Cover Image: My Heart Went Walking

My Heart Went Walking

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Member Reviews

Sally Hanan’s new novel "My Heart Went Walking" is a sweeping story told from the shifting perspectives of characters about whom you will care.

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This story which is set in the 80s Ireland is about 2 sisters Una and Ellie and their common friend Cullen. Una leaves her rural home when she gets pregnant leaving behind her heart and life.
I loved the plot of this book..it has so many emotions of love, loss, grief, acceptance and redemption.
It was an enjoyable read and I would look out for authors other work in future.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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This debut novel by Sally Hanan was wonderful and and I hope she writes many more. It’s a coming of age story in 80’s Ireland about two sisters. They’re both faced with several major life changing decisions. I really appreciated that everything doesn’t turn out perfectly tidy though I was very happy with how it ended. It definitely pulls at all the heart strings of love, sadness, family ties, growing up and more. I highly recommend this one. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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My Heart Went Walking – and so it did, together with Una’s, Ellie’s and Cullen’s. This story felt so real – it was heart-warming, sad, raw and emotional. The dialogues were some of my favourite parts of the book and I marked quite a few quotes for myself. All the characters grew special to me, it’s a gem of a book. I adored Sally Hanan’s writing style and highly recommend this read I would happily read any future book of hers, too. Many thanks to NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

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My Heart Went Walking by Sally Hanan

In 1980s Donegal, Ireland, 16 year old Una leaves her home and family behind when she becomes pregnant, believing it to be the best course of action for her and her baby. We follow the ups and downs of her new life in Dublin and her family back home in Donegal.

I loved this book and it definitely deserves the comparison with Maeve Binchy's books. Some serious issues are dealt with but in a heartwarming way, the characters are so realistic with all their quirks and flaws, and the story is a real page-turner. Very highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

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This book is part women's fiction, part historical fiction set in Ireland in the 1980s. Written from the perspective of 3 characters (sisters, Una & Ellie + their friend, Cullen), it is aptly described as 'An Irish tale of love, loss and redemption'.

The plot to this book was both unique and intriguing. The author did a great job at getting you wanting to know what was going to happen to the characters next. I also think this book did a good job at capturing the Irish lingo and I really enjoyed how that aspect of the book brought the characters to life.

However, I didn't have any strong feelings for or against the characters which is maybe why I feel a little blah about this book. The ending was also a little too wrapped up tight with a bow with everything all worked out for all the characters.

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Wonderful book so true to life now! Love how everything does work when you ask and don't just think you know what someone is thinking

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Thank you for NetGalley for giving me a copy of this book.

This is my literary fiction and I loved it.

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A beautifully written coming-of-age story. Set in Ireland in the 1980s, the influence of the catholic church at the time led to the main character making a decision that would influence not only her own life but that of her family and best friend. It was a joy to read - a story of hope and forgiveness. It was truly lovely. Highly recommended.

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Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.

What an amazing debut this is, I was totally invested in the characters, it definitely tugs on your heartstrings.

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My Heart Went Walking is a heart warming story that will capture your heart.

Una finds her self pregnant at the age of 16 and leaves her small town heading to Dublin as thinks this is the best move not only for her but for the baby's father and both families.

Una has nothing in Dublin but a kind couple take her in.

My Heart Went Walking is a story of love, family and choices we make and what we make out of those choices.

This is a debut novel from Sally Hanan and I can't wait to read her next endeavor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Fire Drinkers Publishing for an engaging read that kept me captivated.

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"My Heart Went Walking" by Sally Hanan is a debut novel!

Una Gallagher tells her mam she's pregnant. She's sixteen-years-old, unmarried, and scared. She's part of a devoutly Catholic family and community of Donegal, Ireland during the 1980's.

Not wanting to bring shame to her family, the unborn child's father, Cullen, or give up her child, as her mum insists she does, young Una runs away without telling anyone she's leaving, where she's going or why.

Una's younger sister, Ellie, is beside herself with worry. Cullen is not only the unborn child's father but Una's BFF since childhood. He continues to connect with Una's family and, as time passes, develops more than just a friendly relationship with Ellie.

Two sisters, one boyfriend, an unborn child, and two families. What will happen to these three individuals and the families that surround and love them?

Una, Ellie, and Cullen are three protagonists offering first person narratives leading the reader through this story. I enjoyed each character's point-of-view, the layering of two separate scenarios and how the author brought both together.

This was just what I needed after listening to back-to-back reads with heavy topics. This one is Women's Literary Fiction that's easy to read, has a rural Ireland setting, and wonderful characters.

The pace is, at times, a little slow and everything falls into place a little too perfectly but it is an enjoyable diversion, I never lost interest and I welcomed the respite of a lighter read! I am looking forward to what this author comes up with next!

I recommend to readers who enjoy Women's literary Fiction or just a light read! 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, BookSirens, Fire Drinkers Publishing and Sally Hanan for a free ARC. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review. The expected publication date is 2/5/22.

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This was a very sweet and heartwarming story set in Donegal, Ireland, centered on 3 teenagers. It was a character driven story about choices that we make and their consequences. It was about kindness in the midst of despair. It was about being so determined not to hurt others with critical decisions, that that’s exactly what happened. It was about stubbornness. It was about wanting to do what was right. It was about being a parent. It was about being a teen. It was about figuring out life.

I loved the story, but more than that, loved the manner in which it was presented. It was beautifully and sensitively written. I will definitely look forward to additional offerings from Sally Hanan.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Fire Drinkers Publishing, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars for a work of literary fiction that takes place in early 1980s rural Ireland. The book opens with Una Gallagher telling her mother that she is pregnant. Una is 16 and unmarried--still a source of shame in Donegal, Ireland. Her mother decides that she must give the baby up for adoption. Una flees to Dublin because she wants to keep the baby. How she manages to find help in Dublin from an unlikely source and keep her baby is a heartwarming story.
She eventually manages to reconnect with her family and the father after the first attempt goes awry, when she sees her younger sister and her boyfriend together. Her seeing the two of them a few moments after she gets gets off the bus from Dublin seemed a bit contrived when I read it, but it does work well with the rest of the story.
The author provides a glossary of Irish terms and English equivalents which is helpful if you are not from Ireland.
One quote: Ellie, Una's sister: "Sometimes I feel like I'm just watching us happen, like I'm an actor in a movie and all this loved and stuff is part of someone else's life."
Thanks to Sally Hanan and Fire Drinkers Publishing for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#Irishfiction #NetGalley

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In the early 1980's 17 year old Una feels she has no option but to leave her Donegal family when she tells her mum she's pregnant and her mum says the baby needs to go for adoption. She doesn't want to burden the father of .her unborn child. But on her arrival in Dublin she finds herself cold and hungry with nowhere to sleep. Thanks to the local vicar she manages to find a home and her life completely changes. But back in Donegal illness strikes her family and Una has to decide which road to take.
I really enjoyed reading Unas story intermingled with her sister's and the father of her child. The book was very easy to read and a great debut from Sally. I would like yo thank Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. I am under no obligation to leave my honest review

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What an adventure we take with Una, Ellie and Cullen. We start with Una discovering she's pregnant with Cullen's baby and in an attempt to protect him and their child, she leaves Donegal. She's and Cullen are brought back together later on when her sister Ellie becomes ill.
The love and loss felt throughout this debut is palpable, you feel it in your chest. The world building Sally Hanan does truly puts you in Ireland in the mid-eighties, I could see everything playing out in my head as I read.
The book is written with alternating POV between Una, Ellie and Cullen and it's incredible to feel like you're seeing them grow from awkward, scared teenagers to capable adults. They are as flawed as you and I, which is frustrating at times but also endears them to you. Full of love and heartache and longing.

Solid 4/5. A wonderful debut and I look forward to more in the future.

Thank you to Fire Drinkers Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC. This is a voluntary review.

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"Why did I love him? I've though about it for so long now. I think it's because I felt complete with him, like I'd never need anyone else but him in my life and I'd be okay."

My Heart Went Walking is an interesting debut novel set in the Ireland of the 1980s. It tells the story of sisters Una and Ellie, as well as their mutual love interest Cullen. Best friend turned lover, we start the story with Una finding out she is pregnant with Cullen's baby. Not wanting to burden Cullen, and afraid of her mom taking her baby away, Una leaves home for Dublin. With Una out of the picture, younger sister Ellie falls for Cullen.... but faith is to bring the three of them back together as Ellie falls ill...

The book is written alternating POV between the three characters and that really helped me to stay with the story, as sometimes the pace and plot seemed to flounder a bit. The characters are (sometimes frustratingly) real and flawed, allowing each of them to go through significant character growth throughout the book, as ultimately this is not a story about mistakes made determining who we are. It is a story about family ties, sisterly love, second chances and outgrowing the mistakes we make during childhood/early adulthood.

Bittersweet and heartwarming, this book is one about life. The ups, the downs, and the just so-so's.

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This was such a heartbreaking story of love and loss. Romantic love, parental love and the love we find in friends. I devoured every single word until the last page was turned. It sucked me in and didn't let me go. The mid-eighties timeline and the Irish setting had my imagination and memories going at full tilt. I loved the rollercoaster of emotions the book made me feel as well.

The story is told from three points of view, over a two year period, and it made me feel like I knew each character personally. I loved reading about Una, Ellie and Cullen and it was like I was watching them grow from emotionally confused teens to straight up strong adults. I am amazed that this is a debut and was so pleasantly surprised that I loved it so much. It was the perfect palate cleanser between morbid thrillers, it made me happy, sad and I hugged my tablet when I flipped the last page. Ms. Hanan you have a new fan in Canada!

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My Heart Went Walking is a heart-warming story that tugs through your heartstrings. It's a story of every woman in the world journeys through heartaches, grief unto forgiveness and self-love. Set in a rich picturesque backgrounds, the heroine connects with nature to heal herself and find the right path towards the life she deserves.

The point of view used by the author makes the readers see through the eyes of the heroine as though her life is also their lives. Indeed, a life worth living for.

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I loved this story. When I first started reading it, I did think oh… maybe Young Adult book and perhaps not for me. However the writing pulls you in almost as soon as you start reading it and I was soon quite a few chapters in, by which time I decided that I was enjoying it far too much to pass it by.

I enjoyed the way it is written, told in alternating chapters by the three main characters, Una, Ellie and Cullen. By writing it this way we can hear the story from different perspectives and know how each character is feeling and reacting to what is happening in the others lives. It is evocative of how I imagine life to be back in 1980’s Ireland with the two sisters growing up in a strict but loving catholic family. I liked the dialogue and the way the family is portrayed, with the older children of the family helping out with the younger ones.

The plot covers teenage pregnancy, running away from home, sleeping rough, romance, family, and other topics too which I won’t go into because I would hate to spoil the story for readers. It’s about overcoming difficult stages in life, and has a really positive and uplifting vibe to it. It has some fantastic supporting characters and compelling, sometimes sad story threads running through.

A wonderful debut novel, beautifully and sensitively written and I really hope there will be more books to come from this author as I really enjoyed this one.

**To be posted to my blog on publication date and to Goodreads now.**

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