The River Home by Hannah Richell is a story about sisters, family secrets and estrangement connected to an event in the past which is slowly revealed during the course of the novel. Richell's previous novel The Peacock Summer made my Top 5 Books of 2018 list so I had high hopes for this. Thankfully The River Home lived up to my hopes and expectations while delivering something 'new' at the same time.
Sisters Margot, Lucy and Eve are brought together by a family wedding. Having grown up at Windfalls in the shadow of their mother bestselling author Kit Weaver, the sisters are now adults yet each carry their own painful secrets.
Margot and her mother have a complicated history and are each under pressure to resolve their dispute or at the very least keep the peace during Lucy's wedding.
Richell's writing is atmospheric and she has a magical way of bringing a setting and a scene to life on the page. I longed to walk through the rooms at Windfalls and smell the apples in the orchard nearby.
The river is an essential symbol winding its way through the novel and the hearts of the characters in this contemporary novel in a similar way to Diane Setterfield's historical fiction novel Once Upon A River.
The River Home by Hannah Richell is an emotionally engrossing mystery, full of family drama, bitterness and resentment along with a dash of love and hope and I loved it! Highly recommended.
Carpe Librum!
Richell's writing is atmospheric and she has a magical way of bringing a setting and a scene to life on the page. I longed to walk through the rooms at Windfalls and smell the apples in the orchard nearby.
The river is an essential symbol winding its way through the novel and the hearts of the characters in this contemporary novel in a similar way to Diane Setterfield's historical fiction novel Once Upon A River.
The River Home by Hannah Richell is an emotionally engrossing mystery, full of family drama, bitterness and resentment along with a dash of love and hope and I loved it! Highly recommended.
Carpe Librum!
I still haven't read this. A few conversations off screen about the trauma in it has seen me push it down the pile a bit. But five stars from you is promising.
ReplyDeleteThanks Theresa. There's one scene and it's handled very well, so I wouldn't let that put you off the book. It's definitely not a book about trauma either. It's about family dynamics, secrets (not just that) and much more. I loved it.
DeleteSounds really good... if a bit... depressing?
ReplyDeleteYou're right that it's a great book Davida, but no it's not depressing at all. It's lighthearted, full of hope and promise and terrific writing as well as a great mystery. I think you'll enjoy it.
DeleteI can't wait to read this one. I loved her last book!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marg, in that case I hope you love this one too.
DeleteA lovely review Tracey, thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words Shelleyrae, glad you enjoyed it.
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