Published By: Embla
Pages: 352
Released On: 15/10/2026
1938. Shy nineteen-year-old, Nora O’Brien, leaves behind her life in rural Ireland and boards a ship bound for Australia – carrying little more than a valise and a secret. On board she meets glamorous and unconventional Flo, and begins a thrilling but dangerous journey of self-discovery.
2004. Helen cannot forget her mother’s dying words – ‘find Verity’. Starting at the library where Nora worked, she begins to trace a faint trail that leads her to embark on a voyage of her own. But is she ready for the truth behind her mother’s instruction?
As Helen draws closer to Verity, might she glimpse the chance of a braver future of her own?
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla for the gifted copy of this title in return for an honest review.
Oh I’ve loved both of Neil’s previous books – The Vanishing of Margaret Small and The Lost Past of Billy McQueen – and this one looked just as good. It takes a similar format, two historical periods, and we get to see how the actions of the characters impact the others.
I love multiple timelines and POVs when done well, but it is quite easy to not do them well, but Neil is not one of them. He’s crafted the multi-timeline structure.
Whilst I did enjoy both timelines, I preferred the ones set in the 30s slightly more. It was a bit more glamorous at times, and it gives me that historical edge I enjoy reading.
He’s very good at writing characters and particularly, I’ve found, older female characters. They’re a demographic not normally put front and centre, but that’s exactly where he puts them and they really get their time to shine. Helen in particular is a wonderful character and I was willing her on throughout. She’s a bit down on her luck, a bit submissive, a bit lost, but not out of choice but out of circumstance, so I loved seeing her blossom. Her husband Roy is a horrid man. I understand some of his behaviour is a generational thing but I still didn’t like him.
There are some difficult topics – I won’t list them because I actually think they’re best to come to yourself. He hasn’t forgotten their seriousness, he hasn’t downplayed them, but it isn’t too serious or morbid. He’s managed to infuse it all with joy and hope and overall it’s very uplifting.
I liked the attention he’s given to books and libraries and reading – and women’s roles in these fields. That was lovely to read.
His books are so easy and effortless to read. At 350+ pages, it’s not a short book, but it’s so easy to read that it flies by. I read it in two sittings, but if I hadn’t have had other things on, I would have quite easily read it in one sitting.
Generally, no matter how accomplished an author is or how good their writing is, very rarely do they publishing 100% perfect books every time. There might be a dip in ability, or maybe it’s a harder topic to write about, or the characters aren’t quite as likeable or the dialogue isn’t natural enough. But this is Neil third book I’ve read, and this was as perfect as book two which was just as perfect as book one. He’s an author I will always look out for.
Books By Your Bedside 