The Sisters of Belfast

In her affecting debut, Maure tells the life story of twin sisters Aelish and Isabel, orphaned at a young age when a bomb destroyed their home and killed their parents during the 1941 bombing of Belfast. After the twins are brought to a local orphanage overseen by the Sisters of Bethlehem, their close relationship begins to fray as their lives head in separate directions. Aelish stays in Northern Ireland, leading a pious life in the convent, while Isabel moves to Newfoundland with her family to bury the past and attempt to start a new life. Narrator Aoife McMahon seamlessly slides between Northern Irish accents, expressing the deep emotion, pain, and love between Aelish and Isabel as the story weaves through the decades. Based on tragic real-life events, this novel is a heartbreaking story that explores grief, faith, and the enduring bond of sisterhood as deeply held secrets are revealed.