The Irish Orphan's Secret

The Irish Orphan Series #1

by Rachel Wesson

With trembling hands, Caitlin’s beloved grandmother presses a faded photograph into her palm. “I need answers before I die,” she whispers. “Will you go to Ireland, and find out the truth?”

Ninety-one-year-old Bridget has spent her life believing she was unwanted, abandoned as a baby by a mother who never loved her. Now, she has learned she had a brother she never knew existed—and the nuns lied about everything.

Unable to deny her Grammy’s emotional plea, Caitlin travels to the windswept Irish coast, a place of breathtaking beauty and painful history. There she begins to unearth Bridget’s mother’s story—a tale more heartbreaking than she could ever have imagined.

A century earlier, Ellen McGrath walks a dangerous line as Ireland’s turbulent fight for independence intensifies. When her best friend and brothers are drawn into the struggle, Ellen is forced to choose between protecting those she loves and preserving her own future—a choice that will tear her family apart.

A heart-wrenching tale of betrayal, family secrets and the bonds that connect us across the decades by USA Today bestselling author Rachel Wesson. Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence and delving into the dark history of the infamous Mother and Baby homes, this gripping dual-timeline novel is perfect for fans of Jean Grainger and Ellen Marie Wiseman.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Ireland

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Rachel Wesson was born in Kilkenny, Ireland but considers herself to be from the capital, Dublin as that's where she spent most of her life. Her dad brought Rachel and her two sisters out every Saturday to give their mother a break. He took them to the library and for ice-cream after. It took a long time for her sisters to forgive her for the hours she spent choosing her books!
She grew up driving everyone nuts asking them questions about what they did during the War or what side they were on in the 1916 rising etc. Finally her Granny told her to write her stories down so people would get the pleasure of reading them. In fact what Granny meant was everyone would get some peace while Rachel was busy writing!
When not writing, or annoying relatives, Rachel was reading. Her report cards from school commented on her love of reading especially when she should have been learning. Seems you can't read Great Expectations in Maths. After a doomed love affair and an unpleasant bank raid during which she defended herself with a tea tray, she headed to London for a couple of years. (There is a reason she doesn't write romance!). She never intended staying but a chance meeting with the man of her dreams put paid to any return to Ireland. Having spent most of her career in the City, she decided something was missing. Working in the City is great but it's a young person's dream. Having three children you never see isn't good for anyone. So she packed in the job and started writing. Thanks to her amazing readers, that writing turned into a career far more exciting and rewarding than any other.
Rachel lives in Surrey with her husband and three children, two boys and a girl. When not reading, writing or watching films for "research" purposes, Rachel likes to hang out with her family. She also travels regularly back home - in fact she should have shares in BA and Aerlingus.

Reviews

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The Irish Orphan's Secret by Rachel Wesson
Publication date: March 17th 2026

Thoughts
While this was a heartbreaking read full of secrets and betrayal that I couldn't put down -- I did however feel like I was in a history class 😅 which did feel like a drag in some parts but overall I thoroughly enjoyed this read. With this being a difficult subject to tackle, the author definitely delive0red it beautifully, you can tell a lot of research has been put into writing this as it's not easy to portray the aftermath of war, however the author did a beautiful job weaving perspectives together while keeping the suspense in the plot till the very end.

Plot Summary
Before she dies, Bridget asks her granddaughter Caitlin for one final favour —to travel to Ireland and uncover the truth about the family she was always told had abandoned her. After a lifetime of believing she was unwanted, Bridget has just discovered she once had a brother, and that the story the nuns told her may not have been the truth. Determined to find answers, Caitlin journeys to the Irish coast, where she begins piecing together the hidden story of Bridget’s mother, Ellen. A century earlier, as Ireland’s fight for independence grows more dangerous, Ellen faces impossible choices that will shape her family’s future in ways no one could have predicted.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC

My Bookstagram

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson played on all my emotions. It was tender yet tense, uplifting yet terrifying and satisfying yet sad. The Irish Orphan’s Secret was the first book in The Irish Orphan series. It centered around a bequest and a promise which took Caitlin to Ireland to find out what had happened to her Grammy’s parents all those years ago after her Grammy arrived in America. I learned so much about Ireland’s turbulent history including its definitive class structure, hatred towards Great Britain, the years of fighting against each other, the importance of community and family and their love for their beloved country. It was written in a duel time line which were easily transitioned into. I found it hard to put this book this book down and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Storm Publishing through NetGalley for allowing me to read The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson in exchange for an honest review. All options expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have learned so much about history from reading historical fiction in my adult life. I don’t know why so many events are left out of the high school history curriculum. This book is another learning experience.

This story has two timelines. The main part takes place shortly after WW1 in Ireland. It focuses on the Irish uprising against Britain's rule. It is a tragic story with many lives lost. It centres on one family whose life was full of tragedy.

The present timeline had Caitlin going back to Ireland to solve mysteries surrounding her 90-year-old grandmother's early life. And Caitlin has a traumatic background herself. Both back stories are revealed slowly as the story progresses.

The past timeline is very heavy on the uprising. Neighbours betray neighbours, violence in the night, spying. There are many characters, sometimes it’s a little difficult to keep them straight. It’s a heavy story. There is a lot of violence, tragedy which is lightened somewhat with a little romance, there is some self-discovery.

This is a hard book to read. But, it is definitely worth the time spent, the few tears I shed to learn about history. Everything ties up neatly, with a brighter future going forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Shyames · Rating 5 out of 5]

War is always a difficult subject to tackle, as is the aftermath of it. Violence always brings more violence, there's no doubt about it. But harsh as the subject may be, this was beautifully done.

In the present day, we have Caitlin, whose 91-year-old grandmother, Bridget, wishes to find out more about her birth family. Bridget believes she wasn't wanted and that's why she was given up for adoption to America as a small child. Caitlin doesn't want to leave her grandmother, but while working through her own issues and trauma, she takes the opportunity to get away and occupy her mind with researching her Irish roots.

This book uses a dual timeline and does a good job of uncovering the story bit by bit, keeping the suspense and revealing only enough for the story to progress slowly, giving the reader time to digest everything that happens. We follow the McGrath family as they get involved in the Irish resistance, each of the three siblings in a different capacity and with different convictions. Ellen, Bridget's mother, was growing up in such unsteady times, trying to keep her family together and fight for the opportunity to lead a simple life with her husband, only to face challenge after challenge with no clear resolution in sight.

There are a few villains in this story, and they are the same villains found in so many stories of Ireland at the time: the British (of course), the Anglo-Irish nobility, the Catholic Church with their Magdalene Laundries, and, unfortunately, the heated emotions of the freedom fighters that caused so much additional grief. Rachel beautifully threads together many perspectives here: the resistance against the British (even from people you wouldn't expect), the infighting between Irish factions, the overzealous priests, and both the jealousy and the kindness of fellow people.

It's a difficult story about a difficult time, enriched by the modern viewpoint of a granddaughter searching for the real story of her family. While it is a novelisation, I think it can definitely serve as a starting point for someone who doesn't know much about Irish history at the beginning of the 20th century. Rachel's writing brings out all the complexities of characters faced with impossible choices, guiding the reader through this tumultuous time with a steady hand. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin's 91 year old grandma, Bridget, has just found out that she had a brother. She was born in Ireland and sent to the U.S. to be adopted. She knew nothing about her birth mother, assuming all her life that she was abandoned by a mother who didn't love her. She asks Caitlin to go to Ireland and see if she can find anything out about her mother. The story is told in a dual timeline, the past set in the 1920s during the war for Irish Independence, and the time after where the Irish were fighting one another. The present storyline has Caitlin staying in a small Irish community on the west coast of Ireland. There she meets people who knew the family based on the name of her grandmother's brother. We learn what happened to Ellen McGrath, Caitlin's great-grandmother, who ends up in a Mother and Baby home, even though she was married when Bridget was born. What is the story behind the adoption?

I've read several books about the Mother and Baby homes run by the Catholic Church, but this one was very different. Ellen married her best friend and had a little girl. At the time the War of Independence and the time following had family members fighting one another, and Irish fighting against the British. Ellen's family lived on an estate owned by a British family. Ellen was best friends with the daughter, but the son was a nasty piece of work and he hated the Irish people. Ellen had two brothers who she loved, but life was not kind to them. I had never read any books set during this time, so I found the history very interesting. It is a story with betrayal, lies, secrets, and tragedy. This is not a story of a young unmarried woman that ends up in a mother/baby home, it is something totally different. I couldn't stop reading this one until I figured out what had happened, and I definitely recommend it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson is my ideal book: romance, genealogy, and history. Caitlin’s grandmother was over ninety now and not doing well. Somehow she had connected with a distant relative on the internet and was now intent on finding more about her parents. She had been an “orphan” and adopted off to America. (We have all heard the stories about the convents/laundries who stole babies and mistreated mothers.) So, she bought a plane ticket to Ireland and that was not the first journey she was to take that year. She was carrying her own burdens, having been exploited and nearly killed by her former lover and partner in her former life as a cop. She immediately located a cottage to rent and off to her great-grandparents frimer village.

While on the beach, Caitlin met Conor, a man about her age, who proved to change her mind about men and helped her in her research. It was his personality. Good character, as is Caitlin, who is resilient and intelligent. The journey to finding her past went easier than such often does and it was fun to be part of it. The result was heartbreaking but proved that Grammy had not been abandoned. That she had a family that loved her. The dual story line, then and now, revealed things that were not discovered by research but certainly rounded out made it infinitely more interesting. This was a readable book, one for lovers of history, Ireland, and romance. It is clear things happened modern people were embarrassed by and that is a comfort.

I was invited to read The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Storm Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StormPublishing #RachelWesson #TheIrishOrphansSecret

[Kimberly Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel. As seems to be the thing lately, it toggled between past and present. Present is an elderly woman and her granddaughter. The past is a police incident that costs the granddaughter's trust in people and in herself. The more distant past is during The Irish Troubles and the grandmother's past.
.The grandmother spent her whole life thinking her mother didn't want her which is the farthest thing from the truth. Because of happenings during The Troubles, the grandmother ended up in an Irish Catholic Orphanage. The granddaughter travels to Ireland to delve into her grandmother's past hoping to learn of it before the grandmother dies. Along the way, the granddaughter finds love and learns to trust again.

[Shawn Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing! Highly recommend!

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of this novel.

Rachel Wesson has written a tender dual-timeline historical romance that revisits the tragic early 20th century years of the Irish Uprising against Great Britain and the bloody Civil War that saw the Irish turn against each other. Her story starts in present-day Charleston, South Carolina, where ex-cop Caitlin has promised to help her 91 year old bedridden grandmother to trace her unknown parents before she dies. Bridget, the grandmother, was adopted from Ireland at the age of five. Due to the shroud of secrecy and the implied shame that surrounded adoptions nearly a century past, Bridget knows only that her mother’s people were from the western coastal area of Galway, all beautiful scenery and poor farmland. She has one faded old photo of her mother with her and a little brother, named Sean, whom she has never known. She has no idea who her father is, and the sparse story passed down is that her parents were unmarried. In Catholic Ireland, there was little compassion for unwed mothers or their children. They were sent to the nearest Magdalene Home, run by nuns, and put to work doing laundry and other such chores. Their children were kept all together in a separate nursery. Many women and children died from poor nutrition combined with hard physical labour, neglect, and the dangers of childbirth without medical care. Women were ‘persuaded’ to leave their children for adoption, since they could never support them without husbands.

Caitlin is very close to her Grammy, who raised her after her mother’s early death. But willing as she is to go to Ireland and search local records, she also bears her own wounds, both physical and psychological, that brought about her early retirement from the police force. Barely a year later, she is depressed, alone, still in pain, and plagued by flashbacks and nightmares. She hopes Ireland might be a healing experience.

The contemporary timeline consists of Caitlin making her way around the areas where the McGraths, her grandmother’s family, resided. She is helped to that end by an accidental meeting with Connor, a local who is also a physiotherapist, which is extremely convenient, given her unhealed injuries. Connor is the prototypical White Knight —he is kind, empathic, thoughtful, charming, handsome and even amusing.

The historic timeline is much more complex and interesting in my view. We see how tight-knit the tenant farmers were, how their lives revolved around church and family and the rhythm of the seasons and the lifecycle. And we understand why they so resented the English, especially the local Anglo-English landowners, to whom they paid high rent for scraps of land that barely fed them. Lord Russell is the local landlord. Along with his petty and nasty son Jack, he has earned no love from his tenant farmers. The exception is daughter Lady Isabella, who ignores all the rules of propriety to become Ellen McGrath’s best friend from early childhood.

The situation becomes even more complicated for the McGraths as tensions worsen with the Great War and blow over into the peace. I won’t give away the sad story of how little Bridget crossed the Atlantic, and how her brother, born in the convent where his ‘disgraced’ mother Ellen was sent against her will. If you know nothing about this period, Wesson does a wonderful job of sketching in important aspects, while showing how these affected ordinary lives across generations.

After struggling to unearth a few details, Caitlin suddenly has a number of breakthroughs that allow her to report back to her grandmother with a fairly full story. This is a common pattern in actual historical research, but some of the ‘breaks’ are a bit farfetched. Bridget, back in the U.S., seems to lose sight of Caitlin’s purpose for being in Ireland and her participation in the story dries up to a few annoying texts, mostly urging her to get together with Connor and begging details off their romance. As if those are something a 30-plus woman wants to discuss with her grandmother. I confess that I’m tired of the ‘instant soulmate’ trope, in which a chance meeting with a too-perfect man is all the traumatized FL needs to fix everything. Connor comes across as a boyfriend-bot, always saying just the right thing with his Irish warmth and wit. Leaving aside my own less-than-romantic leanings, it’s the historical part that interests me, and Wesson delivers.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Caitlin's ninety one year old Grammy begged Caitlin to go to Ireland to uncover the truth of her birth, and her mother's life, Caitlin had no idea what was ahead. She was recovering from her own trauma and leaving the USA for Ireland seemed like a good idea, to get away from it all, and to help her beloved grandmother. Slowly, gradually, Caitlin's research into the early 1920s Ireland, the civil war, the fight between Britain and Ireland after WWI had ended, the horrific troubles that Ireland - Grammy's relatives - faced and went through, weighed on her heart. But she was determined, and when she met Conor, a physiotherapist & surfer, with his adorable dog Finn, she began to feel more at ease.

Around a century earlier, Ellen McGrath lived with her Ma, her Pa, and brothers Seamus and Patrick in a small cottage in Ireland, where times were hard but the love of family and friends kept them going. But suddenly there was division. Patrick was passionate about Ireland and wanted nothing to do with Britain, and he joined others like him. Seamus, a gentle giant who had an exceptional way with animals, followed Patrick, and John, Ellen's long time friend, did as well. The upper class in the big house, where Ellen was good friends with Isabelle and Edward was hated by all, proved to be a big danger to the townsfolk. Danger surrounded them all, and choices were made, some good, many not so good. Ellen was torn; what would she do?

The Irish Orphan's Secret by Rachel Wesson is the 1st in the Irish Orphan series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written characters, especially Ellen, Sarah, Isabelle & Seamus, with a heartbreaking story of Ireland's fate back in the early 1920s, joining together with current day research for the answers needed. Grammy was wonderful as was Caitlin! For those who enjoy historical fiction, this is a different take to the usual WWII novels, and is one I highly recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Shari Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something really special about a book that not only draws you in emotionally but also makes you want to learn more about the history behind it—and The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson did exactly that for me.

History isn’t usually my go-to, but this was my first introduction to the Irish War of Independence, and I found myself completely captivated. Rachel Wesson does such a beautiful job showing multiple perspectives, highlighting just how complex and heartbreaking it can be when a country is divided, and people are forced to make impossible choices.

I loved the dual timeline, moving between the present day and the past, as Caitlin works to uncover the truth for her grandmother. The emotional depth in this story really stood out to me—especially Bridget’s lifelong belief that she was unwanted. Watching that unravel, piece by piece, was both heartbreaking and powerful.

The story weaves together family, sacrifice, secrets, and resilience in a way that keeps you fully invested. It’s one of those books that stays with you after you turn the last page.

If you love historical fiction with strong emotional storytelling, this one is absolutely worth the read. And if you’re like me, don’t be surprised if you find yourself going down a rabbit hole learning more about the real history behind it.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Loved it! Would reread… if my TBR wasn’t out of control. Highly recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Great read! Really enjoyed it and would recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Good read! Glad I picked it up.
⭐️⭐️ – Just okay. Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
⭐️ – Not for me. Wouldn’t recommend.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson is one of those truly special books that not only pulls you in emotionally but also leaves you wanting to learn more about the history behind it. It completely captivated me in a way I didn’t expect.

Historical fiction isn’t always my go-to, but this was my first real introduction to the Irish War of Independence, and I found myself completely absorbed. Rachel Wesson does such a beautiful job of showing multiple perspectives, highlighting just how complex and heartbreaking it is when a country is divided and people are forced to make impossible choices. It added so much depth and meaning to the story.

I loved the dual timeline, moving between the past and present as Caitlin works to uncover the truth for her grandmother. The way the story unfolds kept me fully invested, but what stood out most was the emotional depth—especially Bridget’s lifelong belief that she was unwanted. Watching that unravel piece by piece was both heartbreaking and incredibly powerful.

The story weaves together family, sacrifice, secrets, and resilience so seamlessly. It’s one of those books where you feel deeply connected to the characters, and their journeys stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, emotional, and compelling historical novel that I would highly recommend. If you love stories that blend history with strong emotional storytelling, this is absolutely worth picking up. And if you’re anything like me, don’t be surprised if you find yourself going down a rabbit hole learning more about the real history behind it.

[Aga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC, out now.

This story didn’t just break my heart — it shattered it into pieces and quietly stitched it back together again.

Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Ireland, this novel follows Ellen McGrath and her family as they navigate life through the Easter Rising, the fight for independence, and the devastating Civil War. Alongside this, we follow Caitlin in the present day, sent to Ireland by her grandmother to uncover the truth about her family’s past — a journey that slowly reveals layers of pain, resilience, and buried secrets.

What unfolds is a rich, deeply emotional historical narrative that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of Irish history. From Bloody Sunday to the horrors of the Magdalene laundries, the story captures not just events, but the human cost behind them — particularly the quiet suffering and strength of women.

This book hurts to read at times. It’s heavy, it’s raw, and it stays with you long after you turn the last page. But it’s also incredibly important. Beneath the heartbreak is a story of perseverance, of truth being uncovered, and of voices that deserve to be heard.

Even though this is fiction, it carries the weight of real history — and I can only hope that stories like this continue to bring awareness, understanding, and a sense of peace to those affected by these dark chapters.

A powerful, necessary read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maureen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

At ninety-one years old, Bridget is nearing the end of her life. But she has unfinished business, she dearly wants to learn about the mother who gave her up as a toddler, and her younger brother who she has never known. Bridget asks her granddaughter, Caitlin, to find her lost family members and unlock the family secrets hidden in Ireland.

Unable to deny this emotional plea, Caitlin travels from the USA to her grandmother’s old village in Ireland, a place of breathtaking beauty but painful history. There she unearths Bridget’s family story. a tale both intense and heartbreaking.

Rachal Wesson has written an engaging and warm historical novel. The descriptive passages of the coastal town evoke wonderful images of the landscape.

The characters in the book have very real personalities; as the story unfolded I could sense their passion and dedication to their beliefs and their families. The author has meticulously portrayed the realities of the Irish War of Independence, the dark history of the infamous Magdalene Laundries that housed mothers and babies in very dark times, and the terrible impact of war-time events on the community. I found myself increasingly captivated by the narrative as the story unfolded.

Overall it was a captivating story, and I would thoroughly recommend the book to all readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you on an emotional journey from the very beginning.

Caitlin’s grandmother grows up believing her mother gave her away because she wasn’t wanted. At the age of eighty, she takes a DNA test and learns that the story she was told is far from the truth. Wanting answers, she asks her granddaughter to travel to Ireland and uncover what really happened.
Ireland is a country shaped by a long and painful history, and having some understanding of this background helps make sense of many parts of the story.

The fight against British rule had already left the country exhausted, and the civil war that followed only deepened the divides. I’ve spent time in Ireland myself, and learning more about the events that shaped the country gave me a greater sense of perspective while reading. At its heart, people wanted freedom and the right to live as they chose - but not everyone agreed on how to achieve that. Many lives were lost, families were torn apart, and loved ones were separated.
This is a story about loss, grief, and learning where you come from, and about finding yourself along the way. For me, it also deepened my love for Ireland. The book beautifully weaves history into a story about love, identity, and meaning, creating a moving and memorable read.

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this emotional new dual timeline novel, readers follow Caitlin as she heads to Ireland to find answers about her dying grandmother’s mother. Believing her mother abandoned her as a baby, Bridget has discovered a brother she never knew about and who the nuns who raised her kept a secret. Heading back to Ireland and to the convent, Caitlin starts to unearth Bridget’s mother’s story and the dangerous line Ellen McGrath walked during the Irish independence movement at the beginning of the twentieth century. Emotionally intense and moving between two distinct time periods, readers will love uncovering Ellen’s secrets with Bridget and Caitlin, while their struggles in the present day remain relatable to readers. The depth of detail in the narrative brings the Irish independence movement and the stigmas of marriage and pregnancy during the early twentieth century to life, and the added family drama during the movement really ups the stakes for Ellen and her daughter. The book is packed with well-written and complex characters, and the historical details really bring the larger narrative to life in some powerful ways. Brilliantly written and incredibly emotional, historical fiction fans will love this complicated novel about family, tradition, and history from Rachel Wesson.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance copy.

[lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. It is an emotional story that follows Czitlin's trip to Ireland to dis over why her Grandmother, Bridget was abandoned by her mother as a small child. Caitlin was brought up by her Grandmother in America. Grammy is now 91 years old and is keen to know more about her family history after recently hearing from a cousin via a DNA search. She had always believed that she had no family. The second timeline follows the life of Ellen and her family from shortly before the 1st World War and through the Irish troubles as they loo, for independence from British rule. I was hooked from the beginning and felt a vested interest in the characters, hoping for a happy ending. As always the story had its highs and lows and I needed a tissue at hand.
Rachel Wesson has researched the times well, with details about the early days of the Troubles I was unaware of, the, Magdalene Laundries that I knew of.. How communities and families were torn apart as they fought on opposite sides, the nuns who abused their Christian beliefs and so on. The characters were well portrayed and easy to feel for. Caitlin has her own troubled past that was slowly revealed without spoiling the storyline.
I can highly recommend this book.

[Jamilah Green | Apothecary Tales Press · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a historical fiction fan, there are a few things I always look for: learning more about real historical events, being transported to a time and place I’ve never experienced, and a plot that quickly pulls me in. The Irish Orphan’s Secret by Rachel Wesson delivered on all three—I was so invested that I read this book in just two days.
I learned so much about Irish history, including the heartbreaking legacy of the Magdalene laundries and the tensions and sentiments that contributed to the formation of the IRA. These elements were thoughtfully woven into the story and added emotional depth without slowing the pace.
As someone currently researching my own genealogy, I especially connected with the themes of identity, belonging, and finding family. Those themes made the story feel both personal and impactful.
This would be a fantastic choice for a book club and will appeal to readers who enjoyed Cane River by Lalita Tademy or The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. A compelling, immersive historical read that stays with you.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Bridget Sadenwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Irish Orphan’s Secret is a historical novel told through two interconnected timelines. In the present day, 91-year-old Bridget and her granddaughter Kaitlyn begin to question Bridget’s origins. Bridget was adopted as a small child and only knows that her birth mother once lived in a convent or orphanage in Ireland. Determined to uncover the truth, Caitlin travels to Ireland and begins researching her grandmother’s ancestry to see if she can discover family connections and learn more about Bridget’s past.

The second storyline takes readers back to early 1900s Ireland and follows Ellen, Bridget’s mother, during a turbulent period marked by political unrest and uprising. Through Ellen’s story, we gradually learn the circumstances and heartbreaking events that ultimately led to Bridget being given up at birth.

I really enjoyed how the book blended family history with real historical events. It was clearly well researched and full of interesting characters, and the dual timelines kept me turning the pages. A great pick for fans of historical fiction.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Irish Orphan's Secret is a sensitive look at the turbulent times of Ireland’s uprising against the British after WWI. It is also a look at the poor treatment of the Irish by the British government that lead up to the uprising. Rachel Wesson weaves this story through the life of ninety-one-year-old Bridget. Not that she knows her past, but she wants to know how she became to believe that she was an unwanted child. Her granddaughter goes to Ireland to research past family. What she finds is shocking but includes the knowledge of what actually happened for Bridget to be given up as a baby. It will be best to have some tissues nearby; this is a sad heartbreaking story that incorporates much of history which makes it even sadder.

Told in dual timelines that is perfectly balanced. While there were a lot of people in the past, the reader came to know them and the part that they played. The first book in The Irish Orphan Series this will encourage you to research more Irish history. 4.5 Sttars

[Melissa]

A beautifully written and moving start to Rachel Wessen’s new series The Irish Orphan’s. When 91 year old Bridget discovers she has a living relative, she asks her granddaughter, Caitlin to travel to Ireland to uncover the truth behind her long ago abandonment. The historical sections set during WW2 and the Irish uprisings are detailed and informative. I learnt a great deal about Ireland’s class structure, political tensions and the complex, painful history of Ireland’s relationship with Great Britain. Wessen handles these themes with compassion showing how hatred, loyalty, betrayal and divided loyalties shaped everyday lives. The modern storyline offers warmth and community, highlighting how connection, forgiveness and the bravery to face long hidden truths. The elements of spying, betrayal, and concealed identities introduce tension that enriches the story. The Irish Orphan’s Secret is a beautifully written, compelling dual timeline novel about identity, family and the hope that comes from finally learning the truth. 4 1/2 stars

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bridget is a grandmother, a wise ninety-one-year-old woman and heartbroken to learn she may have a long-lost brother she never knew. With adoptions sealed, secrets of wars in Ireland and church records supposedly lost, where to start. Caitlin was raised by this wonderful Grammy and went on the search of family and records of long ago. This is a fascinating book with lots going on with wars between Britain and Ireland in the early 1900's, wars between families of different faiths - protestant vs. catholic and secrets held by all. Back in Ireland when unwed mothers were sent away to convents, church homes for the unwed and literally hidden from sight, families were broken and literally killed. Let's not forget, secrets were kept in this country also by sending away those girls who had become pregnant but not married. More family secrets. Bring Kleenex when you read this story and take the time to really absorb the pain held by those searching for the family tree. It can bring harsh realities!

[Mumntwins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a sad story. I felt I got a bit of a history lesson. War is war but when people fight each other and lives are lost it seems so petty. How it must have been. It is just heart breaking. Ellen was just a young girl who got caught in the politics of the time. Fallen in love even while horrible things were happening and not to get her HEA is devastating. Evil is always so hurtful. I don’t understand people being so closed minded and hateful. I’m sure telling this story and trying to keep it as much to the truth of what could have happened must have been so difficult yet this author did a wonderful job with it.
I’m thankful Storm Publishing and NetGalley allowed me to read this one. I could hardly put it down I was so infested in it. One thing though I hate going from the past to the present. My personal preference would be start with a prologue then give me all the past at once then give me back the present. Still really good though.

[Kelly Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caitlin's grandmother Bridget is 91 and her health isn't great. Bridget knows she was adopted from an Irish orphanage when she was a child but doesn't know who her parents are. She does a DNA test and finds a relative who has some information about her family. Bridget needs to go to Ireland to get more information but her health isn't good enough to make the trip. She asks Caitlin: "I want you to go to Ireland. Find out what happened to my family. Why did I, or rather we, end up in one of those mother and baby homes?" Caitlin decides to go and not only learns about her grandmother's history but has an adventure herself. I always love Rachel's books but have a special place in my heart for the ones about adoption as I adopted 2 boys! These books always make me appreciate more the journey we took to get our boys and the journey their birth mother's took to ensure they had people who loved them and could take care of them.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful, sad read! The Irish Orphan's Secret tells two main stories. One is the horror of the Irish fight for independence and the cost paid by families set against each other. Alternating with this story is Caitlin's search for her Grammy's history lost in those wars and the Magdalene laundry Mother and baby homes of 20 century Ireland. As Caitlin slowly uncovers the secrets of her family she learns to trust and heal from her own injuries and traumas. I very quickly became completely invested in this book. The characters were so well written they appeared real and the history just came alive. It is obvious the author has researched her subject well. A book that will definitely encourage me to seek out more by this author. Happy to recommend if you're looking for an intelligent and enthralling read - don't forget the tissues!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This split timeline story was captivating and intriguing. Set in present day as well as in 1920s Ireland, it gave historical glimpses into Ireland's history and the brutal fight for their freedom from the British. In real time, the characters are trying to unravel a mystery decades long regarding their family tree & have to uncover hard truths about their ancestors lives.

Overall, it was an interesting premise and story, but there were just certain parts that fell flat for me. The ending, for one, left me wanting more out of these characters and plot that had been developing thus far. I also noticed the author kept repeating certain phrases that started to bother me. The phrases themselves weren't annoying, but the repetition was. I truly appreciated the cleanliness of this story and might revisit this author for additional books.


I received an ARC from NetGalley. A positive review is not required & all opinions are my own.

[Shaundra · Rating 4 out of 5]

#TheIrishOrphansSecret #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Really a 4.5! ✨


This story starts with two different timelines. A granddaughters present time discovering her grandmother's history in Ireland. I have read books with this similar setup however were placed in Germany during World War ii. This was a completely different area {Ireland}, and a part of History I never knew existed.

I absolutely loved this book.
I learned so much and it has piqued my interest to Deep dive into more of this history.
This book is a combination of familial history, mystery, crime, and includes a love story.
I loved the random twists and turns and even had some unexpected and non-predictable elements. I think the author did a wonderful job with the intertwined relationships between many characters.

You know it's a great book when you can't put it down and you leave wanting to learn so much more.

[Stephie Allesia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a dual timeline story. One timeline is the early 1900s during a time of upheaval and war in Ireland. The second timeline is present day, as an American women heads to Ireland to search for the truth about her great grandmother.

The writing, characters and pace is generally well done. I find dual timeline stories to be hit or miss for me. in this case I found the modern timeline story to be weaker, and the switch between timelines slightly jarring. The earlier timeline story was heartbreaking and impactful - the author draws you right into the story and you become invested in these characters immediately. Others may not find the same issues I had with the dual storylines, and overall I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGallery and Storm Publishing for the advanced readers copy.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. This is the story of Ellen, from 1912 through to her death in 1923. At a time political upheaval and war, it was hard to know who to trust and what to believe. There were some terrible injustices portrayed in this, and it was so sad. There is the present day thread where Caitlin is researching her great grandmother on behalf of her grandmother, who raised her. There are some many themes covered in this, including class, Anglo relations, war, independence, love and the role of religion and the cruel things done in its name. This book really affected me, and I strongly recommend a supply of tissues. This is wonderful historical fiction, and I strongly appreciate NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read this book. My opinions are my personal response.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt Journey Through Ireland’s Past

The Irish Orphan by Rachel Wesson is a beautifully written and deeply moving story that completely drew me in from the very first page. The characters felt so real, and I found myself truly invested in their lives and struggles. I especially loved how the story explored Ireland and the powerful connection to ancestry and heritage. The historical detail was woven seamlessly into the narrative, bringing the setting to life in such a vivid and emotional way. It felt authentic, touching, and incredibly well researched. Rachel Wesson has such a gift for storytelling, and her writing flows effortlessly and captures both heartbreak and hope with equal strength. This was a memorable and emotional read that will stay with me long after I finish. I Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.