Sweet Charity: An emotional and romantic quick read from Britain's best-loved saga author

by Rosie Goodwin

Charity has always lived a charmed life beneath the open skies. Growing up as part of the Gypsy community, she has reveled in the freedom of swimming in the rivers, caring for the horses and embracing the ever-changing road. But on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday, that freedom begins to slip away. Her parents expect her to marry, and not for love, but for duty.

Then fate brings Luca back into her life - a boy from the travelling circus she has known since childhood. Only now, with eyes opened by the first stirrings of passion, Charity sees Luca as more than a friend. In Luca's laughter and quiet strength, she finds the promise of a love so fierce it feels destined. But their bond is forbidden. Two different communities. Two worlds that cannot unite.

Refusing to surrender their hearts, Charity and Luca dare to dream of escape and come up with a Charity will run away first and he will follow. But with one mistake and one cruel twist of fate their dreams are shattered. Now torn between her love for Luca and overcoming a betrayal, Charity must fight for the life she longs for. Will destiny reunite the star-crossed lovers, or has she lost him forever?

Quick Reads are short books and great stories by bestselling authors. They're specifically written to engage emergent, reluctant and lapsed readers to help spread the joy of reading and the many benefits it brings.

Audible Audio

Published April 9, 2026

About the author

Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.

I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!

Reviews

[Fabulous Book Fiend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this so much more than I thought I would, I was really rooting for the main characters, it was great!

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short sweet little book based off a subplot in the Rags To Riches book. While the characters have similar backgrounds, the girl part of the gypsies, the boy a circus worker Charity and Luca are not the same two from Rags to Riches.
In a tale literally as old as time we have two young people from different groups who fall in love. Unlike Romeo and Juliet however the two families get along, but are both very traditional and don't think gypsies and circus people should marry. But as they say you can't control who you fall in love with.
A nice twist to the author's usual plot lines about jealous would be lovers, this time it's a woman who's after Luca, instead of the man after Charity and though Scarlett tries her hardest there are no rape scenes in this book, so well done there. The miscommunication part was annoying at times given how strongly their feelings for each other were and the fact that both were too dumb to see Scarlett for who she really was even though it was extremely obvious which led most of second half of the story. I guess you have to move things along somehow. I did love the twist of Scarlett being the bad guy instead of Felix who happily only appears once for maybe a paragraph. Still it was short and a decent story that kept me engaged for most of the just over 100 pages.

[The Cookster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.0/5

"Sweet Charity" is part of the 2026 Quick Reads programme from The Reading Agency. The scheme is primarily intended to attract new readers or to tempt lapsed readers back into the fold, but you don't need to fall into either of those categories. Personally, I am a very much a supporter and always try to read all of the books they publish each year.

I also have great admiration for any writer who can successfully tackle the short story format. There is a real skill in constructing a well-rounded story, with fleshed-out characters in the space of a hundred or so pages. Author, Rosie Goodwin, has certainly penned a rounded, albeit predictable, story, but the characters are two-dimensional and unconvincing.

This is a feel-good tale with a hefty helping of rose-tinted romanticism. If this is your type of thing, then you may well enjoy this. Personally, it lacked any real sense of credibility and was far too predictable and sickly sweet for my taste. It is, though, a quick and easy read that should take no more than about 80 minutes of your time.

[Chloe Huntington]

Didn't know how to rate this, so I won't. It was a good book, but I think for me, it needed to be longer to make the feeling towards this book more impactful. I felt at the end that it was either rushed or skipped, and so we didn't get a full ending resolution.

The parents were written and shown as evil people who wouldn't accept Charity back based on her decisions, yet they were happy to have her back...and then what happened with the farmer?

[irene currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Couldn't put this book down such a pity it was a quick read but still worth reading it loved the characters and storyline something that you can relate to if you haven't already read this book then I highly recommend reading it Rosie Goodwin is such a brilliant author read a lot of her books now and intend to read a lot more

[Natalie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for purpose novella.

I do see the great principle behind these Quick Read novels, and this one does the job perfectly.
Would I read another one, probably not, but then I am not the target demographic.

An 1890s Romeo and Juliet reimagining that is very well executed and enjoyable to read.

[Garry Marlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. good read

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little story of Luca and Charity from her latest trlogy,and how they got together.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK - very easy reading

[Amanda Broad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie Goodwin never disappoints. Such a well written and beautiful read.

[Corrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good couldn't put the book down and kept you guessing the put come

[Jennsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short story and a quick read about a traveling girl and a circus boy. It is a standard love story and predictable in the e author’s typical format. I liked it, but it was predictable.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short read. Was what I needed, as I was kind of in a reading slump! Great little story from one of the Authors I love!

[Sue Hickling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short story .