Book Review: The Bridge to Always by Lynda Marron

I loved this book so much!! But then I do love real, flawed characters that make big messy mistakes in their lives.

 

The Bridge to Always is told in multiple points of view. We get to hear from everyone, even nine-year-old Emer. 

 

After the death of her mother Maeve moves to a small town in Cork hoping to rekindle a romance with Tim, the father of her nine-year-old daughter Emer.

 

Tim is now married but is tempted by the vivacious Maeve. He goes to see her and is shocked to find out he has a daughter.

 

Maeve is a totally unlikeable character and at times I felt like screaming at her. She is the most frustrating character I've read for a while. Maeve loves her daughter fiercely but the child is sorely neglected in her quest to win Tim back. She is very delusional and has an unrealistic dream of life.

Agnes and Malachi, who live on properties nearby, try to help Maeve as they can see she is struggling, however she is rude and dismissive of them.

 

I feel that Lynda Marron has taken a gamble creating a main character who is self-centred, morally challenged and unlikeable. Although, for me, it paid off. 

 

The story moves back and forward from now, with Maeve living in Drohid, Cork to ten years ago when she first met Tim. 

 

As with her previous novel Last Chance in Paris Marron writes about people's lives crossing and how a brief moment in time, a brief encounter, can change your life forever.

 

In The Bridge to Always I was quickly drawn into the immersive tale of the citizens of Drohid, where even the most well meaning of people still, on occasion, looked out for themselves first. 

 

I would recommend this affecting and moving novel to readers who enjoy stories on love, identity and finding yourself.

 

My rating 5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Publisher: Echo Publishing

Publication date: 29th April 2025

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Pages: 340

RRP: AU$32.99 (trade paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher