I run across so many debut authors on Netgalley and it is such a treasury. I think what immediately drew me to Ross was the the comparison Colm Toibin. I am a huge fan of Brooklyn and was very intrigued by the story similarities that I could find in this.

Bridey leaves Ireland with her sweetheart Thom bound for America. Whilst onboard the ship she loses not only Thom but her innocence. Pregnant and alone, she tries to make it in a new country. When giving up her child, she finds work with a prominent family in Connecticut and also finds a strong friendship with her mistress, Sarah, one that forever alters the course of her life and the story. The story goes forward, telling through alternate voices of the Hollingworth family over the rest of the 20th century leading into the 21st.

Firstly, I loved the narrative of this story. Letting the characters be the driving voice, even in third person omniscient, made this narrative so relatable and tangible. You understood as a reader their motivations and the construct of their world. It also lent to the characterization and built each character to feel as alive as someone who would meet on the street. I think the only character that suffered a little from this was the daughter of Vincent. She seemed to get the least amount of time and she felt very one-note because of that treatment.

I was getting shades of Philomena with this story so much in the beginning and it was absolutely heartbreaking. I think it was a good pairing between Sarah and Bridey in their friendship and difficulties. Even as a woman, I did question Sarah's acceptance of Bridey's situation with Vincent. Sarah was one of the most human characters in the whole story though. She seemed to accept foibles where others would not, so ultimately I was able to accept that. For the times, it was a bit of a stretch.

I think the biggest issue was the parentage of Vincent and how that was handled. We have at the end this great full circle with Vincent's granddaughter, who started and ended the book, but also there's this anger. That anger kind of underlies with Vincent from the beginning. He wanted to know all along who his mother was. Then when he finds out and has the ability to let his family know, this is who we really are. He literally throws it away. It felt like such a betrayal to every bit of family loyalty and love that the story had tried to build up. Then it takes modern technology for them to learn about? Which is ironic and makes total sense. But it didn't have to be that way. Ever. And it's so frustrating. It hurt so many people. I think there was better within the narrative to handle this.

The middle of the story was very difficult to read. It just dragged. A family saga can work if all of your characters are equally contributing, but that wasn't the case.

Overall, Ross is not Colm Toibin. I thought this was an interesting way to market the book. I might read something else in the future, but I know family sagas definitely have a draw. Thank you!

The Latecomers is a sweeping family saga. Beautifully written, it is a must read for historical fiction lovers.

A review appeared on my blog -- and I'll provide the publisher with a link in the next part of this review processes.

*Thank you to and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for a fair and honest review.
This novel is what some would call a "sweeping saga of generations", beginning with a young Irish immigrant girlnamed Bridey. I'm torn about reviewing this book; I loved the first half, and it's apparent that Ross is not only a gifted writer but an excellent researcher. There are many historical elements added that lend an air of authenticity and make for interesting reading. However, it just went on too long for me. While so much time was spent on Bridey and how she survived after reaching New York, the rest of the book seemed to rush through time and generations. In my opinion (which means nothing, let's be honest) I would have enjoyed the story more as a novel of Bridey, and then a sequel about the remainder of the family. Overall, an excellent piece of storytelling that was a bit long-winded for my taste. 3.5 stars.

Dark secrets are at the heart of this moving drama about an Irish Immigrant family. The descriptions of people and place are moving.

It’s not often I’ve picked a book because of its cover, but it’s what led me to The

Latecomers. A family saga, of sorts, it deals with the Hollingsworth family along with their live-in maid, Bridey. Bridey came over from Ireland as a 16 year old. Unfortunate circumstances led to her beau dying on the crossing but not before leaving her pregnant. While at a home for unwed mothers, she meets Sarah Hollingworth and is soon working for the family.

The story is well told and you quickly come to care for the characters. Each chapter deals with a different time period, told from either Bridey or Sarah’s POV and later, from Vincent’s and succeeding generations. Ross has done an excellent job of painting the early time periods, including the thoughts and prejudices of the day. She obviously did her research, because everything just seems spot on.

The book speeds up at the end. Over ⅔ involves Bridey and Sarah, but then all of a sudden, generation after generation is thrust on us. It was harder to keep tabs of the later generations as some only get a chapter or two. In the end, all is made clear. Not to the reader, who has understood the truth of a certain death all along, but to those later generations.

My thanks to netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advance copy of this book.

I eagerly anticipated this book after loving her first novel, What Was Mine. This book started out great, got a little tedious in the middle then finished well. I can say I liked it and would recommend it if asked for a novel that spanned family generations, told of the immigrant experience, and occurred during the entire 20th century. I liked all the characters, although Vincent's growing up years is where I found the book tedious. I felt it was too much detail into his growing up years and just wanted it to move along. I also wish more had been written about Bridey's life after returning to Ireland.

Bridey leaves Ireland with her soon to be husband when her family doesn’t approve of him. Bridey ends up in service to the Hollingworth family, as her life interweaves with events during the early 1900’s. The book takes us through generations until the present time. I enjoy historical fiction, but I felt the book dragged at spots and did not have the impact an intergenerational saga should have on the reader. Just okay for me.

At age 16, Bridey left Ireland with Thom, her love. They are heading to America and hope to get married before the ship sails. When there isn't enough time, they decide they will be married when they reached America. But Thom sickens and dies on the trip leaving Bridey alone and pregnant. In America, she is taken in by a Catholic group that helps her find work. When it is discovered that she is pregnant, she is sent to another home for fallen women. There she gives birth to a son and decides that the best thing for him is to put him up for adoption.

Bridey finds work at Hollingwood, a huge mansion built in 1853, and owned by the Hollingworth family. She is very efficient taking on many jobs and loving the family members. The family’s daughter, Sarah, marries Edward Potter and ends up living at Hollingwood. Sarah and Bridey are close and Bridey confides about putting her son up for adoption. Unable to have children, Sarah decides to find him and adopt him if she can.

Bridey’s son was adopted by a family that called him Vincent, but after a few years he was returned to the orphanage when he got into mischief causing a devastating fire. Vincent was very sad and felt so bad about the fire. So, when he is adopted by Sarah and goes to live at Hollingwood, he is so happy. He loves Bridey who cares for him. However, Bridey has promised Sarah that she will never tell Vincent that she is his mother.

This story goes back and forth in time giving the reader snippets of what is to come in the future for this family. It goes through several generations revealing the secrets of Hollingwood. Although the story encompasses many years, I think it was somewhat long and could have been shortened to keep the reader’s interest. I also feel that the title and the story just don’t seem to match. What point am I missing here? But! The book is good and I gave it 5 stars.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bridey and Thom leave Ireland for America, planning to wed once they arrive. Thom dies aboard ship, and Bridey arrives in America pregnant. She considers returning to her family in Ireland, but remains. A young woman who helps Bridey helps her place the child with a Catholic charity and provides Bridey with a job. When the woman's own child dies in birth, she adopts from the charity with Bridey still working for the family. The bond between Bridey and Vincent is strong. Bridey returns to Ireland when the family's patriarch dies. The story follows several more generations in a somewhat chaotic matter. The flow between the older generation and the newer ones does not work well for the reader. Genetic genealogists will love the epilogue. The author provides historical notes and a good bibliography, features unusual for a novel. I really enjoyed Bridey and Thom's story, the story of Bridey's first days in America, and giving up the child for adoption. I even enjoyed some of Bridey's story after that point. Unfortunately, the more the story began to focus on the Hollingworth family, the less interested I became in the story being read. The character development that took place in the early generations did not extend to the later ones. Those generations felt rushed. What started as a good read became just a mediocre one for me. I received an electronic copy from the publishers through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

I loved this book!!! Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres and this did not disappoint. For fans of Lucretia Riley and Kate Morton, a must read.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

In 1908, sixteen-year-old Bridey runs away from her small town in Ireland with her same-age sweetheart Thom. When Thom dies during the sea voyage, Bridey finds herself pregnant and alone in America.

I thought the story lagged a bit in the middle and the ending felt rushed. I never did figure out the meaning of the book title.

3☆

The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross was amazing! The story intertwines between 1900s and 2000s so beautifully. The two storylines are so beautiful. The story of Emma searching for her father after the twin towers collapse with the help of her mother Ruth was gut wrenching yet beautiful. Then there is the story of a girl who leaving Ireland heading to America with her true love. The way these two totally different stories intertwine was amazing. I was so sad when story ended but I look forward to reading more from Helen Klein Ross!

I really enjoyed this book that interwove the lives of a family back in the beginning of the 1900s with the lives of family down the line in the early 2000s. I loved how the story fell together piece by piece; my only sadness being that more people didn't know the truth in the story by the end.
The book starts out with the meeting of a girl, Emma, and her mother Ruth, who are looking for the girls father after the towers collapse during 9/11. The book then brings you back to introduce you to the Hollingwood family; then in a separate part of the story you are introduced to a young Irish girl who is fleeing Ireland with her love to come to America, the land of opportunity. Their worlds come together and intertwine, creating a terrific and well plotted work of historical fiction.
I would definitely read another book by this author. I really do enjoy her writing style.

Bridey Molloy and beloved fiance, Thom, fled their Irish village for America and a better life. Thom's cousin has already settled in the USA, and he sent them tickets. The plan was eventually to get the entire family over to the new world, starting in 1908. Bridey and Thom planned to marry before they left but the priest couldn't be found and they couldn't wait. They thought they could quickly get married on the ship.

This grand beginning opens the family story of a hundred years of generations, always with Bridey at the center. The story begins as so many Irish emigrant stories began, in Brooklyn. Klein's writing is smooth and intimate as if a friend was telling you a story about her own family. Each generation layers the long history of a family who lives in Hollingsworth, Connecticut in a beautiful country estate, next to a lake (Helen Ross Klein lives in a house she uses in the book, and you can read about the restoration on her blog).

I love mysteries in families, and I fell hard for Bridey's story. I couldn't stop reading until the very end. She gave her life to others, and many loved her for her generosity and kind ways. I wanted Bridey to be happy.
I'm pretty sure HRK gave me my wish.

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Latecomers is a sweeping family saga spanning over a hundred years. I found the beginning of the book annoying as the reader was moved back through time from the 1930s to the 20s, and finally to 1908, when we meet the protagonist Bridey Molloy as she emigrates from Ireland to New York. Her early struggles in America are contrasted with the wealthy Hollingworth family in Connecticut until Bridey accepts a position as maid for the family and the stories entertwine.

The first half of the book thoroughly covers the first twenty years of the story, but the next eighty years are crammed into the final 200 pages and the reader is rushed from decade to decade and generation to generation as long hidden secrets finally bubble to the surface.

The story is interesting and we'll researched but the later years deserved the same attention to detail as the earlier. Consistent detail in a multi book series would make more enjoyable reading.

This book tells a story of a family from multiple generations, centered around the main character Bridey, who in the beginning, travels to America with her boyfriend for a better life. Sadly, her boyfriend dies on the ship and she is left unmarried and pregnant. Left to find her way in New York. The story really sucks you in to the time period however it covers a century of time which felt a little sped through towards the end.

Overall, I found the book to be easy to read, and although it’s fairly long, it’s definitely a page-turner. However, I really enjoyed taking my time reading about the time-periods and the characters and how the story unfolded. I chose to rate it 4 stars only because the writing felt a bit choppy at times (information about the setting or the character would be followed with explanations. This happened more than occasionally throughout the book.)

Ultimately, I did really like this book and felt it was a very good historical fiction that I would definitely recommend to others. Thank you Little, Brown and Company and to #NetGalley for my advanced e-book version.

The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross is a multi-generational story of an American family and the Irish immigrant with whom they share a secret. Ross was inspired by a real 1853 Connecticut house, Holleywood.

The novel begins in 1908 when Bridey and Thom plan to secretly marry and immigrant to America because of the feud between their Irish families. The marriage is delayed and Thom dies of ship fever, leaving a pregnant Bridey to fend for herself in America.

Bridey must give her son for adoption and is hired as a maid for the wealthy Hollingsworth family. Their relationship becomes complicated upon the death of the patriarch, causing Bridey to return to Ireland.

The story follows the Hollingsworth family through generations, set against the burgeoning changes in American life, until a long-lost secret is rediscovered through genealogical research.

I had just finished watching Downton Abbey for the first time (yes, I know, years after everyone else saw it.) The early part of the novel reminded me of that series, from the time era to the upstairs/downstairs multigenerational relationships. Except, this story is set in America and continues into contemporary times.

My concern was that the story slowed down in the middle. There is a lot of 'telling' when I would have liked more dialogue and action. I know it is on trend, but I still don't care for a prelude scene with people and a situation not revisited until the end of the book.

Ross's extensive research shows in the period details she includes in the story. Historical fiction fans who enjoy learning about history in a sprawling novel spanning generations will enjoy this book.

I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This is historical fiction writing at its best---well researched, and from my experience, a true reckoning of many Irish immigrants. My major problem is that the book should have ended about the time of Bridey's death. After that, too many years and characters were rushed to a contrived ending.

The Latecomers by Helen Klein Ross
I have mixed feelings about this book. Historical fiction is my favorite book genre, and this story of an immigrant Irish girl and the family she goes to work for in Connecticut is just the type of novel I enjoy. To top it off, a lot of it takes place in Connecticut where I lived for nearly 30 years. For the good part, this book is a page turner, in spite of its length, I finished it in 3 days. There were several reasons, why I was not able to give this book a higher rating. The book covers years from the turn of 20th century to 2012, three quarters of the novel covers 20 years from 1908 to 1928 and the last quarter speeds through the rest of the years. I was ready to give the novel 4 or even 5 stars, but the last part completely turned me off. I didn’t feel it added to the story, it was contrived and not believable, too many coincidences. Had the book ended in 1928 with the secrets resolved then, this would have been a 5 star novel.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.