Would you hold on tighter if you knew you were saying goodbye forever?In 1959, factory girl Stella Hegarty finds herself falling unexpectedly for the charms of a handsome US marine based in Derry.Caught up in a whirlwind of romance, Stella finds herself planning a new life in America with her beloved Ray.But when tragedy steps in, both their lives are thrown into turmoil and they come to realise … turmoil and they come to realise they may have said their first, and last goodbye.
In 2010, Annabel Jackson, reeling from the loss of her father, agrees to accompany her mother Stella back to Ireland to meet her family for the first time. In Derry they both start to realise that sometimes you have to say goodbye to what you thought you always wanted, in order to find what you have needed all along.
Editorial Reviews
“One of the most scrumptious books i think I’ve ever read”
All Things Books
“Like a hug in a book! … ideal book for those who doubts there’s such a thing as having it all” – Woman’s Way
“An amazing story of first love and how, even years later, the feelings can still exist. Based on a true story, this was my favourite tale of true love in recent years. Sweet, warm and endearing, it stayed with me for weeks after I had finished it. For all of us that believe there is a soulmate out there for everyone.” Bleach House Library
Quite simply, this is one of the nicest, warmest and moving love stories I have read in years and I found myself very emotional while reading it. It had some personal meaning to me, as it was a similar tale to a relative of mine, and I had to stop reading a few times in order to pull myself together. I didn’t want it to end and the lump in my throat remains with me, even as I write this review. Margaret Madden
I LOVED this book. I was completely absorbed in it …I really couldn’t put it down – At Home with Mrs M
“A feel-good, touching and amusing tale which readers will find hard to put down” – Irish Independent
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Would you hold on tighter if you knew you were saying goodbye forever?
After the loss of her father, Annabel reluctantly agrees to a trip overseas to her mother, Stella’s, childhood home of Ireland. Annabel is understandably heartbroken over her dad’s death and is frustrated by her mom’s seeming lack of feelings, which causes a rift between the …
An incredible story on so many levels – historical, love, family, death, relationships. I usually don’t like books with a setting outside the U.S. as there is often so many words I don’t know. While thus book had plenty of local words, I enjoyed the story so much that I overlooked the words. The main story starts in Florida where Stella and Bob, …
A story about a mother and daughter set in the 50’s to presnt day. It takes them back to Ireland to see family and friends. It shows you love, sacrifice and determination. The Characters were well developed and held my interest to the end.
gives you a view of how every day people live in a small town and need to work to survive from day to day. How on person gives up her own happiness to help the family survive. Recommend the book
It WAS happily ever after…but I wasn’t sure until the last 4 pages of the book. Beautifully written; addressed several emotional challenges, and gave wonderful insight to each and all. A delightful discovery!
Very good book. Once you start reading it’s very hard to put down. Wonderful story with a great ending.
Easy moving story line with believable characters.
A very nice story. Refreshing read
This book is written in dual time: it begins in 1959 and Stella is a young girl from Derry who meets an American in the military, and falls in love. Then the time shifts to 2010. Stella is in the USA, her husband has died, and she and her grown daughter Annabel decide to take a trip to Ireland where it al began. Both women have decisions to …
A good hopeful story.
I loved this book
It’s wonderful when a story line gets into the characters head and brings her and you around to a realization of what life is about and who is important.
Loved this book
The First Time I Said Goodbye by Claire Allan is a story of first love, family and sacrifice. A timeline spanning fifty years tells two merging stories through dialogue, letters, reminisces and current happenings. Characters are believable and complex. This is a beautifully written book with a memorable message.
All I can say is… WOW…. WOW… WOW…. a beautiful story…well told…
Well written
Secrets! Family connections.
The first time I said goodbye is a book you can’t put down. I loved all the information on life in Ireland in the 1950s. The characters were wonderful and destroy a well-developed. Some heartbreaking moments when I thought the characters were torn apart forever. Just a lovely book about lovely people and well worth the read.
Once I got into the book, I wanted to see how it ended. Great read. Highly recommend.
I gave this book the rating of 5 because its very well written. I can understand why Stella did what she did to take care of her family. Its also very tragic and whimsical, had me guessing right to the very end. But I love happy endings and this book has that.