On 8th April 2023 myself and Orla Doherty, as comedy duo ChatterBoxx, had the absolute privilege to launch Ruth O’Leary’s debut novel The Weekend Break in Easons on St Stephens Green.

The tagline for this commercial fiction novel is “Four Friends, four Secrets, one explosive weekend break that tests their friendship” which sums it up perfectly. Four friends head off from Heuston Station in Dublin to Galway city for a weekend break and it all kicks off. We meet the four main characters.

Vivienne’s perfect life is a façade, and she at last wants out. She needs a divorce fast.

Helen’s nightly glass of wine has become a bottle or two, and her drink is threatening her marriage.

Clara feels she must lie to her husband to save her sanity and reach towards some freedom

And Miriam, wanting to change her life, does so in the most dramatic way possible. Her friends are supportive when she tells them, but she knows there is still a hidden truth that can never be exposed.

Their time in Galway has life-changing consequences. As the weekend unfolds and their secrets are laid bare, will it be too much for some to cope with? Will their friendship and loyalty to each other survive the weekend break and its painful aftermath?

Bestselling author Carmel Harrington describes it as ‘An accomplished debut – a friendship drama, packed with untold secrets, that will keep readers enthralled until the end.’

Speaking of bestsellers, The Weekend Break, published by Poolbeg Books, went straight into the Irish Times bestsellers list and spent a couple of weeks there. And well deserved too I might add.

You can grab your copy from Easons here.