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Belfast Girls
'Belfast Girls' is the story of three girls - Sheila, Phil and Mary - growing up into the new emerging post-conflict Belfast of money, drugs, high fashion and crime; and of their lives and loves.
Sheila, a supermodel, is kidnapped. Phil is sent to prison. Mary, surviving a drug overdose, has a spiritual awakening.
It is also the story of the men who matter to them -
John Branagh, former candidate for the priesthood, a modern Darcy, someone to love or hate. Will he and Sheila ever get together? Davy Hagan, drug dealer, 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. Is Phil also mad to have anything to do with him?
Although from different religious backgrounds, starting off as childhood friends, the girls manage to hold onto that friendship in spite of everything.
A book about contemporary Ireland and modern life. A book which both men and women can enjoy - thriller, romance, comedy, drama - and much more ....
Sheila, a supermodel, is kidnapped. Phil is sent to prison. Mary, surviving a drug overdose, has a spiritual awakening.
It is also the story of the men who matter to them -
John Branagh, former candidate for the priesthood, a modern Darcy, someone to love or hate. Will he and Sheila ever get together? Davy Hagan, drug dealer, 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. Is Phil also mad to have anything to do with him?
Although from different religious backgrounds, starting off as childhood friends, the girls manage to hold onto that friendship in spite of everything.
A book about contemporary Ireland and modern life. A book which both men and women can enjoy - thriller, romance, comedy, drama - and much more ....
390 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 25, 2010
55 people are currently reading
401 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 17, 2020
Belfast Girls is a very interesting and engaging glimpse at a group of lives of young people as they grow up through the early ‘Post-Troubles.’
The main thrust follows three women from childhood, through university and beyond as they each encounter success, failures and often suffer from the murkier side of humanity.
It’s a great book; one that manages to juggle various storylines and time periods. It contains elements of crime fiction, romance and comedy and mixes them together into a satisfying read.
The main thrust follows three women from childhood, through university and beyond as they each encounter success, failures and often suffer from the murkier side of humanity.
It’s a great book; one that manages to juggle various storylines and time periods. It contains elements of crime fiction, romance and comedy and mixes them together into a satisfying read.
April 24, 2021
Sooooo badly written. I don’t know why I persevered.
September 26, 2011
"BELFAST GIRLS" BY GERRY MCCULLOUGH
I loved this book. Ireland has always been an interest of mine and learning more about it from this book was simply amazing. The story of two girls, Shelia and Phil and their life in Belfast, Ireland as they go from being children to teenagers and finally adults is touching enough. Though when you begin to toss in a few boys here and there especially John Branagh and Davy Hagan, life starts to get a bit difficult.
Two girls, hopelessly in love with two boys, one destined for the priesthood and trying to live a good life, the other into mob activity, drugs, and all kinds of trouble. They lead these two girls on such an adventure and even though Shelia and Philomena know they should turn away and forget them, it's impossible when they keep popping back up in their lives.
A touching story and at the same time a fantastic parody of modern life in Ireland, Gerry McCullough has written a wonderful book. I would place this high on the list of to-reads!
Kitty Bullard /Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
I loved this book. Ireland has always been an interest of mine and learning more about it from this book was simply amazing. The story of two girls, Shelia and Phil and their life in Belfast, Ireland as they go from being children to teenagers and finally adults is touching enough. Though when you begin to toss in a few boys here and there especially John Branagh and Davy Hagan, life starts to get a bit difficult.
Two girls, hopelessly in love with two boys, one destined for the priesthood and trying to live a good life, the other into mob activity, drugs, and all kinds of trouble. They lead these two girls on such an adventure and even though Shelia and Philomena know they should turn away and forget them, it's impossible when they keep popping back up in their lives.
A touching story and at the same time a fantastic parody of modern life in Ireland, Gerry McCullough has written a wonderful book. I would place this high on the list of to-reads!
Kitty Bullard /Great Minds Think Aloud Literary Community
Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...
October 9, 2011
I downloaded a free sample from Amazon for my kindle.I have read the sample which is basically the first few chapters ( to chapter 8).I have done this many times with recommended books and then I click on 'buy now' and buy the book! BUT not this time.......the sample was enough for me to realise that this book was not for me!In my opinion it is poorly written and to be quite frank - I don't know how the publisher agreed to publish it!
You know - this really annoys me - three of the people here Kristen, Dave and Bill who have rated this book with 5 stars have only read and rated ONE book! ....and Raymond is clearly related and Gerry is obviously the author - the average rating is therefore skewed!!!!!!!!!
You know - this really annoys me - three of the people here Kristen, Dave and Bill who have rated this book with 5 stars have only read and rated ONE book! ....and Raymond is clearly related and Gerry is obviously the author - the average rating is therefore skewed!!!!!!!!!
April 25, 2014
Belfast Girls follows the lives of three girls from girlhood to adulthood. As they grow up, their social circle expands, sometimes including unsavory characters intent on dragging them down. Their early adult lives are marred by the gangsters and drugs which eventually shape all their lives in very different ways. Sheila is a level-headed, career-driven woman who becomes a model. Though she could settle down with any number of men (movie stars, race car drivers), she can't keep her mind off John, her university crush whose strict made-up rules come between them. Phil has a solid moral backbone, but has blinders on when it comes to Davy. She's willing to overlook her own sense of right and wrong, and even willing to lose everything, to protect her lover. Mary succumbs early on to the lure of drugs and partying, but finds happiness in spirituality. The three friends live very separate lives, but always seem to find their way back to each other, with their friendships not only intact, but stronger than ever.
From the very start, Belfast Girls was a book I couldn't put down. By the end of the book, I loved the main female characters as if they were my own best friends, and I felt as if I'd known them all my life. I was very sad to see the book end. Though I did not like John through much of the book, he showed his true colors when it counted and redeemed himself in my eyes. Through self-reflection, John matures and changes.
The author weaves history and facts about the region into her tale, and I feel like I learned something while being entertained. I enjoy realistic books that explore human nature, and this book was perfect. McCullough's characters undergo tremendous character development as they navigate tragedy, disappointment, heartbreak, and success. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written book with top notch characters, an engrossing plot, and beautiful storytelling.
From the very start, Belfast Girls was a book I couldn't put down. By the end of the book, I loved the main female characters as if they were my own best friends, and I felt as if I'd known them all my life. I was very sad to see the book end. Though I did not like John through much of the book, he showed his true colors when it counted and redeemed himself in my eyes. Through self-reflection, John matures and changes.
The author weaves history and facts about the region into her tale, and I feel like I learned something while being entertained. I enjoy realistic books that explore human nature, and this book was perfect. McCullough's characters undergo tremendous character development as they navigate tragedy, disappointment, heartbreak, and success. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written book with top notch characters, an engrossing plot, and beautiful storytelling.
May 8, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this kindle book. It was mainly about 3 girls who grew up in Northern Ireland and became good friends. All of them intelligent girls, doing well at school but their lives taking completely different paths.
Sheila who was always the tall beautiful one. In love with a man who expected perfection from her but left her when he realised she wasn't perfect. She went on to be famous, travelling all over the world, but still holding a torch for her man despite the many temptations thrown in her way. She still compared them all to him.
Mary who was clever but got into bad ways and with the wrong people. Could she turn her life round before she ended up in a bad way?
Phil (Philomena) who was kind and caring and always loved her man Davey, despite him getting mixed up with some bad people. Northern Ireland had been going through the ceasefire, but drugs and money laundering and people trafficking had taken over. Phil knew Davy was into something bad but she loved him and he kept her out of it so she would be safe, but would she?
The Belfast Girls lives separated somewhat when they left school as their lives took them down this different path, only to end up back together again when they most needed each other.
This book kept me wanting to read more. I loved the way the characters came from the same backgrounds but their lives went down totally different paths, only to collide in the end. Very well written, and a hint into what life in Northern Ireland became like for some after the ceasefire. A very good read!
Sheila who was always the tall beautiful one. In love with a man who expected perfection from her but left her when he realised she wasn't perfect. She went on to be famous, travelling all over the world, but still holding a torch for her man despite the many temptations thrown in her way. She still compared them all to him.
Mary who was clever but got into bad ways and with the wrong people. Could she turn her life round before she ended up in a bad way?
Phil (Philomena) who was kind and caring and always loved her man Davey, despite him getting mixed up with some bad people. Northern Ireland had been going through the ceasefire, but drugs and money laundering and people trafficking had taken over. Phil knew Davy was into something bad but she loved him and he kept her out of it so she would be safe, but would she?
The Belfast Girls lives separated somewhat when they left school as their lives took them down this different path, only to end up back together again when they most needed each other.
This book kept me wanting to read more. I loved the way the characters came from the same backgrounds but their lives went down totally different paths, only to collide in the end. Very well written, and a hint into what life in Northern Ireland became like for some after the ceasefire. A very good read!
February 25, 2013
Apart from the 'old' troubles of Northern Ireland I really didn't know a lot about this country until I'd read 'Belfast Girls'. Gerry being a natural born Irish girl has given her novel, Belfast Girls voice.
I was intrigued by the different stories of Sheila, Phil, and Mary, and these make up a spectrum that encompasses many aspects of Belfast society. Gerry talks about every day life, touching on education in the schools and religion, and the past political unrest - and how this affects everyone.
What really brought her book home to me was that now that Sinn Fein is less dominant, the drug gangs have moved in and their atrocities are reminiscent of the part Irish Troubles.
Each character was well-portrayed, even if I felt less inclined to be sympathetic to one or two of them...I abhor drug running for instance.
So all in all, I found that not only is this book an entertaining read, it's also a good insight into the life of young women growing up in Ireland. Gerry McCullough's book had been added to the long list of books about her country and she has produced a very creditable novel. Well done - I learnt a lot!The author has done an amazing job with this work, and it deserves the praise thus far. Recommended.
I was intrigued by the different stories of Sheila, Phil, and Mary, and these make up a spectrum that encompasses many aspects of Belfast society. Gerry talks about every day life, touching on education in the schools and religion, and the past political unrest - and how this affects everyone.
What really brought her book home to me was that now that Sinn Fein is less dominant, the drug gangs have moved in and their atrocities are reminiscent of the part Irish Troubles.
Each character was well-portrayed, even if I felt less inclined to be sympathetic to one or two of them...I abhor drug running for instance.
So all in all, I found that not only is this book an entertaining read, it's also a good insight into the life of young women growing up in Ireland. Gerry McCullough's book had been added to the long list of books about her country and she has produced a very creditable novel. Well done - I learnt a lot!The author has done an amazing job with this work, and it deserves the praise thus far. Recommended.
October 17, 2024
It's got a bit of a Maeve Binchy flavour to the voice, but the story can't seem to decide whether it wants to be an Aga Saga or a Bonkbuster.
I'd put it at about 2.5 stars, because I liked the author's rhythm and voice even though I find aspects of the story wonky. But I'm only giving it 2 stars because the author got her entire family or bingo group or whatever they are to pony up 5-star reviews and she herself does not disclose in her review that she's the author. I abhor that kind of dishonesty.
I'd put it at about 2.5 stars, because I liked the author's rhythm and voice even though I find aspects of the story wonky. But I'm only giving it 2 stars because the author got her entire family or bingo group or whatever they are to pony up 5-star reviews and she herself does not disclose in her review that she's the author. I abhor that kind of dishonesty.
September 20, 2011
If you like you're books cliched (ugly ducking turned into a swan to name one) and written along the lines of a mills and boon with a bit of drugs and 'politics' thrown in then this is the book for you.
Instead of being the gritty book I was expecting on the day to day life of women in Belfast this was a very disappointing read and, in my opinion, had a terrible ending.
Very surprised at all the good reviews to say the least.
Instead of being the gritty book I was expecting on the day to day life of women in Belfast this was a very disappointing read and, in my opinion, had a terrible ending.
Very surprised at all the good reviews to say the least.
January 9, 2013
Oh dear....another book I didn't enjoy very much....am beginning to think it might be me.
so much of this was overly simplistic and quite frankly unbelievable..... there were obviously no telephones around when this was set....or the author chose to forget them help with I.plausible plot.
nothing good to say here I'm afraid.
so much of this was overly simplistic and quite frankly unbelievable..... there were obviously no telephones around when this was set....or the author chose to forget them help with I.plausible plot.
nothing good to say here I'm afraid.
March 20, 2016
A book about life, it contains romance, drama, humour and characters you can become deeply attached to, besides a hero with a lot of the Darcy love/hate attraction.
August 20, 2012
I only made it through the first few chapters, poorly written, characters not believeable. Maybe it got better, so in all fairness I did not read the whole thing.
November 24, 2017
I don't know how I missed this previously as I have read and enjoyed others by this author. Thankfully I found it at last.
There are many things in this story- it is witty, sad, happy, there is hate and love and friendship. So many emotions.
We learn a lot about life in modern Ireland as we follow Sheila, Phil and Mary through their very different lives.
A very good read indeed.
There are many things in this story- it is witty, sad, happy, there is hate and love and friendship. So many emotions.
We learn a lot about life in modern Ireland as we follow Sheila, Phil and Mary through their very different lives.
A very good read indeed.
November 4, 2017
Interesting
I enjoyed this book. Interesting to read about Northern Ireland during the time of their troubles. I have read other books by this author.
I enjoyed this book. Interesting to read about Northern Ireland during the time of their troubles. I have read other books by this author.
February 21, 2019
Characters are somewhat stiff. But, everyone finds their predictable "happily ever after". Thoughtful presentation of the Troubles in Ireland.
Read
February 18, 2022Did not finish. I lost interest.
July 6, 2025
Unreal
It was difficult at times to believe the storyline and the ending I found unbelievable. A light hearted novel that lacked any substance.
It was difficult at times to believe the storyline and the ending I found unbelievable. A light hearted novel that lacked any substance.
April 22, 2013
After reading this story I was led to believe that it was about the political side of Ireland. But soon enough I could see three different stories but intertwined with something that is about the cultural side of Ireland.
The story started out fine enough. I learnt how Sheila and Phil became friends even with differences of being Catholic and Protestant. How their friend Mary became friends also. They all started out to become someone by going to university and each one finding their own.
Interesting that Phil became involved with a drug dealer and how she stuck by him. But what surprises me that being an Irish Catholic she becomes pregnant. But I guess being in the year 2003 times have changed. Poor Davy he will never see his child. Phil is insightful enough though to have her child grow up right with support from her family. Which it should be. And that is how the character is seen.
Mary getting involved with taking drugs shows you how all countries are the same. I'm glad that character was written that she beats this and finds comfort in the Church of Ireland. It shows that time has evolved. Religion is all for the same thing. Peace of mind.
Sheila was the one at first I didn't understand. I know she had a thing for John, Mary's brother but when he started acting weird from the beginning I get aggravated when the girl is naive about stuff. When obviously times have changed and issues are out in the open. The stories of her in modeling and giving the story to the police on the drug house was interesting. Also about her father's family.
The story drug on quite a bit and once Phil, and Mary's issues were taken care of with happy endings I am adding, Sheila's character ending was all too quick. John had a thought to get Sheila back. Went to where she was modeling and bam asked her to marry him. Than off they went happily ever after.
I liked the stories about the characters, very entertaining. But when it come to wrapping up the ending of a book it left the reader,me, with a thud. Like here is what happened the end. Not to we'll thought out. That is why I gave it 4 stars
The story started out fine enough. I learnt how Sheila and Phil became friends even with differences of being Catholic and Protestant. How their friend Mary became friends also. They all started out to become someone by going to university and each one finding their own.
Interesting that Phil became involved with a drug dealer and how she stuck by him. But what surprises me that being an Irish Catholic she becomes pregnant. But I guess being in the year 2003 times have changed. Poor Davy he will never see his child. Phil is insightful enough though to have her child grow up right with support from her family. Which it should be. And that is how the character is seen.
Mary getting involved with taking drugs shows you how all countries are the same. I'm glad that character was written that she beats this and finds comfort in the Church of Ireland. It shows that time has evolved. Religion is all for the same thing. Peace of mind.
Sheila was the one at first I didn't understand. I know she had a thing for John, Mary's brother but when he started acting weird from the beginning I get aggravated when the girl is naive about stuff. When obviously times have changed and issues are out in the open. The stories of her in modeling and giving the story to the police on the drug house was interesting. Also about her father's family.
The story drug on quite a bit and once Phil, and Mary's issues were taken care of with happy endings I am adding, Sheila's character ending was all too quick. John had a thought to get Sheila back. Went to where she was modeling and bam asked her to marry him. Than off they went happily ever after.
I liked the stories about the characters, very entertaining. But when it come to wrapping up the ending of a book it left the reader,me, with a thud. Like here is what happened the end. Not to we'll thought out. That is why I gave it 4 stars
October 8, 2011
A modern day Belfast chronicle of three girls growing up in the reality of contemporary Northern Ireland - with visits to Dublin and New York thrown in. You've got almost everything here: love and rejection, friendship and lust, the 'safe' world of fashion and glamour contrasting with the harsh world of crime and danger, fame and disgrace, despair and hope ...
Sheila's life takes off. She's got it all! But her 'ice maiden' success is hollow and empty. On the surface she's living a dream, but she's not enjoying the reality. Phil takes a more obvious route, but things get more and more complicated - leading to disaster. Mary quickly becomes a train wreck - but amazingly she manages to survive and turn her life around.
The men are a contrast, too. Davy is light-hearted and takes what he wants from life, has few scruples and no worries about consequences; while John is serious, ambitious, self-righteous and confused. It's difficult to decide which is worse - the straight forward, self-centred, all-out bad guy, or the well meaning, but moody and tormented, 'good' guy? And the other men in Sheila's life all have their own quirks and agendas.
This novel definitely holds your attention - even on a second reading! It is well written and you want to keep on reading and finding out more about these people. The characters are very real and natural and the story builds steadily towards the final outcome. You've managed to capture something that is believable and authentic.
Well done! Hope it goes from strength to strength! {:-{>
Sheila's life takes off. She's got it all! But her 'ice maiden' success is hollow and empty. On the surface she's living a dream, but she's not enjoying the reality. Phil takes a more obvious route, but things get more and more complicated - leading to disaster. Mary quickly becomes a train wreck - but amazingly she manages to survive and turn her life around.
The men are a contrast, too. Davy is light-hearted and takes what he wants from life, has few scruples and no worries about consequences; while John is serious, ambitious, self-righteous and confused. It's difficult to decide which is worse - the straight forward, self-centred, all-out bad guy, or the well meaning, but moody and tormented, 'good' guy? And the other men in Sheila's life all have their own quirks and agendas.
This novel definitely holds your attention - even on a second reading! It is well written and you want to keep on reading and finding out more about these people. The characters are very real and natural and the story builds steadily towards the final outcome. You've managed to capture something that is believable and authentic.
Well done! Hope it goes from strength to strength! {:-{>
February 25, 2011
Before I began I was looking forward to reading about a culture I know nothing about and I wasn’t disappointed. Gerry gave me a wonderful, fresh look into Ireland and its people and regardless of the different expressions and ‘language’ I found this a smooth and easy read. In fact it was nice to have a change of scene.
The story starts off with a bang the way I like it and then eases into the childhood of the three Belfast Girls, how they met and then how their lives unfolded. The story building with love, drug gangs and fashion until it reached the crescendo which was the action filled beginning.
Yet it didn’t end here. As the girls lives went in different paths, their stories still mingled together directly and indirectly in a clever and page turning way... the biggest part which had me wanting more was, will Sheila and John finally get together and what will happen to Phil? These questions that needed answers had my turning the page. I could give you the answers to these questions but that would be giving too much away.
Belfast girls has action, angst, fashion and love and would appeal to anyone interested in a good romance with other exciting elements mixed in.
The story starts off with a bang the way I like it and then eases into the childhood of the three Belfast Girls, how they met and then how their lives unfolded. The story building with love, drug gangs and fashion until it reached the crescendo which was the action filled beginning.
Yet it didn’t end here. As the girls lives went in different paths, their stories still mingled together directly and indirectly in a clever and page turning way... the biggest part which had me wanting more was, will Sheila and John finally get together and what will happen to Phil? These questions that needed answers had my turning the page. I could give you the answers to these questions but that would be giving too much away.
Belfast girls has action, angst, fashion and love and would appeal to anyone interested in a good romance with other exciting elements mixed in.
June 20, 2011
My review at Amazon.com:
Belfast Girls has voice, its telling accentuated with Irish nuance. The alternating stories of Sheila, Phil, and Mary together make a mosaic that encompasses many aspects of Belfast society, its schools, its business sector, religious influence, and the ties of the drug gangs that are too reminiscent of the Irish Troubles. What is so appealing about the characters is their independence and their steadfast feelings of friendship and leery love that course the novel.
However these relationships develop into surprising climaxes. After Sheila becomes aware of underground crime through her modeling career and because she resembles a relative whose political involvement was kept secret, the plot plunges headlong with her tip to the police. Unknown to her, this affects Phil and her other relationships before her departure to success.
All along, the fates of the girls are handled with realism and a deft sensitivity that had me absorbed both with the individuals and the dark gang war that affects them all.
Belfast Girls has voice, its telling accentuated with Irish nuance. The alternating stories of Sheila, Phil, and Mary together make a mosaic that encompasses many aspects of Belfast society, its schools, its business sector, religious influence, and the ties of the drug gangs that are too reminiscent of the Irish Troubles. What is so appealing about the characters is their independence and their steadfast feelings of friendship and leery love that course the novel.
However these relationships develop into surprising climaxes. After Sheila becomes aware of underground crime through her modeling career and because she resembles a relative whose political involvement was kept secret, the plot plunges headlong with her tip to the police. Unknown to her, this affects Phil and her other relationships before her departure to success.
All along, the fates of the girls are handled with realism and a deft sensitivity that had me absorbed both with the individuals and the dark gang war that affects them all.
March 6, 2012
Belfast Girls begins as a coming of age novel, following the lives of three girls as they navigate careers and loves. But it's part crime novel too, part social commentary, and part historical fiction, as it's set against the backdrop of Ireland in the 20th century---the history, the culture, the politics. You'll follow this riveting story from Ireland to the U.S. and back, from the modest beginnings of three young girls to the glitz and glamour of the fashion industry, the turmoil and violence of the drug trade, the growing pains of an entire country. McCullough presents characters we can't help but root for, and for outsiders, the look inside modern Ireland is a fascinating one.
June 14, 2013
"Belfast Girls" by Gerry McCyllough was recommended to me by a friend. It is the story of three teenage girls as they grow into womanhood in Belfast.
It follows their love entanglements and the career paths they pursue at a time of political stabilisation in Northern Ireland. Yet, now they face different problems as drugs, crime rings and untrustworthy men mess with their lives.
The book seems a great illustration of the post-conflict times in Belfast and Dublin. The three girls are well chosen to highlight different experiences and they complement each other well to make a varied group of friends which makes for an entertaining read with bite and substance.
It follows their love entanglements and the career paths they pursue at a time of political stabilisation in Northern Ireland. Yet, now they face different problems as drugs, crime rings and untrustworthy men mess with their lives.
The book seems a great illustration of the post-conflict times in Belfast and Dublin. The three girls are well chosen to highlight different experiences and they complement each other well to make a varied group of friends which makes for an entertaining read with bite and substance.
December 7, 2014
This is a strange book as it seems to be trying to be all genres at once - romance, social realism, Jackie Collins-style bonkbuster, crime, historical document. However due to the heights it's aiming for it inevitably falls some way short.
Some of it felt a bit like Maeve Binchy, but on the whole I didn't feel it was of very high quality and gave the impression of a B-movie trying to copy Hollywood output. I didn't really believe in the characters who the author manipulated to make her points. There didn't seem to be any depth to it so it was nice to look at, but ultimately empty.
It was fairly diverting, but not something that will live long in the mind.
Some of it felt a bit like Maeve Binchy, but on the whole I didn't feel it was of very high quality and gave the impression of a B-movie trying to copy Hollywood output. I didn't really believe in the characters who the author manipulated to make her points. There didn't seem to be any depth to it so it was nice to look at, but ultimately empty.
It was fairly diverting, but not something that will live long in the mind.
August 22, 2011
Gerry McCullough's 'Belfast Girls' is a light, entertaining and pacey story about three friends and their different life choices set in Northern Ireland, post troubles. Gerry manages to combine glamour, romance and elements of thriller all in the same story, exhibiting a sense of the fun that she clearly had in writing it.
I would suggest this is good fodder for a light holiday read by the pool or to while away an hour or two on a flight.
I would suggest this is good fodder for a light holiday read by the pool or to while away an hour or two on a flight.
July 25, 2012
This novel is about 3 girls growing up in post 'troubles' Belfast, where the sale of drugs has superseded terrorism. The girls have different personalities and experiences, but their friendship is the thread running through rehab, imprisonment and the glamour of the fashion industry.
I enjoyed the story, but felt hugely let down by the ending. It was rushed and felt like a 'cop out', completely spoiling the book for me.
I enjoyed the story, but felt hugely let down by the ending. It was rushed and felt like a 'cop out', completely spoiling the book for me.
October 1, 2012
I was very disappointed in this book. There were several points when I almost put it down and when I finally finished it, I was disappointed that I wasted my time & actually took the time to finish it. Whoever edited the book did so poorly, the story was poorly written & choppy, & the ending was so abrupt that I couldn't believe I had actually read the entire book. Don't waste your time like I did; it is deceiving early on.
November 3, 2012
This was an interesting book about three girls in modern day Belfast. It was an interesting read. However I always got the sense the author had meant to set the story and characters in the 50's or 60's then changed her mind. I also had a hard time hoping the male protagonist "got the girl" since he was a self-righteous jerk.
October 7, 2012
I did enjoy this book, which certainly made me think about the situation in Ireland during that time, but it didn't grab me. The characters came across as interesting and the story line is there, but it seemed a bit detached and remote; I didn't get absorbed by the story. It didn't paint me a picture. It is well written, and is worth a read for light entertainment.
May 31, 2014
Gerry McCullough has done it again with a fascinating story of three girls post norther Ireland troubles . The troubles through puberty to adulthood ...you fall in love with each character and their own persoanl journey. A brilliant read that won Gerry second Place in a best book in Library contest. I look forward to reading more of her work
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews