Firefly Summer

By Maeve Binchy

Book Overview

Kate Ryan and her husband, John, have a rollicking pub in the Irish village of Mountfern . . . four lovely children . . . and such wonderful dreams. But all that is about to change one fateful summer when American millionaire Patrick O'Neill comes to town with his irresistible charm, and money to burn. As love and hate vie for a town's quiet heart, old traditions begin to crumble away. . . .

Patrick O'Neill builds the grand hotel of his dreams, with its promise of wealth and change. Loyalties are challenged, jealousies ignited, and tragedy strikes before the foundation is laid. Suddenly Kate and John Ryan's lives and family are bound up with the newcomer in ways they can never imagine. And Patrick O'Neill faces his own crisis of conscience and heart as the events he sets in motion take on a life of their own in a town that will never be the same again.

Praise for Firefly Summer

"The best Binchy yet."--The New York Times Book Review

"Totally engrossing . . . unforgettable . . . an absolutely grand story . . . a lyrical and compelling family drama . . . Mountfern and its residents come vibrantly alive."--Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The secrets hidden behind lace curtains, a young girl's first kiss, children's summer games, unexpected pregnancies, sudden deaths. She makes us feel as if we also know the place and its people. . . . One of those good old-fashioned stories that are as comfortable and comforting as home itself."--Philadelphia Inquirer

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385341717
• ISBN13: 9780385341714
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Dell
• Length: 656 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.2" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Best Binchy has ever written

Firefly Summer IS what I wish all the other Binchy books could be. If you are looking for a fast-paced read, I promise this is NOT the book for you. However, if you are looking for a well-crafted, intimate, multiple angle look into a Binchy-type community of characters, I propose that this one should top the list. So, if you have never read Maeve Binchy before -- do not let this be your first read. I would suggest starting with Echoes, then move on to Glass Lake, then Copper Beech, then (maybe) Light a Penny Candle, then Evening Class, then Scarlet Feather, SKIP Quintins altogether, then Circle of Friends, and cap it off with Firefly Summer. Then you will experience the true joy to be had in this story. (Just beware, most of her books have a "zinger" at which point the story really takes off. Firefly Summer's first "zinger" doesn't happen until about page 250 or so (depending on which copy you read) -- you have to be patient, and wait for it. From there, you're thoroughly hooked. (Can't wait to read her newest one....))

Firefly Summer

This book draws you in, all the family quirks and characteristics, the love, the trials, and the humor. This is another of her excellent books and I have to say I have read them all and she is one of my favorite authors. I just wish she would write another!

Great Reading!

Ms. Binchy has the ability to transport the reader to another time/culture and make it utterly believeable and fascinating. This is my third Binchy and I cannot wait to begin another. Her characters are rich in character and their feelings and hopes and dreams can be identified with no matter where you live.

Touching, sweet and powerful

I have been on a Binchy marathon for the past nine months which has culminated with this novel, Firefly Summer. Let me tell you, this book was utterly fantastic. The story of Mountfern touched me from the very beginning when the kids learned their "special place", the burned remains of an old, once powerful mansion, would be rebuilt. Because of this, their entire world changed. Maeve Binchy spins a wonderful Irish yarn that takes a surprising plot twist at the end. If you liked The Glass Lake or Light a Penny Candle, this book is definitely for you. I can't stop raving about it!!!