing up, Sinead says she was inspired by watching her mother writing at the kitchen table and then being published. From that moment on, her childhood dream was to write a novel.
After university, she went to live in Paris and then London. It was at the age of thirty, while working as a journalist in London that she began to write creatively in her spare time – after work, at lunch times … and, truth be told, during work hours.
After a couple of years toying with ideas, she joined a creative writing group and began to write The Baby Trail. The bitter-sweet comedy of a couple struggling to conceive hit a nerve in publishing circles. It was snapped up by Penguin Publishing in the UK and Ireland and has, to date, been translated into twenty languages.
Since writing The Baby Trail, Sinead has moved back to Dublin where she lives with her husband, two sons and baby girl.
Her second book A Perfect Match has been published worldwide. The US version of A Perfect Match is called The Right Fit. Her third novel – From Here to Maternity – is the third installment of the Emma Hamilton series. Her fourth book – In My Sister’s Shoes – is about two sisters who help save each other. Her fifth book has been published under two different titles: Whose Life Is It Anyway? in Ireland and Keeping it in the Family in the UK.
Her sixth book, Pieces of my Heart, about a family dealing with a terrible crisis, went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Her seventh book – Me and My Sisters – went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Her most recent novel Mad About You is the fourth novel in the Emma Hamilton Series.
After university, she went to live in Paris and then London. It was at the age of thirty, while working as a journalist in London that she began to write creatively in her spare time – after work, at lunch times … and, truth be told, during work hours.
After a couple of years toying with ideas, she joined a creative writing group and began to write The Baby Trail. The bitter-sweet comedy of a couple struggling to conceive hit a nerve in publishing circles. It was snapped up by Penguin Publishing in the UK and Ireland and has, to date, been translated into twenty languages.
Since writing The Baby Trail, Sinead has moved back to Dublin where she lives with her husband, two sons and baby girl.
Her second book A Perfect Match has been published worldwide. The US version of A Perfect Match is called The Right Fit. Her third novel – From Here to Maternity – is the third installment of the Emma Hamilton series. Her fourth book – In My Sister’s Shoes – is about two sisters who help save each other. Her fifth book has been published under two different titles: Whose Life Is It Anyway? in Ireland and Keeping it in the Family in the UK.
Her sixth book, Pieces of my Heart, about a family dealing with a terrible crisis, went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Her seventh book – Me and My Sisters – went straight in at number 1 in the Irish charts and was nominated for an Irish Book Award.
Her most recent novel Mad About You is the fourth novel in the Emma Hamilton Series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
September 17, 2013
Loved it!!! Everything about the books was good. Sensitive, humorous, great story about a conservative Irish family dealing with Niamh and her new lover Pierre - a man that was everything they did not wish for in a son-in-law. The honesty and wit was refreshing. I will for sure find more of her books to read. This first encounter was a great one. We all will recognize our own families and histories in it.
September 1, 2019
This is the first book I have read by Sinèad Moriarty, but it won't be my last.
I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.
I found myself laughing out loud on a number of occasions.
December 24, 2018
I absolutely adored this wonderful book.
December 18, 2012
Det er altså mit liv er den sjoveste bog jeg længe har læst i Chick-flik genren. Den giver et rigtig godt indblik i hvordan det er at finde den eneste ene, som har en anden tros retning ind en selv, er ældre ind en selv og som er en helt anden ind den ens familie gerne ville have man fandt.
Foruden at give et godt indblik i at være irere og opvokset i England, er den rigtig sjov, samtidig med at den tager emner om som f.eks. at få barn ung, gøre hvad man vil.
Det er altså mit liv, er blevet en af mine ynglingsbøger i Chick-flik genren, den er anderledes, ind de andre bøger jeg har læst f.eks. Marian Keyes.
Sinéad Moriaty er efterhånden kommet op ved siden af Marian Keyes som min ynglings forfatter i Chick-flik genren.
Whose Life is it Anyway? is the funniest book in the chick-flik genre, I have read in a longtime. The book gives a good impression about how it is to find the one you want to marry, who has another faith then you, is a lot older then you and who is not the Man, that your family thought you would marry.
Besides giving a good view of how it is to be Irish and grow up in England. The book is really good and funny, and takes care of subjects like to have a baby, when you are young, do as you want etc.
Whose Life is it Anyway?, has becomed one of my favourite books in the Chick-flik genre, the book is diffent then for example Marian Keyes books.
Sinéad Moriaty is about to be, together with Marian Keyes one of my favorite authors in the Chick flik genre.
Foruden at give et godt indblik i at være irere og opvokset i England, er den rigtig sjov, samtidig med at den tager emner om som f.eks. at få barn ung, gøre hvad man vil.
Det er altså mit liv, er blevet en af mine ynglingsbøger i Chick-flik genren, den er anderledes, ind de andre bøger jeg har læst f.eks. Marian Keyes.
Sinéad Moriaty er efterhånden kommet op ved siden af Marian Keyes som min ynglings forfatter i Chick-flik genren.
Whose Life is it Anyway? is the funniest book in the chick-flik genre, I have read in a longtime. The book gives a good impression about how it is to find the one you want to marry, who has another faith then you, is a lot older then you and who is not the Man, that your family thought you would marry.
Besides giving a good view of how it is to be Irish and grow up in England. The book is really good and funny, and takes care of subjects like to have a baby, when you are young, do as you want etc.
Whose Life is it Anyway?, has becomed one of my favourite books in the Chick-flik genre, the book is diffent then for example Marian Keyes books.
Sinéad Moriaty is about to be, together with Marian Keyes one of my favorite authors in the Chick flik genre.
August 24, 2009
I think this story was quite close to my heart, as it deals with the issue of a mixed race relationship (and I detest that phrase really, I mean, we're all from the human race are we not!) The central characters are Niamh, bought up in England, but with parents who are proud to celebrate their Irishness at every turn (which makes for some fun reading), and Pierre, the man Niamh has fallen in love with, who couldn't be less Irish if he tried, as he happens to to be French Carribean and black. The story flashes back to her childhood, where you learn how much her family means to her, and why she is worried about their reaction to the relationship. I did enjoy the book, but felt it would have been better if Pierre's character had been explored a little more, and his feelings on the rascism issue expanded on. But, for a lighthearted read, it's enjoyable and I would recommend it, just don't take it for a true reflection of a mixed race relationship, well, not one I've ever come across anyway.
January 31, 2014
3.5 out of 5. This is the first novel I've read by this author and definitely won't be my last! Looking forward to checking out her other novels.
October 20, 2022
I love Sinead Moriarty and all her books. I have never had a book from her that was any lower than five stars, that is a feat on its own. I recommend this author and her books.
January 9, 2026
When I first saw the title, my mind immediately packed its bags and took a trip to the thought called ‘pregnancy’. No hesitation. Straight to “family way.”
So before I even opened the book, I was already armed with my assumptions. Add the illustrated cover, and I was certain this was going to be one of those soft, cheesy, slice-of-life books that I read like once a month because I can’t afford being lost in such mushiness.
Keeping it in the Family follows Niamh, an Irish woman living in London, who falls in love with Pierre, a tall, dark, and handsome man.
Normally, “tall, dark, and handsome” is just code for mysterious white man with good hair. Not here. This time, it is a Black man. Literally, the description finally did what it said.
Unfortunately, her family finds it difficult to accept him, and she has to make a long journey to reconcile the family she lives with and the man she cannot live without.
The story moves between past and present, showing us Niamh as a child and as an adult, and somehow also squeezes in her work as a columnist. On paper, it seems excessive. In practice, it works beautifully. The timelines flow into each other without confusion, and the book never feels messy or overwhelming.
One of the book’s biggest strengths, and honestly, its highlight for me, is how it handles race, and it does this with humour. While the book never turns this into a heavy lecture, it doesn’t shy away from the discomfort either.
You can feel Niamh’s loud anxiety about introducing Pierre to her parents, and for good reason. The funniest thing is that her family prides itself on being kind, generous, and welcoming. They pay people’s debts. They help everyone. They are “good people.”
Until it’s their daughter bringing home a Black man.
What makes this storyline work is how hypocritical it all is, and how the author allows that hypocrisy to be both funny and uncomfortable at the same time.
The man’s family, who initially seem intimidating and very sophisticated, end up being far more open and accepting than Niamh’s own parents, which is ironic.
Alongside this, we also get a very funny and very real look at family dynamics, especially around pregnancy. Niamh grows up as the middle child, feeling overlooked and unloved until her seventeen-year-old sister gets pregnant and suddenly, everything shifts. Watching how quickly attention, disappointment, pride, and judgment rearrange themselves is both sad and hilarious.
The pregnancy storyline itself is handled with honesty. The parents are furious, determined that the boy will “do the right thing” and make an honest woman of their daughter by marrying her.
His parents, meanwhile, are loudly less enthusiastic. Eventually, the boy’s father comes around and tries to make peace, but his mother never does, not even after the baby is born. Then, just when everyone thinks they’ve adjusted, the daughter gets pregnant again.
The disappointment is real, especially because she’s clearly brilliant, but what stands out is that the mother still shows up. Angry, frustrated, but present. That loyalty runs through the entire book.
At its core, Keeping It in the Family is about community. About how family can be suffocating, intrusive, and overbearing, but also deeply loving. It shows that even when love is flawed, even when people mess up repeatedly, there is still comfort in knowing you belong somewhere. You still have people.
This book is warm, funny, and honest. It just tells the truth about families: how they disappoint you, how they surprise you, and how, somehow, they still show up. And yes, it was much funnier than I expected.
So before I even opened the book, I was already armed with my assumptions. Add the illustrated cover, and I was certain this was going to be one of those soft, cheesy, slice-of-life books that I read like once a month because I can’t afford being lost in such mushiness.
Keeping it in the Family follows Niamh, an Irish woman living in London, who falls in love with Pierre, a tall, dark, and handsome man.
Normally, “tall, dark, and handsome” is just code for mysterious white man with good hair. Not here. This time, it is a Black man. Literally, the description finally did what it said.
Unfortunately, her family finds it difficult to accept him, and she has to make a long journey to reconcile the family she lives with and the man she cannot live without.
The story moves between past and present, showing us Niamh as a child and as an adult, and somehow also squeezes in her work as a columnist. On paper, it seems excessive. In practice, it works beautifully. The timelines flow into each other without confusion, and the book never feels messy or overwhelming.
One of the book’s biggest strengths, and honestly, its highlight for me, is how it handles race, and it does this with humour. While the book never turns this into a heavy lecture, it doesn’t shy away from the discomfort either.
You can feel Niamh’s loud anxiety about introducing Pierre to her parents, and for good reason. The funniest thing is that her family prides itself on being kind, generous, and welcoming. They pay people’s debts. They help everyone. They are “good people.”
Until it’s their daughter bringing home a Black man.
What makes this storyline work is how hypocritical it all is, and how the author allows that hypocrisy to be both funny and uncomfortable at the same time.
The man’s family, who initially seem intimidating and very sophisticated, end up being far more open and accepting than Niamh’s own parents, which is ironic.
Alongside this, we also get a very funny and very real look at family dynamics, especially around pregnancy. Niamh grows up as the middle child, feeling overlooked and unloved until her seventeen-year-old sister gets pregnant and suddenly, everything shifts. Watching how quickly attention, disappointment, pride, and judgment rearrange themselves is both sad and hilarious.
The pregnancy storyline itself is handled with honesty. The parents are furious, determined that the boy will “do the right thing” and make an honest woman of their daughter by marrying her.
His parents, meanwhile, are loudly less enthusiastic. Eventually, the boy’s father comes around and tries to make peace, but his mother never does, not even after the baby is born. Then, just when everyone thinks they’ve adjusted, the daughter gets pregnant again.
The disappointment is real, especially because she’s clearly brilliant, but what stands out is that the mother still shows up. Angry, frustrated, but present. That loyalty runs through the entire book.
At its core, Keeping It in the Family is about community. About how family can be suffocating, intrusive, and overbearing, but also deeply loving. It shows that even when love is flawed, even when people mess up repeatedly, there is still comfort in knowing you belong somewhere. You still have people.
This book is warm, funny, and honest. It just tells the truth about families: how they disappoint you, how they surprise you, and how, somehow, they still show up. And yes, it was much funnier than I expected.
January 11, 2026
Summary:
Niamh O’Flaherty grew up in a proud Irish household in London – where the doorbell sings out Danny Boy, the garden gnomes are leprechauns & Irish dancing lessons are mandatory. When she goes to university in Dublin, her family hoped she would meet & settle down with a lovely Irish lad. So when Niamh falls for Pierre, she knows her family is not going to be happy. Pierre is a lot older than her. He’s not Catholic. He’s black. And he’s French 😊
My Thoughts:
This is such a fabulous book. At times it is touching and at other times it is hilarious. It won’t be just Irish eyes that will be smiling 😊
My Rating: * * * *
Niamh O’Flaherty grew up in a proud Irish household in London – where the doorbell sings out Danny Boy, the garden gnomes are leprechauns & Irish dancing lessons are mandatory. When she goes to university in Dublin, her family hoped she would meet & settle down with a lovely Irish lad. So when Niamh falls for Pierre, she knows her family is not going to be happy. Pierre is a lot older than her. He’s not Catholic. He’s black. And he’s French 😊
My Thoughts:
This is such a fabulous book. At times it is touching and at other times it is hilarious. It won’t be just Irish eyes that will be smiling 😊
My Rating: * * * *
November 10, 2023
I loved this book. I really didn't want it to end. I wanted to follow Niamh (pronounced Neeve), . I liked the humour in this book; I laughed out loud several times at the conversations between the characters. I love the story of the big, loud, interfering family, and how everyone navigates through the drama.
May 9, 2017
Another fun story about a girl/woman who has to find her own voice. She always feel confused by being Irish in England. Which is her world and when she meets the most wrong mr right how can she convince her family he is perfect for her. I loved the back and forth in time and her family insanity. Sally taking care of business and everyone just taking care of each other.
June 28, 2018
Fantastic read
This book is only my second read by this very talented author. Her sense of humour is very real and the warmth between the characters is very down to earth. I was really rooting for Niamh and Pierre being in a mixed marriage myself. A lovely ending and proof that love makes the world go round. I look forward to reading more of the same from this author.
This book is only my second read by this very talented author. Her sense of humour is very real and the warmth between the characters is very down to earth. I was really rooting for Niamh and Pierre being in a mixed marriage myself. A lovely ending and proof that love makes the world go round. I look forward to reading more of the same from this author.
May 17, 2020
A romance between two exceedingly different people - Niamh and Pierre. They seem to be able to cope well with their differences but their parents are problematic.
Moriarty is an Irish writer and her writing style has been compared to Marian Keyes.
Moriarty is an Irish writer and her writing style has been compared to Marian Keyes.
October 15, 2021
Funny heart warming read.
Thank you Sinead Moriarty for a writing this book. I have been reading bits out to my husband and laughing out loud. I was brought up RC in England and could relate to it all. The low key humour was spot on and I loved everyone portrayed.
Thank you Sinead Moriarty for a writing this book. I have been reading bits out to my husband and laughing out loud. I was brought up RC in England and could relate to it all. The low key humour was spot on and I loved everyone portrayed.
March 25, 2023
It's a Good Book Telling Story of Irish Girl Fell in Love with a Black Man. At the Start and The End it's Interesting But In the Middle It might Feel Little Boring. Although You may Feel that You're also part of the Book and Living Inside the Story.
March 15, 2025
Well this was a great book which had me in absolute stitches 🤣 I literally felt like I was there with them all. Sentimental, humorous yet sensitive. Sinead Moriarty is a great author with a warm sense of humour. This book proves love really does make the world go around.
March 29, 2018
Excellant story, kept me interested to the point of not wanting to put it down.
May 2, 2019
Funny, smart, and adorable in a lot of ways. Fast paced chick-lit novel filled with family mishaps and emotional moments that kept me interested and on the edge of my seat.
May 8, 2019
I loved this book. It had me laughing out loud, crying giggling. I just loved it !
November 2, 2019
Gentle holiday read about an Irish family and their relationships.
April 26, 2020
Really enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down!
June 2, 2020
A light hearted read about the problems that can occur in family life if different religions and cultures appear!! You cannot help who you fall in love with!
December 23, 2020
Loved it! Funny and cute
June 7, 2021
Wacky sense of humor - fun read.
"...had obviously decided that cashmere was cashmere..."
3 1/2 *
"...had obviously decided that cashmere was cashmere..."
3 1/2 *
November 12, 2021
A light read - a straight forward story. Well written but a bit to cheasy for me
November 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book even though initially I thought of ditching it a free chapters in. It moved along at a good speed. It had a good story. It made me laugh out loud!
March 5, 2024
Brilliant
It's been a while since I've laughed out loud whilst reading., one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Definitely will follow Sinead moriarty now. Brilliant
It's been a while since I've laughed out loud whilst reading., one of the funniest books I've read in a long time. Definitely will follow Sinead moriarty now. Brilliant
February 22, 2025
Really enjoyed the wit in this book.
July 28, 2025
very funny
August 15, 2025
Hilarious!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews