A review by pebbles1984
Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

4.0

A fast-paced, easy-to-read, never boring book. I really enjoyed it! It took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but once it did, it didn't let me go. I'm talking about Beattie's story here, which interested me much more than Emma's. All those things Beattie went through in her life, poor her.

Spoiler

I was so sad when Charlie died! Although Beattie really annoyed me at that point (and only that point): what is it with those white women who have good romantic or other relationships with black people, and just can't understand that it's not that easy, they should be careful, and it's always the black people who will be blamed for everything, and that something will be made up to blame them for if there's nothing real. In a way I blame Beattie for Charlie's death: if she had listened to him more and not declared their love in front of everyone... On the other hand, I can imagine how frustrating it must be to be surrounded by such narrow-minded and prejudiced people, that at some point you just forget about it all.
I was also saddened by the fact that she never ever saw Lucy again, had hardly any contact with her, except for that one harsh letter from her.

I would have liked to read a bit more about Beattie, before the story jumped to 1965 and the last 20 years or so were sort of skimmed over. It might have been nice to have a more elaborate story about her way to success.

Emma, on the other hand, I did not care for. When a chapter finished and the story jumped back to Emma I felt some frustration, I really wanted to read more about Beattie! Besides Beattie's story being much more interesting, I also did not like Emma at all. So arrogant and selfish, and I can't believe she

Spoiler

jumped on that plane as soon as her cheating boyfriend called and got back to him without questions, not caring AT ALL about all the people in Tasmania, especially Mina and Patrick. I can't really deal with those women who seem to have no self-respect at all and depend completely on their boyfriends. I'm glad she changed her mind in the end, but I still don't like her and think Patrick deserves much better.

I would have liked a bit more story in the epilogue too.

Spoiler

I suspect Lucy was happy to receive the letter, but I'd like to know for sure! To know a bit more about what happened after that, but also how Lucy felt about her mom in all those years she didn't see her. Did she continue to feel the same as she felt in her letter for all those 60-70 years?