The title of this book definitely caught my attention and the cover pulled me in until I knew I had to read it. The characters are well developed and I grew to love Beatrice (Bea), Ellie, and Malcolm. Ellie was such a joy and I loved listening to her excited voice. I think she made the audiobook even better! This is an emotional read as you experience Bea’s struggles with loss of a home, security, a future. But the people you meet in life along the way may make a difference and help you find the hope to continue. This one had sad and happy tears streaming down my face. I loved the way the relationship between the characters developed and how family is sometimes one you find … not one in which you were born.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Book Club
Contemporary
Fiction
Romance
Women’s Fiction

This novel is a poignant exploration of life’s fragility and the enduring strength of love. Brooke Harris masterfully portrays characters facing profound challenges without succumbing to despair, instead highlighting their resilience and capacity for joy. The depiction of the child character stands out for its authenticity, capturing the nuances of youthful perspective with remarkable accuracy. Set against a winter backdrop, the story transcends seasonal themes, offering a narrative that prompts readers to reflect on their own blessings. It’s a testament to the power of community, the unyielding bond of a mother’s love, and the human spirit’s ability to heal. A truly moving read that lingers long after the final page.

Beatrice is an eternal optimist. Even when her husband leaves her and 4 year old daughter, Ellie, she moves into the broom closet at the hospital where she works. A chance encounter with Malcolm on a bench outside the hospital changes both their lives. As she slowly starts to draw out Malcolm’s heartbreaking story, could this simple act of kindness begin to heal a decades-old pain? And might finding peace for Malcolm help Bea in ways she didn’t even know she needed? This book will restore your faith in the goodness of people.

I’m sure someone would have thought of the alternative title- ‘Beatrice Alright is not Alright’ because that’s what the book is about. The cover and the writing style in the first few pages led me to think of this book as a light one, but once things started to go wrong I had to keep reading all the way through just to see some happy moments come in.

The terrible situation Bea finds herself in is no joke. I shudder to think of so many people who must be facing similar situations all the time. Bea had limited funds and an even more limited set of friends she can rely on. What she does have is empathy and a really caring nature. Life has thrown bad stuff at her and continues to do so.

I will not go into much detail here because it makes more sense when it all happens sequentially. I must admit to expecting a Santa Claus magical realism when Malcolm is introduced but everything is soberly realistic.

I shed tears with this book and cut into my limited sleeping time just to see Bea happy again and I would highly recommend this book and the author to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this story of a girl scammed by her secretive married boyfriend …left with a child, no support and no home thus ending up homeless. Meeting new people and terrible situations to come out ahead. I liked the character but felt she should have done more for herself.

This was a warm, familiar hug l, surrounded by perfume that makes you feel safe. Lovely narrative and well worth a read

In this unique and complex new novel, readers follow Beatrice Alright and her daughter Ellie as her life is turned completely upside down. Forced to move out of her apartment and unable to find a new place, Bea and Ellie find shelter in the hospital where she works, desperately trying to hold onto hope. In befriending Malcolm, a grumpy stranger who sits outside the hospital even in the cold, Bea discovers his heartbreaking story and might be able to help him find peace -- and perhaps that is enough to keep her going. In this poignant and touching story about the working houseless, second chances, and chosen family, Brooke Harris really pulls on readers’ heartstrings with the stories of Bea, Ellie, Malcolm, and the rest of the characters. Well-written and full of sympathetic and complex characters, the novel’s fantastic pacing and emotional notes really pull readers into the story, while the holiday timing only adds to the emotional strength of this novel. Fascinating, brilliant, emotional, and thought-provoking, readers will love this fantastic new novel for its characters, the developing found family relationships, and the emotional storyline, and fans of Brooke Harris’s other novels will absolutely love this new and brilliant release.

As an eternal optimist, Beatrice Alright is my kind of girl!! The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris broke my heart and put it back together. I loved every part of this story & will definitely recommend to my fellow book lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL. I was entirely invested in every single character. I rooted for Beatrice and so wanted her to find her Happily Ever After. Gorgeous.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a powerful emotional read. The power of a mother's love is the overriding theme. I could not put the book down. I just wanted to know what would happen next a real page turner. A young woman who has had everything against her tugs at your heart strings. The realisation that life can just conspire to push you down against all odds and the reader's desire for things to change makes it just a really good read.

This was a family centred story, with the ups and downs of life, when sometimes things go right and sometimes they go wrong. a great cast of characters that had me totally absorbed. Great read!

This book broke my heart – but gently, in a beautiful way, and put it back together again in a way that touched me deeply. It is rare to find a story that so honestly, yet hopefully, shows how a woman struggles day in and day out to survive – while loving, caring and trying to stay afloat in a desperately difficult situation.

Beatrice Alright is not a hero, not a martyr, just a woman who has experienced too much loss too soon and is now doing everything she can to give her little daughter Ellie a better life. After her partner Declan leaves them, the young mother tries to hold her world together while working as a cleaner in a hospital – even if it means putting Ellie to sleep in a supply closet for a few weeks. The story is not about suffering, but rather about all those who fight an invisible battle each day.

One of the book's strongest features is that it is not exaggerating, yet it gives a deeply moving picture of the reality of sudden homelessness – especially in a big city like Dublin. It shows how easy it is to slip down after one bad decision or misfortune, and how difficult it is to get back up. But it's not just about that. The novel speaks sensitively about loneliness in old age (through Malcolm's character), the fragility of social relationships, the downsides of the foster care system, and the exhausting everyday challenges of motherhood – especially when you feel you have to do it all on your own.

The author's style is subtle, never overbearing. She simply lets the characters' stories speak for themselves. I particularly enjoyed the character of Ellie, it is rare to see such an authentically written young child in a novel. Her dialogues, her reactions, her presence – everything feels real. I appreciate when an author doesn't idealize children, but makes them truly real.

Although the story is full of painful situations, the book never becomes overwhelming. Rather, it is uplifting. It is full of love – not the glittering, big-word love, but the small gestures that show true caring. A good conversation, a smile, a friendly word. And therein lies the beauty of the book.

"The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright" is not a romantic story, even if there is a tiny love thread. The focus is on Beatrice's struggle and how to survive with dignity and humanity even when the ground is pulled out from under you. It's a story that reminds us that asking for help is not a weakness – and that far more people live in quiet desperation than we think.

This novel is far more than just a lighthearted tale, despite what the title may suggest. Beatrice’s journey is one of self-discovery, resilience, and navigating the complexities of life, all wrapped in a beautifully written and emotionally resonant story.
At first glance, Beatrice appears to have everything in order, but beneath the surface, she harbors doubts and secrets that slowly unravel as the story progresses and she faces unexpected challenges that push her to rethink everything.

I found this book to be an emotional rollercoaster, both engaging and thought-provoking. The writing is beautiful, and the themes hit hard, but it’s not the easy, breezy read one might expect (I know I did). It’s a story that lingers in your mind long after you're done reading and it was well worth my time.

This book was heartbreaking and healing. It felt like an Abby Jimenez book but without such a focus on the romance.

It was such a powerful story with so much struggle but with a lot of love. It made me cry. It deserves more hype.

Beatrice Alright hasn’t had the easiest of starts to life, but now she’s settled with partner Declan and her adored four year old daughter Ellie. But things in life can change so quickly. Beatrice has to think what to do, she’s responsible for Ellie, and Ellie is her world.

Such a powerful book.
This book covers some very serious and sensitive issues. I was rooting for the lovely Beatrice the whole way through. Fiercely proud, trying to resolve everything herself, trying to make the best out of an awful situation she is thrust into.
I loved how the author wrote this, her choice of words, people, and how it made me feel, feeling all of the emotions.
I don’t often shed a tear or two reading a book, but I did with this.
Absolutely loved this powerful and emotional read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

4.5 stars rounded up

This story broke my heart but I loved it! What an emotional rollercoaster it was and such an eye-opener into the world of homelessness. This book is a great example of how life can change in an instant, the importance of family and friends and of reaching out for help. I did find myself yelling at characters to 'just tell them' at times, but I guess that shows how invested I was in the story.

This story is going to stay with me for a long time. People need to read this to understand that we don't always know what's going on in someone's life, and we shouldn't be too quick to judge. Highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for an ARC for review. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book and the characters. I also liked the storyline and read it in a couple of days. I would recommend this book.

Reminds me very much of Jojo Moyes! A new to me author and I will be checking out her backlist. A character-driven family drama with a warm and cozy ending.

Trigger Warnings: parental abandonment, infidelity, and death of grandparent

Beautifully written. I loved Bea. My heart went out to her. It doesn't take much does it, to become homeless? Poignant, heart-warming, this story is one that holds your attention. Just one thing, I would have liked a little more in terms of an epilogue, to see a bit more of Shayne and Bea together. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.