After experiencing some upheaval in her life, Rachel needs a job. When she accepts a job at a Catholic school she knows she is short on some of the requirements, but she is determined to squeeze herself in the position. The challenges are there right from the start. For one thing, although she has a deree, she hardly has any teaching experience. What is more is that she has not practiced her faith in quite some time, thus that aspect of her new environment might be more than she is prepared to deal with.

Some other things on Rachel's plate are the students. Some simply are not into learning French. Also, considering the location, their English keeps throwing her for a loop. For all of these, and even more reasons, Rachel questions the one-year commitment she has made to the job.

There are some things about the little town that proved appealing, one is the lovely culture in a place where time almost stood still. I loved the little nuances that made that place so unique, and it felt very special. For Rachel, fellow teacher Doug Bishop was one to watch, because she found herself more than drawn to him. As this heartwarming story progressed, Rachel found herself under sharp scrutiny at her new job, so remembering that her commitment is only for a year keeps her rooted for the time being.

I loved this story. In fact, I would love to go to Newfoundland, the location where the little town was in this book. The dialogue was great as the author used the language and accents so well in her writing that I could almost hear the characters speaking in my head. I also loved how Rachel not only sought to fit in, but learned many lessons along the way, including that proper English does not mark one's intelligence. Not only did Rachel learn a lot of new terms, readers can as well with the glossary that is included in this book.

I am so glad for the love, friendship and other lessons that this book provided, and I loved how this lovely story came to a close, leaving me with a very warm feeling.

Many thanks to Graydon House and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan

Small conservative Catholic community in need of a teacher
Novice teacher in need of change seeks it in new community
Will she be welcomed?
Will she fit in?
Will she find what she needs?
And how will the community react deal with this new person from away?

Filled with community, culture, and so much more – this story drew me in, made me care, and hope for happy endings for more than one character in the story.

What I liked:
* The setting – having never been to Newfoundland it felt as if I was making the trip with the main character.
* The writing: skillful, friendly, descriptive and immersive.
* Rachel O’Brien: newly graduated, early twenties, grieving, modern, giving, good friend, caring, kind, immersed in a new culture, grows a LOT during the story, someone I admire.
* Doug Bishop: teacher of science and phys ed, probationary teacher, from Little Cover, loving son, caring, kind, intelligent, intriguing.
* Lucille, Biddy and the rest of the hookers – wonderful, caring, giving, creative, strong, community minded women that provide social and emotional support for one another (and others)
* Patrick Donovan: Principal, knowledgeable, patient, kind, a good man, there for his teachers and students
* Students with their individual needs, problems, and potential
* The ways Rachel ended up connecting with her students and others
* The romance that slowly developed between Rachel and Doug
* Sheila’s BFF
* Rachel’s backstory
* Feeling like I was becoming part of the community/story
* The music and art elements of the story
* All of it really, except…

What I didn’t like:
* Thinking about the sadness and loss experienced by more than one character in the story
* Knowing that too often the best option for individuals is overlooked due to moral, religious, educational or societal values.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and harper Collins-Graydon House-HQN for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

New Girl in Little Cove by Damhnait Monaghan pulls me in from the very start with a reference to a childhood favorite – Anne of Green Gables. The charm of the book continues throughout this story about being an outsider who finds acceptance in a small community. A little romance, a beautiful setting, and an insight into Newfoundland culture, music, and language all make this a charming debut.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/05/new-girl-in-little-cove.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher's blog tour.

Rachel, a young French teacher, trades in mainland Canada to teach at a Catholic high school in a small town on the island of Newfoundland. Set in 1985, isolated from her friends and family back home and trying to escape the recent death of her father, can Rachel help her students without judging their parents for being set in their ways and traditions?

"Sometimes you come across a student who seems past help, but when you finally reach them, it turns out that the troublemaker is merely a lost soul."

OK I’ll admit it. When I first received an advance copy of this book, I was not excited. But, boy was I wrong! This was a cute, fun, heartwarming tale about a teacher's year abroad. She thought she was there to teach but instead, she learns so many great lessons from her fellow teachers, townspeople, and students. If you love stories set in small towns, then be sure to try this one. With the inclusion of the Newfoundland accent/dialect, you'll feel fully immersed in the lives of the people who live in this quaint, charming town.

Location: Little Cove, a fictitious town in Newfoundland, Canada

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Love, love loved this novel about a woman who goes to teach in a small town in Newfoundland. Perfect read for people who like something sweet and heartwarming - I laughed, I teared up, I cheered - so good. HIGHLY recommend!

New Girl in Little Cove is one of those delightful reads that captures your heart and holds onto it. Reading this debut from Damhnait Monaghan was such a joy. I loved the virtual escape to Newfoundland and really loved how the story is set in 1985.

When Rachel O'Brien accepts a position as a French Teacher on the Parochial school St. Jude's in Little Cove, she's doing so as a way to combat her grief. Her father has recently died and her mother also decides to move away. Her heart is heavy, but the move is a good distraction from her melancholy. She soon discovers that the village is filled with a unique mix of characters, some embracing her and some who push back against her presence. But Rachel is optimistic about the move and soon finds her way (as a mainlander) amongst the Newfoundlanders and their sometimes odd behavior, and even odder dialect.

The author does such a spectacular job with the pacing of the story and the setting. It was fun to be in a time period where the "instant" and "always connected" was not in play. It was a pleasure to watch her grow, finding herself being assimilated into the community, to see the locals begin to embrace her. Her love for teaching and her willingness to take chances to engage her students is inspiring. I highly recommend this tale of a courageous young woman taking chances that nurture her soul. She could play it safe but she makes choices that shows just how brave she is. I found myself moved to tears at moments, most happy, but a few sad. I could relate to Rachels grief and her need for isolation and time to reflect. Please be sure to read the authors notes as they shed light on how her personal experience inspired the story. 5 Stars!

I adored this small-town story! New Girl in Little Cove is set in the tiny village of Little Cove in Newfoundland; it is filled with the finest and quirkiest cast of characters. I grew to love them all—even stern Father Frank grew on me.

Rachel is an outsider and mainlander, and consequently she sets tongues wagging when she arrives in Little Cove. Coming from Toronto, she is not used to literally EVERYONE knowing all her business. From her landlady to her fellow teachers at the local Parochial school, each character is fun and funny and enriches Rachel’s life. It was a treat to get to learn some Newfoundland colloquialisms and get a flavor for the local culture.

Rachel’s devotion to being a great teacher is inspired by her beloved, late father who also was an educator. Her enthusiasm is inspiring and her naivety gets her into hot water. Her moral compass does right be her in the end.

New Girl in Little Cove is a charming story that is perfect for readers who love to travel or to experience new cultures. There is an added treat of a slow-burn, sweet romance.

4.5 stars

If you've ever lived in a small town, Little Cove will feel pretty familiar. I grew up in one and now live in another, and one thing seems to always ring true. Small town gossip is practically a tangible thing. Everyone knows everyone else's business. Little Cove may be different from my own small town in many ways, but in other ways, I almost felt at home. And that's how I knew Damhnait Monaghan had experienced small-town life herself. The setting, the characters, the story - it all felt real. Of course, it is fiction, so there were a few things that may have pushed at one's suspension of disbelief, but for the most part, this whole story just felt wonderfully real. It was perfect for curling up on this rainy weekend and getting lost in the world of Little Cove, which is exactly what I did. The book is charming, engaging, and completely entertaining, and I'll be interested to see what this author does next.

A truly delightful story! Hard to not be sucked into this one!
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I don’t think I’ve ever read a story that was based in Newfoundland before. But the uniqueness of the story and the way the authors subtle humor comes through in the characters makes this a heartwarming story that really settles into your soul and leaves you with a smile on your face.

I love that the characters are interesting and so different from any other’s I have read before. They’re not perfect by any means and that’s what’s great about it. The characters are so lovable and believable! You just get wrapped right up in the story.

The location, descriptions, and creativity just paint a beautiful picture that make you wish this place actually existed. Not sure I would live in the middle of nowhere like that but it certainly sounds beautiful and compelling. Plus, it makes the story come to life.

Interesting, well developed, humorous, even splashes of sadness can’t take away from the story this author has built. A well-rounded, highly entertaining, beautiful story that burrowed right into my soul.

I can’t wait to read her next book, whenever it comes out. Bravo!

Thank you NetGalley, author Damhnait Monaghan, Graydon House publishing for giving me a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
This book was an amazing heartwarming read! Author Monaghan did a wonderful job capturing the culture and heart of the very special place that is Little Cove. This story was full of lot of lovable and realistic characters that created a very addictive book.
This book follows our main character, Rachel, who has just recently taken a job at St. Jude's as the French Teacher. Moving from the main land , Toronto to Little Cove, Newfoundland, Rachel finds herself learning the ins and outs of the small close knit community. The difficulties in navigating the culture and the unique language are just some of the issues Rachel has to face. Set in the 1980's, Rachel starts out as feeling lonely and set apart from the other teachers as well as finding it hard to build a connection with the students. Slowly, another new teacher to the school, Dong begins to help Rachel open herself to the people and their culture. What started out as a one year teaching contract, Rachel finds herself possibly willing to make the small community her new home.
I loved this story so so much! I could defiantly relate to Rachel's situation, as I have been in a similar place when I lived and taught overseas for a few years. I enjoyed getting to know the people within Little Cove and believe the author did an incredible job showing the growth and depth of the important characters, while leaving some characters to just fade in the background without really needing to wrap up their plot line. The author also handled some very sensitive topics with care. While there are talks about abortions, suicide, lung cancer, and death, the author addressed these topics within the context of the story, which allowed for the reader to remain fully in the story from start to finish. There were a lot of funny moments that happened throughout the story that had me laughing out loud! I would have liked to see the ending flushed out a little more, it seemed rushed, but it was very satisfying. Overall, this was a great debut novel! Well done! I would highly recommend this book to those who have ever thought about teaching aboard or moving to a place where the culture is not their own. I can't wait for this author's next book!

A cozy, entertaining and heartwarming story that kept hooked and made me smile.
I loved the well written characters, the humour and the well developed plot.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was an incredibly heartwarming and fast paced read. Every time my eye caught the percentage at the bottom corner of what I had read I was shocked because it felt like I had been reading for no time at all. Monaghan has created a wonderfully rich and credible world of Little Cove and it is filled with tons of lovable and not so lovable characters.

Our main character, Rachel, was easy to root for and I throughly enjoyed following along with her as she navigated being a newcomer in a very small, tight knit community. Newfoundland itself is a character and I loved learning about their culture and language. There are a few humorous moments in this story that had me laughing out loud and most of it had to do with Rachel misunderstanding the language. I also really enjoyed that Monaghan chose to set this book in the mid 1980’s because it made sense for Rachel to feel isolated and alone in this strange new place since it was a lot harder to stay connected back then versus now.

This book has a ton of characters between the adults Rachel meets and the students that she teaches. There are just under 400 people that live in Little Cove and Monaghan fills our world with quite a few of them. I really liked what they brought to the story because it helped flesh out Rachel’s world. Another huge plus for me with this story is that Monaghan left things unfinished with some characters and didn’t feel the need to wrap all the various characters stories up in a neat little bow. There is a romance that I enjoyed seeing unfold although the ending of it felt a bit rushed after all the build up. I will say there is a fair amount of references to death, grief and lung cancer but I think Monaghan handled it in a way that it never felt too heavy. There are also a brief mentions of abortion, pregnancy loss, and suicide.

If you are looking for a great adult contemporary to entertain you than I think you should consider this one. I had so much fun reading it and I absolutely loved getting lost in the world of Little Cove. I am eagerly waiting for Monaghan’s next book and I selfishly hope that it somehow involves these characters.

If you are charmed by the lovely cover of Damhnait Monaghan's debut novel, New Girl in Little Cove, wait until you read the delightful story inside.

Rachel O'Brien left the metropolis of Toronto for the small town of Little Cove in Newfoundland, which, while technically part of Canada is a province unto itself.

After the death of her beloved father, and her mother heading to Australia on sabbatical, Rachel takes the only job she can get as a French teacher at a small Catholic high school in Little Cove. She replaces the teacher who ran away with the parish priest.

Set in 1985, we meet the interesting people in the small town of Little Cove. The first person she encounters is Phonse, the kindly school handyman who is also a mean fiddle player. He directs her to the home of Lucille, the woman who rents Rachel a room.


Rachel has a hard time adjusting to the small town vibe of Little Cove. Everyone is curious about her, and in true small town manner knows everybody's business. There is no library, big grocery store, or restaurants. A fun Friday night is hanging out with the Holy Dusters, Lucille and her friends who hook beautiful rugs.

The other new teacher at school is Doug, who has lived in Little Cove his entire life, caring for his mother. Rachel is attracted to Doug, but he has a fiancee who lives elsewhere. Rachel works hard to connect with her students, but she has a few missteps, including one that could seriously jeopardize her employment.

Seeing Little Cove through the eyes of Rachel is enlightening. As she gets to know the residents, she becomes attached. Growing up she played the violin, and Phonse gave her fiddle lessons that she put to good use as she joined him and some of her students playing in the local pub. Her rescue of a dog that fell through the ice makes her hero in the eyes of the town.

New Girl in Little Cove combines elements of the Broadway show Come From Away and Schitt's Creek, with a dash of Netflix's Derry Girls. If you enjoyed any or all three of those (like I did), pick up New Girl in Little Cove. It will put a big smile on your face as you read, and if you come from a small town, or wish you did, you'll love it even more. I give it my highest recommendation, and I can't wait to read what Damhnait Monaghan writes next.

Title: New Girl in Little Cove
Author: Damhnait Monaghan
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5 out of 5

After the local French teacher scandalizes the fishing village of Little Cove, Newfoundland, by running off with a priest, the school looks to the mainland to fill the job quickly. They want someone who can uphold their Catholic values and keep a motley group of largely unwilling students in line.

The position is filled by mainlander Rachel O’Brien—technically a Catholic (baptized!), technically a teacher (honors degree!)—who’s desperate to leave her current mess of a life behind. She isn’t surprised that her students don’t see the value of learning French. But she is surprised that she can barely understand their English… Is it a compliment or insult to be called a sleeveen? (Insult.) And the anonymous notes left on her car, telling her to go home, certainly don’t help to make her feel welcome.

Still, she is quickly drawn into the island’s traditional music and culture, and into the personal lives of her crusty but softhearted landlady, Lucille, her reluctant students and her fellow teacher Doug Bishop. But when her beliefs clash with church and community, she makes a decision that throws her career into jeopardy. In trying to help a student, has she gone too far?

This was such a good read! The culture and landscape of Little Cove is a vivid character in this novel, and the author does a stellar job of bringing it to life. The characters are quirky yet relatable, and, despite the setting being such a tiny place, it’s full of life and activity. This was an easy read, but just so warm and comfortable, like a cozy sweater on a cold day.

Damhnait Monaghan is an award-winning writer. New Girl in Little Cove is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Graydon House in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/6).

I absolutely adored my time with this book!
Rachel is a mainlander (from Toronto) who takes a teaching job in the very tiny town of Little Cove, Newfoundland. Her trials and tribulations are there for everyone to see. She struggles with the language and traditions of a province that isn't too far from her home yet feels a world away. There is some romance, some humor, and some exploration of deeper topics that I wasn't expecting. Throughout everything, Rachel and the various residents learn about acceptance and friendship.

I could really relate to Rachel and the challenges she faces. Even though I've never been to Newfoundland (I want to though!) I think many of us reading this can identify with being the new person in a place or situation. I liked the 80s time period, because it let us get to know the characters more without the intrusion of present-day technology and for this book it really fit.

If you've seen the musical Come From Away (set in Gander, Newfoundland with the events of 9/11), some of the phrasing will be familiar and cause you to smile. There's a glossary included so you shouldn't get too lost!

I highly recommend this quirky, humorous, yet poignant novel about making the best of an unfamiliar situation and learning to fit in when you feel completely different. I loved my time with these characters.

This is a cozy read with enjoyable and relatable characters. Rachel was an easy character to like and root for. It's a quick read overall. There's a bit of romance, but it's not overwhelming, which I appreciated. I really enjoyed some of the "local language" and phrases. I'm a former teacher, and I felt that angle of the story was realistically portrayed. This story exemplifies why you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover...or people at a first glance.

I learned a lot of things from this book. including delightful new words and phrases.
I learned that small towns are the same whether they are in Newfoundland or the US or UK, and also that teenagers can be obnoxious regardless of country of residence.
That is what made this book so enjoyable to me. Even though I have never traveled to Newfoundland, I found the attitudes of the townspeople to be similar to a small upstate NY town we used to live in. As a former teacher, I felt the teenage characters were familiar as well.
Rachel was therefore relatable on a couple of different levels. I remember my first day of teaching high school like it was yesterday. That was one of my favorite scenes in the book.
She also handled everything the best she could. She wasn’t perfect and she made mistakes, but she came across as someone genuine who just wanted to fit in and do a good job.
I especially liked how the author wrote phonetically or in the vernacular. I know that’s often a bone of contention when dealing with accents in a book.
But I prefer it because I read those parts out loud (yes, it probably seemed as if I was talking to myself) and it definitely gave me a better feel for the cadence and lilt of the townies’ language. I was also struck by how much it had in common with Irish inflections and contractions.
I really enjoyed all of the characters – quirky doesn’t begin to describe some of them.
But back to the teaching part, I thought the way Rachel figured out how to reach the students was accurately portrayed. Sometimes it’s all about just catching their attention in the smallest way – then you can expand on it to bring them further around.
I guess if there was a phrase to sum up this book it would be “don’t judge a book by its cover.” The townies got to know Rachel instead of judging her as a mainlander and she got to know the students in spite of being warned about them by others.
This was a charming book and I would recommend it for a light, easy, relaxing read.

If you aren’t familiar with Canada, you won’t know of Newfoundland: or if your memory extends back far enough you will have had your first mention of it during the groundings of flights on 11 September in 2001. But I have relatives and family (and friends) who are either from or frequent visitors to the island and have been myself every summer during my childhood for a ‘sail-in, sail-out' visit.

But when the opportunity for a teaching position AND a total change of life for Rachel appears, she applied and was hired. Coming from Toronto and onto the island was going to be a huge change, none of which she really expected. But from her first moment setting foot on the island and getting near everything wrong – as they DO speak differently with an accent that can confuse, confound and frequently gobsmack visitors, she’s bound to make a mark.

After her father’s death and her boyfriend’s infidelity – running seemed the best option to forget and ignore the ‘embarrassment’, so being nominally “Catholic”, Rachel is unprepared for both the resistance and the regulations that surround her new job. A first-year teacher come to work with students on their French, she’s not expecting the pressure from the parish priest after the last teacher left in disgrace. She’s comparing her new place to her old – with their strange ways, their unique dialect, the sing-song rhythm of the speech or the oddly placed verb tenses. But other things shine through – after finding herself bored in the first week and at loose ends, she takes a chance and joins in with her landlady, the “hookers” who are also the cleaning women for the parish church, the beauty of the island with its contrasts and confusing moments.

Bit by bit the openness and willingness to ‘give’ from the islanders, and Rachel’s own fascination with (and willingness to) learn what she doesn’t know- asking questions and learning from those all too willing to teach and share brings her both a new appreciation of her life, her place in it and the work – as well as learning the people, their hearts and a bit of ‘interference’ from her landlady doesn’t go amiss. With plenty of references and explanations of the dialect used, as well as a small ‘dictionary’ of “Newfoundland-isms” (a topic that is full of academic study and work) Monaghan gives us a story of finding home in the most unlikely places, with a found sense of family and community that shines brightly. I’m excited to see what this author will next produce as I add this book to my “Canadian Author” shelf, in pride of place.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review; all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aTS /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This was such a good book! It was a quick easy book to read. It takes place over the whole school year. We meet Rachel as she comes to town as the new French teacher.
She seems to have her work cut out for her. She has to get use to teaching ninth graders who don’t really want to learn French. There’s also the different sayings and their meanings that have her scratching her head at times.
I liked Rachel and she grew as the book went on. She came to love the town as they came to care about her.
It was a good story, had some romance in it. It was an around feel good story
I really enjoyed it!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

There are times when a story just touches you. Funny, endearing and essentially rather simple. Life in Little Cove is simple. What it lacks in numbers it excels in characters. In the NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE the author Damhnait Monaghan immerses the reader in the traditions, language and humanity of a very small community in Newfoundland. First thing you will learn is how to pronounce Newfoundland. Without that skill you will forever be seen as a mainlander. And Rachel O’Brien immediately realizes that maintaining that division will not grant her any favors with the people she meets and teaches in Little Cove.
First off is a warning. Tread lightly through the beginning chapter or so until you get a feel for the language which is English but not like anything you’ve ever heard. I realized that just like in some of the British humor I’ve learned to covet, NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE is about people that have grown up with a unique way with words.
For those who seldom stray from their hometown dialects are almost traditions and part of the culture of many places. When I first moved from New Jersey to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania I was sure I had landed somewhere unique. Then after living there for over a decade some of those idioms had become part of my unconscious speech. I got it. You will too and once it sinks in this amazing book just may become one of your favorites.
Tough moving into a position teaching French to teenagers many of whom have no desire to learn. Part of that comes from family pressure to learn something that has employment value. Especially important in small town with scant possibilities. Little Cove is a lot like many small towns where kids wait for the time when they can move on and make their mark.
Some folks stay because of family obligations. But all find their way – in their own way. And Rachel O’Brien is finding her way. Success in her classroom is a challenge. But when it happens it is glorious. Rachel’s position is for one year. She initially wound up in Little Cove having missed openings closer to where she lived. Moving to Little Cove was a way to get a fresh start. Life had beaten Rachel down. After her father’s death both Rachel and her mother needed a way out of their sadness and grief. Her mom took a long-revered sabbatical. Rachel answered an ad and found herself in a strange new place.
The language was the first indication that Rachel had landed somewhere that might not work out so well, but it was only for one year. Rachel needed to find ways to fit in but so far, she was a walking disaster when it came to communication. Funny since language was her specialty. Well French at least. Newfoundland talk was a different animal. In some ways a shortened speech, missed syllables. In other cases filled to overflow with excess baggage. In either case glorious even if difficult to translate. Her first notice was her own name. O’Brien became O’Brine.
Through Rachel we get a chance to meet some amazing characters in NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE. NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE is the breakout novel by Damhnait Monaghan. Monaghan used a combination of memories and creative genius to create this world. Midstream you feel right at home. NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE is a glorious mix of customs and oddities that survive through generations. We are invited to visit for a while. Thanks to Damhnait Monaghan.