The Crumbly Old Castle

Three best friends. Two crumbling estates. And one trip that changes everything. 

When three barn besties escape for a girls’ trip to Ireland, they expect a lot of fun. They don’t expect to want to stay… forever.

Natalie was always the responsible one, the organized one, the together one. But when she inadvertently leaves one day early for their vacation and comes home pink-cheeked with embarrassment, the last thing she expects to find is her husband. . .in their bed with another woman. Luckily, they don’t notice her, and she takes the trip as a time-out to figure out what to do.

Samantha’s marriage has never been full of fireworks and trips to Cabo, but they were making it work. At least, she thought they were. When an unreasonable ultimatum sends her into a tailspin just before the trip, she takes the time to reevaluate what matters and what she wants out of life and love.

Vanessa’s husband passed a few years before, and she’s been soldiering on. Moments away from her job and responsibilities as a mother of three have been rare, but she has no plans of uprooting their life in Colorado. At least, not until someone she trusts betrays her in a big way. That wound makes her question everything about her own value and her family’s future.

Can these three friends help each other find firm ground in a world that seems to be unsafe, unsteady, and unhappy? And can found family really be what they all need when the going gets tough?

Publisher's Weekly said: 

The Crumbly Old Castle is a charming book about three friends rediscovering themselves after betrayal, disappointment, and grief. Ireland almost serves as a fourth character, and the setting adds to the lovely atmosphere. There's a sweetness to this book. There are mentions of affairs and flirtations, but nothing is ever salacious, and Baker stays true to her voice throughout.

The multiple points of view and descriptions of Ireland elevate the story, and Baker skillfully teases the novel's mood while transporting readers into its setting. She also presents each character distinctly, highlighting how the three main women bring out the good in each other. Natalie, Samantha, and Vanessa all struggle with her own unique challenges, but, as a whole, their interactions reflect the power of supportive friendships.