Maggie
O'Halloran #1
The Irish Daughter of New York by Kate Hewitt
Genre: Historical
Fiction
Published: March 31,
2026 by Bookouture

Taken from Goodreads:
Maggie O’Halloran gazes at the Statue of Liberty, her eyes wide with
wonder. “At last,” she breathes softly. “This is where my future begins…”
New York City, 1891: Stepping off the boat she boarded in
Ireland, Maggie O’Halloran’s heart is filled with hope for this
brave new world. But when her father isn’t waiting at the docks as planned, her
excitement vanishes with the terrible realization she and her brother Danny are
utterly alone—homeless, penniless and without a friend in the world.
Life on the Lower East Side is hard and grindingly poor, but Maggie is
determined to survive. As she gazes longingly into the windows of Manhattan’s
famous department stores, she dreams of owning her own millinery shop and
becoming independent at last. And when fellow Irishman Brendan
O’Donoghue offers her and Danny refuge, Maggie finally feels hope for
their future.
Finding work with a wealthy family on the Upper East Side, Maggie’s dreams
begin to feel closer than ever before. But just as her fortunes finally change,
her brother’s involvement with a notorious New York gang brings terrible danger
to both her and Brendan’s doors. Facing a heartbreaking decision, can
Maggie save her brother and protect the new life she’s built? Or will the
American dream she has held so close to her heart be lost forever?
The first book in the Maggie O’Halloran series, this is a sweeping, epic and
heart-wrenching story of one woman’s determination to change her fortunes
against all odds. Perfect for fans of moving historical fiction, Kristin Harmel
and Jean Grainger.
My Thoughts: I
love a good historical fiction and Kate Hewitt wrote a beautifully good
historical fiction. This one is a
little different because it is about a young lady and her brother’s adventure
of coming to America, New York City actually.
I enjoyed the strength and determination of Maggie to find housing, a
job, and safety for herself and her brother.
The details of the New York City brought the city to
life. I could picture the brownstones,
Central Park, the mansions, and the rest of what Maggie saw as she traveled
through the city. I could hear the accents and sounds of the
city as I followed Maggie through her adventure.
This is book one of the Maggie O’Halloran series and I am so
excited for more.
Thank you Bookouture for a copy of the book via NetGalley in
exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
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Meet the
Author (taken from her website): Kate
was born in Pennsylvania, went to college in Vermont, and has spent summers in
the Canadian wilderness. After several years as a diehard New Yorker and 13
years in the UK, she now lives in central New Jersey with her husband, the last
two of her five children, two affectionate Golden Retrievers and a persnickety
cat.
In addition to writing, Kate works as a Core Editor with
Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and also offers individual manuscript
assessment for creative writers.