The Reclusive Life of Rita Reilly


Fiction - Short Story/Novela
51 Pages
Reviewed on 10/17/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Robert E. Kearns is the author of novels, Lost and Found, A Donnybrook Affair (Shortlisted for the 2024 Raven Awards), Carnivore, Crabb (Reviewed by Publishers Weekly) , Freedom is For the Few, Hy Brasil: Island of Eternity, Ossuary and Embers.
In addition, he has composed multiple short stories and novellas, several of which are Five Star recipients from Readers' Favorite.
Robert lives and writes in Dublin, Ireland.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Gabriella Harrison for Readers' Favorite

In 1925, Rita Reilly was born to a middle-class Irish family and grew up in a sheltered home with lots of love. Her family is well-off financially, owning a booming grocery and newsagent store with their living quarters above. When her family travels to Wicklow for Mrs. Reilly’s mother’s funeral, they leave Rita behind, with much hesitation, after she successfully convinces them that she can manage the store until they return. Initially, everything appears to be going smoothly. Then, one night, everything changes. The Reclusive Life of Rita Reilly by Robert E. Kearns narrates the drastic change that occurs in Rita’s life at the age of fourteen, brought on by one tragic night. Will the new world Rita finds herself navigating drown her?

I don’t believe it’s possible to read this book without being moved by the story. Robert E. Kearns does a great job of humanizing Rita through her thoughts and how she processes the sudden and huge change in her life and family. The reactions she gets from people, even her family, and the stigmatization she faces are also expertly captured. People tend to treat abuse victims like they should be ashamed and condemned, as if they are the offenders, often worsening the agony they are already contending with. I like the attention given to this societal issue in this book. Due to how well-written The Reclusive Life of Rita Reilly is, it is easy to forget that it is a fictional story and almost believe the personal life of a family that once existed is being discussed.