Saoirse- Blog Tour

 

Author: Charleen Hurtubise 

Publisher: Bonnier Books 

Publishing Date: 26th February 2026 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Random Things Tours for my copy of the book a spot on the tour

Blurb 

In Michigan, Sarah’s childhood was defined by fear and silence. As a teenager, she saw a chance to escape and took it. Now, in 1999, she is an artist living on the rugged coast of Donegal, Ireland, where she is known as Saoirse (pronounced Sear-sha)—a name that sounds like the sea and means freedom in the language of her adopted country. And free is precisely how she is finally beginning to feel. Her partner and two beloved daughters are regular subjects of her paintings, and together they have made the safe home she always longed for. But Saoirse's secrets haunt her. No one must learn of the identity she has stolen in order to survive; they cannot know of the dangers that she crossed an ocean to escape.

When her artwork wins unexpected acclaim at a Dublin exhibition, the spotlight of fame threatens to unravel the careful lies that hold her world together. Journalists and admirers begin to ask questions about the mysterious artist from Donegal, and she fears the unwanted publicity will expose all that she has done.

My Thoughts 

A Powerful, Thought-Provoking Exploration of Identity and Healing. 

This was such a powerful and thought-provoking book to read.

We meet Saoirse in the present, seemingly enjoying a blissful life with her family and husband, yet it quickly becomes clear that her story is far more complex. Her past is anything but straightforward, and as the layers of her history gradually unfold, secrets and challenges emerge that contrast sharply with the life she appears to lead. The plot’s shifts between past and present are perfectly timed, providing crucial insight into the events that have shaped her and keeping the narrative compelling.

The novel draws readers deeply into Saoirse’s emotional world, allowing you to experience every layer of her journey alongside her. As she conceals her past, navigates the vulnerability of falling in love, and struggles to outrun forces beyond her control, the story slowly unveils a mystery that heightens her emotional burden. The result is a reading experience that is both intimate and profoundly affecting, with Saoirse’s fear, longing, and pain surfacing in a way that is impossible to ignore.

This is very much a character-driven story that explores identity, emotional intensity, womanhood, trauma, accountability, and growth. It serves as a poignant reminder that healing, growth, and survival take time, are rarely linear, and manifest differently for everyone.

Overall, this is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that lingers long after the final page.