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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I have to say this book was such a happy surprise! I can’t remember how it ended up on my #TBR but I am so glad it did. This has (like many books now) two story lines - one in the present and one set in 1959. Both stories center around Applecote Manor in the English countryside. In the summer of 1959, four sisters stay at the manor with their Aunt and Uncle whose own daughter has been missing for five years. The story set in the present is a widower recently remarried moving into the house with his wife, daughter from his first marriage and their 2 year toddler. There on struggles on both sides of the stories with secrets and the hard stuff that families have to work around or through. There is a mystery here about what happened to the girl who disappeared back in 1955 but that storyline is really not the focal point. The writing hits it’s stride about 15 pages in and doesn’t let up. Chase has some wonderful descriptions and her characters are well developed. She understands all of the phases of human emotions and writes like it.
I couldn’t wait to get to the end of this book to put all of the pieces together. But now I am sad to leave the house at Applecote behind.
What a fun book to fall into
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
http://www.anurseandabook.com/2017/07/wilding-sisters-by-eve-chase.html
I usually don't see the comparisons to other authors as being especially valuable - too often I don't see it, or it causes me to have different expectations of a book. However, in this one, I do see the comparison to Kate Morton as being accurate.
I was just talking to a friend the other day about authors that publish 2-3 books per year vs the ones who publish a book every 2-3 year (I'm looking at you, Kate Morton) and if it really makes you more anxious for the next book or if you actually start to forget about them. Kate Morton is a bit of both for me - I forget about her, but then if I see she's published something new, I'll read it and remember why I liked her so much.
But there's really been no one else like her for me, especially since I love period pieces where they go back and forth in time.
The Wilding Sisters follows this formula. You bounce between the story of the four Wilde girls who are sent to the country to stay with a grieving aunt and creepy uncle. As they find excitement with the local boys, their relationships start to change as love and jealousy intrude on their close bond.
Margot is obsessed with her cousin's disappearance and cannot stop focusing on what happened to Audrey. The village folk seem to already have convicted her Uncle even though there was no evidence that he had anything to do with it, and her Aunt seems to be mistaking Margot for her missing daughter, all of which make for an awkward summer.
Meanwhile in present day, Jesse has moved into Applecote Manor with her daughter, stepdaughter and weekend visiting husband. Her stepdaughter is focused on the missing girl from the past, and seems to hate both Jesse and her baby girl.
I never like to give spoilers, and there were mysteries in both storylines. But (spoiler alert), one part that I didn't care for was why would Audrey's killer first offer one story of how she died, then give a totally different one to the same person the next day? I kind of understood in the first story it was presented as an accident, but really in the second story, it could have been an accident too, it's never determined that it was purposeful. Or I missed something.
The one problem with the time jump novels is that just when you get into one section, you get pulled into the next time without much warning. It can be a little jarring at times, and I was definitely more interested in the past than the present. But overall, it was really good, and I'll watch for Eve Chase's next book. I wonder if it will be 2-3 years away.
I usually don't see the comparisons to other authors as being especially valuable - too often I don't see it, or it causes me to have different expectations of a book. However, in this one, I do see the comparison to Kate Morton as being accurate.
I was just talking to a friend the other day about authors that publish 2-3 books per year vs the ones who publish a book every 2-3 year (I'm looking at you, Kate Morton) and if it really makes you more anxious for the next book or if you actually start to forget about them. Kate Morton is a bit of both for me - I forget about her, but then if I see she's published something new, I'll read it and remember why I liked her so much.
But there's really been no one else like her for me, especially since I love period pieces where they go back and forth in time.
The Wilding Sisters follows this formula. You bounce between the story of the four Wilde girls who are sent to the country to stay with a grieving aunt and creepy uncle. As they find excitement with the local boys, their relationships start to change as love and jealousy intrude on their close bond.
Margot is obsessed with her cousin's disappearance and cannot stop focusing on what happened to Audrey. The village folk seem to already have convicted her Uncle even though there was no evidence that he had anything to do with it, and her Aunt seems to be mistaking Margot for her missing daughter, all of which make for an awkward summer.
Meanwhile in present day, Jesse has moved into Applecote Manor with her daughter, stepdaughter and weekend visiting husband. Her stepdaughter is focused on the missing girl from the past, and seems to hate both Jesse and her baby girl.
I never like to give spoilers, and there were mysteries in both storylines. But (spoiler alert), one part that I didn't care for was why would Audrey's killer first offer one story of how she died, then give a totally different one to the same person the next day? I kind of understood in the first story it was presented as an accident, but really in the second story, it could have been an accident too, it's never determined that it was purposeful. Or I missed something.
The one problem with the time jump novels is that just when you get into one section, you get pulled into the next time without much warning. It can be a little jarring at times, and I was definitely more interested in the past than the present. But overall, it was really good, and I'll watch for Eve Chase's next book. I wonder if it will be 2-3 years away.
The author had a beautiful turn of phrase for sure. This made me love the historical sections of the book. It added to the sense of place, the wonder, and the mystery. However, as the modern day story line didn't engage me in the slightest -- it felt rather melodramatic and angsty -- it sort of amplified my dislike of those sections. I honestly never felt like the modern story arc added to the novel much at all. I can certainly see the parallels that were being made and all that... But I still think I'd have preferred a short book without any of the modern stuff.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was such an enjoyable read that kept me hooked throughout. I was desperate to know what happened! When i did find out i was a little disappointed, it didn’t wow me. I enjoyed the dual timeline however and enjoyed the story as a whole but felt like i was expecting a bigger plot twist then what happened.
Such a good book! I've read two of Eve Chase books so far and I love the way she brings 2 different stories into one.
This author has a haunting Gothic style that I adore and her sophomore novel wowed me as much as her debut novel.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A well written and intriguing story but too scary and sad for my taste.