Siân O’Gorman’s latest offering, If We Could Turn Back Time, is a compelling exploration of family, belonging, and the weight of secrets that span generations. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Sandycove, Dublin’s charming coastal village, this contemporary women’s fiction novel weaves together themes of homecoming, second chances, and the courage required to confront uncomfortable truths.
At thirty, Alice Murphy finds herself at a crossroads. After a decade of seemingly carefree living in Perth, Australia, the allure of freedom and endless sunshine has begun to fade. When a relationship with surfer boyfriend Sebastian ends with barely a ripple of emotion, Alice realizes she’s been living half a life—unencumbered but also unrooted. A serendipitous school closure provides the perfect opportunity for an extended visit home to Sandycove, where her mother Ciara and beloved grandmother Eva run the century-old family deli, Murphy’s.
The Heart of Sandycove: Murphy’s Deli as Character
O’Gorman demonstrates her considerable skill in making settings feel lived-in and authentic. Murphy’s isn’t merely a backdrop—it pulses with the rhythms of village life, from the morning queue for Irish breakfast to the carefully curated Friday night wine boxes that Alice introduces. The author’s intimate knowledge of Irish coastal communities shines through in every detail, from the granite step worn smooth by a century of feet to the particular jingle of the bell that announces each customer’s arrival.
The deli serves as both sanctuary and anchor for three generations of Murphy women. Eva, sharp-witted despite her advancing years, still walks up Killiney Hill daily and swims with her friends. Ciara, approaching fifty and feeling life passing her by, pours her energy into running the shop while nursing old wounds. Alice, the prodigal daughter returned, begins to see the shop not as a limitation but as a foundation for the rooted life she’s finally ready to embrace.
Layered Storytelling That Rewards Patient Readers
In “If We Could Turn Back Time,” O’Gorman’s narrative structure cleverly mirrors the way family secrets emerge—gradually, through seemingly casual conversations and chance discoveries. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, allowing readers to understand each character’s motivations while building suspense about the connections between past and present.
The romance subplot between Alice and Max, the charming bookshop owner next door, develops with refreshing authenticity. Their relationship builds on shared appreciation for books, late-night walks, and genuine compatibility rather than manufactured drama. Max’s discovery of a letter in a box of books becomes the catalyst that unravels thirty years of carefully guarded secrets.
The Blake Family Legacy: When the Past Refuses to Stay Buried
The novel’s most compelling element is its exploration of how one person’s choices can ripple across generations. Dolores Blake, the formidable matriarch known as Dol, emerges as a complex antagonist whose past affair with young Lorcan Kennedy set in motion a chain of events that affected multiple families. O’Gorman handles this revelation with nuance, avoiding the temptation to paint Dol as simply villainous.
The truth about Conal Blake’s parentage—that he’s actually Alice’s half-brother, born of Dol’s affair with the same man who abandoned Alice’s pregnant mother—provides the novel’s most shocking twist. Yet O’Gorman grounds this melodramatic revelation in genuine emotion, focusing on how the characters process and heal from these revelations rather than sensationalizing the secret itself.
Character Development That Rings True
- Alice Murphy: Her journey from rootless wanderer to committed community member feels authentic rather than rushed
- Ciara Murphy: The middle generation caught between caring for aging parents and supporting adult children while nursing old heartbreak
- Eva Murphy: The wise grandmother who proves she still has secrets and strength in reserve
- Conal Blake: A young man discovering his entire identity was built on lies, handled with appropriate psychological complexity
The Author’s Voice: Gentle Humor Meets Emotional Depth
O’Gorman writes with a light touch that never minimizes the emotional weight of her story. Her dialogue sparkles with wit—Eva’s observations about the succession of shops next to Murphy’s or Max’s walking book club discussions provide moments of levity that feel natural rather than forced. The author has a particular gift for capturing the rhythms of Irish conversation, the way information is shared and withheld in small communities.
The prose style is accessible and warm, reminiscent of Maeve Binchy’s ability to make readers feel like welcomed guests at a family gathering. O’Gorman doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions—grief, abandonment, betrayal—but she handles them with a mature perspective that acknowledges pain while emphasizing resilience and growth.
Themes That Resonate Beyond the Page
If We Could Turn Back Time succeeds in addressing several contemporary concerns within its seemingly cozy setting. The novel explores:
- The tension between personal freedom and family obligation
- How secrets can both protect and damage across generations
- The challenge of finding authentic connection in an increasingly disconnected world
- The courage required to build a life rather than simply exist in one
- The complexity of forgiveness and moving forward
Minor Criticisms Worth Noting
While “If We Could Turn Back Time” largely succeeds in its ambitions, a few elements feel slightly contrived. The coincidence of Max finding the crucial letter feels convenient, though O’Gorman works to make it plausible through his character’s natural inclination to match books with readers. Some readers might find the resolution of the family drama somewhat tidy, though the author does acknowledge that healing is an ongoing process rather than a single moment of revelation.
The pacing occasionally slows during the middle sections where the author builds the community atmosphere, though these moments ultimately serve the story by establishing why Alice would want to stay in Sandycove.
O’Gorman’s Growing Literary Confidence
“If We Could Turn Back Time” demonstrates O’Gorman’s evolution as a storyteller. Having previously explored similar themes in The Sandycove Supper Club and The Girls from Sandycove, she shows increasing confidence in balancing multiple storylines and generations. Her ability to create a sense of place rivals that of established masters of the genre, while her character development has gained depth and nuance with each book.
The author’s decision to set another novel in Sandycove proves wise—she has created a literary community rich enough to support multiple stories while feeling fresh with each new perspective. This familiarity allows her to dive deeper into character development rather than spending excessive time on world-building.
Perfect for Fans of Contemporary Irish Fiction
Readers who appreciate the work of authors like Sheila O’Flanagan, Cathy Kelly, or Patricia Scanlan will find much to love in O’Gorman’s latest offering. The novel shares DNA with classic family sagas while maintaining a thoroughly contemporary sensibility about women’s choices and the importance of chosen family alongside blood relations.
“If We Could Turn Back Time” would make an excellent choice for book clubs, offering multiple discussion points about family loyalty, the nature of home, and how the past shapes but doesn’t have to determine the future.
Similar Books Worth Exploring
If you enjoyed If We Could Turn Back Time, consider these companion reads:
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – for its multi-generational secrets and complex female relationships
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer – for its celebration of community and the healing power of human connection
- Maeve Binchy’s Heart and Soul – for its ensemble cast and gentle handling of life’s complexities
- The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak – for its exploration of how family secrets affect multiple generations
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – for its themes of second chances and finding one’s authentic path
Final Verdict: A Satisfying Return to Form
If We Could Turn Back Time represents O’Gorman at her most confident and emotionally astute. While it may not break new ground in terms of plot structure, it succeeds brilliantly in what it sets out to do: tell a heartfelt story about the courage required to build authentic relationships and face uncomfortable truths.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its understanding that coming home isn’t about returning to who you were, but about becoming who you’re meant to be. Alice’s journey from rootless wanderer to committed community member mirrors many readers’ own struggles to balance freedom with belonging, making this a particularly resonant read for anyone questioning their own path in life.
O’Gorman has crafted a novel that feels both timeless and thoroughly contemporary, proving that stories about family, love, and community never go out of style when told with genuine heart and skillful prose. This is comfort reading at its finest—challenging enough to provoke thought but gentle enough to provide the literary equivalent of a warm hug.
Rating: If We Could Turn Back Time is a thoroughly satisfying read that will leave you craving your own slice of Irish hospitality and perhaps questioning what secrets your own family might be keeping.
