The Manor She Left Behind

by Catherine Gupta

After the passing of her beloved mother Mae, Addy struggles to find her bearings. Months later, Addy is given a letter left by Mae revealing an unexpected Addy is now the owner of a lakeside manor in Forest Hills, North Carolina.

Tasked by her mother to oversee the ongoing renovations transforming the manor into an inn, Addy puts her life in Philadelphia on pause to fulfill her mother’s dream, a dream Addy never knew existed. The moment she enters the town, she’s met by a colorful cast of characters that support her as she uncovers the secrets of her mother’s past.

Addy’s time in Forest Hills leads her to the decades-long secret Mae was never able to share with her daughter. Addy is forced to face the truth her mother never could, and to decide what her future will hold.

The Manor She Left Behind is an uplifting story about discovering peace amid the pain—and the importance of finding the joy.

318 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2023

Reviews

[Kelly Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing & Inspirational

A moving novel by an author who uniquely captures not only life challenges, but also the small moments that bring us joy. This story is full of compassion and surprising humor. It’s a sweet and uplifting story that I truly found refreshing, engaging and most of all enjoyable.

I loved the strong female friendships, witty characters and a view about life that instills hope. The author has a knack for articulating thoughts and feelings triggered by family dynamics, making her characters relatable. This book and author give me Beth O’Leary vibes, with her ability to marry deep emotional topics with funny life-affirming antidotes.

A wise story and great reminder that you have the power to change your life. I hope this book helps others to ‘find the joy’.

[Amy Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got kind of fed up reading about Addy's persistent attachment to her mother--especially the highly-unrealistic concept of donating all of the funds from the inn. I mean c'mon! This woman is now unemployed (although I could see where everything was leading), future-homeless, with no income stream, yet she's going to give everything earned from the inn to charitable causes? Somehow, I just don't think so. It was rather clear her mom kept this project a secret so her daughter could rely on both the funds and friends in the future.

There was an interesting twist re her mother's reason for visiting Foresthills and accepting her husband's behavior but, overall, I felt like this novel should be turned into a Hallmark movie.

[Jessica d’Amour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed reading this book. I’m usually a pretty slow reader but I feel like I made it through this book pretty quickly as it kept me engaged and wanting to know what would happen next!

The main character was very relatable on many levels, especially on her feelings about her chosen career and her desire to find a deeper purpose in the world. I also loved that this book focused on strong friendships and the creation of her chosen family.

I would recommend this book to anyone, especially for someone who feels a bit stuck in a job, town, or relationship that doesn’t feel quite right. You might just find yourself feeling motivated to put yourself out there in new ways like I did!

[Tess Ailshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of the story is good; the twists are unexpected. Still, so much of the plot is formulaic that I spent the last two chapters with Hallmark movie sets literally filling my mind. A bit too too for me. Friendship is wonderful, yet in this story it is simply there, requiring no work and, more importantly, little reciprocation.

A nice feel-good story for an afternoon in front of the fireplace or beside the pool.

[Dolee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope they make this into a movie.

I really do hope someone makes this book into a movie so I can see everything I’ve been picturing in my mind. On second thought, maybe that isn’t a good idea as they might not live up to my expectations. I loved the characters, every one, and I appreciated there was no big breakup that needed the no surprise reconciliation. I thought the writing was excellent. Maybe there will be a sequel. Fingers crossed.

[Sarah Hamster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read in the last 10 years. I was captured from the first paragraph and could not put it down until I was finished. My only regret was that there was only 5 stars to rate. I would have given 10. I will definitely be looking forward to more books by this author.

[Erika Buchholtz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimate Feel Good Experience

Loved this heartwarming novel all about finding joy. Great characters that put a smile on my face throughout every delightful page. I especially enjoyed how the book focused on the many types of love we experience- parental, friendship and romantic. A feel-good triumph. Bravo Catherine!

[Cindy Lee Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope and memories

Well written story about wonderful friends and family. About starting anew. I would have loved meeting each and every character and spending time in the town. I hope there is another book by this author.

[Patricia L .Jex · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are just so many details that don’t add up here that it reads like a fantasy where reality has to be suspended. No need to take care of life details like rent on the apartment left behind, or income stream for 8 months while you go off to live in paradise. The surprise twist at the end did nothing at all for me. Just left this story flat. Too many flaws to make it work.

[Amy Hepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Manor She Left Behind is a heartwarming read. The well developed characters and excellent writing make this novel an easy and satisfying read. Gupta weaves humor and love on every page, and I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a reprieve from daily life.