Whale Harbor by Keane, Mary Beth

From New York Times bestselling author of the "magnificent" (Fresh Air), "propulsive" (People), and "profound" (Vogue) Ask Again, Yes, a sweeping multigenerational saga inspired by the author's own family history, following eleven brothers as they are set on different paths between Ireland, England, Montana, and New York.

1960s, Ireland. In the wake of tragedy, a father makes choices for his eleven grieving sons. The older brothers will emigrate to England for work, while the younger ones will stay behind. The second eldest, Macdara, is offered a job on a Montana cattle ranch and sets off. His spirited younger brother Rian begs to come along and Mac promises to bring Rian to America as soon as he's old enough. But then one day Mac gets a call that Rian has gone missing. His disappearance will haunt Mac and his family across decades.

Spanning lifetimes and continents, Whale Harbor is "tender, immersive, and exquisitely written" (Florence Knapp, author of The Names) with award-winning author Mary Beth Keane's signature wit, eloquence, and attention to the emotional resonance of family, brotherhood, and the choices that echo across generations.

Author: Mary Beth Keane
Publisher: Scribner Book Company
Published: 10/20/2026
Pages: 352
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.14h x 6.28w x 1.23d
ISBN: 9781668224632

Review Citation(s):
Shelf Awareness 01/01/0001
Library Journal 07/01/2026 pg. 52
Kirkus Reviews 09/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 09/14/2026
Booklist 10/01/2026

About the Author
Mary Beth Keane is the author of five novels, including the New York Times bestseller Ask Again, Yes. She was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for fiction writing and has received citations from the National Book Foundation, PEN America, and the Hemingway Society. Born in the Bronx to parents from the west of Ireland, she lives in New York with her husband and two sons.