Cathy Kelly books

Cathy Kelly is an Irish author of women's fiction whose novels have sold millions of copies worldwide since 1997. Born in Belfast and based in County Wicklow, she writes warm, emotionally grounded stories about women's friendships, family, and the complications of modern life.

Anthologies

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Irish Girls About Town 1995 Buy
The Sunday Night Book Club 2006 Buy
Over the Moon 2009 Buy
And Then He Kissed Me 2013 Buy

Short Stories/Novellas

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Letter from Chicago 2002 Buy
The Perfect Holiday 2010 Buy

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Christmas Magic 2011 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Woman To Woman 1997 Buy
Never Too Late 1999 Buy
She’s the One 1999 Buy
Someone Like You 2000 Buy
What She Wants 2001 Buy
Just Between Us 2002 Buy
Best of Friends 2003 Buy
Always and Forever 2004 Buy
Past Secrets 2006 Buy
Lessons in Heartbreak 2008 Buy
Once In a Lifetime 2009 Buy
Homecoming 2010 Buy
The House on Willow Street 2012 Buy
The Honey Queen 2013 Buy
It Started with Paris 2014 Buy
Between Sisters 2015 Buy
The Year that Changed Everything 2018 Buy
Secrets of a Happy Marriage 2018 Buy
A Woman’s Heart 2020 Buy
The Family Gift 2021 Buy
Other Women 2021 Buy
The Wedding Party 2022 Buy
Sisterhood 2024 Buy

Cathy Kelly worked as a journalist in Dublin before publishing her first novel Woman to Woman in 1997. It became an international bestseller, and she retired from journalism after her third book to write full time. Since then she has published more than 20 novels, consistently reaching bestseller lists in Ireland and the UK.

Her fiction tends to centre on women at turning points — returning home, rebuilding after loss, navigating long friendships and complicated families. The settings are often Irish, though she has also set books in New York and Paris, and the tone is warm without being sentimental. Books like Between Sisters and Sisterhood reflect her long-running interest in female community and the specific dynamics of women’s close friendships across decades.

Kelly lives in Bray, County Wicklow, with her family and is known for engaging directly with her readers through social media and events. She is a UNICEF ambassador and has been involved in charitable work alongside her writing career.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Cathy Kelly written?

Cathy Kelly has written 30 books across four series.

What was Cathy Kelly's first book?

Cathy Kelly’s first book is Irish Girls About Town, published in 1995.

What has Cathy Kelly won or been recognised for?

Her novel Someone Like You (2000) won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Always and Forever (2004) reached number one on the UK bestseller charts, outselling both Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling in the same week. She is also a UNICEF ambassador.

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