43 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
464
Novel • Fiction
Coastal Ireland • Contemporary
2012
Adult
18+ years
In A Week in Winter, various characters converge at Stone House, a guest house in the fictional Irish coastal town of Stoneybridge, owned by Chicky Starr. The novel, structured as interconnected short stories, explores themes of self-acceptance and personal transformation as each character navigates their own struggles and intersects with others' lives. This novel contains references to domestic abuse, drug use, murder, and suicide.
Heartwarming
Inspirational
Hopeful
Bittersweet
Nostalgic
81,758 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter is celebrated for its warm, engaging storytelling and richly drawn characters who intertwine during a transformative week at a coastal Irish inn. While some readers appreciate the comforting, heartwarming narrative, others feel the plot lacks depth and momentum. The novel offers a cozy, albeit predictable, escape into Binchy’s charming world.
A reader who enjoys cozy, character-driven stories with intertwining lives in a charming setting would love Maeve Binchy's A Week in Winter. Fans of Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers and Jan Karon's At Home in Mitford will appreciate the warmth, strong sense of community, and heartwarming resolutions.
81,758 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Rigger
A character who adopts a new name to reinvent himself, moving from a troubled past to finding his place in a small coastal village.
Orla
A modern and tech-savvy young woman whose experiences contrast with the traditional ways of the rural setting and who protects Stone House's interests.
Winnie
A professional woman navigating a new relationship alongside a challenging dynamic with her partner's mother, while maintaining optimism.
John/Corry Salinas
An actor living under an assumed name who grapples with the tension between his cultivated public persona and his true self.
Henry and Nicola
A married couple who face significant trauma while maintaining a strong partnership and seeking a path to healing.
Anders
A professional tourist initially disconnected from the setting's natural allure, who finds inspiration through music and personal growth.
Ann and Charlie Wall
A married couple known as "The Walls," who share a penchant for entering contests, symbolizing their resilient partnership.
Nell Howe
A character resistant to forming connections, often described as antagonistic and trapped by her own emotional barriers.
Freda
A character with supernatural insight, navigating personal struggles and finding renewal through new friendships and acceptance.
464
Novel • Fiction
Coastal Ireland • Contemporary
2012
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.