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The Mapmaker's Wife
A forbidden love. An impossible decision. A family changed forever...1954. Bea Bell has lived in Grenada her whole life... until she meets handsome surveyor Patrick Anderson. The two are quickly swept up in a whirlwind romance that takes them across the crumbling Empire. But not everyone is as accepting of their interracial marriage. And soon they are faced with an impossible decision, one that threatens to tear them apart...2015. Since her mother's death, Amelia has tirelessly taken care of her family. So it falls to her to pack up her family's memories and sell their family home, whilst taking care of her aging father. But then Amelia finds a handwritten letter, unveiling a family secret that reveals how little she really knows about herself...The Mapmaker's Wife is a sweeping love story which explores identity, friendship and family and will appeal to fans of Santa Montefiore and Dinah Jefferies.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2024
11 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 15, 2024
Beatrice lives in Grenada, a stunning country in the Caribbean. She’s one of three daughters, she has an older sister Millicent and a younger sister Bette. Bea has never considered leaving “Spice Island” until she meets English surveyor and cartographer Patrick Anderson.
The couple are swept up in a whirlwind romance, Beatrice travels to England with Patrick, she's been warned about the cold weather, Bea wasn’t expecting people’s rude attitude towards coloured people and interracial marriage. Patrick accepts his next posting, Beatrice is ready for their adventure and she’s keen to leave England and she has no idea what her life will be like as a wife of a busy surveyor in a foreign country.
The story has a dual timeline, it’s told from the two main characters points of view, Beatrice in the middle of 1950’s and Amelia in 2015 and it's easy to follow.
Amelia lives in Grenada, she has a daughter Maryse, she’s busy getting her parent’s house ready to sell and her widowed father is going to move in with her. Packing up a lifetime of family memories is hard, whilst doing this she discovers a locked trinket box at the back of her mother’s wardrobe, it contains a book, letters and Amelia uncovers a family secret that’s been hidden for over fifty years.
I received a copy of The Mapmaker’s Wife by Hannah Evans from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a review. Based around true events, Hannah Evans explores interracial marriage and racism, the effects of isolation and loneliness on a young bride, and her having to make a heartbreaking choice and the lasting consequences.
Five stars from me, I had never heard of Grenada before, what a beautiful place and it eventually became part of the Commonwealth and like Australia and the message I got from the compelling narrative was adopted children are chosen and a precious gift.
The couple are swept up in a whirlwind romance, Beatrice travels to England with Patrick, she's been warned about the cold weather, Bea wasn’t expecting people’s rude attitude towards coloured people and interracial marriage. Patrick accepts his next posting, Beatrice is ready for their adventure and she’s keen to leave England and she has no idea what her life will be like as a wife of a busy surveyor in a foreign country.
The story has a dual timeline, it’s told from the two main characters points of view, Beatrice in the middle of 1950’s and Amelia in 2015 and it's easy to follow.
Amelia lives in Grenada, she has a daughter Maryse, she’s busy getting her parent’s house ready to sell and her widowed father is going to move in with her. Packing up a lifetime of family memories is hard, whilst doing this she discovers a locked trinket box at the back of her mother’s wardrobe, it contains a book, letters and Amelia uncovers a family secret that’s been hidden for over fifty years.
I received a copy of The Mapmaker’s Wife by Hannah Evans from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for a review. Based around true events, Hannah Evans explores interracial marriage and racism, the effects of isolation and loneliness on a young bride, and her having to make a heartbreaking choice and the lasting consequences.
Five stars from me, I had never heard of Grenada before, what a beautiful place and it eventually became part of the Commonwealth and like Australia and the message I got from the compelling narrative was adopted children are chosen and a precious gift.
May 15, 2024
I wrote this book and have read it approx 2 million times, so you can be damn sure I’m counting it towards my Goodreads challenge ✨
I’m very biased but I think it’s fab x
I’m very biased but I think it’s fab x
June 11, 2024
A beautiful story, well written loved every page
June 1, 2024
A truly moving exploration of race, family and marriage - told through a cleverly constructed dual timeline. An excellent debut from Hannah, with not a word wasted - I’m so excited to see what she writes next!
September 10, 2024
I've read the final draft of this book and it's INCREDIBLE. I can't wait for it to come out! It follows an amazing journey based on the true story of my grandparents. It makes me ball my eyes out throughout. 100% a must read!
April 24, 2025
1954. Bea Bell has lived in Grenada her whole life... until she meets handsome surveyor Patrick Anderson. The two are quickly swept up in a whirlwind romance that takes them across the crumbling Empire. But not everyone is as accepting of their interracial marriage. And soon they are faced with an impossible decision, one that threatens to tear them apart...
2015. Since her mother's death, Amelia has tirelessly taken care of her family. So it falls to her to pack up her family's memories and sell their family home, whilst taking care of her aging father. But then Amelia finds a handwritten letter, unveiling a family secret that reveals how little she really knows about herself...
This is a sweeping, dual-timeline story, set in Grenada, Tanganyika, Sierra Leone, England and Ireland, and was inspired by the true story of Hannah Evans' own grandparents relationship.
It's fascinating and thought-provoking, as well as emotional, and is beautifully written. Hannah Evans is skilled at evoking not only a strong sense of time and place, but also emotional intensity and feeling.
Her characters are well-drawn, fully rounded and believable, and I was especially taken with Beatrice's strength of mind, by her ability to make the best of a situation and find happiness, as well as her desperate lows and unhappiness, all of which is convincingly portrayed by the author.
This is a novel which explores themes of identity, belonging and self-determination - both on a personal level, and, a national level, where countries have been subsumed and dominated by a colonial power, and are seeking independence.
At the heart of the novel though is a family and within its pages, Hannah Evans looks at the definition of a family as well as at familial bonds, love, duty, expectation and obligation.
She also examines prejudice, tolerance and acceptance; and the "what ifs" of life: the direct impact of decisions taken and the consequences of paths followed - for both the individual at the time, and for unborn generations to come.
I really enjoyed this sweeping love story and found it an emotional, and compelling page-turner. I would like to thank Hannah Evans and Orion Books for inviting me to read an AD-GIFTED copy of The paperback edition which was published this week. Recommended.
2015. Since her mother's death, Amelia has tirelessly taken care of her family. So it falls to her to pack up her family's memories and sell their family home, whilst taking care of her aging father. But then Amelia finds a handwritten letter, unveiling a family secret that reveals how little she really knows about herself...
This is a sweeping, dual-timeline story, set in Grenada, Tanganyika, Sierra Leone, England and Ireland, and was inspired by the true story of Hannah Evans' own grandparents relationship.
It's fascinating and thought-provoking, as well as emotional, and is beautifully written. Hannah Evans is skilled at evoking not only a strong sense of time and place, but also emotional intensity and feeling.
Her characters are well-drawn, fully rounded and believable, and I was especially taken with Beatrice's strength of mind, by her ability to make the best of a situation and find happiness, as well as her desperate lows and unhappiness, all of which is convincingly portrayed by the author.
This is a novel which explores themes of identity, belonging and self-determination - both on a personal level, and, a national level, where countries have been subsumed and dominated by a colonial power, and are seeking independence.
At the heart of the novel though is a family and within its pages, Hannah Evans looks at the definition of a family as well as at familial bonds, love, duty, expectation and obligation.
She also examines prejudice, tolerance and acceptance; and the "what ifs" of life: the direct impact of decisions taken and the consequences of paths followed - for both the individual at the time, and for unborn generations to come.
I really enjoyed this sweeping love story and found it an emotional, and compelling page-turner. I would like to thank Hannah Evans and Orion Books for inviting me to read an AD-GIFTED copy of The paperback edition which was published this week. Recommended.
February 7, 2025
Such a beautifully written book. Loved flicking between time getting to know the characters!
May 23, 2024
I loved this book! Really more-ish and emotionally resonating. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction but have been inspired me to pursue more books in the genre.
August 13, 2024
An incredibly heartwarming story of family. I feel like I am potentially the wrong demographic for this book having never had to deal with the trials and tribulations that the people in this book, and indeed those in real life, have to deal with on a daily basis. But it was eye opening to a history I didn't know existed.
This book was selected for a local book club and whilst it is definitely not my usual read - I will be recommending it to others.
This book was selected for a local book club and whilst it is definitely not my usual read - I will be recommending it to others.
July 7, 2024
This is a fascinating family story spanning generations and continents. The book flowed really well and was beautifully written. I learned a lot about the history of different countries and I felt a lot as I learned more about each one of these characters. A wonderful debut book and I can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 19, 2024
Beautiful story
I am so glad I bought this book. It would normally not be a book I would have picked but after reading lots of thrillers I just wanted something different. A book is always good when you can imagine what the characters and surroundings are like. I would highly recommend this book.
I am so glad I bought this book. It would normally not be a book I would have picked but after reading lots of thrillers I just wanted something different. A book is always good when you can imagine what the characters and surroundings are like. I would highly recommend this book.
June 9, 2024
A beautiful story about love and heartbreak and family. This one isn’t just a short period of time in someone’s life, it covers decades and continents and made me cry. It also made think about the decisions made and the “what ifs?” A fantastic read.
May 17, 2024
Struggled with this book and in places nearly gave in. Not my most enjoyed book but someone else I am sure will write a different review.
May 7, 2025
This was a wonderfully written story that had two timelines weaving together perfectly. Often with dual timelines it can be a but jarring to swap between, but in this case it worked so flawlessly that I was intrigued and invested in each timeline, eager to see what was coming at all times.
The story is based around true events, but it doesn’t read as a biography, instead it has a wonderful romance that has a variety if elements within it. With family drama, new countries and the challenges that this can mean, a secret uncovered and explored through the storylines, the story is a well rounded one that gives us so many facets!
I adored every page of this, and loved reading about the variety of personalities we see along the way. I initially sat down to read a few chapters and see where it took me, before realising I was more than half way through! I was so happily engrossed I hadn’t realised how long I had been reading for!
Well worth picking up, this is one that I will absolutely be returning to. A phenomenal debut, I can’t wait to see what the Author may come up with in the future!
The story is based around true events, but it doesn’t read as a biography, instead it has a wonderful romance that has a variety if elements within it. With family drama, new countries and the challenges that this can mean, a secret uncovered and explored through the storylines, the story is a well rounded one that gives us so many facets!
I adored every page of this, and loved reading about the variety of personalities we see along the way. I initially sat down to read a few chapters and see where it took me, before realising I was more than half way through! I was so happily engrossed I hadn’t realised how long I had been reading for!
Well worth picking up, this is one that I will absolutely be returning to. A phenomenal debut, I can’t wait to see what the Author may come up with in the future!
July 15, 2024
It took a while to warm up but after about a third of the way through the book, I really got into the story. It follows Bea a black lady from Grenada and the developing relationship with her future husband Patrick, a white man from Ireland and their move away from the island as they marry and endure the highs and lows of marriage.
Set in two periods - the 1950s and present day, we see the gender and racial discrimination that both encountered as a consequence of their mixed race marriage and the attitudes to their careers. I found this aspect of it particularly fascinating and often read with disbelief as many of the concepts we take for granted today were challenged.
We hear a lot about those who travelled over as part of the Windrush generation but personalising a lot of the issues with this couple really made the whole thing far more relatable. The twist in the story , which I won't detail here for anyone reading this, was quite heart wrenching. All in all an enjoyable book.
Set in two periods - the 1950s and present day, we see the gender and racial discrimination that both encountered as a consequence of their mixed race marriage and the attitudes to their careers. I found this aspect of it particularly fascinating and often read with disbelief as many of the concepts we take for granted today were challenged.
We hear a lot about those who travelled over as part of the Windrush generation but personalising a lot of the issues with this couple really made the whole thing far more relatable. The twist in the story , which I won't detail here for anyone reading this, was quite heart wrenching. All in all an enjoyable book.
April 21, 2025
This beautifully written true story is evocative, emotional, devastating, heartbreaking, and heartwarming in equal measure.
Beginning at a time of political unrest and a crumbling empire in 1954 Grenada. We are introduced to Bea, who is swept off her feet by handsome, Irish surveyor, Patrick. Despute fierce opposition to an inter-racial marriage from some of those closest to them. The couple embark on an often tumultuous and challenging life spanning many different continents. With the addition of a second timeline beginning, also in Grenada in 2015. We are introduced to Amelia, who is at the cusp of great change in her life. Having recently lost her mum, becoming a grandmother and supporting a father with dementia. Amelia's life is thrown into turmoil when she happens upon a handwritten letter unveiling a long buried family secrets whilst packing her mums possessions.
What follows is a tale of generational trauma, secrets, lies, survival, family, discovery, depression, strength, loss, heartbreak, being lost and then found, friendship, impossible decisions, new beginnings and the ever present love that always prevails over everything.
Despite being a debut. It most definitely doesn't read like one. Hannah is a natural storyteller whose writing is imaginative, heartfelt, compelling, and emotive.
The pace and flow of the story are perfect. Her characters are extremely realistic and relatable. Her purpose is clear, and I absolutely love the way in which she portrays some of the more emotive themes and topics within the story. Especially due to the fact that this is a personal story for Hannah to tell.
I definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end.
Just beautiful! I can't wait to see what comes next!
Beginning at a time of political unrest and a crumbling empire in 1954 Grenada. We are introduced to Bea, who is swept off her feet by handsome, Irish surveyor, Patrick. Despute fierce opposition to an inter-racial marriage from some of those closest to them. The couple embark on an often tumultuous and challenging life spanning many different continents. With the addition of a second timeline beginning, also in Grenada in 2015. We are introduced to Amelia, who is at the cusp of great change in her life. Having recently lost her mum, becoming a grandmother and supporting a father with dementia. Amelia's life is thrown into turmoil when she happens upon a handwritten letter unveiling a long buried family secrets whilst packing her mums possessions.
What follows is a tale of generational trauma, secrets, lies, survival, family, discovery, depression, strength, loss, heartbreak, being lost and then found, friendship, impossible decisions, new beginnings and the ever present love that always prevails over everything.
Despite being a debut. It most definitely doesn't read like one. Hannah is a natural storyteller whose writing is imaginative, heartfelt, compelling, and emotive.
The pace and flow of the story are perfect. Her characters are extremely realistic and relatable. Her purpose is clear, and I absolutely love the way in which she portrays some of the more emotive themes and topics within the story. Especially due to the fact that this is a personal story for Hannah to tell.
I definitely recommend reading the author's note at the end.
Just beautiful! I can't wait to see what comes next!
May 1, 2025
This novel is a deeply moving and poignant exploration of love, resilience, and the lasting impact of racism. The characters' journeys are heartbreaking—Bea, above all, moved me to tears. Her isolation, the prejudice she faces, and the sacrifices she makes are gut-wrenching. Yet, through it all, the story remains life-affirming, a testament to the strength of love and family.
I cried a lot while reading this book. The emotional weight of the characters' struggles, their relationships—revealing how love can also be intertwined with the fear of losing everything—feels overwhelming. But beyond the sorrow, The Mapmaker’s Wife is a powerful, beautifully written novel that reminds us of the enduring power of love and the importance of understanding our past.
Highly recommended if you want an engrossing and poignant family saga.
Many thanks to Orion Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
I cried a lot while reading this book. The emotional weight of the characters' struggles, their relationships—revealing how love can also be intertwined with the fear of losing everything—feels overwhelming. But beyond the sorrow, The Mapmaker’s Wife is a powerful, beautifully written novel that reminds us of the enduring power of love and the importance of understanding our past.
Highly recommended if you want an engrossing and poignant family saga.
Many thanks to Orion Books and Compulsive Readers for this digital copy, all opinions are mine
April 24, 2025
This is such a wonderful and endearing read, I immediately wanted to re-read it and and will be reading her future.
The writing style enabled me to envisage the surrondings of the differing countries and I loved flipping back to the maps. There is so much information and detail within the book, but at no point does itbecome confusing, as the authors writing flows effortlessly.
I loved learning more about Grenada’s history especially Millie’s work towards the cause, the family’s dynamics were heart warming and not forgetting the romance of Bea and Patrick.
The Mapmaker’s Wife is made more special due to being based on a true story, deepening the impact of the decisions made. If you are looking for a read which gives historical events, family dynamics, romance and events that run through generations, then you need to add this to your TBR.
The writing style enabled me to envisage the surrondings of the differing countries and I loved flipping back to the maps. There is so much information and detail within the book, but at no point does itbecome confusing, as the authors writing flows effortlessly.
I loved learning more about Grenada’s history especially Millie’s work towards the cause, the family’s dynamics were heart warming and not forgetting the romance of Bea and Patrick.
The Mapmaker’s Wife is made more special due to being based on a true story, deepening the impact of the decisions made. If you are looking for a read which gives historical events, family dynamics, romance and events that run through generations, then you need to add this to your TBR.
July 9, 2025
I’m not usually a historical fiction reader, but there was a lot of depth to this story I really appreciated 🤍
first of all, it’s inspired by the author’s grandparents’ true story which is pretty amazing, and spans across decades as it moves back and forth from past and present to show how lives and families interweave in the most complicated but beautiful ways.
the novel covers prejudice, travel, love, family and how we prioritise it all to make the lives we want for ourselves.
I did find the book slow at times and couldn’t bear the cliche phrases dotted about at the start, but the characters grew on me and I stayed for the plot most of all, and to find out if love really was enough in the end.
a 3⭐️ all round, but would probably be higher for any true historical fiction fans out there
first of all, it’s inspired by the author’s grandparents’ true story which is pretty amazing, and spans across decades as it moves back and forth from past and present to show how lives and families interweave in the most complicated but beautiful ways.
the novel covers prejudice, travel, love, family and how we prioritise it all to make the lives we want for ourselves.
I did find the book slow at times and couldn’t bear the cliche phrases dotted about at the start, but the characters grew on me and I stayed for the plot most of all, and to find out if love really was enough in the end.
a 3⭐️ all round, but would probably be higher for any true historical fiction fans out there
April 22, 2025
This is my perfect genre of book. Set in 1950’s and 2010’s Grenada, West Indies the 60 year span of life, love, family and friendship slowly aligns. I took to Hollywood handsome, humorous, hard working Patrick straight away and felt for the Bell sisters, trying to carve a progressive life as women in difficult times. The racism, prejudice and homophobia of the period that the various characters experienced made me so angry. This was balanced with bountiful love - of the landscapes, of marriage, of siblings and of parents and children. The power of the written form, be it handwritten maps or letters, reminds me of their importance and longevity, then and still today, despite these times of digital communication methods. This is a wonderful read.
March 13, 2025
I wanted to love this book (based on its blurb), but I just couldn’t.
The characters felt a little one dimensional, and the writing felt laboured. The “modern day” story took forever to unfold ( and I realise the author was laying the groundwork for the big reveal), but I found myself almost skim-reading parts of these chapters just to hurry the story along a little.
This book was just not the joy to read that I was hoping for.
The characters felt a little one dimensional, and the writing felt laboured. The “modern day” story took forever to unfold ( and I realise the author was laying the groundwork for the big reveal), but I found myself almost skim-reading parts of these chapters just to hurry the story along a little.
This book was just not the joy to read that I was hoping for.
May 1, 2025
Thanks to Orion and Compulsive Readers for allowing me to take part in the blog tour, and giving me a finished copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This book is inspired by the real-life romance of the author’s grandparents. It’s mainly set in Grenada, a country I knew very little about until I started reading this novel, but one that is painted so evocatively here. It also follows Bea and Patrick as they travel for Patrick’s job as a mapmaker. Whilst the novel contains a dual timeline, it is the romance between Bea and Patrick that had me hooked. I’m a sucker for a love that seems ‘forbidden’ and I can understand why theirs might have seemed like that in 1950s Britain. Both narratives are interlinked, and the denouement will definitely bring a tear to your eyes. A lovely novel that highlights racism, post-natal depression and family.
This book is inspired by the real-life romance of the author’s grandparents. It’s mainly set in Grenada, a country I knew very little about until I started reading this novel, but one that is painted so evocatively here. It also follows Bea and Patrick as they travel for Patrick’s job as a mapmaker. Whilst the novel contains a dual timeline, it is the romance between Bea and Patrick that had me hooked. I’m a sucker for a love that seems ‘forbidden’ and I can understand why theirs might have seemed like that in 1950s Britain. Both narratives are interlinked, and the denouement will definitely bring a tear to your eyes. A lovely novel that highlights racism, post-natal depression and family.
May 8, 2024
A decent enough book with really interesting locations and period of history but I just felt that it fell a bit flat. It felt that there was no real strong storyline and it just sort of slowly meandered along. I would have loved to find out more about the lives of Bea and Patrick in each country but it was all glossed over.
June 27, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Orion for this eCopy to review
The Mapmaker's Wife is an epic historical romance about interracial marriage and the end of the British Empire. Fast forward to 2015 and family secrets are uncovered which show Amelia's life in a whole new light.
I loved all the different locations and the exploration of family relationships and marriage. An engrossing read.
The Mapmaker's Wife is an epic historical romance about interracial marriage and the end of the British Empire. Fast forward to 2015 and family secrets are uncovered which show Amelia's life in a whole new light.
I loved all the different locations and the exploration of family relationships and marriage. An engrossing read.
March 10, 2025
Told from the perspective of Bea Bell starting in 1954 and Amelia in 2015. Eventually the two stories are entwined. Author's notes always add to the story
July 23, 2025
I adored the characters in this story. It had me gripped until the end.
December 25, 2025
Loved that this was based around a real life situation. A super read
June 17, 2024
This book promised so much in its description that I felt cheated. It was an ok story, a family saga spanning decades and continents. The beginning was full on and descriptive and kept me hanging on with the true love story between Bea and Patrick. However the longer it went on, possibly true to life, for me it became mundane and ordinary, bordering on boring. It gathered little momentum towards the end but that tailed off.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews