Reviewed by Emma Crowley
24 Merrion Square. The house stands empty, the old stone steps overgrown with thorny rose bushes. But Mary Kate feels a deep connection to the neglected, silent rooms. Could this be the place to help her heal?
Dublin 1952. When Mary Kate Ryan receives a surprise inheritance from the woman who abandoned her as a tiny baby, she’s stunned. All her life, she has longed to know why her mother disappeared, and now she’s devastated to realise that every lonely night she spent without a home or family of her own, her mother knew exactly where she was.
Mary Kate is about to refuse the money when she sees a beautiful, deserted house for sale and something sparks in her heart. She will reawaken it, as the Dublin Boarding House for Single Ladies, and provide a shelter for others as lost and alone as her. Can she help the two young girls left at the local orphanage, desperate for a home of their own? Or the pregnant teenager on the run, who only wants to keep her baby safe?
The boarding house brings Mary Kate love and friendships she never dreamed of, but just as her heart is about to burst with joy, a new guest arrives. The stern older woman won’t speak about her past, but when Mary Kate uncovers her story, it reveals a devastating secret about her mother. With her life in turmoil once more, can Mary Kate draw on the strength of the women in the house to help her face her past, or will the tragedy she uncovers spell disaster for them all…?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Irish Boarding House to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
It’s been a very long time since I read anything by Sandy Taylor but when I first saw the cover and read the blurb for The Irish Boarding House it sounded very interesting and as it was set in Ireland it made me want to read it even more. Well, what can I say it was just such a lovely read from start to finish and I found myself nearing the end before I knew it which is a good sign and shows that I didn’t find the plot dull or that it was a trial to get through as there wasn’t much happening. In fact, it was the total opposite and I was pleasantly surprised by how engrossed I became in everything. Anytime, I had to put the book down for whatever reason I found myself wanting to get back to Mary Kate and the residents of her boarding house as I was eager to see how their individual stories would pan out and how they fed into the story as a whole. Perhaps, the highest compliment I can pay The Irish Boarding House is that the further I read the more I felt this was so reminiscent of the late great Maeve Binchy. The setting, the varied cast of characters all with their own problems and then coming together as a family, the warmth and human understanding and just the overall tone and feel of the book reminded me of so many books written by Maeve. I never thought I would experience that again but through reading this gorgeous book from Sandy Taylor it evoked many happy reading memories for me.
Mary Kate Ryan is our main female character and from the outset she knows what it feels like to be abandoned as her mother Agnes gave her up and fled as soon as she was born. Her grandparents raised her and she was happy and they gave her a good childhood and upbringing but still she feels the loss of her mother and questions why she gave her up and why she never made any efforts to contact her. But now Mary Kate is alone once again as her grandparents are dead and she is left on her own. The landlord throws her out of the cottage on Tanners Row and she spends 15 years going from one horrible boarding house to another. Her despair grows ever deeper and she questions why her grandfather as one of his last dying wishes urged her to buy a new diary every year and write in it, saying she should gain wisdom from her failures and take pride in her success. As far as she can see nothing good has happened to her for years so despite buying the diaries the pages remain empty. Also why was she asked to set up a box number having been told you never know you may send you a letter.
Poor Mary Kate was so down on herself and to be honest within these first few introductory chapters there really wasn’t much that would endear you to her as a character. But when she receives a letter in the box her fortunes are changed and this came at just the right point as things really were at a bad crossroads for Mary Kate. A solicitor writes to tell her that she is now a wealthy woman having inherited her mother’s fortune and several properties in London. From here on in there is a remarkable transformation in Mary Kate. It was like the burdens were shed from her shoulders and she was determined to do good in her life both for herself and so many others. I loved that yes there was still a slight bitterness towards her mother abandoning her but that she took the money and was determined to do good with it. New clothes, a new hairstyle and wearing makeup for the first time see a new Mary Kate for the first time and I loved seeing her confidence and ambition just grow and grow throughout the book. She was determined that every day was going to be a red letter day and that she would spread her good fortune to others in the hopes of improving other people’s lives too.
A very run down house is purchased in the centre of Dublin on Merrion Square and with the help of builder Sean and some designers the house becomes the best boarding house in Dublin and it throws opens it doors to welcome a varied cast of characters. All women it must be said but from different walks of life, both young and old but all with very interesting stories which are revealed piece by piece overtime in a relaxed and measured way. There were a few twists and turns and surprising connections which emerge and the major one although I could see it coming I felt was resolved all too quickly given the past history and I would have loved just a little bit more fleshing out of it with perhaps a chapter or two more to allow for some exploration and further discussion. But aside from that I just loved this wonderful read from beginning to end and in fact I would have loved for it to have continued on.
I was initially worried that quite a number of characters were being introduced and I found myself thinking oh I’ll have such trouble keeping track of who is who and what their backstory is and how in turn it feeds into the main plot of the book. Well, I needn’t have worried at all. The way each character was introduced in that they each got their own chapter interspersed throughout the ongoing story worked perfectly. We learn how they come to be residents of the boarding house and a little bit about them but not too much was given away too soon. I just loved the family unit that they all built up and it was all thanks to Mary Kate using the money to do good not only for herself but for so many others. She became like the matriarch to whom they all turned to for advice and it wasn’t just a case that the residents were renting a room and going off to work each day, it was as if they were walking into a new family and whatever troubles or worries that had would be dealt with in a kind, compassionate and loving way no matter how big or small they were.
As mentioned there were lots of characters who featured in this story. Moira has left her teaching job after many years but is very cold and closed off. What has caused her to be this way? Mary Kate takes in Jessie and Abby from the local convent orphanage. Poor Abby doesn’t speak and Jessie is a bundle of energy and enthusiasm. Twins Polly and Orla make their way from Cork to the big smoke for the first job in the famous Cleary’s department store. But are they both happy and they tend to get involved in other people’s problems but they do have a good heart and nature about them. Colleen has a very interesting story to tell and I think Mary Kate identified the most with her. I loved how everyone gathered around Collen and was so supportive of her. As for Diane Mason is she the one with the darkest story of all?
Mary Kate was a wonderful character who did a complete 360 from when we first meet her. Her actions change peoples lives and bring peace and secure futures for many. She never made a rash judgement regarding individual women’s situations instead she offered a place of refuge and security and the women she takes her under her wing appreciated her all the more for it. I’d really love a continuation of The Irish Boarding House. Despite the way things ended I feel the characters plus many more could be brought back again and the fact that I am saying this shows how much I really enjoyed the book. If you want a heart-warming story with a few twists and turns to keep you turning the pages than I have no hesitation in recommending The Irish Boarding House.
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