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beate251's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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
4.5
After the collapse of her marriage to a cheating husband who has squandered away all her money and left her with debts, Amelia and her 11 year old daughter Charlotte are forced to move back in with Amelia's mother Grace, with whom she has a strained relationship.
Grace has an interesting hobby - she makes miniature railways as she used to be an engineer, but we only later discover why they mean so much to her, and why Amelia is often so cold towards her. Grace tries everything to make her daughter and granddaughter feel welcome but Amelia bears resentment from her childhood where she felt her mother wasn't there for her enough, even in shared grief. Charlotte misses her father and has to get used to a brand-new school. Luckily, children are resilient - she finds a new friend in asthmatic Sammy and tries to solve the mystery of a beloved missing teacher.
This is a multi-generational story of old wounds and new challenges. The topics of grief and mental health problems are skillfully handled. I loved all the characters and side characters and how they came together, mending relationships and forging new ones.
Recommended as an easy, heart-warming read full of love. It is beautifully written, with a lovely cover.
I now need to read Eleanor Ray 's first book "Everything is Beautiful"!
Grace has an interesting hobby - she makes miniature railways as she used to be an engineer, but we only later discover why they mean so much to her, and why Amelia is often so cold towards her. Grace tries everything to make her daughter and granddaughter feel welcome but Amelia bears resentment from her childhood where she felt her mother wasn't there for her enough, even in shared grief. Charlotte misses her father and has to get used to a brand-new school. Luckily, children are resilient - she finds a new friend in asthmatic Sammy and tries to solve the mystery of a beloved missing teacher.
This is a multi-generational story of old wounds and new challenges. The topics of grief and mental health problems are skillfully handled. I loved all the characters and side characters and how they came together, mending relationships and forging new ones.
Recommended as an easy, heart-warming read full of love. It is beautifully written, with a lovely cover.
I now need to read Eleanor Ray 's first book "Everything is Beautiful"!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, Child death, and Grief
cmw276's review against another edition
3.0
Eleanor Ray's 'The Art of Belonging' was a cute, easy but nothing special read that I picked up recently.
It skillfully navigated the choppy waters of a family reeling from a recent breakup, alongside a different, older trauma that continued to cast a shadow over their relationships, especially the delicate dynamics between parent and child.
The straightforward and engaging storytelling made the book an effortless journey, weaving through themes of belonging and connection amidst the backdrop of everyday family challenges.
Not something I would be recommending, but equally, not something to avoid.
It skillfully navigated the choppy waters of a family reeling from a recent breakup, alongside a different, older trauma that continued to cast a shadow over their relationships, especially the delicate dynamics between parent and child.
The straightforward and engaging storytelling made the book an effortless journey, weaving through themes of belonging and connection amidst the backdrop of everyday family challenges.
Not something I would be recommending, but equally, not something to avoid.
sparker94's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
weefeereads's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
shelleys_book_nook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was such a lovely read. I so enjoy stories with multiple generations because they show how much we can learn from each other young and old. In this tale, we have three generations of women from the same family having to live under one roof. When Grace's daughter Amelia and granddaughter Charlotte move in with her after Amelia's marriage collapses because of her husband and his financial disaster they learn to let go of past hurts and mistakes through love, perseverance and acceptance...And along the way, they learn a little bit more about each other and themselves.
The story is told from each main character's point of view and I loved how authentic each woman sounded and how clear the voice of each character was. Every one of them has insecurities, wants, needs and loves...and they all come through loud and clear. And even though their three lives are closely entwined they each had their own lives and story going on. Amelia is dealing with her separation and work, Grace is dealing with the upheaval, miniature club, her husband's death and a budding romance. Charlotte's dealing with missing her dad, a new school and new friends. The way Eleanor Ray wrote about these situations and the character's ways of dealing with them was very realistic and true to life. What I took away from this story and what the characters learned is the fact that maybe we're not so different underneath it all.
The story is told from each main character's point of view and I loved how authentic each woman sounded and how clear the voice of each character was. Every one of them has insecurities, wants, needs and loves...and they all come through loud and clear. And even though their three lives are closely entwined they each had their own lives and story going on. Amelia is dealing with her separation and work, Grace is dealing with the upheaval, miniature club, her husband's death and a budding romance. Charlotte's dealing with missing her dad, a new school and new friends. The way Eleanor Ray wrote about these situations and the character's ways of dealing with them was very realistic and true to life. What I took away from this story and what the characters learned is the fact that maybe we're not so different underneath it all.
bookmadbarlow's review
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.0
A lovely book about fractured families and how they can be put back together.
Amelia has just found out her husband is in major debt, and on top of the is cheating on her, she is forced to move back in with her mother Grace, taking her daughter Charlotte with her.
Grace isn't the best at showing Amelia the love she needs, and this has led to many tough conversations.
Charlotte is having to start a new school, but maybe she finds what she needs from Sammy.
Told from the perspective of Grace, Amelia, and Charlotte, the book shows the difficulties in relationships but also shines through with love shown in many different ways.
I liked how the story was woven together, how the women mended relationships and became stronger.
Amelia has just found out her husband is in major debt, and on top of the is cheating on her, she is forced to move back in with her mother Grace, taking her daughter Charlotte with her.
Grace isn't the best at showing Amelia the love she needs, and this has led to many tough conversations.
Charlotte is having to start a new school, but maybe she finds what she needs from Sammy.
Told from the perspective of Grace, Amelia, and Charlotte, the book shows the difficulties in relationships but also shines through with love shown in many different ways.
I liked how the story was woven together, how the women mended relationships and became stronger.
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