Coffee Mourning sees Irish Catholic Mary, unwittingly separated at 65 years old. Rather than dissolve into an impending depression, Mary starts a coffee morning for other women alike. What transpires is a diverse group of women, who meet once a week, to mourn the missing elements of their lives; true love, marriage, babies or simply a safe haven to escape their daily routine.

What the women don’t expect, is to make new friends when they need each other the most. Through the ups and downs, laughs and tears, the women empower, uplift and encourage each other to begin life at any age, while making a stir along the way!

Coffee Mourning is set in Ireland and features a sixty-five-year-old newly separated woman called Mary who has suddenly found herself alone. She has split with her husband, although her faith means she can’t divorce his useless self and her children are grown-up and have left home. She is looking to find people just like her to chat with and make friends.

Mary faces her fears and sets up a coffee group for like-minded women who meet weekly to chat about anything and everything, no subject is off limits. The group is more than Mary ever thought it could be with so many women wanting to join them and each being there to build one another up, help each other through the rough, and giggle together.

The book was quite a slow burner but the women in the story make the pace worthwhile. The emotions range vastly within and alongside the sad stories are many moments of joy and laughter.

Coffee Mourning contains unforgettable resilient characters who each have such passion and warmth to share with others. It is well-written and kept my attention the whole way through. If you like to eavesdrop on other’s conversations or always know the gossip, this book is for you!