Did I swear off Kate Hewitt books for a while? Yes. Did I manage to pick up another of her historical fiction series and get roped in? Also, yes. To be fair, I do like her historical fiction writing better than her contemporary writing, and this is a good piece of historical fiction, although it does stretch credibility a bit.

Set in New York City in 1891, The Irish Daughter of New York follows Maggie O’Halloran and her younger brother, Danny, as they leave Ireland behind in search of a better life in America. They arrive with hopes of a fresh start, only to discover that their father, who was supposed to meet them, is nowhere to be found. With no money, no home, and no one to turn to, Maggie suddenly finds herself responsible for keeping both of them safe in a city that is completely unfamiliar.

Life on the Lower East Side is much harder than Maggie imagined. Poverty, crowded living conditions, and the struggle to find work quickly become part of their everyday lives. But Maggie is determined not to give up. She dreams of opening her own millinery shop someday and becoming independent. She wants more than simply surviving, and she is willing to work hard to make that dream happen. Things begin to look a little brighter when Maggie meets Brendan O’Donoghue, a kind Irishman who offers help and shelter to her and Danny. As their friendship grows, Maggie begins to see the possibility of something more in her future. She also finds work with a wealthy family on the Upper East Side, giving her a glimpse into a world very different from the one she knows.

Just when Maggie starts believing she might finally be getting somewhere, she finds out that Danny has become involved with a dangerous New York street gang. His choices create more problems and put their future at risk. Maggie must find a way to protect her brother while trying to hold on to her own dreams and the possibility of building a better life.

I enjoyed most of The Irish Daughter of New York, especially the historical setting and Maggie’s determination to make something of herself. It was interesting to read about New York City in the late 1800s and see the contrast between the poverty of the Lower East Side and the wealth of the Upper East Side. Kate Hewitt does a nice job showing that coming to America didn’t automatically mean finding the better life everyone dreamed about. For many immigrants, it meant hard work, difficult living conditions, and plenty of uncertainty.

Maggie was a compelling character that I could relate to and found myself rooting for her throughout the story. She has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders, especially with Danny depending on her, but she refuses to give up. I admired that she wanted to make her own way rather than depend on someone else. Her dream of opening a millinery shop gave her something to work toward, and I enjoyed seeing her try to turn that dream into reality. However, there were times she was entirely too naive and Pollyanna-ish. Brendan was also written as very likeable. He was kind and generous, and it was nice to see someone offer Maggie a helping hand when she needed it most. Their relationship added a little romance and warmth to a story filled with plenty of hardships. I would have liked to see a little more development between them, but I enjoyed their connection.

Now, Danny was another matter! I have to admit that he frustrated me quite a bit. I understand that he was young, struggling to adjust to a new country, and trying to find his place in the world. Still, some of his decisions had me shaking my head. Just when Maggie seemed to be getting things under control, Danny would do something that created another problem. His involvement with the street gang added tension to the story, but I sometimes wished he would make things a little easier for his sister.

Occasionally the story felt like one hardship after another. Every time Maggie seemed to catch a break, something else happened to knock her back down. I understand that life for immigrants during this period wasn’t easy, but I would have liked a few more moments where Maggie could enjoy the progress she was making. I also wanted a little more emotional depth in certain parts. There were times when I felt the story moved along too quickly, and I would have liked to spend more time getting to know the characters.

The Irish Daughter of New York was an enjoyable historical fiction read with an interesting setting and a main character I genuinely wanted to see succeed. I appreciated the themes of family, sacrifice, determination, and the struggles immigrants faced while trying to build a new life in America. Although I didn’t connect with every character or love every part of the storyline, Maggie’s journey kept me interested. It was a good read, but not quite the memorable story I had hoped for. If you enjoy historical fiction about Irish immigration, family struggles, a little romance, and women fighting for a better future, this one is worth considering.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and author Kate Hewitt for the advance reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. This has been my unbiased review of the book.