Book Synopsis:
When journalist Jessie Daly loses everything she holds dear, she travels home to Ireland’s west coast, and helps an old friend researching life during the famine. Jessie becomes drawn into the heartbreaking story of a brave young mother, Bridget Moloney, and her daughter, Norah.
On the other side of the ocean, in Boston, Kaitlin Wilson is researching her family tree. She unearths a fascinating story, but her research forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about the past, as she uncovers an unexpected connection to Ireland in famine times.
Generations before, in the small town of Boherbreen, a young mother faced a heart-wrenching choice: to watch her baby girl perish with hunger, or to start out for a new life in America, alone, in order to protect the one she loves most…
My Review:
The Letter Home is a powerful dual timeline novel that will stay with me for a long time.
Firstly I knew a little about the Irish Potato Famine but I hadn’t realised how long it lasted and therefore hadn’t realised it’s true impact. It was heartbreaking to see all the families struggling and the awful circumstances they had to live through. It was an absolutely gut wrenching to read about at times, particularly as you know it actually happened. The author has clearly done her research and I often felt that I was actually there experiencing everything alongside them.
Both timelines were beautifully written and I found myself enjoying both of them equally. The wonderful storytelling kept me captivated by what was happening and the many twists ensured I couldn’t put the book down. I found myself lost in the story for hours at a time and has to force myself back into the present. The plot was fantastic and I really liked how the two timelines unravelled and came together at the end.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Rachael English is a bestselling novelist and presenter on Ireland’s most popular radio show, Morning Ireland. During more than twenty years as a journalist, she has worked on most of RTE Radio’s leading current affairs programmes, covering a huge range of national and international stories. The American Girl, The Night of the Party and The Paper Bracelet were all top 5 Irish bestsellers.
Over The Rainbow Blog 
I just read an historical fiction story about a mother and child being separated during WW2 that was heartbreaking. This sounds just as good. Wonderful review, Joanna.
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Thanks for the blog tour support x
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