Circle of Friends !!

The novel I have read is 'Circle of Friends' by Maeve Binchy. The novel has various settings, the first being Knockglen- a small village, home to Benny Hogan and Eve Malone. Benny's family own ' Hogans Outfitters' and Benny is an only child. Eve is an orphan who lives in the convent, where she was raised. Benny and Eve become childhood friends quickly.Soon they are finished school and are going to college. Benny plans to go to UCD but Eve cannot afford to and so she decides to join a convent in Dublin. On the first day of college there is a car accident and a student named Francis Hegarty is killed. In college, a circle of friends begins to form including: Nan Mahon, Benny, Eve, Jack Foley and Aiden Lynch. Back in Knockglen, Benny's parents are hoping she will marry the shop assistant Seán Walsh. But Benny has no interest in him and instead falls in love with Jack Foley. Jack and Benny begin a relationship but it is difficult as Benny is always at home in Knockglen while Jack is in Dublin. Eve leaves the convent in Dublin and goes to 'Westlands' where her cousin Simon Westward lives. Eve hates Simon because the Westwards disowned Eve's mother when she was younger. Eve asks Simon for money to pay for college as she feels she is owed it. Simon gives her the money and she starts college with Benny. Nan Mahon, a friend of both Benny and Eve, begins a relationship with Simon Westward. Eve is shocked and hurt. Towards the end of the novel Nan discovers she is pregnant with Simons child but he refuses to have anything to do with it. Nan tricks Jack into believing the baby is his after he had cheated on Benny. In the end, Nan loses the baby due to a fight she had with Eve. Jack tries to get back together with Benny but she refuses. The story ends with the circle of friends continuing their relationships.


Overall, I really enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.