The Irish Adoption House

by Michelle Vernal

Ireland, 1920. ‘Please. Don’t take her from me. Have some mercy, Sister. Just a moment longer.’ She clutched the bundle to her chest even tighter. But she couldn’t stop them. Hearing her baby’s cries echo in the hallway, she swore that one day they would be together again…

When the man she thought she’d marry suddenly disappears Maudie O’Connor is heartbroken. Then she finds out she’s pregnant. Refusing her pleas to keep the baby, her family send her to St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home in disgrace.

Lying in bed after a harrowing birth, it’s all worth it as she cradles her precious little girl. But the nuns tear the newborn from her grasp. Maudie’s only solace is that she is able to spend a few minutes a day feeding her. Then, one morning, her baby is nowhere to be seen.

Determined to find out what happened to her daughter, Maudie sneaks out after curfew, past the nuns guarding the record room. And when she finds her entry, her breath catches. Not only has her little girl been given up for adoption, she’s been sent several thousand miles to Savannah, Georgia, USA.

With her family disowning her, and not a penny to her name, how will Maudie even start the vast and lonely journey across the ocean? With no one to help her and so little information to go on, how can she hope to find the family who adopted her precious baby? And even if she does – will her little girl ever be given back to Maudie, where she truly belongs?

Have the tissues ready for this emotional and page-turning historical novel set in Ireland, perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.

What readers are saying about Michelle

‘LOVE, LOVE, LOOOOOOVVVEEE, LOVED IT!!!… Absolutely stunning!!!… I was completely swept away!!… DO NOT START THIS UNTIL YOU CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AS YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN!!!!… Perfect… Absolutely gorgeous… Will keep you up late at night.’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Heart-warming and utterly addictive… Definitely ticked all the boxes for me!… Right from the very beginning I found myself turning the pages very quickly… Wonderful… Magical.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Couldn't put this down! LOVED it from start to finish… Loved this! Read it in 2 sittings – I just had to finish it… Kept me hooked.’ Amazon reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Outstanding! I read it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down… Had me on the edge of my seat.’ Amazon reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I am seriously in love with the whole story!… Amazing… Who could not fall in love… Fantastic… I highly recommend!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A page-turner… Stunning… I adored it beyond words… Beautiful, warm, romantic

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 7, 2025

About the author

Michelle Vernal is a bestselling author of warm, witty, and uplifting Irish fiction. Born in England to parents from Liverpool – often called “Little Ireland” – she grew up on her mum’s tales of Iocal families, music, and humour. Later, she lived, worked, got engaged, and travelled extensively in Ireland, experiences that inspire her much-loved novels, including the hilarious Guesthouse on the Green series. Her stories, filled with heart, humour, and unforgettable characters, have earned her a loyal readership worldwide.

For updates on Michelle's latest book releases you can follow her here: https://www.amazon.com/author/michell...

Reviews

[linda hole · Rating 3 out of 5]

i Just expected more from this book, it felt a little bit too easy, and i think the emotional parts of the book, could have been more heart felt. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maudie O’Conner is in love and thought she would soon be married. But when the man she love’s suddenly disappears, she is heartbroken. And then she finds out that she is expecting a baby. She decides to keep the baby but her family send her away and disowns her. She goes into labor, knowing that she will keep her baby and raise her alone. But the nuns take the baby from Maudie’s arms. Maudie treasures the few moments during the day to hold her daughter to feed her. But then the baby is gone, nowhere to be found.

Maudie is determined to find her daughter, and she sneaks out of her room at night and goes to the “records” room. She must find out everything she can about where her daughter is. She finds her file and inside it says the baby was given up for adoption and sent across the ocean to Savannah, Georgia in America. How will Maudie ever find her baby and if she does, will she even get her back?

“The Irish Adoption House,” a captivating tale written by Michelle Vernal, weaves a tapestry of love, hope, and unwavering determination. Maudie, a formidable and driven individual, embarks on a perilous journey to find her long-lost baby, driven by an insatiable desire.

This heart-wrenching and emotionally charged story unfolds at a brisk pace, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat. Amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerges, inspiring and providing a delightful escape to the enchanting landscapes of Ireland. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking a profound and uplifting reading experience.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

A baby torn from her mother...will they be reunited...?

Life in the 1920s was very different to life as we know it now in the 2020s. But life in 1920s Ireland was a whole different concept that few of us could ever bear imagining. It's not just a case of "how much people got away with" as to it being more how they themselves were raised - that being, it's all they had known. It's hard for us to wrap our heads around that concept today but life was different then - especially if you were a Catholic in Ireland. There is nothing like Catholic guilt to shame one into submission. Added to that was all the unrest that Ireland itself was awash with in their fight for independence from the United Kingdom.

From rural Ireland to Savannah, Georgia, crossing the Atlantic from the 1920s to 1985, we meet Maudie O'Connor in the midst of Ireland's unrest. Her sweetheart Ronan Quinn who along with his family are fighting hard for their country's independence from the British, and if the Black and Tans were anything to go by it's no wonder! Maudie has been in love with Ronan for as long as she could remember - ever since he rescued her from JP Hennessey's cruel teasing of her fiery red hair. But her family have forbidden her from seeing him, though that hasn't stopped her from sneaking out to see him.

When whispers reach her ears of a possible raid, Maudie knows she must warn Ronan at once. But to her own peril and dire consequences. Bruised, battered and muddied, Maudie stumbles into her mam's kitchen before collapsing to the floor. For three days she was awash with fever that kept her in bed. When she recovered, her older sister discovered she was pregnant. But Catholic guilt shamed her when she told her mam who organised for her to be sent to St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home in Dublin, her parents having washed their hands of her completely. She had brought shame to their name.

Life in the Mother and Baby Home was dire. It was cruel and harsh and the only thing that kept Maudie going was the belief that she and Ronan would be reunited to bring their child up together. The nuns in the Home were mostly harsh but one, Sister Louise who at least showed some compassion. But the moment Maudie gave birth, her baby was whisked from her arms. She was allowed to see her and feed her each morning but no more. All babies were bottle fed throughout the day and night.

Then one morning, Maudie arrived at the nursery to nurse baby Emer, as she had named her, to discover her daughter gone. No matter how much she pleaded or cried, the nuns would not disclose where her child had disappeared to. Emer was gone.

But Maudie vowed to do everything in her power to find her baby and be reunited with her, even if it meant scouring the country for her. She creeps downstairs in the middle of the night and locks herself in the Reverend Mother's office, searching her files for any mention of her and her baby. And she finds it. Emer was adopted by an American couple and was now in Savannah, Georgia.

Her own family having disowned her, Maudie decided then and there that she will find her child and she will be reunited with her. Scrambling out the window and without a penny to her name, Maudie makes her way back to the only person she knows and trusts will help her - her older sister Nora. And with Nora's help, she makes her way to America. Her sights set on Savannah and being reunited with her baby.

With all the odds against her, Maudie arrives in Savannah where her new life awaits her. But will she find her baby in this big bustling town? And if she does, will her little girl ever be given back to Maudie?

This was a heartwarming, though often heartbreaking, dual timeline tale spanning the years and continents. I must admit I found the beginning drag a little with so much focus on the RIC, the IRA and Ireland's fight for independence. It was a bloodthirsty time and one I don't particularly relish in reliving in print but it did give background to Maudie's story. The story got more interesting when she was shipped off to the Mother and Baby Home and then her journey to America. It was hard to sympathise with Maudie's family but then that is how it's been penned. Our sympathies lie with Maudie and her predicament for which we see no blame with her but that is not how life was seen in those days particularly those of Irish Catholics, whose roots were buried deep in misguided belief.

Without spoiling anything, this is a heartwarming story with a beautiful ending. I particularly liked the epilogue and the nod to the Carolina wren at the very end. Readers will understand its significance and I thought it was a lovely touch.

And while many may have wished for more about Cecilia, I am pleased to see that Cecilia's story will be told in the second book coming in November this year. I certainly look forward to it.

I would like to thank #MichelleVernal, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheIrishAdoptionHouse in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[LauraBeach123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a powerful and moving read! The Irish Adoption House is a beautifully written historical fiction novel that takes readers from a rural village in Ireland to Savannah, Georgia, jumping timelines from 1985 to the 1920s. It tackles some really difficult and heartbreaking topics in Irish history like the cruel realities of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, where unwed mothers were forced into hard labor, lived in awful conditions, and had their babies taken from them without consent.

The author doesn’t shy away from exposing these atrocities, nor from weaving in Ireland’s political unrest, especially during the Troubles and the violence caused by the Black and Tans. I learned a lot from this book and felt deeply for the women and children trapped in these brutal systems.

Despite the heavy subject matter, I actually really enjoyed the story. The main character, Maude was such a sweet and upbeat person, and her kind heart and hopeful spirit helped balance out the darkness of the history being told. Michelle Vernal did a great job creating a sense of place and emotion across two very different countries and cultures.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction that dives into hidden or lesser-known histories, especially some of the tragic history of Ireland’s mother and baby homes were over 9,000 babies died, this book is absolutely worth reading.

[Morgan Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is of a free ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

What an incredible read! This new historical fiction novel by Michelle Vernal takes a raw and heartbreaking look into the history of Ireland, the Catholic Church, and the Magdalene Laundries. Set in Ireland in the 1920s, readers follow the story of Maudie, a young Irish Catholic woman who has fallen head over heels for her republican lover, Ronan. While violences ensues all around them and Ireland is deep in the throws for its fight for freerom, Maudie and Ronan sneak off to bask in their forbidden love. In a devastating turn of events, Maudie finds herself pregnant and alone, as Ronan is forced into hiding.

This story follows Maudie's experience as a "fallen woman", sent to St. Patrick's Mother and Baby Home where she is to give birth to her child and then relinquish all rights to the Catholic Church. When her child is stolen from right under her nose, Maudie springs into action, devising a plan to reunite with her - despite all of the odds against her. Leaving Ireland behind in the search for her child, Maudie arrives in Savannah, Georgia, where a new life awaits her - even if she doesn't know it yet.

The Irish Adoption House is a well-written, attention-grabbing, page-turner of a novel. It is an excellent choice for lovers of historical fiction, with its alternating timelines having kept me on my toes, yearning to learn about Maudie's fate. I was particularly drawn to Maude's character, as her resilience and strength kept me hooked as I read through this ARC. I was also particularly fond of Nora and - while I won't spoil anything! - I felt such heartwarming adoration for her bravery in risking so much to do what she believed to be right by her sister. My only regret is not learning more about Cecilia - perhaps Vernal will elaborate on her fate in a future novel?

If you're looking for your next historical fiction read, this might just be one to add to your list!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written historical fiction novel told in dual timelines. The brutal history of the way unmarried pregnant women were treated is hard to read. However, this book documents that history well. As a Catholic myself it is so hard to reconcile the atrocities that were committed in the name of religion.

The book follows Maudie as she is discovered to be pregnant and banished from her family to a Mother & Child Home. The subject matter is very tough as it explores sexual assault, murder, and forced adoptions. The subject matter is handled well as we follow a much older Maudie and her return to Ireland as an older woman.

This is a heartwarming story, though parts are a bit unlikely. There were parts that I also found emotional. Overall, this is a lovely story about a very tough period in history. This is a series so the story of another one of the young girls in the home will be told in an upcoming book.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical 1920's read was a very interesting one. For many years I have heard many cruel stories about homes for unwed mothers and some of the cruel things that were done there. It is amazing how much people got away with back then and that the general public suspected what was going on but did nothing about it. If you are interested in ia educating yourself with the history of these places I suggest that you pick up this novel. This novel will surely tug at your heartstrings.
In the 1920's in Ireland we are introduced to Maudie who is unmarried and pregnant. Despite the belief that the father of her child will come back and support her, both her mother and father send her to a home for unwed mothers. Literally the moment she gives birth she loses all rights to the child and soon the child disappears without a trace.
Not one to back down Maudie vows everything in her power to find the child. Even if it means having to seatch the country to find her. Will she manage to succeed with her journey?

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pretty good but I feel parts of the storyline were lacking and other parts were too predictable. Overall, a nice story that maybe is a bit far-fetched and wraps things up a little too neatly.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of free ARC from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.


This book is about a single, young woman in Ireland who finds out she is pregnant, after the man she loved has disappeared. She is forced to a Catholic facility to give birth and have her baby taken, then does anything she can to find out where her baby was taken and to reunite with her.


Definitely a lot of emotional occurances in this book that hook you to the story! While the beginning feels really slow, the second half takes off with a lot of speed. As someone who was a young mother, even younger than she was, it feels like she was written a little overly naive in the beginning to things that were happening to her and with her future plans. And, with the way things come to happen later on, seemed a little too "on point" to feel like it could be real in any way. But, the writing on her time with the Catholic facility was probably the most interesting part of the book, as it really grips your attention to the harshness of the place. I definitely enjoyed reading this book, the historical elements & the connection felt to the main character, it's written very well.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Wow wow wow!!!! I read this book in less than twenty-four hours. So gripping, it had me hooked and unable to put it down until I finished the last shocking page!!!!
This is a book that will STAY with you. Maudie lives in Ireland and finds herself unexpectedly pregnant. Her parents ship her off to a convent to deliver her baby. What happens next is gut-wrenching.
I have read some articles about how they treated young, unwed girls in the convents in Ireland. What a horrible stain on the Catholic Church! At the core of this book, it is about a mother’s unwavering love and his a mother will do ANYTHING for her child. I can’t wait for the next book and hope we learn more about Cecilia. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheIrishAdoptionHouse #MichelleVernal #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInIreland #BooksSetInSavannah

[Helen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Adoption house is an emotional and compelling story which served to remind me that in a world where there is cruelty, there is still so much goodness.

I admired Maudie’s character. Despite the punishment inflicted upon her by her parents and the suffering she endured at the hands of the nuns in the Mother and Baby home (an infamous Magdalene Laundry run by the Catholic Church to house ‘fallen women’), Maudie displayed such strength and resilience. She discovered there is nothing stronger or truer than a mother’s love and this fired her determination to find her daughter again.
Maudie is such an endearing character that I could so easily have read and enjoyed more of her life story; those intervening years between 1920 and her return to Ireland in 1985.

The Irish Adoption House is a story where goodness, love and kindness prevail.
Highly recommended and I look forward to book two in this series.

Thank you to Bookouture for a digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 dual timeline
👀 single/dual/multi POV. 1st/3rd person
🐢 -🐇 slow-/medium-/fast- paced
💬 "I pray over the babies' and their mothers' graves. I don't forget them. Nor does God."

Whilst this is a fictional story, it so easily could be true. Countless babies were stolen from their mothers under the guise of 'it's for the best'. Which of course is debatable. I could probably write an entire essay on that, but it wouldn't be a book review so I won't. I don't know how realistic it is that there would be a helpful nun in a mother and baby home, or if following their child to America was remotely possible, but it made a good story.

The storyline was heartbreaking but also full of love and forgiveness. I really liked Maudie, I thought she, and all the characters, were well rounded and felt real. So many of the characters were intensity likeable too, I think we all need an Auntie Annie!

Overall this was a superb read which was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. A stark reminder of the painful past.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking look into the history of Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries. Michelle Vernal has written a beautiful story that will tug at your heart and open your eyes to the difficult past of unwed mothers and the appalling conditions that most of them were subjected to. Even though it deals with some difficult topics, the author does well with not sugarcoating the topic. She does a great job of showing how love can be shown and family can be found in many different ways.

Maude is a character that you instantly feel drawn to and her story is one of strength in the face of so much turmoil as she searches for her baby that was taken from her. Along the way you meet so many characters that make the story that much better.

This is definitely a must read for anyone that is a fan of historical fiction.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle Vernal hits hard and fast with this novel that delves into the horrific Irish history of the Magdalene laundries.
It’s 1920’s Ireland, young Maude is in love with a young republican. With her beloved Ronan fighting for their freedom from the British and the locals scared of the unlawful Black and Tans, Maude loses herself and find herself alone and pregnant.
Maude’s journey takes her through her pregnancy and the fight to call her baby her own.
Great writing, powerful story. I would love the second book to be about Miss Cecelia and her story after Maude leaving The St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect grand easy read, full of heartbreak and joy.
Faithfully depicting the horrific Magdalene Laundries in Ireland, this book immediately takes you on a journey that will make your heart ache for the characters. Told over three timelines and two continents, it is at times predictable, but all the better for it. This is an educational and well-rounded read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had the added bonus that some of it is set in Rush, Co. Dublin, a place of childhood summer holidays.
Maudie may have escaped the awful St Patrick's Mother and Baby Home, but she left behind friends whose stories I really hope the author might visit in the future.

[Anne Whiting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michelle is such a good writer. Poor Maudie caught up in the terrible troubles in Ireland in the 1920s. Brutally betrayed she finds herself abandoned by her family and is sent to the horrific Mother and Baby Home. We know now what cruelty was administered in those places but times were very different then.
Eventually Maudie is able to escape and with the kindness of her sister Nora and her husband is able to pursue her quest to find Emer.
My heart broke for Maudie but despite everything she has a resilience which carries her onwards.

I too am pleased to see that Cecilia's story will be told and is coming out this year.
Those poor girls, my heart bled for them in that awful place run by so called religious women who were mostly cruel and heartless.


Thank you Michelle Vernal and Netgalley for the chance to read this heart stopping book. 

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, well written historical drama which has interesting characters, especially Maudie who is unmarried and pregnant. The plotting features around unmarried mothers and the stigma it evoked at the time. the Starting in the 1920's, it is a heart warming story of a mother's enduring love in the quest to find her daughter. A powerful story which I really enjoyed, even though I was almost reduced to tears whilst reading it. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Irish Adoption House is about one woman's experience of the notorious mother and baby homes in Ireland in the early 20th century. Although I enjoyed the story I did feel it was told in a very mawkish way. Everything fell into place very easily for Maude and that is just not how real life works 99% of the time. Not one of the best books I've read on this subject.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Irish Adoption House is a well researched historical fiction novel, written over dual timelines during the 1920's and 1985. Set in Southern Ireland and Savannah, Georgia, it is the tale of Maudie, a young Irish girl who is sent to St Patrick’s Mother and Baby Home when she discovers she is pregnant.
This is a touching story about love, loss, redemption and new beginnings that will hold your attention from the first page to the very last.
4 stars ****

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE IRISH ADOPTION HOUSE BY MICHELLE VERNAL.
This was a good read. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. The lady in red really stood out. And the saying in the front. A baby is torn from her mother. Will they be reunited? I signed up for this alone. I got into this book straight away. It did take me a few days to read. It was a very heartwarming and emotional read. You definitely need tissues for this book. I definitely recommend this book.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by thus author and it was an excellent read. It’s a dual time line story set in Ireland and America in the 1920’s and 1980’s. A sad and emotional read at times but one that tells a really good story and sadly this kind of thing did occur in Ireland in those times. I was delighted to read there’s a follow up book coming soon and I’ll be looking forward to reading it.

[Monica Findlayson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Good strong characters which had me glued to my kindle from the first page. From start to finish Maudie’s heart breaking story which started when she was a young teenager to St Patrick’s mother and baby home and to Savannah USA, I felt as if I was standing with her it was so well written. It’s a heart wrenching story and one that happened all to frequently in the Irish mother and baby homes. Can’t wait now till November when book two comes out

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotional account of what is quite easily a shameful part of Irish History where young girls and women were treated appallingly by people who should have known better and as this was done by a religious order makes me ashamed to be an Irish Catholic. I do hope that the author goes back to this story as there are a lot of threads left unfinished.

[Kathleen Currie Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle Vernal’s The Irish Adoption House is the story of an unwed girl who is sent to a convent run by the Catholic Church to deliver her baby and her desperate attempt to locate the child after the Church gives the baby away without the mother knowing. It shines a light on the Catholic Church’s horrific treatment of unwed pregnant girls and women and their babies all in the name of Christianity. It is a great companion to Claire Keegan’s novella Small Things Like These.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Gail Atkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Claire wants to find out about her great-grandads family, especially after her great aunt left her a book depicting her famy tree.
A chance of a lifetime means that she can meet her family and try to find out the truth.

[Nethanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking story. The main character will do everything to find her stolen daughter, even go to the other side of the world. The end is luckily heartwarming.
I enjoyed the journey.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this story.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this first in series book about Maudie, who falls pregnant and is sent in disgrace to a Mother and Baby home run by nuns. It’s a brutal regime, and when her baby Emer is 3 months old Maudie is told she has been adopted and is gone and to forget about her.

[dorothy cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An emotional & heartbreaking read.

This book was a really good read.
It tells the story of Maudie who falls pregnant and is sent to an Irish mother and baby home. Her baby is taken away from her and she begins a worldwide search to find her daughter.
A good read.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction based on the harsh realities of the early 20th century with a fairy tale ending. This was good for transporting to someplace where law and the happy ending was a balm to all the facts of the story. Well written and pleasurable to listen to.

[Anita Rohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maudie

An emotional story of young Irish girls who end up in the home for unwed mothers and the horrible way they are treated. Maudie escapes and makes it to the United States where her hopes and dreams are realized.