The Year that Changed Everything by Cathy Kelly

Sometimes you just need some light and fluffy comfort reading to get you through the winter; a story where nothing bad happens and you can be assured of a happy ending. You can just tell from the beautiful floral cover of The Year That Changed Everything that nothing here will give you nightmares. If this sounds like you then I recommend a spot of Cathy Kelly. This is the first time I have read any of her work but this is book number 19 for Kelly; she is a former journalist who has been a writer of internationally best-selling women’s fiction since 1997.

The Year that Changed Everything features three very different Irish women who share a birthday but have never met. Callie is turning 50 with a big party, unaware that her privileged life is about to shatter; Sam is about to have her first longed-for baby at the age of 40 and worries if she will be a good mother, and Ginger is being a bridesmaid for her (not so) best friend on the day of her 30th birthday.

The three main characters are likeable and different enough that it’s easy to keep track of who’s who through the alternating chapters (rest assured the three women eventually connect). Kelly cleverly appeals to different age groups and the issues that apply to certain times of life, with wisdom and a light touch. To be fair it’s not all rainbows and unicorns: post-natal depression, addiction, and body image issues feature, and are sensitively dealt with.

The ending may be a little too rose-tinged and trite for some – if so go and find yourself some dark and depressing Nordic Noir with violence and gore all over the place; while I remain in my little bubble of warm Irish domestic fiction.

Reviewed by Katrina

Catalogue link:  The Year that Changed Everything