New York Times BestsellerA story of patients and staff, family, and friends who are part of a heart clinic in a community caught between the old Ireland and the new. Dr. Clara Casey has been offered the thankless job of establishing the underfunded clinic and agrees to take it on for a year. She has plenty on her plate already—two difficult adult daughters and the unwanted attentions of her … and the unwanted attentions of her ex-husband—but she assembles a wonderfully diverse staff devoted to helping their demanding, often difficult patients.
Before long the clinic is established as an essential part of the community, and Clara must decide whether or not to leave a place where lives are saved, courage is rewarded, and humor and optimism triumph over greed and self-pity.
“Good-hearted and entertaining…. Offers many honest pleasures.” —The Washington Post
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Reading this book was like a great visit with old friends — we picked right up where we left off. An excellent read!
Not the best example of Maeve Binchy’s wonderful portrayals of Ireland and the Irish, but several of the storylines were particularly engaging.
I have never read one of her books, this was the first. I have heard good things about her novels. Sorry but this one was one I could not even finish. I wanted to like but put down as felt a waste of time. Too many excellent books out there to read.
Love this author but although this one is ok it’s not one of her best
Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors. I love her stories of the people of Ireland and their loves and lives. The pages bring the towns and the people in them to life and I feel as though I know them and share their joys and their sorrows
Another of my favorite authors.
I enjoyed the story and the writing.
This book is a fast-paced read with a variety of interesting characters and subplots. The central theme is the opening of a specialty heart clinic based in a Dublin hospital. As the clinic gradually becomes successful, the characters bond and even find love. The book provides insights into the culture of modern Ireland and its relationships with Eastern European immigrants. The book contains a few too many different stories to describe in depth. However, they are concisely summarized and everything is tied up neatly at the end.
An entertaining bookwith easy to like characters.
I thoroughly enjoy Maeve Binchy. It had been a long time since I had read this; so glad I read it again. I caught a lot more of the details since I read it slower this time around. Familiar characters show up from some of her other novels that enhance the text and the new characters. It was a delightful read!
What a storyteller. The characters become your friends and family.
I just could not get into this story at all. It was slow and even though I kept reading thinking there would come a sudden burst of energy in the story, it never happened. Just not a book I enjoyed.
Who doesn’t enjoy a comforting Maeve Binchy tale of complex relationships, mutiple flawed but lovable characters, situations that occur in real life: updated here to include financial issues with healthcare. Curl upon the couch, fill your teacup, light the fire, and enjoy.
A truly wonderful book. I hated to see it end.
Great Binchy. Love her stories.
Another lovely, multi character tale form Maeve Binchy.
Very fun to read about all the characters
Cared about the people and enjoyed following them around as they lived their lives.
I would read more about these characters… & thankfully, no graphic sex & a definite lack of typos! Thank you!
I thought I had read all of Maeve Binchy books. What a delightful surprise to find Heart and Soul. Wonderful characters intertwined with a heart clinic that heart patients can readily relate to.
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