Emma Hannigan’s final novel, The Gift of Friends, goes straight to No 1

The Gift of Friends, the final novel from the late author Emma Hannigan, which was published on February 28th, has gone straight into number 1 on the Irish bestseller fiction list after just three days’ sales.

Hannigan was the beloved and bestselling author of 13 novels, including the No 1 bestseller Letters to My Daughters. Emma died on March 3rd last year just weeks after launching a social media campaign #HelpEmmaHelpOthers to raise €100,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland. This campaign raised over €135,000 within three weeks. In the final months of her life, Emma completed her 13th novel, sending her acknowledgements to her editor just days before she died.

Ciara Doorley, editorial director of her publisher Hachette Ireland, said: “We are so proud of Emma going straight to the top of the bestseller list. This is her fourth number one bestseller which is incredible and to see Emma’s readers embrace her final book like this is emotional for all of us. Emma was determined that she give her readers one final book and she’s done everyone proud.”