Take a photo of a barcode or cover
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. It begins on Easter in 1938, where 19-year-old Ivy roams her family's English country estate and prepares to meet her brother's girlfriend. She lives in an unconventional household for the times: her mother and father are separated and living apart with their respective partners, but they still come together as a family, and they're all renowned artists. From that day, we follow Ivy through five other days over different decades.
I think this was meant to be a slice of life book, focused on Ivy's growth over the years and her coming into herself, but I just wasn't very interested in Ivy or her story. I appreciated the way this book interrogated the limitations of being a woman in the 1930s, even an upper-class woman, but I just didn't connect with Ivy enough to really care. There are some gorgeous depictions of the English countryside, though. This is likely other people's cup of tea, it's just not mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
I think this was meant to be a slice of life book, focused on Ivy's growth over the years and her coming into herself, but I just wasn't very interested in Ivy or her story. I appreciated the way this book interrogated the limitations of being a woman in the 1930s, even an upper-class woman, but I just didn't connect with Ivy enough to really care. There are some gorgeous depictions of the English countryside, though. This is likely other people's cup of tea, it's just not mine.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: War