In a Nutshell: Not bad, not outstanding. Heartwarming, a bit over-the-top, funny, predictable, slow, interesting. Pretty much mixed feedback all the way. Will be a nice one-time read for those who like light fiction.

Story Synopsis:
1995. The order of the Sisters of Saint Philomena has just three nuns left - Sisters Margaret, Bridget and Cecilia. Their home needs repairs but they have no savings, no funds coming their way, and no new novices. 90 year old Sr. Cecilia has resorted to buying lottery tickets and is confident that her prayers will give them a win. To everyone’s surprise, (ahem… except for the readers – we know what’s to come), they do win a small jackpot one day. But this leads to a butterfly effect of events, which forms the rest of the plot.

Where the book worked for me:
🌹 I must admit, the biggest reason for my opting for this title was that I have read too many books bashing nuns for their rigid beliefs. (And rightfully so!) I wanted to try something that would be akin to the portrayal of nuns in ”Sister Act”, more humane and approachable, letting us know the person behind the habit. This book delivers on that count. The sisters in this book aren’t the typical judgemental or old-fashioned kinds (for the most part – 90 year old Sr. Cecilia is an exception, but she too is critical only in one instance), nor are they perfectly goody-goody. I loved the portrayal of the three religious.
🌹 I had assumed the sisters to be the focal point of the story. But there are many subplots woven around the convent and the lottery win, most of which are interesting. All the tracks tie up neatly at the end. Most of the secondary characters are also sketched well.
🌹 There is a little suspension of disbelief required, depending on your worldview of ‘miracles’. There are a series of small miracles, some of which seem like miracles, some are just serendipitous coincidences, and some are instances of a “pay it forward”. If you leave the logical part of your brain aside, it is easier to get into the groove of the story and enjoy it for what it is.
🌹 There are some funny moments in the narration, but the main theme of the story is of friendship, faith, trust, and hope.
🌹 To my absolute (and pleasant) surprise, there are queer characters in the book! The icing on the cake was that the sisters don’t judge them for their homosexuality. How refreshing! (Though I must also admit, it is a bit unrealistic. Most nuns I know won’t be as accepting…Sigh!)
🌹 For a story set around nuns, I did expect prayers and blind faith in God to be part of the plot. But most of this comes across as balanced and not fatalistic. The only thing that irked me was Sr. Margaret’s tendency to “talk to the Lord” after every few sentences. It was overdone.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
🌵 It is slow-paced and meanders through the multiple subplots and characters. You really need to keep your patience with it until you see how things come together.
🌵 It is tricky to remember the numerous characters, especially at the start.
🌵 Some minor plot points are left hanging.
🌵 Was it necessary to make George cry in almost every scene he is a part of? Sheesh.
🌵 I wasn’t GRIPPED by the story, if you know what I mean. I could keep the book aside even mid-chapter without a tinge of curiosity.

All in all, this was a sweet and heartwarming story. I didn’t hate anything but I wasn’t wowed by it. A feel-good, one-time read for those who like cosy fiction.

3.5 stars, rounding up in hope of divine blessings. 😉

My thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the DRC of “Small Miracles”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

An ok, pleasant read, although I found that this book didn't flow quite as much as I would have liked.
I had expected prayers in a book about nuns but not quite as many as this which also probably hindered the flow.
It was a sweet if fanciful story, an easy warm read with nothing too demanding for the reader.

A lovely gentle story but nevertheless an interesting one with the .layers merging into one good book. The characters are well-,rounded and the plot is very well written. I enjoyed reading Small Miracles and would recommend it to anyone who wanted a nice undemanding book to read.

Small Miracles is a lovely book with a really cosy feel-good vibe. The sisters of Saint Philomena are doing their best to keep their convent running despite it needing extensive and expensive repairs and really needing more sisters too. They are lacking a sense of purpose since the school they used to be involved with recently merged to become a comprehensive and their services are no longer required. I would say they felt a bit adrift and unsure what God wanted them to do. A miracle was needed.

And with a modest lottery win, small miracles do start to happen. I really liked this portrayal of the religious community, not as one with strong fundamental beliefs they wanted to impose on others (although Sister Cecilia comes close to this at times) but as people who genuinely wanted to help others and do the best for their community. There was a bit of a ripple effect as what happens after the lottery win has many knock-on effects and touches many people’s lives for the better. I found George’s story particularly touching.

With Small Miracles featuring nuns, it’s certainly easy to say that if you like Call the Midwife you will enjoy this. You probably will though, as it has the same themes of community, friendship, kindness and love. It’s a heart-warming, charming read with a few secrets and surprises along the way and a cast of quirky and lovable characters. It really shows that small miracles happen all around and often in the most unexpected ways.

What a terrifically enjoyable read!

St. Philomena’s used to be a thriving convent at the heart of the community, but now their numbers are dwindling. With only three nuns left, the house is too big for their and in need of dire repair and Sister Margaret, thrown into the deep end as the newly appointed Sister Superior is faced with the stark choice of having to sell up and find another order to take them in. Sister Bridget is their cook, also attending to the culinary needs of the parish priest, and is happiest in the kitchen. Sister Cecilia is elderly and focused entirely on her research while putting her faith on a lottery win to get them out of trouble. So what happens when their numbers come up?

What a truly wonderful read! Every so often, along comes a novel I find myself unable to tear myself away from; eager to finish the story but never wanting it to end. The characters are beautifully crafted, the story is so delightful; this is a lovely, gentle tale with a sprinkling of humour and a very satisfying ending. I lost myself in this one, and it’s not a novel I will easily forget. Highly recommended, and one I’m so happy to give all five shining stars!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is – as always – my honest, original and unbiased review.

Sweet, charming and very old school.
It took me back to a different time.
The sisters of Saint Philomena are in financial trouble and their home is in need of repairs. A time of small miracles follows, with their lovely neighbours and friends.
This is slow and quirky, which I did find a little frustrating at times,,,,, but probably more to do with me than the book.
Very sweet, but I couldn't read another.
Thank you for the early read NetGalley

St Philomena's Covent is down to three sisters, Sister Cecilia, is in her 90s and obsessed with researching a local benefactor with a view to putting him up for sainthood. Sister Bridget, who is a brilliant cook and Parish Sister. And lastly, Sister Margaret who is Mother Superior by default and is finding it hard to deal with on the back of the death of her fellow sister and friend. The Covent's finances are dire and it's looking as though they will have to sell the building to raise funds to carry on. Sister Margaret prays for help from God, but worries that she is not deserving and feels that she is lacking.
A lottery win and a mysterious photograph start a chain of events that could make or break the fortunes of the Convent and all roads lead to Italy.
I loved this book, it's a lovely read.

I really liked this charming heartwarming book full of hope with is gentle humour makes for an entertaining read.
Well written with loveable characters it’s twists & turns entertain us throughout.
It’s one of those feel good reads we all need now & again in this tipsy turbo world of ours.
The sisters of the order of Saint Philomena are praying for a miracle as their numbers are down to three now & the place they call home is in bad need of repair.
They may have to face up to selling & joining another order but for sisters Margaret , Bridget & Cecilia this is a last resort.
The writer takes you on an uplifting journey where we really get to know the nuns on a more personal level.
They in turn learn more about life, love & friendship that they would ever of thought possible.
Took me a little to get into at first getting to know all the different characters but stick with it as it really is a hug in a book kind of read.

A delightful read that left me with a content feeling.
The story centres around a convent that only has three remaining nuns and is in desperate needs of funds.
We find more about the lives of the nuns and also some of the people in their parish
The story that unfolds is about love and optimism with a sprinkling of sadness but overall the book is a comforting read.
The characters are amiable and I longed for them all to succeed and find their happiness.
A charming and cosy read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK.

Isn't Sr Bridget grand? This is cosy feelgood mystery, a little predictable towards the end, but it doesn't really suffer for that. I have a copy pre-ordered to give to my oldest friend who is a Mother Superior!

In 'Small Miracles' by Anne Booth, three nuns remain within The Sisters Of St Philomena's, a once thriving convent and school. Due to all of them aging, and having limited funds, the future does not seem bright. As a result, they turn a blind eye to the slightly ungodly addiction to the lottery one of the sisters has, particularly as she prays for the correct numbers. When they win, The Sisters of St. Philomena's set off of an unexpected voyage of discovery.

This is a cute, quirky book, that has been described by others as the equivalent of a literary hug. It definitely fits with the current 'uplit' genre and is therefore a good book for when you need something cheering. The nun's relationship with their god, who they speak to as if god is an old friend, is particularly charming. This book perhaps fits with times when Tv programmes such as midsummer murders or Father Brown, appeal.

A delightful story of individuals all searching for fulfilment and in need of a miracle to find it. Carefully woven and interwoven storylines from three nuns in need of finance to keep their home alive to those in need of a loving relationship. The quest to bring solace to the nuns brings them altogether.

I reviewed Small Miracles for book recommendation company LoveReading. I’ve chosen the book to feature as a Debut of the Month on the site. Please see site for full review.

Based on the cover I was expecting this book to be a lot more fun and light hearted, but it deals with the struggles of grief and faith. I would say that this is more of a character driven story, of Sister Margaret in a particular.

I don't think it's fair to give a rating to a book that I don't enjoy when there isn't anything actually wrong with it. This is a well written book it just wasn't to my particular taste.

Nuns are usually viewed as otherworldly, set apart, and in many ways they are. A covert, cloistered life lends an air of shrouded mystery to its inhabitants. But when we hone in on their holiness and saintliness, we’re apt to forget the humanity that exists.

Anne Booth lifts the veil on this tiny, disparate group from Saint Philomena who find themselves adrift as their convent population drastically diminishes. She reveals the vulnerable people beneath as we gain an insightful glimpse of their all too real challenges, problems, pain, and conflicts.

Struggling Sister Margaret is finding it hard to cope with the sudden, crushing responsibilities of leadership for which she feels ill-equipped. Sanguine Sister Bridget, with her sunny, optimistic streak, has her own concerns as she governs her domestic domain.

Whereas history-gathering Sister Cecilia, the senior in years, feels the most displaced and is anxious about their future existence. All looks bleak on the surface as they grieve the loss of their beloved Superior Sister Helen and seek to keep themselves and the convent afloat.

Until an unexpected series of events (including a lottery win) and several minor miracles occur. They offer new opportunities, jolt them out of their worried reveries, and make them view their lives differently. This delightful, gently humorous story tugs at the heartstrings.

It encourages us to believe that change for the better is possible and achievable. We see how faith, hope and prayer have startling power to alter perspectives and turn a life around. Grateful thanks to Random House, UK Vintage and NetGalley for the ARC

Sisters Margaret, Bridget and Cecilia are the last three nuns in the order of Saint Philomena, which is suffering from lack of funds as well as lack of members. Things are kicked off by a lottery win, which then leads to a whole series of events bothers here and it Italy.
Definitely a bit quirky, with a mix of humour, romance and a touch of religion I enjoyed reading it. I liked the down to earth character of Sister Bridget, struggled with Sister Cecelia but felt most aligned with Sister Margaret, struggling with being the Mother Superior of a dying convent. Although there is that religious basis to the story it isn't "in your face", but is very gentle and, to be honest, reassuring that it isn't necessarily aligned with bigotry. A rather nice way of spending a few hours realising that there is some good in the world.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

Maybe I wasn't in the right mood for this book as, while it was good to read a positive story, it was a bit too twee and contrived for me. The people were all likeable and one knew that even the mean ones would shine at the end. Unsurprisingly there was an awful lot of praying and cake eating and, perhaps more unexpectedly an awful lot of crying. I found the whole story around the flying nun completely unbelievable and wished the characters had been a bit more rounded. Overall it felt like there were some really good ideas for an uplifting book, but they didnt quite gel
together.

Thank you to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book

This is an unusual story, uplifting and hopeful, mostly. The story of the three sisters in the 1990s trying to find the way and means to remain in their convent, was by turns amusing, sad and a little dull and two dimensional at times.
Some of the sisters’ communications with God were a bit lengthy and repetitive. Other parts of the story were overly sweet, verging on the saccharine, to be honest. There were many side characters who could have been further developed, and others who were too cliched. An easy read, though I confess to speed reading the lengthier passages when they didn’t move the story on. There was much praying, as you might expect, and rather a lot of crying.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

What a lovely book…this is one of those books that you pick up if you’re feeling a bit down, or you just need something to lift the soul.

A wonderful story about three wonderful Sisters, all of whom I just adored, and the “little miracles” they create around them whilst just wanting one for themselves..

An absolutely heartwarming, life affirming story.

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

A charming book that looks at the intertwined lives of the last three nuns at St Philomena’s and the local town. A warm tale with a number of caricatures but that doesn’t detract from the warm and cosy feeling. It felt like a female version of ‘Father Ted’ at times, and some of the dialogue could be a little more polished , but overall this left me with a warm and fuzzy tale that kept me reading and engaged.

4*, with an easy writing style