Maeve Binchy at her very best – the superb novel of one summer, and four people whose lives are irrevocably changed.

Four strangers, with nothing in common but a need to escape, meet in a Greek taverna high above the small village of Aghia Anna.

From Ireland, America, Germany and England they have each left behind their homes and their old lives, when a shocking tragedy throws them unexpectedly together.

Nights of Rain and Stars is the story of one summer and four people, each with a life in turmoil – and Vonni, the Irish exile who would very much like to help them, but has demons of her own to battle . . .

A Glorious Read!

Another re-read from many years ago and as good as ever!

Aghia Anna is far off the beaten tourist track in Greece; and yet four people from separate countries all find themselves there at the same time, each having left home and looking for somewhere to settle. When a tragedy strikes the small community, they feel affected and it brings them together with the locals. Vonni is an Irish woman who has lived in the village for what feels like a lifetime and she becomes intertwined in all their lives.

You can’t fail to become interested in each life in this novel; they are so beautifully crafted that each and every person seems real, as do their issues. There is, however, far more to this story that just a few tourists; each character has their own part to play and wisdom to impart. It is an absolutely gorgeous story from beginning to end – the kind which sweeps you up and into it until you can imagine the hot Greek sun beating down. A glorious read, so very enjoyable; I wonder how I ever forgot it? A full five glowing stars, without any hesitation and my highest recommendation.

I own a harback copy of this book but purchased an ecopy in order to re-read; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: Irish, women’s fiction

• Format: ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook, audio MP3
• Size: 340 pages
• Publisher: Orion
• Publication Date: 25 December 2009
• Book Links:
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41958.Nights_of_Rain_and_Stars
• https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Maeve_Binchy_Nights_of_Rain_and_Stars?id=EEfRe_gKFSsC
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/nights-of-rain-and-stars-maeve-binchy/1100257934
• https://uk.bookshop.org/books/nights-of-rain-and-stars-the-perfect-summer-read/9781409176626
• https://www.foyles.co.uk/witem/fiction-poetry/nights-of-rain-and-stars-the-perfect-su,maeve-binchy-9781409176626
• https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/nights-of-rain-and-stars
• https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/nights-of-rain-and-stars/maeve-binchy/paperback/9781409176626.html
• https://www.waterstones.com/book/nights-of-rain-and-stars/maeve-binchy/9781409176626
• https://wordery.com/nights-of-rain-and-stars-maeve-binchy-9781409176626
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nights-Rain-Stars-Maeve-Binchy-ebook/dp/B0037472Q6

Author Details

Maeve Binchy was born in County Dublin and educated at the Holy Child convent in Killiney and at University College, Dublin. After a spell as a teacher she joined the IRISH TIMES. Her first novel, LIGHT A PENNY CANDLE, was published in 1982 and she went on to write over twenty books, all of them bestsellers. Several have been adapted for cinema and television, including TARA ROAD. Maeve Binchy received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Book Awards in 1999 and the Irish PEN/A.T. Cross award in 2007. In 2010 she was presented with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards by the President of Ireland. She was married to the writer and broadcaster Gordon Snell for 35 years, and died in 2012.