⭐️3.5⭐️
Rounded up to 4 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Small Miracles is a nice, easy read. Well written, with a good cast of well-rounded characters.

An easy, entertaining read.

A truly delightful read - Anne captures the essence of her three main characters with great empathy and u adored the way each strives to be the best version of themselves while accepting that no one is perfect

Not sure what I was expecting when I started reading this one. I absolutely love Call the Midwife but this is so different. A beautiful story of 3 Nuns and how they struggled with their hearts and vocation. An excellent read.

Small Miracles by Anne Booth is a heartwarming and uplifting tale that beautifully captures the essence of resilience, faith, and the power of small miracles. The story of Sisters Margaret, Bridget, and Cecilia is a delightful journey filled with warmth and charm. As the last three nuns of the struggling order, their bond is tested, and the convent faces an uncertain future. However, the introduction of a seemingly ordinary event—the purchase of a lottery ticket—sparks a series of enchanting miracles that breathe new life into their world.

Anne Booth skillfully weaves a narrative that not only explores the challenges faced by the Sisters of Saint Philomena but also celebrates the magic that can unfold in unexpected ways. The characters are endearing, and their personal growth is both touching and inspiring. The novel beautifully conveys the importance of love, friendship, and the belief that even in the face of adversity, miracles can happen.

The 1990s setting adds a nostalgic touch to the story, and Booth's writing style is both engaging and evocative. Small Miracles is a delightful read that leaves a lasting impression, reminding us all to appreciate the small wonders in life. It's a testament to the power of hope and the beauty of human connections. Highly recommended for those seeking a feel-good story with a sprinkle of magic.

Nuns, the lottery and miracles i was hoping for something funny and sweet, but i ended up with a slow story with moments of sweetness and a heavy dose of religion.
Yes, I knew it would have religion in it, but it was a little heavy for me in that department.

Sweet, a little too sweet, characters. A few miracles that give you a positive feeling.

Grab this for a bed side table read and drift of with nice thoughts.

Sister Margaret, Sister Bridget and Sister Cecilia are the last three members of their order and struggling to figure out how their convent can survive in the face of the loss of some of their number and a house in need of more repairs than they can pay for. But after 90-year-old Sister Cecilia decides to play the new national lottery things start to change for them. This is a warm and uplifting novel centering on a group of three nuns in the mid-1990s, but also the people whose lives they touch. It is about nuns, but it doesn't feel preachy or overly religious, it's just a lovely tale of how little things can start bigger things moving and cause good things to happen.

Set in the small town of Fairbridge, 3 nuns try to figure out what to do about their failing convent. When a surprising photo turns up they take a pilgrimage to Italy and learn a whole lot more about where they reside.
A heartwarming tale, but with many characters, at times it was hard to keep up with them and who was actually telling their story.
It was uplifting a lovely, but also poignant in places. Pacing was a little slow to begin with but the last half picked up and was more enjoyable.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I absolutely loved this book. The idea for the storyline was fantastic. The story following 3 nuns on their adventures is genius. I loved the nuns, loved the writing, loved their friendship and zest for life. I would happily read this book over and over again.

It's a delightful book. It's a slow burner about three religious sisters (apparently everyone confuses them with nuns who are distinguished by living in cloistered monasteries dedicated to prayer).
Set in the 1990's, The convent once busy and bustling and running the local girls school, is now down to just Sister Margaret, Sister Bridget and Sister Cecelia. The school has amalgamated with the local boys school and the sisters are no longer needed. Unfortunately they still need money to keep the house running and for them to live off. The church roof also needs repairing, so the three sisters are praying hard for a miracle. Then a miracle happens, one of them wins 5 numbers and the bonus ball on the lottery. It gets them out of immediate financial stress but it is not the answer to their prayers. Then a desk is shown on the Antiques Road Show that matches one that they have, not worth a lot of money but in the show, it shows them a secret compartment. A secret compartment that they didn't know about. What they find takes them on a mission to Italy.
The story is full of small miracles that leads to joy, happiness, understanding of not just the sisters but those around them who lives all intertwine and need a miracle of their own.
The story is full of likeable characters, charm and warming to the heart.
You really don't need to be religious to appreciate the Sisters of Saint Philomena especially their prayers which sound like one ended telephone calls.
A lovely gentle book for pure escapism that bris with feel good factor. Ideal for readers of general or women's fiction.

With thanks to #NetGalley, Random House UK, Vintage, Harvill Secker for this ARC #SmallMiracles

I read this book while being stuck in a reading rut. It was the perfect way to sink into a story and feel better about the world! The book has a great set of characters and a charming story! I think I’ll be coming back to this boon when I next need a pick me up.

A charming and lightweight novel about a small convent reaching the end of its lifecycle due to changing times. Not much depth to it but generally an okay escapist read.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

Small Miracles is exactly what the title suggests: this book is filled with a series of small miracles. Where it seems impossible to find a solution to a problem, something happens, usually in an unexpected way, and the problem is solved. The story is set in a small parish in Fairbridge and follows the lives of three nuns who are the only remaining nuns left in their order. The book follows their lives as they try to navigate a run down convent with very little money and their unfaltering faith… until a very lucky turn of events sets their future into motion!

This book seems to be about one thing, but the more you read, the more you discover and a web of different stories is formed, each connected by the sisters of the convent. I enjoyed the character development. As the reader we are soon able to distinguish between the three nuns. Bridget was just a generally positive, happy person who loved to cook. Margaret is the youngest of the three in her late 50’s and seems to be having something of a crisis of faith and feels she has the weight of the world on her shoulders. Then there’s 90 year old Cecilia who would try the patience of a saint. As you might expect at 90, she’s very old school, set in her ways and something of a snob I thought. Sisters Margaret, Bridget and Cecilia are characters you’ll never forget.

If you’re in need of cheer, I recommend it. It’s modern (well, the 1990s, is that still modern?) but otherwise very much in the style of AJ Pearce’s Dear Mrs Bird series, a jolly light-spirited romp. It has something to offer about the place of faith in the modern world, about community and the role of religious orders, and how we can all look to be there for one another in different ways.

This book was so good! So much better than I expected! I fell in love with the characters and the story and I really want to read more from this author!

A heart-warming story with some big characters. The storylines were nice though a little over-the-top but it was a nice read and easy to get into.

To be honest, the book was okay. It was not amazing, nor was it bad either. It was a bit cheesy and over-the-top at times, but the general storyline was very wholesome and heart-warming. The book title is perfect for this novel - whenever a conflict is introduced, a small and unexpected miracle happens, which improves the characters' situation. The author also deserves to be commended for the fact that there are no loose ends by the end of the book. Everything comes a full circle, and each individual character gets their own happy ending, granted by their own miracle.

Thank you to Anne Booth, NetGalley and Harvill Secker Publishing House for providing me with a free electronic version of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A gloriously gentle and uplifting tale full of nuns, national lottery wins and general good cheer. It would make a marvellous art-house film, I really enjoyed reading it and bought it again on Kindle to read.

Not for me
Unfortunately I had to give up on this one as I just wasn't enjoying it. Couldn't really connect or feel for the characters and found it a little plodding. At the moment, with everything that's going on, I need a read that's either really engaging from the start or a warm hug of a story that puts a smile on the face of the reader. Unfortunately this book did neither for me. It's clear though that I am in the minority on this as there are lots of 4 and 5 star reviews, and as I said I didn't finish this book so maybe it would have gotten more enjoyable further in, but I just didn't feel bothered enough to find out.

I will not be sharing this review on social media as I do not share reviews of books I do not finish. (plus it's a bit negative)

Small Miracles is the perfect Christmas read. Full to the brim of laughs, love, friendship and joy. It's heartwarming from start to finish with a cast of characters that you will fall utterly and completely in love with.

How could I not be instantly intrigued and taken in by this adorable cover? I have a soft spot for cosy reads, especially in colder months, and I just knew this one would be a great, snuggly time.

Set in the 1990s, the final remaining nuns at St Philomena are struggling to stay afloat. The convent is in desperate need of repair and new nuns if it stands any chance of survival. However, they’re very short on money and interest. But then Sister Cecilia decides to enter the brand new National Lottery and that’s when the miracles begin to happen.

I loved watching the dynamics between the three nuns. They argue a lot but the love between them is so evident. In so many ways, their sisterhood felt real and unlike women who had just been thrown together randomly. It was perhaps fate that they were the last remaining nuns of the parish, as their combined forces was surely what was needed to revive it.

Of course, their simple, pure life isn’t always as straight-forward as they’d like it. They become involved in the lives of their neighbours and display complex feelings for men, which they know they can’t act upon. I think I’d have liked to see this conflict in more detail, as both Cecilia and Bridget clearly experience attractions to men. What would have happened if one or both of them had wanted to take that further?

I love Sister Bridget. Her compassion, empathy and all-round good egg aura made me smile every time it showed. She loves making cakes for pretty much anyone and everyone, so she makes friends everywhere. She is fascinated by people’s stories and other cultures, which perhaps isn’t something you’d typically expect of a devout Catholic, as the faith is often followed closely by conservatism and intolerance. However, Bridget turns that notion of a nun on its head and genuinely is a friend to everyone.

The humour in the book is quiet but charming. I laughed several times, despite the comedy not being covert. A lot of it comes from social awkwardness and misunderstandings, which I think is quite a British way of delivering humour. There is a really good dose of it and I loved how it added an extra sparkle to the whole book.

The idea of miracles ripples throughout the narrative and I started to realise that the nuns were very much the source of them. They never realised it themselves but it appeared that the nuns’ doings always seemed to create the perfect conditions for other people to fall into the path of good things. It was a really clever, subtle way of giving the nuns a kind of magical vibe while still keeping us very much in the realm of reality and possibility. It’s not like the nuns were deliberately making other people’s lives better -they just naturally, incidentally did. Unintentionally magical is really how I’d characterise the book.

Small Miracles is a unique, warm-hearted book about love, healing and of course, miracles. There are some gorgeous characterisations, plenty of wonder and even a romance that is very easy to root for. Themes of friendship, sisterhood, faith and courage are also present in this funny, feel-good hug of a book.