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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal is a delightful dive into a fictional island filled with eccentric characters, scenic settings, and a heartwarming community. The first book in a trilogy, it promises escapism and multi-layered plots that will keep readers engaged.
The story follows academic vet Charlotte Walker as she travels to the isolated island of Tuga to study the rare Gold Coin tortoises. As Charlotte’s reasons for visiting unfold, they reveal deeper connections and complexities. The island of Tuga is portrayed so vividly that it feels like a character on its own, with rich descriptions that bring it to life.
Segal’s novel is a pleasure to read, offering themes of culture, loyalty, colonialism, humanity, and bureaucracy. It’s a well-balanced, wholesome story filled with warmth and charm. Though there are many characters to keep track of, a handy list at the beginning of the book helps, and as the story progresses, they become memorable individuals. Despite a somewhat rushed ending, which could have benefitted from more expansion, the novel successfully brings tears to the eyes and ties off the book well.
Charlotte, Dan, Levi, and the various islanders are well-fleshed out, with the island of Tuga itself coming top of the pile. The mystery element added to the story keeps readers guessing and enhances the overall experience. The blend of genres, including drama, romance, and a subtle mystery, hooks you in, and the multiple POVs offer a comprehensive view of the island's inhabitants.
This book truly is glorious. It’s a charming and light-hearted read, perfect for summer, with a low-key mystery and well-done romance. Though the love triangle and some plot points might not appeal to everyone, the vibrant community and setting make it a delightful escape. Tuga might be fictional, but Segal’s worldbuilding creates a place of companionship, community, warmth, and homecoming that feels real.
Whether you're drawn in by the intriguing cover, the unique setting of a remote island, or the multifaceted characters, Welcome to Glorious Tuga offers an enjoyable and summery reading experience. It's a true joy and a great start to a trilogy that leaves readers eager to return to Tuga and its delightful inhabitants.
Thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book!
The story follows academic vet Charlotte Walker as she travels to the isolated island of Tuga to study the rare Gold Coin tortoises. As Charlotte’s reasons for visiting unfold, they reveal deeper connections and complexities. The island of Tuga is portrayed so vividly that it feels like a character on its own, with rich descriptions that bring it to life.
Segal’s novel is a pleasure to read, offering themes of culture, loyalty, colonialism, humanity, and bureaucracy. It’s a well-balanced, wholesome story filled with warmth and charm. Though there are many characters to keep track of, a handy list at the beginning of the book helps, and as the story progresses, they become memorable individuals. Despite a somewhat rushed ending, which could have benefitted from more expansion, the novel successfully brings tears to the eyes and ties off the book well.
Charlotte, Dan, Levi, and the various islanders are well-fleshed out, with the island of Tuga itself coming top of the pile. The mystery element added to the story keeps readers guessing and enhances the overall experience. The blend of genres, including drama, romance, and a subtle mystery, hooks you in, and the multiple POVs offer a comprehensive view of the island's inhabitants.
This book truly is glorious. It’s a charming and light-hearted read, perfect for summer, with a low-key mystery and well-done romance. Though the love triangle and some plot points might not appeal to everyone, the vibrant community and setting make it a delightful escape. Tuga might be fictional, but Segal’s worldbuilding creates a place of companionship, community, warmth, and homecoming that feels real.
Whether you're drawn in by the intriguing cover, the unique setting of a remote island, or the multifaceted characters, Welcome to Glorious Tuga offers an enjoyable and summery reading experience. It's a true joy and a great start to a trilogy that leaves readers eager to return to Tuga and its delightful inhabitants.
Thanks to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book!
This is comped as James Herriot on a tropical island. I was instantly sold when I saw that. Sadly, it didn’t work out.
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Vintage for this ARC.
Charlotte Walker, 29, a vet and academic herpetologist from London, has been given the chance to study the endangered gold coin tortoises on the fictional island of Tuga de Oro, a tiny British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, and the world’s most remote inhabited island, for a year. She's also keen on uncovering who her father is.
Unfortunately I didn't get on with this at all. I found it to be a jumble of a book with no clear story, dealing with Charlotte arriving on Tuga where no one really wants her to study tortoises but everyone tries to get her to be a proper vet for their farm animals. Then there is a weird love triangle with new doctor Dan (who has a fiancée) and handyman Levi, lots of unnecessary flashbacks and background stories of way too many various islanders and not enough tortoises.
Peculiar island life is portrayed vividly but it's not the light-hearted community story plus romance I had expected. In fact the writing style tries very hard to be literary and deep, and for me that didn't work. The story ends rather abruptly but that is because it's only book one in the trilogy. I liked how easily Charlotte integrated but that might also have to do with the choppy writing style that sometimes hops forward a few weeks.
Charlotte Walker, 29, a vet and academic herpetologist from London, has been given the chance to study the endangered gold coin tortoises on the fictional island of Tuga de Oro, a tiny British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, and the world’s most remote inhabited island, for a year. She's also keen on uncovering who her father is.
Unfortunately I didn't get on with this at all. I found it to be a jumble of a book with no clear story, dealing with Charlotte arriving on Tuga where no one really wants her to study tortoises but everyone tries to get her to be a proper vet for their farm animals. Then there is a weird love triangle with new doctor Dan (who has a fiancée) and handyman Levi, lots of unnecessary flashbacks and background stories of way too many various islanders and not enough tortoises.
Peculiar island life is portrayed vividly but it's not the light-hearted community story plus romance I had expected. In fact the writing style tries very hard to be literary and deep, and for me that didn't work. The story ends rather abruptly but that is because it's only book one in the trilogy. I liked how easily Charlotte integrated but that might also have to do with the choppy writing style that sometimes hops forward a few weeks.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
ARC Review - Thank you so much to Chatto and Windus and Vintage at PRH for sending me a copy of the paberback alongside a proof of the second in the trilogy in exchange for an honest review.
I will say I was skeptical going in, because from the cover and descriptions it seemed like a beach read romance-y book - which in no way is bad, just something I have not picked up purposefully before or know a lot about. My impressions of the book are right in aspects (and so much more, which I will get to) but I want to say I am CONVERTED. I absolutely adored the beach/summer read vibes and while the romance(s...) did not shake me to my core, I didn't not like it either. If anyone is looking for THAT summer read: This. Is. It!!!!
The book embodies summer, taking place on a remote island called Tuga. This island is not real, but the depth with which it is described and the full-fledged history that Francesca Segal has conjured up in her imagination (which I am in awe of...) makes it feel like an island we should all know and have learnt about in our history classes. It is not just full of character as a place, but full of exciting characters living on it. I cannot convey how much I love this diverse cast of characters, who feel like neighbours you would love to have - even if for that love-hate relationship.
I adore the story (and the author) for the inclusion of dilemmas between Charlotte Walker, the Londoner entering this island as a stranger to its customs and needs, and the people living on the island (and the island itself). The discussions and development in understanding of what people need when living day to day, sustaining themselves and their island was so nuanced and realistic and a strong reminder of the importance of community. I also appreciated the inclusion of women's health and women's health issues, widely neglected throughout the world. If you are like me and enjoy fiction that weaves in relevant ideas on sociology, politics and feminist issues - you might enjoy this To convey my point, I want to quote this: "Marianne unsettled him, with her refusal to politely ignore the economic and social inequalities between them.“
While I appreciated the people and the setting and some aspects of the story, I think the overall story of Charlotte discovering herself took a backseat for me - I enjoyed learning about the island and the islanders far more and really was not that attached to what is advertised as the main storyline of the book, and felt the twists and turns were not that surprising or thorough because so much space and so many chapters delved into other people's storylines - rightly so. Charlotte in relation to the island was far more interesting than Charlotte on her own, or in relation to her own story. I did not anticipate that I would care for it so little, as it is advertised as the main story of the book, but the fact that so few chapters were really about her story (and therefore her story was so condensed), made everyone else that much more interesting. I didn't mind it, but be aware of that before starting as I imagine that could throw some people off (and I have seen as a critique in lower ratings). I personally really did not mind it, and in fact, was quite glad that the story went where it did. The way I see it, you experience Tuga through Charlotte with sprinkles of her own story weaved in, but really the star is Tuga and its inhabitants. And I for one can’t wait to learn more about Tuga and its Tugans!
Therefore, the romances also fell a little flat for me. Things happened so quickly, because the story spans so much time in such a short space, and I really did not develop any strong feelings about the love triangle. And you know a love triangle is not really a love triangle if people aren't choosing sides. But I don't really mind that, because again, backseat - I cared more about the rest!
So, if you are looking for a one-woman show or full-blown romance, this is not it - but if you are looking for a vibrant community and that escapist summer read (that still holds valuable lessons and ideas and discussions to ponder and have that intellectual hot girl summer) - this is it.
I will say I was skeptical going in, because from the cover and descriptions it seemed like a beach read romance-y book - which in no way is bad, just something I have not picked up purposefully before or know a lot about. My impressions of the book are right in aspects (and so much more, which I will get to) but I want to say I am CONVERTED. I absolutely adored the beach/summer read vibes and while the romance(s...) did not shake me to my core, I didn't not like it either. If anyone is looking for THAT summer read: This. Is. It!!!!
The book embodies summer, taking place on a remote island called Tuga. This island is not real, but the depth with which it is described and the full-fledged history that Francesca Segal has conjured up in her imagination (which I am in awe of...) makes it feel like an island we should all know and have learnt about in our history classes. It is not just full of character as a place, but full of exciting characters living on it. I cannot convey how much I love this diverse cast of characters, who feel like neighbours you would love to have - even if for that love-hate relationship.
I adore the story (and the author) for the inclusion of dilemmas between Charlotte Walker, the Londoner entering this island as a stranger to its customs and needs, and the people living on the island (and the island itself). The discussions and development in understanding of what people need when living day to day, sustaining themselves and their island was so nuanced and realistic and a strong reminder of the importance of community. I also appreciated the inclusion of women's health and women's health issues, widely neglected throughout the world. If you are like me and enjoy fiction that weaves in relevant ideas on sociology, politics and feminist issues - you might enjoy this To convey my point, I want to quote this: "Marianne unsettled him, with her refusal to politely ignore the economic and social inequalities between them.“
While I appreciated the people and the setting and some aspects of the story, I think the overall story of Charlotte discovering herself took a backseat for me - I enjoyed learning about the island and the islanders far more and really was not that attached to what is advertised as the main storyline of the book, and felt the twists and turns were not that surprising or thorough because so much space and so many chapters delved into other people's storylines - rightly so. Charlotte in relation to the island was far more interesting than Charlotte on her own, or in relation to her own story. I did not anticipate that I would care for it so little, as it is advertised as the main story of the book, but the fact that so few chapters were really about her story (and therefore her story was so condensed), made everyone else that much more interesting. I didn't mind it, but be aware of that before starting as I imagine that could throw some people off (and I have seen as a critique in lower ratings). I personally really did not mind it, and in fact, was quite glad that the story went where it did. The way I see it, you experience Tuga through Charlotte with sprinkles of her own story weaved in, but really the star is Tuga and its inhabitants. And I for one can’t wait to learn more about Tuga and its Tugans!
Therefore, the romances also fell a little flat for me. Things happened so quickly, because the story spans so much time in such a short space, and I really did not develop any strong feelings about the love triangle. And you know a love triangle is not really a love triangle if people aren't choosing sides. But I don't really mind that, because again, backseat - I cared more about the rest!
So, if you are looking for a one-woman show or full-blown romance, this is not it - but if you are looking for a vibrant community and that escapist summer read (that still holds valuable lessons and ideas and discussions to ponder and have that intellectual hot girl summer) - this is it.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved every glorious moment that I spent in Tuga.
This book captures perfectly the feeling of escaping, of finding love, family and forgiveness. The setting of Tuga was richly explored and the character work was truly wonderful. So many lives, so many characters that all felt like they were real.
There were also plot twists that I absolutely wasn’t expecting, adding a further element of excitement to the experience.
Overall just a stunning summery read and I look forward to seeing where the series takes us.
Thank you to Vintage for the gifted copy.
This book captures perfectly the feeling of escaping, of finding love, family and forgiveness. The setting of Tuga was richly explored and the character work was truly wonderful. So many lives, so many characters that all felt like they were real.
There were also plot twists that I absolutely wasn’t expecting, adding a further element of excitement to the experience.
Overall just a stunning summery read and I look forward to seeing where the series takes us.
Thank you to Vintage for the gifted copy.
adventurous
funny
relaxing