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Where Ivy Dares to Grow
Mexican Gothic meets Outlander in this spellbinding, atmospheric timeslip debut novel, as a woman struggling with her mental health spends the winter with her cruel in-laws in their eerie, haunting manor that sweeps her back through time and into the arms of her fiancé's mysterious, alluring 19th century ancestor.
Traveling to be with her fiancé’s terminally ill mother in her last days, Saoirse Read expected her introduction to the family’s ancestral home would be bittersweet. But the stark thrust of Langdon Hall against the cliff and the hundred darkened windows in its battered walls are almost as forbidding as the woman who lies wasting inside. Her fiancé’s parents make no secret of their distaste for Saoirse, and their feelings have long since spread to their son. Or perhaps it is only the shadows of her mind suggesting she’s unwelcome, seizing on her fears while her beloved grieves?
As Saoirse takes to wandering the estate’s winding, dreamlike gardens, overgrown and half-wild with neglect, she slips back through time to 1818. There she meets Theo Page, a man like her fiancé but softer, with all the charms of that gentler age, and who clearly harbors a fervent interest in her. As it becomes clear that Theo is her fiancé’s ancestor, and the tenuous peace of Langdon Hall crumbles around her, Saoirse finds she’s no longer sure which dreams and doubts belong to the present—and which might not be dreams at all . . .
Traveling to be with her fiancé’s terminally ill mother in her last days, Saoirse Read expected her introduction to the family’s ancestral home would be bittersweet. But the stark thrust of Langdon Hall against the cliff and the hundred darkened windows in its battered walls are almost as forbidding as the woman who lies wasting inside. Her fiancé’s parents make no secret of their distaste for Saoirse, and their feelings have long since spread to their son. Or perhaps it is only the shadows of her mind suggesting she’s unwelcome, seizing on her fears while her beloved grieves?
As Saoirse takes to wandering the estate’s winding, dreamlike gardens, overgrown and half-wild with neglect, she slips back through time to 1818. There she meets Theo Page, a man like her fiancé but softer, with all the charms of that gentler age, and who clearly harbors a fervent interest in her. As it becomes clear that Theo is her fiancé’s ancestor, and the tenuous peace of Langdon Hall crumbles around her, Saoirse finds she’s no longer sure which dreams and doubts belong to the present—and which might not be dreams at all . . .
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
About the author
Marielle Thompson
4 books326 followersMarielle Thompson is the author of historically inspired gothic fiction that always features a bit of love and a pinch of magic. She holds two master’s degrees in Romantic and Victorian Literature & Society, as well as Creative Writing, both from the University of Edinburgh. Born on New Hampshire’s Seacoast, she has lived in New York City and Scotland before settling in Switzerland, where she currently lives.
Connect on Instagram @byMarielleThompson
Connect on Instagram @byMarielleThompson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 411 reviews
July 29, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, suspenseful, gothic romance novel. Its setting perfectly captures the feelings of its complex female protagonist. This novel deals with mental illness and finding oneself in an empathetic and hopeful manner. The author's note is enlightening and appreciated. Many thanks to Kensington Publishing's Between the Chapters Club, of which I am a member, from whom I won this excellent novel. This is my honest opinion.
July 18, 2023
Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson
Dual timeline gothic mystery / drama.
Saoirse Read travels to her fiancé’s family home so they can spend time with his terminally ill mother. His parents make it more than clear that Saoirse is not welcome and is unworthy of their family. Saoirse spends her time roaming the grounds and hiding from others until she runs into Theo Page who is apparently in the year 1818. She spends extensive time with Theo in Langdon Hall and falls in love. But she can’t remain in historical times, can she? Is she really even there or is it perhaps a dream to escape the unfriendly feelings of her future in-laws.
Theo explains the time travel so well and isn’t surprised by Saoirse’s visits. Why is that? Is she really able to slip through time or is it a daydream?
*********spoiler*********
The author notes say she deliberately wrote this novel to explain and make public depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR). Dissociative mental health issue.
It was a mind twister near the end. Was she really traveling? Was she simply daydreaming? Unfortunately, for me, the addition of the authors notes ruined the questions and intrigue of the story. Up until then, it was a suspenseful question.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher.
Dual timeline gothic mystery / drama.
Saoirse Read travels to her fiancé’s family home so they can spend time with his terminally ill mother. His parents make it more than clear that Saoirse is not welcome and is unworthy of their family. Saoirse spends her time roaming the grounds and hiding from others until she runs into Theo Page who is apparently in the year 1818. She spends extensive time with Theo in Langdon Hall and falls in love. But she can’t remain in historical times, can she? Is she really even there or is it perhaps a dream to escape the unfriendly feelings of her future in-laws.
Theo explains the time travel so well and isn’t surprised by Saoirse’s visits. Why is that? Is she really able to slip through time or is it a daydream?
*********spoiler*********
The author notes say she deliberately wrote this novel to explain and make public depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR). Dissociative mental health issue.
It was a mind twister near the end. Was she really traveling? Was she simply daydreaming? Unfortunately, for me, the addition of the authors notes ruined the questions and intrigue of the story. Up until then, it was a suspenseful question.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher.
April 10, 2023
3.5⭐
Where Ivy Dares to Grow had two different parts or rather halves, one that I likes and another that I didn't so much.
The first half was fascinating, how Saoirse comes to live in Lagdon, her fianceé family estate passed for generation to generation. I loved the ambient of it, the paranormal and gothic-y vibes of a manor that seems to be a living being, hearing and watching you at all times. It got even better when Soirce suddenly finds herself in 1818 instead of her her own 1994 year.
I've always wanted to read a book featuring time travel and Where Ivy Dares to Grow gave me the perfect opportunity to try this theme which now I can say for certain, I love.
The second half, when Saoirse starts catching feelings for Theo was when things started going south.
While Saoirse was dealing with her guilt and shame for cheating on her fianceé (because it's cheating no matter how much of a "beautiful illicit affair" it is as it's described in the book) I was uncomfortable on my own skin. I couldn't approve of her behavior, the fianceé is an asshole but that's no excuse, and her mental health is not a valid one either. That's a personal opinion, I've always had a hard time with the cheating trope so I guess that's on me.
As for the final plot twist, I saw it coming to the point where at some moment I was just waiting for that shoe to drop. Nevertheless, that conclusion and the author's note at the end of the book made it worth it. I'm glad I learnt something about a mental illness that I had no idea of its existence up to this moment and even tho I wish I've seen more of it in the story itself other than the vague mentions, Miss Thompson's note clarifies a lot of things so for that I say, thank you.
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own.
Where Ivy Dares to Grow had two different parts or rather halves, one that I likes and another that I didn't so much.
The first half was fascinating, how Saoirse comes to live in Lagdon, her fianceé family estate passed for generation to generation. I loved the ambient of it, the paranormal and gothic-y vibes of a manor that seems to be a living being, hearing and watching you at all times. It got even better when Soirce suddenly finds herself in 1818 instead of her her own 1994 year.
I've always wanted to read a book featuring time travel and Where Ivy Dares to Grow gave me the perfect opportunity to try this theme which now I can say for certain, I love.
The second half, when Saoirse starts catching feelings for Theo was when things started going south.
While Saoirse was dealing with her guilt and shame for cheating on her fianceé (because it's cheating no matter how much of a "beautiful illicit affair" it is as it's described in the book) I was uncomfortable on my own skin. I couldn't approve of her behavior, the fianceé is an asshole but that's no excuse, and her mental health is not a valid one either. That's a personal opinion, I've always had a hard time with the cheating trope so I guess that's on me.
As for the final plot twist, I saw it coming to the point where at some moment I was just waiting for that shoe to drop. Nevertheless, that conclusion and the author's note at the end of the book made it worth it. I'm glad I learnt something about a mental illness that I had no idea of its existence up to this moment and even tho I wish I've seen more of it in the story itself other than the vague mentions, Miss Thompson's note clarifies a lot of things so for that I say, thank you.
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review. These thoughts are my own.
December 5, 2022
With a house full of secrets, a compelling love story, and atmosphere aplenty, Where Ivy Dares to Grow delivers all the hallmarks of a classic Gothic novel told in a lyrical and hauntingly beautiful new voice.
July 19, 2023
Thank you to GoodReads and the publisher for providing an early copy of the book for review.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book. I really do. Before even reading it, the book jacket's comparison to Mexican Gothic and Outlander sets it up for disaster. Both of those books are masterpieces of their genre, and this book didn't know which it wanted to be.
The main character, Saoirse, is a young woman pursuing her history doctorate while struggling with a mental health diagnosis, which is kept a secret for the majority of the book, and her cruel fiancé and in-laws. She claims history is a huge part of her life, she is literally going to school and writing a thesis, but there's no evidence to this. What's her field of study? Does it relate to the time period she transports back to? How is it integrated into her every day life? I don't see it. I think we're supposed to believe her whole self is a blank slate wiped clean by the cruelty she suffers, and it is cruel, but I'm not sure.
When she goes back in time she meets Theo, the most perfect man that every existed. It is insta-love. There isn’t a flaw in his character besides his circumstances. He is a reassuring presence that reminds Saoirse she’s a person deserving of love, no matter what. We all can use that from time-to-time, but the main character never gives that to herself without someone first providing it. I wish this character’s will was present. I wish her agency were present. Anything to make me care.
I put it at 2 stars instead of 1 because there are lines in it that are good and shows the author has potential. Maybe her future works will get stronger and stronger, but I’m not sure if I’ll seek her work out.
TLDR; I could forgive this book’s flaws if it was self-published or even part of the romance genre. It advertises itself as a gothic, time travel, ghost story and it ain’t that. Read (or re-read) Mexican Gothic, Outlander or the classic gothic literature referenced. Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein are welcome friends. This book isn’t my friend.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book. I really do. Before even reading it, the book jacket's comparison to Mexican Gothic and Outlander sets it up for disaster. Both of those books are masterpieces of their genre, and this book didn't know which it wanted to be.
The main character, Saoirse, is a young woman pursuing her history doctorate while struggling with a mental health diagnosis, which is kept a secret for the majority of the book, and her cruel fiancé and in-laws. She claims history is a huge part of her life, she is literally going to school and writing a thesis, but there's no evidence to this. What's her field of study? Does it relate to the time period she transports back to? How is it integrated into her every day life? I don't see it. I think we're supposed to believe her whole self is a blank slate wiped clean by the cruelty she suffers, and it is cruel, but I'm not sure.
When she goes back in time she meets Theo, the most perfect man that every existed. It is insta-love. There isn’t a flaw in his character besides his circumstances. He is a reassuring presence that reminds Saoirse she’s a person deserving of love, no matter what. We all can use that from time-to-time, but the main character never gives that to herself without someone first providing it. I wish this character’s will was present. I wish her agency were present. Anything to make me care.
I put it at 2 stars instead of 1 because there are lines in it that are good and shows the author has potential. Maybe her future works will get stronger and stronger, but I’m not sure if I’ll seek her work out.
TLDR; I could forgive this book’s flaws if it was self-published or even part of the romance genre. It advertises itself as a gothic, time travel, ghost story and it ain’t that. Read (or re-read) Mexican Gothic, Outlander or the classic gothic literature referenced. Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Frankenstein are welcome friends. This book isn’t my friend.
December 27, 2022
This book is promoted as a Mexican Gothic meets Outlander and I 100 percent agree! Saoirse is suffering from a mental illness setback during the completion of her doctorate. She takes a leave and travels with her Fiance for his mother's last days in the Page family's 19th century manor.
The family is cold to her and the dark and unfriendly manor gives her chills. Her relationship with her finance is frayed and she begins to walk the grounds alone. Somehow she is pulled back a century to meet an relative of the Pages. After that, nothing can be the same.
I loved the premise and the execution. The writing created the gothic atmosphere needed for castles and mansions. Best yet, the author's note at the end added another layer to the meaning of the novel. If you like gothic stories, wish to travel back in time, or just love a little romance with your thrills, then Where Ivy Dares to Grow ifs for you! #Kensingtonbooks #WhereIvyDaresToGrow #MarielleThompson
The family is cold to her and the dark and unfriendly manor gives her chills. Her relationship with her finance is frayed and she begins to walk the grounds alone. Somehow she is pulled back a century to meet an relative of the Pages. After that, nothing can be the same.
I loved the premise and the execution. The writing created the gothic atmosphere needed for castles and mansions. Best yet, the author's note at the end added another layer to the meaning of the novel. If you like gothic stories, wish to travel back in time, or just love a little romance with your thrills, then Where Ivy Dares to Grow ifs for you! #Kensingtonbooks #WhereIvyDaresToGrow #MarielleThompson
April 26, 2023
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I tried, I really did. Gothic time travel absolutely seems like my kind of thing and I was excited to receive an ARC. Excited enough to ignore the copy language that describes 1818 as “a gentler age” (for whom?????), though that set off alarm bells in my mind.
But y’all, I only got a few chapters in before the overwrought prose kicked me right out. It’s just so awkward! It’s not even the purple prose that is one of the (often delightful) features of pulpy gothic fiction. Instead, it’s just got weird construction, and every other paragraph I’d read a sentence that made me say, “Why would anyone construct a sentence like that?” ('Construct' is the only word to describe what Thompson does to her sentences—‘write’ simply does not do it justice.)
There may well be a good story somewhere in there with interesting things to say about mental illness. But I am not willing to put up with writing like that in order to find it.
DNF
I tried, I really did. Gothic time travel absolutely seems like my kind of thing and I was excited to receive an ARC. Excited enough to ignore the copy language that describes 1818 as “a gentler age” (for whom?????), though that set off alarm bells in my mind.
But y’all, I only got a few chapters in before the overwrought prose kicked me right out. It’s just so awkward! It’s not even the purple prose that is one of the (often delightful) features of pulpy gothic fiction. Instead, it’s just got weird construction, and every other paragraph I’d read a sentence that made me say, “Why would anyone construct a sentence like that?” ('Construct' is the only word to describe what Thompson does to her sentences—‘write’ simply does not do it justice.)
There may well be a good story somewhere in there with interesting things to say about mental illness. But I am not willing to put up with writing like that in order to find it.
DNF
June 29, 2023
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Where Ivy Dares to Grow is an interesting and meandering standalone featuring a unreliable narrator. Saoirse is stuck at a beautiful estate to be with her fiancé as his mother spends her last days on earth. The estate seems almost haunted and alive with history and Saoirse is swept away in a diary she found, losing herself to the past and the man, Theo Page, who wrote the diary.
It is clear from the beginning that Saoirse and Jack have been just going through the motions for some time and you wonder how/why they are still together. Everyone seems so put out that Saoirse even came to be at the estate with Jack in this difficult time. Left to herself, she barely sees or speaks to Jack and is instead sent by the house back in time to meet the very man whose diary she found. Theo is so unlike Jack and makes Saoirse feel like she isn't broken and is worth something. He is so unlike the man in her present and she can't help but be drawn to him slipping back and forth between 1994 and Theo's time 1818.
A few things. I get that Saoirse's current relationship was a mess and doomed, I mean you get that sense in the first few chapters, but she cheats on Jack with Theo. Now in Outlander I was kinda okay with Claire and Jamie because Claire is stuck in the past with no way to get back. But Saoirse shifts back and forth between the two times, so the cheating felt more real even if Jack is a jerk and you know that relationship isn't going anywhere. If you have issues with cheating just be aware.
This is a slow read. It has that gothic feel to it for sure, but it is also languorous and meandering as Saoirse goes back and forth and we hear all the thoughts in her head. I eventually sped up the narration because it all felt too slow. I was however engaged in the story and couldn't wait to see how it ended, so at least it was captivating in that sense.
There is a nice twist at the end that I wondered if it was coming and then the author talked about why she wrote this book. I think it is an interesting way to talk about a mental illness not many know about. I had never heard of this disorder but then thought I might know someone with a mild case of it.
Overall an interesting story with a forbidden romance. The ending was satisfying and I was happy Saoirse found herself, especially after feeling so adrift.
Narration:
Nancy Peterson did a very good job portraying the vibe of the story. She captured the heroine and her brokenness well, making her sympathetic and not whining. I listened to most of the story at my usual 1.5x speed but about 50% in I bumped it up to 1.75x for my preferred flow rate.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
Where Ivy Dares to Grow is an interesting and meandering standalone featuring a unreliable narrator. Saoirse is stuck at a beautiful estate to be with her fiancé as his mother spends her last days on earth. The estate seems almost haunted and alive with history and Saoirse is swept away in a diary she found, losing herself to the past and the man, Theo Page, who wrote the diary.
It is clear from the beginning that Saoirse and Jack have been just going through the motions for some time and you wonder how/why they are still together. Everyone seems so put out that Saoirse even came to be at the estate with Jack in this difficult time. Left to herself, she barely sees or speaks to Jack and is instead sent by the house back in time to meet the very man whose diary she found. Theo is so unlike Jack and makes Saoirse feel like she isn't broken and is worth something. He is so unlike the man in her present and she can't help but be drawn to him slipping back and forth between 1994 and Theo's time 1818.
A few things. I get that Saoirse's current relationship was a mess and doomed, I mean you get that sense in the first few chapters, but she cheats on Jack with Theo. Now in Outlander I was kinda okay with Claire and Jamie because Claire is stuck in the past with no way to get back. But Saoirse shifts back and forth between the two times, so the cheating felt more real even if Jack is a jerk and you know that relationship isn't going anywhere. If you have issues with cheating just be aware.
This is a slow read. It has that gothic feel to it for sure, but it is also languorous and meandering as Saoirse goes back and forth and we hear all the thoughts in her head. I eventually sped up the narration because it all felt too slow. I was however engaged in the story and couldn't wait to see how it ended, so at least it was captivating in that sense.
There is a nice twist at the end that I wondered if it was coming and then the author talked about why she wrote this book. I think it is an interesting way to talk about a mental illness not many know about. I had never heard of this disorder but then thought I might know someone with a mild case of it.
Overall an interesting story with a forbidden romance. The ending was satisfying and I was happy Saoirse found herself, especially after feeling so adrift.
Narration:
Nancy Peterson did a very good job portraying the vibe of the story. She captured the heroine and her brokenness well, making her sympathetic and not whining. I listened to most of the story at my usual 1.5x speed but about 50% in I bumped it up to 1.75x for my preferred flow rate.
Listen to a clip: HERE
February 17, 2024
A lovely premise sullied by the narrator's (author's, I'm sure) need to explain every. little. detail. Ad nauseum. Yes, we get that your fiance and his family have a distaste for you. Yes, we know you think the house is haunted. Yes, we are aware you're mentally unwell. Yes, we are very aware that Theo's eyes are green. Please stop bashing us over the head with 100 different ways of saying the same. boring. thing. and use the time to craft a plot instead.
Edit:
The prose sounds like a Wattpad series. Example: "I had shed my sandals to feel the press of the fresh summer grass upon the most vulnerable part of my body." Huh?
Another one: "I feel my cheeks flame and I am grateful for the breeze that lifts up to bite at my skin—nature giving me a mask." What?
Edit the second:
I LOATHE this book. It's my new least favourite. DNF at 71%. I really tried, but Saoirse's egocentricity and Theo's flatness (over and over and over again in a horrendously repetitive and poorly-crafted style) was an utter time-waste. Bye 👋
Edit:
The prose sounds like a Wattpad series. Example: "I had shed my sandals to feel the press of the fresh summer grass upon the most vulnerable part of my body." Huh?
Another one: "I feel my cheeks flame and I am grateful for the breeze that lifts up to bite at my skin—nature giving me a mask." What?
Edit the second:
I LOATHE this book. It's my new least favourite. DNF at 71%. I really tried, but Saoirse's egocentricity and Theo's flatness (over and over and over again in a horrendously repetitive and poorly-crafted style) was an utter time-waste. Bye 👋
October 29, 2024
I’ll admit I had a hard time connecting to the main character, Saoirse. I really wanted to like her, especially as her fiancé’s family was so mean to her since I didn’t care for them, but I didn’t. I couldn’t understand why she was even there with how Jack and his family were treating her. I also don’t love the gaslighting/unreliable narrator thing and this one definitely had that. I liked the gothic tiny, but this book was way more romance focused than I was expecting and I wasn’t into the romance. Saoirse and her fiancé Jack have headed to his family home because his mother is dying. Saoirse has been struggling with some mental health issues and is on a break from her PhD program. The mysterious house takes Saoirse into the past and she meets one of Jack’s ancestors Theo. Theo is everything Jack used to be and then some. But Saoirse has a hard time believing what she is seeing because of her mental health struggles. Overall it was an ok book, but I wanted more.
July 11, 2023
THE GOOD: Lovely, sad, evocative, bewildering. A fascinating peek into a little known mental condition. A gorgeous mansion, beautiful grounds, haunting hallways. A heartbreaking view into how our leading lady perceives her world. But, ultimately, a happy-ending story, if not the one Saoirse craved.
THE BAD:
The "current day" is 1994, but it's not explained why that is. Aggravating overuse of phrase my/your/the truth, in particular in the last third of the book, which obscures the meaning of the term, and feels a bit like lazy editing. Sex scenes aren't overly graphic, but could feel a bit uncomfortable in the "recommend to mom" test. A Contents Warning at the beginning is unnecessary and also a bit misleading.
CONCLUSION: Definitely recommend for a moody, atmospheric romance in the gothic tradition.
THE BAD:
The "current day" is 1994, but it's not explained why that is. Aggravating overuse of phrase my/your/the truth, in particular in the last third of the book, which obscures the meaning of the term, and feels a bit like lazy editing. Sex scenes aren't overly graphic, but could feel a bit uncomfortable in the "recommend to mom" test. A Contents Warning at the beginning is unnecessary and also a bit misleading.
CONCLUSION: Definitely recommend for a moody, atmospheric romance in the gothic tradition.
June 30, 2023
Thank you to Marielle Thompson, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
MAJOR SPOILERS, BEWARE
I. Despise. This. Book.
I wanted to DNF it multiple times, but I pushed through until 95%. Then I just couldn't take it anymore. Saoirse, the MC, is incredibly self-centered. My God. The entire novel is about how horribly treated she is and how miserable she is because of it. Life's been just awful to her. Pages and pages of redundant woe-is-me inner monologue. And the only thing she does to make it less miserable is have an affair. Because that won't complicate anything, never mind the time difference.
Let me lay it out for ya.
It's 1994. Saoirse and her fiance, Jack Page, travel to Langdon Hall, the Page family country manor, to spend time with his father and dying mother, both of whom have never approved of Saoirse and have nothing but condescending insults to say to her. But she goes for Jack's sake, even though their relationship has been withering on the vine for months. I believe Jack's mother's terminal diagnosis is given as the catalyst for the estrangement, but never is it explained why that caused Jack to pull away from Saoirse. Saoirse never asked. Speculated and accused in her mind, but never asked him. Never talked to him about it at all.
So Saoirse's miserable at Langdon, feeling like an unwanted burden. Trying to stay out of the way, though she's really just avoiding them, she wanders around the eerie house feeling watched and haunted and wondering if she's going crazy again, which is another big part of her character that was never explained or clarified. It's implied she suffers from depression, anxiety, and perhaps schizophrenia, but I don't recall it saying she's on any medication or participating in any therapy to help cope with these conditions. It's treated like her mental illnesses are entirely dependent on her own willpower to stay un-crazy, willpower no one thinks she has. It infuriated me. But hey, 1994.
In her wanderings she finds the journal of Jack's ancestor, Theo; apparently the semi-sentient house deliberately put the book in her path. The house then begins to transport her back in time to 1818 to meet said ancestor (Or does it? Is it all in her mind blah blah blah). The supernatural abilities of the house don't surprise him and he's hot and lonely, not to mention the only person who seems to welcome Saoirse's presence (she's more or less estranged from her own relatives as well, I can't remember why, assuming an adequate explanation was given), so naturally she gravitates to him, wanting to go back more and more often to spend time with him.
They chat a bit and in short order begin having sex, both desperate for connection, and "fall in love" with each other despite the impossibility of their relationship. I didn't feel their relationship was well developed at all; I have no idea why Theo loved her so much.....except for the fact that she was eager and came with no strings. A kicked puppy desperate for love and cuddles but that he didn't have to bother feeding, training, or pottying. And she waxed poetic about how kind and gentle and sensitive he is, but truly she became addicted to his attention and lack of judgment. Their relationship existed in a little bubble free of responsibilities and commitment. He didn't want to know anything about her time, and she never seemed curious about his, so maybe it was more a little bubble of ignorance. No wonder it was such bliss.
Finally the black moment and climax arrive: Jack's mother dies, and it's time to leave Langdon, which means leaving Theo. Saoirse panics and decides to try to stay with Theo, but turns out he's sick and dying. There's nothing else for her in 1818. Shit, she can't just abandon her problems with Jack and go missing. So she breaks up with him. Just like that. The same day his mother died and he's swamped with grief. Doesn't wait until after his mother's laid to rest. Doesn't even wait until they're back home in London.
And that's where I quit. Because fuck. Her.
Saoirse was such a horrible character. I think the reader is supposed to be cheering for her to work up the balls to leave Jack, but I'm just confused and frustrated as to why she didn't do it months, YEARS, ago. Why HE didn't. I don't find her situation sympathetic, because I don't understand it. Jack's side of the story is never explored. We didn't see him treat her very well, and no, he never tried to talk to her about their problems either, but he was still with her, still sought her support, still wanted to marry her. Why? Were they both just sunk so deep in feeling obligated to each other, though they weren't even married yet?
All Saoirse did was pine for how happy and in love they used to be and blame his parents for being assholes and turning him against her, and blamed him for becoming cold and distant. She was such a VICTIM and a COWARD. It drove me INSANE. She seemed to need a man to define her, needed a fantasy world free of consequences and responsibility to make her happy. It made me sick. It was mentioned that she was pursuing a Ph.d. in some obscure branch of archaeology, and I don't buy it. I don't believe someone so utterly lacking in self-confidence and dependent upon procrastination could have the strength and discipline to drive herself through that many years of post-secondary.
Hey, there we go. This novel could be a highly dramatized and overly detailed metaphor for procrastination. You can distract yourself with more pleasant things, but reality merely lies in wait.
At one point near the end Saoirse did contemplate that Theo and Jack weren't her only options, SHE was one as well. Which sounds like she found inner strength to finally stand up for herself.....but it's actually selfishness, considering it prompts her to go break up with Jack.
I'm so done with this book. Peace.
MAJOR SPOILERS, BEWARE
I. Despise. This. Book.
I wanted to DNF it multiple times, but I pushed through until 95%. Then I just couldn't take it anymore. Saoirse, the MC, is incredibly self-centered. My God. The entire novel is about how horribly treated she is and how miserable she is because of it. Life's been just awful to her. Pages and pages of redundant woe-is-me inner monologue. And the only thing she does to make it less miserable is have an affair. Because that won't complicate anything, never mind the time difference.
Let me lay it out for ya.
It's 1994. Saoirse and her fiance, Jack Page, travel to Langdon Hall, the Page family country manor, to spend time with his father and dying mother, both of whom have never approved of Saoirse and have nothing but condescending insults to say to her. But she goes for Jack's sake, even though their relationship has been withering on the vine for months. I believe Jack's mother's terminal diagnosis is given as the catalyst for the estrangement, but never is it explained why that caused Jack to pull away from Saoirse. Saoirse never asked. Speculated and accused in her mind, but never asked him. Never talked to him about it at all.
So Saoirse's miserable at Langdon, feeling like an unwanted burden. Trying to stay out of the way, though she's really just avoiding them, she wanders around the eerie house feeling watched and haunted and wondering if she's going crazy again, which is another big part of her character that was never explained or clarified. It's implied she suffers from depression, anxiety, and perhaps schizophrenia, but I don't recall it saying she's on any medication or participating in any therapy to help cope with these conditions. It's treated like her mental illnesses are entirely dependent on her own willpower to stay un-crazy, willpower no one thinks she has. It infuriated me. But hey, 1994.
In her wanderings she finds the journal of Jack's ancestor, Theo; apparently the semi-sentient house deliberately put the book in her path. The house then begins to transport her back in time to 1818 to meet said ancestor (Or does it? Is it all in her mind blah blah blah). The supernatural abilities of the house don't surprise him and he's hot and lonely, not to mention the only person who seems to welcome Saoirse's presence (she's more or less estranged from her own relatives as well, I can't remember why, assuming an adequate explanation was given), so naturally she gravitates to him, wanting to go back more and more often to spend time with him.
They chat a bit and in short order begin having sex, both desperate for connection, and "fall in love" with each other despite the impossibility of their relationship. I didn't feel their relationship was well developed at all; I have no idea why Theo loved her so much.....except for the fact that she was eager and came with no strings. A kicked puppy desperate for love and cuddles but that he didn't have to bother feeding, training, or pottying. And she waxed poetic about how kind and gentle and sensitive he is, but truly she became addicted to his attention and lack of judgment. Their relationship existed in a little bubble free of responsibilities and commitment. He didn't want to know anything about her time, and she never seemed curious about his, so maybe it was more a little bubble of ignorance. No wonder it was such bliss.
Finally the black moment and climax arrive: Jack's mother dies, and it's time to leave Langdon, which means leaving Theo. Saoirse panics and decides to try to stay with Theo, but turns out he's sick and dying. There's nothing else for her in 1818. Shit, she can't just abandon her problems with Jack and go missing. So she breaks up with him. Just like that. The same day his mother died and he's swamped with grief. Doesn't wait until after his mother's laid to rest. Doesn't even wait until they're back home in London.
And that's where I quit. Because fuck. Her.
Saoirse was such a horrible character. I think the reader is supposed to be cheering for her to work up the balls to leave Jack, but I'm just confused and frustrated as to why she didn't do it months, YEARS, ago. Why HE didn't. I don't find her situation sympathetic, because I don't understand it. Jack's side of the story is never explored. We didn't see him treat her very well, and no, he never tried to talk to her about their problems either, but he was still with her, still sought her support, still wanted to marry her. Why? Were they both just sunk so deep in feeling obligated to each other, though they weren't even married yet?
All Saoirse did was pine for how happy and in love they used to be and blame his parents for being assholes and turning him against her, and blamed him for becoming cold and distant. She was such a VICTIM and a COWARD. It drove me INSANE. She seemed to need a man to define her, needed a fantasy world free of consequences and responsibility to make her happy. It made me sick. It was mentioned that she was pursuing a Ph.d. in some obscure branch of archaeology, and I don't buy it. I don't believe someone so utterly lacking in self-confidence and dependent upon procrastination could have the strength and discipline to drive herself through that many years of post-secondary.
Hey, there we go. This novel could be a highly dramatized and overly detailed metaphor for procrastination. You can distract yourself with more pleasant things, but reality merely lies in wait.
At one point near the end Saoirse did contemplate that Theo and Jack weren't her only options, SHE was one as well. Which sounds like she found inner strength to finally stand up for herself.....but it's actually selfishness, considering it prompts her to go break up with Jack.
I'm so done with this book. Peace.
July 6, 2023
"I had not said the truth, and instead, it choked me. The weight of words unsaid had seeped out of me and created the ocean of oil between us, a gulf that we are both afraid to acknowledge, that will consume us."
Is there a better way to describe the realization of having fallen out of love?
Saoirse Read has traveled with her fiancé to the family’s ancestral home, Langdon Hall by a beautiful, picturesque cliffside to tend to his ill mother's last moments and Saoirse couldn't feel more like an outsider and unwelcome. She comes by an old diary in the attic and begins to read the entries of Theo Page from 1818 and soon after finds herself transported to the old halls of Langdon with lush gardens that are now long dilapidated and meets the kind and caring Theo.
"Here it is now, the house reaching a hand out toward me - seeing my loneliness..."
How beautiful it is to be seen and heard and understood effortlessly. The two of them fall completely and beautifully for one another, but something big will stand in their way that's not time or fiancés.
....
You might wonder why I picked this novel up. It's described as Mexican Gothic meets Outlander, but I don't think that holds true. Maybe more Susanna Kearsly, who has done similar novels as such. The book is rather short, and despite a very foreseeable plot, it comes with some razor-sharp descriptions of love in turmoil as well as a pinch of spice that's well done. Some events in the story happened a bit too conveniently I might say as it often does in romance, but if the mood strikes and you feel like being swept away, this may be the ticket for a quick getaway.
If you are expecting goth and darkness, there isn't much of that...nor anything fantastical, which is why I picked it up. I like old creaky house stories and attics and such, but the ending does lend to a surprising turn and might leave a reader dreaming of change, invigorated, or inspired.
"Love should not come with conditions.....I tamper down a rising sob that catches me by surprise in its heft, in the hollow ache that seems to have cracked open in my chest."
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
Is there a better way to describe the realization of having fallen out of love?
Saoirse Read has traveled with her fiancé to the family’s ancestral home, Langdon Hall by a beautiful, picturesque cliffside to tend to his ill mother's last moments and Saoirse couldn't feel more like an outsider and unwelcome. She comes by an old diary in the attic and begins to read the entries of Theo Page from 1818 and soon after finds herself transported to the old halls of Langdon with lush gardens that are now long dilapidated and meets the kind and caring Theo.
"Here it is now, the house reaching a hand out toward me - seeing my loneliness..."
How beautiful it is to be seen and heard and understood effortlessly. The two of them fall completely and beautifully for one another, but something big will stand in their way that's not time or fiancés.
....
You might wonder why I picked this novel up. It's described as Mexican Gothic meets Outlander, but I don't think that holds true. Maybe more Susanna Kearsly, who has done similar novels as such. The book is rather short, and despite a very foreseeable plot, it comes with some razor-sharp descriptions of love in turmoil as well as a pinch of spice that's well done. Some events in the story happened a bit too conveniently I might say as it often does in romance, but if the mood strikes and you feel like being swept away, this may be the ticket for a quick getaway.
If you are expecting goth and darkness, there isn't much of that...nor anything fantastical, which is why I picked it up. I like old creaky house stories and attics and such, but the ending does lend to a surprising turn and might leave a reader dreaming of change, invigorated, or inspired.
"Love should not come with conditions.....I tamper down a rising sob that catches me by surprise in its heft, in the hollow ache that seems to have cracked open in my chest."
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
December 8, 2022
I'd like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing a chance at reading this book.
Hrm.
This book is easy enough that one can be finished with it in a day. Or even a couple of hours.
Not a lot goes on in it, and not a lot of depth either. Comes across as a easy write for a short-story class.
Is it good? Depends on your view. For me, I want more from my short stories. When I can summarize the entire book in a sentence or two, we got a problem.
There is also a plot point revealed at the end which is brave of the author having but doesn't really make it an enjoyable repetitive read for future readings.
Hrm.
This book is easy enough that one can be finished with it in a day. Or even a couple of hours.
Not a lot goes on in it, and not a lot of depth either. Comes across as a easy write for a short-story class.
Is it good? Depends on your view. For me, I want more from my short stories. When I can summarize the entire book in a sentence or two, we got a problem.
There is also a plot point revealed at the end which is brave of the author having but doesn't really make it an enjoyable repetitive read for future readings.
November 22, 2023
So much potential, but fell flat. Sad to admit it was a bit boring and the writing was plain. I understand that the story is character driven but it felt like nothing happened.
October 2, 2023
"You will always be my greatest what-if, the most beautiful almost love of my life." I'm actually sobbing what the heck.
March 6, 2023
I saw Mexican Gothic meets Outlander and immediately wanted to read this book. I'm not the biggest fan of romance novels but when there's a time travel element - sign me up! This book reminded me of a gothic version of the movie Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve.
The book follows our main character Saoirse as she goes with her fiancé, Jack, to his family's ancestral home for his mother's last weeks. Saoirse and Jack have been very distant - she has an unnamed-until-the-end mental illness and Jack treats her like she's not in control of her mind and ready to snap. I'm biased since we were reading from Saoirse's point of view, but I wanted to slap Jack. There was so much gaslighting happening (which the author warns about before the book starts) but it was rage inducing. His parents also don't see Saoirse as worthy of marrying into their precious family and similarly treat her like she's a lost child. At one point, Jack and his mother decide that Saoirse needs to quick her PhD program because they decided it's too stressful for her ()
Saoirse finds herself transported to 1818 where she meets Theo, an ancestor of the family. He's the exact opposite of Jack the Jerk - he sees Saoirse as a whole person and shows her that she is worthy of love. They try to fight it but are drawn into a very sweet romance. Saoirse starts to question things Jack and his family have been making her believe about herself. As the mother's death approaches and Saoirse becomes more aware of how (crappily) Jack treats her, she has to decide if she wants to stay in the past with Theo or follow through on marrying Jack.
I had some issues with Saoirse and how repetitive her inner monologue got. The amount of times where she was talking about seeing herself as a grey person and Theo adding color back to her life got redundant. At the same time, it fit the mental illness narrative. Saoirse talking about feeling like she was drowning and unable/trying to rise to the surface felt very true of how I've felt during depressive episodes. She was dealing with a different illness, but it resonated and felt real.
Overall, it's a book that is both really sweet and beyond infuriating (have I mentioned how much I dislike Jack?). I appreciate how the author included Saoirse's mental illness but doesn't have it drive the story. The author said at the end that she didn't want to create a villain whose actions are driven by mental illness but instead create a story where it's involved and part of the story but not the main plot. The author did a great job of that. I'm still digesting how I feel about the very end, but the book definitely left me with things to think about.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced review copy.
The book follows our main character Saoirse as she goes with her fiancé, Jack, to his family's ancestral home for his mother's last weeks. Saoirse and Jack have been very distant - she has an unnamed-until-the-end mental illness and Jack treats her like she's not in control of her mind and ready to snap. I'm biased since we were reading from Saoirse's point of view, but I wanted to slap Jack. There was so much gaslighting happening (which the author warns about before the book starts) but it was rage inducing. His parents also don't see Saoirse as worthy of marrying into their precious family and similarly treat her like she's a lost child. At one point, Jack and his mother decide that Saoirse needs to quick her PhD program because they decided it's too stressful for her ()
Saoirse finds herself transported to 1818 where she meets Theo, an ancestor of the family. He's the exact opposite of Jack the Jerk - he sees Saoirse as a whole person and shows her that she is worthy of love. They try to fight it but are drawn into a very sweet romance. Saoirse starts to question things Jack and his family have been making her believe about herself. As the mother's death approaches and Saoirse becomes more aware of how (crappily) Jack treats her, she has to decide if she wants to stay in the past with Theo or follow through on marrying Jack.
I had some issues with Saoirse and how repetitive her inner monologue got. The amount of times where she was talking about seeing herself as a grey person and Theo adding color back to her life got redundant. At the same time, it fit the mental illness narrative. Saoirse talking about feeling like she was drowning and unable/trying to rise to the surface felt very true of how I've felt during depressive episodes. She was dealing with a different illness, but it resonated and felt real.
Overall, it's a book that is both really sweet and beyond infuriating (have I mentioned how much I dislike Jack?). I appreciate how the author included Saoirse's mental illness but doesn't have it drive the story. The author said at the end that she didn't want to create a villain whose actions are driven by mental illness but instead create a story where it's involved and part of the story but not the main plot. The author did a great job of that. I'm still digesting how I feel about the very end, but the book definitely left me with things to think about.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced review copy.
April 25, 2024
Debut author Marielle Thompson presents a genre-crossing tale full of atmosphere and dark shadows of the mind. I was intrigued that Where Ivy Dares Grow brings together Gothic tones, Contemporary and Historical Fiction with a Timeslip Element, and offers a heroine struggling with deep mental health issues.
Where Ivy Dares Grow is written in flowery, poetic prose from a first person point of view. The tone is foreboding with Saoirse holding shakily on mental health-wise with her Depersonalization- Derealization Disorder which she fears and hasn’t come to grips with yet. Saoirse is at a low point when she experiences time slip to a time 200 years in the past through reading the journal of Theo Page and a house that sends her through time. She encounters the perfect hero in Theo who admires her just as she is. It is her time in the past with Theo that gives her the strength and determination to take her own life in hand and find her own contentment and happiness.
Her character was written so well that I had no trouble believing I was in the head of someone struggling with severe mental health issues, but also a young woman who didn’t have much agency and her choice to even come into the Langdon Hall environment where she seemed to drift as she did with her engagement was inexplicable to me. This also made her a difficult heroine for me to be in her head while she monologued. The pace of the book was slowed and my attentiveness was not as keen during these moments.
I was wary of the romance element because, though it takes place as a result of time travel, Saoirse is in a committed relationship even if it has gone cold. If she’d been permanently stuck in the past, I’d not have been ruffled by it, but she slips back and forth. So, fair warning to other readers who might struggle with this.
All in all, this debut effort does the job of bringing to light a disorder I knew little about and providing representation for others who suffer the same or similar disorders, showcases a well-written gothic setting and tone, and makes me want to try out the author’s next gothic fiction effort as I adore such tales in the flavor of the old classics. Maybe not for everyone, but readers should definitely consider Where Ivy Dares Grow.
My full review will post at The Quill Ink 4.24.24.
#ThriftyThursday
Where Ivy Dares Grow is written in flowery, poetic prose from a first person point of view. The tone is foreboding with Saoirse holding shakily on mental health-wise with her Depersonalization- Derealization Disorder which she fears and hasn’t come to grips with yet. Saoirse is at a low point when she experiences time slip to a time 200 years in the past through reading the journal of Theo Page and a house that sends her through time. She encounters the perfect hero in Theo who admires her just as she is. It is her time in the past with Theo that gives her the strength and determination to take her own life in hand and find her own contentment and happiness.
Her character was written so well that I had no trouble believing I was in the head of someone struggling with severe mental health issues, but also a young woman who didn’t have much agency and her choice to even come into the Langdon Hall environment where she seemed to drift as she did with her engagement was inexplicable to me. This also made her a difficult heroine for me to be in her head while she monologued. The pace of the book was slowed and my attentiveness was not as keen during these moments.
I was wary of the romance element because, though it takes place as a result of time travel, Saoirse is in a committed relationship even if it has gone cold. If she’d been permanently stuck in the past, I’d not have been ruffled by it, but she slips back and forth. So, fair warning to other readers who might struggle with this.
All in all, this debut effort does the job of bringing to light a disorder I knew little about and providing representation for others who suffer the same or similar disorders, showcases a well-written gothic setting and tone, and makes me want to try out the author’s next gothic fiction effort as I adore such tales in the flavor of the old classics. Maybe not for everyone, but readers should definitely consider Where Ivy Dares Grow.
My full review will post at The Quill Ink 4.24.24.
#ThriftyThursday
February 7, 2026
Genre: Gothic Fiction
Type: Standalone
POV: First person - female
Rating:
4.25 Stars
In the dead of winter 1994, Saoirse Read arrived at Langdon Hall to accompany her fiancé, Jack Page, during his mother’s final days. The gloomy ancestral home soon felt lonely until Saoirse slipped back to the year 1818 and met the then owner, Theodore Page, forcing her to question where her future truly lies.
Saoirse’s status and fragile mental health isolated her from the Page family. While I got frustrated with her stance, I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Theo was the light of this story. His refined demeanor and propriety were endearing.
For whatever reason, fate or rather, Langdon, knew time and time again that Theo and I were meant to cross paths. That we need each other, are perhaps the only ones who can understand the other.
The book was bleak in a way that resonated with me. I could feel the oppressive longing emanating from the characters, amplified by the immersive atmosphere.
Where Ivy Dares to Grow is a story of finding oneself. It would appeal to readers who enjoy gothic fiction enveloped with romance.
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August 6, 2023
Saoirse Read travels to her fiancés family home to help take care of his terminally ill mother. Saoirse is dreading the trip knowing she will not be welcomed by the family, but she knows she doesn’t have a choice. She spends her visit staying out of the way and roaming the grounds until she suddenly finds herself back in the time 1818. She meets a family ancestor named Theo and the story takes a turn. It’s best you don’t know more 🙊
I really enjoyed this book! It’s described as Mexican Gothic meets Outlander, and I couldn’t agree more. I enjoyed the writing and the plot twists. This story was just really well done.
Thank you Goodreads for the giveaway!
I really enjoyed this book! It’s described as Mexican Gothic meets Outlander, and I couldn’t agree more. I enjoyed the writing and the plot twists. This story was just really well done.
Thank you Goodreads for the giveaway!
June 6, 2023
This was the best book that I have read in a very long time. When I tell you I bawled my eyes out in the end, that is absolutely no exaggeration. This was one of the most well written books that I have ever read. Thompson writes with such an elegance that made me feel every single emotion each character was having which allowed me to feel like I myself was in the Langdon mansion, traipsing around.
While the ending was so heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming. The way the books ends also leaves an air of mystery to the story and lets us decide what is true and what is not. I think it is a great metaphor for the illusion of life- everything we see may not be real but it's our feelings and interpretations that make something come to life.
While the ending was so heartbreaking, it was also heartwarming. The way the books ends also leaves an air of mystery to the story and lets us decide what is true and what is not. I think it is a great metaphor for the illusion of life- everything we see may not be real but it's our feelings and interpretations that make something come to life.
June 29, 2023
She annoyed me immensely.
April 20, 2023
Where Ivy Dares To Grow (ARC)
Marielle Thompson
4.75⭐️
Saoirse travels with her fiance to the dark Page ancestral Langdon Home to support him from a terrible tragedy about to befall his family. She quickly realizes how much of a bother she is, how unwanted and undeserving she is as a future Page bride. With her scarred mind, she wanders through its halls and gardens and finds herself in another time, where she is welcomed, in the same house, but brighter, and in the arms of another Page who shows her a love with no prerequisites. But with the situation around her, and the words spoken and made felt, Saoirse now doubts her reality. Where and when will she truly feel free?
As soon as I read the first few paragraphs, the sense of dread is apparent. This book is very erudite with its descriptions which helps with setting the tone. It has this melancholic feel - old house, journal, unwelcoming family, wandering alone, ivy. It definitely is slow paced (which I'm usually not a fan of) but I think for this book, it's appropriately so. The author took her time to paint the whole picture. I initially thought that this was a paranormal book, and I was scared to continue. But it's actually a time slip. I love historical fiction up to a certain time. And even though it goes back to 1818 (which is, as I probably have said a couple times here, not much the era of my interest), it was written so well that I had no trouble loving this.
By the middle to about 80% of the book, I though that the plot is not so unique. I've read similar storylines before and had a hunch of where this is going. But I was interested in the ending anyway. Last chapter came and my reaction was "NO WAY..." The mental health aspect was unexpected. I know the FMC was "troubled" but I didn't really pay much mind to it. But thinking back about everything that I've read, and with what the specific diagnosis the author was talking about, the writing was just so good and creative that it made me "experience" what Saoirse's "reality" is. The ivy metaphor is great. I appreciate this so much more. It's when I took back the thought that this is a cliche plot. This is a fantastic read for me.
Marielle Thompson
4.75⭐️
Saoirse travels with her fiance to the dark Page ancestral Langdon Home to support him from a terrible tragedy about to befall his family. She quickly realizes how much of a bother she is, how unwanted and undeserving she is as a future Page bride. With her scarred mind, she wanders through its halls and gardens and finds herself in another time, where she is welcomed, in the same house, but brighter, and in the arms of another Page who shows her a love with no prerequisites. But with the situation around her, and the words spoken and made felt, Saoirse now doubts her reality. Where and when will she truly feel free?
As soon as I read the first few paragraphs, the sense of dread is apparent. This book is very erudite with its descriptions which helps with setting the tone. It has this melancholic feel - old house, journal, unwelcoming family, wandering alone, ivy. It definitely is slow paced (which I'm usually not a fan of) but I think for this book, it's appropriately so. The author took her time to paint the whole picture. I initially thought that this was a paranormal book, and I was scared to continue. But it's actually a time slip. I love historical fiction up to a certain time. And even though it goes back to 1818 (which is, as I probably have said a couple times here, not much the era of my interest), it was written so well that I had no trouble loving this.
By the middle to about 80% of the book, I though that the plot is not so unique. I've read similar storylines before and had a hunch of where this is going. But I was interested in the ending anyway. Last chapter came and my reaction was "NO WAY..." The mental health aspect was unexpected. I know the FMC was "troubled" but I didn't really pay much mind to it. But thinking back about everything that I've read, and with what the specific diagnosis the author was talking about, the writing was just so good and creative that it made me "experience" what Saoirse's "reality" is. The ivy metaphor is great. I appreciate this so much more. It's when I took back the thought that this is a cliche plot. This is a fantastic read for me.
January 14, 2024
Where Ivy Dares to Grow is a book from another era; Intimate, atmospheric, and mesmerizing. It’s been a while since I felt this way about a book. I don’t think I can express eloquently enough how much this story means to me. I’m in love.
Saoirse Read is traveling to be with her fiancé’s terminally ill mother in her last days in the family’s ancestral home. It’s no secret that Saoirse has never been welcome or accepted by her fiancé’s family and she fears that the man who’s supposed to love her is starting to feel the same.
Feeling unwanted and despised, Saoirse takes to wandering the estate trying to be as invisible as possible so when she slips back through time to 1818 and meets Theo Page, a man who sees her differently from anyone else, her life takes an unexpected turn.
There is something about this book that slipped inside my soul. I felt deeply for Saoirse and everything she’s going through from her crumbling relationship with her fiancé to her complicated feelings for a man from another time. The characters were so well written and developed. The dynamics were complex and complicated. The writing was beautiful.
The atmosphere was singular and unique. There was this bittersweet feeling that clung to me the whole time I was reading the book like someone was ripping my heart out and then filling the space with butterflies.
The ending left me speechless and destroyed and I loved it. It was powerful, sad and emotional.
I can’t recommend this book enough.
May 1, 2023
Saorise Read travels with her fiancé to his family’s secluded estate so he can be with his terminally ill mother in her final days. When they arrive at Langdon Manor, its beautiful yet cold halls are mirrored in the reception Saorise receives from her in-laws. Rejected and diminished by them at every turn, she takes to wandering the frigid halls alone and stumbles into a time slip - traveling back from 1994 to 1818, where she meets the handsome and kind ancestor of her fiancé.
As the manor pushes and pulls her between timelines, Saorise must keep a tight grip on her struggling mental health while she falls in love with a man from the past, as she continues to grow more isolated from the man she’s promised her future.
This stunning novel is gilded with atmosphere - thick burgundy carpet, green Ivy lacing up old stone walls, candles lighting up turret libraries. The cold, desolate loneliness of the present is perfectly balanced by the warmth and vibrancy of the past. There is also some lovely regency-era courting details in the 1818 timeline that Bridgerton fans will love.
The gothic elements are thrilling - a sentient manor that lives and breathes, manipulating its inhabitants, time-warping, an isolated/unreliable narrator, and the underlying sense of unease that something bad is indeed going to happen. It’s also about the legacies of the extremely wealthy, and the price they’re willing to pay for prestige.
It’s a fascinating portrayal of what it’s like to live with mental illness and how it affects perception of reality - whether real, or second-guessed.
Atmospheric, chilling, and nail-biting, you don’t want to miss this Gothic stunner.
As the manor pushes and pulls her between timelines, Saorise must keep a tight grip on her struggling mental health while she falls in love with a man from the past, as she continues to grow more isolated from the man she’s promised her future.
This stunning novel is gilded with atmosphere - thick burgundy carpet, green Ivy lacing up old stone walls, candles lighting up turret libraries. The cold, desolate loneliness of the present is perfectly balanced by the warmth and vibrancy of the past. There is also some lovely regency-era courting details in the 1818 timeline that Bridgerton fans will love.
The gothic elements are thrilling - a sentient manor that lives and breathes, manipulating its inhabitants, time-warping, an isolated/unreliable narrator, and the underlying sense of unease that something bad is indeed going to happen. It’s also about the legacies of the extremely wealthy, and the price they’re willing to pay for prestige.
It’s a fascinating portrayal of what it’s like to live with mental illness and how it affects perception of reality - whether real, or second-guessed.
Atmospheric, chilling, and nail-biting, you don’t want to miss this Gothic stunner.
July 28, 2023
I won an ARC from the publisher through GoodReads. This is my honest opinion.
This book makes you feel the loneliness and isolation Saoirse felt. Her self-doubt was somewhat annoying and off-putting. Finding Theo helped her find herself in the end. It helped her see her worth and helped her choose herself. They were fated to meet, but not to share a life together, to help them both find a peace within themselves.
Even if Saoirse dreamed him up in her head (all but confirmed in author's note) Langdon still provided her with the courage and strength she needed to get away from Jack and stand on her own feet again.
I think I would have preferred a different ending, but I believe it was the ending that the book needed.
This book makes you feel the loneliness and isolation Saoirse felt. Her self-doubt was somewhat annoying and off-putting. Finding Theo helped her find herself in the end. It helped her see her worth and helped her choose herself. They were fated to meet, but not to share a life together, to help them both find a peace within themselves.
Even if Saoirse dreamed him up in her head (all but confirmed in author's note) Langdon still provided her with the courage and strength she needed to get away from Jack and stand on her own feet again.
I think I would have preferred a different ending, but I believe it was the ending that the book needed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2023
AHHH THE ENDING!!!!! When I saw this book pitched as Mexican Gothic meets Outlander, I immediately had a heart attack and knew I would love it. Now, in all actuality it’s not really anything like those two books but entirely its own story and a compelling one at that. Would have been 5 stars, but it was a bit repetitive sometimes. Probably not for everyone l, but I still loved it though.
June 26, 2023
I won this book so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It definitely was missing something. I will not be following this author.
Read
April 1, 2026DNF a couple hours into the audio.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my gifted copy of Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson.
This is a simple case of this book was not for me.
Where Ivy Dares to Grow was published in 2023 and this was my second or third attempt picking it up.
I started with the ebook first and then attempted the audio.
I really do think I’ve given it a fair shot and it’s time to hang it up.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my gifted copy of Where Ivy Dares to Grow by Marielle Thompson.
This is a simple case of this book was not for me.
Where Ivy Dares to Grow was published in 2023 and this was my second or third attempt picking it up.
I started with the ebook first and then attempted the audio.
I really do think I’ve given it a fair shot and it’s time to hang it up.
July 6, 2024
What an absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking lovestory. Thompson manages to handle the subject matter with a lot of sensitivity and nuance, making Saoirse sympathetic and the story - compelling.
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