This book is written in such an easy to read style. The characters are so warm hearted. It is set in 1950s Dublin and this was nice to read about.

I’ll keep this short as, unfortunately, The Irish Boarding House wasn’t for me. It was all just a bit too fantastical, too perfect. Everything just worked out for all the characters. That probably makes me sound like such a cynic. It was just the way the entire story was written made it too good to be true. I guess, in short, the dialogue wasn’t believable.

There were some deeper topics touched on in the story but not enough to make them very interesting. Everything was just wrapped up too perfectly, including things that would have caused at least a bit more of a stir.

Mary Kate Ryan was raised by her loving grandparents in a small cottage. Her mother left her with them. As a woman Mary Kate was sad and hated living in the boarding house. One day she receives a letter announcing that her mother has died and left her an inheritance. First thing Mary Kate moves out of the sad boarding house and buys her own boarding house.

This was such a fantastic read. I loved learning about each of the girls that come to live with Mary Kate. I loved MK and all that she did with her inheritance. Loved the found family of the story. It brought tears to my eyes.

I love this type of story. Mary Kate is living in horrible and dirty boarding houses and then she receives a surprise inheritance. Mary Kate is rich and decides to start her own boarding house. I love that someone who is struggling finally has some luck and is able to make her dreams come true. Mary Kate is so strong but kind and I loved her story

This novel was heart-warming and filled with delightful, likeable characters. Set in Dublin in the 1950s, it was peopled with mostly Catholic women - women who had faced adversity of one kind or another.

Mary Kate Ryan was a wonderful character, though to be honest I found her a little to good to be true. She was a woman who having had very little, then inheriting a fortune, decided to 'pay it forward' by assisting others who were alone, or down on their luck.
The boarding house was a warm refuge, filled with caring people. People who, though not related by blood were indeed a sort of 'family'. It was the sort of place you would want to live yourself.

If I had one bone to pick about this novel, it is that it is a little too saccharine. If you like your fiction to have a rosy hue shed by rose coloured glasses, then you'll love this. Lovable characters, a nice setting, and a satisfying and happy ending.

I attempted to leave a review on this books many months ago when I finished reading it but had technical issues. My review will be less complete since so much time has passed since finishing it.

I enjoyed this historical book and its many twists and turns. The pacing and character development was good overall and was an easy and lovely read. The author has a way of making the reader realize how good we have it today compared to a century ago. It was truly a "feel good" book which is much needed in today's world.

The Irish Boarding House - Sandy Taylor

Book Review
Historical fiction is my thing for sure...
I adore it and love opening up the first page of a book and sinking in to the story...
It warms my heart because I know I am in for such a good read..
The Irish Boarding House was my first time delving in to a story by author Sandy Taylor and I adored it. She writes with compassion, with composure and with conviction.
We meet Mary Kate Ryan in this story and I simply fell in love with her from the very first page. You can feel her kindness come through the pages. What a beautiful character. I struggle to find the words to tell you what a wonderful character she is.
A simple little good fortune lands at her feet and the whole world shines brightly because of it.
I really do hope there is a sequel to this one.
Pick up this book, you will love it...

Abandoned by her mother Mary Kate was raised by her grandparents. When her grandparents pass away she is left to make a way for herself in the world.
This is one of the best books I have read in several years. Loved all the characters. You could relate to the story and the situations. A definite feel good book.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Bookouture.

Mary Kate had a tough life and when she gets an unexpected windfall/inheritance. she wants to make life more comfortable for other single women.
I loved meeting all the ladies who came to live in the boarding house, with their stories. The characters are drawn so well that you really feel as though you are living amongst them.
It's the first book I've read by Sandy Taylor and I loved her style and will be keen to read more from this author.

I love historical fiction so I was incredibly keen to read this book and I am so glad that I did as it is fantastic. The descriptions were amazing and felt as if we were really there. It was honest, engaging, captivating and a page-turner - everything you could possibly want in a book!

A beautifully written story of love and second chances. Its my first book by this author and I absolutely loved it, so definitely looking forward to reading more from her.

The plot drew me in from page one and I'm a sucker for historical fiction so literally read it straight through. Heart-warming, emotive and thoroughly enjoyable.

Mary-Kate and her family lacked in many things, but they had love and I think this saw them through many a dark time.

Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.

Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Mary Kate Ryan was brought up by her grandparents after her mother left her there as a baby. On their death she was thrown out of the house & went to Dublin. In 1952, after going from one gloomy boarding house to another, struggling to make ends meet she decides that her life is not worth living. But someone is looking out for her & a solicitor finds her & tells her that her mother has died a rich woman & left everything to her. It takes a while for this to sink in but when she sees a run down but beautiful house she decides to open a boarding house, but one where the residents are cared for.

This was a lovely story full of interesting characters & a good sense of place & time. I really enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Ah, this book was a bit of a mixed bag, for me.

Mary Kate Ryan had it tough, as someone who was abandoned by her mother when she was a baby. She was happily brought up by her grandparents, but when they died, her life took a perilous turn. Suddenly, she inherits a large sum of money, which changes her life and a lot of other people besides.

Now, the premise for the book was good. And I was really looking forward to getting swept along by the story - only, that didn't happen. Yes, I was reading about what good things Mary Kate was putting into the world, and the friendships that she made along the way were touching. Somehow though, it was missing a bit of heart. I just wasn't feeling it. It was one of those books where the author writes about what is going on, but somehow the emotional connections were not there for me.

Sorry.

3.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

The Irish Boarding House kept me engrossed with it during a really hectic time for me. Sandy has written an amazing tale with great characters with the lead being Mary Kate; she was left by her mother when she was a baby with her grandparents. She grows up in a poor side of town carrying for her beloved grandparents but when they sadly die she has to leave the only home she had known...... I loved this novel and highly recommend it.

A fantastic book from Sandy. I absolutely loved every character and felt so invested in them. A brilliant heartwarming and heartbreaking story.

It’s been a very long time since I read anything by Sandy Taylor but when I first saw the cover and read the blurb for The Irish Boarding House it sounded very interesting and as it was set in Ireland it made me want to read it even more. Well, what can I say it was just such a lovely read from start to finish and I found myself nearing the end before I knew it which is a good sign and shows that I didn’t find the plot dull or that it was a trial to get through as there wasn’t much happening. In fact, it was the total opposite and I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in everything. Anytime, I had to put the book down for whatever reason I found myself wanting to get back to Mary Kate and the residents of her boarding house as I was eager to see how their individual stories would pan out and how they fed into the story as a whole. Perhaps, the highest compliment I can pay The Irish Boarding House is that the further I read the more I felt this was so reminiscent of the late great Maeve Binchy. The setting, the varied cast of characters all with their own problems and then coming together as a family, the warmth and human understanding and just the overall tone and feel of the book reminded me of so many books written by Maeve. I never thought I would experience that again but through reading this gorgeous book from Sandy Taylor it evoked many happy reading memories for me.

Mary Kate Ryan is our main female character and from the outset she knows what it feels like to be abandoned as her mother Agnes gave her up and fled as soon as she was born. Her grandparents raised her and she was happy and they gave her a good childhood and upbringing but still she feels the loss of her mother and questions why she gave her up and why she never made any efforts to contact her. But now Mary Kate is alone once again as her grandparents are dead and she is left on her own. The landlord throws her out of the cottage on Tanners Row and she spends 15 years going from one horrible boarding house to another. Her despair grows ever deeper and she questions why her grandfather as one of his last dying wishes urged her to buy a new diary every year and write in it, saying she should gain wisdom from her failures and take pride in her success. As far as she can see nothing good has happened to her for years so despite buying the diaries the pages remain empty. Also why was she asked to set up a box number having been told you never know you may send you a letter.

Poor Mary Kate was so down on herself and to be honest within these first few introductory chapters there really wasn’t much that would endear you to her as a character. But when she receives a letter in the box her fortunes are changed and this came at just the right point as things really were at a bad crossroads for Mary Kate. A solicitor writes to tell her that she is now a wealthy woman having inherited her mother’s fortune and several properties in London. From here on in there is a remarkable transformation in Mary Kate. It was like the burdens were shed from her shoulders and she was determined to do good in her life both for herself and so many others. I loved that yes there was still a slight bitterness towards her mother abandoning her but that she took the money and was determined to do good with it. New clothes, a new hairstyle and wearing makeup for the first time see a new Mary Kate for the first time and I loved seeing her confidence and ambition just grow and grow throughout the book. She was determined that every day was going to be a red letter day and that she would spread her good fortune to others in the hopes of improving other people’s lives too.

A very run down house is purchased in the centre of Dublin on Merrion Square and with the help of builder Sean and some designers the house becomes the best boarding house in Dublin and it throws opens it doors to welcome a varied cast of characters. All women it must be said but from different walks of life, both young and old but all with very interesting stories which are revealed piece by piece overtime in a relaxed and measured way. There were a few twists and turns and surprising connections which emerge and the major one although I could see it coming I felt was resolved all too quickly given the past history and I would have loved just a little bit more fleshing out of it with perhaps a chapter or two more to allow for some exploration and further discussion. But aside from that I just loved this wonderful read from beginning to end and in fact I would have loved for it to have continued on.

I was initially worried that quite a number of characters were being introduced and I found myself thinking oh I’ll have such trouble keeping track of who is who and what their backstory is and how in turn it feeds into the main plot of the book. Well, I needn’t have worried at all. The way each character was introduced in that they each got their own chapter interspersed throughout the ongoing story worked perfectly. We learn how they come to be residents of the boarding house and a little bit about them but not too much was given away too soon. I just loved the family unit that they all built up and it was all thanks to Mary Kate using the money to do good not only for herself but for so many others. She became like the matriarch to whom they all turned to for advice and it wasn’t just a case that the residents were renting a room and going off to work each day, it was as if they were walking into a new family and whatever troubles or worries that had would be dealt with in a kind, compassionate and loving way no matter how big or small they were.

As mentioned there were lots of characters who featured in this story. Moira has left her teaching job after many years but is very cold and closed off. What has caused her to be this way? Mary Kate takes in Jessie and Abby from the local convent orphanage. Poor Abby doesn’t speak and Jessie is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. Twins Polly and Orla make their way from Cork to the big smoke for the first job in the famous Cleary’s department store. But are they both happy and they tend to get involved in other people’s problems but they do have a good heart and nature about them. Colleen has a very interesting story to tell and I think Mary Kate identified the most with her. I loved how everyone gathered around Collen and was so supportive of her. As for Diane Mason is she the one with the darkest story of all?

Mary Kate was a wonderful character who did a complete 360 from when we first meet her. Her actions change peoples lives and bring peace and secure futures for many. She never made a rash judgement regarding individual women’s situations instead she offered a place of refuge and security and the women she takes her under her wing appreciated her all the more for it. I’d really love a continuation of The Irish Boarding House. Despite the way things ended I feel the characters plus many more could be brought back again and the fact that I am saying this shows how much I really enjoyed the book. If you want a heart-warming story with a few twists and turns to keep you turning the pages than I have no hesitation in recommending The Irish Boarding House.

What a wonderful book.
This book was lovely.
The writing was in such an easy reading style, it was the perfect way to spend a couple of evenings before bed.
Sandy Taylor created such warm characters, that you instantly liked and rooted for immediately.
The setting of 1950s Dublin was so interesting, and really made me want to revisit the vibrant city and learn more about it's history.
Then comes the drama. The family secrets thread that unfolds is shocking and dramatic and utterly compelling.
A terrific book and now another new author to look out for!

Sandy Taylor is a new-to-me author but now that I have read The Irish Boarding House I will certainly be looking for other books she has written. This story has wonderful characters I could believe in with a lot of twists and turns that were completely believable. Set mostly around 1951so this is a historical novel, taking place in Dublin.

It is interesting how the storyline is more recent history with car, planes, and rotary phones. Still to be correct much research would have been done to get the technology or lack of it among the poor such as running water and inside bathrooms. Most of all it is how the goodness and kindness of characters changed the lives as well as the positive growth in others. From beginning to end it is a heartwarming and uplifting book. I highly recommend The Irish Boarding House to all who enjoy a well told tale.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dublin, 1952: Mary Kate Ryan receives an unexpected inheritance from her mother who abandoned her when she was an infant. She never knew why her mother left her but has always wanted to know. Mary Kate is ready to refuse the money until she sees an old deserted, rundown house for sale. She dreams of turning the old house into the Dublin Boarding House to provide shelter for single women that need a roof over their head. The Dublin Boarding House is exactly the place that two young orphans need. A young pregnant teenager needs a safe place to stay for herself and her baby. The boarding house is exactly what Mary Kate needs to build lifelong friendships with those that are in the same situation she was in at one time.

This heartwarming and gut wrenching story is phenomenal. I loved the amazing characters and felt such a connection with them. Their stories of what they endured in life and overcoming their obstacles were very inspirational. The family secrets that unfolded was something I never expected. This book hits all the feels with its emotional and heartbreaking storyline bringing you to tears, and then bringing a smile to your face and joy to your heart. This captivating read will have you flying through the pages anxious to find out what will happen next. I loved this book and found it a completely unputdownable novel. A five star must read, that I highly recommend.

Thank you Sandy Taylor for such an amazing story. You are such an amazing author and I absolutely love your writing style.

While this type of feel-good fiction is not normally to my taste, I believe that this competently written novel satisfies the requirements of its target audience effectively. The stories of a number of women occupying the eponymous Irish boarding house are simple and heartwarming, and, though I prefer more insight into the inner lives and motivations of characters, and greater differentiation through the characterization of individuals in a story, I feel that the reader will enjoy this easy read and come away feeling a warm glow at the satisfactory resolutions of the characters' problems.