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mmajer's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately, I really struggled to get through this one. I was really really intrigued by the premise at first but then didn’t find it very plausible. Knowing that her grandmother was a con artist, Eve races to find a missing coin and clear her grandmother’s name of murder. I just couldn’t get behind the motivation being to protect her mother and brother from this scandal, just with how much Eve despised her grandmother. The point of view also alternated to Dove in the 30’s. While I was expecting this to be the most interesting part of the book, after Dove escaped from the psychiatric hospital I was bored out of my mind. The author did a fantastic job in creating an old southern setting though. The descriptions and the dialect definitely made me feel like I was transported back to Alabama in the 30s. Also, the cover art is stunning!
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC via NetGalley.
kimberlyf's review against another edition
4.0
told from multiple pov with multiple timelines: dove, the grandmother from 1930-1934 and eve, the granddaughter in present time
it hooked me from the beginning. the story opens years after doves death, with eve shooting a promotional documentary for the re-opening of a psychiatric hospital, under her late grandmother’s foundation.
it’s clear that Dove was hiding a lot of secrets about her past and Eve is intent on uncovering them in order to hold her family together.
read if you enjoy slow burn, southern gothic mysteries with generational family drama and little sprinkles of the supernatural
it hooked me from the beginning. the story opens years after doves death, with eve shooting a promotional documentary for the re-opening of a psychiatric hospital, under her late grandmother’s foundation.
it’s clear that Dove was hiding a lot of secrets about her past and Eve is intent on uncovering them in order to hold her family together.
read if you enjoy slow burn, southern gothic mysteries with generational family drama and little sprinkles of the supernatural
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
4.0
Based on hearing they were connected, I expected Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters to be a sequel to Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, but it really isn’t. These are standalone novels that are linked by a thread, but can be read alone or in either order.
Similar to Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, this is a multigenerational story set in Alabama. In the present timeline, Eve Chandler is searching for answers about her grandmother, Dove Jarrod. Dove was a famous faith healer and evangelist in the 1930s. She passed away eight years earlier, leaving Eve to maintain the charitable foundation that Dove started. Dove wasn’t the person that many thought, though. She was a con artist hiding many secrets from the public. A documentary team has been shooting a film about the miracle worker, but someone else besides Eve knows what dark secrets Dove was hiding.
Flashing back to 1934, a young orphan escapes the Prichard psychiatric institution where she was born. She was expected to live there even after her mother’s tragic death in the facility. That young woman was Dove, and she went on to build a name for herself as a healer. In between those, Dove reinvents herself as she needs to in order to survive. At one point, she became a singer with the Hawthorn Sisters, but there was always a man following her every move.
Now that Dove has died and Eve is holding her secrets, the man that followed Dove has turned his sights on Eve. Eve is looking for answers, but can she unravel the truth about what her grandmother is being accused of? And what will it mean for her future?
This has a similar vibe as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, though it lacked a small part of the magic of that book. In the first book, I was equally invested in Althea’s story as I was her great-grandmother Jinn’s. In this book, I felt much more invested in Dove’s story and Eve’s. Eve didn’t have the same character development as Althea did, for starters. Althea also had her own story, but Eve’s story was more about Dove than about Eve.
The southern gothic vibes that I loved in the debut book were just as wonderful in Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters. This book also had a slight air of the supernatural to it, in addition to the mystery. Steeped in family secrets, this was not quite as sad as I found the first book. The tension kept me hooked, despite some dispersion in the plot that took awhile to get the hang of. There were much less heavy themes in this book as well, which made the tone lighter but also detracted from the weight of the story for me. Carpenter’s writing and poignant storytelling kept me interested.
Another great mystery by Emily Carpenter, this was an easy and engaging read. I liked that Dove was such an elusive character in the book. Though Eve seemed to know her best, it also sometimes felt like Eve didn’t really know Dove at all.
Similar to Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, this is a multigenerational story set in Alabama. In the present timeline, Eve Chandler is searching for answers about her grandmother, Dove Jarrod. Dove was a famous faith healer and evangelist in the 1930s. She passed away eight years earlier, leaving Eve to maintain the charitable foundation that Dove started. Dove wasn’t the person that many thought, though. She was a con artist hiding many secrets from the public. A documentary team has been shooting a film about the miracle worker, but someone else besides Eve knows what dark secrets Dove was hiding.
Flashing back to 1934, a young orphan escapes the Prichard psychiatric institution where she was born. She was expected to live there even after her mother’s tragic death in the facility. That young woman was Dove, and she went on to build a name for herself as a healer. In between those, Dove reinvents herself as she needs to in order to survive. At one point, she became a singer with the Hawthorn Sisters, but there was always a man following her every move.
Now that Dove has died and Eve is holding her secrets, the man that followed Dove has turned his sights on Eve. Eve is looking for answers, but can she unravel the truth about what her grandmother is being accused of? And what will it mean for her future?
This has a similar vibe as Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, though it lacked a small part of the magic of that book. In the first book, I was equally invested in Althea’s story as I was her great-grandmother Jinn’s. In this book, I felt much more invested in Dove’s story and Eve’s. Eve didn’t have the same character development as Althea did, for starters. Althea also had her own story, but Eve’s story was more about Dove than about Eve.
The southern gothic vibes that I loved in the debut book were just as wonderful in Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters. This book also had a slight air of the supernatural to it, in addition to the mystery. Steeped in family secrets, this was not quite as sad as I found the first book. The tension kept me hooked, despite some dispersion in the plot that took awhile to get the hang of. There were much less heavy themes in this book as well, which made the tone lighter but also detracted from the weight of the story for me. Carpenter’s writing and poignant storytelling kept me interested.
Another great mystery by Emily Carpenter, this was an easy and engaging read. I liked that Dove was such an elusive character in the book. Though Eve seemed to know her best, it also sometimes felt like Eve didn’t really know Dove at all.
kelsiepixler's review
The parts of the book written in the present were mind numbing.
Dove’s story was interesting but not detailed enough to read the flashbacks exclusively skipping over Eve’s part.
Dove’s story was interesting but not detailed enough to read the flashbacks exclusively skipping over Eve’s part.
jkrhode's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
jmbibliolater's review against another edition
4.0
I am a big fan of Emily Carpenter's writing style. I fell in love with it when reading Burying the Honeysuckle Girls a few years back. It's dark. It's mysterious. It's a little sinister. There is always a surprise element and normally a little bit of a love story.
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is no different. Emily Carpenter writes a pretty flawless mystery with amazing southern gothic undertones. Told in a dual timeline between the 1930's and present day, Eve, the granddaughter of the infamous Dove Jarrod is thrown into the mystery behind the disappearance of a rich man and a rare coin. Emily Carpenter captures the old South perfectly by writing such toxic male characters (Note: not all male characters in this book are toxic. Some are quite delightful). This particular plot has a spiritually factor to it and you can just feel the whole brimstone and fire religious zealousness of the historic South oozing from the pages. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters has it all: mystery, romance, murder, outlaws, in-laws, surprises, and more.
Why not five stars:
* Spoiler free - Although I am a fan surrounding the twist regarding the identity of Eve's mysterious attacker, I am not of a fan of the reasoning behind his assault. It just didn't do it for me.
I recommend Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters to readers who:
* Love historical fiction
* Love mysteries
* Love watching women take down the patriarchy
Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters is no different. Emily Carpenter writes a pretty flawless mystery with amazing southern gothic undertones. Told in a dual timeline between the 1930's and present day, Eve, the granddaughter of the infamous Dove Jarrod is thrown into the mystery behind the disappearance of a rich man and a rare coin. Emily Carpenter captures the old South perfectly by writing such toxic male characters (Note: not all male characters in this book are toxic. Some are quite delightful). This particular plot has a spiritually factor to it and you can just feel the whole brimstone and fire religious zealousness of the historic South oozing from the pages. Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters has it all: mystery, romance, murder, outlaws, in-laws, surprises, and more.
Why not five stars:
* Spoiler free - Although I am a fan surrounding the twist regarding the identity of Eve's mysterious attacker, I am not of a fan of the reasoning behind his assault. It just didn't do it for me.
I recommend Reviving the Hawthorn Sisters to readers who:
* Love historical fiction
* Love mysteries
* Love watching women take down the patriarchy
rmarcin's review against another edition
3.0
Dove Jarrod has a gift, enabling her to heal people. Or so the story is - and that her family has perpetuated to keep donations to the foundation flowing. But, her granddaughter, Eve, doesn’t believe it, or believe that she also has a gift. When someone attacks Eve, and threatens to expose a terrible secret about her grandmother unless Eve gives him a valuable coin, Eve struggles to protect her grandmother’s legacy.
Told in alternating timelines, from the 1930s to present day, this is an interesting story with a mystery and the sinister dealings of false evangelists using religion for personal gain.
Told in alternating timelines, from the 1930s to present day, this is an interesting story with a mystery and the sinister dealings of false evangelists using religion for personal gain.
readtowander's review
3.0
Southern. Gothic. Thriller. Set in Tuscaloosa. That was what I first saw when I read this synopsis, which meant this was a must read for me! This was my first book by Emily Carpenter and it felt so refreshing that I'm ready for more. This book was told in duel timelines from Dove, who became an evangelist faith leader and Eve, her granddaughter, trying to save her grandmother's reputation. I appreciate the research that went into this story to really take us back in time to the 1930s Alabama to follow how Ruth becomes Dove. The slow-burn mystery was compelling and I love how it all comes together at the conclusion. 3.5 stars for this one.
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Emily Carpenter's thrillers always keep me riveted to the page. I especially enjoy her Southern Gothic thrillers, so I was happy to find out that she was revisiting those roots in her newest book. Her atmospheric settings are one of my favorite things about her stories. Her latest has an interesting setting, colorful characters, and a so-so mystery. I saw the twists in the plot coming, which was a little disappointing. The story also felt a bit disjointed to me, which kept throwing me out of the tale. On the whole, then, I found REVIVING THE HAWTHORNE SISTERS a good read, but not a great one. It did keep me glued to the page, though. I'm still a loyal Carpenter fan, this one just isn't my favorite of hers. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars if Goodreads would let me, but it won't so I rounded up.
machadofam8's review
4.0
This was great - love the back and forth and the slow pacing. I probably would take off half a star because the end felt a little rushed but definitely enjoyed this.