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.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Brooke Harris for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for February 07, 2025.

I have a favourite t-shirt which I wear all the time around the house; it's a little old and well worn, and on the front are just two words – "BE KIND". And every time I wear it, it's a reminder that kindness costs us nothing to give but might mean the world to the intended recipient.

Some stories you read just sock you right in the feels and this one did that to me.

I cried. I laughed. I felt sad. I felt happy. I felt angry and frustrated. At times, I wanted to shake Bea vigorously and shout 'wake up to yourself!' and others, I just wanted to hug her so tightly and not let her go and tell her it will get better. This character driven novel will have you reaching for the tissues; so stock up generously before you read this.

As you might have already guessed from the book's title, the story revolves around a young woman whose name is Beatrice Alright. At the start of the story the reader learns that Beatrice (Bea) is living with her partner, Declan, and their four-year-old daughter, Ellie. Although Bea and Ellie don't see as much of Declan as they'd like (he's a pilot and is away quite a lot), Bea is happy with their relationship and, with the addition of Ellie, has come to think of the three of them as a happy little family unit.

But Bea's happy family bubble bursts spectacularly one night, when, in the lead up to Christmas, Declan drops the bombshell that he's leaving Bea and Ellie, he no longer wants anything to do with either of them. And, that same night, as Declan turns his back on them and walks away, Bea is left wondering how she's going to cope financially to keep her head above water.

As a character, Beatrice Alright always looks on the bright side; always looks at the silver linings; and, ever the optimist, always finds a spark of joy in any dark situation. Bea is empathetic and loving - a caring soul with a huge heart. But sometimes, life conspires against us, and it seems that no matter how hard you try or how hard you work, you can't seem to catch a break. I'm reminded of that saying 'when one door closes, another door opens'. Well a door's about to open for you Bea!!

There are plenty of posted reviews which go into the plot in more detail than I have so you can read these at your leisure. Life can change for us in one second – in one moment our lives have the potential to be upended. Are you ready for that? Could you cope? It's scary just to think how quickly your life could change.

I loved the author's portrayal of her characters. I felt a connection to all of them.
As much as I'd like to think I'm a lone wolf, I realise that as humans we have been evolutionary wired to crave social connection. Evolution has hardwired us to thrive in groups. Groups provide support, protection and a sense of belonging and feeling connected to others improves both our mental and physical health. It's a win/win. Oh dear, it looks as though I might have to get off the couch and go talk to people!!!!

If you enjoy character driven novels then I highly recommend you add this to your TBR now! This has been my first book by this author and I feel to blessed to have been given an early copy to read. I will definitely be checking out her backlist. There will be more Brooke Harris book reviews in my future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for February 07, 2025.

Such a lovely delightful story!

Beatrice Allright believes herself and her daughter, Ellie have a perfect life right up to the point where her partner, Declan, (the cur), reveals his secret and more or less tosses Beatrice and Ellie to the wind.

Bea works at St Helen's Hospital as a cleaner having given up er dream of becoming a doctor when she became pregnant. It's here, outside the hospital she meets an old man sitting on a bench, hat less, and her natural empathy and care for others kicks her and low and behold a friendship begins.

Malcolm, becomes a face she sees practically every day and although in a rush to pick up her child at daycare, she always have time for Malcolm.

When tragedy strikes and Bea finds herself homeless, she secretly makes a life for herself and Ellie in a cleaning closet in the hospital. Although people are concerned for Bea, she is too embarrassed to tell them her situation.

This tender hearted story is one to read when you need a boost and think that most people are obnoxious, rude, and too consumed in themselves to care about others. It's a quick story making you root for Bea who sure does need a happy ending to her tale.

Beatrice Alright is the queen of silver linings. She can find a spark of hope in any situation. Even when her partner delivers earth-shattering news that leaves Bea and their four-year-old, Ellie, without a home, she refuses to panic. Because Bea believes that what she does have is more important – her job at St Helen’s Hospital, which offers a warm, dry shelter for her and Ellie to stay while she figures things out. By day Bea cleans the wards, by night she tucks her daughter into bed between mops and buckets.

And tries so hard to hold on to hope. When Bea sees an old man sitting on a cold and lonely bench outside the hospital, she really doesn’t have time to stop. She should be clearing up her own mess, not worrying about this cantankerous stranger. But Bea can’t help herself…

Okay, the blurb mentioned Laura Pearson, Fredrik Backman, and Sally Page, all three among my favorite books. I opened this book up with the expectation to be disappointed. Those are big shoes to follow. I was surprised, then, when the book actually does have vibes from these three books as well. Excellent story. Bring the kleenex. This one will stomp on your heart, but it will also but it back together again, stronger. 5♥️

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

What an emotional story !
This was a wonderful book about family and friendship that I couldn’t put down.
“Can a broken heart lead you home ? “
“A broken heart” was not enough to describe the hardship that Beatrice had to endure. Despite different unfortunate outcomes, she remained a kindhearted and admirable person, not only for herself and her daughter, but also for people around her. What a strong and respectful woman she was !
This book made me cry but also made me laugh, made my heart ache but also brought me warmth.
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC. I’m really glad to discover this brilliant book and highly recommend it !

My first #NetGalley ARC! Such a heart breaking, yet heart warming journey. It really reinforced the importance of letting down your walls and being around the people who truly care about you. Bea’s negative self talk was difficult to read at times, particularly as it was so far from the reality that she was facing.

Overall, a lovely book, however, there’s quite a few typos or missing words… even one instance where the wrong character was referenced. Probably needs another proof.

I loved this beautiful story. Such a pleasant read and full of funny moments as well as sad. The story just hummed along at a steady pace and before I knew it I had finished it. A new author for me which I will be looking out for again. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Adore this author and love her previous books! Bea thinks her life is perfect, and it is...until it isn't and everything falls apart. The Secret Life of Beatrice Alright tells such a beautiful story of heartbreak, strength and hope. It made me laugh at times, and made me cry of course! Five stars!

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, it made me anxious when she was anxious, hurt when she was hurt, happy...I cannot say enough good things about this book! Seven stars!! I can't wait to read more books by this author!

This was a new author to me and daly I don’t think I will be seeking out any more of her writing.

I found the whole story very very contrived and difficult to believe. Bea went from losing her home to living in a broom cupboard at a hospital and no-one noticed for several days. Along the way she befriended an old man - surely she should have been telling her child to be wary of strangers?
Then she met the old man’s grandson and lo and behold his mother was Bea’s boss. Bea and Ellie even spent Christmas with them - though it was sad that he was dying - he left funds for Bea to complete medical studies - which were barely mentioned before.

Not sure that any more of my negative thoughts would be helpful and I am in a minority in not liking the book - sorry.

This book was so sad and so scary, it just goes to show how quickly things can change. The author managed to write multiple difficult situations in a realistic and sensitive manner, as many of these characters have some very distressing issues going on in their lives, but I never felt them give in to self-pity. The book didn't feel depressing even though it was heartbreakingly sad it was also full of optimism, hope and joy but mostly it was filled with love, the love these characters had for each other and the love they had for themselves. The author wrote the child character very well with realistic dialogue and behaviours. I am always in awe when an author can do that so well.

Although this story takes place in December and January it isn't a Christmas story but I would recommend it as a holiday read. This tale will have you counting your blessings while you read it. This is such a moving story of a mother's love, her resilience and determination. It really does take a village to raise a child and she learns to lean on her community.

These characters and their different situations broke my heart but by the end, the pieces were put back together again. I have Memories of You by this author on my to-be-read pile I can't wait to crack it open and check out her other books.

This novel was absolutely sublime!!! I had no idea what I was in for with this book. The synopsis had just enough information to intrigue me- but was still a bit vague! And after reading it, I understand! There is no way to encapsulate this story into a blurb. The characters are wonderful and the story completely engaging.

I am struggling with how to write a review that will capture the feel and give it justice! I will not recap the story, but will give my impressions!

The character of Bea and her daughter Ellie are so well written. As the story progresses, you come to know Bea very well. She is a fighter, an encourager, a caretaker, empathetic, and loves with all her heart. She is also lonely. The character of her daughter, Ellie, is written equally as well. I find that writing about children in a novel is a struggle for many authors. They are either too cute all the time, or angry and tempestuous most of the time. Ms. Harris writes a realistic portrayal of Ellie- where we see all her joy, cuteness and spunk mixed in with the other qualities (anger, stubbornness, etc.). The final product is a well written, lovable 4 year old that makes the story that much more believable. Malcolm is a curmudgeon with a big heart, yet he is very matter of fact about everything. He struggles with something but that is very slowly revealed to the reader. Cora is such a support and great friend to Bea. Stuart is always reliable, and Elaine is an enigma at first. These characters are melded together through Bea.

We can see the struggles that Bea faces (homelessness, keeping her job, providing for her child), and it is an honest portrayal that is respectful and enlightening. We learn that Bea is absolutely set on taking care of her child, and hiding her situation because she fears that Ellie will be taken from her. This stems from Bea losing her parents at 11 and being in the foster system where she has no family of her own- until she meets Cora at college. Bea gives up pursuing her degree to become a doctor, in order to care for Bea- thus the job as a custodian at the hospital.

When Bea meets Malcolm- an older man sitting on a park bench one winter day- her empathy and concern for others which is the bedmark of her personality, causes her to stop to check on him. And this is where her life will change. This story does not take the easy path for Bea. There are still many heartaches and struggles ahead. It is through Bea's recognition of Malcolm's loneliness that she is able to begin the journey of self realization about her own.

There are many things that happen in this story- I laughed and I cried. I wanted to reach into the story and just hug Bea. However, the strength is through the development of relationships. Found family, forgiveness, empathy are the themes that drive it to a beautiful conclusion.

I highly recommend this book to everyone! It reminded me of early Wally Lamb books, Billie Letts, Fannie Flagg, and one of my favorite reads of 2024- Andy Marr's "A Matter of Life and Death". I plan on reading others by this author!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed this book. I usually read thrillers, but like to step away every so often and enjoy something else. I really connected with this story, I felt so much for Bea and her plight between doing what's best for her daughter and risking having her taken away if it was seen she couldn't provide for her. Stumbles on important topics, especially in the cost of living crisis we have right now, where those working in respectable jobs can't afford basics like shelter and food. Loved the interaction between the characters, very emotional.

Every time I start reading a book by Brooke Harris I just know I’m in for a wonderful read. This was most certainly true with this one. I was glued to this book from the very start. Beatrice Alright (known as Bea) lives happily with her partner Declan and their young daughter Ellie. As far as Bea is concerned life is good and she is in a loving and happy relationship. When things take a turn for the worst Bea finds herself homeless and she is left struggling to find somewhere to live. At the hospital where she works she often sees an elderly gentleman called Malcom sitting on a bench outside the hospital and she starts to speak to him and get to know him a bit more. This is the start of a wonderful and poignant friendship and Malcom in turn introduces her to his grandson. The characters were wonderful apart from one or two who were the complete opposite. This book will tug at your heart strings and it certainly did mine at times. It’s both an uplifting but emotional read and I was sad to finish it . Yet again Brooke Harris has written a story that brought tears to my eyes but also had me smiling at times. I adored it.