Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Number 24 Ulysses Crescent is an elegant three storey mansion overlooking the beautiful Dublin Bay. Converted into luxurious seaview apartments, it's now home to a close-knit group of tenants ...
There's former style icon Evelyn, who lives life as vibrantly as ever, not knowing her past is about to catch up with her; enigmatic sculptor Mike, who uses his art as a way to wrestle with his ghosts; café-owner Nessa whose gift for reading the Tarot hasn't yet shown her if she'll find love; and Bruce and Stella, recently separated and now co-parenting their toddler from separate flats.
Then there's Morah, the caretaker, who keeps a watchful eye on everyone - especially, for reasons only known to herself, the irrepressible Evelyn.
When Evelyn's granddaughter Truth, a high-flying London lawyer, arrives for the summer desperate to escape an online hate campaign, the residents of Number 24 are about to discover that the past is never truly over, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
Many thanks to Hachette Books Ireland for my copy of The Houseshare to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Fiona O’Brien is a vastly underrated Irish author who in my opinion doesn’t get enough recognition in the wider public eye. She writes gorgeous, highly readable stories and this new book, The Houseshare is no exception. The cover is stunning as the door welcomes you into the story and to number 24 Ulysses Crescent which overlooks Dublin Bay. I was made to feel right at home instantly and it had echoes of the great Maeve Binchy whose books I loved so much. It’s a warm and inviting story which I sped through as I was enjoying it so much.
Initially, I was slightly apprehensive that given this story would focus on numerous characters, as the house of the title is split into various flats, that I would be confused and unable to keep track of who was who. I needn’t have worried as it was easy to familiarise myself with each character and their various backstories and how their strand of the plot developed. But I will say I think some of the characters weren’t utilised enough and perhaps could have been left out. Rory and Nessa are the two that spring to mind as I felt their storyline was very fleeting and I found myself wanting to read more about the other characters.
Doctor Ed owns the house and it has been his family home for many years but as he is now in his old age he has retreated to a small flat in the garden and Morah is now the caretaker of the flats contained within number 24. Doctor Ed is like the father/grandfather figure throughout the book. He is always ever present and the various residents always seem to gravitate towards him when they have problems. He is wise and can offer good advice but also keep a confidence when required. He can sense that not everybody that resides in this special house is happy but he bides his time knowing that when things come to a head he will be there to offer a helping hand in any way that he possibly can.
Morah’s life is turned into a nightmare when Evelyn Malone moves in. She knows her from the past and seems to carry a deep resentment towards her. All this is outlined within the first chapter or two and it made for a very intriguing opening. Why is Morah hell bent on vengeance regarding Evelyn? What could have caused such hatred and malice towards a person? Is Evelyn all she makes out to be and really how does she not recognise Morah? Morah harbours long held resentments and she comes across as angry and bitter and that she is nosy and sticks her beak into other people’s business but my interest was certainly piqued as to what could have caused her to be this way?
Evelyn had an air of regality and of being well to do about her. It also came across as if she was slightly above the other residents but her life had come crashing down when her husband died and he had lost everything in the financial crash. She enjoyed a pleasant lifestyle but now things have changed but she doesn’t do regrets or what ifs. She ploughs ahead as it’s the only way she knows how to keep going. Her son Tristan is in New York and the odd phone call is all the contact they have and as for her daughter Pauline who lives in London, the rift between them grows ever wider. So when Evelyn trips and breaks her hip as she leaves the house to swim in the sea she is left helpless and this is not how she likes to be. She always likes to be in control of all aspects of her life. She detests feeling vulnerable or that she has to rely on others and hates admitting defeat. Her granddaughter Truth, whom she last saw many many years ago, volunteers to leave London and to come and look after her.
It was a big step for Truth to come and live with Pauline. For really she didn’t know her at all and it’s not like you could say that they had any kind of relationship of sorts at all. But Truth herself was running from something and needed time away from what was causing so much anxiety and stress in her life. A horrible false narrative has emerged regarding her and this has led to a life of misery and suffering. Will coming to Dublin allow her to come to terms with what has happened and can she forge a relationship with Evelyn who is very closed off, terse and not that forthcoming? I loved the development of the story between Evelyn and Truth because it also allowed other doors to be opened into the various different strands of the story allowing a wide range of issues and emotions to be explored in a sensitive, careful and delicate way.
As previously mentioned there are lots of other characters who make up the house share. Some of which are more memorable than others. Bruce is divorced from Stella but has always wanted to get back with her. They have two apartments in the house which make it easier for co-parenting their young son Fred. But Bruce is changing his lifestyle and moving on and now it’s Stella who is having second thoughts. Stella is a dark character as she goes through some very tough times. She becomes unreasonable, paranoid, controlling and very unstable. It was sad to read her descent into a hole that it seemed like she would never come out of and Fiona O’Brien dealt with this issue very well for sadly it is all too prevalent these days.
Mike is a sculptor and a very intriguing and intensely private character who has invisible barriers erected around himself. But will a certain someone be able to break these down? Rory uses the basement gym and I previously mentioned he was very under utilised as well as Nessa who runs her own vegan café. I would have loved much more development of their storylines or else just leave these two out altogether as everything else going on with the rest of the characters was more than enough to sustain the entire book. But pushing this minor issue aside and perhaps it’s just me who felt like this, overall The Houseshare is a really lovely read which I enjoyed very much. There are plenty of twists and turns which keep you guessing right until the very end and I was particularly hooked by the Evelyn/Morah aspect of the storyline. All the characters go through an awful lot but whether they emerge stronger on the other side you’ll have to read The Houseshare and discover for yourself.
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