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The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp
Country girl Tara is whisked off to '60s London to become a star; there she is dressed, she is shown off at Chelsea parties, photographed by the best. She meets songwriters, singers, designers, and records her song. And she falls in love - with two men. Behind the buzz and excitement of her success, the bitterness between her elder sister Lucy and her friend Matilda haunts Tara. Their past friendship is broken and among the secrets and the strangeness of both their marriages, the past keeps on reappearing.
583 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2010
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April 5, 2013
I think The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is Eva Rice's fourth novel. I might be wrong about that number, but in any case, it is the long-awaited follow-up to The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, which was published in 2005. I believe this book was originally slated to be published under the title The Dragonfly Summer, and it appears to have been delayed so many times I had started to think it would never see the light of day. I'm still not sure why, exactly, it has taken so long for this book to be published, but I was delighted to spot a review of it in a magazine and snapped it up as soon as I could (although that somehow ended up being two months after it came out!)
Tara Jupp, one of eight siblings growing up in 1950s Cornwall, is (unsurprisingly) the central character of this lengthy novel: it's basically her life story, although her older sister Lucy and Lucy's childhood best friend Matilda also feature prominently. As a horse-mad teenager, Tara is perfectly happy with her idyllic country life, but her impressive singing voice leads to her being noticed by the manager of a record label. Afterwards, she is offered the chance to record and perform her music in London, receives a glamorous makeover and becomes caught up with the 'it crowd' of the time, and all the while various family dramas and private emotional issues bubble away in the background. It is obvious from the beginning that Tara is narrating her story from a perspective long after these events took place - she occasionally refers to 'what happened afterwards' or something that was said or done 'much later'. The book is divided into three parts: the first concentrates on Tara's childhood, with much of the drama focused on Lucy and Matilda; the second, and longest, deals with her move to London and rise to fame; the third, which is quite short, is about the aftermath of that, and wraps all the loose ends of the story up.
In a number of ways, this novel is very similar to The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets: in fact, a number of the characters from that book actually make appearances in this one at various points (I was quite excited to discover this, even though it's been years since I read Lost Art), so the stories are obviously very closely interlinked, and you get to discover what happened to those characters after the events of that book. The author has also used a number of historical figures, from architecture historian Nikolaus Pevsner to Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, as characters in the novel. And it's very, very meta - for example, when two characters are having a conversation about another character who's writing a book, and they talk about how dangerous it is to use real people as characters...! There are constant knowing references to literary devices that are actually used in the book, and Tara occasionally addresses the reader directly, although it's not exactly clear what kind of account this is supposed to be. If you ask me, it sometimes gets a bit too clever for its own good.
The problem with Tara's 'future' narration was that it made me feel disassociated from what was happening - like I couldn't really get close to the character, because she was describing a past version of herself, yet not really giving any clues about what kind of person she was in the present day, whenever that was actually supposed to be. Somehow, though, I really loved the first part of the book, perhaps because it was more of an observation of the two older girls than a story about Tara herself. The Jupps' upbringing and Tara's relationships with her brothers and sisters, her idolatry of Lucy and Matilda, the wonderful settings (especially Trellanack, the ancestral home of Matilda's family)... It was all very romantic and magical. It was when the action moved to London that I started to lose interest and have doubts about the plot. Once Tara was supposed to be (at least halfway) 'grown up', I stopped believing in her. I was more invested in Lucy's story, which is really more of a subplot, than Tara's. I didn't like . When I reviewed Lost Art, I wrote that my main problem with the book was its predictability, and that was also an issue here. It was glaringly obvious who Tara would end up with and - while I'm not going to pretend the romantic bits didn't move me at all - there wasn't much suspense, nothing to really root for (other than for Lucy to be happy... and I don't think that was the point).
Something else that annoyed me was that I found quite a few spelling mistakes, errors of repetition and incorrect punctuation (lots of missing commas!) in the Kindle copy I was reading. 'Two sizes two small' and 'your' instead of 'you're' were the worst I spotted, but there were lots altogether. Given that this book took years to publish, you'd think those could have been weeded out!
If The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets was, as I wrote when I reviewed it, 'the literary equivalent of a huge slice of chocolate cake', The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp was more like a packet of chocolate biscuits - sweet and pleasant enough, but not the indulgent treat I was hoping for. It started with a lot of promise, and after the first few chapters I was expecting an epic life story that would span decades and take in Tara's whole career. Unfortunately, and despite the lengthiness of the book (is the print edition really only 320 pages? Edited to add - checked in a bookshop and it's 584, contrary to what Amazon says!), it didn't turn out that way, and although I still cared about what happened in the end, I found myself losing some of my sympathy and interest in the characters. I quite liked reading this - it's pretty absorbing, especially at the beginning, and a decent bit of escapism when you want to get away from the real world - but I can't pretend I wasn't a bit disappointed.
Tara Jupp, one of eight siblings growing up in 1950s Cornwall, is (unsurprisingly) the central character of this lengthy novel: it's basically her life story, although her older sister Lucy and Lucy's childhood best friend Matilda also feature prominently. As a horse-mad teenager, Tara is perfectly happy with her idyllic country life, but her impressive singing voice leads to her being noticed by the manager of a record label. Afterwards, she is offered the chance to record and perform her music in London, receives a glamorous makeover and becomes caught up with the 'it crowd' of the time, and all the while various family dramas and private emotional issues bubble away in the background. It is obvious from the beginning that Tara is narrating her story from a perspective long after these events took place - she occasionally refers to 'what happened afterwards' or something that was said or done 'much later'. The book is divided into three parts: the first concentrates on Tara's childhood, with much of the drama focused on Lucy and Matilda; the second, and longest, deals with her move to London and rise to fame; the third, which is quite short, is about the aftermath of that, and wraps all the loose ends of the story up.
In a number of ways, this novel is very similar to The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets: in fact, a number of the characters from that book actually make appearances in this one at various points (I was quite excited to discover this, even though it's been years since I read Lost Art), so the stories are obviously very closely interlinked, and you get to discover what happened to those characters after the events of that book. The author has also used a number of historical figures, from architecture historian Nikolaus Pevsner to Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, as characters in the novel. And it's very, very meta - for example, when two characters are having a conversation about another character who's writing a book, and they talk about how dangerous it is to use real people as characters...! There are constant knowing references to literary devices that are actually used in the book, and Tara occasionally addresses the reader directly, although it's not exactly clear what kind of account this is supposed to be. If you ask me, it sometimes gets a bit too clever for its own good.
The problem with Tara's 'future' narration was that it made me feel disassociated from what was happening - like I couldn't really get close to the character, because she was describing a past version of herself, yet not really giving any clues about what kind of person she was in the present day, whenever that was actually supposed to be. Somehow, though, I really loved the first part of the book, perhaps because it was more of an observation of the two older girls than a story about Tara herself. The Jupps' upbringing and Tara's relationships with her brothers and sisters, her idolatry of Lucy and Matilda, the wonderful settings (especially Trellanack, the ancestral home of Matilda's family)... It was all very romantic and magical. It was when the action moved to London that I started to lose interest and have doubts about the plot. Once Tara was supposed to be (at least halfway) 'grown up', I stopped believing in her. I was more invested in Lucy's story, which is really more of a subplot, than Tara's. I didn't like . When I reviewed Lost Art, I wrote that my main problem with the book was its predictability, and that was also an issue here. It was glaringly obvious who Tara would end up with and - while I'm not going to pretend the romantic bits didn't move me at all - there wasn't much suspense, nothing to really root for (other than for Lucy to be happy... and I don't think that was the point).
Something else that annoyed me was that I found quite a few spelling mistakes, errors of repetition and incorrect punctuation (lots of missing commas!) in the Kindle copy I was reading. 'Two sizes two small' and 'your' instead of 'you're' were the worst I spotted, but there were lots altogether. Given that this book took years to publish, you'd think those could have been weeded out!
If The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets was, as I wrote when I reviewed it, 'the literary equivalent of a huge slice of chocolate cake', The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp was more like a packet of chocolate biscuits - sweet and pleasant enough, but not the indulgent treat I was hoping for. It started with a lot of promise, and after the first few chapters I was expecting an epic life story that would span decades and take in Tara's whole career. Unfortunately, and despite the lengthiness of the book (is the print edition really only 320 pages? Edited to add - checked in a bookshop and it's 584, contrary to what Amazon says!), it didn't turn out that way, and although I still cared about what happened in the end, I found myself losing some of my sympathy and interest in the characters. I quite liked reading this - it's pretty absorbing, especially at the beginning, and a decent bit of escapism when you want to get away from the real world - but I can't pretend I wasn't a bit disappointed.
November 19, 2025
1⭐️ = Not For Me.
Hardback.
This author was a first for me and I wasn’t over impressed, if I’m honest. The writing itself was very readable but the pace of the storyline was very slow and progressed very little.
Perhaps not was I was in the mood for reading right now.
Hardback.
This author was a first for me and I wasn’t over impressed, if I’m honest. The writing itself was very readable but the pace of the storyline was very slow and progressed very little.
Perhaps not was I was in the mood for reading right now.
October 4, 2013
(Intial review written 1/7/13) I didn't know this was coming out, so the moment I found out I just sat in shock audibly saying, "What... what... what." Etc.
Now that I'm past the shock, I'm SO EXCITED.
I think The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is the ever-elusive Dragonfly Summer published under a new title!
!!!
!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't see a pre-order option on amazon yet, and I don't want to spend more than I have to on the UK amazon. (I literally just bought something there five minutes ago.) But I will if I have to, because I've worshiped Eva Rice ever since I read The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets! (Or as close to worship as is healthy....)
__________________________________
(Review written post-reading, 10/1/13)
It's so hard for me to judge this book objectively. (But why must I be objective, really?) Of course The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp doesn't reach near that cherished spot in my heart where The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets lives. I feel ridiculous that I feel the need to say that, but if you're reviewing a sort-of sequel to one of your favourite books, these things just come up. Still, I loved this.
Firstly, it was all I could do not to squeal loudly every time there was mention (or in some cases appearances!) of Harry, Penelope, and Charlotte. Those are three of my dearest friends, you see.
And as for Inigo, it was so strange to see that charming young boy all grown up! Especially as he appeared less charming at first, but really he was just more mature, distant, and a bit world-weary.
Tara and her family are such dears! I wouldn't have minded an entire book about them! Though I would've missed the tales of Tara and Lucy's foibles in the mod and mad world of early 60s London.
Maybe this is only 4.5 stars but I am rounding up because of many reasons. Mainly I'm just so happy I finally got to read this book!
Now that I'm past the shock, I'm SO EXCITED.
I think The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is the ever-elusive Dragonfly Summer published under a new title!
!!!
!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't see a pre-order option on amazon yet, and I don't want to spend more than I have to on the UK amazon. (I literally just bought something there five minutes ago.) But I will if I have to, because I've worshiped Eva Rice ever since I read The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets! (Or as close to worship as is healthy....)
__________________________________
(Review written post-reading, 10/1/13)
It's so hard for me to judge this book objectively. (But why must I be objective, really?) Of course The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp doesn't reach near that cherished spot in my heart where The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets lives. I feel ridiculous that I feel the need to say that, but if you're reviewing a sort-of sequel to one of your favourite books, these things just come up. Still, I loved this.
Firstly, it was all I could do not to squeal loudly every time there was mention (or in some cases appearances!) of Harry, Penelope, and Charlotte. Those are three of my dearest friends, you see.
And as for Inigo, it was so strange to see that charming young boy all grown up! Especially as he appeared less charming at first, but really he was just more mature, distant, and a bit world-weary.
Tara and her family are such dears! I wouldn't have minded an entire book about them! Though I would've missed the tales of Tara and Lucy's foibles in the mod and mad world of early 60s London.
Maybe this is only 4.5 stars but I am rounding up because of many reasons. Mainly I'm just so happy I finally got to read this book!
December 10, 2024
I loved The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, it's a fantastic book and one that I was sad to put down. So I was happy to discover that The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp features several of the characters from Secrets and with that in mind I bought it and jumped right in.
Tara Jupp is one of my new favorite characters, she is so utterly herself that you really can't help but like her. She is not a highly sophisticated young lady who strides around London with ease, but is instead a very countryside girl fresh from Cornwall who does her best in odd situations.
Also the fact that in her youth she was an adamant reader of 1940's pony books and is comfiest in Jods and an old blouse was fab.
Returning characters come in several different shapes and forms, with some only showing up as a brief cameo or mention while others have a more fully fledged out role.
Tara's family are an interesting lot with masses of children knocking around the place and her father the mildly terrifying vicar. They all bump along quite happily and make for some fun reading through their interactions with one another.
As for the plot, I enjoyed it a great deal, I won't give any spoilers but to me it was very much a story about relationships and the complications that come with them and how life is never easy and often confusing, but it's usually worth it in the end.
Tara Jupp is one of my new favorite characters, she is so utterly herself that you really can't help but like her. She is not a highly sophisticated young lady who strides around London with ease, but is instead a very countryside girl fresh from Cornwall who does her best in odd situations.
Also the fact that in her youth she was an adamant reader of 1940's pony books and is comfiest in Jods and an old blouse was fab.
Returning characters come in several different shapes and forms, with some only showing up as a brief cameo or mention while others have a more fully fledged out role.
Tara's family are an interesting lot with masses of children knocking around the place and her father the mildly terrifying vicar. They all bump along quite happily and make for some fun reading through their interactions with one another.
As for the plot, I enjoyed it a great deal, I won't give any spoilers but to me it was very much a story about relationships and the complications that come with them and how life is never easy and often confusing, but it's usually worth it in the end.
Read
July 26, 2014Oof. One to file under 'not my thing', I think. Just... way too cosy and slow-moving for my taste.
Plus, the audio book narrator's decision to affect a (terrible) Westcountry accent is making me uncomfortable. I'm from the Westcountry. We don't sound like that.
Plus, the audio book narrator's decision to affect a (terrible) Westcountry accent is making me uncomfortable. I'm from the Westcountry. We don't sound like that.
February 3, 2020
Here’s the thing. I think I would have liked this much more if it was a completely separate thing from The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets. But because it is a “sequel” of sorts, it will always be compared to it, and Tara just can’t stand up to that.
The first part of the book is really good. The interactions at the beginning with Lost Art characters were good, but I really enjoyed the story of two sisters figuring out who they were. And then everything shifts and I feel let down by it all.
This was a good, solid story that was only hindered by having Inigo be such a focus. If Inigo (whom I loved in Lost Art) was just a different leading man, I would’ve enjoyed this much more I think.
I don’t think Tara is the best main character. She was not fully formed to me and I didn’t feel like some of the things she did (especially her early stages with Digby) were consistent with the character she claimed to be.
Also, I’m not sure why, but my copy of the book had MANY editing errors. Misspellings, repeated words, weird sentences, obvious wrong word choices that just felt like typos that weren’t fixed. It was weird.
Overall I liked it well enough, I was engaged enough to read it, but I don’t think it stacks up at ALL to the inevitable comparisons to its predecessor.
1/30/20 - The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is one of my favorite books of all time and I’ve read it many times. I’m not sure what to rate this yet.
The first part of the book is really good. The interactions at the beginning with Lost Art characters were good, but I really enjoyed the story of two sisters figuring out who they were. And then everything shifts and I feel let down by it all.
This was a good, solid story that was only hindered by having Inigo be such a focus. If Inigo (whom I loved in Lost Art) was just a different leading man, I would’ve enjoyed this much more I think.
I don’t think Tara is the best main character. She was not fully formed to me and I didn’t feel like some of the things she did (especially her early stages with Digby) were consistent with the character she claimed to be.
Also, I’m not sure why, but my copy of the book had MANY editing errors. Misspellings, repeated words, weird sentences, obvious wrong word choices that just felt like typos that weren’t fixed. It was weird.
Overall I liked it well enough, I was engaged enough to read it, but I don’t think it stacks up at ALL to the inevitable comparisons to its predecessor.
1/30/20 - The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is one of my favorite books of all time and I’ve read it many times. I’m not sure what to rate this yet.
September 29, 2014
Remember that delightfully retro novel The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets with the candy coloured cover that everyone seemed to be reading on public transport circa 2006? Well, this is Eva Rice's much anticipated follow up, which I think many of us assumed would never see the light of day after the release date kept shifting and eventually just disappeared altogether.
(Disclaimer: I don't recall much about Lost Art… except that I enjoyed it. Its vintage setting and period-appropriate plot was a welcome change from your average mid-noughties chick lit, but I don't have any great recollection of or love for some of the characters that cross over from that novel to this one.)
Nearly a decade later, we have this meandering and bloated story* of a naive country gal who falls in with the local nobs and rides the train of early 60s nepotism all the way from Cornwall to the Big Smoke. The story is broken into three parts, with the first - and most convincing - focusing on vicar's daughter Tara and her unwieldy family, including ravishing eldest sister, Lucy. Tara has a big voice and a love of that there rhythm and blues music from across the Atlantic. Her sister is a history buff with a photographic memory and a soul deep love of Nikolaus Pevsner to go with her long legs and model looks (yes, really). Tara's weakness is for horses; Lucy's is for houses. Both find some completion in the local stately home Trellanack and through their friendship with the daughter of the manor, Matilda.
As with Lost Art…, Rice has a real gift for evoking a nostalgia-tinged rural childhood, the quaintness of the first and last county in England in the 1950s. However, the narrative voice is bizarre. Rice has chosen to have Tara tell the story as if reminiscing on the follies of her youth from some distant future, although this is never clearly addressed or explained.
Once the Jupp Sisters get to London things take a rather superficial 'Greatest Hits of the Swinging Sixties' turn. Lucy invents the mini skirt en route to a party where she will meet Brian Jones. Tara takes up with a photographer who is a stand in for David Bailey, is dressed by 'Biba', and dances on tables at the Marquee Club on July 12th 1962, the night of the Stones' debut. There's an ongoing plot that touches on the post-war rush to demolish historic London - 'You're obsolete my baby/ My poor old-fashioned baby/ I said baby, baby, baby you're out of time' - in the name of concrete 'progress' and modernism.
It was in this portion of the novel that I got an inkling as to why Rice might have taken all those years to complete Misinterpretation…. There are so many concepts thrown at the wall, so much woolliness, that I suspect Rice got bogged down in this world, but lacked a strong driving plot line to give her narrative purpose.
(Disclaimer: I don't recall much about Lost Art… except that I enjoyed it. Its vintage setting and period-appropriate plot was a welcome change from your average mid-noughties chick lit, but I don't have any great recollection of or love for some of the characters that cross over from that novel to this one.)
Nearly a decade later, we have this meandering and bloated story* of a naive country gal who falls in with the local nobs and rides the train of early 60s nepotism all the way from Cornwall to the Big Smoke. The story is broken into three parts, with the first - and most convincing - focusing on vicar's daughter Tara and her unwieldy family, including ravishing eldest sister, Lucy. Tara has a big voice and a love of that there rhythm and blues music from across the Atlantic. Her sister is a history buff with a photographic memory and a soul deep love of Nikolaus Pevsner to go with her long legs and model looks (yes, really). Tara's weakness is for horses; Lucy's is for houses. Both find some completion in the local stately home Trellanack and through their friendship with the daughter of the manor, Matilda.
As with Lost Art…, Rice has a real gift for evoking a nostalgia-tinged rural childhood, the quaintness of the first and last county in England in the 1950s. However, the narrative voice is bizarre. Rice has chosen to have Tara tell the story as if reminiscing on the follies of her youth from some distant future, although this is never clearly addressed or explained.
Once the Jupp Sisters get to London things take a rather superficial 'Greatest Hits of the Swinging Sixties' turn. Lucy invents the mini skirt en route to a party where she will meet Brian Jones. Tara takes up with a photographer who is a stand in for David Bailey, is dressed by 'Biba', and dances on tables at the Marquee Club on July 12th 1962, the night of the Stones' debut. There's an ongoing plot that touches on the post-war rush to demolish historic London - 'You're obsolete my baby/ My poor old-fashioned baby/ I said baby, baby, baby you're out of time' - in the name of concrete 'progress' and modernism.
It was in this portion of the novel that I got an inkling as to why Rice might have taken all those years to complete Misinterpretation…. There are so many concepts thrown at the wall, so much woolliness, that I suspect Rice got bogged down in this world, but lacked a strong driving plot line to give her narrative purpose.
December 18, 2012
Take one big happy family; add some horses, a big country manor in Cornwall, plus doses of first love which doesn’t go easily. Shake it up and relocate to London; mix with rock’n’roll and serve with love again. This is the essential recipe for Eva Rice’s new novel, a thick and satisfying feel-good read.
It’s the story of Lucy and Tara, third and sixth of eight children in the Jupp family. Pa is a country vicar, Ma died some years ago. Lucy is a beauty who loves old buildings (Pevsner is her bible), whereas Tara can sing but prefers horses. Sneaking a ride on their neighbour’s steeds and becoming friends with poor little rich girl Matilda, the daughter of the Manor, will change Tara and Lucy’s lives forever, ending up with Tara becoming a pop star at seventeen in the ready-to-swing London of the early 1960s.
Lucy and Tara are strong young women who want to experience life in full. Lucy’s relationship with her husband may be troubled, but Tara’s coming of age and first real romance with photographer Digby, (obviously based on David Bailey) is fun. Matilda continues to feature too, becoming a mainstay in their lives.
This is a big-hearted novel about achieving your dreams, and while it may not spring any big surprises, the characters are rounded and compelling to read about. My only quibble was that it ended just as the 60s were about to really take off, and I’d have loved to read more.
It’s the story of Lucy and Tara, third and sixth of eight children in the Jupp family. Pa is a country vicar, Ma died some years ago. Lucy is a beauty who loves old buildings (Pevsner is her bible), whereas Tara can sing but prefers horses. Sneaking a ride on their neighbour’s steeds and becoming friends with poor little rich girl Matilda, the daughter of the Manor, will change Tara and Lucy’s lives forever, ending up with Tara becoming a pop star at seventeen in the ready-to-swing London of the early 1960s.
Lucy and Tara are strong young women who want to experience life in full. Lucy’s relationship with her husband may be troubled, but Tara’s coming of age and first real romance with photographer Digby, (obviously based on David Bailey) is fun. Matilda continues to feature too, becoming a mainstay in their lives.
This is a big-hearted novel about achieving your dreams, and while it may not spring any big surprises, the characters are rounded and compelling to read about. My only quibble was that it ended just as the 60s were about to really take off, and I’d have loved to read more.
August 24, 2019
Set in 1960s England, this sequel of sorts of the Lost Art of Keeping Secrets follows the story of Tara Jupp, a vicar’s daughter with a golden voice and eccentric (but likeable) family. As a teenager, Tara suddenly finds herself in London with her sister, and on the music scene navigating (and enjoying) a life very different from anything she’s known. But the shadow of an old rift between her sister and sister’s friend is ever present. Like the Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, this one was a fun read, and also like it, music is at its heart (expectedly given Eva Rice’s background). I liked the characters a lot and enjoyed following their stories but what I especially enjoyed was that this lets us follow up on the stories of the characters from the first book even though most (not all) of them are really on the sidelines (some in fact don’t even appear) but one more or less learns how life has turned out for each of them. Very enjoyable read but I did enjoy the first one a tad bit more. Four and a half stars to this one!
November 30, 2012
A delightful coming of age tale set in the rock 'n' roll 50s and swinging 60s about the life and times of Tara Jupp, a budding singing star.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the easy style of writing and the way it was told in the first person - I really felt Tara was speaking to me personally. The story just flowed along seamlessly and had me eagerly turning the pages. I thought the characters were well drawn and believable, especially Tara and her sister, Lucy. The whole atmosphere of the book caught the era perfectly. It also vividly depicted the differences between the fast pace of life in swinging London and the sleepiness of living a countrified existence in Cornwall.
I can only add I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't put the book down. I found it an engrossing, entertaining and absorbing read. If, like me, you enjoyed Eva Rice's The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, you will not be disappointed by this one - I didn't want it to end!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the easy style of writing and the way it was told in the first person - I really felt Tara was speaking to me personally. The story just flowed along seamlessly and had me eagerly turning the pages. I thought the characters were well drawn and believable, especially Tara and her sister, Lucy. The whole atmosphere of the book caught the era perfectly. It also vividly depicted the differences between the fast pace of life in swinging London and the sleepiness of living a countrified existence in Cornwall.
I can only add I was hooked from the first page and I couldn't put the book down. I found it an engrossing, entertaining and absorbing read. If, like me, you enjoyed Eva Rice's The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, you will not be disappointed by this one - I didn't want it to end!
January 23, 2013
Eva Rice’s period novels are kind of akin to curling up on a rainy day with hot, buttery crumpets and tea. There’s a warmth and nostalgia to them, like you’re settling in for an hour or two of catching up with old friends.
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is one of my favourite all-time books, one that I’ve read too many times to count. So when Quercus contacted me and asked if I’d like to review The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp I jumped at the chance. To my delight, the book arrived alongside a handwritten note by the author and a CD featuring the hit release single of the main character, with lyrics written by a certain Inigo Wallace (fans of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets will be pleased to discover that yes, familiar faces do pop up in this book).
Rice’s skills as an author lie not only in her ability to bring the 1960’s so vividly to life, but in the way she writes realistic, rounded and compelling characters. Tara isn’t as engaging a heroine as Penelope, but I liked the narrative choice to let the reader see the world through her eyes. Tara feels like a young woman I could have known growing up. I probably was her at some point growing up. Sheltered and naïve, I think Tara is a protagonist a lot of readers will identify with. That feeling of being slightly awkward in your own skin, unsure of yourself yet anxious to please, wanting to stand out, but not quite having the confidence, experience or poise to pull it off. Yet she’s never a weak or insipid character. Rice really captures that feeling of being seventeen with the whole world at your fingertips.
The heart of the novel is really Tara’s relationship with her sister. Lucy’s story forms some of the most fascinating parts of the book, from her turbulent friendship with childhood friend Matilda to her passionate romance and troubled marriage with Raoul. Tara idolizes both Raoul and her sister’s marriage, but as she is introduced to a world of famous singers, musicians, photographers and models, her understanding of the world and the people in it is tested. Lucy is a far more stubborn, fiery counterpart to Tara and I enjoyed watching both of them struggle with their choices, find their own identities and grow throughout the book.
Though you could easily read The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp without having picked up The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, there are old friends who make brief appearances, while a grown up Inigo plays an important part in Tara’s singing career. As someone who adored these characters the first time round it’s always a thrill to see where they’ve ended up since we last left them.
Set eight years after The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, this feels like quite a different book, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s more mature, certainly denser and perhaps a smidgen over-long. It has quite a sedate beginning, but looking back I appreciated the depth of character background Rice takes the time to build up. Some readers might be a little thrown that a good first third of the novel is about Tara’s childhood and despite the synopsis, I wouldn’t say the focus of the book is really Tara’s singing career.
‘Small country girl makes it big’ may sound a little cliché but Rice handles it in her own unique style. The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is a coming-of-age story that has a richness and character to it and in large part this is due to the amount of detail that has gone into this book. As with her previous novel, Rice really captures the era, the people and the movements of the time and several recognisable figures grace the pages, including Brian Jones, Nikolaus Pevsner and David Bailey. Rice gives us a host of messy characters we can relate to and whips up the feeling and energy of the time. Fans of the 60’s or those who remember it will undoubtedly get an even greater satisfaction out of this one.
‘Incredible,’ I said. ‘I have a rare feeling that I’m going to be able to tell my grandchildren that once upon a time, I was in the right place at the right time.’
‘The right place at the right time,’ mused Inigo. ‘Don’t think I’ve been there since I accidentally walked in on Charlotte Ferris in her underwear in the Blue Room at Milton Magna, Christmas 1954.’
~ page 456
My initial thoughts were that it doesn’t quite stand up to its predecessor, and while it’s true I didn’t fall in love with the characters as I did with Charlotte, Penelope, Harry and Aunt Clare, the more I think about it, the more I found I liked it. Definitely worth a second or third reading to soak up all the details, perhaps this time with my extremely high expectations put to one side.
*Many thanks to Rik at Quercus Books and Eva Rice for the opportunity to review The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp*
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets is one of my favourite all-time books, one that I’ve read too many times to count. So when Quercus contacted me and asked if I’d like to review The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp I jumped at the chance. To my delight, the book arrived alongside a handwritten note by the author and a CD featuring the hit release single of the main character, with lyrics written by a certain Inigo Wallace (fans of The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets will be pleased to discover that yes, familiar faces do pop up in this book).
Rice’s skills as an author lie not only in her ability to bring the 1960’s so vividly to life, but in the way she writes realistic, rounded and compelling characters. Tara isn’t as engaging a heroine as Penelope, but I liked the narrative choice to let the reader see the world through her eyes. Tara feels like a young woman I could have known growing up. I probably was her at some point growing up. Sheltered and naïve, I think Tara is a protagonist a lot of readers will identify with. That feeling of being slightly awkward in your own skin, unsure of yourself yet anxious to please, wanting to stand out, but not quite having the confidence, experience or poise to pull it off. Yet she’s never a weak or insipid character. Rice really captures that feeling of being seventeen with the whole world at your fingertips.
The heart of the novel is really Tara’s relationship with her sister. Lucy’s story forms some of the most fascinating parts of the book, from her turbulent friendship with childhood friend Matilda to her passionate romance and troubled marriage with Raoul. Tara idolizes both Raoul and her sister’s marriage, but as she is introduced to a world of famous singers, musicians, photographers and models, her understanding of the world and the people in it is tested. Lucy is a far more stubborn, fiery counterpart to Tara and I enjoyed watching both of them struggle with their choices, find their own identities and grow throughout the book.
Though you could easily read The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp without having picked up The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, there are old friends who make brief appearances, while a grown up Inigo plays an important part in Tara’s singing career. As someone who adored these characters the first time round it’s always a thrill to see where they’ve ended up since we last left them.
Set eight years after The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, this feels like quite a different book, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s more mature, certainly denser and perhaps a smidgen over-long. It has quite a sedate beginning, but looking back I appreciated the depth of character background Rice takes the time to build up. Some readers might be a little thrown that a good first third of the novel is about Tara’s childhood and despite the synopsis, I wouldn’t say the focus of the book is really Tara’s singing career.
‘Small country girl makes it big’ may sound a little cliché but Rice handles it in her own unique style. The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp is a coming-of-age story that has a richness and character to it and in large part this is due to the amount of detail that has gone into this book. As with her previous novel, Rice really captures the era, the people and the movements of the time and several recognisable figures grace the pages, including Brian Jones, Nikolaus Pevsner and David Bailey. Rice gives us a host of messy characters we can relate to and whips up the feeling and energy of the time. Fans of the 60’s or those who remember it will undoubtedly get an even greater satisfaction out of this one.
‘Incredible,’ I said. ‘I have a rare feeling that I’m going to be able to tell my grandchildren that once upon a time, I was in the right place at the right time.’
‘The right place at the right time,’ mused Inigo. ‘Don’t think I’ve been there since I accidentally walked in on Charlotte Ferris in her underwear in the Blue Room at Milton Magna, Christmas 1954.’
~ page 456
My initial thoughts were that it doesn’t quite stand up to its predecessor, and while it’s true I didn’t fall in love with the characters as I did with Charlotte, Penelope, Harry and Aunt Clare, the more I think about it, the more I found I liked it. Definitely worth a second or third reading to soak up all the details, perhaps this time with my extremely high expectations put to one side.
*Many thanks to Rik at Quercus Books and Eva Rice for the opportunity to review The Misinterpretation of Tara Jupp*
July 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, and came close to giving it five stars, but I found the ending slightly contrived and twee. That aside, I wasn’t able to put this book down, and found all the characters genuinely likeable. The descriptions of the period and the great houses were convincing, and I felt like I was part of the Jupp family.
May 20, 2023
3.75 stars
This book doesn't need to be nearly 600 pages but there's something I find irresistible about Eva Rice's writing anyway. It's warm, sparkly, and deeply sincere without ever being overly sentimental. I really enjoyed the sister story and family dynamics in this one, as well as the lively portrayal of 60's London. There's something charmingly retro about it that really appeals to me and naive but determined Tara makes for an appealing heroine. There's perfectly placed details, witty lines, and a sense of a place on the precipice of massive change.
This book doesn't need to be nearly 600 pages but there's something I find irresistible about Eva Rice's writing anyway. It's warm, sparkly, and deeply sincere without ever being overly sentimental. I really enjoyed the sister story and family dynamics in this one, as well as the lively portrayal of 60's London. There's something charmingly retro about it that really appeals to me and naive but determined Tara makes for an appealing heroine. There's perfectly placed details, witty lines, and a sense of a place on the precipice of massive change.
July 5, 2024
Good book just felt the ending was rushed and too much detail in the beginning
May 13, 2020
I haven't read Rice's previous book, The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, which apparently has some of the same characters and is a bit of a pre-cursor, but neither have I read anything that suggests it's an official prequel or that you need to read it in order to understand this book. I think it's just a little game played by the author, and I find it quite sweet she's still attached to her characters six years later.
Anyway, I would have really liked to round this book up to 4 stars but the narrative was slow-moving and peppered with cliches, while Rice's use of post-modifying adjectives was excessive: "Matilda said coyly/sulkily/happily" etc. etc. (this was all on one page). It just proved too irksome for something that was supposed to be an "easy" read, while the title is a mouthful that's not really relevant enough to the story to justify how awkward it feels to pronounce it.
Otherwise: niche story-line with interesting characters. It's a nice little treat to fly through if you want to take a feel-good book on a long journey or holiday.
Anyway, I would have really liked to round this book up to 4 stars but the narrative was slow-moving and peppered with cliches, while Rice's use of post-modifying adjectives was excessive: "Matilda said coyly/sulkily/happily" etc. etc. (this was all on one page). It just proved too irksome for something that was supposed to be an "easy" read, while the title is a mouthful that's not really relevant enough to the story to justify how awkward it feels to pronounce it.
Otherwise: niche story-line with interesting characters. It's a nice little treat to fly through if you want to take a feel-good book on a long journey or holiday.
February 2, 2013
The long lost novel I've been waiting for now for an eternity has finally appeared as if from nowhere!
Overall I enjoyed the book but felt that I was divided by the characters and lesser plot lines (the horses...). I became extremely interested in some areas but others in my mind were just padding the story out. On the one hand I was joyous whenever an old character appeared, but underwhelmed by some of the subs like Lucy and Raoul, to the point where I was racing through these parts to get back to more interesting bits.
I was also getting tired of how Rice kept dropping in literary references as a lazy descriptive method, but hey what do I know, I was still completely suckered in by the 'will they? won't they?' which worked so well in 'Lost Art...' I just didn't quite fall in love with this second offering like I did the first. The ideas and characters were all there... just a little lost amongst a jumble of other minor tat ;) So I'm sitting on the fence for now, I think it will take another read later for me to make up my mind properly.
Overall I enjoyed the book but felt that I was divided by the characters and lesser plot lines (the horses...). I became extremely interested in some areas but others in my mind were just padding the story out. On the one hand I was joyous whenever an old character appeared, but underwhelmed by some of the subs like Lucy and Raoul, to the point where I was racing through these parts to get back to more interesting bits.
I was also getting tired of how Rice kept dropping in literary references as a lazy descriptive method, but hey what do I know, I was still completely suckered in by the 'will they? won't they?' which worked so well in 'Lost Art...' I just didn't quite fall in love with this second offering like I did the first. The ideas and characters were all there... just a little lost amongst a jumble of other minor tat ;) So I'm sitting on the fence for now, I think it will take another read later for me to make up my mind properly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2015
Romanzo carino ma perdibile, almeno dal mio punto di vista. Godibile l'ambientazione inglese, anche se mi domando sempre che gusto c'è a leggere libri di questo tipo scritti da autrici contemporanee quando ce ne sono moltissimi scritti e pubblicati nello stesso dopoguerra (pensiamo solo a Nancy Mitford). Ammetto che qui siamo negli anni Sessanta, era The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets il romanzo ambientato nel dopoguerra, e questo ne è il seguito, ma solo parzialmente, dato che alcuni dei suoi personaggi secondari sono ripresi dal romanzo precedente.
Bella e curata l'ambientazione ma non posso dire altrettanto della trama, anche se resta godibile. Un buon romanzo di intrattenimento.
Bella e curata l'ambientazione ma non posso dire altrettanto della trama, anche se resta godibile. Un buon romanzo di intrattenimento.
March 4, 2017
Magical, beautiful, compelling, comforting...there are not enough positive adjectives to describe this book! I was rather sceptical, having adored The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets, and re-read it many times, but this did not disappoint.
Tara and her family are such interesting and endearing characters and the settings are fantastic. Rice's storytelling ability is incredible and I wish she would write more books. The plot covered a short period of time, but in such beautiful and intricate detail, that it felt dreamy. It was lovely to see/hear just enough of characters from TLAOKS without spoiling the impression left by the end of the first novel.
In short, I loved it.
Tara and her family are such interesting and endearing characters and the settings are fantastic. Rice's storytelling ability is incredible and I wish she would write more books. The plot covered a short period of time, but in such beautiful and intricate detail, that it felt dreamy. It was lovely to see/hear just enough of characters from TLAOKS without spoiling the impression left by the end of the first novel.
In short, I loved it.
May 21, 2017
I absolutely loved 'the lost art of keeping secrets' this is a TERRIBLE sequel. I can't believe it was written by the same author. The characters were blah and quite frankly unbelievably boring. None of them shared the same light, funny and engaging charm of the first book. Lucy and Raoul in in particular, but also Matilda the drunk super model?? Seriously? Clover and Digby? Did anyone in the 60's act like this? I couldn't wait for this book to be over. Also yeah don't get me started on the spelling errors etc.
May 29, 2017
A coming of age story set in sixties England. Tara is a talented singer, from a large, messy but loving family. Her sister, Lucy is beautiful and quietly wild. It is very much a comfort read, the type you would happily curl up with on a rainy day with a nice cup of tea.
It's a story of first loves and working out what matters to you. A very enjoyable read.
It's a story of first loves and working out what matters to you. A very enjoyable read.
January 20, 2021
First of all, the songs! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4RN...
I think this could have used a tighter edit to really hit me with the same charm as Lost Art did - 582 pages! - but I'd happily wander through any length of an Eva Rice story for the historical flavor. (There's substance, but the flavor is the best part.)
I think this could have used a tighter edit to really hit me with the same charm as Lost Art did - 582 pages! - but I'd happily wander through any length of an Eva Rice story for the historical flavor. (There's substance, but the flavor is the best part.)
April 12, 2014
Cute. But my copy had a lot of typos in it and I feel like it could have used just one more continuity editorial pass too. Also, I think I might just be "over" cute awkward coming of age type novels at this point in my life, dammit.
Read
July 14, 2015DNF at 43%.
July 19, 2023
A Joy To Read! I Loved This Book!
I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it! I found it very heart-warming and was absorbed from start to finish. The book is written in the first person and addresses the reader directly at times, for example, ‘Dear reader’ – very Brontë-esque. I thought the book was reminiscent of nineteenth century classic novels (which I happen to love) and includes beautiful language, landscapes, imagery, strong female characters and themes of abandoned mansions; the early death of a parent; religion (daughter of a clergyman); outsiders; the behaviour of men and women; love and marriage etc. The novel is also full of contrast such as small town/village versus city life; poor families versus rich families; being beautiful versus being considered plain etc.
The central character and narrator is ‘Tara Jupp’. Tara is almost an anti-heroine – not a conventional beauty (plain or not as beautiful as her sister Lucy) and searching for meaning; trying to find her place in life. Tara embarks on a journey of self-discovery – taking the scenic route courtesy of Miss ‘Cherry Merrywell’ . Some of the characters attempt to dominate and control Tara by projecting their expectations and desires onto her whilst trying to make Tara a star. According to some translations, the name Tara means ‘star’ which is pretty ironic. ‘Cherry Merrywell’ is a parody of Tara’s true self, Cherry means ‘darling’ and merry – high spirited and jolly etc. Tara’s journey leads her to learn and value the importance of remaining true to oneself. Tara shows depth and complexity as she eventually realises that dreams can come true if we believe in ourselves enough and remain true to ourselves – despite what others may want for us.
The characters have enough psychological realism to make them believable and the novel is very entertaining. I was quickly drawn into Tara’s world and found it difficult to put the book down. I haven't read any other works by this author yet but I am very impressed.
I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it! I found it very heart-warming and was absorbed from start to finish. The book is written in the first person and addresses the reader directly at times, for example, ‘Dear reader’ – very Brontë-esque. I thought the book was reminiscent of nineteenth century classic novels (which I happen to love) and includes beautiful language, landscapes, imagery, strong female characters and themes of abandoned mansions; the early death of a parent; religion (daughter of a clergyman); outsiders; the behaviour of men and women; love and marriage etc. The novel is also full of contrast such as small town/village versus city life; poor families versus rich families; being beautiful versus being considered plain etc.
The central character and narrator is ‘Tara Jupp’. Tara is almost an anti-heroine – not a conventional beauty (plain or not as beautiful as her sister Lucy) and searching for meaning; trying to find her place in life. Tara embarks on a journey of self-discovery – taking the scenic route courtesy of Miss ‘Cherry Merrywell’ . Some of the characters attempt to dominate and control Tara by projecting their expectations and desires onto her whilst trying to make Tara a star. According to some translations, the name Tara means ‘star’ which is pretty ironic. ‘Cherry Merrywell’ is a parody of Tara’s true self, Cherry means ‘darling’ and merry – high spirited and jolly etc. Tara’s journey leads her to learn and value the importance of remaining true to oneself. Tara shows depth and complexity as she eventually realises that dreams can come true if we believe in ourselves enough and remain true to ourselves – despite what others may want for us.
The characters have enough psychological realism to make them believable and the novel is very entertaining. I was quickly drawn into Tara’s world and found it difficult to put the book down. I haven't read any other works by this author yet but I am very impressed.
March 12, 2023
A book that has sat on the shelves awaiting its turn to be opened and appreciated for a while now. I'm so happy that I chose this story to read this weekend. A beautifully written tale of how mixed up lives can get when you don't have enough courage to be honest with others or when we try to mask reason and feelings to try to avoid hurting others, a gentle reminder of how strong we all are when being strong is the only option open to us, and of the effect that our selfishness can have on other people around us, often without us realising it. The characters are well thought out and beautifully presented especially in their wilder moments of which there are many, a few little twists on the way make them even more believable as they reflect our own life experiences, and who wouldn't appreciate Mick and Brian as they too appear in their early search for fame and fortune in the seedier clubs of London in the swinging 60's. Add in the attempts at the preservation of the Victorian buildings in the suburbs, a vicar and his family, and the superb music scene that began to really evolve as show music, Motown, Johnny Ray and blues and rock really evolve with a promise of even better times to come and you have the story of Tara Jupp, life and soul of her party with all its highs and lows, catapulted into a world she's unprepared for to struggle with it until she decides to play by her own rules. Sex, drink, drugs, love, hate, music, heartbreak, emotion, culture, religion, this book has it all. Loved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2021
Ah, I absolutely adore "The Last Art of Keeping Secrets", and I wanted to so badly loved this novel, the follow-up, but it just fell short.
Tara Jupp our heroine, is a newly introduced character into this little slice of mid-century Britian, and becomes a pop sensation, thanks to no other than Inigo Wallace all grown up after the Lost Art, as well as a cast of new characters,
However, this unlike Lost Art, felt like a predictable meandering way of telling a long lost love story. Starting with Tara growing up in Cornwall, and then being discovered for her remarkable singing voice whilst performing at a wedding, it all felt a bit too predictable. For me this didn't have the spark, the magic that Lost Art had.
However, if we review for what it is separate from Lost Art (which you by no way need to read prior to picking this up) we find a fairly well worn story. Little, different girl makes it big in London, only to jack it all in as its not her.
Overall, its a fairly pleasing story, and not too many shocks and horrors along the way. I would describe it as lazy sunday afternoon reading, not too taxing, but also nothing new to the genre.
Tara Jupp our heroine, is a newly introduced character into this little slice of mid-century Britian, and becomes a pop sensation, thanks to no other than Inigo Wallace all grown up after the Lost Art, as well as a cast of new characters,
However, this unlike Lost Art, felt like a predictable meandering way of telling a long lost love story. Starting with Tara growing up in Cornwall, and then being discovered for her remarkable singing voice whilst performing at a wedding, it all felt a bit too predictable. For me this didn't have the spark, the magic that Lost Art had.
However, if we review for what it is separate from Lost Art (which you by no way need to read prior to picking this up) we find a fairly well worn story. Little, different girl makes it big in London, only to jack it all in as its not her.
Overall, its a fairly pleasing story, and not too many shocks and horrors along the way. I would describe it as lazy sunday afternoon reading, not too taxing, but also nothing new to the genre.
June 7, 2025
This is a fabulous, not so small, read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The complex interaction between all of the characters was amazingly well written along with an equally complex story line.
The author has created a mammoth array of very differing character traits in an awesome group of people. Alongside this achievement a vast knowledge of differing areas in the UK is showcased throughout the story as the author takes us from Cornwall village to the backstreets of London and around various stately homes housing some of these characters.
All in all, some of the twists were obvious but some were less than obvious! I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I own a softback copy of this book.
The author has created a mammoth array of very differing character traits in an awesome group of people. Alongside this achievement a vast knowledge of differing areas in the UK is showcased throughout the story as the author takes us from Cornwall village to the backstreets of London and around various stately homes housing some of these characters.
All in all, some of the twists were obvious but some were less than obvious! I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
I own a softback copy of this book.
June 6, 2017
I went through stages of loving this and not being able to put it down and thinking it was so-so. I loved the characters set in cornwall and their progression throughout the story. I did think, though, that the story could have been set at any time-other than the occasional mention of a sixties icon and 'the invention of the mini skirt', I'm not sure I really got much of a sense of the sixties, though I'm not sure why. It was easy to read and I did care about the main characters-especially Tara, Lucy and Matilda but when we got to London, I was less impressed by the characters there. They didn't seem as real somehow.
May 30, 2022
This coming-of-age story was exactly what I needed. A historical setting with a plot that’s all about sisterly bonds, female friendship and finding yourself – sign me up! Even though my plot summary might seem long, there’s so much more that happens in this book. There are eight siblings, love interests, stately homes, sexual awakening, and a peek at the glamorous London of the swinging sixties. At 579 pages, the book is a bit on the long side. However, I’m giving it four stars because I completely escaped into the setting and characters.
Read my full review on aminasbookshelf.com / IG @aminasbookshelf
Read my full review on aminasbookshelf.com / IG @aminasbookshelf
August 16, 2022
How did I not read this book for so long? And more importantly, why is this book not a best seller?? I love “The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets” so much I’ve read it three times. It is one of my all time favorite novels. I never knew that there was a spin-off/sequel until recently, and it was difficult to find. It is WONDERFUL! The only tiny issue I had was not with the writing, which was just as atmospheric and transporting as its predecessor, but with the editing. There were a lot of grammar and typo issues that should have been cleaned up. Still a 5 BRIGHT AS THE SUN ⭐️s!!
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