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Westerly: A Novel
In an unforgettable saga of survival, motherhood, sisterhood, and the secrets that haunt us, one desperate decision creates a fault line that spans decades and threatens to break a family wide open.
In 1946, two German sisters, child refugees in a program dubbed Operation Shamrock, arrive in Ireland to live in foster care while Europe recovers from war. Nearly fifty years later, on a fateful day in a bustling Maine farmhouse, an Irish newspaper clipping threatens to unravel Faye Sullivan’s carefully constructed life with husband William and daughters Maeve and Molly, a life already on the brink of collapse.
When tragedy strikes and the Sullivans grapple with a cascade of buried secrets, Faye must confront the truth of a childhood summer in West Cork marked by adventure, heartbreak, and a life-altering decision that now jeopardizes everything she holds dear. And while their bonds may not be what they seemed, those bonds might be the one thing strong enough to help the broken Sullivan family navigate the truth and find their way forward together.
From Germany to Ireland to coastal Maine, this tender family saga explores identity, reconciliation, and the true meaning of home.
In 1946, two German sisters, child refugees in a program dubbed Operation Shamrock, arrive in Ireland to live in foster care while Europe recovers from war. Nearly fifty years later, on a fateful day in a bustling Maine farmhouse, an Irish newspaper clipping threatens to unravel Faye Sullivan’s carefully constructed life with husband William and daughters Maeve and Molly, a life already on the brink of collapse.
When tragedy strikes and the Sullivans grapple with a cascade of buried secrets, Faye must confront the truth of a childhood summer in West Cork marked by adventure, heartbreak, and a life-altering decision that now jeopardizes everything she holds dear. And while their bonds may not be what they seemed, those bonds might be the one thing strong enough to help the broken Sullivan family navigate the truth and find their way forward together.
From Germany to Ireland to coastal Maine, this tender family saga explores identity, reconciliation, and the true meaning of home.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
May 18, 2026
The book description and the actual novel do not match. I was very interested in the narrative of WW2 German sisters orphaned and put in operation Shamrock, but that storyline bookends a different novel that lives in the center of this book. You get that story the first 50-75 pages, and then it returns for the last 50 pages of the book. The center of this novel veers and fractures into different topics, storylines + characters that were underdeveloped and confusing.
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May 10, 2026First reads book for May 2026.
2.5 stars
It's a mixed bag:
The premise of the story--German children during WWII sent to Ireland to keep them safe from the war--is an interesting and realistic narrative about what it feels like to be a very young child, unable to speak the local language, how they're perceived by those who live there, how they're treated as strangers, by both adults and children. This was one of the better sections of the book.
The middle takes us to a generation later, in which one of the German children grows up, emigrates to the US (Maine) with her Irish adoptive (but not legally) parents. She takes a new name, marries a nice American guy, and they raise two daughters (1960s-1970s).
This is where the story tends to veer off in directions that have little to do with the the first section of the book. It's a difficult read, with very little in the way of a little positive story. It's mostly angry, and heart-breaking, with lies and secrets. Almost nothing relates to WWII, Germany, Ireland, etc. Not only did I find this section wearisome and sad, but I could not see why this was the main content of the book.
The third section
2.5 stars
It's a mixed bag:
The premise of the story--German children during WWII sent to Ireland to keep them safe from the war--is an interesting and realistic narrative about what it feels like to be a very young child, unable to speak the local language, how they're perceived by those who live there, how they're treated as strangers, by both adults and children. This was one of the better sections of the book.
The middle takes us to a generation later, in which one of the German children grows up, emigrates to the US (Maine) with her Irish adoptive (but not legally) parents. She takes a new name, marries a nice American guy, and they raise two daughters (1960s-1970s).
This is where the story tends to veer off in directions that have little to do with the the first section of the book. It's a difficult read, with very little in the way of a little positive story. It's mostly angry, and heart-breaking, with lies and secrets. Almost nothing relates to WWII, Germany, Ireland, etc. Not only did I find this section wearisome and sad, but I could not see why this was the main content of the book.
The third section
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Author Susan Donovan Bernhard, and Little A for allowing me to read this book in advance of its publication. Susan was a guest on the new podcast Why Authors Write, where we discussed WESTERLY together in an author interview.
This was a wonderful read that left me incredulous and sad and yearning for reveal after reveal. There were so many layers to this story that just fit so well into one another. I was impressed with Susan's manipulation of the lengthy timeline as well as crafting such unique characters that stood apart yet still paralleled one another. One thing that I really appreciated about this book was that it didn't romanticize life - it gave you all the hardships and displayed a common family, even with all the secrets. It showed us a great sadness in how much can be lost, but at the same time, it showed us strength as a family and the importance of forgiveness.
I think this is a book that I'm going to be left thinking about for a very long time.
This was a wonderful read that left me incredulous and sad and yearning for reveal after reveal. There were so many layers to this story that just fit so well into one another. I was impressed with Susan's manipulation of the lengthy timeline as well as crafting such unique characters that stood apart yet still paralleled one another. One thing that I really appreciated about this book was that it didn't romanticize life - it gave you all the hardships and displayed a common family, even with all the secrets. It showed us a great sadness in how much can be lost, but at the same time, it showed us strength as a family and the importance of forgiveness.
I think this is a book that I'm going to be left thinking about for a very long time.
May 25, 2026
I don’t think I should’ve even finished this one.
The story starts off with Gisela and Elisabeth, German, orphaned, refugee sisters that are part of Operation Shamrock, where the Irish became guardians of German children during WWII.
As Gisela moves through life, she also has daughters, who take turns in the narrative spotlight.
I tend to like stories where an entire family is the focus, but I found this one so disappointing. The dramas felt a bit overdone and contrived. The plot moved between tragedies with such rapidity that it felt unrealistic. This is big for me to say—I’m not one that needs my reading to be realistic. But how much can happen to one family on the same day, over and over again?
I found myself rolling my eyes several times at descriptions that felt like they were grasping to be poetic. The ending felt much too neat for me as well. So much drama to have it all wrapped up so cleanly by the end.
The story starts off with Gisela and Elisabeth, German, orphaned, refugee sisters that are part of Operation Shamrock, where the Irish became guardians of German children during WWII.
As Gisela moves through life, she also has daughters, who take turns in the narrative spotlight.
I tend to like stories where an entire family is the focus, but I found this one so disappointing. The dramas felt a bit overdone and contrived. The plot moved between tragedies with such rapidity that it felt unrealistic. This is big for me to say—I’m not one that needs my reading to be realistic. But how much can happen to one family on the same day, over and over again?
I found myself rolling my eyes several times at descriptions that felt like they were grasping to be poetic. The ending felt much too neat for me as well. So much drama to have it all wrapped up so cleanly by the end.
June 11, 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: 🎧
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: June 1, 2026
This story spans almost five decades and is an epic family saga full secrets, heartbreak, love, and redemption. In 1946, two German sisters arrive in Ireland as child refugees from World War II. Almost 50 years later, buried secrets surface in Maine that threaten to tear apart the family of one of the sisters.
This story explores how secrets and unresolved trauma create emotional distance and shape the lives of the next generation. It also explores the bonds of family, forgiveness, hope, and redemption.
The narration was performed by Helen Laser. The performance kept me engaged throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC on this book in exchange for my honest review.
Format: 🎧
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date: June 1, 2026
This story spans almost five decades and is an epic family saga full secrets, heartbreak, love, and redemption. In 1946, two German sisters arrive in Ireland as child refugees from World War II. Almost 50 years later, buried secrets surface in Maine that threaten to tear apart the family of one of the sisters.
This story explores how secrets and unresolved trauma create emotional distance and shape the lives of the next generation. It also explores the bonds of family, forgiveness, hope, and redemption.
The narration was performed by Helen Laser. The performance kept me engaged throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC on this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 12, 2026
Heartfelt and warm
Westerly follows the path of two German orphan sisters who are sent to Ireland post WWII. Tragedy separates them and forces one to leave herself, her sister, and Ireland behind. But the past always appears to linger in the shadows, threatening Faye's family and the peaceful life she has built in America. Westerly is a beautifully written and thoughtful tale that explores a mother's desire to protect her family, and the suffocating weight of the guilt she carries. It is a very human story to which so many of us can relate.
Westerly follows the path of two German orphan sisters who are sent to Ireland post WWII. Tragedy separates them and forces one to leave herself, her sister, and Ireland behind. But the past always appears to linger in the shadows, threatening Faye's family and the peaceful life she has built in America. Westerly is a beautifully written and thoughtful tale that explores a mother's desire to protect her family, and the suffocating weight of the guilt she carries. It is a very human story to which so many of us can relate.
June 15, 2026
I wanted to savor this book and stretch out the days reading it. I was able to do that for only a week. Susan’s writing charmed me and left me wanting more of the story every time I put it down. I hated for it to end. Thank you Susan for another beautiful story that will stay with me for a long time.
May 27, 2026
This book was overly long and the characters were unlikable. The author was trying to cram too many lives into the story so that it ended up being confusing and for the most part boring. I don't like books that have the characters asking themselves questions everytime that something happens in their lives. It is a good premise but the author missed the mark on this one. Westerly aims for historical grandeur but delivers an exhausting, unfocused journey.
August 19, 2026
I can't decide how I feel about this book, which starts with an identity switch which has major ramifications for all of the characters. The beginning and the end, set mostly in Ireland, were really good and powerful, but the long middle was a little boring. I just wasn't interested in the angsty teenagers.
July 2, 2026
While I enjoyed the story as a whole it felt unnecessarily long.
May 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this story. The main character, Faye Sullivan, has been keeping a secret for nearly fifty years. It's big! It starts in 1946 in Ireland and quietly casts a shadow over everything she touches for the rest of her life. That secret is the engine of Westerly, and Susan Donovan Bernhard uses it brilliantly.
The novel opens in 1946 with two young German sisters, refugees placed with Irish foster families while Europe recovers from the war. Then it leaps fifty years to a Maine farmhouse, where Faye's carefully constructed life — husband, daughters, the whole picture — begins to crack open when a newspaper clipping from Ireland surfaces at exactly the wrong moment.
The characters are so well drawn in this novel, and the language is beautiful. Faye is infuriating and heartbreaking in equal measure, sometimes on the same page. Her daughters, Maeve and Molly, feel genuinely real — complicated in the way that people actually are, shaped by a mother they love and don't fully understand. Everyone here is flawed in ways that feel true rather than convenient, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
Bernhard moves between decades and points of view without ever losing you, and her prose is beautiful without being the kind of beautiful that slows you down. This is a book about secrets and what they cost — not just the people who keep them, but the people who inherit them without knowing it.
Warm, devastating, and completely absorbing. Highly recommend.
The novel opens in 1946 with two young German sisters, refugees placed with Irish foster families while Europe recovers from the war. Then it leaps fifty years to a Maine farmhouse, where Faye's carefully constructed life — husband, daughters, the whole picture — begins to crack open when a newspaper clipping from Ireland surfaces at exactly the wrong moment.
The characters are so well drawn in this novel, and the language is beautiful. Faye is infuriating and heartbreaking in equal measure, sometimes on the same page. Her daughters, Maeve and Molly, feel genuinely real — complicated in the way that people actually are, shaped by a mother they love and don't fully understand. Everyone here is flawed in ways that feel true rather than convenient, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.
Bernhard moves between decades and points of view without ever losing you, and her prose is beautiful without being the kind of beautiful that slows you down. This is a book about secrets and what they cost — not just the people who keep them, but the people who inherit them without knowing it.
Warm, devastating, and completely absorbing. Highly recommend.
May 27, 2026
Westerly review
This would be a good read for those who enjoy a book with numerous threads. It would also be a good read for those who enjoy a profoundly sad and frustrating story.
This would be a good read for those who enjoy a book with numerous threads. It would also be a good read for those who enjoy a profoundly sad and frustrating story.
September 16, 2026
This book started strong with a historical topic I was interested in, two German orphans taken in by Ireland's Project Shamrock during WWII. Unfortunately, the story lost me in the middle, detouring into heavy family drama before rushing to a hasty conclusion. My main issue was how unclearly the events in Ireland were explained. While things made sense by the end, the plot felt a bit unconvincing. I didn’t even mind the secrets that were supposedly causing all the family drama as much as trying to figure out what it had to do with the extra long story and basically nothing about Project Shamrock.
June 6, 2026
4🌟
Enjoyable story that follows a family and the generational trauma that is passed down.
I loved how real the characters were. How trauma can haunt a person for years and affect everything and everyone in their life.
Pacing was a bit slow but well written. I do love a good family drama and while some secrets are revealed quickly, others don't come until the end.
Good for a book club pick. There are so many layers to this story.
Thanks to Little A and Susan Donovan Bernhard for sending for me an Arc to review.
Enjoyable story that follows a family and the generational trauma that is passed down.
I loved how real the characters were. How trauma can haunt a person for years and affect everything and everyone in their life.
Pacing was a bit slow but well written. I do love a good family drama and while some secrets are revealed quickly, others don't come until the end.
Good for a book club pick. There are so many layers to this story.
Thanks to Little A and Susan Donovan Bernhard for sending for me an Arc to review.
June 16, 2026
I read this via Whispersync and the narration was great. Go for the audiobook for this one.
August 4, 2026
i looooved the first half of this. very interesting i love a historical fiction novel although i feel the second half kind of lost me and the ending didn’t do the first half justice
July 1, 2026
Rich, poignant, and compelling!
𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘 is a sweeping, multi-generational story that moves between post-war Germany and Ireland in 1946 and coastal Maine decades later. The novel follows Faye Sullivan, a woman who has spent nearly fifty years protecting the secrets of her past.
The prose is vivid and emotional. The characters are complex, flawed, and resilient. And the plot is a captivating exploration of life, love, loss, deception, survival, trauma, family, healing, identity, belonging, forgiveness, secrets, and the complicated bonds that connect mothers and daughters.
Overall, 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘 is a heart-tugging, intriguing, immersive tale by Bernhard that is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction, family sagas, and stories about the courage it takes to confront the past, embrace the truth, and find a way forward.
𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘 is a sweeping, multi-generational story that moves between post-war Germany and Ireland in 1946 and coastal Maine decades later. The novel follows Faye Sullivan, a woman who has spent nearly fifty years protecting the secrets of her past.
The prose is vivid and emotional. The characters are complex, flawed, and resilient. And the plot is a captivating exploration of life, love, loss, deception, survival, trauma, family, healing, identity, belonging, forgiveness, secrets, and the complicated bonds that connect mothers and daughters.
Overall, 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘 is a heart-tugging, intriguing, immersive tale by Bernhard that is a wonderful choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction, family sagas, and stories about the courage it takes to confront the past, embrace the truth, and find a way forward.
June 10, 2026
2.5 stars. I usually love an intergenerational family saga, and the premise here was genuinely strong, but this one just didn’t fully work for me. The switched-identity setup felt so baffling and implausible that I had trouble settling into the story, and it seemed like there could’ve been a more believable way to get the plot moving. I also found most of the characters pretty underdeveloped and, honestly, not especially likable.
And maybe this is just me, but the Molly/her daughter storyline at the end really bothered me. Reclaiming a toddler and moving her across the world away from the people who actually raised her struck me as incredibly selfish, and the book didn’t really grapple with that in a meaningful way.
And maybe this is just me, but the Molly/her daughter storyline at the end really bothered me. Reclaiming a toddler and moving her across the world away from the people who actually raised her struck me as incredibly selfish, and the book didn’t really grapple with that in a meaningful way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2026
I wanted to love this book, I really did. Some parts of the writing were beautiful, but the large majority of the writing was too descriptive and overshadowed the actual plot. The plot was underdeveloped and many times throughout the story I was left wondering where the story was going. I also wanted to love the characters - parts of their stories I did love, however the writing and development of the characters was random and sporadic. I think this is the author's second novel, so I applaud her for idea. I just think it needed to be more developed and well thought out.
June 20, 2026
Westerly is both a historical fiction novel as well as a multigenerational story about secrets and how they can effect families throughout generations. I was drawn to this book by the description of post WWII orphan children from war torn Germany being fostered and adopted by Irish families. I was unaware that Ireland remained neutral and did not participate in the war (although many Irish men joined the British forces) and therefore the Irish family’s hearts were open to this humanitarian effort.
What really caught my attention was the family story that unfolded. A devastating event early on had a impact on one family and the secret itself affected generations to come. I became invested in the story line right away and continued to enjoy the book as each following generation came to be.
What really caught my attention was the family story that unfolded. A devastating event early on had a impact on one family and the secret itself affected generations to come. I became invested in the story line right away and continued to enjoy the book as each following generation came to be.
July 25, 2026
I don't know. I thought this book was going to be about WWII German orphans going to Ireland, and that story really interested me. However, it switched abruptly to another story all together, about a teen girl struggling with her sexual orientation and coming out. Then it turned into something else again. Eventually it got back to the original storyline, but the ending felt rushed and wrapped up too quickly. It wasn't terrible, it just wasn't what I thought I was going to read.
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars
2.5 rounded up to 3 stars
August 1, 2026
This book was an Amazon first reads pick for me and I'm so glad that I picked it. I enjoyed the writing and the character development, and I loved that it was not only historical fiction but also a romance and coming of age story. Everything flowed together beautifully, making this an enjoyable read.
September 11, 2026
Wonderful story
I think the author stayed true to her vision of this story. There,were,times,where the,story could have,taken divergent paths, but the,author stayed true to the,survival and redemption of the central characters,who had been challenged ,through no fault of their own.
I think the author stayed true to her vision of this story. There,were,times,where the,story could have,taken divergent paths, but the,author stayed true to the,survival and redemption of the central characters,who had been challenged ,through no fault of their own.
July 18, 2026
Great historical fiction.
September 11, 2026
Family secrets
A compelling story of secrets kept by different generations of one family and how it shaped and damaged their lives. I just couldn't buy the initial premise that was the foundation for the whole saga.
A compelling story of secrets kept by different generations of one family and how it shaped and damaged their lives. I just couldn't buy the initial premise that was the foundation for the whole saga.
August 16, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
June 16, 2026
Kind of thought the secret holding and characters were a bit insufferable and the ending felt a bit rushed after all the build up
July 19, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Historical fiction in the beginning, and the transition to general fiction, following Faye’s entire life was seamless. This book had it all- romance, mystery, coming of age. I loved and hated all the characters. Also, for not a super long book, the pacing was spot on to be able to get everything in.
Historical fiction in the beginning, and the transition to general fiction, following Faye’s entire life was seamless. This book had it all- romance, mystery, coming of age. I loved and hated all the characters. Also, for not a super long book, the pacing was spot on to be able to get everything in.
August 7, 2026
2.5 stars. I found this book pretty boring. It dragged on and felt there was really no conclusion to some of it. Even with Faye and Susannah in the end. I can’t tell if Susannah was happy to reunite with Faye or not. Molly had some real struggles and I’m glad she got some closure and peace of mind at the end. It’s sad that they all lived with some darkness in their lives and the author made a good point of showing that keeping everything silent and bottled up inside was the worst decision.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews