Saints for All Occasions by J. Courtney Sullivan

National Bestseller and New York Times Bestseller

From the beloved author of Maine comes a sweeping, unforgettable story about two Irish sisters whose bond is tested by a decades-old secret. J. Courtney Sullivan delivers what The Washington Post calls “this year’s best book about family”—a novel that captures the heart-wrenching complexity of love, sacrifice, and the choices that define us.

When Nora and Theresa Flynn leave their small Irish village for Boston, they carry with them all the hope and trepidation of young immigrants. But when an unexpected pregnancy forces Nora to make an impossible decision, the sisters’ lives diverge in ways neither could have imagined. Fifty years later, Nora presides over a sprawling Catholic family, while Theresa lives as a cloistered nun in rural Vermont. A sudden death finally brings them face-to-face with the past they’ve spent a lifetime avoiding.

Sullivan crafts a multi-generational tapestry that feels both intimate and expansive, moving gracefully between 1950s Ireland and present-day America. Her characters—from opportunistic political consultant John to Bridget, quietly preparing for motherhood with her girlfriend—feel achingly real. This is a story about the secrets we keep, the families we build, and the grace we find in unexpected places.

Perfect for readers who love rich family sagas and the work of authors like Anne Tyler and Elizabeth Strout, Saints for All Occasions is a tender exploration of sisterhood, faith, and forgiveness that will linger long after the final page.

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