The Invitation: The enchanting and irresistibly romantic new novel from the bestselling author!

by Veronica Henry

Be swept away by the enchanting and devastatingly romantic new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry - available to pre-order now!

'A rich, compelling story of love, family and forgiveness. I loved it' SARAH MORGAN
'Romance, heartbreak and secrets, I loved it!' FERN BRITTON
'Warm, wise, and wonderful' ADELE PARKS
'A novel to cherish and delight in' RACHEL HORE
'Pure joy!' LIBBY PAGE
'Beautifully romantic, it sizzles with secrets and anticpation!' JO THOMAS
'Utterly captivating, I adored every word' CATHY BRAMLEY

A secret love story.
A chance to stay forever...

London, 1953

Clementine falls for handsome Alfie Arbutus over cocktails at the Savoy and knows that life will never be the same again. Especially when he invites her to visit the family home he will inherit one day, Foxwood Manor...

Stella lost a part of her heart forever when Edwin Arbutus died. Their wartime love affair changed everything - but now she has her young son, Ted, to fight for.

Elizabeth hopes that throwing the glamorous Snow Ball at Foxwood will bring light back into its darkened walls, and into the eyes of her heartbroken husband, Michael, for the first time since they lost their eldest son.

Yet as the gilded invitations are sent, the lives of all three women collide with unimaginable consequences - will the secrets of the past break the family apart, or bring them back together?

The sweeping new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry, set between post-war London and the enchanting Foxwood Manor in the rolling Somerset countryside. Filled with secret love affairs, heartbreak and friendship, expect surprises on every page.

Your favourite authors love Veronica
'Magical, romantic' MILLY JOHNSON
'Summer, secrets, an impossible love story. I absolutely adored it!' CATHY BRAMLEY
'Captivating and romantic' HEIDI SWAIN
'A wonderful treat of a read!' SUE MOORCROFT
'A story filled with so much heart. Simply gorgeous!' LIZ FENWICK
'Warm, wise, and completely wonderful' ALEX BROWN

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 12, 2026

About the author

Veronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.

Reviews

[Beachcomber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book - I inhaled it in 2 days, swept up in the story of the three women, their lives, loves and losses in 1953. I wanted to be Foxwood and spending time with them, hoping for happy endings. So glad I read it!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Isabell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on Dreaming With Open Eyes


Character-driven, emotionally rich, and quietly unforgettable.

💔 Women Bound by One Man | 📖 Character-Driven Story | 🔗 Intertwined Lives | 📜 Family Secrets | 🫶 Found Family | 🕊️ Post-War Healing | TRW: Mention of Baby Loss | 🌍​ London & Somerset countryside

I was completely over the moon when the publisher contacted me to ask if I’d like to receive a physical ARC of The Invitation. I’m so glad I said yes, because this novel swept me away to post-war London and the rolling Somerset countryside—and I didn’t want to come back.

Set in 1953, The Invitation follows the lives of three women—Clementine (the sister-in-law), Stella (the lover), and Elizabeth (the mother)—each bound together by grief, love, and the lasting shadow of Edwin Arbutus, lost during the war. Though their lives look very different on the surface, their stories slowly intertwine into something deeply moving and unforgettable.

I’d read Veronica Henry’s How to Fall in Love in a Bookshop years ago, so picking this up felt almost like discovering her writing anew. And what a joy it was. From the very first page, this story had my heart. The emotion, the heartbreak, the friendships, the love, the family secrets—it was everything I wanted it to be, and more. I felt every single moment.

Stella, whose narrative broke my heart in the quietest way. A young, bereaved mother living on a canal boat with her son, trying to carve out a future as a writer and illustrator while carrying her own deep grief for Edwin—the man who connects all three women. The contrast between Stella’s life and the Arbutus family’s world made for utterly compelling reading, and as the layers of connection were revealed, I simply couldn’t put the book down.

When I turned the final page, I felt genuinely sad. I wasn’t ready to let these characters—or Foxwood—go just yet. The writing is exceptional: tender, evocative, and quietly powerful. I love stories that make me feel, and this one absolutely did. I would love nothing more than to return to Foxwood and hear from these characters again.

The Invitation is a charming, character-driven novel that perfectly captures the contrast of post-war life—new freedoms and opportunities sitting alongside loss, mourning, and unspoken truths. Beneath its elegance lies a family struggling with grief and one enormous secret, yet still full of the potential for love that was lost somewhere during the terror of the Second World War.

I kindly received this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much Orion.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stella is in mourning having lost the love of her life. Edwin Arbutus was killed on duty during the Second World War, while carrying out his job of a painter, giving people back home an insight into the conflict. The couple had made big plans to be together; all be it in secret as Edwin was intending to break off his engagement to another woman. Stella grapples with losing Edwin but after discovering she is pregnant, she vows to bring her young son Ted up alone and protect him at all costs.
Clementine is attending a party at The Savoy where she is rescued from an unpleasant suitor by the dashing Alfie Arbutus. The couple’s whirlwind relationship quickly escalates and they are soon married and planning to relocate to the family home, for Alfie to take up the reigns of the family business.
Meanwhile already residing at the family home Foxwood Manor in Somerset, Elizabeth and her husband Michael’s lives have been shattered following the death of their eldest son Edwin. Edwin’s many paintings are hung around the main hall, reminding the family what a talented artist and son they lost.
Elizabeth decides to resurrect the glamorous Snow Ball, to be held at the Manor. She hopes that it will be positive and give the family something exciting to focus on.
Set in 1953 in London, this story is atmospheric and absolutely charming. All of the main characters are really likeable and described in such detail they are easy to see in your mind’s eye.
Vary rarely do I pick up a book and know that I am going to love it before I finish the first page. This book was a total joy to read.

[Claire Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry’s writing is consistently compelling, warm and uplifting. So it will come as no surprise to you that this is yet another glowing commendation of her work.

Henry loves to play to settings: from France, to beach huts, to beautiful bookshops, you can always be guaranteed the most varied and evocative of worlds - and, in this, her newest offering we are transported to a post war England and the sweeping world of the estate in Foxwood Manor. Although Foxwood is known in the local town to house the rich and inaccessible Arbutus family, in truth is also houses a family deeply struggling with grief, one huge secret but a family full of potential love, that has somehow got lost amidst the terror the 2nd World War.

At the heart of the family is Elizabeth, the family’s glamorous matriarch, struggling to connect with her husband and daughter so when her youngest son, Alfie, brings home the independent and vivacious Clementine, she is forced to face facts. The third narrative is that of Stella - a young woman, living in very circumstances, desperate to make her way as a writer and illustrator for her and her son - also struggling with grief over than man to who they are all connected: Edwin Arbutus.

Three women: the mother, the lover, the new sister in law - living in a fractured world but one full of hope. Three fantastic narratives pieced together to reveal one beautiful story.

[Felicity Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, charming heart wrenching and heart warming, the new absolute classic reading from Veronica Henry.
Set in London and Somerset in the early 1950’s the story is centred around three strong female characters Clementine, Stella and Elizabeth. The story is captivating and pulls you along for an atmospheric journey through post war Britain recovering from the shocks and fallout of the Second World War, the devastation it brought to families and lives and how they put their lives back together. There are so many topics and relevant period moments covered.
There were some fascinating historical moments and great characters. It was deeply touching and moving and reminded me of how far women have come since that time.
I loved being emersed in life in the 50’s, the book held my imagination and thoughts for quite a while!! Hugely recommended, this is a new ageless classic, essential reading for women!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Orion for the early read.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure joy in a book.
I adore Veronica's stories. They are so uplifting with gorgeous characters you want to have as friends.
Elizabeth is mourning the loss of her son. Stella is mourning the loss of her lover, and Clementine has found the love of her life.
This follows the Arbutus family and life at Foxwood. Set in 1953, at the end of the war, we flit between London and Foxwood. How their world's collide as Elizabeth and Stella overcome their loss.
How each of the family finally find their place and are able to move on with joy.
This is pure warmth, believable characters, and a great setting.
Fans of Henry will love this.
Thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Gaye Teather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely charming, character based book set in 1953 and following the war when people were enjoying the freedom and opportunities they had been deprived of for years but, at the same time, mourning the loss of loved ones during the conflict. Like all of Veronica Henry's books this is beautifully written with lovely prose and heartwarming descriptions. I liked all the characters. The contrast between the wealthy family and the recently bereaved mum and her young son living on a canal boat, made for interesting reading and as their connection began to reveal itself I couldn't put the book down. This is another cracking story from this talented author that I highly recommend. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Val Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Invitation by Veronica Henry and could not put it down.

This book and the characters are so beautifully written - it really brings the story and locations to life.

This book was set in 1953, after the war and follows the lives of three main female characters Clementine, Stella and Elizabeth.

I don't want to give anything away but just want to say- this is a fantastic author who can do no wrong.

If there's the chance of a follow up, I would love to hear more about these characters in the future and any other book written by her.

A big thanks to Netgalley and Orion Publishing group for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this fantastic book.

[WhatFrizRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

1953; Clementine has met the love of her life, Elizabeth is mourning the loss of a lovely and Stella is navigating the loss that gave her the greatest love of her life.

This is a charming page-turner of a read; you're quickly swept into the glamour and tragedy of the story. With much of it happening in flashbacks from during the second world war, the emotion is tangible throughout. The characters are likeable, the story engaging and I secured it in less than 24 hours!

It's a bit of a grittier read than Henry's Chateau series; it has more gravitas and shows her talents as a writer.

[Kim]

This is a beautifully written story centered around the lives of three women: Elizabeth, Clementine, and Stella, set in Foxwood Manor in 1953. It is an engaging tale featuring charming characters, with moments of sadness and heartache woven throughout. The vivid descriptions of both the characters and the manor draw you in, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the narrative. I highly recommend this book; it will keep you captivated until the very end.

[Mrs J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully emotive and often charming read. I initially found this very different to Veronica Henry's usual read, perhaps because it was set in post war Britain rather than modern day, but the further you sunk into the lives of the characters, the more apparent it became who the author was.

A thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a joy to read right from the start and to the very last paragraph!

No spoilers, just highly recommend. Fabulous!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.