**Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for providing this in exchange for an honest review**
I liked this, but didn't love it. This was a much lighter read then I expected. I think the problem was the author tried to fit too much in this book. I like books with large cast. And yes, I do want to know about each character. The problem here is, you see bits and pieces from almost every characters POV. We're talking 8 or 9 characters. With so many POVs going back and forth, the writing can be very confusing in spots. You get to see fragments of what happened in the past and what is currently happening, but I never felt like I got to really know any of the characters. I think this book would have been a lot more enjoyable if the author had just stuck with the residents of the Hope street house. None of the characters felt fully developed, even Alba. The only thing that really stands out about these characters is each and everyone of them has some big secret. I had the same problem with this that I had with The Help. The secrets are brought up often through out the book. So often, that I didn't even care what they were. I just wanted to find out what they were so I wouldn't have to read anymore hints about them. When the reveals did come, they weren't even that shocking.
This felt like a mash-up of past Magical Realism titles (Practical Magic or any Sarah Addison Allen) with a little Kate Morton thrown in for good measure. There were a couple original ideas. I really liked the idea of the historical females who still live through pictures at 11 Hope St. You have the likes of Agatha Christie, Sylvia Plath, and Daphne du Maurier just to name a few. Sadly, each only gets a few lines. I would have much rather heard what they had to say then be stuck reading Blake's POV again.
There is something meant to be a "twist" at the end, but due to *very* heavy handed clues through out the book, I figured it out early.
One good thing about this book is its pushed A Room with a View high up on my TBR list.
I would recommend this if your looking enjoyable HEA read. There is a wonderful section at the end of the book with a brief intro to all the historical figures who live in the house's photos. If I had known about it, I would have read this part before I started the story.
I liked this, but didn't love it. This was a much lighter read then I expected. I think the problem was the author tried to fit too much in this book. I like books with large cast. And yes, I do want to know about each character. The problem here is, you see bits and pieces from almost every characters POV. We're talking 8 or 9 characters. With so many POVs going back and forth, the writing can be very confusing in spots. You get to see fragments of what happened in the past and what is currently happening, but I never felt like I got to really know any of the characters. I think this book would have been a lot more enjoyable if the author had just stuck with the residents of the Hope street house. None of the characters felt fully developed, even Alba. The only thing that really stands out about these characters is each and everyone of them has some big secret. I had the same problem with this that I had with The Help. The secrets are brought up often through out the book. So often, that I didn't even care what they were. I just wanted to find out what they were so I wouldn't have to read anymore hints about them. When the reveals did come, they weren't even that shocking.
This felt like a mash-up of past Magical Realism titles (Practical Magic or any Sarah Addison Allen) with a little Kate Morton thrown in for good measure. There were a couple original ideas. I really liked the idea of the historical females who still live through pictures at 11 Hope St. You have the likes of Agatha Christie, Sylvia Plath, and Daphne du Maurier just to name a few. Sadly, each only gets a few lines. I would have much rather heard what they had to say then be stuck reading Blake's POV again.
There is something meant to be a "twist" at the end, but due to *very* heavy handed clues through out the book, I figured it out early.
One good thing about this book is its pushed A Room with a View high up on my TBR list.
I would recommend this if your looking enjoyable HEA read. There is a wonderful section at the end of the book with a brief intro to all the historical figures who live in the house's photos. If I had known about it, I would have read this part before I started the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book though it did take me a couple of chapters to get into it. All of the main characters come with their specific baggage and are sided throughout the book by famous women hanging on the walls...it also has a lovely twist towards the end.
