This is the story of identical twins Aelish and Isabel McGuire, who are orphaned in 1941 when their parents are killed during WWII. The sisters end up at the nearby Catholic orphanage run by nuns including the sadistic Sister Edel and kind Sister Mike. Isabel, whose personality is so very different from her sister, runs away to marry while Aelish becomes a nun. There is so much more to this story of love, loss, forgiveness, hope, resilience, and most of all family. I had a hard time getting into the story but about half way through, I was invested in the likeable characters and supporting characters even though it was hard to read at times. Starting in 1941, the story ends in 2016, so there is a lot of time covered in the lives of these characters. I look forward to reading more by this author as I understand this is her debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts out during WWII with the evil of Europe bombing and killing twin girls parents, thus they end up in a Catholic orphanage. Should have a good life, right?
Although, this is a fictional read, it is based on fact and makes me cringe, the covered up atrocities. We have Aelish and Isabel McGuire growing up here under such harsh conditions, and we follow their lives separately, one escapes, and the other ends up taking vows.
We are there as they reunite, and follow them as adults and secrets start to fall. Be sure to read the author's notes, so so sad.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harper Paperback, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this preview of Sisters of Belfast. I am 2nd generation Irish and am always intrigued when I can read about my ancestor's homeland.

While this novel is fictional, the circumstances detailed in the book about the over fifty thousand mothers and babies who suffered from illegitamacy throughout the country are very much real.

This is the saga of two twin sisters whose parents were killed during a bombing in WWII and left homeless. They are taken in by a convent - one sister thrives and the other sister is disillusioned by religion and the nuns responsible for their care.

I felt it lagged a bit before getting to the meat of the novel and Isabel's secret.

I liked this take on WW II fiction and deals with a weighty topic that still exists today which is the corruption and abuse perpetrated by the church regarding choices only a mother and woman should make . It was a thoughtful book and well researched.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

This was a tough read and requires focus, for sure. It was hard to read parts of it - especially since it is based in truth (mother and baby homes in Ireland). It explores religious corruption, fair warning. The story follows twins, Isabel and Aelish, after losing their parents in the Belfast air raids landing them in the care of the Sisters of Bethlehem. They follow two very different paths, breaking the book into two parts. There’s a few twists and turns. I did enjoy it, but I often had to re-read what I just read and look back. I didn’t feel the time hopping flowed as easily as I would like, or the changing POV.

A chilling story of twin sisters who loose their parents durng the bombing of Belfast during WWII. Reunited at an Catholic orphanage, the sisters go onto to lead different lives, one a nun, the other a wife and mother. Years later the sisters are reunited and begin the hard truth of finding out what happened in the orphanage years befor.e. A disturbing story drawing from the history of the Catholic Church and the abuse of the unwed pregnant women in Ireland.

This was an enjoyable read; even though the material is heavier, I love a book that incorporates hope and resilience. This book is character driven and it is relatable, because who doesn't go through challenging times of their own? The story follows Aelish and Isabel, twins orphaned during WW II, in Belfast and given to the Sisters of Bethlehem. As they grow up, they go in different directions: Isabel removes herself from her faith and travels to Newfoundland, while Aelish remains in Ireland and becomes a part of her religious community. After decades of being apart, they finally reconnect after Aelish has to travel to Newfoundland. It is then that they painfully reminisce about their past and the tragic things that they have kept hidden, while also learning more about each other and the ties that bind a family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The story of two Irish sisters separated during the chaos of World War II. They go on to live very different lives, each unaware that the other has survived. The political situation in Ireland at the time plays a large role in this heartbreaking story. So many people don’t understand that Irish soldiers who fought during the war, were considered traders by the Irish people, because the general populace believed they were fighting for England. An extraordinary race.