The Strawberry House

by Rachel Burton

Preorder a BRAND NEW utterly gorgeous historical novel from the BESTSELLING author of The Butterfly Garden

1938:

For Camilla Kerrigan, life at her family's Oxford manor is a delicate balancing act – between duty to her family and a yearning for something more. When her brother Anthony returns for the summer, bringing with him a new friend, Camilla recognises a kindred spirit. Like her, Henry is thoughtful, restless and uncertain of his future.

But the arrival of four strangers – among them a gifted artist determined to paint Camilla’s sister Mabel – soon shatters the fragile peace of the manor. In the shimmering heat, desires are stirred and one impulsive act will set in motion a tragedy that echoes for decades.

1952: Haunted by war and the memory of that long-ago summer, the last thing Henry wants is to return to Montagu Manor. But when a photograph arrives, showing the painting he thought destroyed – the portrait that ruined so many lives – he is drawn back into the past.

Now, Henry and Camilla must face the secrets that shaped them, and the love that refuses to fade.

Praise for Rachel

'Exquisite storytelling. Two timelines, two poignant love stories, one heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for many years is slowly revealed against the breathtaking backdrop of the butterfly garden. Loved it.' Elena Collins

'A fabulous dual timeline mystery with a tale of lost love and family ties. I was totally captivated and raced through to the end!' Clare Marchant

'A charming read, expertly plotted and beautifully researched. An intriguing dual time story, exquisitely told.' Jenni Keer

'Enticing and atmospheric... Packed with love and mystery that will keep you wanting more from the first page to the last' Lauren North

'A wonderful escape... I adored the characters, the headiness of their first loves, and vulnerabilities as they hoped for their own happily-ever-afters' Jenny Ashcroft

‘I was hooked on this book practically from the first paragraph.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Beautifully written, intriguing characters, lost loves, betrayal and lies. Fabulous and highly recommended.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Such a heartwarming story which I devoured in one sitting.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a brilliant book! I loved how it dipped through many histories and kept it flipping seamlessly through many peoples histories.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Beautifully written, I loved the unexpected twist at the end. A definite five stars from me.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘This novel really holds you fast, all the way to a lovely twist of an ending that warms the cockles of your heart. Just the ticket for the perfect escapist read.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2026

About the author

Rachel Burton is the bestselling author of historical timeslip novels and has previously written romantic comedies.

Rachel was born in Cambridge and grew up in a house full of books and records. She has read obsessively since she first realised those black squiggles on the pages that lined her parents’ bookshelves were actually words and it has gone down in family history that any time something interesting happened, she missed it because she had her nose in a book.
After reading for a degree in Classics and another in English Literature she accidentally fell into a career in law but her love of books prevailed as she realised that she wanted to slip into imaginary worlds of her own making. She eventually managed to write her first novel on her lunch breaks.

She is obsessed with old houses and the secrets they keep, with abandoned gardens and locked gates, with family histories and surprising revelations, and with the outcomes of those surprises many generations later.

She lives in Yorkshire with her husband, a variety of cats and far too many books. By writing novels she now has an excuse for her head being forever in the clouds.

Find her on Instagram as @RachelBWriter, subscribe to her newsletter rachelburton.substack.com or website rachelburtonwrites.com

Reviews

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton
Publication date: March 4th 2026

Thoughts
This was such a beautiful heartfelt read, I was hooked from the first chapter, the writing style, the setting it makes you feel like you've in the story itself. It's set between two timelines, which was another factor that kept me invested in how everything will unfold. I really enjoyed the romance, I highly recommend this if you love second chance with a dash of mystery and reads where the house itself gives main character feels

Plot Summary
In 1938, Camilla Kerrigan struggles to balance family duty with her longing for independence at her family’s Oxford manor. When her brother returns with a thoughtful, uncertain friend named Henry, she finds a rare connection—one soon overshadowed by the arrival of four strangers. As passions ignite during summer, a single reckless decision triggers consequences that will linger for years. By 1952, the war has changed everything. When evidence resurfaces of a painting once believed lost—an image tied to that fateful summer—Henry is compelled to return to the manor and confront the buried secrets, unresolved grief, and enduring love that still bind him to Camilla.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC

My Bookstagram

[Gosia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book transports readers into a world of art, loss, and love.

Henry accepts an assignment to write about Montagu Manor, driven by a desire to uncover the truth behind the fire that destroyed it fourteen years earlier. He had been there at the time and was determined to discover the truth himself before anyone else.

His investigation focuses on the fate of the unfinished portrait of the red‑haired Mabel, the artist who vanished afterward, and his hope of seeing Camilla again—the girl he once loved.

The striking cover first drew me in, but the story’s blend of art, mystery, and an atmospheric old mansion kept me fully engaged. The characters were well crafted, and the overall tone was exactly the kind of gentle yet compelling storytelling I enjoy.

I truly loved this book and was always happy to slip back into it whenever I found a spare moment.

[Victoria Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich with longing, The Strawberry House captures the aching beauty of England on the brink of change. A beautifully atmospheric tale of a house and the hearts it held, Burton evokes the years before and after World War II with such tenderness

[Riette Beling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was magnificent!

I loved the rich history that was intertwined into this novel @rachelbwriter did a wonderful job creating a vivid picture in my mind! I did my own look into William Morris and Kelmscott Manor and I would love to go see it one day - it looks absolutely gorgeous.

When Henry goes along with his friend to spend the summer at Montagu manor - he never would have guessed how his life would change because of it. I adored the relationship between Henry and Camilla it was truly swoonworthy.

The portrait of Mabel - The fairy queene sound amazing and I would have loved to see it for myself.

The plot was amazing and the story flows smoothly from one chapter to the next. I loved the dual pov from 1938 to 1952, it was great reading the two as the story unfolds.

Overall this was such a good historical fiction with a smattering of romance and mystery - just enough to keep you guessing.

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for an advanced copy of this novel.

I’ve read a number of Rachel Burton’s novels, and this latest bears her trademarks of a true sense of the past and polished prose in which to tell the story.

In a dual timeline format, Burton takes us back and forth between two pivotal years. The story unfolds during the summer of 1938, an especially hot summer in different ways, and resumes 14 years later, in spring 1952. In 1938, with Europe already turning toward war, the Kerrigan family eagerly anticipates their annual exodus, along with many other affluent families, from London to their summer home in the Cotswolds. Montague Manor is a rambling multi-room house with glorious rose gardens that had been in the family for hundreds of years. It had recently undergone the renovations in the Arts and Crafts style of William Morris, whose own house was close by.

The manor was much loved by the family, who regularly hosted parties on its beautiful grounds. There was rarely a day without guests, some of whom stayed over in one of the many vacant rooms. The cantankerous household head, Sir Philip, spent most of his time there smoking, boating, reading the newspapers, engaging neighbours in raucous political debate, and hiding from his four children. Mrs. Kerrigan, often described as saintly, kept everyone happy and fed, with the help of a cook and her housekeeping staff. The youngest Kerrigan, rambunctious 12-year-old Cassie, would write and produce the annual summer revue, assigning parts to her siblings, the staff, and any guests who could be coaxed to take part. The other three, the bookish Camilla who dreamed of going to Oxford but was not permitted by her old-fashioned father, the beautiful Mabel, and Oxford student Anthony, the eldest, often invited friends, and both hosted and attended parties.

That summer, thanks to the arrival of a group of loudly unconventional art students and their model, was as no summer before. The charismatic Lionel, already making a stir in the art world, quickly persuades Mrs. Kerrigan to allow him to paint Mabel. Camilla, who is smitten with her brother’s reporter friend Henry, must spend hours ‘chaperoning’ the two. For good reason, as it turns out, when she doesn’t. The model Susannah, Lionel’s erstwhile girlfriend, spends a lot of time with Anthony. Sir Philip, finally pushed beyond tolerance on the evening of Cassie’s Revue, orders them to be gone by morning. And then there is a fire. Lionel and his portrait disappear.

The postwar story line effectively reacquaints most of the characters, who, remarkably, have not been in contact since that summer. While I could see this for the artists, I find it hard to believe that Henry and Camilla, so in love and planning a future together in 1938, seem to have just ‘lost contact’. What is most intriguing about this part is the resolution of the mysterious disappearance of Lionel and the portrait of the glorious Mabel. A number of other stories left open are also closed. At the end, all the players of 1938 are accounted for, making for a satisfying conclusion.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s February 1952 and journalist Henry Aldridge is planning an article on the recent death of King George VI when his editor approaches him with a completely different assignment. He wants Henry to report on the restoration of Montagu Manor, a country house near Oxford that was partially destroyed by fire in the summer of 1938 and later requisitioned by the army after the outbreak of war. Henry reluctantly accepts the job, but doesn’t admit that he himself had been a guest at the house during that fateful summer.

In 1938, Montagu Manor was home to Sir Philip Kerrigan, his wife and four children. It was the son, Anthony, who invited Henry to spend the summer with them, relaxing, fishing in the river and contemplating their next steps, having both recently graduated from Oxford University. Henry, the son of a factory owner, is expected to go into the family business, but what he really wants to do is become a newspaper reporter, something he knows his father will never agree to. When he meets Anthony’s sister, Camilla, he discovers that she is in a similar position – she desperately wants to attend Oxford and study for a degree like her brother, but Sir Philip has refused, believing a woman’s duty is to marry and have children. Camilla is determined that she will never marry, but when she and Henry fall in love she begins to reconsider.

The 1952 thread of the novel tells us that something went wrong between Henry and Camilla and they haven’t seen each other since the year of the fire, but we won’t find out what happened until much later in the book. And there are other questions to be answered too. What caused the fire and what was the significance of the unfinished painting that went missing during it? Who exactly were the Kensington Circle, the group of artists staying at the house at the same time as Henry? By moving backwards and forwards between 1952 and 1938, the answers begin to emerge.

I really enjoyed The Strawberry House. I seem to have read a lot of dual timeline books about English country houses with secrets and at first I thought this one was going to be very similar. What set it apart, though, is how much I liked and cared about the characters, particularly Henry, who seemed like a genuinely nice person torn between following his own heart and trying to keep everyone else happy. I was also fond of his photographer friend, Frank, and Camilla’s little sister, Cassie, who has a talent for writing. Because I was so invested in the characters and their lives, it made me more eager to see how everything would unfold as the truth about the summer of 1938 started to become clear.

In case you’re wondering, the title of the book is inspired by Strawberry Thief, a beautiful design by William Morris. Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement are referenced throughout the book and the fictional Montagu Manor is located close to Morris’s home, Kelmscott Manor in Oxfordshire. Although this is the first Rachel Burton novel I’ve read, many of her others seem to have a house at the heart of the story and I’ll look forward to exploring more of them.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What It’s About
Strawberry House is a beautifully atmospheric novel set in an old English country house, a place filled with charm, secrets, and the lingering echoes of the past. The story spans from the years before the Second World War through to the 1950s, weaving together romance, tragedy, and a long‑buried mystery surrounding a vanished artist and a devastating fire.

Review
This story pulled me in from the very first pages. There’s something wonderfully intriguing and captivating about the way Rachel Burton builds the mystery — I found myself genuinely inspired to piece together what happened to the missing artist and what truly occurred on the day of the fire. That sense of curiosity drives the narrative beautifully.
The setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Strawberry House, nestled in the English countryside, feels almost like a character in its own right — elegant, slightly haunting, and full of memories. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, giving the story a timeless, nostalgic quality.
The dual‑era structure works well, moving from the pre‑war years into the 1950s. The romance that begins but never fully blossoms — held back by tragic events and circumstances — adds a bittersweet emotional thread that lingers. It’s tender, understated, and all the more powerful for what remains unsaid.
The characters are interesting and well developed, each carrying their own secrets, hopes, and regrets. Their emotional depth makes the unfolding mystery feel grounded and believable. The writing itself is smooth and compelling, with just the right balance of intrigue, tension, and heart to keep you captivated until the final pages.
Overall, Strawberry House is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that blends mystery, romance, and historical drama into a story that stays with you.

My Rating
- Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
Compelling, layered, and driven by a mystery that keeps you engaged.

- Character Development – 4 out of 5 stars
Well‑drawn, believable characters with emotional depth.

- Themes & Message – 4 out of 5 stars
Love, loss, secrets, and the weight of the past.

- Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
Elegant, atmospheric, and wonderfully immersive.
- Enjoyment – 4 out of 5 stars
A captivating read from start to finish.

- Overall – 4 out of 5 stars
A beautifully crafted mystery with heart, atmosphere, and emotional resonance.

Recommended For
Readers who enjoy historical mysteries, atmospheric English settings, slow‑burn romance, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House is a compelling romantic mystery. At the heart of the story is Montagu Manor, an arts and crafts house with some rooms designed by William Morris and a gorgeous garden set near a river. Home to the Kerrigan family, who stay there during the summer months. The story unfolds over a dual timeline, alternating between the summer of 1938 and the spring of 1952.

In the summer of 1938, the whole Kerrigan family is set to arrive for their annual holiday and revue. It’s going to be an extra full house this year as son Anthony, has brought his friend Henry to stay and a group of artists who call themselves the Kensington Circle are also coming. Led by artist Lionel Lombard, who is keen to see Morris’ work and paint the eldest Kerrigan daughter Mabel. Their arrival causes tensions within the family as they take over the house.

Nearly twenty years later in post World War II, Britain, we learn that there was a fire in Montagu Manor and it’s now in the process of being rebuilt and renovated. Lionel Lombard went missing after the fire and it was thought his last painting The Faerie Queene was lost in the blaze. As always Burton’s research thorough. She really captured the feel of the time with a sense of duty, wealth and gender roles.

I felt for Anthony and Henry who were duty bound to follow in their respective family business, despite their talents and passions lying elsewhere. I was also enraged on behalf of Camilla, the middle daughter, whose father denied her the chance to go to Oxford to study as she’s a woman and then again post war as she as she was no longer able to work in the capacity she was able to during the war.

I enjoyed the romance between Camilla and Henry. Both were interesting characters, who were both humble and wanted a different things to their family expectations. It was interesting to see the impact of them being from different social classes. The mystery was engaging and I enjoyed sitting back and watching it all play out. For people who enjoy second chance romances, a bit of mystery and stories where the house could be a main character.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton is a powerful historical novel set over two time periods. It has its’ roots in facts as we hear about William Morris and the pre-Raphaelite artists. The action is set in 1938 and 1952. These alternate.
The summer of 1938 is a defining and devastating summer. Lives would be altered forever. No one would ever be the same again as a tragic accident affects all those involved.
It began as a summer of promise but ended as a summer of tragedy.
It was a summer where new friendships were forged. Lives took new trajectories as characters made decisions about their futures.
Between the two time periods was World War II. Here lives were changed again – sometimes forever lost.
1938 saw women’s lives on the edge of change. Old fashioned paternalistic attitudes had squashed women but with the war, came freedom. A female character believes “If women can crack enemy code…we can do anything we… want.”
In contrast we hear the thoughts of a male character after the war: “Go home… Marry a nice man, have some children, be happy.” “Because that was all women were good for again now that the war was over.” A male dominated society wanted to put women back in a clearly labelled box: ‘family.’
In 1938 parents were still planning their children’s futures. When characters break free from these expectations, sparks fly.
Grief has affected all. “Grief from one loss after another had eaten her up until she’d lost sight of her hopes and dreams, lost sight of herself.” A character has wallowed until a face from the past awakens her spirit again.
The Strawberry House was a comprehensive novel about friends and family, grief, love and life. It is a powerful tale.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Strawberry House was a historical mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Henry Aldridge has just graduated from Oxford, slated to go learn the ropes at his father’s factory, he will do anything to delay his fate. When his friend Anthony Kerrigan invites him to his home Montagu Manor for the summer, this is the reprieve that Henry was looking for. At Montagu Manor he meets Anthony’s parents and sisters, Camilla, Mabel and Cassie. Henry is immediately attracted to Camilla. Then he learns that a group af artists, the Kensington Circle, are coming to stay as their leader, Lionel Lombard is eager to paint Mabel’s portrait. That summer will be the start of a mystery that 14 years, and one war later, Henry is still wanting to solve. Henry is now a journalist who has been tasked with the story of the restoration of Montagu Manor. The article opens old wounds and and an old mystery. What caused the East wing of Montagu manor to burn, what happened to the unfinished portrait of Mabel and the artist Lionel who disappeared after that summer? Henry is eager to solve these mysteries but also to see Camilla again after the tragic end of their love affair. Is it too late for them? Will he be able to solve the mystery of that summer and find closure after all these years?

The novel takes place in two time, 1938 with WWII on the horizon and 1952 when everyone is slowly recovering from te trauma of the war and rebuilding their lives. I really enjoyed the two time lines and the anticipation of what really happened that long ago summer.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer 1938. Henry Aldridge goes to Montagu Manor, the family home of his friend Anthony. He falls in love with Camilla but tragedy is destined to keep them apart. 1952 Henry is now a journalist and is asked to visit Montagu Manor which is going to be renovated and reopened, stirring up mixed feelings about his lost love...
The Strawberry House is a dual timeline historical novel set in 1938 and 1952.
Henry and Anthony have just completed their studies at Oxford and are looking forward to a rest before settling down to the rest of their lives. Henry is of a lower social class and feels this very keenly as he joins the household. Other guests are also invited, including artists and wider family.
The 1952 timeline hints at events that take place later in the summer of 1938 including the mystery of a fire and a lost painting along with the artist Lionel. Henry is given the opportunity to reconnect with Camilla again who is frustrated with life after the war due to restrictive gender roles. The pair have the chance to make up for missed time but need to process the events that kept them apart in the intervening years.
This book has a slow gentle pace. I loved the historical aspects which felt authentic. Henry and Camilla are victims of circumstances and the social norms of the time surrounding class and gender. Loss is a strong theme throughout the book but hope is offered through the finding of change and opportunities. I liked the connections between the two timelines and felt they complemented each other perfectly.
The Strawberry House is an engaging and enjoyable historical novel.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House is one of those novels that sweeps you up from the very first page. Rachel Burton blends dual timelines with such grace that moving between 1938 and 1952 feels effortless, each era enriching the other as the truth slowly comes into focus.

The 1938 storyline is especially captivating. Camilla, caught between duty and desire, is a wonderfully drawn heroine—thoughtful, restless, and quietly yearning for a life beyond the expectations placed upon her. The arrival of Henry and the group of strangers at Montagu Manor brings a simmering tension to the long, hot summer, and Burton captures that sense of possibility and danger with real elegance. You can feel the heat, the longing, and the subtle shifts that lead to a tragedy no one sees coming.

In 1952, Henry’s return to the manor is steeped in melancholy and unresolved emotion. The resurfacing of the portrait he believed destroyed is such a powerful catalyst, pulling him back into memories he’s tried to bury. His chapters are tender, reflective, and full of the ache of a love that never truly faded.

Burton excels at atmosphere—Oxford’s manor houses, the artistic world of the 1930s, the post‑war quiet of the 1950s—and she threads it all with secrets that unravel at just the right pace. The emotional payoff is both heartbreaking and deeply satisfying.

A sweeping, evocative novel about love, art, and the shadows cast by the past. Fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley will feel right at home.

With thanks to Rachel Burton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a few of Rachel Burton's more recent books, and this sounded so delicious, just from the title (plus the cover was pretty irresistible, too!) I just had to read it!
Set in both the pre-WW2 and post-WW2 years, The Strawberry House is a story focusing on a tragedy at Montagu Manor, or more enticingly called, The Strawberry House in 1938.
Two very different souls meet there and fall in love, but the war and the aforementioned tragedy push them apart for fifteen years, when a chance assignment for Henry brings him back to Camilla.
I loved the whimsy of having a group of artists turn up for an entire summer at the Manor, and the behaviour of one plays fully to the Diva nature that many assign to successful creative types.
There was also much angst described as Camilla is a woman born into a genteel family, with dreams of higher education, whereas her father has no interest in allowing his intelligent daughter that chance because that's not what ladies do. And Henry is facing similar struggles but from a different point. His background is not like Camilla's. In fact, his father runs a factory and wants Henry at the head of it, but Henry dreams of becoming a journalist, and his Oxford education is a stepping stone to him realising his dreams.
I was swept away with this book, turning each page eagerly, and loved the added mystery element to it with a lost treasure that needs finding.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

[Maree Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by Rachel Burton. I've been wanting to read The Butterfly Garden but haven't managed to get a copy as yet (I prefer physical copies as I love the feel of turning the pages). I also see from the notes at the end that she has another book as well which I shall be looking for as well.

What a wonderful story Rachel has built here, switching between 1938 and 1952 timelines as the story unfolds.

Her main characters, Henry and Camilla, are so relatable and engaging. In 1938, Camilla's brother Anthony, brings Henry home with him to spend the summer at Montagu Manor. Henry is from a middle-class family, whilst Camilla is from the upper-class, where girls are still expected to marry and have a family and not worry about an education. Camilla wants nothing more than to go to Oxford like her brother did, but her father won't hear of it.

A group of strangers arrives to spend the summer as well, with one being a well known artist who wants to paint Camilla's sister Mabel. Things don't go smoothly, there's a fire and tragedy strikes.

1952 - Henry receives a photo of a painting in the post - the painting of Mabel that was thought to have been lost in the fire. It brings Camilla back into his life, along with all the memories and hopes and dreams from that long ago summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

1938: For Camilla Kerrigan, life at her family's Oxford manor is a delicate balancing act - between duty to her family and a yearning for something more. When her brother Anthony returns for the summer, bringing with him a new friend, Camilla recognises a kindred spirit. Like her, Henry is thoughtful, restless and uncertain of his future. But the arrival of four strangers - among them a gifted determined to paint Camilla's sister Mabel- soon shatters the peace of the manor.

1952: Haunted by war and the memory of that long-ago summer, the last thing Henry wants is to return to Montagu Manor. But when a photograph arrives, showing the painting he thought was destroyed - the portrait that ruined so many lives - he is drawn back to the past.

I do like a story that has a dual timeline, and this story did not disappoint. I was pulled into this story by the end of the first chapter. It has been descriptively written. After the summer of 1938, the lives of the people who were at Montagu Manor would never be the same again I loved the character in this book, I did prefer the story set in 1938 , but overall, this is z well-written story about second chances.

Published 4th March 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RachelBurton for my ARC of #TheStrawberryHouse in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher. This is a historical novel set across two timelines, about 14 years apart. Which was quite interesting as it meant we got to see the same characters at a different times in their lives. I liked this. It meant we got to see the maturity change in the characters and how they’d changed after getting more life experience. Usually in historical novels I’ve read, the timelines are far more spread apart so it has different characters as the focus. I really liked that we were following the same main character in both.

The writing was quite lovely. There’s almost a dreamy quality I found to this novel. It’s set in England, following a wealthy young woman as her brother returns home with an intriguing friend for the summer. She finds herself drawn to him and we see a blossoming romance. There’s a plot line involving a painting of her sister and it’s this painting that’s a catalyst for the events that trigger in the later timeline. There’s pacing of jumps between the two timelines was well done, with a good balance between progressing the two stories.

This was quite a light story, it’s not high drama, it’s a gentle unravelling of what happened. There’s a focus on second chance romance and how people have changed.

[Samantha Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Rachel Burton, Boldwood Books, and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I have learned rather recently that I really enjoy historical romances, and these are the vibes that initially drew me into this book. If you love second-chance romances, then you are in for a treat with this one. There’s also a bit of mystery in this book, which I really enjoyed. There are multiple timelines, which, if you’ve read any of my other reviews, I normally talk about how I don’t like them. But what I think I’m learning is that the very first dual timeline book I ever read just did it wrong, lol, because literally every other one I’ve read I have enjoyed, this one included. Rachel was able to write it in a way that wasn’t confusing and flowed really well.

Her writing in this story was really beautiful and descriptive. It was so easy to feel immersed back in time, like you were actually reliving the story. I felt like the characters were really well-developed, and that made them that much more enjoyable. I loved the pacing of this story. Nothing felt rushed, and as more secrets are revealed, the story feels like it is just progressing so naturally. Rachel really is a gifted storyteller, and I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up another one of her books.

[Zandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Rachel Burton’s books and this one lived up to my expectations. It is historical fiction set in 1938 and 1952. We are introduced to the Kerrigan family who live in Montagu House. Henry and Camilla are the main characters in the story, but I found it easy to engage with all the characters, even Lionel the artist became likeable after the war.
In 1938, the adult children invite friends to stay with them for the summer. One set, known as the Kensington Circle are artistic and a bit wild and are soon confined to the East Wing.
The family is very much upper class with upper class values and attitudes. Girls are meant to marry and have children. Love doesn’t feature. Camilla would love to go to Oxford, but her father won’t hear of it. She soon becomes involved with Henry, her brother’s friend from Oxford.
Fast forward to 1952 and we find out what happened to them all. Did they all follow their father’s expectations for them? Did they choose for themselves? Do get a copy and find out.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel Burton for an arc of this super story.

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

1938:
For Camilla Kerrigan, life at her family's Oxford manor is a delicate balancing act – between duty to her family and a yearning for something more. When her brother Anthony returns for the summer, bringing with him a new friend, Camilla recognises a kindred spirit. Like her, Henry is thoughtful, restless and uncertain of his future.

But the arrival of four strangers – among them a gifted artist determined to paint Camilla’s sister Mabel – soon shatters the fragile peace of the manor. In the shimmering heat, desires are stirred and one impulsive act will set in motion a tragedy that echoes for decades.

1952: Haunted by war and the memory of that long-ago summer, the last thing Henry wants is to return to Montagu Manor. But when a photograph arrives, showing the painting he thought destroyed – the portrait that ruined so many lives – he is drawn back into the past.

Now, Henry and Camilla must face the secrets that shaped them, and the love that refuses to fade.

My Opinion

The Strawberry House was a lovely read. I have read a few books by Rachel Burton and I really enjoy her writing style. With some interesting characters this was a quick and easy read. A wonderful story that I would highly recommend.

Rating 4/5

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a set of artists arrive at Montagu Manor in 1938 their presence not only disturbs the equilibrium of the house but they also become involved in a huge scandal which will reverberate down through the years. At the centre of the story is Camilla Kerrigan who lives, with her family, at Montagu Manor and whose history is entwined with the fabric of the house and its connection to the artist, William Morris.

Beautifully written, with a compelling dual time narrative, the story starts just as the country is on the cusp of war which not only brings a time of great change but there are also some big decisions which have to be made. This is portrayed well in the indecisive nature of some of the central characters particularly in light of what happens once their all too brief sojourn at Montagu Manor is over. Divided into two distinct time frames, I found that I was equally at home in the 1930’s getting to know the characters as I was in 1952 when we are drawn back to Montagu Manor to discover more of its secrets.

As the history of The Strawberry House is gradually revealed so a story of family drama, long buried secrets and the hope of second chances is finally revealed.

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camilla’s carefree summer at her family’s Oxford manor in 1938 is shattered by one impulsive moment- a tragedy that ripples across decades. When Henry returns years later, the past is waiting… and it won’t stay buried.

I loved the dual timeline. The 1938 chapters start light and romantic, with an instant spark between Camilla and Henry, which makes what follows hit even harder. The intimacy is implied rather than being explicit, which perfectly suits the sweeping, romantic tone.

But the real pull is the emotion behind the scandal. Camilla is weighed down by guilt while Henry keeps his distance, and the truth becomes a tightly guarded family secret. The sense of regret and longing lingers on every page.

Reunited in 1952, they’re wrapped in bittersweet tension as old feelings return, truths unravel, and the lasting impact of one moment becomes impossible to ignore.

I’m not usually a big romance reader, but The Strawberry House genuinely surprised me. The dual timeline was handled so well, and I’m definitely more open to the genre now.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a novel of change the attitudes before the second World War the class restrictions and the feelings and changes that were to happen after the war
Henry has been invited to the Manor of his friend from Oxford he comes from a family that owns,a factory and worries that he will not fit he falls in love with one of the daughters of the house who herself is struggling to fit into the life her parents had.
There are various relationships occurring during the summer party all of which are between people who would probably not normally be together.
A fire at the Manor ends the party and the people separate .
The novel continues telling Henry story as he refuses to do as his father wants and does not run the family factory.
Camilla eventually gets in contact and they both find that yes they can be together now despite the difficulties of the class differences that exist
Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my arc copy

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summer of 1938 was infamous to the Oxford area as the year the east wing of the local manor house burnt down in mysterious circumstances. By 1952 the manor house is being rebuilt and renovated and the Oxford Mail wants to cover the renovation while also solving the 1938 mystery. Henry is tasked with covering the story, his editor little suspecting that Henry was a visitor at the manor house in 1938. The novel runs the 1938 and 1952 storylines alongside each other.

I was not sure about the historical settings initially, as I am not a particular fan of historical fiction (particularly those that reference war). However. This is just a wonderful story. I have read previous books by Rachel Burton and this is up to her usual standard. A layered story that builds and builds as it goes along, more and more information being added. It is a glorious story that I would thoroughly recommend to anyone.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House is a beautiful story of love across the years. I loved how the two timelines flowed really well together and brought to life each of the characters and the house itself.
Rachel Burton always writes about such beautiful settings in her books and the Manor House and grounds in this one are as much a character as the family and their guests.
It was so interesting to see how the dynamics of the family home changed in 1938 with the introduction of the artistic strangers - with the advent of war also, the whole period had that level of tension about it with something about to happen to change all. Rachel Burton writes that tension really well and it was easy to understand why each of the characters responded to it in their own ways.
Uncovering some of the secrets in the conversations in 1952 was a clever way of retelling the story and bringing it back to life for all those so affected by that summer.

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.
What a wonderful book this is, featuring Montague House and the Kerrigan family. It's set in dual timelines, 1938 and 1952. Anthony Kerrigan has brought his friend Henry to stay for the summer of 1938, when the whole Kerrigan family is there. A group of artists, the Kensington Circle, is also due to visit, the leader slated to paint a portrait of Mabel, the youngest daughter.
When Henry meets Camilla, the eldest daughter, he's immediately attracted to her, not realizing she is to him as well.
When a fire breaks out at Montegue House, everyone scatters, believing the painting to be destroyed.
In 1952 Henry and Camilla finally find each other again.
The painting was discovered, to everyone's joy, and
the ending of the book is heatwarming, I loved it!

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a William Morris fan you will adore both the cover and the history of this book, The Strawberry House draws inspiration from the history of Morris' Oxford manor and the drama and scandal of that era.
This is a story split between the events of a summer at the Kerrigan family home in 1938 as the country tips towards another war, and how the young characters struggle with their dynamics within the house, first loves, and the impending duties of family expectations as well as war.
The later years show the friends reconnecting and attempting to make sense of the events of that summer and the consequences of what came next.
I particularly enjoyed the mystery of the painting and the bond between the characters. If you are interested in art and the arts and crafts era this is a book that you can just escape into.

[Emma_bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to The Strawberry House and what an eventful story this is! Following the Kerrigan family over the span of Summer 1938 to Spring 1952, a lot can, and did happen over that time.

I think my favourite character in this is Camilla, her sister Mabel always got the attention but it's Camilla that stole the show for me. She's always looking out for her sister but also is also determined in herself to get what she wants from life. Knowing she doesn't want her parents to pick a suitable husband - she wants to find her own.

I really like Henry also, a kind soul. I like how he shows his raw self to her and shares his dreams with Camilla and they look for a way together to make them happen.

It's nice to know that Montagu Manor is based on a real place, would be nice to visit one day! I also love the William Morris link, I love his designs and the cover of this is stunning!

[Jessica’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strawberry house was a beautifully written book which spreads across two timelines 1938 and 1952. It’s very atmospheric and the descriptions of Montagu Manor were very vivid. I do love a big house we have been round many a national trust property as a family over the years.

I enjoyed having the romantic element as well as all the historical. Henry and Camilla were lovely characters. I felt an instant connection with Henry from the first time was introduced arriving at Strawberry House as a guest .

If you want a story full of secrets, mystery and history I would definitely recommend picking up The Strawberry House. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and will look out for more in the future.

Jessica’s Bookshelf Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✨ Thankyou to Rachel Burton, Boldwood Books and Love Books Tours for my gifted digital copy of this book in exchange for a honest review ✨

[Brianna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strawberry House by Rachel Burton is an absolute delight—a beautifully written story weaving together art, love, and loss. The characters feel vivid and engaging, and the storyline draws you in from the very beginning. I was especially captivated by the mystery of the “lost” painting, which adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.

Set initially in the summer of 1938, Burton skillfully captures the atmosphere of a generation living under the looming shadow of war. The tension and uncertainty of the time are subtly but effectively conveyed. When the story shifts to 1952, the resurfacing of the painting’s mystery pulls Henry Aldridge back to that pivotal summer at The Strawberry House, tying past and present together in a compelling way.

A richly layered and immersive read—well worth picking up.

[Libby Reidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific read by Rachel Burton. A fascinating dual storyline set in the late 1930's and the early 1950's, the readers meet the Kerrigan family who reside at Montague Manor. When a family member invites a group of artist for the summer, disaster follows. After a fire destroys a wing of the house, one of the family's daughters is killed and a portrait of her disappears. Jumping to the later time, the reader discovers what really happened that summer and to the lost painting. The description of the house designed by William Morris is fabulous. I highly recommend this book, particularly for fans of Kate Morton and Lucinda Riley. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it.