My enormous thanks to Kate Straker at Atlantic Books for sending me a surprise copy of The Lodgers by Eithne Shortall. I’m delighted to share a review of The Lodgers today.

The Lodgers is published on 27th July 2023 by Corvus and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

The Lodgers

One house. Three strangers. A second chance at happiness.

Tessa’s life as an activist and volunteer worker takes a hit after a fall. At the ripe young age of 69, she’s no longer able to live alone and decides to take in two lodgers for free.

After the recent death of his brother, Conn is riddled with grief and determined to make amends. A free room seems too good to be true – until he meets the other lodger.

Chloe arrives at Tessa’s house to deliver a package and leaves with a room. But she takes an instant dislike to Conn, who refuses to say where he disappears to at night.

With everyone so busy keeping their own secrets, the mysterious package is forgotten. It’s addressed to Tessa’s daughter who’s been missing for 10 years – and only the contents have the answer to what happened…

My Review of The Lodgers

Tessa’s under pressure to sell her rambling home.

The Lodgers is absolutely wonderful and I could not have enjoyed it more.

What I so enjoyed about The Lodgers is that the dramatic events that shape the novel and affect the characters so deeply have mainly already occurred but resonate through the rest of their lives in ways Eithne Shortall portrays with incredible humanity, realism and sensitivity. The Lodgers is a book that really touches the heart and it is no exaggeration to say that I have chosen a paragraph towards the end of the book to be read at my funeral – not that I intend that happening just yet!

That might make The Lodgers sound maudlin but that assessment couldn’t be further than the truth. Certainly it considers some darker themes but I laughed aloud on so many occasions, particularly when Malachy was involved, and the story is infused with love, family, a sense of home and belonging that make it completely uplifting and beautiful.

I thought the setting of the book totally enhanced the story because places are minimal and therefore intimate. Most of the action revolves around the community centre and Hope House, making them feel every bit as much characters as the people. There’s a real sense of community and the clear message that we might have individual capacity, but we are stronger together with others.

And what people they are between the pages of The Lodgers. They could not have been more vividly presented, more appealing and more loveable – even (or perhaps especially) the rogues like Reggie. I loved the fact that Tessa is approaching 70 because she embodies the concept that older people are equally as valid as younger ones. I was completely smitten with Conn because he is himself – there’s no great brooding, sullen hero who makes a miraculous change, but rather his personality and the reasons for his actions are gradually uncovered with complete empathy. Chloe, of course, is an absolute star and again a catalyst for both humour and tragedy, illustrating how closely aligned those two concepts can be.

The Lodgers is the kind of book that is effortless to read, totally compelling and completely uplifting and heart-warming. It epitomises light in darkness, and positivity in adversity that restores the reader’s faith in humanity and the world around them. It’s a total tonic for the heart and I adored it.

I have no idea why I haven’t discovered Eithne Shortall’s writing previously, but I’m off to devour everything she’s ever written. I’m an instant fan.

About Eithne Shortall

Eithne Shortallis an author, journalist and occasional broadcaster. Her debut novel, Love in Row 27, was a major Irish bestseller, and the follow-up, Grace After Henry, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and won Best Page Turner at the UK’s Big Book Awards. Her third novel, Three Little Truths, was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick.

For further information, visit Eithne’s website, follow her on Twitter @eithneshortall or find Eithne on Instagram.