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The Ruins
1937. At a Devon railway station, seven-year-old Lucie Ingram’s world changes for ever. Left by her mother, Ruth, Lucie is bewildered to be handed over to an unknown relative. Raised in British Malaya by her mother, Ruth, and her stepfather, Simon, Lucie has been brought back to England to attend boarding school. During the holidays, she will stay with a distant cousin, Clifford, and his wife, Enid, at The Ruins, their rambling ancestral home.
Life at The Ruins couldn’t be more different from everything Lucie knows. Enid makes disparaging comments about her mother, and Lucie must navigate a path between her eccentric new home and the mysteries of English boarding school. As the Second World War casts a shadow over her life, Lucie is sustained by the hope her mother will return, clinging to the rare sketchy postcards which appear. When news arrives that Ruth has had a baby, Lucie is thrilled to think she finally has a much-longed for sister. And then the postcards stop.
In the aftermath of a war which has torn apart every corner of the world, Lucie is determined that somehow she will find her way back to her family, and above all the sister she has never met. Her search for connection will lead her to unexpected places – both within herself and in the world around her.
Becky Docton’s remarkable debut is a deeply compelling and moving story of a young woman’s search for her family, spanning decades and continents.
Life at The Ruins couldn’t be more different from everything Lucie knows. Enid makes disparaging comments about her mother, and Lucie must navigate a path between her eccentric new home and the mysteries of English boarding school. As the Second World War casts a shadow over her life, Lucie is sustained by the hope her mother will return, clinging to the rare sketchy postcards which appear. When news arrives that Ruth has had a baby, Lucie is thrilled to think she finally has a much-longed for sister. And then the postcards stop.
In the aftermath of a war which has torn apart every corner of the world, Lucie is determined that somehow she will find her way back to her family, and above all the sister she has never met. Her search for connection will lead her to unexpected places – both within herself and in the world around her.
Becky Docton’s remarkable debut is a deeply compelling and moving story of a young woman’s search for her family, spanning decades and continents.
503 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 4, 2026
Hearing her mother describe her as someone who manipulates and who is unscrupulous, haunts Lucie for the entire novel. As a child of just seven years, Lucie has an emotional void that remains loveless and empty, thanks to a constantly absent and distracted mother. Her final moments with Ruth are defined by this label and this is the beginning of reader sympathy for the protagonist.
Is Lucie any of these things? Sure she is – she’s human. We all have these qualities, it’s just how far we influence matters to our own gain. Yet, the poor child is left by her mother, sent to The Ruins in Devon to live with mysterious, distant family relations. It’s hardly a happy upbringing and this sadness follows Lucie to her boarding school days. Desperate to hear from her mother, Lucie sends countless letters to Malaya, hopeful that Ruth will return to fetch her, reuniting their family once more.
Except, to all extent and purposes, Lucie is orphaned and is forced to make her own way in the world. Abandoned by her parents and not able to seek family solace at The Ruins, Lucie navigates life on her own terms. Therefore, it’s no real surprise that she is forced to manipulate events to her advantage – she has little left in life. I was intrigued by Lucie’s family background, especially as Docton occasionally switches the narrative to Ruth’s perspective and I wish more had been done with Lucie’s parentage – it was part of the novel that was never resolved.
Sadness follows Lucie throughout the novel and the title of the book is a metaphor to portray that emotional void. People and things she turn to always seem to crumble to dust and this results in her making poor life choices. Although trying her best, Lucie never experiences true happiness and this made the novel a rather emotive read.
The backdrop of the Second World War added further tension to the story when it is revealed Ruth’s family are impacted in Malaya. I would have preferred this aspect to have been developed because it was so interesting; instead readers follow it from Lucie’s perspective as she is in boarding school and ready to move into the next phase of her life. She is not untouched by the global events, instead building on the sadness that enshrouds her.
I enjoyed the depth of this novel and the emotion that runs throughout. There were parts that I thought could have been condensed as I found my attention wandered. I felt fully invested in Lucie’s journey but sections of the book were unnecessarily prolonged. It’s certainly an emotional course through grief, loss and family and I think the writer portrayed this in a heartfelt manner. As a debut, it’s definitely a strong novel and I look forward to seeing what Docton writes next.
With thanks to HQ for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Is Lucie any of these things? Sure she is – she’s human. We all have these qualities, it’s just how far we influence matters to our own gain. Yet, the poor child is left by her mother, sent to The Ruins in Devon to live with mysterious, distant family relations. It’s hardly a happy upbringing and this sadness follows Lucie to her boarding school days. Desperate to hear from her mother, Lucie sends countless letters to Malaya, hopeful that Ruth will return to fetch her, reuniting their family once more.
Except, to all extent and purposes, Lucie is orphaned and is forced to make her own way in the world. Abandoned by her parents and not able to seek family solace at The Ruins, Lucie navigates life on her own terms. Therefore, it’s no real surprise that she is forced to manipulate events to her advantage – she has little left in life. I was intrigued by Lucie’s family background, especially as Docton occasionally switches the narrative to Ruth’s perspective and I wish more had been done with Lucie’s parentage – it was part of the novel that was never resolved.
Sadness follows Lucie throughout the novel and the title of the book is a metaphor to portray that emotional void. People and things she turn to always seem to crumble to dust and this results in her making poor life choices. Although trying her best, Lucie never experiences true happiness and this made the novel a rather emotive read.
The backdrop of the Second World War added further tension to the story when it is revealed Ruth’s family are impacted in Malaya. I would have preferred this aspect to have been developed because it was so interesting; instead readers follow it from Lucie’s perspective as she is in boarding school and ready to move into the next phase of her life. She is not untouched by the global events, instead building on the sadness that enshrouds her.
I enjoyed the depth of this novel and the emotion that runs throughout. There were parts that I thought could have been condensed as I found my attention wandered. I felt fully invested in Lucie’s journey but sections of the book were unnecessarily prolonged. It’s certainly an emotional course through grief, loss and family and I think the writer portrayed this in a heartfelt manner. As a debut, it’s definitely a strong novel and I look forward to seeing what Docton writes next.
With thanks to HQ for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2026
'You won't like it here'...
Says Clifford, to young Lucie, who has been uprooted from, exotic, Malaysia and deposited in a, dreary foreign land, to live in the care of relatives where, as one of her guardians tells her 'nobody is happy'
So starts, The Ruins, the glorious debut novel from Becky Docton.
We then follow Lucie, her mother Ruth and a cast of supporting characters, over the course of their lives, in a world caught in the turmoil of war and through personal upheaval, grief and loss.
The major twist of the book happens on Lucie's 21st Birthday, in Bristol, at an unexpected meeting....I do not exaggerate, when I say, I gasped audibly....
In short, I was utterly absorbed, by this book. There was, however, one REALLY BIG problem with this book....
I, really, really, want to know what Lucie does next!!!
I need a sequel!
Huge thanks to the publishers HQ, Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for for providing this book for review.
All opinions are my own
#TheRuins #NetGalley.
Says Clifford, to young Lucie, who has been uprooted from, exotic, Malaysia and deposited in a, dreary foreign land, to live in the care of relatives where, as one of her guardians tells her 'nobody is happy'
So starts, The Ruins, the glorious debut novel from Becky Docton.
We then follow Lucie, her mother Ruth and a cast of supporting characters, over the course of their lives, in a world caught in the turmoil of war and through personal upheaval, grief and loss.
The major twist of the book happens on Lucie's 21st Birthday, in Bristol, at an unexpected meeting....I do not exaggerate, when I say, I gasped audibly....
In short, I was utterly absorbed, by this book. There was, however, one REALLY BIG problem with this book....
I, really, really, want to know what Lucie does next!!!
I need a sequel!
Huge thanks to the publishers HQ, Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for for providing this book for review.
All opinions are my own
#TheRuins #NetGalley.
August 21, 2026
This novel absolutely wrecked me in the best way. It follows Lucie from the moment she's abandoned by her mother as a bewildered 7-year-old at a train station, left with a scarred cousin & his cynic, alcoholic wife in their decaying family home. Then she's sent off to boarding school while longing for a mother who never comes. The story spans decades, weaving between Lucie's lonely childhood in England & her mother's own suffocating misery in colonial Malaysia, before eventually trapping Lucie in a loveless, barren marriage. It's a sweeping, deeply atmospheric look at women's lives during the WWII era & I was completely consumed by it.
Honestly, my heart just ached for Lucie the entire way through. You feel her longing & isolation so viscerally. The way she clings to hope even when everyone around her keeps failing her. I found myself rooting for her from the very 1st page & getting emotional as she stumbled through girlhood & into womanhood, constantly battling the expectations of a world that gives women so little room to breathe. The novel doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of that time either: miscarriages, fertility struggles, toxic marriages, & how easily women were silenced or dismissed. It's poignant & sometimes painful to read, but it all felt so real. I kept thinking how impossible it would've been to survive back then as a woman just trying to want something for herself.
And oh, I loved the historical backdrop. It's not often I stumble across Malaysia's colonial history in a Western novel. The author brings the era to life with such rich, sensory detail. The contrast between the rotting English estate & the vibrant tropics was stunning. The twists caught me off guard & the characters felt like actual people I'd met. This book is beautiful, sad, & tragic, full of truth about what it means to be a woman searching for freedom.
Honestly, my heart just ached for Lucie the entire way through. You feel her longing & isolation so viscerally. The way she clings to hope even when everyone around her keeps failing her. I found myself rooting for her from the very 1st page & getting emotional as she stumbled through girlhood & into womanhood, constantly battling the expectations of a world that gives women so little room to breathe. The novel doesn't shy away from the brutal realities of that time either: miscarriages, fertility struggles, toxic marriages, & how easily women were silenced or dismissed. It's poignant & sometimes painful to read, but it all felt so real. I kept thinking how impossible it would've been to survive back then as a woman just trying to want something for herself.
And oh, I loved the historical backdrop. It's not often I stumble across Malaysia's colonial history in a Western novel. The author brings the era to life with such rich, sensory detail. The contrast between the rotting English estate & the vibrant tropics was stunning. The twists caught me off guard & the characters felt like actual people I'd met. This book is beautiful, sad, & tragic, full of truth about what it means to be a woman searching for freedom.
August 31, 2026
3.75 stars
I listened to this one on audio, and for about the first 65%, I was really enjoying the journey. The story follows a young girl whose mother leaves her in England with a family member after years of living in Asia. With WWII approaching, we follow her growing up during this period while she tries to piece together what happened to her family.
The narrator did a good job overall, although I didn’t love the character voices. There wasn’t always much distinction between the different characters, which made some of the dialogue harder to follow on audio.
The big, very much in-your-face theme throughout this book is child loss, so definitely check the trigger warnings if that’s something you need to be mindful of. A lot of the story is really about trauma, grief, loss, and trying to find your way through the aftermath of it all.
My biggest issue came around the 65% mark, when there’s a major plot twist and, honestly, the book kind of went rogue for me after that. I struggled to understand where the story was going or what exactly I was supposed to take from everything that happened afterward. At that point, it felt less like I was following a clear plot and more like I was simply following this woman through her experiences of trauma and loss.
And while there were times when I really liked the FMC, there were other moments where I genuinely did not understand some of the decisions she made.
Overall, I think this is a book that worked better for me as a character journey through trauma and loss than as an actual plot-driven story. The first part was engaging and I was invested in finding out what happened, but after the twist, I found myself increasingly confused and emotionally exhausted by it all.
I’m glad I read it, but I could only handle so much of the heaviness. 3.75 stars.
I listened to this one on audio, and for about the first 65%, I was really enjoying the journey. The story follows a young girl whose mother leaves her in England with a family member after years of living in Asia. With WWII approaching, we follow her growing up during this period while she tries to piece together what happened to her family.
The narrator did a good job overall, although I didn’t love the character voices. There wasn’t always much distinction between the different characters, which made some of the dialogue harder to follow on audio.
The big, very much in-your-face theme throughout this book is child loss, so definitely check the trigger warnings if that’s something you need to be mindful of. A lot of the story is really about trauma, grief, loss, and trying to find your way through the aftermath of it all.
My biggest issue came around the 65% mark, when there’s a major plot twist and, honestly, the book kind of went rogue for me after that. I struggled to understand where the story was going or what exactly I was supposed to take from everything that happened afterward. At that point, it felt less like I was following a clear plot and more like I was simply following this woman through her experiences of trauma and loss.
And while there were times when I really liked the FMC, there were other moments where I genuinely did not understand some of the decisions she made.
Overall, I think this is a book that worked better for me as a character journey through trauma and loss than as an actual plot-driven story. The first part was engaging and I was invested in finding out what happened, but after the twist, I found myself increasingly confused and emotionally exhausted by it all.
I’m glad I read it, but I could only handle so much of the heaviness. 3.75 stars.
September 3, 2026
For my reading enjoyment, I give 4 stars, I have added an extra star for the author's ability as a wordsmith. The child, Lucie, is left in England with relatives to attend boarding school while her parents, Ruth and Simon (step-father) returned to Maylasia, where Lucie was raised til her 7th year, and where Simon worked.
Her new guardians, Enid and Cliff, were an odd pair, Enid a negative pessimiest, and Cliff, a veteran of the war, where he had lost a hand, were given over to her care, even though they really didn't know anything about raising kids. Ruth missed her mom intensely from the very beginning, and wrote her many letters begging her mother to come back for her. Unfortunately, Ruth felt it would be more painful for Lucie if she let her know that she also missed Lucie, so just sent postcards with little to no information of home in Maylasia.
So here is Lucie, lonely, and very much in her own thoughts. We see that she is very bright, and a great lover of words especially more difficult ones. I feel like in that way she is representative of the author, who often weaves lovely and interesting words in her story telling.
Anyway, I never like to say much about the story, and you can get quite a bigger picture by reading the Goodreads description. I am a person who does not like big books and rarely reads books over 400 pages. This one was over 500 pages. I surprised myself by how my attention is kept as we follow Lucie through much of her life, as she tries to fit in, and to also find out what happened to her family, as they are lost to her eventually.
Her new guardians, Enid and Cliff, were an odd pair, Enid a negative pessimiest, and Cliff, a veteran of the war, where he had lost a hand, were given over to her care, even though they really didn't know anything about raising kids. Ruth missed her mom intensely from the very beginning, and wrote her many letters begging her mother to come back for her. Unfortunately, Ruth felt it would be more painful for Lucie if she let her know that she also missed Lucie, so just sent postcards with little to no information of home in Maylasia.
So here is Lucie, lonely, and very much in her own thoughts. We see that she is very bright, and a great lover of words especially more difficult ones. I feel like in that way she is representative of the author, who often weaves lovely and interesting words in her story telling.
Anyway, I never like to say much about the story, and you can get quite a bigger picture by reading the Goodreads description. I am a person who does not like big books and rarely reads books over 400 pages. This one was over 500 pages. I surprised myself by how my attention is kept as we follow Lucie through much of her life, as she tries to fit in, and to also find out what happened to her family, as they are lost to her eventually.
September 8, 2026
This was a captivating historical story about a family, and the trials and tribulations they went through, mostly through the eyes of the female characters.
Lucie is the main character we follow, from her life as a 7 year old girl who is taken to Devon in 1937 by her parents, and left at the ancestral home to continue her schooling, but never explained to why she's on her own. Her mother seems quite a complex character herself so we do see the drama play out through her eyes too which gives it a much better context.
But with Lucie, we watch this young girl over the years as she's trying to make sense of how her life is panning out. Why the adults in her life have betrayed her, and finding comfort in the new routines and friends she makes along the way. One thing we learn about Lucie is she's a very resilient young lady and that carries her through with lots to explore and secrets to uncover.
Tragedy is never far away so there's a new aspect of Lucie's journey that we follow along with and your heart just breaks for this character and all that life throws her way. The family drama is captured really well and Lucie learns to start living for herself after so many years of putting other people first. Highly recommended read!
Lucie is the main character we follow, from her life as a 7 year old girl who is taken to Devon in 1937 by her parents, and left at the ancestral home to continue her schooling, but never explained to why she's on her own. Her mother seems quite a complex character herself so we do see the drama play out through her eyes too which gives it a much better context.
But with Lucie, we watch this young girl over the years as she's trying to make sense of how her life is panning out. Why the adults in her life have betrayed her, and finding comfort in the new routines and friends she makes along the way. One thing we learn about Lucie is she's a very resilient young lady and that carries her through with lots to explore and secrets to uncover.
Tragedy is never far away so there's a new aspect of Lucie's journey that we follow along with and your heart just breaks for this character and all that life throws her way. The family drama is captured really well and Lucie learns to start living for herself after so many years of putting other people first. Highly recommended read!
August 26, 2026
I intended to read the first few pages of the Ruins, Becky Docton's debut, before slotting it into my review pile. Instead, I read and read and read some more, until somehow it was morning and I had finished it.
It opens with seven-year-old Lucie being left in England by her mother, who is returning to Ceylon. Odd distant relatives, boarding school, and the enforced distance from her mother are not all that Lucie must contend with, because WW2 breaks out soon after, and she's heard the happy news that she now has a little sister... From there we follow twenty years of Lucie's life across two continents, though the timescale never feels sprawling, because we're gripped by Lucie's story, and pulled along by the force of her personality. What unfolds is often bittersweet, so it's a highly emotional read, but this is well balanced so personally I wept at points but ultimately found it highly life-affirming rather than depressing.
It's hard to believe that this masterful storytelling is a debut! It's an absolute tour de force.
It opens with seven-year-old Lucie being left in England by her mother, who is returning to Ceylon. Odd distant relatives, boarding school, and the enforced distance from her mother are not all that Lucie must contend with, because WW2 breaks out soon after, and she's heard the happy news that she now has a little sister... From there we follow twenty years of Lucie's life across two continents, though the timescale never feels sprawling, because we're gripped by Lucie's story, and pulled along by the force of her personality. What unfolds is often bittersweet, so it's a highly emotional read, but this is well balanced so personally I wept at points but ultimately found it highly life-affirming rather than depressing.
It's hard to believe that this masterful storytelling is a debut! It's an absolute tour de force.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I read this as an ARC. A story about Lucie and how she navigates through life before, during and after the second world war. Having been left with some relatives in England while her Mother goes to Malaya.
If you like Goodnight Mr. Tom then I think you would like this. A different perspective on how WW2 impacted people’s lives. I personally found the writing style difficult to read, with long words and even longer sentences. However I can appreciate that the language used was in keeping with the time period of the book. Despite that I did find I wanted to know what happens to Lucie and I stayed with her on her journey to the end. Some parts were hard hitting and made me tear up, some buts made me laugh out loud. Prepare to feel all the emotions when reading this. 3 stars because of the language style.
If you like Goodnight Mr. Tom then I think you would like this. A different perspective on how WW2 impacted people’s lives. I personally found the writing style difficult to read, with long words and even longer sentences. However I can appreciate that the language used was in keeping with the time period of the book. Despite that I did find I wanted to know what happens to Lucie and I stayed with her on her journey to the end. Some parts were hard hitting and made me tear up, some buts made me laugh out loud. Prepare to feel all the emotions when reading this. 3 stars because of the language style.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well its fair to say that I absolutely loved this. A wonderful tale of women and their lives in the WW2 period. I was rooting for Lucie from the off and got so invested in her story. There are some real women's issues at the heart of this. Notably fertility and miscarriage but also friendships, marriage, treatment of women at this time and so much more. This spanned many years, and I'd definitely appreciate a sequel.
A couple of surprises, very real characters, and a mirror to women's society of that time. Poignant.
A couple of surprises, very real characters, and a mirror to women's society of that time. Poignant.
August 27, 2026
Lucie is such a compelling character, and I found myself wanting to know where life would take her next. The story moves between different places and stages of her life, but it never felt confusing or rushed. There’s plenty of sadness here, particularly around family and loss, but there are also moments of warmth and hope. I liked the historical detail too, without it taking over the story. A thoughtful, engaging read with characters that stayed with me afterwards.
Many thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy
Many thanks to HQ and NetGalley for providing this advanced copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and author for an early read of 'The Ruins'. I enjoyed following Lucie's story as she grew from a little girl to adulthood. Set in England and Malaysia during the years pre WW2 and after we meet a large cast of characters- some nice, others not so. It's a well researched and well written emotional story with one or two surprises along the way. I look forward to reading more from Becky Docton.
September 3, 2026
Everything about this book is stunning. The language used is rich and complex and you can almost feel the personality of Lucie growing and evolving through the pages. 4.25 🌟
September 10, 2026
3.5⭐️ I enjoyed this until the 60% ish mark then I struggled, it could have been 100 - 150 pages less.
September 14, 2026
An excellent debut novel. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and wanted to know how it would end for Lucy.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews