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Where the Heart Should Be

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Ireland, 1846 Nell is working as a scullery maid in the kitchen of the Big House. Once she loved school and books and dreaming. But there's not much choice of work when the land grows food that rots in the earth. Now she is scrubbing, peeling, washing, sweeping for Sir Philip Wicken, the man who owns her home, her family's land, their crops, everything. His dogs are always well fed, even as famine sets in.

Upstairs in the Big House, where Nell is forbidden to enter, is Johnny Browning, newly arrived from England: the young nephew who will one day inherit it all. And as hunger and disease run rampant all around them, a spark of life and hope catches light when Nell and Johnny find each other.

This is a love story, and the story of a people being torn apart. This is a powerful and unforgettable novel from the phenomenally talented Sarah Crossan.

The outstanding novel from the Carnegie Medal-winning, former Laureate na nÓg Sarah Crossan; thought-provoking and incredibly moving, it explores love and family during The Great Hunger

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2024

153 people are currently reading
11240 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Crossan

28 books2,024 followers
Sarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature before training as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and worked to promote creative writing in schools before leaving teaching to write full time.

She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.

She currently lives in NYC.

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5 stars
856 (34%)
4 stars
1,111 (44%)
3 stars
463 (18%)
2 stars
56 (2%)
1 star
20 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews
Profile Image for Ross.
609 reviews
March 10, 2024
man this actually make me sob like fuck the english
Profile Image for Bookishrealm.
3,241 reviews6,442 followers
January 27, 2025
Whew this was difficult book to read and unlike anything I've ever picked up. CW: death, discrimination, famine, violence.

What Worked: This is my first novel by Sarah Crossan but it won't be my last. As a history major, I'm familiar with the particulars of the Irish Potato Famine, but reading about it from a fictional perspective elicited more emotion (both sadness and anger). Crossan did a wonderful job capturing the discrimination and classism experienced by the Irish, especially Irish tenants, at the hands of the English. Nell, as a character, serves as such a great example of the ruthless behavior they experienced at the hands of the landlords. There is little to no care related to their struggle and their inability to take care of their families. It's clear through historical records that the English could have done more to support the Irish and chose not to and then created even more conflict between Irish landlords and Irish tenants. While I wasn't strongly invested in the romance between Nell and Johnny, it did add to the narrative and really brought for the questions of "is love enough?" I think it was interested that although Johnny was English he attempted to understand the plight of the Irish and even then he couldn't fully grasp what they were experiencing. I was definitely more invested in the familial dynamics and the weight of responsibility that was placed on Nell's shoulders. It was truly heartbreaking how badly Nell fought to save her family. The relationship she shared with her father and his fight to save his family was truly devastating and spoke to how any push back against the English government was rewarded with punishment. Honestly, this book was so well-written and really honed in on personalizing the various things we know to be historical fact.

What Didn't Work: While I enjoyed most of the novel, the ending felt a little rushed and incomplete. I can't say too much because of spoilers, but I do feel as though there could have been a little more development to better complete the rest of the story.

Overall, this is one of the better YA historical fiction novels that I've read in recent years and I'm happy that Crossan decided to capture some of the specifics of the famine.
Profile Image for Sara.
Author 10 books1,061 followers
January 26, 2024
Read the entire book in one go. Sarah Crossan at her absolute best.
Profile Image for Brittany (whatbritreads).
978 reviews1,241 followers
March 19, 2024
*Big thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of this to review!*

Please note: My rating is 3.5 but I’ve rounded it up to 4 for the sake of Goodreads (who are still yet to update and give us half stars!!!!!!)

I had no idea what to expect from this one as books written in verse can be hit or miss, but I definitely think this one worked for me. I almost read it in a single sitting, it was really captivating in its storytelling and I was desperate to see how it would pan out in the end.

The writing was quite simple, yet I think it was effective for its purpose. I found the formatting coupled with this made for a very digestible and easy to follow story. Sometimes, with fewer words I find big chunks of context can be skipped or a story can lack sufficient storytelling but it feels well balanced. The book itself focussed on an era or Irish history I wasn’t overly familiar with, so I enjoyed learning something new from that perspective as well. It’s a historical fiction piece, but the writing made it feel very modern and engaging, so I think this will be very palatable for a wide audience.

My only qualm with this one and the reason it wasn’t a full four star for me, was the fact that some aspects could come across as a little shallow without full context. This especially felt apparent with our forbidden romance storyline we’re presented with. I think the emotional impact of this didn’t land as heavily as it could have, if there was more of an effort to build up more tension and longing between the characters prior to them becoming established. I think Nell and Johnny were really intriguing characters individually, and I would’ve loved more of their internal monologue and conflicts to be present when they were together. The scenes did feel very fleeting and the whole book, while fast paced, could arguably be considered a little rushed.

This one was definitely an emotional and eye opening read. The tenderness and weight of the feelings and circumstance could’ve packed more of a punch had there been some time for the reader to absorb more of what was happening at a gradual pace, we move on quite abruptly between scenes. Regardless, it was still an absolutely devastating story and it made for a beautiful read.
Profile Image for Paperback Mo.
468 reviews102 followers
October 24, 2024
5 STAR ALERT 🌟
So much emotion packed into such few words.
A brutal but sad story about survival, grief, violence, family, and love.
Profile Image for Salla Hiltunen.
507 reviews17 followers
May 12, 2025
Historiallinen säeromaani, joka sijoittuu 1840-luvun Irlantiin, tuhoisan perunaruton aiheuttaman nälänhädän aikaan. Samalla, kun köyhä maalaisväestö näkee nälkää, rikas ylimystö elää yltäkylläisyydessä. 16-vuotias Nell työskentelee keittiöpiikana kartanossa ja sattuu lähentymään kartanon tulevan lordin kanssa.

"It is hard to tell a love story
and also the story of a people
being torn apart.

But this is what was happening in 1846:
I was falling in love
when everything
around me was
falling down."

Tämä on suosikkini lukemistani Sarah Crossanin säeromaaneista. Crossanin tyyli on vähän liian yksinkertainen minun makuuni (kaipaisin säeromaaneilta enemmän lyyrisyyttä), mutta hän on kieltämättä ihan taitava kertomaan tunteisiin vetoavia tarinoita. Crossanin juttuhan on se, että hän yrittää keksiä aina mahdollisimman surullisia ja traagisia itkutarinoita.

Historiallisia säeromaaneja voisi minusta olla enemmänkin. Irlannin historia ei ole minulle kovinkaan tuttu, ja tämän lukemisen jälkeen jäin etsimään vielä lisää tietoa 1800-luvun nälänhädästä. Ilmeisesti tuon perunaruton seurauksena kuoli miljoonia ihmisiä. Oli kiinnostava ja toimiva ratkaisu sijoittaa tarina tuohon aikaan. Tässä tulevat hyvin esiin erilaiset vastakkainasettelut ja niiden aiheuttamat jännitteet: köyhät ja rikkaat, irlantilaiset ja englantilaiset, piika ja tuleva lordi.
35 reviews
December 16, 2023
YA blank verse not for me as a rule. I was moved to tears reading it…powerful writing with so much emotion in so few words. Brilliant retelling of the Irish famine. I learnt a lot and will definitely be reading more Sarah Crossland superb author xxx
Profile Image for Sara Moser.
80 reviews
July 25, 2024
Phenomenal read. I highly recommend this heartbreaking story of Irelands most devastating time. A love story, famine, loss of family-truly heart wrenching.

My sister got this book for me while she was in Ireland, and I am truly awestruck at the writing, the story, the character depth. If you are looking for a book, please pick this one up!
Profile Image for Nadia Masood.
250 reviews15 followers
July 27, 2025
It’s 1846 in the fictional Irish town of Ballinkeel, and Nell Quinn’s story unfolds during the devastating potato famine. She’s a young girl living in a tiny one-room cottage with her parents and little brother, Owen. To help her family survive, she takes a job as a scullery maid at a wealthy landlord’s estate, where she meets Johnny, the kind-hearted heir.

The audiobook is fantastic. Crossan’s writing is vivid and raw, pulling you into the despair of the famine years, when a million people died and another million left Ireland.

Her world feels so real, steeped in Irish traditions like leaving offerings for faeries and the ever-present Catholic Church. But there’s also this deep anger when she sees dogs eating scraps while her neighbors starve. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating all at once.

The romance between Nell and Johnny is tender and real, but it's overshadowed by the famine and the resulting deaths and devastation, as well as the class divide between them. Nell’s love for her family, especially Owen, is beautiful, and her frustration with the landlords’ unfair treatment hits hard.

This book is perfect for anyone who appreciates historical fiction with emotional depth. If you’re drawn to beautiful, poetic writing or want to explore a key moment in Irish history, this one will move you deeply.
Profile Image for Courtney.
103 reviews25 followers
November 26, 2024
Flew through it - Sarah is the QUEEN of verse novels
Profile Image for Shannon  Miz.
1,503 reviews1,079 followers
January 13, 2025
4.5*

Oof, this one will hurt your soul. But in a really pretty way. So there's that. Look, you can tell from the synopsis that this isn't going to be a cheery funfest, right? It's a famine, folks. Anyway, Nell is trying to keep her family fed, all while coming of age and watching her friends leave the nest (or the Earth, because famine). It is so heartbreaking, so infuriating that people were actually treated this way, and then you realize that people are still being treated this way and you get even madder. I digress, but the story was so beautifully written, you cannot help but feel every emotion for Nell and her family and friends. There are hopeful moments, bitterly sad moments, and infuriatingly unfair moments. And of course, it becomes even more emotive when you remember that this is all based on actual events.


Bottom Line: Beautifully written with all the feels, this is why I never turn down a Sarah Crossan book!

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Profile Image for Book Princess (Anastasia).
424 reviews77 followers
May 1, 2024
Змішані почуття… з одного боку дуже болюче змальований весь жах трагедії ірландського народу 1846-47, голодомор, як і в Україні трішки менше ніж століття після цього. Голод, який зморив купу мільйонів ірландців, поки англійці жирували, інакше не скажеш… Дуже мене це зачепило. Читаючи про смерті дітей і дорослих, мимоволі згадався Жовтий князь. Тільки тут не все так детально, бо книга написана, по-перше, для дітей, по-друге у формі білого вірша. Та серце все одно обливалося кровʼю…

З іншого боку, це історія кохання. Звичайно ж, із ворогом. І ось саме цей момент лишає дуже змішані відчуття. Бо в мене самої зросла надзвичайна ненависть до англійців, а Нелл… Їй 15. Вона наївна. Але Джон, Джонні змальований добрим, чуйним. Так, він ворог, проте намагається допомогти. Навряд чи так могло бути в реальності…

І ще кінець. Змазаний. Неясний. А як же сестри? І що батьки? Багато запитань. Але написано сильно, використовуючи мінімум слів. Майстерно.
Profile Image for Lula Lina .
112 reviews
October 11, 2024
Every book needs a character like Johnny Browning

⋆.ೃ࿔*:・ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬⋆.ೃ࿔*:・
𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧 (𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥)
She was so strong despite everything.

𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 (𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐧𝐲) 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
I. Loved. Johnny. Full stop. He was kind and caring to everyone and liked Nell's poetry and helped a beggar.

𝐎𝐰𝐞𝐧
I liked Owen. He deserved so much better.

I liked Nell's parents too but her dad did go a bit off the rails near the bed. Everyone else was either eh or I didn't like them.

Close to the end, it all felt very rushed.

𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓲 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽 ▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 0:10
seven - Taylor Swift
epiphany - Taylor Swift
willow - Taylor Swift
cardigan - Taylor Swift




3 stars ⭐✨
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,302 reviews3,463 followers
May 30, 2024
A really sad story of survival, hunger, grief, violence, family and love.

Based on true events. However, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed.

I love the cover so much!

Once again, I am telling you the author is the best when it comes to novels in verse.
Profile Image for Ellen.
159 reviews7 followers
August 4, 2024
I wouldn’t have picked this book if I had known this was written in verse (not a fan), but I decided to give it a go and ended up really enjoying this story about a girl’s life during the Irish famine. Heartbreaking stuff but well written.
Profile Image for TheNextGenLibrarian.
2,997 reviews113 followers
December 26, 2025
A YA novel in verse set during the Irish Potato Famine.
🥔
Nell’s family is struggling to pay their landlord when the crops they’re planting end up rotted. Nell gets a job as a scullery maid for an English estate. It’s there she meets Johnny, a teenage boy set to inherit the land, title and tenants. Both Johnny and Nell struggle against familial expectations, although Nell’s is definitely more heartbreaking and devastating. As the Irish push back against the English, who could have done more for them during this time period, Nell and Johnny find love in a hopeless situation.
🇮🇪
I think it was @lastingliterature who shared her review of this, but if not, I can’t quite remember who shared this title with me. This is not my usual read, which was why I picked it up. Powerful, brutal in some cases, but ultimately hopeful at the end. I would recommend this to any historical fiction fan.

CW: animal death, famine/starvation, imprisonment, death, classism, discrimination

3.5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Lobo.
959 reviews
November 2, 2025
Sarah Crossan nagyon erőteljesen ír rengeteg érzelemmel és mindezt igazán gazdaságosan teszi, kevés szóban és versben. Ráadásul nemcsak az éhínséget mutatja be, de magát az ír tradíciókat is, ahol a tündérek jóságában bíznak és ételeket ajánlanak fel a mitikus lények jóindulatában reménykedve, ugyanakkor jelen van a katolikus egyház is. Mindenképpen inspirált arra, hogy az előszó és az utószó után még egy kicsit utána olvassak ennek az időszaknak.

A szív helye egy gyorsan olvasható, de egyáltalán nem felületes verses regény, amely szívszorító és elgondolkodtató is egyben.

Részletesen: https://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2...
Profile Image for Chelsea.
490 reviews30 followers
April 21, 2025
4 SOLID STARS - I really enjoy books written in verse, and this book did not disappoint. Sarah Crossan has a way of pulling you into a story with sparse yet powerful language, and this one left a real impact. I’m curious to learn more about The Great Hunger — an event I didn’t know much about other than the basics. Even though the story was heartbreaking at times, the author handled the subject matter with care and honesty, showing just how devastating and unfair life was for Irish tenants during this time period. It’s one of those books that lingers in your thoughts. Now I’m off to watch “Far and Away” to keep the Irish history train rolling!
Profile Image for Erin Holt | Dear Reader.
406 reviews6 followers
February 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ Beautiful historical fiction written in prose about young, forbidden love during the famine in Ireland in the 1840s. This was far more powerful than I was expecting. People barely able to get by with little help from those in power is an important hardship we still feel. Beautiful, tragic, heartbreaking. Recommend
Profile Image for Erin • erinsgottaread.
625 reviews130 followers
May 30, 2025
This book is a fast read. It’s about a bit of history I didn’t know a lot about and WOW it tears at the heart strings. It’s written in a mix of first person and lyrical prose which I enjoyed. It’s full of endearing quotes and tender moments. It’s about the people you hold close, the things you do to keep them safe, and the heartbreaking losses when you have no options.
Profile Image for Kristie.
812 reviews
August 26, 2024
Another incredibly powerful book by Sarah Crossan.
Profile Image for lesl Niebur.
13 reviews
August 8, 2025
I just wish it was longer, I literally finished this in like an hour and a half
Profile Image for Lisa Cook.
87 reviews
July 11, 2025
I really need to quit reading heartbreaking books. Who do I think I am my son?!
Profile Image for Loulou.
14 reviews
May 30, 2025
Over de Ierse hongersnood van 1845-1852, waar ik eerlijk gezegd nog niet bekend mee was.
Goed boek, maar ik vond de poëzie zwak uitgevoerd. Wel heel goed dat dit er voor YA is!
Profile Image for Jazzy-girl.
213 reviews64 followers
March 6, 2025
Rushed ending but MAN. What a journey. So much tragedy in such a fast-paced story, tore my heart right up. I enjoyed the verse writing style SO MUCH. Now I shall marinate in my tears.
Profile Image for Emma.
638 reviews5 followers
November 20, 2023
Where The Heart Should Be is a story of romance and tragedy. Set during 1846 when the Irish potato famine was ravaging the population. Crossan deftly depicts the tragic reality of life for so many in her signature delicate verse.

The bleakness is contrasted with a coming of age romance to lighten the tone and also highlight the inequalities and injustices between rich and poor. This beautiful juxtaposition moved me to tears more than once.

It’s amazing what Crossan is able to create by using just a fraction of the words of a standard novel. The carefully crafted verses are packed with nuance to build a vivid and immersive story.

It’s another stunning piece of work from Sarah Crossan. I was incapable of putting it down and finished it over the course of a day.

This book is released on 14th March 2024 and I recommend getting your pre-order in. Thank you to Bloomsbury for my gifted ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 398 reviews

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