Do you need an Up Lit book? A lighter read with substance? Look no further!

This book promises to break your heart and stitch it back together again and it does just that.

Bea’s partner delivers a bombshell that leaves her and their 4-year-old daughter Ellie, homeless. She has a housekeeping job at a hospital, St Helen’s, which becomes their safe haven as Bea is desperate to find a solution to their dilemma.

One day as she’s leaving work, anxious to pick up her daughter from day care before she’s charged a late fee she can’t afford, she sees an older gentleman sitting on a bench in the cold.

But soft-hearted Bea can’t walk by without trying to help. She befriends Malcolm and discovers he’s holding onto some hurts too. As they get to know one another they are able to help each other in surprising ways.

I love a good underdog story and Bea, who is knocked down repeatedly by life, is a great character to root for, even as she makes some frustrating decisions. Ellie is adorable and realistic, neither precocious nor annoying (both of which are pet peeves of mine). Ellie is refreshingly normal.

It’s a lighthearted book but it really brings home how people with no safety net can so easily fall into homelessness.

I appreciated that the story wasn’t completely predictable and had some surprises in store. Despite the serious situations depicted, the story is full of optimism and hope which left me with a full heart as I closed the last page.

Oh My! This book was EXACTLY what I needed. So sweet! Perfectly predictable and I have zero complaints about it! Getting there was the absolute sweetest and heart wrenching journey. The relationship forged between Ellie and Malco melted my heart from the very beginning, while Bea's journey had me rooting for her the whole time. This was my first novel by Brooke Harris. The writing style was perfect and I loved every minute of it!

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on February 7, 2025. An additional post was posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review (pending review). (links below)

I'm still not over this book!! It's heartbreaking and quite a sad read. But I loved it.
I cried and cried, but I enjoyed reading it. It brought up so many emotions and I'm really grateful to have read it. I'll definitely read more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright’ written by Brooke Harris in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Bea is shattered when Declan her partner of five years says that he’s married and returning to his wife, telling her that she and their four-year-old daughter Ellie will have to find somewhere else to live. With just two weeks to go before Christmas Bea and Ellie find themselves homeless with the freezing wind whipping around the corners, and they have no alternative but to spend nights sleeping amongst the brooms and buckets in the storage cupboard of St Helen’s Hospital where she works. As Bea leaves the hospital in the evenings to collect Ellie from creche she sees a crotchety old man sitting on a bench outside. When she stops to speak to him he says his name is Malcolm and gradually Bea and Ellie form a close friendship with him and his grandson Shayne.

‘The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright’ is a deeply moving story of love and hope, and how an elderly man is about to enrich the lives of a young woman and her daughter. The story is beautifully written with humour and compassion, and the perfectly described characters grabbed my heartstrings and made me want to hug them. This is a truly wonderful story that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and didn’t want to end. Thank you, Brooke, for allowing me to read your fantastic story that I needed a supply of tissues for towards the end, and that will stay in my thoughts for a long time to come.

Oᴍɢ I ᴀʙsᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴏɴʟʏ ғᴇʙʀᴜᴀʀʏ, I ᴄᴀɴ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴇɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴛᴏᴘ ᴛᴇɴ.

Bʀᴏᴏᴋᴇ ʜᴀʀʀɪs ᴡᴇᴀᴠᴇs ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇɴ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴀʀs ᴏғ sᴀᴅɴᴇss sᴛʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴅɪᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs. Sʜᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴘᴜᴛs ɪᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴛᴇᴀʀs.

Mᴀᴋᴇ sᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴋʟᴇᴇɴᴇx!

Hᴀʀʀɪs ᴅᴏᴇs'ɴᴛ sʜʏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏᴘɪᴄs ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʜᴜʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ's ᴀʟsᴏ ᴀɴ ɪɴsᴘɪʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ, ᴜᴘʟɪғᴛɪɴɢ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴏғ ʀᴇsɪʟɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ.
Hᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs ғᴇᴇʟ sᴏ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ I ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ sᴏ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.

Bᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ, ʜᴇʀ sᴛʀᴜɢɢʟᴇs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. Sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ᴀ sɪɴɢʟᴇ ᴍᴏᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ғɪᴇʀᴄᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀᴜɢʜᴛᴇʀ ʜɪᴛ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ

I ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ Bᴇᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴇ's ᴏᴘᴛɪᴍɪsᴍ! Sʜᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʟᴏᴏᴋs ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ
Bʀɪɢʜᴛ sɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪs sᴜᴄʜ ᴀɴ ᴇᴍᴘᴀᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄ sᴏᴜʟ ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴏʙsᴛɪᴄʟᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴡɴ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ.

Sᴇᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟʟʏ ᴀᴛᴍᴏsᴘʜᴇʀɪᴄ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʀʏ ᴏғ ɪʀᴇʟᴀɴᴅ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ, ʜᴀʀʀɪs ᴘᴀɪɴᴛs ᴀ ᴠɪᴠɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴғᴏʀɢᴇᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏᴍᴇʟᴇss.
Tʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴇᴍᴘᴀᴛʜʏ, ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ, sᴛʀᴇɴɢᴛʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. Iᴛ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴠɪʙᴇs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴍɪᴛʜ ᴍᴏᴠɪᴇ , ᴛʜᴇ Pᴇʀsᴜɪᴛ ᴏғ Hᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss.

I ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴛʜɪs ᴜᴘ ᴏɴ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴀʏ.

Tʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ɴᴇᴛɢᴀʟʟᴇʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴍʏ ɢɪғᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴘʏ. Mʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴠᴏʟᴜɴᴛᴀʀʏ.

I adored this book! It's lovely and heartwarming, while probing some serious and difficult issues facing young single mother Bea and Malcolm, the elderly gentleman she meets on a park bench one day. The author handles it all in a compassionate way, while not shying away from the complexities that people face in life. I also laughed each time four-year-old Ellie called him "Malco". I highly recommend this and will be looking for more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advance digital copy!

3⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of The Secret Life Of Beatrice Alright.

Bea has a young daughter named Ellie and a boyfriend named Declan. She works in a hospital in the maintenance department. One day Declan shatters her world by telling her that he is married and he is leaving Bea and Ellie for his other family. She is utterly shocked and heartbroken. Plus she cannot afford the apartment by herself including all the other bills. One day she meets an elderly man named Malcolm sitting outside of the hospital and they have a conversation. Little does she know that the conversation they have will change her life.

This was just an okay read for me. The book felt like it was really dragging on at some points. I liked the idea of the plot but overall was just not a fan of the writing.

BOOK: THE SECRET LIFE OF BEATRICE ALRIGHT
AUTHOR: BROOKE HARRIS
PUB DATE: FEBRUARY 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I cried bucket loads of tears while reading this book. It was touching, emotional, and heart-wrenching. Thinking of what Bea was going through; broke, single parent just broke my heart, and I couldn't stop the tears.
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Beatrice was an amazing character. She was just trying to be the best mother and family to her little girl, Ellie, and it was admirable considering the odds stacked against her. Despite all that she was going through, it didn't dim her light. She was empathetic and compassionate to others without expecting anything in return. That's something we could all learn to do.
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But, she was not completely alone she had a lot of people who were very good to her. Her best friend, Cora, and two strangers who became family, Malcolm and Shayne. They had their own problems, too, and Bea was able to help, and they helped her. They were really amazing.
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Another reason this book resonated with me is because this is something that happens to some single mothers. Left broke and hung to dry by the irresponsible fathers. As I cried, I thought about real people going through something like this. In short, we should try to be better people and help those in need
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Apart from the amazing characters, the book had a wonderful storyline and perfect pacing. I'd definitely recommend it. In fact, I wished I hadn't read it so I could read it afresh

First time reader from this author but it will not be my last!

I loved this story, even though, at times I felt quiet sad.

Bea is so full of life and love for her daughter, Ellie, and hope, that not much else seems to matter.

A chance encounter with Malcolm on the seat outside St Helen's Hospital where Bea works proves to be the saddest and happiest of Bea's unconventional life.

A wonderful heartwarming story that you will not want to put down until finished!!

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright was predominantly the story of Bea and her four year old daughter Ellie. They felt very real and relatable. I was drawn into their story immediately and had a hard time putting the book down. The plot develops very quickly as Bea has something very unexpected and life shattering happen related to her boyfriend (and Ellie’s father). Declan, This starts Bea on the road to many challenges which she faces head on. I love how she puts her daughter first throughout it all. She works through everything that is thrown at her even though she feels quite desperate at times.

It was easy to keep track of everyone. Mostly we’re introduced to them one at a time as Bea encounters them from the daycare director, to Declan her boyfriend, her boss Elaine, best friend Cora, Malcolm the old man outside on the bench and his grandson Shayne. These make up the core characters that Bea interacts with throughout the book.

There are surprises both good and bad, and we’re rooting for Bea throughout. Her daughter Ellie is central to the story but not overdone and not an annoying child as we sometimes encounter. She feels very much like a typical four year old little girl and adds to the story and is included just the right amount, I’ll be recommending this one to friends and family.
#TheSecretLifeofBeatriceAlright #NetGalley

This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last. I am super excited to dive into more. The very first page this book takes off running and I absolutely l oved how Brooke Harris describes all the characters and the surroundings. It makes you feel as if you are in the book. And look at that cover is absolutely breathtaking.

I absolutely LOVE this book!! It gave me ALL of the feels! It was as if I were Beatrice the entire time I was reading. this beautiful, emotional story in a day and could hardly bear to put it down even for a moment.
Such a tender and heartfelt story, If you’re an emotional person have your tissues ready you will need them.

Throughout this book we follow Bea and Ell on their journeys. Bea is a young mother to a four year old daughter. She dropped out of medical school and works as a hospital janitor, but their lifestyle is quite good because her boyfriend is a pilot and makes a decent wage. Bea is expecting a proposal and gets dumped instead. She finds herself a single mother, with no support struggling to find a home. A series of events leave the pair homeless forced to seek refuge in a hospital closet to sleep. Bea clearly has enough problems of her own, but she can't help befriending an elderly man she sees sitting outside the hospital on a bench in the cold daily. His loneliness was palpable, while his zingers delivered the laughs. She and Malcolm begin an unlikely friendship

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. This is one of those exceptional stories that stays with you well after finishing the last line. This story will certainly test all of your emotions on lots of levels, but as well as being emotional, it's also heartwarming and uplifting. An absolute must read.

My first 5* rating of 2025 goes to this beautifully written story of a young single mother who, despite the toxic men in her life, will do anything to protect her young daughter, even temporarily living in the storage closet in the hospital where she works as one of the cleaning crew. Beatrice (Bea) grew up in foster care after losing her parents at age 11. It wasn’t until she made friends in college that she had a semblance of family again, that is until she met much older Declan and got pregnant at 25. Giving up everything to move in with him and raise their daughter, she’s blindsided when he not only leaves her but also forces her out of her home just before Christmas. Little does she know that, when she meets octogenarian Malcolm, her life will grow in ways she never anticipated.

Set during the Christmas season, this is a heartwarming story of chosen family, the resilience and fierce protectiveness of mothers, the plight of homelessness with inadequate safety nets, the power of friendship, and the kindness of strangers. There is a romantic element, but it is not the focus of the book. Bea’s daughter Ellie is absolutely precious, her lovely nature in stark contrast to her father and Finton, Bea’s best friend Cora’s live-in boyfriend. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Storm Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Beatrice leads happy life, with her boyfriend Declan and her lovely 4 year old Ellie. But everything comes crumbling down when she finds out Declan's dark secret. While working at St Helen's Hospital, Beatrice meets an older man named Malcom who sits out in the cold hoping to speak to his daughter who he hasn't seen in a while. Beatrice strikes up a friendship with this man who seems to be as lonely as she is. With the help of her best friend Cora, and some unlikely characters,Beatrice will navigate the holiday season and put her life back together, and who knows perhaps maybe even find love.

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright will have you cheering for Beatrice and little Ellie!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this lovely and hopeful read.

This was a heartwarming story of the struggles of a single mother, and her determination to provide for her young daughter. Bea's difficult circumstances lead her to strangers that will forever impact her life and who will become the found family that she has always needed.

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright is the perfect book to read this winter. It publishes on February 7th, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

When Beatrice's partner and father to her daughter leaves her and takes the roof from over her head things cant get much worse for Beatrice. But Bea always holds onto hope and she will do anything to keep her daughter safe.
I really enjoyed this story because it shows there is always hope. Life can change in the blink of an eye. I loved the characters in this story and how Bea meets some good people on her journey back from homelessness. I would definitely recommend this book.

Ooh wow…I just loved this one. So much heart and emotion and some humor too. So sweet. Brooke Harris created a perfectly warm story that broke my heart and put it back together again. It reminds me of how I felt when I read A MAN CALLED OVE.

Bea grew up in foster care after losing her parents. She had bigger plans for her future but ended up getting pregnant and now has an apartment with her daughter Ellie, and boyfriend Declan. She's completely blindsided when Declan leaves them. Now she's trying to work at her cleaning job at the hospital to save money for a new place and is putting her daughter to sleep in the storage closet while she works. It's better than the freezing cold outside. Then she meets an unlikely friend. An old man, Malcolm, that she sees on a bench outside the hospital….in the cold. Malcolm has a story that will also tug at your heart. But the friendship that Bea and Malcolm have is just beautiful.

This is a character driven book, and it's so well done. I loved these characters and I felt so sad for things that they have had to endure in their lives. You will want to grab some tissues for this one, but it's so worth it. I'm happy to have found a new author and can't wait to check out her backlist in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright by Brooke Harris was a beautifully written book from start to finish. It just took my breath away. The author Brooke wrote this book from her heart and tells a heart warming story of a young woman called Bea and her 4 year old child called Ellie. Life changes for both of them, when Bea's partner Declan and Ellie's father delivers earth-shattering news that will change everything for them.........and a few weeks before the magical time of the year Christmas!! This starts a chain of advents and Bea hits rock bottom! when she they have no where to live!

Bea works at a St Helen’s Hospital, and it offers a warm, dry shelter for her and Ellie to stay while she figures things out. So, by day Bea cleans the wards, and Ellie is at her creche, by night Bea tucks her daughter into bed between mops and buckets.

Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold and lonely bench outside the hospital, she really doesn’t have time to stop as she should be clearing up her own mess, not worrying about this cantankerous stranger she does not know.
But Bea can’t help herself, and goes outside to see if he is ok, especially as it is freezing outside and there is snow in the air.

This starts a beautiful relationship between them and Bea slowly starts to find out Malcolm’s heartbreaking story.

It just goes to show how quickly things can change around you life.

WoW, I need tissues............. This starts a beautiful friendship between Bea, Malcolm and Ellie which will have you wanting to read more of this story between them. I ended up reading this book to the early hours of this morning and when I finished it I wanted to know what happened next to Bea and Ellie. I need more Brooke!

Big thank you to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for my ARC.

I read this beautiful, emotional story in a day and could hardly bear to put it down even for a moment. Such a tender and heartfelt story, if you can read this without needing a box of tissues to hand then you’ve a harder heart than me. I’ll be recommending this to absolutely everyone.

Oh poor Bea. Can some people just look after this kind soul.
This book is filled with so many heart pulling moments. It's packed with so much warmth. So much emotional intelligence towards it's characters that you build connections and pictures of them all in your mind.
Bea thought she had it all. Until one day her partner Declan decides to leave her with nothing. It's just her and her child and both are now homeless. So our ever the optimistic Bea makes her home among the mops at her job at the hospital.
It is here where she keeps coming across one particular character. And he's not anything less than gruff towards her!
This is a tale of such emotions and depth. You are rooting for Bea all the way throguh.at time wanting to give her a hug. and then others around her to just help this lovely soul put!
It relates nicely to many other I adore In in this genre.and I feel very privileged to read such wonderful books.