What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon an Irish Summer
Once Upon an Irish Summer
A compelling and heartfelt story about the power of faith, family, and our need for connection.
—Richard Paul Evans, New York Times Bestselling Author
Two teenagers, two centuries, one city.
1817 Ireland - Allen Hamilton crosses the Atlantic alone to find a way to save his family from imminent financial and social ruin before it’s too late. Instead he is met with prejudice, sickness, and starvation.
2018 Fort Wayne, Indiana - A gifted young artist struggles with debilitating grief after a sudden death in her family. When she unearths Allen Hamilton’s noble rise from rags to riches in Antebellum America, their shared connection inspires her own healing and renewed inspiration.
Based on a 200-year-old letter collection, Once Upon an Irish Summer brings to life and weaves together this true story of romance, mystery, and hope.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2020
28 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Wilson Spooner
7 books14 followersLink to ONCE UPON AN IRISH SUMMER series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09...
Wendy is a Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between.
Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during research because she’s found that truth is indeed much more exciting and inspiring than fiction.
Wendy writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life by coming to know who we really are—children of God, and the descendants of incredible people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. Wendy believes in learning from our ancestors, honoring them, and then standing on their shoulders to become someone even better.
As an award-winning author of professional articles and poems, Wendy has turned to novel writing to share what she knows with a much greater audience.
When Wendy is not researching or writing, she hikes, paints, loves being a church youth leader, she binges on Bollywood movies, and hangs out with her greatest loves—her family.
Connect with Wendy on these sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wilson-S...
https://wendywilsonspooner.com/
https://wendywilsonspooner.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/ARSpooner/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-wil...
https://knowmyroots.com/
Wendy is a Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between.
Her love of what we can learn from history compels her to write the true stories she unearths during research because she’s found that truth is indeed much more exciting and inspiring than fiction.
Wendy writes about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life by coming to know who we really are—children of God, and the descendants of incredible people who paved the way for us—even if they really struggled. Wendy believes in learning from our ancestors, honoring them, and then standing on their shoulders to become someone even better.
As an award-winning author of professional articles and poems, Wendy has turned to novel writing to share what she knows with a much greater audience.
When Wendy is not researching or writing, she hikes, paints, loves being a church youth leader, she binges on Bollywood movies, and hangs out with her greatest loves—her family.
Connect with Wendy on these sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wilson-S...
https://wendywilsonspooner.com/
https://wendywilsonspooner.com/blog
https://www.facebook.com/ARSpooner/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-wil...
https://knowmyroots.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 3, 2020
A sweet and charming read that blends two stories together, the past and the present. Family ties, history, romance, and a bit of a mystery. The descriptive setting pulls you into the stories as you learn discover the family tree and the stories behind the names. It’s easy to read and relatable. This story has a little something of everything. Perfect read, not only for teens but adults as well. I really enjoyed this one. This story is worth reading. Especially if you love history and genealogy.
May 26, 2020
What a fun book! I enjoyed it very much! Its a split time novel. In the present day, Beth is a young girl who gets a job helping her grandma with geneaolgy research. In the 1800s day, Allen, is an immigrant from Ireland trying to make a living in America. Both stories were fun to read. I liked how Beth does research on Allen and then we get a more indepth picture of Allen’s life. I found his story fascinating. Genealogy is really cool and something that I have enjoyed doing. Beth is a little younger then what I would normally read but she was relatable. I think younger readers will enjoy it as well. It was a clean and well written story. I think the reader can learn valuable lessons right along with Beth.
I recommend this to my family and friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I recommend this to my family and friends.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
April 7, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer is one girl's journey to falling in love with history and geneology. All she needed was to find the right connection, and suddenly the "dull and boring" became the "interesting and exciting". The dual timeline allows the reader to see the research Bethany uncovered through the eyes of her relative as he lived it. It made my heart happy to see another history-lover born. The writing style was great for younger teen readers. It was admittedly a little too juvenile for me to love it personally, however I feel that the author did a great job for the intended audience. I would easily recommend this one to tween and teen readers who either love history already or you want them to love it.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
May 25, 2020
I loved this book. Literally. I didn’t want to put it down. It had the whole Irish thing going for it in the first place. My great grandad was from Ireland and I love all things Irish of course. So my favourite story within the story was the one in the past. It was so good.
Of course, the present-day story was good too. This is a young adult book which you can definitely figure out by the main character being a teenage girl who’s about to turn 16. The second main character is a teenage boy who used to be one of her best friends. I love the rapport they have together and how easily they can go back to being best friends.
I’m in awe of the letter collection and want it to be real. I want to touch it and read it and love it. History is something important to me and family history is even more so. So this was the perfect book for me to read!
I recommend this book and think it’s definitely one I’d let my teenagers read. While there are a few kisses and chat about dating it’s a pretty clean book with a good central theme.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Of course, the present-day story was good too. This is a young adult book which you can definitely figure out by the main character being a teenage girl who’s about to turn 16. The second main character is a teenage boy who used to be one of her best friends. I love the rapport they have together and how easily they can go back to being best friends.
I’m in awe of the letter collection and want it to be real. I want to touch it and read it and love it. History is something important to me and family history is even more so. So this was the perfect book for me to read!
I recommend this book and think it’s definitely one I’d let my teenagers read. While there are a few kisses and chat about dating it’s a pretty clean book with a good central theme.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
May 4, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer by Wendy Spooner is a split timeline young adult novel. One part of the story is of a teenager who has been hired by her grandmother to research family genealogy for a book she is writing. The other is a narrative of the ancestor she is researching. The historical part of the story is based on an actual person and is taken from his letters. The underlying theme of both stories is recovery from grief as there is much loss in the book. It is also a coming of age story, as Beth definitely matures over the course of the book (just one summer). Spooner seems to understand teen girls and how they cannot always communicate their emotions and how their feelings about people can change without warning.
There are a few “loose ends” at the end of the book, leaving me hoping for a sequel. I’d love to read more by Wendy Spooner.
There would be no problem with adding Once Upon an Irish Summer to a k-12 Christian school library.
I want to thank JustRead Publicity Tours for the complimentary e-copy of Once Upon an Irish Summer. This is my honest review.
There are a few “loose ends” at the end of the book, leaving me hoping for a sequel. I’d love to read more by Wendy Spooner.
There would be no problem with adding Once Upon an Irish Summer to a k-12 Christian school library.
I want to thank JustRead Publicity Tours for the complimentary e-copy of Once Upon an Irish Summer. This is my honest review.
March 28, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer is a sweetly told contemporary story that allows the reader to look to the past and present to find meaning and fulfillment through family ties. It is woven with curious elements that are playful and relevant in the world of modernity but kept within a richer historical foundation based on real documents of the time. It’s a clever approach to a personal story by an imaginative storyteller that leaves me with a greater interest in diving deeper into the stories of my ancestors. Overall, a good, clean, interesting story, especially for teens!
June 21, 2020
Spooner does an excellent job of weaving together past and present in this story of love and loss. The present-day character, Beth, is struggling with personal loss when she is sent to stay with her grandmother for the summer. She makes an unlikely connection with an ancestor as she is assigned to help with family history research. My excitement for family history grew gradually as Beth's did. I loved the way the two stories intertwined. This was an enjoyable read with crossover appeal for teens and adults. Very well done!
April 2, 2020
Very simply this book was really fun to read, and it was hard to put down. The historical account of Allen leaving Ireland for America intertwines his life’s challenges and successes with those of his modern-day researcher, Beth. It was great to have two great stories that melded together to create one great book. Good job Wendy—not only musician, artist, and genealogist, but now author, too!
March 30, 2020
"Once Upon an Irish Summer" is a charming story tying a sweet, young woman to her ancestors in a unique way and setting. Through touches of boredom, fun, perseverance, and romance, Beth Wilson discovers a passion for genealogy and researching her ancestors. This is a great book for a vast range of ages that is well worth the read.
March 31, 2020
Once upon an Irish Summer is a great read for any book lover! The book connects two teenagers in two different time periods, who may be experiencing different trials but both draw strength from their family and their faith. The characters quickly come to life and you cheer them on as they unlock the mystery of their past and find hope for the future. A must read!
March 28, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer is a perfect read for teens and adults. The novel is entertaining and inspiring with a touch of romance! The story is relatable and begs one to reconnect with their roots. Five stars!
April 5, 2020
Such a wonderful story that makes family history exciting! I was eager to delve into my own Irish ancestry after reading this, and will admit that all of Allen Hamilton's parts I read out loud with a not so great Irish accent to make it even more enjoyable for me! I am now dying to embark on a journey to Ireland myself!! I sincerely enjoyed reading this! At a time when travel is limited, it was wonderful to escape my own home to embark on an adventure with young Beth to Fort Wayne, IN while she was working through the death of a loved one, and finding herself along the way via her interactions with her ancestors. I would highly recommend this read to anyone interested in family history work, Irish nuances, Midwestern charm, challenges of the 19th century, or navigating the heart of a modern teenager. This is the book for you!
May 6, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer is a heartfelt story about two teens connected by the common thread of family yet generations apart.
Allen’s determination and perseverance in the face of hardship and how he continuously strives to bring his family to safety no matter how long it takes, is admirable and a bit awe-inspiring. Beth’s battle with hidden fears and her journey towards healing warmed my heart. When she’s snagged by a spark of interest in history, my own curiosity was also piqued.
While Once Upon an Irish Summer is a bit outside my reading niche, I found the historical aspect highly interesting and enjoyed watching Beth and Preston’s budding relationship as he encouraged her to spread her wings.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to leave a positive one.
Allen’s determination and perseverance in the face of hardship and how he continuously strives to bring his family to safety no matter how long it takes, is admirable and a bit awe-inspiring. Beth’s battle with hidden fears and her journey towards healing warmed my heart. When she’s snagged by a spark of interest in history, my own curiosity was also piqued.
While Once Upon an Irish Summer is a bit outside my reading niche, I found the historical aspect highly interesting and enjoyed watching Beth and Preston’s budding relationship as he encouraged her to spread her wings.
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to leave a positive one.
May 6, 2020
I was really charmed by this book! I was a bit nervous when I found out it was a YA & Christian Fiction book, but it really didn't feel like either. It was a feel-good story with two timelines. The modern day timeline followed Beth as she spent the summer helping her grandmother with her genealogical research and the other timeline followed a young Irish immigrant (Allen Hamilton) in the early 1800s. This was the perfect book to read after I read two heavier memoirs. The end of the book seems to queue up additional stories from this family. I would definitely recommend this book and keep an eye out for those others!
March 30, 2020
Once upon an Irish Summer is definitely worth reading! I enjoyed it from cover to cover. I was taken in from the very start of this descriptive, engaging, relatable, educational, heartbreaking, and infectious story. I enjoyed the fluidity of the two time periods bringing generations closer together. I was renewed in my own desire to seek-out the untold stories of my own family's history. I was taught lessons of unrelenting patience, perseverance and unconditional love found within the precious bonds of family. I'm anxious to read more from this talented and gracious new author.
April 16, 2020
A YA story, it is about a teenage girl who is dealing with her own issues while having to do family history research. As the story progresses and Beth progresses through the research, the character evolves and changes as she learns more about herself and her family history. It also deals with the harsh realities of life in Ireland at the time as well as life as an immigrant. If one wasn't into their own family history before, this could easily make one interested in finding out the interesting bits of history in their own family tree. Although a YA story, it's one that everyone can enjoy.
April 26, 2020
A wonderful young adult book on researching family history. Beth has an assignment to work for her grandmother during her summer vacation. She is given the assignment to research her ancestor who settled Fort Wayne after immigrating from Ireland. As she learns to love history she also comes to understand herself and the loss of her grandfather. I look forward to explore Fort Wayne as we are moving to Indiana later this summer.
April 21, 2020
From the enchanting cover to the enchanting story filled with unforgettable tales of real life characters Once Upon An Irish Summer is a book to read. Wonderful characters in different time periods chasing thier dreams and hoping for a better life. This really is an unforgettable book. I am glad I read it.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
May 5, 2020
This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page. It is suitable for all ages and a very enjoyable read. I hated to see this book end. I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 11, 2020
While this is classified as young adult fiction I enjoyed the story and it was very believable. I liked the two story lines that paralleled - 200 years apart. I truly wanted to find out what happened in both centuries.
April 13, 2020
A charming story of how a girl connects with her heritage and is able to find perspective and peace to help her deal with her own trials. A thoroughly enjoyable read for teens and adults alike!
April 15, 2020
Very enjoyable!
I really enjoyed reading this book! The characters are very interesting and the story kept me wanting more! I definitely would recommend this book!
I really enjoyed reading this book! The characters are very interesting and the story kept me wanting more! I definitely would recommend this book!
Read
May 12, 2025I love stories that take place in multiple time periods, and this one fits the bill (1817 Ireland and 2018 Indiana).
In 1817, Allen Hamilton longed to help his family's financial situation. That meant leaving his home country of Ireland and heading to America. Will the move meet his expectation?
In 2018, Beth wants to be an artist. In order to continue with art lessons, she must take a job with her grandma ... in Fort Wayne, Indiana—the last place on earth she wants to go. To top it off, she'll be researching her family's history, and history is the last thing she's interested in. She uncovers her connection to Allen Hamilton. Will she find that things aren't as dull as she anticipated?
This story is based on a collection of letters from 200 years ago. I admit that I didn't always enjoy learning about history in school, but I do enjoy learning it through novels.
The author uses beautiful, descriptive prose to pull the reader in. Both story lines are well developed, but I think I preferred the present (Beth's) a bit more. I liked uncovering her family history along with her. Scenes with Mimi (her grandma) and references to Pops (her grandpa) reminded me of times with my own grandparents.
It's a YA (young adult) story, so there is a bit of a romance angle, but it's not a dominant part of the story. Secondary characters are well-utilized and as well-drawn as primary characters. It does take some time to learn Beth's aversion to Fort Wayne, but the delay in unveiling the reason works well for the story. Her struggles in dealing with the past are relatable and realistic.
After reading this, I'm curious about my own family history dating back to the 1800s, and I'm sure other readers will feel the same.
If you're a fan of dual timeline novels or YA, this is one to add to your list.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
In 1817, Allen Hamilton longed to help his family's financial situation. That meant leaving his home country of Ireland and heading to America. Will the move meet his expectation?
In 2018, Beth wants to be an artist. In order to continue with art lessons, she must take a job with her grandma ... in Fort Wayne, Indiana—the last place on earth she wants to go. To top it off, she'll be researching her family's history, and history is the last thing she's interested in. She uncovers her connection to Allen Hamilton. Will she find that things aren't as dull as she anticipated?
This story is based on a collection of letters from 200 years ago. I admit that I didn't always enjoy learning about history in school, but I do enjoy learning it through novels.
The author uses beautiful, descriptive prose to pull the reader in. Both story lines are well developed, but I think I preferred the present (Beth's) a bit more. I liked uncovering her family history along with her. Scenes with Mimi (her grandma) and references to Pops (her grandpa) reminded me of times with my own grandparents.
It's a YA (young adult) story, so there is a bit of a romance angle, but it's not a dominant part of the story. Secondary characters are well-utilized and as well-drawn as primary characters. It does take some time to learn Beth's aversion to Fort Wayne, but the delay in unveiling the reason works well for the story. Her struggles in dealing with the past are relatable and realistic.
After reading this, I'm curious about my own family history dating back to the 1800s, and I'm sure other readers will feel the same.
If you're a fan of dual timeline novels or YA, this is one to add to your list.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
January 30, 2023
A good story, I particularly enjoyed the parts set in the past. I don't read a ton of fiction but I could definitely read more like this.
August 12, 2020
Nice easy reading!
I enjoyed the link between the generations. Realizing how we have benefited from those who came before us. There are so many stories to find, read and learn from!
I enjoyed the link between the generations. Realizing how we have benefited from those who came before us. There are so many stories to find, read and learn from!
August 7, 2020
Very wholesome, and sanitized. Allen Hamilton comes out looking really good, and I doubt that's all he really was. Few people are just that "good". I liked the descriptions of places around Fort Wayne.
June 19, 2020
I absolutely loved this book about a 16 year old girl named Beth who spent the summer helping her grandmother research their family’s Irish history. The story was so interesting and engaging, and kept me reading from one chapter to the next. Uncovering one’s history of a family member coming to America is something that I have always wanted to do! My maternal grandmother, Mary Catherine Cunningham came to America in 1903 at age 19 from Roscommon. We know some of the history, but not all. This book has really inspired me to want to learn more details about my own Irish roots.
June 24, 2020
A fun read for all. Brings in genealogy, history, and family all in one book.
I had a genealogy trip to Ireland scheduled for April 2020, but it was cancelled due to the virus, so I searched for a book that would have to be my “back up plan” and I found this one.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and think you will to. Although it’s written from the viewpoint of a teen girl, because the book is half from present day and half from old
Ireland and a males view point, it can be read and enjoyed by all.
I had a genealogy trip to Ireland scheduled for April 2020, but it was cancelled due to the virus, so I searched for a book that would have to be my “back up plan” and I found this one.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and think you will to. Although it’s written from the viewpoint of a teen girl, because the book is half from present day and half from old
Ireland and a males view point, it can be read and enjoyed by all.
June 26, 2020
Excellent!
This is my favorite genre, non-fiction, historical and uplifting. I also love finding my ancestor’s stories and having them become living parts of my life. It also helps to know and love the author, Wendy Spooner! Thank you Wendy! Bring in the next chapter!!
This is my favorite genre, non-fiction, historical and uplifting. I also love finding my ancestor’s stories and having them become living parts of my life. It also helps to know and love the author, Wendy Spooner! Thank you Wendy! Bring in the next chapter!!
June 15, 2020
Once Upon an Irish Summer is well written with two main story lines from two different centuries woven together beautifully. The two teen-agers that led the search into the Hamilton family's past were an ideal choice and make it a perfect read for all generations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews