The Irish Boarding House: Completely heart-warming Irish historical fiction

The Irish Boarding House #1

by Sandy Taylor

24 Merrion Square. The house stands empty, the old stone steps overgrown with thorny rose bushes. But Mary Kate feels a deep connection to the neglected, silent rooms. Could this be the place to help her heal?

Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she’s stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she’s devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was.

Mary Kate is about to refuse the money when she sees a beautiful, deserted house for sale and something sparks in her heart. She will reawaken it, as the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies, and provide a shelter for others as lost and alone as her. Can she help the two young girls left at the local orphanage, desperate for a home of their own? Or the pregnant teenager on the run, who only wants to keep her baby safe?

The boarding house brings Mary Kate love and friendships she never dreamed of, but just as her heart is about to burst with joy, a new guest arrives. The stern older woman won’t speak about her past, but when Mary Kate uncovers her story, it reveals a devastating secret about her mother. With her life in turmoil once more, can Mary Kate draw on the strength of the women in the house to help her face her past, or will the tragedy she uncovers spell disaster for them all…?

A heart-wrenching story full of family secrets. Perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, Audiobook, Book Club, Irish Literature, Historical

346 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2022

About the author

Sandy’s eighth novel, THE IRISH BOARDING HOUSE, was published by Bookouture on 1 September 2022 reaching #1 in the British and Irish Historical Literature category within six days of publication.

Sandy Taylor grew up in 1950s and 1960s Brighton, and now lives in Somerset. She is the author of THE IRISH NANNY (Bookouture 30 July 2021), a Kindle #1 bestseller in three categories simultaneously and #24 in the Kindle Top 100, THE ORPHAN’S DAUGHTER (Bookouture 5 February 2020), which was shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s 2021 Romantic Saga category awards, THE LITTLE ORPHAN GIRL (Bookouture, 24 September 2018), a Kindle Top 100 bestseller and a #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller, THE RUNAWAY CHILDREN (Bookouture 8 December 2017), which spent almost two weeks at the #1 Kindle Saga Bestseller position in December 2017, WHEN WE DANCED AT THE END OF THE PIER (Bookouture March 2017), COUNTING CHIMNEYS (Bookouture June 2016) and THE GIRLS FROM SEE SAW LANE (Bookouture December 2015). Sandy Taylor is published in three languages.

Reviews

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Kate Ryan had lived with her grandparents on Tanner's Row in Dublin since her mother had abandoned them all when she was a baby, and when first her grandmother, then grandfather died and she no longer had a home, she felt lost and alone. The boarding houses she went to were dingy and dirty, nothing felt right anymore. The day she received a letter from a solicitor, her life changed - the money that was now hers saw Mary Kate buy a beautiful old home that had been left to ruin. Mary Kate had it renovated and turned into the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies.

First Jessie and Abby arrived from the convent to help Mary Kate. Gradually the boarding house filled up with the young and not so young and it wasn't long before the peace and tranquility of the beautiful home seemed to them all like family. Polly and Orla now worked at the exclusive department store in the city, while Mrs Lamb and Eliza did the cooking. Colleen and Rosa couldn't have been happier - but there were secrets behind each person's closed doors. And would the new guest - one that puzzled Mary Kate - uncover more secrets or just be passing through?

The Irish Boarding House is another exceptional read by Sandy Taylor which I enjoyed very much. I've read 6 books by this author so far, all 5 stars - this one will be no exception. Mary Kate is a kind, gentle and caring character, and those who surround her feel happy in her presence. The Irish Boarding House is a lovely read, and one I recommend highly.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisabeth Plimpton · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jonelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the sweet, easy going love child
Of later Maeve Binchy books and a Hallmark movie special. Everyone gets a happy ending, all the priests and nuns are wise and kind, everyone slighted is forgiving, and nothing too complex is dwelled on to ruin the taste of Happily Ever After.

52book challenge : Dublin

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Kate Ryan was abandoned by her mother as a baby and was brought up by her grandparents. But when they died, she was on her own and ended up going from one boarding house to another. With no money and her future looking glum she decides that she wants to end her life in the local river. But someone must be looking down on her. She is contacted by a solicitor Mr Renson, telling her that the mother who abandoned her all of them years ago has died and left her an inheritance. She first doesn’t believe in it. But decides to take the money. But instead of squandering the money she opens a boarding house to help women less fortunate than herself. Helping women in need and doing good. In a way thanking God for the gift that she has been given.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of The Irish Boarding house by Sandy Taylor. This is another beautifully written and heart-warming tale set in Dublin in 1952. I have all the authors books and she never disappoint.
I really enjoyed each description of each character and the ups and down of the lives and how they come to be at the boarding house and Mary Kate’s kindness to them, asking nothing in return. This made me laugh at times and I had tears at the end when some of Mary Kate’s dreams came true. Yet again this is another 5-star read from the author. Everyone needs to read one book by Sandy Taylor. You won’t regret it.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve often found that people who grow up with very little are the very ones who have gained the most from what life has to offer. Mary Kate Ryan is a perfect example of someone who had empty pockets but not an empty mind.

When her circumstances changed due to an unexpected inheritance, Mary Kate could have chosen to keep it all to herself. Instead, she reaches out to the less fortunate. Living in abhorrent conditions herself, Mary Kate knows all about the horrors of low-income living. Using the inheritance she buys a beautiful Georgian home and extends a hand up to those in similar situations she herself experienced. A large portion of the book is devoted to those who come to stay at 24 Merrion Square ~ The Irish Boarding House. Your heart will be warmed and you’ll be inspired to pay it forward ~ share a little kindness. If the past 2 years have taught us anything, it’s that we all need each other’s support to survive.

Set in 1950s Dublin, The Irish Boarding House is a wonderful exploration of second chances and kindness.

I was gifted this advance copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for the found family trope, but this book had TOO many coincidences for me to fully enjoy it. Also, the ages of the MC h and her love interest weren’t very clear to me, nor was when this story takes place. Cars and trains and such, but somehow it seemed old-timey almost. Maybe that’s just Ireland in the present and I don’t know it since I don’t live there. 🤷‍♀️

Also, the “magical money” at the LAST second was a stretch.

Trigger warnings: attempted suicide by drowning that was thwarted by the “magical money” at the last second and a baby is kidnapped by a mentally ill woman who is off her meds.

I don’t appreciate that someone with a mental health issue is used as a bad guy and those who are seen as bad aren’t given any chance of redemption.

Also, the ending was…well, the MC h acted INCREDIBLY out of character for added drama and it pulled me out of the story.

That being said, the drama wasn’t high stakes. This felt like a cozy women’s fiction book. Friendships and relationships are the focus, with the MC h who has come into scads of money, so now everyone likes her because with that money she can have whatever she wants (nice house, clothes, hairdo) and she shares her largess with all and sundry.

Maybe it’s cozy fantasy women’s fiction? It’s certainly not reality, lol.

Blink and you miss it LGBTQ rep, selective mutism by the adorably precocious youngest child that isn’t explained, but whatever.

I LOVED the Irish lilt the narrator had for the characters and they were all pretty distinct from one another so you could tell who was speaking, however, the volume consistency wasn’t there, which I’ve noticed is typical of audio books.

I bought a physical copy of this for a friend to read, as I think they will enjoy it.

I would say 3.5 stars, rounded down as it didn’t give me what I needed for four stars. I definitely am being too logical with my view of this book. This is a book for the heart, not the head. Read it if you want something sweet and mostly happy.

3, cozy like a nice warm bath if you don’t think about it too hard (I always overthink, lol), stars.

My thanks to libro.fm and Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book to listen to and review.

[Connie J · Rating 2 out of 5]

not my taste

Novel is like eating apple cake for every meal every day, you just get tired of the same sweetness every meal. Supposedly historical fiction but really just Pollyanna fiction.

[Lindsey (Bring My Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Should you read this? ABSOLUTELY. But also ... maybe not? It's complicated.

B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷

First things first - a year and a half ago I read another by this author, The Irish Nanny. And I LOVED IT. It was in my Top Ten of the year, y'all. See below:

From my review in August of 2021: I'm new to Sandy Taylor as an author but I will definitely be looking up her backlist because I just genuinely LOVED reading this book. Her writing erased the world around me and had me totally invested - even as she took me over the course of someone's life over 10 years in 330 pages (easy to lose a reader there).

Now here's the thing about The Irish Boarding House - it had that same feeling of the world around me being erased, and I genuinely loved the characters and I didn't want to stop reading ... but it was also occasionally repetitive and simple? Plus even the *high stakes* moments never actually *felt* high stakes. I don't know that I've ever read a book that had this many plotlines wrapped up in such beautiful, tiny, lovely bows before.

That being said - I still liked it? It's weird, I don't know what to tell you. If you're looking for something that is super low stakes and just fills your heart with gooey hope and joy, this is that book. Truly. And there were times that I LOVED that. But also there were times that I was like "Yes, yes, I know, you've mentioned this before!" and wanted a bit more *oomph*.

So yeah, that's it. That's the review.

And here's some quotes for you (the first one being in response to the MC's question to her grandfather - "Why should I keep a diary?"):

"To keep account of your life, Mary Kate, to mark your red-letter days, to gain wisdom from your failures and take pride in your successes. Never throw them away, but read them now and again, for they will remind you of how far you've come."

"Shouldn't everyone be judged on their kindness? Shouldn't everyone be judged by the qualities that made them good honest people?"

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story of kindness, hope and second chances! I simply adored The Irish Boarding House set in 1950s Dublin. This is the first novel of Sandy Taylor’s I have read but it won’t be my last. She captured my attention from the first page. I absolutely love her writing style. There is a real warmth in the tone and care for her characters.

It was so easy to slip into this uplifting story and get carried away by the drama that surrounds the life of Mary Kate. She is such an admirable person and I found myself constantly cheering her on and smiling when things turned around for her. Life, at the start, was not easy for this woman. She grew up in poverty after being abandoned by her mother as a baby. But she was not without love. Her special grandparents raised and taught her the things of most importance in life. And although she missed a mother-daughter relationship, she blossomed into a wonderful nurturing person who went on to help many hardship persons who came her way. One might say her previous suffering shaped her heart in ways that proved immensely useful when she inherited a large sum of money.

At first, Mary Kate feels compelled to walk away from this surprise inheritance but then an idea sparks in her heart when a lowly deserted house captures her attention. In many ways this house is a character, a symbol of hardship at the start that becomes a vehicle of transformation. Mary Kate decides it is the perfect place to turn into a magnificent boarding house for single women. Her desire is to share her good fortune with others who need decent shelter and unconditional love and to escape the darkness of loneliness and despair. Even a dog, Guinness, becomes one of her rescues. She has lived in some terrible boarding houses with nasty caretakers after her grandparents died, and does not want that kind of life for others. So, she makes it her mission to offer the very opposite. The vision she has for this house leads her to friendships and relationships she would never have imagined. Plus, her desire to make the home into something grand, safe and beautiful with all the modern conveniences for those less fortunate comes to fruition. And what an intriguing journey it is through the lives of those she meets and works with. When the project is complete, many wayward and wronged souls find their way to her bright red door where hope and healing awaits.

This is a well written novel with exceptional unforgettable characters who tell their stories of how they are led to this woman who offers nothing but kindness, hope and a better future. We get various points of views, yes, but will not lose track for each story is so memorable and moving you will sail along on their sometimes turbulent and other times peaceful waves. To see how Mary Kate makes such a difference in their lives is frankly beautiful. It leaves us with memories, challenges and victories that will never fade. And there is one surprise you won’t be expecting.

There is so much to love about this novel and I highly recommend it to all who crave heartfelt, touching stories that sweep you away to a gentler, kinder place. A story where loving and helping your neighbour is number one. How many would do the wonderful things this woman has done with what she was given? Are her motives pure? Yes, the only satisfaction she seeks is to see another person happy. The Irish Boarding House is truly a refreshing reading experience. Without question, a 5 Star inspirational story.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.

[Barb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a sweet story, but it did not seem to be edited. The story was scattered with random people and plots being introduced without any purpose or resolution. To top it all off, the whole story was written in the third person except for the epilogue, which was written in the first person with a completely different tone from the rest of the book.

[Ryanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t understand how this has such good reviews, there is literally no depth or character development. Everything you expect to happen happens , it just felt very shallow. Shame because the plot seemed so interesting

[Valleri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Bookouture, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Irish Boarding House.

Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby and finds herself a wealthy woman. Unsure of how to spend her inheritance, she elects to use the money to give people a helping hand, just as she has been helped. She remembers a large old house she has walked past and decides to turn the run-down place into a boarding house. It brings Mary Kate love and friendships beyond anything she had ever imagined.

The Irish Boarding House was a very sweet, somewhat religious, and slightly romantic book to read. After a while, it started feeling too sweet to me. It seemed as though every renter was troubled, had a secret to hide, or a past they were running from. Mary Kate, with her empathy, kindness, and her inheritance, did her level best to give each one a helping hand.

Readers looking for a feel-good, happily ever after book to read will absolutely love The Irish Boarding House.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

1952 Dublin, Mary Kate Ryan left as a baby by her mother with her grandparents living in a small cottage in Tanners Row. When they both died she is turfed out of the cottage and for the next fifteen years lives in boarding houses, her grandpa always told her to wait for a letter in a box number at the post office, and after checking one day a solicitors letter brings her wealth, her mother is dead she has left property in London, Mary Kate has always wanted the boarding house in Merrion Square, her wishes are coming true, a house for women that are alone, pregnant, on the run a safe house filled with love and friendship. this is the beginning.
I loved this book, enchanting tales, with some sad and happy moments that will touch you as we see Mary Kate as she gives so much love. Page after page you will be engrossed into this amazing story.
so much enjoyment right to the end.

[threepmreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would make a great Downton Abbey style show. One where there are a lot of characters but nothing of great importance ever really happens. But you are watching because the sets and costuming is lovely.

It's fine if this is your thing, but its a hard pass for me.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read. Mary Kate Ryan is an amazing women, and so are her friends.

[Alexandra Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book so you don’t have to. How it has 4 stars is beyond me…. It’s a 1.5 for me rounded to a 2
If anything it was …. Mildly entertaining?
But it is SO LAME. All the characters are sickly sweet, and eye roll worthy. I don’t like religious overtones on a good day but this book was so cringey, all the references were like nails on a chalkboard. You couldn’t pay me to read it again.

[Zermeena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet story of Mary Kate Ryan who has grown up in Dublin without much except her grandparents love. Mary Kate gets an unexpected inheritance from the mother who abandoned her as a baby. She uses her inheritance to buy an abandoned house and create the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies.

From there multiple stories of women down on their luck intertwine. What unfolds is quite predictable and leaves the reader feeling uplifted with hope. Mary Kate teaches us that with kindness everything is possible. There are some unexpected twists along the way, but ultimately everything works out. I enjoyed this light read.

[Katie F · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Just ugh. I finished, and that's saying a lot. This was the most banal story I have read in a long time, with about a hundred different forgettable characters that had absolutely zero depth. It felt like a teenager with zero life experience had written it. There were some serious conflicts that happened in this book (abandonment, kidnapping, child abuse, etc.), but all issues were resolved so quickly and easily that it left me shaking my head. There was nothing to sink your teeth into or feel invested in.

[Rhoda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy story to follow. I would watch this in a mini series if it were made into one.

[Theresa Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very predictable and simple.

[Reneè Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a sweet read.

[Susan Horn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yikes so trite. I knew this was going to be a light read but it’s just sooo bad doubt I’ll finish it

[Bookjazzer2010 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, easy read. Love & kindness win.

[Roberta Misonne · Rating 1 out of 5]

100% not recommend. This book was terrible! Poor writing, predictable plot and boring, unimaginative characters.

[Krista-Marie Linegar]

It was ok. There were parts I likes but it was just ok.

[Angie Rallidis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the main character of this story, however within the story, there were so many characters that developed, and they just weren’t developed well. A mediocre read

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay maybe I’m the asshole for this, but this book ways sickeningly positive and really had no thoughtful way of going through conflict/struggle aside from “god will help me” or it just miraculously getting better

[bambi · Rating 4 out of 5]

R͎e͎a͎d͎ ͎d͎a͎t͎e͎:͎ 10•17•23 - 10•20•23
R͎a͎t͎i͎n͎g͎:͎ 4 stars
O͎w͎n͎e͎d͎ ͎s͎i͎n͎c͎e͎: August 10th 2023
P͎u͎r͎c͎h͎a͎s͎e͎d͎ ͎a͎t͎:͎ Goodwill
P͎r͎i͎c͎e͎:? 99¢

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.