The Sunrise Swimming Society

By Rosie Hannigan

A heartwarming novel to fall in love with

The day Heather, Niamh and Lauren met, they promised to be best friends for life, and that instant connection only grew stronger with their weekly sunrise swims in their stunning local lake. When they left school, they agreed that, no matter where life took them, every year on midsummer’s dawn, they would meet at their old spot and swim together.

Now, fifteen years later, the tradition has disappeared in the face of life’s realities. In fact, they don’t speak any more – not since that night . . .

But this summer, they find themselves back in their Irish hometown and realise this could be their last chance to recapture what they have lost. Will their return to sunrise swimming heal each of them, and help them rekindle the friendships they once treasured?

Readers are loving The Sunrise Swimming Society:

‘Lovely feel-good story that sweeps you away to Ireland. A great emotional story to escape into.’ Reader review

‘This is a beautiful story of friendship and the different types of families there are in a community. Great characters, easy to warm to, their history and individual stories were brilliantly written. A moving story that made me smile.’ Reader review

‘A wonderful story of friendship and relationships. This is a book not to be missed.’ Reader review

‘A lovely, light-hearted book about friendship, loyalty and love. You will find this a wonderful read!’ Reader review

Format: ebook
Release Date: 29 Feb 2024
Pages: None
ISBN: 978-0-00-859915-7
Rosie Hannigan is the pen name of Amy Gaffney, who hails from Kildare and is a graduate of UCD’s Creative Writing MA. In 2021 she was shortlisted for the Penguin Michael Joseph Christmas Love Story Competition. Her poetry is published in Poetry Ireland Review Issue 125, and the Irish Times Hennessy New Irish Writing. Amy’s short story Mother May I was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards in 2019, in the Short Story of the Year category. She has mentored at University of Limerick’s Winter Writing School and has been a panel member at various discussions there, and also hosted the Reading Corner at the Murder One Crime Writing Festival in Dublin in 2019.

PRAISE FOR THE SUNRISE SWIMMING SOCIETY: -

'The Sunrise Swimming Society is a heartwarming tale of family, community and sisterhood. Rosie Hannigan's three protagonists are incredibly honest and flawed, but such likeable women and you can't help but root for them throughout and hope that they manage to overcome their differences and the challenges they face in life. Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, The Sunrise Swimming Society is a beautiful story.' Helen Hawkins -

PRAISE FOR THE MOONLIGHT GARDENING CLUB: -

”'Sweet and heartwarming” - - Marian Keyes

”’A fabulous book, the writing is superb, the characters (including the town itself) are fully realised and credible…Full confession: The Moonlight Gardening Club melted my cynical old heart, which says a great deal about how good it is.” - Anne Marie Scanlon, The Independent Ireland

”'I absolutely loved it. The word 'uplifting' was invented for this tender and poignant story about the unlikely friendship of Ruby and Frankie … It's a beautifully written debut, a must-read” - - Judy Leigh

”'What a delight. It was a gorgeous, emotional read with characters to hold your heart” - - Liz Fenwick

”'A poignant, heartwarming, uplifting story of the enriching gift of friendship. A terrific debut novel that will enthral readers” - - Patricia Scanlan

”'Full of warmth and heart, The Moonlight Gardening Club is an absolute delight. Ruby and Frankie are characters to really care for and will definitely inspire you to grab your wellies and get out into the garden! Rosie Hannigan is an exciting new voice in Irish fiction” - - Hazel Gaynor

”'A beautiful, warm book with relatable characters and plenty of surprises” - - Rachael English