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What The Callen Women Know
Nula Callen knew two things for she would escape her oppressive County Cork village, and she would not be like her parents.
Armed with nothing but dreams of who she can become and an iron will, Nula flees to America. She’s determined to change her future and become a strong, independent, fun-loving version of herself. But life as a new immigrant is challenging, and not at all what Nula envisioned. Shunned, poor, and dependent on others for her livelihood, Nula finds herself with six children to raise and a husband she doesn’t love. But nothing and no one will stop Nula from fighting to make her dreams come true. Her plans and secrets are her weapons. They are all she has.
What the Callen Women Know is an enthralling, epic debut novel about an Irish-Catholic family, their brave matriarch, and the courage it takes to change your life. Nula learns that nothing is impossible if you have hope and determination. She vows to share what she learned with the women in her family. No Callen women would fail.
Armed with nothing but dreams of who she can become and an iron will, Nula flees to America. She’s determined to change her future and become a strong, independent, fun-loving version of herself. But life as a new immigrant is challenging, and not at all what Nula envisioned. Shunned, poor, and dependent on others for her livelihood, Nula finds herself with six children to raise and a husband she doesn’t love. But nothing and no one will stop Nula from fighting to make her dreams come true. Her plans and secrets are her weapons. They are all she has.
What the Callen Women Know is an enthralling, epic debut novel about an Irish-Catholic family, their brave matriarch, and the courage it takes to change your life. Nula learns that nothing is impossible if you have hope and determination. She vows to share what she learned with the women in her family. No Callen women would fail.
300 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2024
About the author
Karen Anne McCullough
1 book7 followersKaren Anne is not just a retired COO and CNE of a large community hospital. She is the granddaughter of an Irish immigrant young girl, who fled poverty and abuse and dared to make her ambitious dreams come true.
The purpose of the fictional biography is to share the life's lessons she learned throughout her journey.
This inspirational women shaped many lives within our family.
Now, through the novel, other women can benefit from her experiences and words of wisdom to assist them along the path of independance and happiness.
The purpose of the fictional biography is to share the life's lessons she learned throughout her journey.
This inspirational women shaped many lives within our family.
Now, through the novel, other women can benefit from her experiences and words of wisdom to assist them along the path of independance and happiness.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 22, 2025
What the Callen Women Know is an extremely powerful story of a young village girl from Ireland, who is determined to change her future. As an avid reader, I have never read a book that has inspired me in such a profound way.
This book is extremely well-written and takes the reader through the journey of a young woman with an iron will. Her strength, plans, and secrets are her secret weapons in becoming the independent woman she dreams of being. Despite challenge after challenge, she never lets that kill her spirit or her dreams. In fact, these challenges only seem to make her stronger.
Nula is determined to ensure that she instills her life lessons and wisdom in her own children and theirs. To say that this story inspired me is a true understatement. The 23 Pearls of Wisdom will stay with me forever. Nula's fierce spirit and commitment to never "settle", is not only inspiring in my own life, but that in which I intend to instill in my own young daughter.
Nula's legacy will continue to inspire women for decades to come!
This book is extremely well-written and takes the reader through the journey of a young woman with an iron will. Her strength, plans, and secrets are her secret weapons in becoming the independent woman she dreams of being. Despite challenge after challenge, she never lets that kill her spirit or her dreams. In fact, these challenges only seem to make her stronger.
Nula is determined to ensure that she instills her life lessons and wisdom in her own children and theirs. To say that this story inspired me is a true understatement. The 23 Pearls of Wisdom will stay with me forever. Nula's fierce spirit and commitment to never "settle", is not only inspiring in my own life, but that in which I intend to instill in my own young daughter.
Nula's legacy will continue to inspire women for decades to come!
August 29, 2026
I wanted so badly to love What the Callen Women Know. The premise—a determined young Irish woman escaping an abusive upbringing and building a new life for herself and the generations who follow. Unfortunately, the execution made this one of the most difficult books I have finished, despite its very simple prose.
As someone who lived in Co. Cork for ten years, I was baffled by the lack of a specific village, parish, or convincing sense of place. Cork contains over 100 distinctive communities, yet the characters’ home remains a generic “village in County Cork.”
The repetition became especially distracting. “County Cork” appears over and over, even when “home,” a character’s name, or no geographical reference at all would have sounded more natural. Characters are repeatedly described as “County Cork runaways,” their hopes become “County Cork dreams”. If I had taken a shot every time County Cork was mentioned, I would be dead by the end of the book.
The writing relies heavily on telling rather than showing. Major events—marriages, births, deaths, family conflicts, changes in fortune, and entire periods of grief—are often summarized in a few blunt sentences with very little emotional depth. The characters regularly state their feelings and motivations outright, sometimes immediately after the narration has already explained them. The dialogue feels painfully unnatural, as though the characters are providing background information for the reader rather than speaking to people who already know their circumstances. There are also abrupt transitions and occasional shifts in tense that make the prose feel under-edited.
There is a meaningful multigenerational story buried here, and Nula’s life offers many opportunities to explore independence, marriage, motherhood, religion, ambition, grief, and complicated family relationships. Unfortunately, those opportunities are repeatedly announced and then hurried past. The book gives us the bones of an interesting family history but rarely puts any meat on them. I finished it because I finish every book I start, but this was a brutal and deeply disappointing read—especially because I had been looking forward to it for so long.
As someone who lived in Co. Cork for ten years, I was baffled by the lack of a specific village, parish, or convincing sense of place. Cork contains over 100 distinctive communities, yet the characters’ home remains a generic “village in County Cork.”
The repetition became especially distracting. “County Cork” appears over and over, even when “home,” a character’s name, or no geographical reference at all would have sounded more natural. Characters are repeatedly described as “County Cork runaways,” their hopes become “County Cork dreams”. If I had taken a shot every time County Cork was mentioned, I would be dead by the end of the book.
The writing relies heavily on telling rather than showing. Major events—marriages, births, deaths, family conflicts, changes in fortune, and entire periods of grief—are often summarized in a few blunt sentences with very little emotional depth. The characters regularly state their feelings and motivations outright, sometimes immediately after the narration has already explained them. The dialogue feels painfully unnatural, as though the characters are providing background information for the reader rather than speaking to people who already know their circumstances. There are also abrupt transitions and occasional shifts in tense that make the prose feel under-edited.
There is a meaningful multigenerational story buried here, and Nula’s life offers many opportunities to explore independence, marriage, motherhood, religion, ambition, grief, and complicated family relationships. Unfortunately, those opportunities are repeatedly announced and then hurried past. The book gives us the bones of an interesting family history but rarely puts any meat on them. I finished it because I finish every book I start, but this was a brutal and deeply disappointing read—especially because I had been looking forward to it for so long.
December 3, 2024
Poor Nula and her siblings had a really tough start in life. All children should have love, food, shelter & safety and they had none of that. That'll kill the spirit of some kids and turn them into sad replicas of their parents, destined to repeat the cycle in future generations.
But Nula had a fire inside her that was unique. It didn't come from genetics or a lesson learned, it was just there. That fire drove her to to a lifelong obsession with making sure her family and every Callen down the line had everything she never had and so much more. Only the best and finest for Nula, her children, her grandchildren and their well-loved family dogs.
I was on the edge of my seat and very invested in Nula's fate along her journey as it was fraught with tragedy, trials and loss. I kept wondering how in the hell she'd get out of this situation or that. I wondered how someone could go through so much but stay determined and hopeful. Yet she not only endured, she prospered. Go Nula! She manifested her destiny.
This was a great read, I enjoyed it. Nula is a very inspirational, very shrewdly intelligent woman you can't help but root for.
But Nula had a fire inside her that was unique. It didn't come from genetics or a lesson learned, it was just there. That fire drove her to to a lifelong obsession with making sure her family and every Callen down the line had everything she never had and so much more. Only the best and finest for Nula, her children, her grandchildren and their well-loved family dogs.
I was on the edge of my seat and very invested in Nula's fate along her journey as it was fraught with tragedy, trials and loss. I kept wondering how in the hell she'd get out of this situation or that. I wondered how someone could go through so much but stay determined and hopeful. Yet she not only endured, she prospered. Go Nula! She manifested her destiny.
This was a great read, I enjoyed it. Nula is a very inspirational, very shrewdly intelligent woman you can't help but root for.
December 1, 2024
A Great Family Saga. A Joy to Read.
McCullough’s story brings alive the tenacity needed to travel from your homeland to create a vibrant and contributing life in a new country. The experience of Nula as a “Just A Come” embodies the joy, the challenges and the prejudices faced by people who undertake this journey.
Irish wisdom and tradition shines through the story. If you have a drop of Irish Blood in your family, this story will bring back memoires of traditions, celebrations, words of advice from your elders, and the foods that were present at all family gatherings. Nula is an inspiring, determined character who knows what she wants for herself and her family. And she goes for it!
McCullough’s story brings alive the tenacity needed to travel from your homeland to create a vibrant and contributing life in a new country. The experience of Nula as a “Just A Come” embodies the joy, the challenges and the prejudices faced by people who undertake this journey.
Irish wisdom and tradition shines through the story. If you have a drop of Irish Blood in your family, this story will bring back memoires of traditions, celebrations, words of advice from your elders, and the foods that were present at all family gatherings. Nula is an inspiring, determined character who knows what she wants for herself and her family. And she goes for it!
October 19, 2024
The author had me laughing, crying & holding my breath to see what will happen next. A delightful story of an Irish girl & her life from being raised in Ireland and her travels to Canada where she lived & raised her family. - Author showed us how difficult it was for women in that time period.
I had a difficult time putting this book down!!! —- I hope everyone enjoys it as much as did! For me, I will be reading this book again & again.
I had a difficult time putting this book down!!! —- I hope everyone enjoys it as much as did! For me, I will be reading this book again & again.
May 5, 2025
I loved the story of Nula, an Irish immigrant that travelled to Canada. It was raw and entertaining. Nula reminded me of the hardships suffered by immigrants as they set out to make a new life. The grit and determination needed to prosper in a new country reminds us of how easy we have it today. Nula’s story is one of tragedy, survival and rising above it all to thrive in life!
A wonderful read!
A wonderful read!
September 23, 2026
Read this for my book club and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it!
This was such a beautiful story and a powerful look into the past, especially knowing it was based on true events. I truly enjoyed getting to know Nula and her family throughout the book. Her stories, experiences, and perspective taught me so much, and I found myself thinking about them even after I finished reading.
Definitely a book that stayed with me, and I’m so glad my book club chose this one!
This was such a beautiful story and a powerful look into the past, especially knowing it was based on true events. I truly enjoyed getting to know Nula and her family throughout the book. Her stories, experiences, and perspective taught me so much, and I found myself thinking about them even after I finished reading.
Definitely a book that stayed with me, and I’m so glad my book club chose this one!
October 22, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down! Every chapter had me wanting to know more - the authors historical references, attention to detail & character development is superb!! A very inspirational book about persevering through tough times, the invaluable importance of being true to yourself / close friends and family!! LOVED this book!!
March 15, 2026
The emotional adventure to immigrate from Dublin Ireland to Canada in order to free herself from a life of poverty and abuse was beautifully written. I found myself in tears at times and laughing out loud other times ... putting this book down was difficult - there is so much of all of us in this great tale of life!
November 8, 2024
McCullough wrote an extremely motivational novel!
The words of wisdom in each chapter were completely inspirational.
From page one I was enthralled by the novel.
Hard to believe this was her debut novel.
Hopefully more to come
The words of wisdom in each chapter were completely inspirational.
From page one I was enthralled by the novel.
Hard to believe this was her debut novel.
Hopefully more to come
March 15, 2026
Wow!! This book was absolutely incredible! I found myself transported to another time & literally couldn't put this book down. The characters were were great, the books feel / heart was excellent & I couldn't help but feel uplifted and inspired by this beautiful novel. A must read!!
March 19, 2026
What the Callen Women Know was a wonderful read. It was emotional, well written, and filled with strong, memorable characters. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and the way the story unfolded. A powerful and engaging book that I’d happily recommend.
March 25, 2026
This is truly a wonderful book. It's an uplifting tale of overcoming long odds and dire circumstances to create a new life through force of will. This will appeal to fans of history, or indeed anyone who is looking for a highly readable work chock full of inspiration and sound guidance.
October 19, 2024
Found this book to be very entertaining and thought provoking.
Left me wanting more!
Left me wanting more!
November 1, 2024
From a childhood defined by scarcity to a life filled with love and abundance, a bold matriarch finds her way to a better life with hard work and determination. A beautiful story.
July 14, 2026
A captivating debut! This is not my usual genre, but I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. The characters are well developed, the story is engaging, and Nula's strength and determination stayed with me long after I finished. I especially loved the 23 Pearls of Wisdom woven throughout the book—each chapter has a thoughtful life lesson that adds another layer of meaning to the story. A highly enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews