This is the uplifting story of Beatrice (Bea) who is at a bad point in her life but keeps pushing through. While it is sad throughout, it is uplifting to watch Bea find solutions. It is endearing to see how much she loves her 4 year old Ella.

They meet up with a grumpy, old man in the park. He becomes a central character in their life, along with his grandson, Shayne.

It's hard for me to describe the story and the writing style. So much of me thinks it’s corny and predictable. But the other part of me keeps turning pages, cheering for Bea, wanting everything to turn out well for Bea and Ella.

This is a quick read, an easy read. It demonstrates kindness, friendship, love, resilience. The importance of family is stressed. Small things matter. These are such important characteristics to observe with all the disasters and wars happening. This book is a reminder that there is still good in the world.

Though I was satisfied by the ending, there may have been a couple of tears.

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

Your heart will break and be put back together by the end! 💔

Beatrice Alright lost her parents at a young age, and spent her teen years in Foster Care. But, she now has a family of her own with her four year old daughter, Ellie and her partner, Declan, who may not be around much because of his career as a pilot, but who has provided them with a cozy apartment to live in.

It doesn’t matter to her that she gave up on her dream of becoming a Doctor when she unexpectedly became pregnant. Or that she now works as a Cleaner at St Helen’s Hospital, instead of as a physician, because a true family is what she has yearned for most.

But, Declan walks away from them both, and doesn’t even leave her the apartment-forcing her to hide their daughter in a supply closet overnight, tucking her into a makeshift bed, between the mops and brooms. At least it’s warm, and dry, unlike the frigid Winter outside-and after all-it’s only temporary, while she saves enough money for the deposit for a Flatshare.

When Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold bench outside the hospital, wearing no hat-she doesn’t really have time to stop-she must pick up Ellie from daycare, but she always notices those who may need help-so she does. And, as his presence becomes a constant, in her now unrecognizable world, an unlikely friendship develops.

Perhaps they can heal each other?!

If you enjoy character driven novels which have you reaching for tissues, 🤧 this is a book to add to your TBR! You will shed sad tears and happy tears, as the book is part melancholy and heartbreaking and part heartwarming and hopeful.

I had never read anything by Irish author, Brooke Harris, but now that I have, I am excited to explore her back catalogue!
This book will be available on February 7, 2025 so you won’t have long to wait before you can pick up a copy too!

Thank You to Storm Publishing for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, I am sharing my candid thoughts.

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright is an emotional novel about human resilience in the face of adversity.

It is a story of love, hope, friendships and new beginnings. It has a well drawn cast of characters that you can't help but care about and it is a touching story that I found hard to put down.

4****

This is a beautifully written story that certainly pulled on my heartstrings. It just goes to show how quickly your life can change (don’t even get me started on Declan!) and how, through no fault of your own, you can find yourself homeless. There are a real mixed bag of characters in this book that you will either love or hate. Bea is certainly a strong, proud and resourceful woman, even though you might not understand or agree with all of her motives. Ellie is adorable and I loved her relationship with ‘Malco’. Overall it is a book about friendships coming together in places you least expect and how we can all learn to look out for each other so we can all ‘Be(a) alright’! Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for letting me read and review this book. 4.5 ⭐️

What a great story! After so many setbacks Bea still finds opportunities to care, for her daughter of course but also ‘her’ patients, friend and even the lonely man sitting outside the hospital. When she discovers his story she wants to help. Can she give herself and her daughter the future they deserve?

I really enjoyed this story with great characters. A story of empathy specially in difficult times.

Thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story.

Bea is such an upbeat and positive character. And Ellie is adorable. I loved Malcolm and how he was so willing to help Bea. I also loved how patient he is and how much he wants to repair the relationship with his daughter.
This is a beautiful book about second chances and finding a new place to belong.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC.

Beatrice, Mum to 4 year old Ellie, is a cleaner at St Helen's Hospital in Dublin after she had to drop out of medical school. She grew up in foster care and her boyfriend Declan turns out to be married and suddenly leaves, withdrawing his financial support. After a living arrangement at friend Cora's becomes unsustainable due to her annoying boyfriend, Beatrice and Ellie end up homeless at Christmas, sleeping in a hospital cupboard until she is rumbled by boss Elaine - who has a surprising connection to other characters.

Beatrice never loses hope though, she has a child to look after so she simply makes it work, from saving money by walking everywhere, eating less and making a Christmas jumper herself when required to, to striking up unexpected friendships with elderly Malcolm and his grandson Shayne. They both have their hidden traumas too which are gradually exposed.

Homelessness is often shamefully hidden and not talked about, unless without respect for the unhoused. It can happen so fast - in Beatrice's case due to one man who simply vanishes, without paying child support. I was incredibly upset about this unfairness, hitting women who have to look after a child instead of getting a career doubly hard. It also highlights how every unforeseen expenditure like a late fee at the crèche can topple a careful budget, and how shelters can often be less safe than expected.

Malcolm is a cantankerous, terminally ill man who hasn't spoken to his daughter in ages. He tries to make amends but it seems too late. Instead, he spends more and more time with Beatrice, Ellie and Shayne, showing us the power of intergenerational friendship and found family.

The more time Bea spends with Shayne the more she likes him. There is a Princess Bride-esque line about "his blue eyes are the colour of the sea after a storm", but then Declan reappears, keen to reconcile - what should she do? What would be best for her daughter? Ellie is a lovely child and your heart will break over her circumstances and her continuous cheer about kite flying and her friend "Malco".

This is a beautifully written, engaging and emotional story about falling on hard times and second chances, and that you should never push people away. It's a heartwarming and uplifting book about the power of kindness that will stay with you, and I read it in a day. A great new author for me!

Just as an aside: Who puts Rich Tea biscuits in the fridge? Disturbing.

I loved this book! Bea & Ellie captured my attention (and my heart) from Page 1, and I could hardly stand to put them down. Brooke Harris expertly brought the emotions and struggles of these characters to life.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this novel.

A beautiful story of friendship, relationships and family, that truly tugged at the heartstrings.

Bea's life changes in an instant after partner Declan breaks some news to her. The story follows Bea in her determination to not give up, and to find a way through for herself and daughter Ellie. I loved the characters of Bea, Shayne and Malcolm, but intensely disliked Declan and Fintan - the author had two very extremes of character there! The story shows how easy it is for life to change in an instant, and how hard it can be to change it back - it really played with my emotions, I cried multiple times. Just a lovely book.

What a quick and fun read. I was so engrossed i finished in 2 days.
Highly recommend. Look forward to more from this author.

Thank you for allowing me to review this book. This story highlights the challenging circumstances that some people face in life. It also highlights the fact that no one really knows what is going on in people's lives. I felt for Bea and her daughter Ellie. The characters are so well written and her innocence is worrying. Malcolm is lovely, his story is also delightful but upsetting. It was a good read and certainly pulled on my heartstrings.
I can recommend this book.

I enjoyed this emotional tale of a mother keeping hope alive for her daughter, in the face of major obstacles. The characters seemed realistic, were relatable, and the dialogue was real. I have to admit I did tear up a bit near the end. I liked the Dublin setting, and I'm glad I had the Oxford English Dictionary loaded, as I had to look up several terms (creche, for one) that I had no idea what they meant!

Would I read more from the author? Absolutely!

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This book is an engaging and emotional novel that keeps readers hooked with its mix of mystery and personal transformation

When her four year old daughter's father ends the relationship. Beatrice has two weeks to find new lodgings.
Unfortunately, she and her daughter end up sleeping in a closet filled with cleaning supplies at the hospital where
she works. Her encounter with an elderly gentleman sitting on a bench outside the hospital is one of the few
bright spots in her life, As Beatrice and her daughter spend time with the elderly man, all their lives change for the
better. Story about human connections and resilience.
#TheSecretLifeofBeatriceAlbright #StormPublishing #NetGalley

Brooke Harris has a new fan right here!! This was my first time reading a novel by her, but I’m sure it won’t be my last. A bittersweet emotional novel that had me thinking about the characters even when I wasn’t reading.

Bea is a young mother to a four year old daughter. She dropped out of medical school and works as a hospital janitor, but their lifestyle is quite good because her boyfriend is a pilot and makes a decent wage. Bea is expecting a proposal and gets dumped instead. She finds herself a single mother, with no support struggling to find a home. A series of events leave the pair homeless forced to seek refuge in a hospital closet to sleep. Bea clearly has enough problems of her own, but she can’t help befriending an elderly man she sees sitting outside the hospital on a bench in the cold daily. His loneliness was palpable, while his zingers delivered the laughs. She and Malcolm begin an unlikely friendship that made my heart ❤️ smile!😊

This novel tackles hard themes, but manages to feel uplifting. My emotions were all over the place and I loved every minute of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an Advanced Readers Copy. These are my unbiased opinions.

4.5 stars that I will gladly round up to a resounding 5.

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright is a wonderful read that has you smiling, shedding a tear and laughing out loud.

Bea Albright is a kind soul and she takes time to help strangers or sit on a bench with them like she did with Malcolm.

Malcolm is elderly and such a character that you cant help but love the old curmudgeon.

Bea find her and her 4 year old daughter homeless as Christmas approaches and her pride wont let her tell even her best friend.

Bea does what any mother would do : she sacrfices for Ellie and puts her first even if it is sleeping in a storage closet.

Malcom is a fixture on that bench and when their friendship grows and he takes Bea and Ellie under his wing you breath a sigh of relief.

Malcolm has his own personal struggles and his own story that will tug at your heart.

Brooke Harris takes the reader on an emotional journey that will have you reaching for kleenex, smiling and shows you the power of kindness and the strength that resilience brings.

I highly reccommend The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright and this book will stay with me for a very long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of reading and reviewing this wonderful book.

Where do I start with this book, it broke my heart, made me smile and brought me to tears!

I loved The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris!
Bea Alright is down on her luck, her boyfriend of over 4 years leaves her and their daughter for his 'proper family' leaving her homeless. Every time she seems to catch a break, something else happens. On a snowy day when she has to collect her daughter from creche, she meets Malcolm, the grumpy straight talking old man sitting on a bench outside the hospital where she works.
Without her knowing, her life starts to change then.
I highly recommend this book, and I am excited to read more from Brooke Harris.
Thank you to Storm Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh my, where do I begin! First I will say that Brooke Harris has an incredible gift to take difficult situations in life and create a story from the ashes and bones of trauma. Through highly detailed descriptions, exquisite atmosphere and moving dialogue, she paints such a vivid picture you are pulled into the storyline immediately. While she exposes the characters’ source of pain, our empathy ramps up to such a level we find ourselves choking back tears. We are drawn into an authentic drama, transported into the very shoes of the characters, to experience their emotional upheaval.

At times while reading The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright I felt physically ill. This poor woman Bea had to endure such disappointments. Her diligence to protect and care for her child is admirable. This plot grabbed my heart so fiercely I had to take breaks and step outside in the sun to level out my emotions. But, of course, I could not stay away very long as I wanted to keep reading—even when I guessed the outcome. For my heart was invested in the characters. They came across as people any of us could know. These sorts of events happen in the real world. Many become homeless for various reasons: loss of income, not enough income, high cost of living, abandonment, infidelity, betrayal to name a few—even death of loved ones are all common occurrences.

Bea had a rough childhood which is why she fought so hard to give her child a normal and secure life. She always wanted Ellie to feel wanted and loved. When Bea is betrayed by her much older boyfriend, pilot Declan, father of her child, she becomes homeless. She cannot afford to pay the costly rent while trying to feed and cover child care fees for Ellie. Her job at the hospital, as a cleaner, obviously pays small returns. Her financial dependence on Declan for major living expenses puts her in a bad position. For now that he is gone, she is unable to fill the financial gap. And worse, it is just before Christmas when he leaves her stranded. She has made mistakes, yes, and trusted the wrong man but it becomes obvious she is a good person with a caring heart for others in distress: some qualities that would have gone far in the profession she originally had chosen. We learn that Bea dropped out of university when she was studying to be a doctor to care for her daughter.

Cora, Bea’s best friend, tries to help but her boyfriend is not happy to have Bea and her daughter as guests. So Bea moves into a storage closet at the hospital with her daughter and tries to dodge her boss and co-workers from discovering her sleeping arrangements. A lot happens during this time and the trials keep mounting. Then she meets an elderly man, Malcolm, and his grandson Shayne who radically alter her life. Bea has a lot of compassion and when she sees an elderly man outside the hospital sitting on a bench in the cold with no hat, she is worried for his health. She tries to help him. Yet he insists he is fine. But as she gradually gets to know him and the reasons he is there, her heart becomes heavily invested in his predicament. And though things are grim, Malcolm is full of surprises. He has a wicked sense of humour, is somewhat stubborn but has a heart of gold and helps her in ways she’d never imagine. He is good with her daughter, too, and they all build a warm and rewarding relationship that fills gaps in their lives. Bea actually works for his daughter, Elaine, at the hospital but the relationship between father and daughter is not good. And, of course, Bea tries to do something about that. Then caring grandson, Shayne, enters the picture. He is back in Dublin from New York. He has been very worried about his grandfather and continues to check on him. When he meets Bea and Ellie through their time with Malcolm, a warmth develops between them and you know they are going to be good for each other, if given the chance. This ‘family’ of relatives and friends is truly beautiful and their joyful moments of kite flying represent a freeing of their cares to become a time of healing and restoration. There are a few sad outcomes but the ending also shows how new life can spring from the traumas and trials of the past.

I loved this novel. It moved me in so many directions emotionally with its powerful, passionate and triumphant delivery. Be prepared for your heart to shatter and your eyes to fill with tears for this is moving, magical and mesmerising fiction that reflects the serious truths of life. The novel covers the good and bad of relationships. But also the reality of homelessness for many. And Brooke Harris paints a vivid unforgettable picture of those who have experienced it and overcome the odds. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a review copy.

Oh I loved this so much! When Bea's life falls apart, she refuses to be beaten, even if it means she has to live in the cleaning cupboard at the hospital where she works, with Ellie, her four year old daughter. When Bea a takes a seat on the bench outside the hospital, she meets Malcolm, a bit of a grumpy old fella, but Bea feels a connection with him and persists in trying to find out why he spends his days on that bench.

Bea is a resilient and determined young woman, with so much love and dedication to her daughter, even the hardest heart would find themselves rooting for her. Amongst the struggles and heartache that Bea and Malcolm endure, there is also some brilliant humour, mainly thanks to four year old Ellie, and so much hope.

The writing is beautifully immersive and Brooke Harris really knows how to balance the heartache and humour, to pull the reader's emotions all over the place in the most absorbing way. It may only be early January, but this is definitely going on my top reads list for 2025!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Brooke Harris and Storm for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Oh I think my heart just broke a little bit! Bea is a mum and finds herself in a position nobody would ever like to be in. She is fiercely proud and used to fending for herself. Then along comes Malcolm very unexpectedly and the story unfolds in a most lovely way. You will need tears at the end be warned.