The Darlings of the Downs by Casey Walsh

Impressively researched and beautifully written, The Darlings of the Downs: Five Generations, One Destiny by Casey Walsh follows the journey of two Irish sisters who leave the brutal poverty of Cork in 1879 to start a journey to Australia. Covering 100 years of family history, Walsh immerses readers in the sisters’ story as they carve out a life for themselves in the new world, showing the long-term effects of chances taken and missed, unrequited love, and sudden tragedy. The novel’s core story focuses on the toughmindedness and importance of a strong female line, resulting in an empowering read that is immediately relatable for its universality, despite the historical setting.