Becoming Finola

 

Becoming Finola by Suzanne Strempek Shea    336 pages

I re-read this book about once a year, just because I like it and want to revisit it -- and it's a nice story. 

Newly unemployed Sophie has kept herself busy by holding together her recently widowed friend, Gina, so when Gina proposes they both go on a much-needed vacation, Sophie is happy to oblige. However, after one day spent in the charming small town in Ireland, Gina is ready to go home. But she implores Sophie to stay, so Sophie does, accepting a job offer on a whim in the village's craft shop: Finola O'Flynn. Sophie soon learns Finola is a bit of a legend in this town and when she takes on her old job in the shop, Sophie also takes on other things: Finola's house, her left-behind wardrobe . . . and then Liam, Finola's discarded boyfriend.  But what happens when Finola suddenly returns?

This is an easygoing read with some humor, and plenty of descriptions to make you want to move to a small town in Ireland and work in a craft shop (at least, it never fails to make me want to do this). It's a bit of a slow start, but I find that sometimes, it's nice to revisit this story that's a bit of endearing escapism.