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Sisters of Belfast
An enthralling and deeply moving story that begins during World War II, about orphaned twin sisters in Ireland whose lives diverge for decades, until fate—and faith—reunite them in the twilight of their lives.
Orphaned during the Second World War, Aelish and Isabel McGuire—known as the twins of Belfast—are given over to the austere care of the Sisters of Bethlehem. Though they are each all the other has, the girls are propelled in opposite directions as they grow up. Rebellious Isabel turns her back on the church and Ireland, traveling to Newfoundland where she pursues a perilous yet independent life. Devout Aelish chooses to remain in Northern Ireland and takes the veil, burying painful truths beneath years of silence.
For decades the two are separated, each unaware of the other’s life. But after years of isolation Aelish is unexpectedly summoned to Newfoundland, where she and her estranged sister begin to bridge the chasm between them.
Reunion brings to light the painful secrets and seismic deceptions that have kept these sisters apart, leaving the McGuire twins to begin reconstructing their understanding about themselves as women and as family–what they know of love, hope, and above all, forgiveness.
A story of faith—in religion, in the world, and in one another— Sisters of Belfast is a heartbreaking, tragic, and deeply moving novel about survival and the enduring power of sisterhood.
Orphaned during the Second World War, Aelish and Isabel McGuire—known as the twins of Belfast—are given over to the austere care of the Sisters of Bethlehem. Though they are each all the other has, the girls are propelled in opposite directions as they grow up. Rebellious Isabel turns her back on the church and Ireland, traveling to Newfoundland where she pursues a perilous yet independent life. Devout Aelish chooses to remain in Northern Ireland and takes the veil, burying painful truths beneath years of silence.
For decades the two are separated, each unaware of the other’s life. But after years of isolation Aelish is unexpectedly summoned to Newfoundland, where she and her estranged sister begin to bridge the chasm between them.
Reunion brings to light the painful secrets and seismic deceptions that have kept these sisters apart, leaving the McGuire twins to begin reconstructing their understanding about themselves as women and as family–what they know of love, hope, and above all, forgiveness.
A story of faith—in religion, in the world, and in one another— Sisters of Belfast is a heartbreaking, tragic, and deeply moving novel about survival and the enduring power of sisterhood.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 27, 2024
385 people are currently reading
9206 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Maure
1 book76 followersAs a novelist and life coach, Melanie sees the power of storytelling and soulful growth come together. Her passion for writing, history, and helping others express and discover their dreams intersect in a unique way. Melanie believes that everyone has a story worth telling, that there are untold stories in history worth uncovering, and that by sharing those stories, we can grow our humanity and connect on a deeper level.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
January 26, 2024
Twin sisters Aelish and Isabel McGuire lived with their parents in Belfast, they thought they were safe in Ireland and until they’re home on Donegall Street’s bombed on Easter Tuesday by the Germans in 1941.
Aelish was taken to an orphanage called the Sisters of Bethlehem and Isabel was hurt and goes to hospital. The girls are reunited, while Aelish forms a bond with Sister Mike, Isabel struggles and resents what’s happened to them and as a teenager she rebels. Isabel leaves Ireland and marries Declan Kelly and they live in Newfoundland and he’s a fisherman. Aelish is a devout catholic, she becomes a nun and it seemed the right thing to do?
The sisters don’t see each other for years, unaware of each other's issues, in 1955 Aelish travels to Newfoundland because Isabel is unwell and she has twin babies and Declan needs help. Tragedy seems to follow the sisters, when they return to Ireland and both have to face the pain of the past.
Isabel has to find the courage to tell the truth about what happened to her when she was sixteen, Aelish knows nothing about it and in doing so she uncovers a terrible injustice that’s been happening at the Whitehall Mother & Babies Home.
I received a digital copy of Sisters of Belfast by Melanie Maure from HarperCollins and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. The debut novel investigates historic events like the Belfast Blitz that I knew nothing about, how orphans, unwed mothers and their babies were treated in Ireland and it's truly shocking.
The narrative looks at why women chose to become nuns and many did to escape marriage, and becoming mothers and grandmothers and gods work was more spirited. The trials of being a woman, unplanned and pregnancy loss, shame and secrets, abuse, the love between sisters and the happy memories they had of living with their parent, and how it’s never too late to chance your mind and take a different path. Four stars from me, spanning from 1941 to 2016, a dual timeline historical saga about survival, hope and forgiveness.
Aelish was taken to an orphanage called the Sisters of Bethlehem and Isabel was hurt and goes to hospital. The girls are reunited, while Aelish forms a bond with Sister Mike, Isabel struggles and resents what’s happened to them and as a teenager she rebels. Isabel leaves Ireland and marries Declan Kelly and they live in Newfoundland and he’s a fisherman. Aelish is a devout catholic, she becomes a nun and it seemed the right thing to do?
The sisters don’t see each other for years, unaware of each other's issues, in 1955 Aelish travels to Newfoundland because Isabel is unwell and she has twin babies and Declan needs help. Tragedy seems to follow the sisters, when they return to Ireland and both have to face the pain of the past.
Isabel has to find the courage to tell the truth about what happened to her when she was sixteen, Aelish knows nothing about it and in doing so she uncovers a terrible injustice that’s been happening at the Whitehall Mother & Babies Home.
I received a digital copy of Sisters of Belfast by Melanie Maure from HarperCollins and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review. The debut novel investigates historic events like the Belfast Blitz that I knew nothing about, how orphans, unwed mothers and their babies were treated in Ireland and it's truly shocking.
The narrative looks at why women chose to become nuns and many did to escape marriage, and becoming mothers and grandmothers and gods work was more spirited. The trials of being a woman, unplanned and pregnancy loss, shame and secrets, abuse, the love between sisters and the happy memories they had of living with their parent, and how it’s never too late to chance your mind and take a different path. Four stars from me, spanning from 1941 to 2016, a dual timeline historical saga about survival, hope and forgiveness.
February 28, 2024
Going to be a January and a 2024 favorite!!
A FABULOUS, WONDERFUL READ!!
A bombing that killed their parents in 1941 in Dublin put twins Isabel and Aelish in an orphanage run by nuns.
Isabel was rebellious and Aelish was compliant.
Isabel escapes, but Aelish remains and becomes a nun.
In 1955, Isabel contacts her sister, and Aelish makes the trip to Newfoundland where her sister is suffering from tuberulosis and just had twins. Isabel asks for Aelish's help in caring or her and her twins.
Of course Aelish makes her way across the ocean to see her sister after all these years.
We follow Isabel and Aelish during the war and after the war learning of their lives in alternating chapters.
SISTERS OF BELFAST will pull you in from the very first page.
The writing is detailed and personable, the characters are ones that will have you feeling their every emotion, and the story line will capture your interest and your heart
SISTERS OF BELFAST is a heartbreaking, heartfelt, beautiful book.
You will LOVE the characters and miss them when you turn the last page.
Historical fiction fans, and those who enjoy a moving read won’t want to miss this book. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A FABULOUS, WONDERFUL READ!!
A bombing that killed their parents in 1941 in Dublin put twins Isabel and Aelish in an orphanage run by nuns.
Isabel was rebellious and Aelish was compliant.
Isabel escapes, but Aelish remains and becomes a nun.
In 1955, Isabel contacts her sister, and Aelish makes the trip to Newfoundland where her sister is suffering from tuberulosis and just had twins. Isabel asks for Aelish's help in caring or her and her twins.
Of course Aelish makes her way across the ocean to see her sister after all these years.
We follow Isabel and Aelish during the war and after the war learning of their lives in alternating chapters.
SISTERS OF BELFAST will pull you in from the very first page.
The writing is detailed and personable, the characters are ones that will have you feeling their every emotion, and the story line will capture your interest and your heart
SISTERS OF BELFAST is a heartbreaking, heartfelt, beautiful book.
You will LOVE the characters and miss them when you turn the last page.
Historical fiction fans, and those who enjoy a moving read won’t want to miss this book. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 5, 2024
Sisters, Babies
This was an unexpected treat. I am drawn to a lot of Irish literature, but this one had been sitting nonchalantly on my TBR list for a while. When I finally did get around to reading / listening to it, I was hooked.
During the World War II German bombing of Belfast, twin sisters, Aelish and Isabel, were orphaned and sent to the Sisters of Bethlehem Orphanage. Aelish eventually becomes a nun, Isabel rebels and runs off unexpectedly, off to Newfoundland with Declan, a man both sisters love. Unrequited love is a theme threaded throughout here. While this sounds like the makings of a soap opera, the story is much stronger than that.
After years without communication, Isabel becomes severely ill and Aelish, now Sister Clare, rushes across the sea to see her and her twin children. Another tragedy strikes these ill-fated sisters and Aelish, always the one holding out for hope, tries to shake Isabel up.
““Have you had just about enough?”Aelish asks. Isabel folds her bottom lip into her mouth and bites down. “Because I have. And I won’t stand for it, Isabel McGuire. We’ve had more terrible in our lives than anyone deserves—we don’t need to go searching for more.”
They voyage back to Belfast and Isabel seethes with the anger consuming her for years. Aelish knows Isabel has been shrouding something from her, the terrible secret that drove her away from the orphanage.
The characters here are brilliant. The mother superior, Sister Edel, makes Nurse Ratched of ”One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” seem like a pussycat. Sister Michael is the chain-smoking nun with a heart of gold who has always taken a maternal approach to the twins. The other nuns and staff provide a fascinating glimpse of life behind convent walls.
And then there is the “mother and baby home” just adjacent to the orphanage, a reflection of a dark, dark side of Ireland. Like similar stories about these homes, one has to wonder how naive neighbors and those in the community could have been while unspeakable atrocities took place. At what point was it just convenient to turn a blind eye and not question things.
Up until this point, author Melanie Maure has written a riveting story, with well-rounded characters and a secret slowly unfolding. Without giving a spoiler, though, I found the ending to be a little flat. An historical fiction, I do not know what path it could have followed without changing history.
I did the combination of reading and listening to the audio for this book. If the writing warrants a high four rating, the audiobook performance by Aoife McMahon surely is a 5. I had trouble turning her off.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #SistersofBelfast #NetGalley
This was an unexpected treat. I am drawn to a lot of Irish literature, but this one had been sitting nonchalantly on my TBR list for a while. When I finally did get around to reading / listening to it, I was hooked.
During the World War II German bombing of Belfast, twin sisters, Aelish and Isabel, were orphaned and sent to the Sisters of Bethlehem Orphanage. Aelish eventually becomes a nun, Isabel rebels and runs off unexpectedly, off to Newfoundland with Declan, a man both sisters love. Unrequited love is a theme threaded throughout here. While this sounds like the makings of a soap opera, the story is much stronger than that.
After years without communication, Isabel becomes severely ill and Aelish, now Sister Clare, rushes across the sea to see her and her twin children. Another tragedy strikes these ill-fated sisters and Aelish, always the one holding out for hope, tries to shake Isabel up.
““Have you had just about enough?”Aelish asks. Isabel folds her bottom lip into her mouth and bites down. “Because I have. And I won’t stand for it, Isabel McGuire. We’ve had more terrible in our lives than anyone deserves—we don’t need to go searching for more.”
They voyage back to Belfast and Isabel seethes with the anger consuming her for years. Aelish knows Isabel has been shrouding something from her, the terrible secret that drove her away from the orphanage.
The characters here are brilliant. The mother superior, Sister Edel, makes Nurse Ratched of ”One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” seem like a pussycat. Sister Michael is the chain-smoking nun with a heart of gold who has always taken a maternal approach to the twins. The other nuns and staff provide a fascinating glimpse of life behind convent walls.
And then there is the “mother and baby home” just adjacent to the orphanage, a reflection of a dark, dark side of Ireland. Like similar stories about these homes, one has to wonder how naive neighbors and those in the community could have been while unspeakable atrocities took place. At what point was it just convenient to turn a blind eye and not question things.
Up until this point, author Melanie Maure has written a riveting story, with well-rounded characters and a secret slowly unfolding. Without giving a spoiler, though, I found the ending to be a little flat. An historical fiction, I do not know what path it could have followed without changing history.
I did the combination of reading and listening to the audio for this book. If the writing warrants a high four rating, the audiobook performance by Aoife McMahon surely is a 5. I had trouble turning her off.
Thank you to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #SistersofBelfast #NetGalley
June 8, 2024
Sisters of Belfast by Melanie Maure is a story of resilience and family set during the difficult times of survival in a war-torn Northern Ireland during the mid-1950s. Maure writes in a historical context with solid research with emotional moments. She creates a portrait of sisterhood amid political difficulty. Through the sisters the reader experiences the importance of family, loyalty, and the personal toll of political conflict.
Though the novel gets better. It started very slow. The writing felt chaotic, choppy. I almost gave up. I am glad I persevered and continued.
Though the novel gets better. It started very slow. The writing felt chaotic, choppy. I almost gave up. I am glad I persevered and continued.
did-not-finish
March 3, 2024Read about 2/3. It was a struggle to get that far and finally decided to stop. Really sad and disturbing 😳, though I would have finished it if I was really enjoying the writing. In striving to be artfully done it ended up confusing me and being slow moving. The relationship between the twins was a bit much for me… maybe twins are like that, but… idk 🤪
March 20, 2024
A great historical fiction debut by a new Canadian author about two Irish twin sisters orphaned during WWII whose lives diverge and then come together again in the 1950s. Moving and heartfelt, this was a touching story about motherhood, first love, loss, secrets, faith, family and forgiveness. Perfect for fans of authors like Emma Donoghue and good on audio narrated by Aoife McMahon. I look forward to reading more by this talented new writer!
May 22, 2024
⭐️⭐️.75/5
Filled prompt: 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗅𝖾
Read this if you:
📖 enjoy stories that have slow reveals of connections between characters.
📖 want to read about a strongly tested sisterly bond.
📖 need something to match how depressed you might be, with a dash of hope at the very end.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫: miscarriage, suicidal ideation
What a convoluted mess of a book. I knew going into it, there probably wouldn’t be a lot of joy, but I didn’t expect to be confused by messy time jumps and nonexistent transitions from past to present within a single moment.
The book is about twin sisters Izzy and Aelish who go to live in an orphanage in Belfast at age 10 after their parents are killed during WW2. The book skips to 15 years or so later; Aelish is now a Sister living in a convent, and Izzy ran away with the boy Aelish secretly liked. They’re distanced, but then Aelish gets the call that not only has her sister had twins, but she also has tuberculosis. What Aelish doesn’t know is that Izzy has a boxful of secrets that have nothing to do with first loves.
This book is FILLED with ‘if you think this is bad, just wait!’ moments. One bad thing happens then another, and honestly, it was almost straight into the DNF pile. But then I wanted to know how many connections the author would make between characters. I wasn’t pulled in by the story at all, but more by the decision-making process of each character.
Everyone lacked communication skills which is the only reason any of this story worked. All anyone (Izzy) had to do was sit down straight away and tell the truth, but that would make this a much shorter book.
There’s no real commitment to being sad, the story simply throws sad things at you. What I mean by that is, no one’s feelings are really deeply, hugely explored. It’s just ‘this bad thing has happened so…I guess you have to figure out your life now’ over and over again. It’s surface level deep and doesn’t actually nail you to the wall with it’s sadness.
For a book that really makes you face emotions and reality starkly, I’m thinking of A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum. If a book is going to have heavy subject material, I expect it to sit with me for a while. I still think about the ending of Rum’s book; I had to cry for a while after I finished and it gives me chills to think about now.
I’m going to forget I read this book by the end of the year.
Filled prompt: 𝖡𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝗅𝗈𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗅𝖾
Read this if you:
📖 enjoy stories that have slow reveals of connections between characters.
📖 want to read about a strongly tested sisterly bond.
📖 need something to match how depressed you might be, with a dash of hope at the very end.
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫: miscarriage, suicidal ideation
What a convoluted mess of a book. I knew going into it, there probably wouldn’t be a lot of joy, but I didn’t expect to be confused by messy time jumps and nonexistent transitions from past to present within a single moment.
The book is about twin sisters Izzy and Aelish who go to live in an orphanage in Belfast at age 10 after their parents are killed during WW2. The book skips to 15 years or so later; Aelish is now a Sister living in a convent, and Izzy ran away with the boy Aelish secretly liked. They’re distanced, but then Aelish gets the call that not only has her sister had twins, but she also has tuberculosis. What Aelish doesn’t know is that Izzy has a boxful of secrets that have nothing to do with first loves.
This book is FILLED with ‘if you think this is bad, just wait!’ moments. One bad thing happens then another, and honestly, it was almost straight into the DNF pile. But then I wanted to know how many connections the author would make between characters. I wasn’t pulled in by the story at all, but more by the decision-making process of each character.
Everyone lacked communication skills which is the only reason any of this story worked. All anyone (Izzy) had to do was sit down straight away and tell the truth, but that would make this a much shorter book.
There’s no real commitment to being sad, the story simply throws sad things at you. What I mean by that is, no one’s feelings are really deeply, hugely explored. It’s just ‘this bad thing has happened so…I guess you have to figure out your life now’ over and over again. It’s surface level deep and doesn’t actually nail you to the wall with it’s sadness.
For a book that really makes you face emotions and reality starkly, I’m thinking of A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum. If a book is going to have heavy subject material, I expect it to sit with me for a while. I still think about the ending of Rum’s book; I had to cry for a while after I finished and it gives me chills to think about now.
I’m going to forget I read this book by the end of the year.
September 30, 2024
I truly wanted to like this book. I have a soft spot for Irish literature, and I kept hoping it would redeem itself. There were some beautifully composed descriptions, and the subject matter is compelling. But the execution of plot and slowness of the book left a lot to be desired. The character development of the twins was such a huge focus, and yet I didn’t find either of them relatable or all that likable.
And sometimes the author’s choices were offensive to me- like the descriptions of sister Edel’s weight, the bath scene with Lennie, and the love triangle that had a crappy resolution. (I don’t want to give spoilers so keeping these examples vague).
If you’re interested in learning more about the homes for unwed mothers and children in Ireland, I hope you’ll consider another book on the subject (many of which are in my library).
And sometimes the author’s choices were offensive to me- like the descriptions of sister Edel’s weight, the bath scene with Lennie, and the love triangle that had a crappy resolution. (I don’t want to give spoilers so keeping these examples vague).
If you’re interested in learning more about the homes for unwed mothers and children in Ireland, I hope you’ll consider another book on the subject (many of which are in my library).
January 18, 2024
Tragic novel about two identical twin sisters (Isabel and Ailesh) who are separated after a bomb hits their family home during WWII. Their parents are killed, and they are forced into an orphanage where they are terribly mistreated by nuns. The sisters are separated when Isabel disappears from the orphanage. The two have a reunion decades later when Isabel (who now is a nun herself) travels to New Foundland to visit her ailing sister and her family. Their individual tragic journeys are revealed.
This story is about abuse by the hands of those responsible for vulnerable orphaned children, and single young mothers, within the confines of a Catholic orphanage. The sadistic treatment doled out by the nuns is rough to read. The strength of the bonds of sisterhood, and the story of their trials and heartbreak are revealed. Unfortunately, there isn't really anything to cheer about in the story which made it a dreary read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
This story is about abuse by the hands of those responsible for vulnerable orphaned children, and single young mothers, within the confines of a Catholic orphanage. The sadistic treatment doled out by the nuns is rough to read. The strength of the bonds of sisterhood, and the story of their trials and heartbreak are revealed. Unfortunately, there isn't really anything to cheer about in the story which made it a dreary read.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2024
What a fantastic debut novel. This author is definitely one to watch for.
This book takes you into the lives of Irish Nuns and an orphanage. Also into the lives of twins Aelish and Isabel McGuire. What happens to them after they lost their home and their parents.
Aelish decides to join the order and become a nun. Isabel is a very outgoing young woman/child and only wants to be free and enjoy life. Both have a lot going on in their lives. One more pain and hurt.
Aelish thinks her life is complete as a nun. She gives her all to being a good person. A god fearing person. She's young.
Isabel married her first love, Declan. They have twins together. A boy and girl. Isabel is very sick and Declan sends for Aelish who of course comes to help. Aelish has always loved Declan too. He was her one and only when she was young though nothing ever really happened beyond a very chaste kiss on the cheek. Now she is living in the same house and taking care of her nephew and niece while Isabel heals. If she does.
This story jumps from the beginning, 2016, back to the 1940s and then from the 40s to the 50s, so you get a whole image of what happened and what is happening. You get to know a couple of the nuns and possibly will like one. One I truly disliked with all my being. She was so cruel to the children in the orphanage. Like they could help being there. Like they chose to be without their parents and family. I never liked her throughout this whole book.
There is also the part about the mother and baby home. Where outrageous things happened to the unwed mothers and even the babies. Where young girls were sent to be punished for being pregnant and not married. It didn't matter whether it was their choice or not. Awful things happened there. It's not graphically written though. But you do get the gist of it all. Be sure and read the Acknowledgement at the end.
This book was well written and will give you lots of emotion. Many tears. A couple of chuckles also.
Thank you #NetGalley, #MelanieMaure, #HarperPerennial, #HarperCollins for this ARC. This is my true thoughts about this book.
Five big stars.
This book takes you into the lives of Irish Nuns and an orphanage. Also into the lives of twins Aelish and Isabel McGuire. What happens to them after they lost their home and their parents.
Aelish decides to join the order and become a nun. Isabel is a very outgoing young woman/child and only wants to be free and enjoy life. Both have a lot going on in their lives. One more pain and hurt.
Aelish thinks her life is complete as a nun. She gives her all to being a good person. A god fearing person. She's young.
Isabel married her first love, Declan. They have twins together. A boy and girl. Isabel is very sick and Declan sends for Aelish who of course comes to help. Aelish has always loved Declan too. He was her one and only when she was young though nothing ever really happened beyond a very chaste kiss on the cheek. Now she is living in the same house and taking care of her nephew and niece while Isabel heals. If she does.
This story jumps from the beginning, 2016, back to the 1940s and then from the 40s to the 50s, so you get a whole image of what happened and what is happening. You get to know a couple of the nuns and possibly will like one. One I truly disliked with all my being. She was so cruel to the children in the orphanage. Like they could help being there. Like they chose to be without their parents and family. I never liked her throughout this whole book.
There is also the part about the mother and baby home. Where outrageous things happened to the unwed mothers and even the babies. Where young girls were sent to be punished for being pregnant and not married. It didn't matter whether it was their choice or not. Awful things happened there. It's not graphically written though. But you do get the gist of it all. Be sure and read the Acknowledgement at the end.
This book was well written and will give you lots of emotion. Many tears. A couple of chuckles also.
Thank you #NetGalley, #MelanieMaure, #HarperPerennial, #HarperCollins for this ARC. This is my true thoughts about this book.
Five big stars.
June 1, 2025
Based on true events this fictional novel begins during WWII and is the story of orphaned twin sisters in Ireland who are put in the care of The Sisters of Bethlehem. When of age one of the sisters decides to leave and begin a life elsewhere and the other remains becoming a nun.
I am thankful that the author told the story not only with sadness but with humour as well as the heinous acts that occurred towards unwed mothers and children at that time were horrifying and not spoken of.
I was fully invested in all of the characters. They were so well-written.
Author Melanie Maure's debut novel tells a captivating story!
I am thankful that the author told the story not only with sadness but with humour as well as the heinous acts that occurred towards unwed mothers and children at that time were horrifying and not spoken of.
I was fully invested in all of the characters. They were so well-written.
Author Melanie Maure's debut novel tells a captivating story!
February 28, 2024
I’m a sucker for a well written historical fiction book with memorable characters!!
It’s 1941 in Dublin, and twin sisters Isabel and Aelish have lost their parents to a bombing in Belfast on Easter Tuesday by the Germans. Now they are living in an orphanage that is run by nuns. Not knowing how to deal with their new life they are now living, Isabel becomes rebellious and escapes the orphanage . After leaving the orphanage Isabel marries Declan Kelly and they now live in Newfoundland and he’s a fisherman. Aelish remains behind and becomes a nun.
Now it’s 1955 and Isabel reaches out to Aelish and informs her she’s suffering from tuberculosis and she just had twins she needs help. Aelish makes the trip to Newfoundland to see her sister and offer her help to Declan . Throughout the book we follow the sisters over the years and it becomes apparent that tragedy seems to follow the sisters, when they return to Ireland they both have to face the pain of their past. Isabel knows she needs to find the courage to tell the truth about what happened to her when she was only sixteen, Aelish is unaware about the secret and in doing so she uncovers a terrible injustice.
I truly enjoyed this book and actually learned things I had no idea about! Historic events like the Belfast Blitz , how orphans, unwed mothers and their babies were treated in Ireland and it was truly shocking to me! The book has dual timeline a historical saga about survival, hope and even forgiveness.
It’s 1941 in Dublin, and twin sisters Isabel and Aelish have lost their parents to a bombing in Belfast on Easter Tuesday by the Germans. Now they are living in an orphanage that is run by nuns. Not knowing how to deal with their new life they are now living, Isabel becomes rebellious and escapes the orphanage . After leaving the orphanage Isabel marries Declan Kelly and they now live in Newfoundland and he’s a fisherman. Aelish remains behind and becomes a nun.
Now it’s 1955 and Isabel reaches out to Aelish and informs her she’s suffering from tuberculosis and she just had twins she needs help. Aelish makes the trip to Newfoundland to see her sister and offer her help to Declan . Throughout the book we follow the sisters over the years and it becomes apparent that tragedy seems to follow the sisters, when they return to Ireland they both have to face the pain of their past. Isabel knows she needs to find the courage to tell the truth about what happened to her when she was only sixteen, Aelish is unaware about the secret and in doing so she uncovers a terrible injustice.
I truly enjoyed this book and actually learned things I had no idea about! Historic events like the Belfast Blitz , how orphans, unwed mothers and their babies were treated in Ireland and it was truly shocking to me! The book has dual timeline a historical saga about survival, hope and even forgiveness.
May 22, 2024
It was ok... I felt like the plot was forced. I also found the dialogue between characters to be fake.
Lastly, what the heck was with Declan's death? I had to triple check that pages weren't missing from my book. On one page he's talking and the next he's dead at work? I feel that the editing of this novel could have been improved.
Lastly, what the heck was with Declan's death? I had to triple check that pages weren't missing from my book. On one page he's talking and the next he's dead at work? I feel that the editing of this novel could have been improved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2025
If you are looking for a WWII historical fiction this isn’t for you. Still a beautiful, haunting story that is yet another reminder to women how unfairly we are treated. And how little has changed in the past 80 years.
March 13, 2024
Read for Irish stories month
Intense story about twins who grew up in a Catholic orphanage. One twin rebelled and the other grew to be a nun.
Intense story about twins who grew up in a Catholic orphanage. One twin rebelled and the other grew to be a nun.
July 22, 2024
Maybe hits harder with a twin? Beautiful story about sisterhood, religion, love, guilt, and fulfillment.
Read
April 21, 2024Awful. Sappy ex. p 299 “…the young labouring woman whose life is about to be disfigured in the most miraculous way.” Groan. Too many quick switches in pov and timelines. I couldn’t get invested in any of them. Many characters had multiple names (sister Mike, mother superior, Fiona) just to add to the mess. I would NOT recommend.
April 12, 2024
This is the story of two sisters, twins, who are so closely connected that they can literally hear each other's thoughts. As young girls, they suffer the loss of both parents in the war and are sent to an orphanage and raised by abusive (physically and mentally) nuns. As adults, they end up being separated for several years, and when illness strikes one of them, the other goes to help, and they reunite. They both discover they have held secrets from each other (which is amazing since they can practically read each other's minds), and once they finally open up to each other, they realize they had completely separate experiences in life (especially at the orphanage) and are able to heal their fractured relationship and use their loss and pain to offer hope to others.
I am quite torn on how to rate this. I love that it is a redemption story. I love that the truth was finally exposed (they always say the truth will set you free). I love that the author dedicated (in her notes at the end) this book to the real orphans (and unwed teen moms and their babies), who suffered in similar situations in Ireland.
What I didn't like was the dysfunctionality of the girls (who were the main characters) in the first place. I guess their traumatic experiences made them this way, but I wanted to reach through the pages of the book and shake them into action several times. It was so frustrating. It was also difficult to read about the abusive power of the nuns (especially the "Mother Superior"). Some of these women never should have been let around children much less be responsible for raising them. They were pious, holier than thou control freaks who did not have a nurturing bone in their bodies. So sad.
I personally felt the book was a little too long. By the end it seemed to be (almost painfully) dragging along and I just wanted it to be finished. I don't want to create spoilers, but the book was also disjointed in several places- to the point I had to go back and reread what came just before and make sure I had not missed anything (like when Aelish woke Izzy to tell her about her husband- literally came out of nowhere in the middle of another story about how they spent their day at the beach and was so confusing). All of this- the jumping around from story to story about their lives, the drawn out length and details of every thought/conversation/etc- just made it more difficult to fully engage as a reader.
I am quite torn on how to rate this. I love that it is a redemption story. I love that the truth was finally exposed (they always say the truth will set you free). I love that the author dedicated (in her notes at the end) this book to the real orphans (and unwed teen moms and their babies), who suffered in similar situations in Ireland.
What I didn't like was the dysfunctionality of the girls (who were the main characters) in the first place. I guess their traumatic experiences made them this way, but I wanted to reach through the pages of the book and shake them into action several times. It was so frustrating. It was also difficult to read about the abusive power of the nuns (especially the "Mother Superior"). Some of these women never should have been let around children much less be responsible for raising them. They were pious, holier than thou control freaks who did not have a nurturing bone in their bodies. So sad.
I personally felt the book was a little too long. By the end it seemed to be (almost painfully) dragging along and I just wanted it to be finished. I don't want to create spoilers, but the book was also disjointed in several places- to the point I had to go back and reread what came just before and make sure I had not missed anything (like when Aelish woke Izzy to tell her about her husband- literally came out of nowhere in the middle of another story about how they spent their day at the beach and was so confusing). All of this- the jumping around from story to story about their lives, the drawn out length and details of every thought/conversation/etc- just made it more difficult to fully engage as a reader.
November 22, 2023
I am so thankful to Harper and Goodreads Giveaways for an advanced copy of Sisters of Belfast: A Novel by Melanie Maure. This book entranced me from the very first page! The story begins during WW2 and an air raid that leaves twin sisters Ailesh and Isabel McGuire as orphans.
The story goes between a few timelines as we see parts of their lives unfold. The voice of Ailesh especially resonated with me. She wanted so much to protect Isabel. The time with the nuns of the orphanage were brutal. One twin, Isabel, fought against their lot. She refused to comform under the abuse. The other twin, Ailesh, conformed to the way of the nuns and eventually becomes a nun herself.
While I would have expected the nuns themselves to seem much the same, they are deeply complex characters in this story. Sister Mike is someone who has compassion for the children and yet you realizes that abuse was going on all around her. I kept asking myself why she didn't put a stop to it. Mother Superior Edel seemed like pure evil, but you find that she was eaten up by past bitterness. It was just sad that she never gave the love that she was supposed to have from God to anyone else.
Tragedy follows the McGuire twins' story. They are separated when Isabel disappears from the orphanage and come back together some years later. The bond of sisterhood is described as a cord pulling them together. When Isabel is ill and living in Newfoundland, Ailesh crosses the ocean to help her and her children. There isn't a great deal of joy in this story but I found their determination to love each other beautiful.
The author also presents us with heartbreaking truths about the mother baby homes run by nuns during that time period in Ireland. The abuse heaped on those pregnant outside of marriage was horrific. Even the children are exposed to abuse and disregard. I love that Ailesh and Isabel worked as a team to make things better for other women and children.
The story goes between a few timelines as we see parts of their lives unfold. The voice of Ailesh especially resonated with me. She wanted so much to protect Isabel. The time with the nuns of the orphanage were brutal. One twin, Isabel, fought against their lot. She refused to comform under the abuse. The other twin, Ailesh, conformed to the way of the nuns and eventually becomes a nun herself.
While I would have expected the nuns themselves to seem much the same, they are deeply complex characters in this story. Sister Mike is someone who has compassion for the children and yet you realizes that abuse was going on all around her. I kept asking myself why she didn't put a stop to it. Mother Superior Edel seemed like pure evil, but you find that she was eaten up by past bitterness. It was just sad that she never gave the love that she was supposed to have from God to anyone else.
Tragedy follows the McGuire twins' story. They are separated when Isabel disappears from the orphanage and come back together some years later. The bond of sisterhood is described as a cord pulling them together. When Isabel is ill and living in Newfoundland, Ailesh crosses the ocean to help her and her children. There isn't a great deal of joy in this story but I found their determination to love each other beautiful.
The author also presents us with heartbreaking truths about the mother baby homes run by nuns during that time period in Ireland. The abuse heaped on those pregnant outside of marriage was horrific. Even the children are exposed to abuse and disregard. I love that Ailesh and Isabel worked as a team to make things better for other women and children.
April 2, 2024
I did not find this book enthralling or moving, in fact I found it a bit contrived. I found myself losing interest early in the book. It was a disappointing read.
May 27, 2024
I really did not like the writing. The story was hard to follow and a little convoluted. I stick with a book once I start one. I couldn't wait to get to the end.
April 1, 2025
Three words: Irish 👏🏼 Catholic 👏🏼 Guilt 👏🏼
Beginning was a bit slow, and left me wondering about the relevance of some plot lines? But couldn’t put down the second half and finished it in one day.
Beginning was a bit slow, and left me wondering about the relevance of some plot lines? But couldn’t put down the second half and finished it in one day.
December 24, 2024
4.5! U want to give it a five, but that feels rash. However I loved loved this book. I picked it up at the library since it was only $1, and was about Ireland. Through my past Irish lit course, that I have a love-hate relationship with, I decided to pick it up and see what it was about. I’m so glad I did! It’s been so long since I’ve read a book because it looked interesting and not being it’s trending or has been read by someone I know (don’t get me wrong I still love doing that and being able to take part in conversations about shared books). Okay now to the book.
I adored the writing. It was simple, but still lovely. I enjoyed the similes and metaphors because they created an accessible image to any reader. For a short book, the characters are developed well; I really feel like I know the twins and all the nuns in the Abbey. The plot is nothing crazy, but I find I like that. The writing and characters are what makes this story, not the story itself. The ending is lovely - it really touched me. I can see myself pondering this book for a bit, or laying it to rest with the satisfaction that it was read and thoroughly enjoyed. I will be telling my mom to read this book since she bothers me for recs all of the time.
Okay after reading the one star reviews (which just sounds like people who struggle to read lowkey) I would add that one flaw in this book is the foreshadowing of the twins horrible past wasn’t that big of a deal. AND I think I would have liked more flashbacks in the second half of the book because it would have given that half more ventilation from what was happening in the present.
I adored the writing. It was simple, but still lovely. I enjoyed the similes and metaphors because they created an accessible image to any reader. For a short book, the characters are developed well; I really feel like I know the twins and all the nuns in the Abbey. The plot is nothing crazy, but I find I like that. The writing and characters are what makes this story, not the story itself. The ending is lovely - it really touched me. I can see myself pondering this book for a bit, or laying it to rest with the satisfaction that it was read and thoroughly enjoyed. I will be telling my mom to read this book since she bothers me for recs all of the time.
Okay after reading the one star reviews (which just sounds like people who struggle to read lowkey) I would add that one flaw in this book is the foreshadowing of the twins horrible past wasn’t that big of a deal. AND I think I would have liked more flashbacks in the second half of the book because it would have given that half more ventilation from what was happening in the present.
April 20, 2024
TITLE: Sisters Of Belfast
AUTHOR: Melanie Maure
PUB DATE: 02.27.2024 Now Avaiable
About orphaned twin sisters in Ireland whose lives diverge for decades, until fate—and faith—reunite them in the twilight of their lives.
I loved reading this emotionally charged WWII novel about the devastating effects of war to families, that is heartbreaking and tragic. The story is about Aelish and Isabel McGuire - orphaned twins, known as the twins of Belfast, where one becomes a nun, and the other move to Canada. They are reunited after many years and a dark secret is revealed. Through faith and the bonds of sisterhood, the sisters are able to right the wrongs and most important of all is to forgive.
This book made me cry. This debut novel was exceptional.
AUTHOR: Melanie Maure
PUB DATE: 02.27.2024 Now Avaiable
About orphaned twin sisters in Ireland whose lives diverge for decades, until fate—and faith—reunite them in the twilight of their lives.
I loved reading this emotionally charged WWII novel about the devastating effects of war to families, that is heartbreaking and tragic. The story is about Aelish and Isabel McGuire - orphaned twins, known as the twins of Belfast, where one becomes a nun, and the other move to Canada. They are reunited after many years and a dark secret is revealed. Through faith and the bonds of sisterhood, the sisters are able to right the wrongs and most important of all is to forgive.
This book made me cry. This debut novel was exceptional.
May 15, 2024
I probably would have enjoyed this more if I'd read it rather than listened to it. There were a lot of characters and a lot of names to keep up with.
I enjoyed the story of the two sisters, but there was a side story about some of the nuns that I didn't think was necessary, at least not to the extent it was included. There were a few snippets of their vague memories that didn't seem to help the flow of the story and just confused me. (Again, this may have been because I was listening rather than reading.)
Good book though about a very sad time period in Ireland's history. I did find it a little difficult to believe that so many people were oblivious to what was happening at the orphanage and the women and babies home, especially since we've now learned how common that kind of situation was.
I enjoyed the story of the two sisters, but there was a side story about some of the nuns that I didn't think was necessary, at least not to the extent it was included. There were a few snippets of their vague memories that didn't seem to help the flow of the story and just confused me. (Again, this may have been because I was listening rather than reading.)
Good book though about a very sad time period in Ireland's history. I did find it a little difficult to believe that so many people were oblivious to what was happening at the orphanage and the women and babies home, especially since we've now learned how common that kind of situation was.
May 17, 2024
Great story about twin orphans. They are living in a Catholic orphanage. One is a rule follower and the other is rebellious. Aelish becomes a nun, but Isabel runs as far away from the church as she can. They reunite and face many challenges to bring their relationship back to where it was as children.
March 14, 2024
This novel was, in turns, engaging and hard to read. Opening during a World War II air raid that orphans twin sisters Aelish and Isabel, this book covers the subsequent years as the lives of these sisters diverge and then come back together. Taken in by the nuns of a covent, Aelish finds peace in the faith and sisterhood, but Isabel discovers something very different - shame and anger. After being widowed young, Isabel returns to Belfast with her young children (and another on the way) and finds a past she can't help but dig up and force Aelish to reckon with. Overall, a good read highlighting a sad part of Irish history.
August 13, 2024
Twin girls are left orphans when their parents die in a WWII bombing.
They are sent to a Catholic orphanage and their Ives take very different paths.
They are sent to a Catholic orphanage and their Ives take very different paths.
May 22, 2024
3.5 It was a compelling plot with each twin choosing such different paths. I loved their love for each other. It was intriguing to get a glimpse of each of the nuns.
July 20, 2025
A historical fiction tale of twin sisters, orphaned in Belfast during World War II, their estrangement and reconvening, and the discoveries made through tragic, but transformative circumstances that reshape their lives and beliefs.
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