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The Piano in the Tree
Sixteen years ago, something terrible kept Polly from meeting her girlfriend at a train station in Berlin. Dreams were shattered. Hearts were broken. Two women continued through life alone.
Now, Ksenia Tokarycz is obliged to come back to Australia. Sure, she does it in triumph and she does it in style, but a tardy delivery sends her in search of her piano – back to her childhood home, back to the place where Polly Paterson is still just next door.
High on the escarpment where the summer storms beat their way up the coast and hurl their fury against the sandstone cliffs, a love that never truly died forces two women to come to terms with their scars.
But there is a curious sound on the breeze. There is music on the breath of the wind. And when Toks sees what has happened to her piano, she fears there is a very strong chance her darling Pearl might be utterly mad.
Now, Ksenia Tokarycz is obliged to come back to Australia. Sure, she does it in triumph and she does it in style, but a tardy delivery sends her in search of her piano – back to her childhood home, back to the place where Polly Paterson is still just next door.
High on the escarpment where the summer storms beat their way up the coast and hurl their fury against the sandstone cliffs, a love that never truly died forces two women to come to terms with their scars.
But there is a curious sound on the breeze. There is music on the breath of the wind. And when Toks sees what has happened to her piano, she fears there is a very strong chance her darling Pearl might be utterly mad.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2024
51 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Jo Havens
5 books140 followersJo Havens is a Golden Crown Literary Society award-winning author.
Not every romance is sugar-sweet. Sometimes the path to happily-ever-after is narrow, scary, and full of doubts and heartbreak. But it is the grit that makes the pearl. Though it takes time, effort and patience, in Jo Havens' books, love is always the softly glowing beauty on the final page.
In her lesbian romance novels, Jo's characters struggle with their shortcomings, deal with the trials of life and, ultimately, listen to their hearts and do what is right. Love always wins.
Jo lives in Australia with her daughter, and a cat named Howl. She loves to hear from readers. Her debut novel, The Blood We Spill, is a sumptuous sapphic romance with an ice queen assassin, the gorgeous girl-next-door and a journey to true-love that asks both women to challenge their deepest hopes and fears, risk all and, finally, rest lovingly in each other's arms.
Get a free novella set in the same world by signing up to Jo's newsletter at http://www.johavens.com
Not every romance is sugar-sweet. Sometimes the path to happily-ever-after is narrow, scary, and full of doubts and heartbreak. But it is the grit that makes the pearl. Though it takes time, effort and patience, in Jo Havens' books, love is always the softly glowing beauty on the final page.
In her lesbian romance novels, Jo's characters struggle with their shortcomings, deal with the trials of life and, ultimately, listen to their hearts and do what is right. Love always wins.
Jo lives in Australia with her daughter, and a cat named Howl. She loves to hear from readers. Her debut novel, The Blood We Spill, is a sumptuous sapphic romance with an ice queen assassin, the gorgeous girl-next-door and a journey to true-love that asks both women to challenge their deepest hopes and fears, risk all and, finally, rest lovingly in each other's arms.
Get a free novella set in the same world by signing up to Jo's newsletter at http://www.johavens.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 30, 2024
I started this book late in the day, questioned myself whether to continue after the first chapter, decided to keep reading just to see, then finally stopped around 5am the next morning. It’s that kind of book.
Ksensia “Toks” Tokarycz and Polly Paterson were best friends since Toks’ parents bought the cow farm next to the one owned by Polly’s family. Their friendship evolved into romance in high school and then deepened in music college. Their plan was to conquer the classical music world together, Toks as a conductor and Polly as a cellist. Things did not work out for them, for reasons I won’t spoil, and seventeen years after Toks left Australia for Berlin, the now world famous Maestro Tokarycz returns to Sydney and confronts Polly who never left the farm.
The book is well written with beautiful images infused with composers and compositions. Music is the story’s secondary language. Dissonance is a big theme. As a reader, I often felt unsettled and thought these off-kilter scenes built up the tension. Toks is infuriatingly arrogant but brilliant. Polly is a kind, creative soul. Their passion for each other is never in doubt. Supportive characters add depth and humor. The story is ambitious and I think it succeeds. I do want to mention violence is an integral part of the entire story. Toks’ family fled their war torn country to start a new life in Australia. Violence is also key to the secret of what happened to Polly. It’s a heavy hearted book and you do have to buy into a big miscommunication trope but I think it’s well worth the read. I’m hoping for a future audiobook.
Ksensia “Toks” Tokarycz and Polly Paterson were best friends since Toks’ parents bought the cow farm next to the one owned by Polly’s family. Their friendship evolved into romance in high school and then deepened in music college. Their plan was to conquer the classical music world together, Toks as a conductor and Polly as a cellist. Things did not work out for them, for reasons I won’t spoil, and seventeen years after Toks left Australia for Berlin, the now world famous Maestro Tokarycz returns to Sydney and confronts Polly who never left the farm.
The book is well written with beautiful images infused with composers and compositions. Music is the story’s secondary language. Dissonance is a big theme. As a reader, I often felt unsettled and thought these off-kilter scenes built up the tension. Toks is infuriatingly arrogant but brilliant. Polly is a kind, creative soul. Their passion for each other is never in doubt. Supportive characters add depth and humor. The story is ambitious and I think it succeeds. I do want to mention violence is an integral part of the entire story. Toks’ family fled their war torn country to start a new life in Australia. Violence is also key to the secret of what happened to Polly. It’s a heavy hearted book and you do have to buy into a big miscommunication trope but I think it’s well worth the read. I’m hoping for a future audiobook.
January 6, 2025
5 ⭐️
Wow, what a way to start the new year. A Piano in the Tree is a wonderful story about shattered dreams, broken hearts, pain, getting your life back on track after a brutal experience, family and friends, fame, success and loneliness, stubbornness, and a love that outlasts everything.
Toks (Ksenia Tokarycz) has the classical world at her feet when she returns to the Sydney Opera after 16 years, now a star conductor with fame and honor. She has achieved all her goals - except sharing her life with the love of her life, Polly. For her part, Polly (Pearl Paterson) has fought her way back to life after the horror she experienced and has lived on her parents' cow farm since childhood, now with her chosen family. Not much in her life has gone according to plan and it has been associated with a great deal of pain. Although their first meeting after this long time was anything but cordial, despite all the pain and disappointment still present, there is a little bit of hope that at least a friendship might be possible again. Or even more.
Toks and Polly are great women in their own way. Toks can be overbearing and arrogant, the next moment she can lose herself completely in the music and you can also feel her loneliness, her longing, and her vulnerability. Polly is a warm and caring woman who has some demons to fight and has found special ways for herself to deal with her pain and anger. Sometimes, though, I would have liked to shake the two of them so they would talk and listen to each other.
Jo Havens makes us feel all the emotions, she broke my heart for Toks and Polly and then mended it piece by piece. Her wonderful and vivid language breathes life into the people and makes the music resonate. A love story that had to endure a lot before it could finally blossom fully. The story is beautifully constructed and all the strands, whether present or past, are perfectly interwoven.
The secondary characters are hugely important, especially one of them is hilarious, and they all bring a lot of depth to the story. There is some heavy stuff, like war and violence, to deal with, but there is a lot more love and humor.
A romance that went straight to my heart and that I won't forget for a long time.
Thank you Cherie and Jules for recommending it.
Wow, what a way to start the new year. A Piano in the Tree is a wonderful story about shattered dreams, broken hearts, pain, getting your life back on track after a brutal experience, family and friends, fame, success and loneliness, stubbornness, and a love that outlasts everything.
Toks (Ksenia Tokarycz) has the classical world at her feet when she returns to the Sydney Opera after 16 years, now a star conductor with fame and honor. She has achieved all her goals - except sharing her life with the love of her life, Polly. For her part, Polly (Pearl Paterson) has fought her way back to life after the horror she experienced and has lived on her parents' cow farm since childhood, now with her chosen family. Not much in her life has gone according to plan and it has been associated with a great deal of pain. Although their first meeting after this long time was anything but cordial, despite all the pain and disappointment still present, there is a little bit of hope that at least a friendship might be possible again. Or even more.
Toks and Polly are great women in their own way. Toks can be overbearing and arrogant, the next moment she can lose herself completely in the music and you can also feel her loneliness, her longing, and her vulnerability. Polly is a warm and caring woman who has some demons to fight and has found special ways for herself to deal with her pain and anger. Sometimes, though, I would have liked to shake the two of them so they would talk and listen to each other.
Jo Havens makes us feel all the emotions, she broke my heart for Toks and Polly and then mended it piece by piece. Her wonderful and vivid language breathes life into the people and makes the music resonate. A love story that had to endure a lot before it could finally blossom fully. The story is beautifully constructed and all the strands, whether present or past, are perfectly interwoven.
The secondary characters are hugely important, especially one of them is hilarious, and they all bring a lot of depth to the story. There is some heavy stuff, like war and violence, to deal with, but there is a lot more love and humor.
A romance that went straight to my heart and that I won't forget for a long time.
Thank you Cherie and Jules for recommending it.
June 11, 2024
A stunning book cover conceals a tale that breaks you apart and puts you back together. I read and re-read pulled into Tok's and Polly's heartbreak hoping for eventual happiness. The plot switches between Australia and Europe but Jeringa always calls you back. Havens' descriptions and wonderful supporting characters particularly Tilda, Magpie, Justin and Richard add to the tale and there is music, wonderful music, woven throughout this story. Conceit, ego, misunderstanding and pain, so much pain is buried with layers of music. A maestro and a piano tuner extraordinaire - I wanted the glue of love to set after repairing all the hurts between Tok and Polly.
A beautifully written 5 star romance that I highly recommend. On my favourite's shelf.
A beautifully written 5 star romance that I highly recommend. On my favourite's shelf.
June 7, 2024
I am so full of thoughts and emotions that I don't think I can make justice to how good this book was.
From the stunning cover to the heart wrenching story that unfolds in three acts.
Music has never been so haunting and cathartic at the same time.
Fate following its own incessant rhythm.
The symbolism in The Piano in the Tree is so stunning that it will stay with you for a really long time.
So much pain. So much punishment. So much atonement. So much that needed to be done to finally find peace.
I won't spoil the plot for anyone, but if you are up for a roller coaster of emotions, this book is for you.
It's about falling and having the strength to rise again. To rebuild on so much destruction. To heal your heart after it was shattered into pieces.
To find salvation and forgiveness in a love that never ceased to burn.
Polly and Toks have all my heart, but I also loved all the other characters, Tilda and Magpie especially.
All I want to do now is play my piano.
I hope you'll read it!
From the stunning cover to the heart wrenching story that unfolds in three acts.
Music has never been so haunting and cathartic at the same time.
Fate following its own incessant rhythm.
The symbolism in The Piano in the Tree is so stunning that it will stay with you for a really long time.
So much pain. So much punishment. So much atonement. So much that needed to be done to finally find peace.
I won't spoil the plot for anyone, but if you are up for a roller coaster of emotions, this book is for you.
It's about falling and having the strength to rise again. To rebuild on so much destruction. To heal your heart after it was shattered into pieces.
To find salvation and forgiveness in a love that never ceased to burn.
Polly and Toks have all my heart, but I also loved all the other characters, Tilda and Magpie especially.
All I want to do now is play my piano.
I hope you'll read it!
January 11, 2025
Loved this 👏👏
May 30, 2024
Speechless. I was speechless. In fact I had to wait a few days before I wrote this review because I couldn’t find the words it deserved. Even now I’m struggling.
It covers the whole spectrum from brilliant to harrowing. My heart feels like that piano string that’s been tightened and is about to break. The well-drawn characters are amazing and so supporting. And Polly, I just want to wrap my arms around her and hug her. Tears fill my eyes as I think that, even after everything that happened, the horror of it, she somehow retained the essence that was her.
And the writing. It was simply beautiful. There were passages that had the orchestra soaring about me as I read, and it wasn’t even a music scene. There were also parts that made painful reading, too, and I had to blink back blurring tears. The weaving of snippets of the past through the story was wonderfully done, creating such ‘OMG no!’ intrigue that wouldn’t allow you to stop reading.
Jo Havens, this reader thanks you. And as a writer, I wish I’d written this.
It covers the whole spectrum from brilliant to harrowing. My heart feels like that piano string that’s been tightened and is about to break. The well-drawn characters are amazing and so supporting. And Polly, I just want to wrap my arms around her and hug her. Tears fill my eyes as I think that, even after everything that happened, the horror of it, she somehow retained the essence that was her.
And the writing. It was simply beautiful. There were passages that had the orchestra soaring about me as I read, and it wasn’t even a music scene. There were also parts that made painful reading, too, and I had to blink back blurring tears. The weaving of snippets of the past through the story was wonderfully done, creating such ‘OMG no!’ intrigue that wouldn’t allow you to stop reading.
Jo Havens, this reader thanks you. And as a writer, I wish I’d written this.
June 9, 2024
4.5 Stars
The Piano in the Tree rouses emotion akin to when one listens to evocative music. The lyrical nature of the book is sublime in the author’s ability to coax my imagination and experience music and diverse emotions at the same time sometimes even overwhelming my senses. And all these with only words strewn together creating a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, a novel and a well of sentiment be it melancholy or pleasure. One thing is for certain, satisfaction is definite, for me anyway.
The Piano in the Tree rouses emotion akin to when one listens to evocative music. The lyrical nature of the book is sublime in the author’s ability to coax my imagination and experience music and diverse emotions at the same time sometimes even overwhelming my senses. And all these with only words strewn together creating a sentence, a paragraph, a chapter, a novel and a well of sentiment be it melancholy or pleasure. One thing is for certain, satisfaction is definite, for me anyway.
August 19, 2025
The most succinct way that I can think of to describe The Piano in the Tree is "breathtaking". Jo Havens has delivered an extraordinary story of passion, ruin and salvation involving two main characters and a bevvy of quirky side characters that surround them to form their 'found family'. The story delivers a rollercoaster of emotions as the two main characters work to overcome the distance that time, circumstance and geography has brought between them.
Ksenia Tokarycz (Toks) and Polly Paterson grew up on neighbouring properties south of Sydney, Australia where theri combined love of music brought them together in a passionate teenage romance. However, when Toks career as a world famous musician and conductor takes her overseas in search of her dream to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestera while Polly remains back in Sydney to finish music college before joining Toks in Berlin. That was the plan, anyway.
When Polly fails to arrive and never answered any of Toks' calls or sent a message Toks is devastated and convinced that Polly hadn't really loved her. Although she goes on to excel in her career, developing an monumental reputation as a conductor and musician, personally, she is broken. Her sole focus moves to her career and casual hookups with women across the globe as a way to try and forget the pain.
Meanwhile, back in Australia, Polly is battling her scars, both physically and emotionally from the horrific incident that prevented her from joining Toks in Berlin as planned. She is convinced that Toks had never loved her because Toks had never reached out to her following the incident despite both her name and the incident itself becoming headline news globally. Along with her 16 year old daughter, she has developed a network of supportive friends who live on her rural property and love and support Polly.
When Toks is obliged to return to Australia to fulfil a two year contract with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a trip down south in search of her old piano brings the two women back together. As Jerinja (Polly's property) begins to sink back into Tok's soul the process of healing begins. However, there's a long way to go and total healing can't be reached until both Toks and Polly know the full truth about what actually happened sixteen years earlier that shattered their dreams and kept them apart.
As the summer storms whip their way up the coast bringing curious sounds on the breeze, they also bring a whisper of promise. Can Toks and Polly find their way back to their love and to overcome their separation or is it too late?
The Piano in the Tree is a malancholic dance of broken hearts, loss, music, madness, passion and salvation with a large side of love, support and acceptance from family, friends and community. Definitely a five star read for me.
I am extremely grateful to Jo Havens for providing me with an advanced copy of The Piano in the Tree and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
Ksenia Tokarycz (Toks) and Polly Paterson grew up on neighbouring properties south of Sydney, Australia where theri combined love of music brought them together in a passionate teenage romance. However, when Toks career as a world famous musician and conductor takes her overseas in search of her dream to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestera while Polly remains back in Sydney to finish music college before joining Toks in Berlin. That was the plan, anyway.
When Polly fails to arrive and never answered any of Toks' calls or sent a message Toks is devastated and convinced that Polly hadn't really loved her. Although she goes on to excel in her career, developing an monumental reputation as a conductor and musician, personally, she is broken. Her sole focus moves to her career and casual hookups with women across the globe as a way to try and forget the pain.
Meanwhile, back in Australia, Polly is battling her scars, both physically and emotionally from the horrific incident that prevented her from joining Toks in Berlin as planned. She is convinced that Toks had never loved her because Toks had never reached out to her following the incident despite both her name and the incident itself becoming headline news globally. Along with her 16 year old daughter, she has developed a network of supportive friends who live on her rural property and love and support Polly.
When Toks is obliged to return to Australia to fulfil a two year contract with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a trip down south in search of her old piano brings the two women back together. As Jerinja (Polly's property) begins to sink back into Tok's soul the process of healing begins. However, there's a long way to go and total healing can't be reached until both Toks and Polly know the full truth about what actually happened sixteen years earlier that shattered their dreams and kept them apart.
As the summer storms whip their way up the coast bringing curious sounds on the breeze, they also bring a whisper of promise. Can Toks and Polly find their way back to their love and to overcome their separation or is it too late?
The Piano in the Tree is a malancholic dance of broken hearts, loss, music, madness, passion and salvation with a large side of love, support and acceptance from family, friends and community. Definitely a five star read for me.
I am extremely grateful to Jo Havens for providing me with an advanced copy of The Piano in the Tree and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.
May 4, 2025
DAMN - this was incredible! What a heartbreakingly beautiful story. And now that I’ve read it, this cover is even more impressive - and I was plenty impressed before! Yes - this is definitely one that will stay with you. Wow.
July 9, 2024
(rounded up from 4.75)
This was delightful. Literally that old chestnut about how I laughed and I cried (mostly cried, to be honest) and had a great time. This is a second-chance romance where the reasons for the lack of contact for 16 years make sense. There's a great deal of trauma to heal from, some personality clashes to overcome, and a lot of excellent music content since both the main characters have a passion for music, as do several supporting characters. I love the characters and their journeys and honestly wished it was longer. Highly recommended!
This was delightful. Literally that old chestnut about how I laughed and I cried (mostly cried, to be honest) and had a great time. This is a second-chance romance where the reasons for the lack of contact for 16 years make sense. There's a great deal of trauma to heal from, some personality clashes to overcome, and a lot of excellent music content since both the main characters have a passion for music, as do several supporting characters. I love the characters and their journeys and honestly wished it was longer. Highly recommended!
January 3, 2025
I couldn't put this one down. It's my "passion, ruin and salvation" 5+ stars
May 24, 2024
Ok I am definitely going to have a book hangover from this. Go read this! Highly, highly recommend! So well written. The miscommunication trope is not my fave but this book does it justice and then some. I was immediately hooked and I couldn’t let go. Nothing was rushed and nothing took too long. It flowed wonderfully from beginning to end. There are heartbreaking times. There’s laughter. There’s healing. There’s love. There’s support and family. There’s anger and resentment. There’s hope. We are put through the paces along with the characters. Polly and Toks’ will live in my heart and soul.
August 30, 2024
Excellent writing, Aussie through and through. Loved it.
August 29, 2025
I struggled to picture the first scene with the piano, it was just so different. It was well described but my brain kept saying, that can't be! However I have so many questions!
Just as I am piecing together, as the writer reveals it, what happened to Polly and thinking not telling is not going to end well (it never does) and thinking could a simple conversation sort everything, the writer lays out in black and white why a conversation cannot happen and it is not simple.
The only thing simple about this book is that I simply loved it. We saw the past, more clearly and more quickly for the "simply abandoned main". We were given hints as to why the other main did this. Actually not hints so much as glimpses and I was desperate to see the love based on reconnecting actually be based in truth.
Just as I am piecing together, as the writer reveals it, what happened to Polly and thinking not telling is not going to end well (it never does) and thinking could a simple conversation sort everything, the writer lays out in black and white why a conversation cannot happen and it is not simple.
The only thing simple about this book is that I simply loved it. We saw the past, more clearly and more quickly for the "simply abandoned main". We were given hints as to why the other main did this. Actually not hints so much as glimpses and I was desperate to see the love based on reconnecting actually be based in truth.
May 29, 2024
miscommunication nearly killed me
June 5, 2024
This was an exceptional read. There is a ton to unpack with this story and you might want to read the trigger warning. No triggers for me even though it was an emotional story. 5 stars.
December 18, 2025
When I say this reads like fanfiction for the movie Tár, I don’t mean that in the sense that it is written like fanfiction—to its credit it’s quite well edited—but that it is in its characterization so reminiscent as to appear derivative.
With that said, our first lead is, in effect, Lydia Tár. Our conductor lead has seemingly blurred professional lines to fuck her way through every woman in half a dozen orchestras around Europe for over a decade with nary an HR complaint to cancel her meteoric rise or recorded rendition of Mahler. As her mental state worsens, she also suffers from the same extreme sensitivity to environmental noise pulled straight from the movie. But, not content to simply give us an unbearably arrogant, domineering, philandering lesbian maestro, she is also rather inexplicably written as being the granddaughter of a stand in for Slobodan Milošević (with a big helping of tedious anti-communist editorializing included seemingly for the reader’s edification).
Our other lead is her piano tuner ex-girlfriend who is haunted by some terrible trauma related to F# that is hinted at for most of the book, and while eventually elucidated, largely exists to justify the communication issues that make it a second chance romance to begin with. In a shocking twist that I’m sure nobody who reads romance could see coming, the terrible PTSD suffered by our piano tuner seems to have its worst effects magically disappear once she resumes making finger babies in a weird dom/sub relationship with her ex-lover.
In that respect it pretends to say something profound about trauma, but only really uses it as a plot device, a mystery to keep the reader engaged while the author pushes together a generally selfish and callous “tortured musical genius” with a walking DSM reference. The standard romance conventions rely on you rooting for the characters to get and stay together, when all I was rooting for was therapy and an especially long acknowledgements section.
Ample criticism aside, to its credit it did have very solid editing and a cover drawn by a human, I don’t take that for granted.
With that said, our first lead is, in effect, Lydia Tár. Our conductor lead has seemingly blurred professional lines to fuck her way through every woman in half a dozen orchestras around Europe for over a decade with nary an HR complaint to cancel her meteoric rise or recorded rendition of Mahler. As her mental state worsens, she also suffers from the same extreme sensitivity to environmental noise pulled straight from the movie. But, not content to simply give us an unbearably arrogant, domineering, philandering lesbian maestro, she is also rather inexplicably written as being the granddaughter of a stand in for Slobodan Milošević (with a big helping of tedious anti-communist editorializing included seemingly for the reader’s edification).
Our other lead is her piano tuner ex-girlfriend who is haunted by some terrible trauma related to F# that is hinted at for most of the book, and while eventually elucidated, largely exists to justify the communication issues that make it a second chance romance to begin with. In a shocking twist that I’m sure nobody who reads romance could see coming, the terrible PTSD suffered by our piano tuner seems to have its worst effects magically disappear once she resumes making finger babies in a weird dom/sub relationship with her ex-lover.
In that respect it pretends to say something profound about trauma, but only really uses it as a plot device, a mystery to keep the reader engaged while the author pushes together a generally selfish and callous “tortured musical genius” with a walking DSM reference. The standard romance conventions rely on you rooting for the characters to get and stay together, when all I was rooting for was therapy and an especially long acknowledgements section.
Ample criticism aside, to its credit it did have very solid editing and a cover drawn by a human, I don’t take that for granted.
May 20, 2024
This book is wonderful. In fact for me it is one of the best I’ve read this year. I didn’t want to put it down.
Polly and Toks’ story is beautifully written and is one of passion, heartache, redemption and love. But it isn’t like anything I’ve read before. As an Aussie, it was a wonderful surprise to see small town Australia represented. In keeping with the main areas of the story, I really want to say that this novel reads like an incredible symphony.
Please do yourself a favour and get your copy of this book because I assure you, you will not be disappointed.
Brava Ms Havens!
I received a copy for a fair and honest review
Polly and Toks’ story is beautifully written and is one of passion, heartache, redemption and love. But it isn’t like anything I’ve read before. As an Aussie, it was a wonderful surprise to see small town Australia represented. In keeping with the main areas of the story, I really want to say that this novel reads like an incredible symphony.
Please do yourself a favour and get your copy of this book because I assure you, you will not be disappointed.
Brava Ms Havens!
I received a copy for a fair and honest review
May 23, 2024
Before reading this ARC I was already a fan of Jo Havens. This book is a great addition to her other books.
The story centres around Toks and Polly, but surrounding them are some delightfully funny, quirky, insightful, understanding and dependable characters. The kind of found family you could only dream of having.
Polly is such a gracious and forgiving character. Her method of dealing with a past trauma is a reminder that we all deal with our traumas differently. She takes something ugly and makes it into something beautiful that others can enjoy. Polly is able to look at things more objectively whereas Toks seems to look at things more subjectively.
Toks is quite self-involved and sometimes struggles to see beyond her own world. She is brilliant in her profession and art. I loved how music notes were incorporated throughout the story. It made me wonder if there are people who truly experience the world in such a way and how amazing that must be.
Sometimes I got a little impatient with wanting to know what had happened with Polly (take into consideration I'm generally not a very patient person) but we're given many glimpses along the way. So you'll keep changing your guesses about what happened (which in itself is good because it will keep you engaged and thinking).
Most of the trauma itself isn't detailed, though there are some jarring and heartbreaking moments that are mentioned.
This book is time well spent and a great, insightful read. I encourage any readers new to Jo Havens to also check out her other books. You won't be disappointed.
The story centres around Toks and Polly, but surrounding them are some delightfully funny, quirky, insightful, understanding and dependable characters. The kind of found family you could only dream of having.
Polly is such a gracious and forgiving character. Her method of dealing with a past trauma is a reminder that we all deal with our traumas differently. She takes something ugly and makes it into something beautiful that others can enjoy. Polly is able to look at things more objectively whereas Toks seems to look at things more subjectively.
Toks is quite self-involved and sometimes struggles to see beyond her own world. She is brilliant in her profession and art. I loved how music notes were incorporated throughout the story. It made me wonder if there are people who truly experience the world in such a way and how amazing that must be.
Sometimes I got a little impatient with wanting to know what had happened with Polly (take into consideration I'm generally not a very patient person) but we're given many glimpses along the way. So you'll keep changing your guesses about what happened (which in itself is good because it will keep you engaged and thinking).
Most of the trauma itself isn't detailed, though there are some jarring and heartbreaking moments that are mentioned.
This book is time well spent and a great, insightful read. I encourage any readers new to Jo Havens to also check out her other books. You won't be disappointed.
August 22, 2025
I rarely give 5 stars, but this book deserves all the stars. It will stay with me for a very long time.
I just read this book for the second time in 6 months. It's that good. My only wish is that it would come out in audio.
I just read this book for the second time in 6 months. It's that good. My only wish is that it would come out in audio.
May 29, 2024
This was an ARC provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
I have one word for every Jo Havens book I have read so far. Beautiful. Beautiful in all its fleshed out characters and its little imperfections. This book gave me chills but definitely not in a bad way. I started reading TPITT knowing that it will be the same quality as her two previous novels and I was not disappointed at all.
The story revolves around ex-girlfriends Toks and Polly who due to some unfortuante ‘incident’ parted ways sixteen years ago. Toks, a world renowed conductor is a very hard person to like at the beginning of this story. She’s harsh, conceited, and there were instances that I wanted to reach out inside the pages and slap her perfect smug face awake. She was so frustrating! But then you eventually realize what caused her to be the person that she is and what makes her truly weak. I loved her development!
And there’s Polly, sweet, bright, broken but absolutely beautiful Polly. She is the heart and soul of this book. You can’t help but root for this gentle woman. In the first part of the story, its clear to see how broken she is and so you hold your breath on when she’ll finally reveal what broke her.
Lastly, but definitely not the least, Polly’s friends in Jerinja. Aside from the MCs they are the best part of this story. Because it is not everyday that you get to meet strangers who will save you, who will hold your hand through thick and thin, who will be your protectors for many years and who you will eventually consider your family.
People might say that this isnt much of a review but thats the thrill of it right? Lol. I hate spoiling you with the juicy details so YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. Trust me, Its really worth it. ;)
August 12, 2024
I absolutely adore Jo Havens and her storytelling ability.
This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful and I could not put it down. It was a journey and brilliant and Havens sets up her foreshadowing so perfectly.
There is so much to love and I cannot find the appropriate words. I have yet to be disappointed by a Jo Havens book.
This book was so heartbreakingly beautiful and I could not put it down. It was a journey and brilliant and Havens sets up her foreshadowing so perfectly.
There is so much to love and I cannot find the appropriate words. I have yet to be disappointed by a Jo Havens book.
January 24, 2025
Brilliant! I couldn’t put this book down.
July 28, 2024
Great atmosphere and build-up. I loved how both Polly and Tok were very fleshed out before the meeting. It set the scene, and i was immersed in the story from the get-go. It's basically a whole lot of miscommunication and assumptions, which some may find frustrating. Some scenes made me want to push their heads together to make them talk. However, what made it comprehensible and allowed me to enjoy was because of the genuine reasons why they weren't communicating and how their time apart had lessened their understanding of each other. All the years of assumptions and bitterness had taken root in them. Which caused all this mess.
What i can't believe is how Tok couldn't have figured out and how this could all have been solved pretty fast. I just wanted her to find out herself and stop being so pig-headed.
Anyways, overall, a 4 stars.
What i can't believe is how Tok couldn't have figured out and how this could all have been solved pretty fast. I just wanted her to find out herself and stop being so pig-headed.
Anyways, overall, a 4 stars.
October 30, 2024
I'm going to start this by saying that this book is absolutely, beautifully written. The characters themselves are lovely and it really grips you all the way through.
I will also say, it can be a hard book to read due to some traumatic elements. This book affected me deeply and I don't say that lightly. I recommend reading with care and minding your spoons in some parts.
Unfortunately, the driving conflict of this book is a lack of communication between the MCs to an unrealistic level. I hate this trope. I hate that the entire book hinges on the fact that these two characters who supposedly love each other (and have done for 16 years) simply can't be bothered to communicate with one another. I'm tired of it.
The premise and the writing were enough to hook me, but there were large portions that I found no enjoyment in because I didn't believe in the characters. There were points I didn't even want them to end up together in the end.
To top it all off, I really think Toks got a bad shake. She is framed as the one who fucked up the most because she didn't read the news? I dunno, there is bad crap happening all over the world all the time so I dunno how she can be blamed for not being omniscient. Anyone could have told her stuff at any time and they just... didn't.
Overall, it was good. I think if you like (or don't mind) this tired trope where all the conflict and angst revolve around two characters refusing to talk to one another... you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did. But I'm leaving it feeling disappointed because the bones were there to make something great out of this and it just missed the mark.
I will also say, it can be a hard book to read due to some traumatic elements. This book affected me deeply and I don't say that lightly. I recommend reading with care and minding your spoons in some parts.
Unfortunately, the driving conflict of this book is a lack of communication between the MCs to an unrealistic level. I hate this trope. I hate that the entire book hinges on the fact that these two characters who supposedly love each other (and have done for 16 years) simply can't be bothered to communicate with one another. I'm tired of it.
The premise and the writing were enough to hook me, but there were large portions that I found no enjoyment in because I didn't believe in the characters. There were points I didn't even want them to end up together in the end.
To top it all off, I really think Toks got a bad shake. She is framed as the one who fucked up the most because she didn't read the news? I dunno, there is bad crap happening all over the world all the time so I dunno how she can be blamed for not being omniscient. Anyone could have told her stuff at any time and they just... didn't.
Overall, it was good. I think if you like (or don't mind) this tired trope where all the conflict and angst revolve around two characters refusing to talk to one another... you'll probably enjoy this much more than I did. But I'm leaving it feeling disappointed because the bones were there to make something great out of this and it just missed the mark.
June 6, 2024
Excellent. Enjoyed this well written story I did not put down until finished.
May 29, 2024
Beware your hearts, any reader who chooses to embark on this adventure (and yes, yes you should!). Calling this a second chance romance is too trite, calling it an expression of what home means is too much, saying that it’s a love letter to the power of music might be about right. It is gorgeous writing, a captivating story, a full narrative with place as a character, and has a quirky supporting cast and a couple of protags I wanted to shake somewhere between once and a dozen times.
We meet Polly in her family home, Jerinja (which plays more than a passing role in this story), a strong, but also clearly broken woman. She is surrounded by an interesting group of found family and her daughter, all of whom you begin to understand more as the book progresses. She is a piano tuner by trade, called upon to tune pianos in the Sydney Opera house, but also a local tuner and an artist with old pianos, changing their tuning and putting them in interesting or wild locations. She also has a piano that she has strung up in a tree and shoots at, with accuracy, to change the tuning, when she needs that outlet.
Toks is an internationally renowned conductor, she has become the principal conductor at several orchestras and moves around the world, conducting short stints for orchestras everywhere. She is an arrogant, self-assured, musical genius. And it turns out she was a child immigrant to Australia, escaping civil war, and became best friends with Polly at 7 and their relationship progressed from there…until it didn’t.
Now we’re 16 years after their young love relationship, uhh, met a tragic end, and Toks has just taken a principal role at the Sydney orchestra. Stars are aligning, conversations are had, old wounds are reopened, but what will be the outcome? I’m certainly not going to tell you, because you should have that ride be unspoiled for you….but if you have read Jo Haven’s other books, then you know to expect interesting characters, rich depth and subplots, angst, traumas revisited, and hope for a better future. The journey is great, although I did want to bash the protags heads together several times as they just refused to talk to one another about what happened 16 years ago….but even I (a hater of miscommunication as a plot device) will admit that the build up in tension was sublime, as the reader doesn’t get the full story until near the end of the book.
One thing to acknowledge is that there is trauma that happened off page a long time ago. You should look at the trigger warnings on Jo Haven’s webpage if that is best for you - https://johavens.com/piano/.
I received an advance review copy for free from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We meet Polly in her family home, Jerinja (which plays more than a passing role in this story), a strong, but also clearly broken woman. She is surrounded by an interesting group of found family and her daughter, all of whom you begin to understand more as the book progresses. She is a piano tuner by trade, called upon to tune pianos in the Sydney Opera house, but also a local tuner and an artist with old pianos, changing their tuning and putting them in interesting or wild locations. She also has a piano that she has strung up in a tree and shoots at, with accuracy, to change the tuning, when she needs that outlet.
Toks is an internationally renowned conductor, she has become the principal conductor at several orchestras and moves around the world, conducting short stints for orchestras everywhere. She is an arrogant, self-assured, musical genius. And it turns out she was a child immigrant to Australia, escaping civil war, and became best friends with Polly at 7 and their relationship progressed from there…until it didn’t.
Now we’re 16 years after their young love relationship, uhh, met a tragic end, and Toks has just taken a principal role at the Sydney orchestra. Stars are aligning, conversations are had, old wounds are reopened, but what will be the outcome? I’m certainly not going to tell you, because you should have that ride be unspoiled for you….but if you have read Jo Haven’s other books, then you know to expect interesting characters, rich depth and subplots, angst, traumas revisited, and hope for a better future. The journey is great, although I did want to bash the protags heads together several times as they just refused to talk to one another about what happened 16 years ago….but even I (a hater of miscommunication as a plot device) will admit that the build up in tension was sublime, as the reader doesn’t get the full story until near the end of the book.
One thing to acknowledge is that there is trauma that happened off page a long time ago. You should look at the trigger warnings on Jo Haven’s webpage if that is best for you - https://johavens.com/piano/.
I received an advance review copy for free from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 19, 2024
‘The Piano In The Tree’ is the second chance romance story of Polly and Toks, who, after a 16 year separation are reunited and struggle to come to terms with the residual emotional and physical trauma that caused the separation. Having been lovers, in rural Australia, Toks sets off to pursue her career in Europe while Polly finishes studying, and they agree to meet in Berlin and start their life together pursuing their dreams. Unfortunately, Polly does not turn up. A heart broken Toks, finding her attempts at contact ignored, spends the following 16 years building her career as a world-renowned Maestro. Although heartbroken, her pride gets in the way of finding the reasons why Polly rejected her, with only a vague mention from her mother of Polly being involved in an accident and a pregnancy.
Polly, damaged and scarred from the incident, while raising her child Tilda, has spent the same 16 years recovering with the safety of a world that loves and supports her, surrounding herself with friends who become family by choice. As the story unfolds we see glimpses into the past however the specifics surrounding the incident that damaged her are not revealed until the end.
Toks finds her career taking her back to Australia for a 2-year stint, and becomes reunited with Polly. What ensues is a delicate and poignant dance towards reunion that is filled with trepidation as they try to heal the wounds of time and learn to trust each other again. Eventually, the full details of the incident that separated them come to light, causing Polly to relive a nightmare and Toks to face her role in it.
Our Author, Jo Havens, has written a beautifully complex story of love and honesty. Her writing is delightfully descriptive, enticing the reader to actually taste the salt in the air and feel the storm raindrops as they kiss the skin. In the same way, the reader is immersed in a world where music is as essential to life as the air we breathe, and where the people that we surround ourselves with have the ability to heal us through the toughest of times.
The MC’s Polly & Toks, and all the support characters are intricately woven into a story that is multifaceted and consistent, with a depth that affords the plot credibility. There is no redundancy, every character and every subplot matter to the story.
Once again, Jo Havens has proven herself to be a very gifted author, capable of immersing the reader in a world that is authentic and engaging.
A thoroughly enjoyable 5 star read!
Polly, damaged and scarred from the incident, while raising her child Tilda, has spent the same 16 years recovering with the safety of a world that loves and supports her, surrounding herself with friends who become family by choice. As the story unfolds we see glimpses into the past however the specifics surrounding the incident that damaged her are not revealed until the end.
Toks finds her career taking her back to Australia for a 2-year stint, and becomes reunited with Polly. What ensues is a delicate and poignant dance towards reunion that is filled with trepidation as they try to heal the wounds of time and learn to trust each other again. Eventually, the full details of the incident that separated them come to light, causing Polly to relive a nightmare and Toks to face her role in it.
Our Author, Jo Havens, has written a beautifully complex story of love and honesty. Her writing is delightfully descriptive, enticing the reader to actually taste the salt in the air and feel the storm raindrops as they kiss the skin. In the same way, the reader is immersed in a world where music is as essential to life as the air we breathe, and where the people that we surround ourselves with have the ability to heal us through the toughest of times.
The MC’s Polly & Toks, and all the support characters are intricately woven into a story that is multifaceted and consistent, with a depth that affords the plot credibility. There is no redundancy, every character and every subplot matter to the story.
Once again, Jo Havens has proven herself to be a very gifted author, capable of immersing the reader in a world that is authentic and engaging.
A thoroughly enjoyable 5 star read!
May 27, 2024
This book is a long and convoluted (and messy) journey to healing oneself through forgiveness, reliving past traumas, and reconnecting with past lovers.
This book is about the power of music to create connections, to heal, to trigger memories - good and bad - and to overturn one's fate.
Two former lovers who were deeply hurt by each other in the past meet again and discover their larger-than-life love story is still possible if they manage to find forgiveness. Each of them has her own misgivings and her own demons, but one is trying to find a way back from her private PTSD hell while the other is trying to understand what she's missing.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I'd like to point out a few things that, for me, make this book worthy of 5 stars.
First of all, the writing. OMG, that Jo Havens knows how to write! She built a world around her MCs with so much attention to detail and so much accuracy. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could see and hear and smell the places, the people, the setting around them.
Second, the story. Havens does not take pity on her readers in this book. She brings to the forefront of the story raw emotions without filters. The full story behind the PTSD is measured out, a little at a time, getting worse the more we hear about it. The emotions are there from the very beginning, and they sweep the readers and drown them in misery, longing, and regret. And you can't help feeling all of it because the MCs feel it, and it is impossible not to empathise. Absolutely impossible.
And third, the music. I wish there was a playlist attached to this book. Though I doubt it would have been enough. After all, much of the music is created by the traumatised MC in fantastic ways that I doubt can be recreated in real life. This book is governed by music. The music triggers PTSD episodes, but it also provides a path of healing. The music is the basis for one MC's success and another's trauma. The music is everything they had together, all the differences, the distance, the regrets... but it is also salvation, hope, and a balm on their wounds. I cannot stress enough how important a role the music has in this book and how palpable it becomes with Jo Havens' words. She makes delicious magic with it. And it touched the very bottom of my soul.
T&T:
Tropes: second chance, childhood sweetheart, hurt/comfort, butch/femme, single mom, found family, music as a main theme, music as a healing power
Triggers: civil war, hostage situation, sexual violence (off-page), gun violence, PTSD, torture (off-page)
Rating: 5 stars
This book is about the power of music to create connections, to heal, to trigger memories - good and bad - and to overturn one's fate.
Two former lovers who were deeply hurt by each other in the past meet again and discover their larger-than-life love story is still possible if they manage to find forgiveness. Each of them has her own misgivings and her own demons, but one is trying to find a way back from her private PTSD hell while the other is trying to understand what she's missing.
I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I'd like to point out a few things that, for me, make this book worthy of 5 stars.
First of all, the writing. OMG, that Jo Havens knows how to write! She built a world around her MCs with so much attention to detail and so much accuracy. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could see and hear and smell the places, the people, the setting around them.
Second, the story. Havens does not take pity on her readers in this book. She brings to the forefront of the story raw emotions without filters. The full story behind the PTSD is measured out, a little at a time, getting worse the more we hear about it. The emotions are there from the very beginning, and they sweep the readers and drown them in misery, longing, and regret. And you can't help feeling all of it because the MCs feel it, and it is impossible not to empathise. Absolutely impossible.
And third, the music. I wish there was a playlist attached to this book. Though I doubt it would have been enough. After all, much of the music is created by the traumatised MC in fantastic ways that I doubt can be recreated in real life. This book is governed by music. The music triggers PTSD episodes, but it also provides a path of healing. The music is the basis for one MC's success and another's trauma. The music is everything they had together, all the differences, the distance, the regrets... but it is also salvation, hope, and a balm on their wounds. I cannot stress enough how important a role the music has in this book and how palpable it becomes with Jo Havens' words. She makes delicious magic with it. And it touched the very bottom of my soul.
T&T:
Tropes: second chance, childhood sweetheart, hurt/comfort, butch/femme, single mom, found family, music as a main theme, music as a healing power
Triggers: civil war, hostage situation, sexual violence (off-page), gun violence, PTSD, torture (off-page)
Rating: 5 stars
May 27, 2024
The Piano in the Tree is a contemporary, second-chance romance happening mainly in Australia. And I guarantee this book will break your heart with a desperate need for tissues.
Toks and her family had fled from the turmoil of their home country a long time ago to Australia. She falls in love with Polly from next door, and they promise a future with their successful musical careers and more importantly, being with each other. However, Polly does not appear at the train station in Berlin, breaking her promise to meet Toks there. Heartbroken, Toks immerses herself in the second thing she cares about the most, music, and sixteen years later, she returns to Australia as a renowned maestro. And Polly is still there, right next door to her childhood home. While still clueless and hurt at the fact that Polly did not come, Toks still feels a strong pull towards Polly. And Polly still loves her. But shards of the broken hopes and untold truths still haunt the two lovers. Would they be able to find each other in the end? The Piano in the Tree masterfully concludes the story of Toks and Polly with an unexpected twist that will break your heart.
Jo Havens has again created an emotional masterpiece where you can feel the drift of the wind, hear the sounds of the chords, and feel the emotions of the characters as if they were yours with eleven thousand words. While Toks was too blind to the world and immersed in her heartache, Polly had to fight her own demons and trauma for years. The element of miscommunication due to pain and fear is still there, but seeing the characters break out of their cages for the one they love will be something that will never be forgotten. This is a love story, but also about being brave for a second chance.
The Piano in the Tree was a mesmerizingly beautiful read with an edge of hauntedness, and it was hard to break free from the emotion caused by this masterpiece for a long time. I am so honored to be offered an ARC of The Piano in the Tree.
I was offered an ARC in advance for an honest review.
Toks and her family had fled from the turmoil of their home country a long time ago to Australia. She falls in love with Polly from next door, and they promise a future with their successful musical careers and more importantly, being with each other. However, Polly does not appear at the train station in Berlin, breaking her promise to meet Toks there. Heartbroken, Toks immerses herself in the second thing she cares about the most, music, and sixteen years later, she returns to Australia as a renowned maestro. And Polly is still there, right next door to her childhood home. While still clueless and hurt at the fact that Polly did not come, Toks still feels a strong pull towards Polly. And Polly still loves her. But shards of the broken hopes and untold truths still haunt the two lovers. Would they be able to find each other in the end? The Piano in the Tree masterfully concludes the story of Toks and Polly with an unexpected twist that will break your heart.
Jo Havens has again created an emotional masterpiece where you can feel the drift of the wind, hear the sounds of the chords, and feel the emotions of the characters as if they were yours with eleven thousand words. While Toks was too blind to the world and immersed in her heartache, Polly had to fight her own demons and trauma for years. The element of miscommunication due to pain and fear is still there, but seeing the characters break out of their cages for the one they love will be something that will never be forgotten. This is a love story, but also about being brave for a second chance.
The Piano in the Tree was a mesmerizingly beautiful read with an edge of hauntedness, and it was hard to break free from the emotion caused by this masterpiece for a long time. I am so honored to be offered an ARC of The Piano in the Tree.
I was offered an ARC in advance for an honest review.
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