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Love is a Curse: A mystery lying buried. A love story for the ages
'A modern Gothic novel unlike any other, about love and loss echoing through the ages. Sad, sweet, funny and hopeful' --- Emilia Hart (author of Weyward)
From acclaimed author Keith Stuart, author of A Boy Made of Blocks and The Frequency of Us, comes a daring and unique story of heartbreak and hope.
A single sentence was all it took to define Cammy's life. They came as her beloved artist aunt was dying, a teenage Cammy standing by her 'Did your mother ever tell you about the curse?'
Cammy is warned that the women in her family are destined always to lose the one they love. She thinks nothing of it - until the day when, in her late twenties, her new boyfriend is hit by a car. Convinced she is to blame, Cammy begins to investigate the one-hundred-and-fifty-year story of a family that is both ordinary and remarkable, tragic and beautiful.
But is the curse real, or is there an answer lurking in the letters, diaries and paintings of generations of women whose hearts were broken?
'An original yet entirely universal story - sweeping in its scale, yet sweet-tempered, moving, and just the right amount of spooky. I loved it' --- Samuel Burr (author of The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers)
'Love Is a Curse uses Gothic so cleverly. I binged the ending in one sitting and was absolutely gripped (and may have had a tear or two in my eye!)' --- Sarah Brooks (author of The Cautious Traveller's Guide to the Wasteland)
READERS ARE IN LOVE WITH LOVE IS A CURSE
'One minute I'm on the edge of my seat and the next I'm reaching for tissues. Love, love, LOVED IT!'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Full of twists and drama and all you need from a good book, a fantastic novel once again bravo!!!'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'This has to be my favourite of Keith Stuart's novels so far. It is an absolute celebration of the pursuit of love through adversity'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'This whole book is an entire feeling. It's raw, gothic, suspenseful, thought provoking and an emotional read. Loved it'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Stuart has a gift for storytelling. Not a word is wasted and it reads beautifully.'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'I loved this book. It had everything, suspense, horror, love. You name it this book had it!'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'What a fantastic read, everything you'd expect from Keith Stuart and more'
READER REVIEW
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
'Very well written, with great characters, in whom you become fully invested&
416 pages, Paperback
Published September 16, 2025
17 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Keith Stuart
17 books232 followersKeith Stuart is a veteran journalist who has been covering video games and digital culture for over 20 years. In 2015 he wrote his first novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. It has sold over 200,000 copies and is translated into 24 languages. His second novel, Days of Wonder, is available in paperback, audio and ebook, and his third, The Frequency of Us, was selected for BBC2's Between the Covers series and is available in hardback, ebook and audio. His latest, Love is a Curse is available now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
October 21, 2025
Wow I loved this! It made me cry a few times. I loved the mystery and finding more and more about Cammy’s heritage and lineage. I loved that it was set in the UK, in places that I know and can visualise
January 14, 2024
This book is the fourth I have read by Keith Stuart, all have been very well written, with great characters, in whom you become fully invested. While ‘A Boy Made of Blocks’ is very much set in the real world, the other books have a whiff of magic or the supernatural in them.
This book starts relatively normally. The main protagonist, Camille Piper, is told by her dying aunt on her death bed, that there is a curse on the women of her family, that if they fall in love, something terrible will happen. That’s okay, because Camille doesn’t get involved in relationships – until she does.
Lovely horticulturalist, Ben, is working near the run-down St Cyprian’s church that Camille inherited from her aunt. Camille is living there, and working as an artist – as her aunt had done. The two meet in the local pub, and start going out. But, before either of them really knows how they feel about each other, Ben has a terrible accident, and ends up in long-term rehab – his body and mind damaged. Camille is certain it is her – and the curse’s – fault.
She sets about trying to find more about her family history and the curse, in the hope that she can somehow break it, and be with Ben when he slowly recovers.
Camille is drawn to the dark side – as was her aunt. So, you have the impression that if anyone would believe in the curse, it would be Camille. At the start of the book, I was inclined to see her as rather superstitious silly woman, who would be forced to come to her senses. A case, maybe, of confirmation bias, where if you believe you are (un)lucky, then you will only remember the (un)lucky things that happen, and disregard the rest as irrelevant. But one discovery after another supports the existence of the curse, and before you know it, you are in the middle of an eerie ghost story. The book goes back and forth through the centuries as yet another Piper woman falls to the curse. Throughout all is the menacing St Cyprian’s, which all the locals believe is haunted. Then near the end, an almighty storm – what more could a ghost story need?
The book takes a while to take off, but the pace increases until we are at breakneck speed. Can Camille break the curse? Can true love finally prevail?
A final – major – twist at the end. Definitely recommended.
This book starts relatively normally. The main protagonist, Camille Piper, is told by her dying aunt on her death bed, that there is a curse on the women of her family, that if they fall in love, something terrible will happen. That’s okay, because Camille doesn’t get involved in relationships – until she does.
Lovely horticulturalist, Ben, is working near the run-down St Cyprian’s church that Camille inherited from her aunt. Camille is living there, and working as an artist – as her aunt had done. The two meet in the local pub, and start going out. But, before either of them really knows how they feel about each other, Ben has a terrible accident, and ends up in long-term rehab – his body and mind damaged. Camille is certain it is her – and the curse’s – fault.
She sets about trying to find more about her family history and the curse, in the hope that she can somehow break it, and be with Ben when he slowly recovers.
Camille is drawn to the dark side – as was her aunt. So, you have the impression that if anyone would believe in the curse, it would be Camille. At the start of the book, I was inclined to see her as rather superstitious silly woman, who would be forced to come to her senses. A case, maybe, of confirmation bias, where if you believe you are (un)lucky, then you will only remember the (un)lucky things that happen, and disregard the rest as irrelevant. But one discovery after another supports the existence of the curse, and before you know it, you are in the middle of an eerie ghost story. The book goes back and forth through the centuries as yet another Piper woman falls to the curse. Throughout all is the menacing St Cyprian’s, which all the locals believe is haunted. Then near the end, an almighty storm – what more could a ghost story need?
The book takes a while to take off, but the pace increases until we are at breakneck speed. Can Camille break the curse? Can true love finally prevail?
A final – major – twist at the end. Definitely recommended.
February 13, 2024
I thank NetGalley and Little Brown Group UK for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review.
This is the fourth novel by Keith Stuart I have read, and I’ve enjoyed them all. This one follows more in the steps of The Frequency of Us (his third novel) perhaps, than A Boy Made of Blocks, but it shows the same affinity for its characters, non-judgemental attitude, and glass-half-full perspective of life which I’ve come to expect and love.
The story starts with a prologue, set in 1892 in Batheaston, a village near Bath, where we meet a woman called Camille, in pretty mysterious circumstances, and the whole episode (which I cannot discuss in detail) has a clear Gothic feel. Then the story moves to the present time of the story (pretty contemporary, although not specified), and we meet another Camille. Everybody calls her Cammy, and she becomes our first-person narrator. And she has quite a story to tell. It seems there is a course going back four generations affecting the women in her family. If they fall in love, things will go wrong. Although not everybody believes in the curse, Cammy takes it to heart, and it seems to fit in with her outlook on life. When her aunt dies and leaves her the old church where she used to live as an inheritance, Cammy becomes more and more convinced the curse is true. Then, things start looking up, only for something terrible to happen that makes her reconsider everything. She starts digging into the story of the female line of her family, and her findings are anything but reassuring. Is it all just a case of confirmation bias, or there is something to the story?
Of course, I am not going to reveal anything that has not already been hinted at in the description, but this is a gripping story, and I became enwrapped in it. The pace isn’t always fast, as tends to be the case when somebody is investigating a long-buried mystery because there is much through and fro —one step forward and one step back— involved, and the difficulties increase the further back she tries to go. Still, I enjoyed the way the story is told, with its mix of memories, letters, diaries, newspaper articles, personal accounts... The narrative jumps about a fair bit, because there is much ground to cover, and there are different versions of events, but I didn’t find it confusing. The way the main protagonist keeps hesitating, changing her opinion, and being put to the test feels quite realistic, and despite the supernatural elements suffusing the story, it does manage to create credible characters whose behaviours and reactions feel true and understandable.
The writing is compelling, with beautiful descriptions of the church, the woods, the landscape, the jewellery (Cammy designs jewels), and the artworks (her aunt, Lorna, was an artist), which I enjoyed and I did not feel it detracted from the story, rather the opposite. The atmosphere of the narrative is fundamental, and though engaging, this is not a story that goes at a breakneck pace, but one that builds up slowly. But don’t get too comfortable, because the tension keeps ramping up as we get closer to the ending (which is very good).
Is this a totally realistic story? No. Does it require suspension of disbelief? Of course. That is the nature of the beast. The writing is compelling and the story manages to combine classic with modern elements and make them work. And it is beautifully constructed and written.
Some of the author's followers were not too impressed with this novel, as it is quite different from the others, especially his first one, but I think this is a case of unfulfilled expectations. I am happy that he keeps exploring and finding new stories to tell. And, anybody who hasn’t read any of his previous work doesn’t need to worry, as each novel is completely separate, independent, and quite different from the rest. I look forward to Stuart’s future writing.
Oh, and for those who love music, there is a playlist to go with the story. The link is at the end of the book.
This is the fourth novel by Keith Stuart I have read, and I’ve enjoyed them all. This one follows more in the steps of The Frequency of Us (his third novel) perhaps, than A Boy Made of Blocks, but it shows the same affinity for its characters, non-judgemental attitude, and glass-half-full perspective of life which I’ve come to expect and love.
The story starts with a prologue, set in 1892 in Batheaston, a village near Bath, where we meet a woman called Camille, in pretty mysterious circumstances, and the whole episode (which I cannot discuss in detail) has a clear Gothic feel. Then the story moves to the present time of the story (pretty contemporary, although not specified), and we meet another Camille. Everybody calls her Cammy, and she becomes our first-person narrator. And she has quite a story to tell. It seems there is a course going back four generations affecting the women in her family. If they fall in love, things will go wrong. Although not everybody believes in the curse, Cammy takes it to heart, and it seems to fit in with her outlook on life. When her aunt dies and leaves her the old church where she used to live as an inheritance, Cammy becomes more and more convinced the curse is true. Then, things start looking up, only for something terrible to happen that makes her reconsider everything. She starts digging into the story of the female line of her family, and her findings are anything but reassuring. Is it all just a case of confirmation bias, or there is something to the story?
Of course, I am not going to reveal anything that has not already been hinted at in the description, but this is a gripping story, and I became enwrapped in it. The pace isn’t always fast, as tends to be the case when somebody is investigating a long-buried mystery because there is much through and fro —one step forward and one step back— involved, and the difficulties increase the further back she tries to go. Still, I enjoyed the way the story is told, with its mix of memories, letters, diaries, newspaper articles, personal accounts... The narrative jumps about a fair bit, because there is much ground to cover, and there are different versions of events, but I didn’t find it confusing. The way the main protagonist keeps hesitating, changing her opinion, and being put to the test feels quite realistic, and despite the supernatural elements suffusing the story, it does manage to create credible characters whose behaviours and reactions feel true and understandable.
The writing is compelling, with beautiful descriptions of the church, the woods, the landscape, the jewellery (Cammy designs jewels), and the artworks (her aunt, Lorna, was an artist), which I enjoyed and I did not feel it detracted from the story, rather the opposite. The atmosphere of the narrative is fundamental, and though engaging, this is not a story that goes at a breakneck pace, but one that builds up slowly. But don’t get too comfortable, because the tension keeps ramping up as we get closer to the ending (which is very good).
Is this a totally realistic story? No. Does it require suspension of disbelief? Of course. That is the nature of the beast. The writing is compelling and the story manages to combine classic with modern elements and make them work. And it is beautifully constructed and written.
Some of the author's followers were not too impressed with this novel, as it is quite different from the others, especially his first one, but I think this is a case of unfulfilled expectations. I am happy that he keeps exploring and finding new stories to tell. And, anybody who hasn’t read any of his previous work doesn’t need to worry, as each novel is completely separate, independent, and quite different from the rest. I look forward to Stuart’s future writing.
Oh, and for those who love music, there is a playlist to go with the story. The link is at the end of the book.
March 29, 2024
I’ve really enjoyed this author’s previous work but I’m not sure if this one was really for me. I enjoyed the storytelling and the characters but the main plot arc was a little bit frustrating. It’s hard to explain without spoilers but I was a little disappointed with the supernatural aspect. Everything else was great, the author writes emotional stories really well and I love peeling back the layers.
May 2, 2024
This is Keith Stuart’s fourth novel novel and while they are all very different, what they all highlight is how good a storyteller he is. I don’t generally read historical fiction and have no interest in gothic so I read this purely on the grounds that it was by Keith Stuart. As it turns out, I really enjoyed the historical elements. As Cammy researches her family history, there are several stories from the different generations and different versions of the same story. While it sounds like it could be confusing but I didn’t find that at all and I take my hat off to the author for that. Great storytelling and a really interesting cast of characters make this a joy to read.
July 28, 2024
There is a family curse upon Cammie and the women in her family… they cannot know love without pain or death.
A wonderful family saga full of strong female characters, twists, turns and secrets set over 250 years.
A wonderful family saga full of strong female characters, twists, turns and secrets set over 250 years.
September 7, 2024
I don’t usually go for books with a supernatural element but was drawn in by the good reviews. I found this rather boring with too many characters to follow and the ending was pretty…blah…
June 20, 2024
4.5 (RTC)
📚Book Review📚
#adprproduct
I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
💒Family
💫Magical Realism
💞Relationships
🤫Secrets
I find Keith Stuart's books so moreish! I'm often lost in his beautiful prose and unique concepts; this book was no exception. It's filled with family lineage, curses and twisted secrets guaranteed to shock.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
📚Book Review📚
#adprproduct
I want to thank NetGalley for approving me for an ARC of this book.
💒Family
💫Magical Realism
💞Relationships
🤫Secrets
I find Keith Stuart's books so moreish! I'm often lost in his beautiful prose and unique concepts; this book was no exception. It's filled with family lineage, curses and twisted secrets guaranteed to shock.
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
May 19, 2024
Having read, and enjoyed, A Boy Made of Blocks and The Frequency of Us, I was very excited to read this book. Whilst I enjoyed it immensely, this was nothilike either. It is a story tracked through several generations of a family – full of murder intrigued, and some spooky goings on – but is everything as it seems?
When Cammy’s Aunt Lorna dies she tells Cammy about the curse on the members of the family and warns her not to fall in love. She then leaves her the old gothic church that Aunt Lorna lived and where she worked in on her art. When Cammy meets Ben she hopes the curse isn’t real, however when Ben is involved in a serious car accident Cammy is determined to find out more.
This was nothing like the previous books I have read by Keith Stuart, but really very enjoyable and well written.
When Cammy’s Aunt Lorna dies she tells Cammy about the curse on the members of the family and warns her not to fall in love. She then leaves her the old gothic church that Aunt Lorna lived and where she worked in on her art. When Cammy meets Ben she hopes the curse isn’t real, however when Ben is involved in a serious car accident Cammy is determined to find out more.
This was nothing like the previous books I have read by Keith Stuart, but really very enjoyable and well written.
January 21, 2024
Another wonderful read by Keith Stuart. I’ve really enjoyed his books and Love is a Curse is possibly my favourite. I loved the two different time lines. They added to the mystery of the curse. Beautifully written I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and share this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and share this book.
May 31, 2024
A 3.5 stars from me. I was routing for the protagonist throughout, but the story was complicated, and I lost the thread at times.
June 26, 2024
Excellent book, but a few bits jarred with me, she settled into the church too quickly!
April 10, 2024
I loved this author's previous books so I was very excited to get my hands on this, his latest. Even without reading the blurb, which I maybe should have done as this book is a bit of a diversion from what has gone before. But I needn't have worried as I blooming loved it just as much...
So, as I started this book, as the main character Cammy was told that there was a family curse in which the women of the family are destined to lose the one they love, I started to worry that it was going to be going down the Practical Magic route... Which, incidentally is a series that I also absolutely love... But, there the similarity ended... What I then went on to get was a delightfully spooky Gothic tale spanning the generations as Cammy, after suffering her own issues with boyfriend Ben's accident, sets out to discover more about her family history, as she believes that maybe she could be the one to break the curse...
Oh My Days! What a cracking book this turned out to be. It had all the things that are necessary for a Gothic novel. Set mostly in an old converted church, with a main character who is and has always been drawn to the darker side of life. Throw in a bunch of family secrets, both past and present, light the blue touchpaper, and away you go...
As with all his previous books, the characters contained herein are superb. Well described and all play their parts perfectly. Both the present day ones and the ones in the past, the getting to know part being done through magazine articles, letters, old journals, that kind of thing. All very effective ways of getting the necessary information into the readers' hands. With the story spanning some 150 years, each era has been meticulously recreated and all felt so very very real.
And the ending, when it came, when the whole truth was all eventually laid bare... WOW! Never saw that coming. But it was perfect, and I loved it.
All in all, a cracking book from an author I already love. And with the genre switch this time, I really can't wait to see what he delivers me for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, as I started this book, as the main character Cammy was told that there was a family curse in which the women of the family are destined to lose the one they love, I started to worry that it was going to be going down the Practical Magic route... Which, incidentally is a series that I also absolutely love... But, there the similarity ended... What I then went on to get was a delightfully spooky Gothic tale spanning the generations as Cammy, after suffering her own issues with boyfriend Ben's accident, sets out to discover more about her family history, as she believes that maybe she could be the one to break the curse...
Oh My Days! What a cracking book this turned out to be. It had all the things that are necessary for a Gothic novel. Set mostly in an old converted church, with a main character who is and has always been drawn to the darker side of life. Throw in a bunch of family secrets, both past and present, light the blue touchpaper, and away you go...
As with all his previous books, the characters contained herein are superb. Well described and all play their parts perfectly. Both the present day ones and the ones in the past, the getting to know part being done through magazine articles, letters, old journals, that kind of thing. All very effective ways of getting the necessary information into the readers' hands. With the story spanning some 150 years, each era has been meticulously recreated and all felt so very very real.
And the ending, when it came, when the whole truth was all eventually laid bare... WOW! Never saw that coming. But it was perfect, and I loved it.
All in all, a cracking book from an author I already love. And with the genre switch this time, I really can't wait to see what he delivers me for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
February 1, 2024
Love is a Curse took me on a journey through a family's history, blending the ordinary with the supernatural. This isn't my preferred genre as I don't enjoy reading anything about the supernatural or paranormal but I have read other books by this author and enjoyed his unique style so much that when offered an ARC by the publisher on Netgalley, I decided to give this a go.
The story unfolds as Cammy, haunted by the warning of a family curse that dictates the tragic fate of the women in her lineage, delves into her family's past. I really enjoyed the way the narrative weaves between the present and the past, incorporating elements of letters, diaries, manuscripts, and newspaper articles. This approach introduced me to the intricate lives of the women who came before Cammy, each who faced unique struggles with love and loss.
As with all of the books so far by this author, the novel is loaded with emotional depth and the characters feel very real. For example as Cammy embarks on her quest for understanding, the novel journeys through a poignant exploration of love's complexities and the impact of a perceived curse on generations of women.
The evocative setting of a converted church, surrounded by an ancient graveyard and ominous woods created a vivid backdrop which added to the atmospheric tension and (unfortunately for me) enhanced the overall supernatural vibe of this novel (and freaked me right out).
Personally I would have enjoyed it more without the supernatural elements which is why I gave this only three stars but this says more about me as a reader because I am not able to rate the quality of the narrative related to the supernatural elements. However, it is clear that Keith Stuart's writing skills are multifaceted.
Overall, this is an emotional and engaging story that seamlessly blends supernatural elements with a family's historical exploration.
The story unfolds as Cammy, haunted by the warning of a family curse that dictates the tragic fate of the women in her lineage, delves into her family's past. I really enjoyed the way the narrative weaves between the present and the past, incorporating elements of letters, diaries, manuscripts, and newspaper articles. This approach introduced me to the intricate lives of the women who came before Cammy, each who faced unique struggles with love and loss.
As with all of the books so far by this author, the novel is loaded with emotional depth and the characters feel very real. For example as Cammy embarks on her quest for understanding, the novel journeys through a poignant exploration of love's complexities and the impact of a perceived curse on generations of women.
The evocative setting of a converted church, surrounded by an ancient graveyard and ominous woods created a vivid backdrop which added to the atmospheric tension and (unfortunately for me) enhanced the overall supernatural vibe of this novel (and freaked me right out).
Personally I would have enjoyed it more without the supernatural elements which is why I gave this only three stars but this says more about me as a reader because I am not able to rate the quality of the narrative related to the supernatural elements. However, it is clear that Keith Stuart's writing skills are multifaceted.
Overall, this is an emotional and engaging story that seamlessly blends supernatural elements with a family's historical exploration.
February 11, 2024
Love is a Curse by Keith Stuart is an intriguing story about love and loss, heartbreak and hope.
Cammy first learns of the curse on her family when her beloved aunt mentions it on her deathbed, but her mother dismisses it as nonsense. Supposedly the women in the family are cursed to lose those they fall in love with, but to teenage Cammy this seems more than a little ridiculous. It is not until years later when her boyfriend is severely injured by being hit by a car that she begins to wonder more about the curse and where it came from. As she digs into her family history she uncovers a story that is a hundred and fifty years in the making and will reveal the truth behind the tragedies that have befallen the generations of women before her.
This is a very different type of story from Keith Stuart with darker and more gothic vibes than his previous books, not that that is something I am complaining about, in fact I quite enjoyed how atmospheric the book was with its creepy setting in an former church and the bohemian and striking characters, especially Cammy. I admire his skill in creating a story that unfolded slowly yet still held my attention as a reader and I was impressed that he managed to create an ending that worked so well in the context of the story. I also want to give praise for his handling of the recovery process following serious injury, the fear and frustration of Ben, Cammy's boyfriend as he embarked on a long rehabilitation process was brought vividly to life on the page, as was Cammy's guilt and her fear of losing him.
This is a book that will appeal to many readers and I have no doubt that it will be another success for Keith Stuart.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
Cammy first learns of the curse on her family when her beloved aunt mentions it on her deathbed, but her mother dismisses it as nonsense. Supposedly the women in the family are cursed to lose those they fall in love with, but to teenage Cammy this seems more than a little ridiculous. It is not until years later when her boyfriend is severely injured by being hit by a car that she begins to wonder more about the curse and where it came from. As she digs into her family history she uncovers a story that is a hundred and fifty years in the making and will reveal the truth behind the tragedies that have befallen the generations of women before her.
This is a very different type of story from Keith Stuart with darker and more gothic vibes than his previous books, not that that is something I am complaining about, in fact I quite enjoyed how atmospheric the book was with its creepy setting in an former church and the bohemian and striking characters, especially Cammy. I admire his skill in creating a story that unfolded slowly yet still held my attention as a reader and I was impressed that he managed to create an ending that worked so well in the context of the story. I also want to give praise for his handling of the recovery process following serious injury, the fear and frustration of Ben, Cammy's boyfriend as he embarked on a long rehabilitation process was brought vividly to life on the page, as was Cammy's guilt and her fear of losing him.
This is a book that will appeal to many readers and I have no doubt that it will be another success for Keith Stuart.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
April 25, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
A single sentence was all it took to define Cammy's life. It came as her beloved aunt was dying, a teenage Cammy standing by her "Did your mother ever tell you about the curse?" Cammy is warned that the women in her family are destined to always lose the one they love. She thinks nothing of it - until the day when, in her late twenties, her new boyfriend is hit by a car. Convinced she's to blame, Cammy begins to investigate the one hundred and fifty year story of a family that is both ordinary and remarkable, tragic and beautiful. But the curse is real, or is there an answer lurking in the lettere, diaries, and paintings of generations of women whose hearts were broken.
Camile (Cammy) Piper is told by her dying aunt that there is a curse on the women of the family, and when they fall in live, somrthing bad will happen. Horticulturalist, Ben, is working near the St. Cyprians church taht Cammy inherited from her aunt. The two meet in a local pub and start seeing each other. Then Ben is hurt in a terrible accident. Cammy is convinced it's the family curse and sets out to find out her family history and the curse.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the authors previous books, but this book is a bit different. I think it was the suoernatural parts that let this story down. We learn of four generations of women from the same family. This is a very different story, with gothic vibes, than the other books written by Keith Stuart. The characters were interesting. There were parts that were tense. I did enjoy this book, just not as much as the others.
Published 25th April
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroup and the author #KeithStuart for my ARC of #LoveIsACurse in excahnge for an honest review.
A single sentence was all it took to define Cammy's life. It came as her beloved aunt was dying, a teenage Cammy standing by her "Did your mother ever tell you about the curse?" Cammy is warned that the women in her family are destined to always lose the one they love. She thinks nothing of it - until the day when, in her late twenties, her new boyfriend is hit by a car. Convinced she's to blame, Cammy begins to investigate the one hundred and fifty year story of a family that is both ordinary and remarkable, tragic and beautiful. But the curse is real, or is there an answer lurking in the lettere, diaries, and paintings of generations of women whose hearts were broken.
Camile (Cammy) Piper is told by her dying aunt that there is a curse on the women of the family, and when they fall in live, somrthing bad will happen. Horticulturalist, Ben, is working near the St. Cyprians church taht Cammy inherited from her aunt. The two meet in a local pub and start seeing each other. Then Ben is hurt in a terrible accident. Cammy is convinced it's the family curse and sets out to find out her family history and the curse.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the authors previous books, but this book is a bit different. I think it was the suoernatural parts that let this story down. We learn of four generations of women from the same family. This is a very different story, with gothic vibes, than the other books written by Keith Stuart. The characters were interesting. There were parts that were tense. I did enjoy this book, just not as much as the others.
Published 25th April
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroup and the author #KeithStuart for my ARC of #LoveIsACurse in excahnge for an honest review.
January 14, 2024
Cammy is 15 when she attends the deathbed of her Aunt Lorna and learns about the family curse that has blighted the women of her family for generations: that no woman in the family will have lasting love. In the years that follow, Cammy diligently avoids falling in love until a chance meeting puts her in the way of Ben. Now Cammy has a dilemma - follow her heart or follow the curse?
This is a multigenerational novel that covers four different generations of the same family. As Cammy traces her family tree we learn about the roots of the curse and other big family secrets that will have a huge impact on everyone.
I liked this story but there were some elements that I found a bit frustrating. I liked the multigenerational aspect, I liked the ghost story aspect and I liked the tension built around the ghost story. What I was less keen on was the aspects of the story written from her relatives point of view - whether it was in the form of a diary entry, published journal article or someone else's account of what happened. What bothered me about these was the overuse of reported speech that gave less of the feel of a journal or diary recount and more the feel of a flashback scene, which in my opinion would have been more effective.
The story ends where you think it will but the journey there is still an entertaining read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a multigenerational novel that covers four different generations of the same family. As Cammy traces her family tree we learn about the roots of the curse and other big family secrets that will have a huge impact on everyone.
I liked this story but there were some elements that I found a bit frustrating. I liked the multigenerational aspect, I liked the ghost story aspect and I liked the tension built around the ghost story. What I was less keen on was the aspects of the story written from her relatives point of view - whether it was in the form of a diary entry, published journal article or someone else's account of what happened. What bothered me about these was the overuse of reported speech that gave less of the feel of a journal or diary recount and more the feel of a flashback scene, which in my opinion would have been more effective.
The story ends where you think it will but the journey there is still an entertaining read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2024
A cracking creepy tale from the author!! I love his character creation and storytelling style, so was eager to pick this up and I've not been disappointed!!
Imagine finding out that you're cursed never to find happiness in love! That's the fate that Cammy finds herself facing as her Aunt tells her on her deathbed about the family curse - that she can't have love, to be independent and avoid falling in love! What would you make of it?! Cammy finds it all a bit silly, but is soon facing up to the reality when her boyfriend Ben is involved in an accident.... so it must be true!
This sets her on a journey of discovery looking into the family past and wondering what could have set this whole curse off, and for what reason the women of the family have all been jinxed in this way over the past 150 years.
We get to see old letters and read journals giving more information about the goings on in the past, and it was such a revelation to watch the action unfold. The story is told over many years and I loved delving into the different time periods with each family member. There's a real creepy feeling at times with how the action pans out, and I loved the gothic setting especially in the church that her Aunt left her.
The build up to the ending was perfectly crafted and I was sat in shock with the revelations!! A wonderful read that I highly recommend!!
Ooh and there's also a Spotify playlist!! Always a big plus for me so go check it out!!
Imagine finding out that you're cursed never to find happiness in love! That's the fate that Cammy finds herself facing as her Aunt tells her on her deathbed about the family curse - that she can't have love, to be independent and avoid falling in love! What would you make of it?! Cammy finds it all a bit silly, but is soon facing up to the reality when her boyfriend Ben is involved in an accident.... so it must be true!
This sets her on a journey of discovery looking into the family past and wondering what could have set this whole curse off, and for what reason the women of the family have all been jinxed in this way over the past 150 years.
We get to see old letters and read journals giving more information about the goings on in the past, and it was such a revelation to watch the action unfold. The story is told over many years and I loved delving into the different time periods with each family member. There's a real creepy feeling at times with how the action pans out, and I loved the gothic setting especially in the church that her Aunt left her.
The build up to the ending was perfectly crafted and I was sat in shock with the revelations!! A wonderful read that I highly recommend!!
Ooh and there's also a Spotify playlist!! Always a big plus for me so go check it out!!
March 1, 2025
I started reading this book at night. It may have been the surrounding darkness alone or the skill of the author that I felt like I was reading a horror novel. I don’t have much against the genre, but I would preferably not want to read it at night. I’ve read another book by the author that had no connection to this book before and might have expected something similar as I picked this up.
My expectations took a roller coaster ride as the story progressed. We have multiple generations in the tale. The curse is said to impact the women in the family and it is more of a danger to a romantic partner. This is something our central protagonist is worried about. She decides to dig into the past and figure out the actual curse itself and how the previous generations dealt with it.
It is only after the first half of the book and a little more passes that there’s a change in the narrative style. Reveals start to make their presence felt and I genuinely felt like the book turned on its head and transformed into something else altogether ( as compared to how it began). I liked the tone and direction of things. It was a very satisfying read once everything is said and done. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and those who like stories filled with family secrets.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
My expectations took a roller coaster ride as the story progressed. We have multiple generations in the tale. The curse is said to impact the women in the family and it is more of a danger to a romantic partner. This is something our central protagonist is worried about. She decides to dig into the past and figure out the actual curse itself and how the previous generations dealt with it.
It is only after the first half of the book and a little more passes that there’s a change in the narrative style. Reveals start to make their presence felt and I genuinely felt like the book turned on its head and transformed into something else altogether ( as compared to how it began). I liked the tone and direction of things. It was a very satisfying read once everything is said and done. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and those who like stories filled with family secrets.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
February 11, 2024
Having thoroughly enjoyed all of Keith Stuart's previous novels, I was really excited to get stuck into this one. It had many of the things that I enjoy about his work: it deals with the complexities of familial relationships and the characters must face challenging hurdles as they navigate life and finding their place in it. However, this book had quite a different feel to it and had an air of menace and creepiness
I am not usually a reader of ghost/ creepy stories but I tried to put that bias aside and enjoy the quality writing that I knew was guaranteed. It has taken me some time to sit down and write a review as I am a little conflicted in that, I love the author and how he writes but struggled to connect with this story and the central characters in it. I didn't find the warmth in the characters that I usually do; maybe the focus on the curse and supernatural elements distanced me from them as a reader. However this is a very personal response as the story is certainly well crafted and unfolds across several generations of women and I liked the way that we were able to see the background story develop and build over time and from different viewpoints.
I would recommend this book as it is well- structured but the themes just weren't for me. This would in no way prevent me rushing to read the next book by this author.
I am not usually a reader of ghost/ creepy stories but I tried to put that bias aside and enjoy the quality writing that I knew was guaranteed. It has taken me some time to sit down and write a review as I am a little conflicted in that, I love the author and how he writes but struggled to connect with this story and the central characters in it. I didn't find the warmth in the characters that I usually do; maybe the focus on the curse and supernatural elements distanced me from them as a reader. However this is a very personal response as the story is certainly well crafted and unfolds across several generations of women and I liked the way that we were able to see the background story develop and build over time and from different viewpoints.
I would recommend this book as it is well- structured but the themes just weren't for me. This would in no way prevent me rushing to read the next book by this author.
January 2, 2024
Having previously read The Frequency of Us by the same author, which I also very much enjoyed, I was happy to be offered an early copy of Love is a Curse by the publishers to review.
I thought the story had an intriguing premise and was pleased to find it proved a different read and it kept my attention all the way through. Cammi is told by her aunt, on her deathbed, about a curse on family's women, that means they can never have a loving relationship. She has always felt something oppressive and been attracted to horror and spiritual stories so Cammi does not find this so strange. Indeed she begins to explore her family history and finds indeed some odd events have taken place.
The story is set near Bath, in a village with an old church that belonged to Cammi's aunt and which she inherits. The setting is quite spooky and the author uses it well to build in tension to the story. I very much enjoyed the way the background from each generation is revealed, slowly allowing the reader more and more information.
Definitely not a traditional love story but with some moving and emotional scenes and many sinister and haunting elements and page turning quality to the writing. Recommended.
With thanks to Little Brown and Netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
I thought the story had an intriguing premise and was pleased to find it proved a different read and it kept my attention all the way through. Cammi is told by her aunt, on her deathbed, about a curse on family's women, that means they can never have a loving relationship. She has always felt something oppressive and been attracted to horror and spiritual stories so Cammi does not find this so strange. Indeed she begins to explore her family history and finds indeed some odd events have taken place.
The story is set near Bath, in a village with an old church that belonged to Cammi's aunt and which she inherits. The setting is quite spooky and the author uses it well to build in tension to the story. I very much enjoyed the way the background from each generation is revealed, slowly allowing the reader more and more information.
Definitely not a traditional love story but with some moving and emotional scenes and many sinister and haunting elements and page turning quality to the writing. Recommended.
With thanks to Little Brown and Netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
May 4, 2024
Camilla Piper has known for a long time that she is not destined to be happy in love. There's a curse on her family that runs down the female line and she takes it as confirmation when her boyfriend has a car crash and is seriously injured. It's only as she looks further into her family's history that she learns more about the origin of the curse and starts to wonder if it's not as clear cut as she first thought.
Love is a Curse is a gothic story both in setting and substance. Camilla lives in a converted church and this atmospheric setting plays its part extremely well in giving an impression of foreboding and long-held secrets. There's a sense throughout of something a little malevolent lurking for every female member of Camilla's lineage. This is not a dual timeline story but one which fills in the blanks from the past with letters, articles, diaries and the like, all punctuating the contemporary storyline in which Camilla must decide whether or not to risk her love for Ben. I liked this device which allowed the whole picture to present itself to Camilla and to the reader in a most interesting way.
This is a multi-layered and really involving novel, It has some unusual aspects that made it feel original, with kind of an ethereal edge to it. I haven't read any other books by Keith Stuart and I gather this one is a bit of a change of style for him. I found it well-written and intriguing, with a quick-witted and spirited narrator in Cammy, and a storyline that kept drawing me back in.
Love is a Curse is a gothic story both in setting and substance. Camilla lives in a converted church and this atmospheric setting plays its part extremely well in giving an impression of foreboding and long-held secrets. There's a sense throughout of something a little malevolent lurking for every female member of Camilla's lineage. This is not a dual timeline story but one which fills in the blanks from the past with letters, articles, diaries and the like, all punctuating the contemporary storyline in which Camilla must decide whether or not to risk her love for Ben. I liked this device which allowed the whole picture to present itself to Camilla and to the reader in a most interesting way.
This is a multi-layered and really involving novel, It has some unusual aspects that made it feel original, with kind of an ethereal edge to it. I haven't read any other books by Keith Stuart and I gather this one is a bit of a change of style for him. I found it well-written and intriguing, with a quick-witted and spirited narrator in Cammy, and a storyline that kept drawing me back in.
February 16, 2024
Well, what a fabulous read, I suspected it would be as this author never disappoints. Stuart has a gift for storytelling. Not a word is wasted and it reads beautifully.
Don't be fooled by the title - this is not a romance book, but it is a book about romantic love. It's also about parental love, sibling love, love through the ages, forbidden love, all kinds of love. Stories swirling within stories. There is also a healthy dose of the spooky & more than a nod to the era of Victorian seances & family curses - right up my street.
The characters are so fully formed, that they are still living in my imagination, which, for me, is what makes a great book. To make the reader care about the characters & what happens to them, believe in them & think about them outside of the covers is a gift. And Stuart most definitely has that gift.
Family secrets, whispers & half told tales are what may curse love. But love most definitely is a blessing if we let it in. Even the ending was utterly sublime. I loved it.
Don't be fooled by the title - this is not a romance book, but it is a book about romantic love. It's also about parental love, sibling love, love through the ages, forbidden love, all kinds of love. Stories swirling within stories. There is also a healthy dose of the spooky & more than a nod to the era of Victorian seances & family curses - right up my street.
The characters are so fully formed, that they are still living in my imagination, which, for me, is what makes a great book. To make the reader care about the characters & what happens to them, believe in them & think about them outside of the covers is a gift. And Stuart most definitely has that gift.
Family secrets, whispers & half told tales are what may curse love. But love most definitely is a blessing if we let it in. Even the ending was utterly sublime. I loved it.
June 13, 2024
I really enjoyed this family saga that spanned generations. It starts with Cammy who is told there is a family curse on the women in her family by her Aunt who is on her death bed. When Cammy meets Ben and he has a car accident she starts to think that the curse is true and decides to delve deep into her family history.. We get a detailed commentary on the women in the family and a lot of family secrets are revealed. Cammy has to come to terms with some revelations and she decides to live in her Aunts church which gives a gothic feel to the story . There are strains in her relationship with her sister, her mother and her boyfriend. It is a long story , some of it told in letter form , which I liked . There is such a build up to the end and it’s a brilliant ending , there is a storm and destruction , so action packed. It’s a brilliant family drama and a good love story . I would however found it helpful to have a family tree at the beginning, with the timelines. Well recommended.
November 3, 2025
Love is a Curse by Keith Stuart is a modern gothic tale that weaves together mystery, suspense, and a little romance in a hugely compelling way. I spent all day reading this book, and couldn't wait to finish it.
Cammy is warned by her dying aunt that she can never 'have what other people have' - that she won't ever be able to have a successful relationship due to a generational family curse. Cammy has always been close to her aunt, and as she moves through life she starts to look into the curse for herself.
There are some excellent twists and turns that I don't want to give away, but Stuart uses old articles, diaries, letters, and journals to make all the characters' stories feel real. The book explores different kinds of love, from family to romance. Each page is super engaging, and Stuart's storytelling will keep you hooked.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
Cammy is warned by her dying aunt that she can never 'have what other people have' - that she won't ever be able to have a successful relationship due to a generational family curse. Cammy has always been close to her aunt, and as she moves through life she starts to look into the curse for herself.
There are some excellent twists and turns that I don't want to give away, but Stuart uses old articles, diaries, letters, and journals to make all the characters' stories feel real. The book explores different kinds of love, from family to romance. Each page is super engaging, and Stuart's storytelling will keep you hooked.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for facilitating me with a review copy of this book at no cost and with no obligation. I reviewed this book voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.
January 24, 2024
I really enjoyed The Frequency of Us, so was happy to read this when asked by the publisher.
This took me a little longer to get into. It’s a modern day story with a gothic/spooky feel.
Cammy is warned about a curse on all the women in her family on her beloved aunt’s death bed, and told she will never be happy.
She moves into her aunt’s old home, a converted chapel complete with its own graveyard. Her aunt’s words linger in her mind and it looks like it might be true when her boyfriend Ben is involved in a serious, near fatal car accident.
A lot of this story is told in the form of diary entries and letters, and I think the author became a bit too reliant on this way of telling past stories. However I did find myself reading on as I wanted to find out what happened to Cammy and Ben.
Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read this story and to Netgalley. This is my unpaid review.
This took me a little longer to get into. It’s a modern day story with a gothic/spooky feel.
Cammy is warned about a curse on all the women in her family on her beloved aunt’s death bed, and told she will never be happy.
She moves into her aunt’s old home, a converted chapel complete with its own graveyard. Her aunt’s words linger in her mind and it looks like it might be true when her boyfriend Ben is involved in a serious, near fatal car accident.
A lot of this story is told in the form of diary entries and letters, and I think the author became a bit too reliant on this way of telling past stories. However I did find myself reading on as I wanted to find out what happened to Cammy and Ben.
Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to read this story and to Netgalley. This is my unpaid review.
March 26, 2024
Love Is a Curse is the fourth novel from Keith Stuart, who also wrote the wonderful A Boy Made of Blocks, Days of Wonder and The Frequency of Us.
This book is a very different read from his previous novels - a modern gothic tale which focuses on a years old curse, disclosed on the deathbed of a beloved Aunt. Cammy writes it off as nonsense but when things soon take a tragic turn, she starts to delve deeper and deeper into her family’s past, and uncovers a lot of secrets and lies - but can the curse really exist, and more importantly - can she risk it?
There are a few obvious twists along the way and some interesting back stories, although I, like some other reviewers found some of the timeslip segments took me out of the main story, leaving it feeling a little disjointed. I could also have done with a family tree or a glossary of characters as there are quite a few of them, though I realise this could be difficult without spoilers.
All in all, a different type of book from Keith, and I’m not sure it holds quite the poignancy of his other subjects which tend to focus on a much smaller ‘cast’, but it’s still sensitively done and should be appealing to a wider audience as the paranormal/spiritual element is kept in check and doesn’t take over the story. This becomes more evident as the investigation goes on, so don’t be put off by the blurb if you are not of a mystic persuasion! A It’s a great read, spanning the years and told from several different voices, through rediscovered letters and historical accounts.
If you enjoyed Weyward, or Fyneshade, or any gothic/modern day timeslip, you’ll probably enjoy this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
(to be released by Sphere on 25th April)
This book is a very different read from his previous novels - a modern gothic tale which focuses on a years old curse, disclosed on the deathbed of a beloved Aunt. Cammy writes it off as nonsense but when things soon take a tragic turn, she starts to delve deeper and deeper into her family’s past, and uncovers a lot of secrets and lies - but can the curse really exist, and more importantly - can she risk it?
There are a few obvious twists along the way and some interesting back stories, although I, like some other reviewers found some of the timeslip segments took me out of the main story, leaving it feeling a little disjointed. I could also have done with a family tree or a glossary of characters as there are quite a few of them, though I realise this could be difficult without spoilers.
All in all, a different type of book from Keith, and I’m not sure it holds quite the poignancy of his other subjects which tend to focus on a much smaller ‘cast’, but it’s still sensitively done and should be appealing to a wider audience as the paranormal/spiritual element is kept in check and doesn’t take over the story. This becomes more evident as the investigation goes on, so don’t be put off by the blurb if you are not of a mystic persuasion! A It’s a great read, spanning the years and told from several different voices, through rediscovered letters and historical accounts.
If you enjoyed Weyward, or Fyneshade, or any gothic/modern day timeslip, you’ll probably enjoy this.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
(to be released by Sphere on 25th April)
April 29, 2024
Thanks to @littlebrownbookgroup_uk for my copy of Love is a Curse by Keith Stuart.
I recently completed my first read from this writer, and I found it enjoyable, although the pacing was a bit slow for my liking. The plot revolves around Cammy, a woman who receives a caution from her Aunt regarding a family curse that has impacted the women in her lineage for many years. Intrigued, she embarks on a journey to uncover her family's history and gains insight into the intricate lives of her female ancestors. The book's narrative technique is captivating as it seamlessly transitions between the past and present using various forms of written communication such as letters, diaries, manuscripts, and newspaper clippings to narrate the tale. I particularly appreciated the exploration of each woman's challenges with matters of the heart and grief. The intertwining of past and present narratives through letters, diaries, and newspapers brought a smile to my face.
I recently completed my first read from this writer, and I found it enjoyable, although the pacing was a bit slow for my liking. The plot revolves around Cammy, a woman who receives a caution from her Aunt regarding a family curse that has impacted the women in her lineage for many years. Intrigued, she embarks on a journey to uncover her family's history and gains insight into the intricate lives of her female ancestors. The book's narrative technique is captivating as it seamlessly transitions between the past and present using various forms of written communication such as letters, diaries, manuscripts, and newspaper clippings to narrate the tale. I particularly appreciated the exploration of each woman's challenges with matters of the heart and grief. The intertwining of past and present narratives through letters, diaries, and newspapers brought a smile to my face.
April 29, 2024
I read and loved the authors previous novel so was excited to read Love is a Curse.
Cammy is fifteen when she learns about her family’s curse from her aunt Lorna, a famous artist and ten years later when she moves into the dilapidated Gothic church left to her in her aunt’s will she decides to investigate the truth behind the curse.
I love a multi generational family history and I enjoyed the spooky, atmospheric setting of the church, in an area I know well, a village outside of Bath. I did feel that the novel was fairly slow paced and in the first part I was keen for it to move on to the history of the women in Cammy’s family. I enjoyed these sections of the novel and felt that they flowed well alongside the present day narrative. The author writes beautifully and I loved the descriptions of the church and the characterisation of Lorna.
A well written novel that I became immersed in.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,
Cammy is fifteen when she learns about her family’s curse from her aunt Lorna, a famous artist and ten years later when she moves into the dilapidated Gothic church left to her in her aunt’s will she decides to investigate the truth behind the curse.
I love a multi generational family history and I enjoyed the spooky, atmospheric setting of the church, in an area I know well, a village outside of Bath. I did feel that the novel was fairly slow paced and in the first part I was keen for it to move on to the history of the women in Cammy’s family. I enjoyed these sections of the novel and felt that they flowed well alongside the present day narrative. The author writes beautifully and I loved the descriptions of the church and the characterisation of Lorna.
A well written novel that I became immersed in.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,
January 25, 2024
This is the 4th book by Keith Stuart I have read. Each one an original and unusual story. I loved the supernatural element to this story, I loved the mentions of The Cure and other goth music ( will be checking out the Spotify playlist) I loved each individual woman’s story and the only reason why it’s not 5 stars was I found it a little messy with the stories from the past, letters, manuscripts, journals and newspaper articles. Surely everything and every conversation wouldn’t be written down. Feel it would have worked better with each chapter in a different timescale rather than Cammy finding things out through research. But then how would Cammy find out things, I don’t know. Apart from that I enjoyed it, thank you Netgalley for giving me an early opportunity to read it and I look forward to his next book.
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