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The Summer House
In the small inlaid wooden box, Matt's mother had kept all his childhood memories. Amongst them are many photos of Matt as a child, growing up. But something about the photos has always puzzled Matt - was that really him? Why did he not remember those clothes? The toys? And where, in the photos, was his sister Imogen? He has a strange unresolved feeling that there is something missing in his life. Imogen is living with her husband, a country vet, and their gorgeous baby in a rented cottage. Since her childhood she has loved the Summer House, a charming folly in the grounds of her oldest friends' beautiful and ancient house on Exmoor, and now they have the chance of buying. But her marriage is threatened when her husband refuses to live so far from his practice. Meanwhile, Matt begins to discovers the strange and tragic secret which has affected his whole life...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
65 people are currently reading
670 people want to read
About the author
Marcia Willett
66 books361 followersMarcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
June 9, 2023
The first couple of pages of this book didn't grab me, but I chose to stick with it. (That is very unusual for me these days, but, if you are a fan of Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy, you will probably understand why I decided to hang in.)
I was charmed by the characters and the setting and eventually ended up finishing the book quite quickly.
This is not a big story, nor is it a complicated plot.
It gently describes the struggles of a family trying to do the "right thing" in a loving manner. Along the way, a surprising family secret is uncovered.
It's not a light-hearted book, but neither is it deep or heavy.
There was a sense of mystery to it, but not mystery in the sense of a who-dunnit, or suspense novel, more a sense of other-worldliness.
At the end of the story, I found myself left with wanting more.
There was no cliff hanger, but there was the opportunity to consider the character’s lives if there were to be a sequel.
And upon research, I have discovered no such sequel, so I will have to be satisfied with letting my imagination take me to a future place with these characters – especially Matt’s journey.
(Trust me, you will understand if you decide to read this book.)
I was charmed by the characters and the setting and eventually ended up finishing the book quite quickly.
This is not a big story, nor is it a complicated plot.
It gently describes the struggles of a family trying to do the "right thing" in a loving manner. Along the way, a surprising family secret is uncovered.
It's not a light-hearted book, but neither is it deep or heavy.
There was a sense of mystery to it, but not mystery in the sense of a who-dunnit, or suspense novel, more a sense of other-worldliness.
At the end of the story, I found myself left with wanting more.
There was no cliff hanger, but there was the opportunity to consider the character’s lives if there were to be a sequel.
And upon research, I have discovered no such sequel, so I will have to be satisfied with letting my imagination take me to a future place with these characters – especially Matt’s journey.
(Trust me, you will understand if you decide to read this book.)
July 23, 2024
A wonderful, mini-family saga with a Rosamunde Pilcher flavor!
The Summer House was interesting from start to finish. I was immediately charmed by all of the characters, but especially by Lottie (who has a slightly mystical presence) who was my all-time favorite person in this novel. She reminded me most of Rosamunde Pilcher's use of a strong, warm and likable older female main character.
From the older generation of Milo, Venetia, Sarah and Lottie to the younger generation of Matt, Im, Nick and Jules (and, of course, little Rosie), all of these unique personalities and their interactions kept me wanting to know more.
The cause of Matt's unease and loneliness was such an unusual twist, but I loved it. It might have been slightly unbelievable after the fact, but believable while I was reading the book.
The Summer House has such a cozy vibe, even though there are a few difficult issues that each family member must face. I thought that the summer house itself would have more of its own sense of place but, to me, the main focus of the novel is Lottie and everything almost seems to revolve around her.
I would highly recommend this book to any Rosamunde Pilcher fans, even though the writing and overall tone are slightly different. Marcia Willett's books seem to have more contemporary elements, conversations and situations. But, they are fantastic in their own right. The Summer House would make a lovely tv movie adaptation!
The Summer House was interesting from start to finish. I was immediately charmed by all of the characters, but especially by Lottie (who has a slightly mystical presence) who was my all-time favorite person in this novel. She reminded me most of Rosamunde Pilcher's use of a strong, warm and likable older female main character.
From the older generation of Milo, Venetia, Sarah and Lottie to the younger generation of Matt, Im, Nick and Jules (and, of course, little Rosie), all of these unique personalities and their interactions kept me wanting to know more.
The cause of Matt's unease and loneliness was such an unusual twist, but I loved it. It might have been slightly unbelievable after the fact, but believable while I was reading the book.
The Summer House has such a cozy vibe, even though there are a few difficult issues that each family member must face. I thought that the summer house itself would have more of its own sense of place but, to me, the main focus of the novel is Lottie and everything almost seems to revolve around her.
I would highly recommend this book to any Rosamunde Pilcher fans, even though the writing and overall tone are slightly different. Marcia Willett's books seem to have more contemporary elements, conversations and situations. But, they are fantastic in their own right. The Summer House would make a lovely tv movie adaptation!
August 26, 2012
Milo and Lottie are brother and sister-in-law who have raised Imogene and Matt when their mother Helen was unable to look after them. Matt is a successful writer, living in London,looking to fill a hole in his life, and Imogene is living near Milo and Lottie with her husband and infant daughter. Milo has a son Nick by his ex-wife and he needs a large amount of cash. Milo agrees to raise the sum of money by selling the Summer House, a small property attached to the main house, to Imogene and her husband. However complications arise on several fronts. This is not a big story, nor is it a complicated plot. It gently describes the struggles of a family trying to do the "right thing" in a loving manner. Along the way, a surprising family secret is uncovered. It's not a light-hearted book, but neither is it deep or heavy. There was a sense of mystery to it, but not mystery in the sense of a who-dunnit, or suspense novel, more a sense of other-worldliness. I would be interested to read more of the author's work.
September 19, 2011
The first couple of pages of this book didn't grab me, so I set it aside for a couple of weeks. Once I got into the story, however, I was charmed by the characters and the setting and finished the book quite quickly. The central plot contains a mystery that I didn't find very mysterious; it includes 3 different elements, one of which I guessed when it was first referenced, and the other two before the book ended. I don't know if Willett's intention was for readers to understand these plot elements before the characters did, and watch the characters move toward these truths, or if the reader is supposed to be surprised as well. Despite that issue, I felt satisfied when I put the book down. I though Willett did a good job of tying up the loose ends in the various relationships, without making everything too neat and pat. And I was disappointed to leave behind many of the characters, especially Lottie, who would make a wonderful neighbour and friend!
March 3, 2013
Ugh...I finished it. I could not stay with the beginning and my mind kept on wandering. I couldn't keep the people straight and thought that it might be a tool the author was using for a big reveal. No...it was just a false attempt at such I think. I have no idea how I got into it enough to finish it. It had some charming parts but really it was, well, meh.
Furthermore, the author kept on interjecting strange words for verbs...or just using them out of place. I'm sure some would say that is because it is an English or Welsh author but I have read plenty of English or Welsh authors and they don't do this. For example, "The dog was quartering the kitchen table." What does that mean? I guess it was walking around under it in a pattern that divided the table into quarters? I wish I had written them all down as I read them because the words made absolutley no sense...like saying, "We were all marmalade with wonder". (Dear Ms. Willett, feel free to borrow that phrase for your next project.)
Ugh..I could go on and on. The overly flowery discriptions of flowers thrown in for no reason. The predictable reveal that seemed a tool to just end the book. The best was at the end when I read the last page "About the Author". It is 6 lines and tells about how she had dreams of becoming a ballerina but that ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. Seriously? How old are you and THIS is what you want people to define you by? Whilst rubbish.
Perhaps I am being too spaniel?
(One more thing...if Tom is 40 and his father was in the Afghan war and died when he could scarcely remember him that would have been about 30 years ago. Was there an Afghan war in 1992?)
Furthermore, the author kept on interjecting strange words for verbs...or just using them out of place. I'm sure some would say that is because it is an English or Welsh author but I have read plenty of English or Welsh authors and they don't do this. For example, "The dog was quartering the kitchen table." What does that mean? I guess it was walking around under it in a pattern that divided the table into quarters? I wish I had written them all down as I read them because the words made absolutley no sense...like saying, "We were all marmalade with wonder". (Dear Ms. Willett, feel free to borrow that phrase for your next project.)
Ugh..I could go on and on. The overly flowery discriptions of flowers thrown in for no reason. The predictable reveal that seemed a tool to just end the book. The best was at the end when I read the last page "About the Author". It is 6 lines and tells about how she had dreams of becoming a ballerina but that ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. Seriously? How old are you and THIS is what you want people to define you by? Whilst rubbish.
Perhaps I am being too spaniel?
(One more thing...if Tom is 40 and his father was in the Afghan war and died when he could scarcely remember him that would have been about 30 years ago. Was there an Afghan war in 1992?)
August 18, 2024
I liked this book. Willett created interesting characters, people I would like to meet. The mystery seemed more of a sub plot, I wished it had been more developed and resolved with a stronger ending. But all in all it was an enjoyable read!
September 5, 2023
This was due back to the library before I had a chance to finish it... and I just don't care. It wasn't holding my interest anyway.
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July 6, 2024
An almost perfect summer read. Echoes of Rosamunde Pilcher in many ways.
There’s one relationship that decreased my enjoyment, and I would have loved for Matt to gather all his loose threads together in a more complete way.
There’s one relationship that decreased my enjoyment, and I would have loved for Matt to gather all his loose threads together in a more complete way.
January 25, 2013
Not what I was expecting at all, and not in a good way. Where was the intrigue, suspense and the mystery?
The memory box is hardly mentioned in the first 3/4 of the book, so you spend most of the time waiting for something interesting to happen... not that it ever really does.
There is a mix of convoluted characters that are very insipid and boring, and add no real depth to the book at all. The author tries to explain the relationships between the characters as if this is an important part of the plot, and will play a big part in the end game, but they just don't. I really didn't see the point of practically reading a whole book on the mundane actions of stereotypical English countryside characters, just to have them have no impact on the plot at all!
Why do authors think that they have to write British characters the same way over an over again? Not all of us have afternoon tea and cake, and say old fashioned things such as "whatever is the time? and "I've had a beastly day"! Contrary to belief, we British do move with the times, and we are able to loosen our stiff upper lips enough to speak colloquially!
The mystery itself was very glossed over for most of the book, hardly being mentioned at all until nearly the end, and then being hastily resolved within a couple of pages! To be honest I couldn't really understand why the secret was kept for so long, and why it had to be kept under wraps.
This was my first Marcia Willet book, and I expected much more from a supposedly accomplished author. It was lackluster and boring, with no real direction or resolution.
The memory box is hardly mentioned in the first 3/4 of the book, so you spend most of the time waiting for something interesting to happen... not that it ever really does.
There is a mix of convoluted characters that are very insipid and boring, and add no real depth to the book at all. The author tries to explain the relationships between the characters as if this is an important part of the plot, and will play a big part in the end game, but they just don't. I really didn't see the point of practically reading a whole book on the mundane actions of stereotypical English countryside characters, just to have them have no impact on the plot at all!
Why do authors think that they have to write British characters the same way over an over again? Not all of us have afternoon tea and cake, and say old fashioned things such as "whatever is the time? and "I've had a beastly day"! Contrary to belief, we British do move with the times, and we are able to loosen our stiff upper lips enough to speak colloquially!
The mystery itself was very glossed over for most of the book, hardly being mentioned at all until nearly the end, and then being hastily resolved within a couple of pages! To be honest I couldn't really understand why the secret was kept for so long, and why it had to be kept under wraps.
This was my first Marcia Willet book, and I expected much more from a supposedly accomplished author. It was lackluster and boring, with no real direction or resolution.
April 27, 2017
This is one of those books that makes you want to go to Cornwall. Milo and Lottie live in beautiful High House. I want to be able to walk around the garden with Milo as he works or sip a glass of wine while he makes dinner. Or sit and have tea and chat with Lottie while she knits.
It was like bejng a fly on the wall watching Matt, Im and Nick dealing with where they were in life. You could kick Nick up the backside but found sympathy for him because Im does.
Best was watching Matt come to realize what the lonely part in his heart was. I loved how Summer House became the key to unlocking a few mysteries for him. I was so glad that Marcia Willet gives us some wonderful description of the house.
It was like bejng a fly on the wall watching Matt, Im and Nick dealing with where they were in life. You could kick Nick up the backside but found sympathy for him because Im does.
Best was watching Matt come to realize what the lonely part in his heart was. I loved how Summer House became the key to unlocking a few mysteries for him. I was so glad that Marcia Willet gives us some wonderful description of the house.
January 25, 2019
3.5
This book had such great promise: interesting characters with various relationships to one another, a hint of a mystery, and a great setting. And because of these things, I enjoyed the overall reading experience. However, I think the biggest problem is the structure of the book. Nothing really happens until the last third, and the few things that do happen in the first two thirds never come back to play a part. The mystery is solved through an insane coincidence that just pops up in the last 50 pages. There was so much more that Willett could have done with the idea that this book is based on, and while the writing itself was great, the execution and timing of the plot fell flat.
This book had such great promise: interesting characters with various relationships to one another, a hint of a mystery, and a great setting. And because of these things, I enjoyed the overall reading experience. However, I think the biggest problem is the structure of the book. Nothing really happens until the last third, and the few things that do happen in the first two thirds never come back to play a part. The mystery is solved through an insane coincidence that just pops up in the last 50 pages. There was so much more that Willett could have done with the idea that this book is based on, and while the writing itself was great, the execution and timing of the plot fell flat.
June 18, 2018
I enjoyed this book, not what I was expecting to happen, looking forward to reading more of her books
August 23, 2018
New covers on books sometimes fool me into thinking I haven't read this one. Yup, fooled again. Still, well written and plotted.
February 20, 2014
I loved the idea of the main premise, but it didn't fulfill it's promise. It just danced on the surface of the characters thoughts & ideas; it stayed very one dimensional. I got none of the feelings needed to really connect with any of the characters. It really needed to go deeper on many levels, and I think if it had it definitely would have not only kept the original promise, but surpassed it. I had figured out what was going on before the end, but I'm not sure if that's what the author had intended or not. The one thing that really bugged me about this book was the gross overuse of the word "whilst". While, technically, the majority of the time while & whilst are interchangeable, there are times when they are not. When I first saw "whilst" in this I was actually charmed since it's so very rarely used anymore but when I started seeing it on an average of every other page and not always used properly, it became very stilted and dare I say, pretentious? Although, perhaps overblown would be the better term. I did like the book, but not enough for me to go nuts looking for it when I temporarily mislaid it, and I've already passed it on.
August 8, 2012
Still a fluff book, but a step higher than The Great Escape. The writing is a little wooden, and the plot is both contrived and predictable, but it's an enjoyable book, maybe because Willett seems to believe so whole-heartedly in what she writes about: the healing power of the English countryside and family love, even (especially) if that family is patched together. She introduces WAY too many characters whose relationships are far too complex in far too casual a way at the start (Tom was the author of the book Lottie was editing, and Matt and Imogene are his children, sort of adopted by Lottie, who lives with Old Soldier Whose Name I Forget (but platonically) whose ex-wife sara is angry at Old Soldier for allowing them to do so, and Old Soldier's mistress, Venetia, visits some woman named Clara, whose purpose and identity I never figured out. . . . I think Willett's editor should've pointed out that while her characters all made sense to her, they would be overwhelming to the readers!
Anyway. A pleasant book.
Anyway. A pleasant book.
December 7, 2013
First book by this author and not sure if I will read any more by her. Different story and was rather depressing. The characters in the book were all different and guess you could say mostly dysfunctional. Most strange folks. The book drug but for some reason it kept me curious about what was going to happen. Could not figure out where the story was going. The relationship between Milo and Lottie was strange as well as the relationship between Milo and Venetia. Then there was nick and all his problems. There is Matt who is a writer who had a huge success but now seems to have writer's block and his strange relationship with Annabel and then there is Imogene who is Matt's sister and her husband Jules. They go they a rough patch. A rather thought provoking book at times but not the most enjoyable read. All I can say is the story is different. Probably a good book for a book club to discuss. Would be so many different opinions I am sure.
September 12, 2012
It was okay. After Matt's mother dies, Matt, the main character, is trying to find out why he feels as if something has always been missing in his life and why he can not make emotional connections with anyone outside his family. Things don't start to make sense to him until very late in the book. I was wondering what was going to happen since I was quickly running out of pages to read. Then all of these coincidences occur and things fall into place for Matt. In my opinion, the coincidences were hokey. The story seemed to drag on a forever and then suddenly everything is figured out (I don't want to give anything away). I would have liked to know more about the results of Matt's discovery. I think that would have been more interesting than the rest of the book.
November 25, 2012
"Matt has always felt that there was something missing in his life. His mother kept all his childhood memories in a small inlaid wooden box, along with many photos of Matt as a child. But something about these photos has always puzzled Matt. Why doesn't he remember those clothes? The toys? And where, in the photos, is his sister Imogen?"
I really couldn't get into this book. In the beginning I had trouble keeping track of the characters and their relationships. I found them all a little bland. So, I didn't finish it. Although I was curious about the ending, I preferred to read "spoiler" reviews rather than finish the book.
I really couldn't get into this book. In the beginning I had trouble keeping track of the characters and their relationships. I found them all a little bland. So, I didn't finish it. Although I was curious about the ending, I preferred to read "spoiler" reviews rather than finish the book.
September 17, 2012
Loved the style and setting of the book. I enjoyed most of the characters, too - I'd like to KNOW some of these people. But the solution to Matt's 'mystery' was ridiculous. Who would go off and leave a country where your child has been abducted - especially when you KNOW who did it? And never mention it to anyone or try to have your government assist you? Stupid. I'd like a follow up so that Matt could get really Old Testament on the evil nurse and so-called 'adoptive mother'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2012
Fans of Pilcher will like this author, but it is very annoying that St. Martin's keeps changing her UK titles to banal interchangeable ones. Be careful not to buy a book you already own!
In this book, nothing much happens - Matt is haunted by a barely remembered childhood and agonizes about becoming involved with a young woman he barely likes - I assume a sequel is forthcoming.
In this book, nothing much happens - Matt is haunted by a barely remembered childhood and agonizes about becoming involved with a young woman he barely likes - I assume a sequel is forthcoming.
March 21, 2012
This book went no where. It didn't even have a good "following someone's life" story that I am usually a total sucker for. I was bored by the almosts and the what ifs and just felt myself going COME ON SOMETHING HAPPEN! Sigh.It was horrible.
January 8, 2015
Absolutely LOVED this book! I loved the writing style and the characters...I wish I knew them in real life. :) There were so many insights and messages within the story that I found deeply insightful and therapeutic. Cannot wait to read more by this author.
February 5, 2016
I was so pleased to have found this book in the local charity shop.
I really enjoyed this book, although there was not as much mystery or suspense as I thought there would be. This is the first time that I have read any books by this author and am sure that it will not be the last.
I really enjoyed this book, although there was not as much mystery or suspense as I thought there would be. This is the first time that I have read any books by this author and am sure that it will not be the last.
November 8, 2010
Half way through and this just isn't holding my attention...
Read
July 16, 2012kept reading hoping it got better. Didnt. dont bother
September 22, 2012
I finished it, but I'm not sure it was worth the effort. It just moved so slowly. I really wanted to like the story and the characters but I just didn't really connect with them.
January 29, 2026
I found this at a free library and thought it would be a cozy summer read filled with beautiful scenery and complex family dynamics, so I took it home.
The book starts off with an introduction to Matt, the MC, and gives background on his history with the special memory box. There's some throwback insight to Matt being a jerk to his little sister about how SHE wouldn't remember their dad--only HE was old enough to, but she didn't care because she's the perfect embodiment of unshakeable happiness. There's a weird blend of affection crossed with unfounded competition toward her, though I guess some siblings are like that. I figure this will be relevant to the character development.
Moving on, there's brief mention of a phone call between the siblings that introduces Lottie and Milo as people who had a tremendous impact on the well-being of their lives. Matt calls Lottie and arranges a visit in half an hour, setting the stage to transition the narrative to Lottie and Milo. These folks are boring as they come. "Lottie tracked Milo to the garden room"--uhh what? I could understand that phrasing if they lived on a massive homestead with an abundance of plants and distance to search through, but come on. The old man is sitting in a chair. 'Tracking' him in this context sounds really out of place. She tells him of Matt coming--"isn't that fun? He'll be with us in time for supper." *yawn.* Again, the context is not that deep. Some blah-blah-blah speculating about how Matt is probably in for a disaster with his next book because the first one was too successful for anyone to expect better than garbage to follow.
Lottie mentions tea, then gets distracted looking out the window and seeing someone else making a surprise visit--oh! Its Venetia. Who is that? They crap-talk her eating habits before she arrives, commenting not to let her know there's cake. Lottie tells her to go 'find' Milo, as if he's regularly getting lost or something. Why not just tell the woman where he is if she's being instructed to go to him while she prepares tea and cake? Venetia melodramatically claims intense hunger and is promptly offered said cake. She wails and whines over--sorry, what? And Milo says some some stuff about mixed breed dog names. More judgement gets cast, this time on Matt and his sister's mother for grieving differently than others after her husband died. Oh yeah--back to the tea and cake, Lottie stops on the way to delivering it, pondering over some more judgements of Milo reminiscing V's youthful beauty while V wails sympathies over pathetic, desperate Clara. Wait, who is Clara? Milo 'breaks the spell' with some dumb comment about how old age isn't for sissies. Something blah-blah-blah, V is an insecure older woman Lottie tries to be kind to, mat''s visit is announced again, then we delve into describing the flowers and slip into a description of how Lottie feels ghosts in the garden and has always had this special 6th sense she connected with Tom over. Who's Tom?? Oh, he's Matt's dad, ok. Lucky we get to know who *he* is because I still don't know who Venetia or Clara are.
THEN we find out Milo was married to the elder sister of Lottie (Charlotte--HE specially gave her that ugly nickname. Charlotte is a BEAUTIFUL name) but its ok that she's his ex now because there was always a special connection between Lottie and Milo. He was even sweet to her back when Sara, the elder sister, first brought her home. Lets briefly mention and brush off the fact there was, not only a 13-year age gap, but LOTTIE WAS ONLY TEN WHEN THEY MET. So he was 23 and they had a special connection then, hey? And his mom 'adopted' Lottie after her and her sister's mom died, even giving her her own room at the house and everything. Yeah, that's...not weird at all...???
Anyway, that's only to page 20. Its all over the place, its boring as HECK (sorry, author), and the characters don't feel 'introduced'. It feels more like I'm spying on people I've never met and getting footnotes on their history. This is the first book I've EVER looked at the end to see what the 'big secret' was. Secret twins. Shocker. Kinda figured it might be as such when I picked it up, though thought the journey through the story would be worth it. Its not. I just cant keep my attention on it and I typically get through books in 2-6 days depending on length because my attention span for novels is fairly reliable when the book is even half decent. I even tried skimming through a bunch of the other pages to see if it gets better and its taxing how boring it is. DNF.
The book starts off with an introduction to Matt, the MC, and gives background on his history with the special memory box. There's some throwback insight to Matt being a jerk to his little sister about how SHE wouldn't remember their dad--only HE was old enough to, but she didn't care because she's the perfect embodiment of unshakeable happiness. There's a weird blend of affection crossed with unfounded competition toward her, though I guess some siblings are like that. I figure this will be relevant to the character development.
Moving on, there's brief mention of a phone call between the siblings that introduces Lottie and Milo as people who had a tremendous impact on the well-being of their lives. Matt calls Lottie and arranges a visit in half an hour, setting the stage to transition the narrative to Lottie and Milo. These folks are boring as they come. "Lottie tracked Milo to the garden room"--uhh what? I could understand that phrasing if they lived on a massive homestead with an abundance of plants and distance to search through, but come on. The old man is sitting in a chair. 'Tracking' him in this context sounds really out of place. She tells him of Matt coming--"isn't that fun? He'll be with us in time for supper." *yawn.* Again, the context is not that deep. Some blah-blah-blah speculating about how Matt is probably in for a disaster with his next book because the first one was too successful for anyone to expect better than garbage to follow.
Lottie mentions tea, then gets distracted looking out the window and seeing someone else making a surprise visit--oh! Its Venetia. Who is that? They crap-talk her eating habits before she arrives, commenting not to let her know there's cake. Lottie tells her to go 'find' Milo, as if he's regularly getting lost or something. Why not just tell the woman where he is if she's being instructed to go to him while she prepares tea and cake? Venetia melodramatically claims intense hunger and is promptly offered said cake. She wails and whines over--sorry, what? And Milo says some some stuff about mixed breed dog names. More judgement gets cast, this time on Matt and his sister's mother for grieving differently than others after her husband died. Oh yeah--back to the tea and cake, Lottie stops on the way to delivering it, pondering over some more judgements of Milo reminiscing V's youthful beauty while V wails sympathies over pathetic, desperate Clara. Wait, who is Clara? Milo 'breaks the spell' with some dumb comment about how old age isn't for sissies. Something blah-blah-blah, V is an insecure older woman Lottie tries to be kind to, mat''s visit is announced again, then we delve into describing the flowers and slip into a description of how Lottie feels ghosts in the garden and has always had this special 6th sense she connected with Tom over. Who's Tom?? Oh, he's Matt's dad, ok. Lucky we get to know who *he* is because I still don't know who Venetia or Clara are.
THEN we find out Milo was married to the elder sister of Lottie (Charlotte--HE specially gave her that ugly nickname. Charlotte is a BEAUTIFUL name) but its ok that she's his ex now because there was always a special connection between Lottie and Milo. He was even sweet to her back when Sara, the elder sister, first brought her home. Lets briefly mention and brush off the fact there was, not only a 13-year age gap, but LOTTIE WAS ONLY TEN WHEN THEY MET. So he was 23 and they had a special connection then, hey? And his mom 'adopted' Lottie after her and her sister's mom died, even giving her her own room at the house and everything. Yeah, that's...not weird at all...???
Anyway, that's only to page 20. Its all over the place, its boring as HECK (sorry, author), and the characters don't feel 'introduced'. It feels more like I'm spying on people I've never met and getting footnotes on their history. This is the first book I've EVER looked at the end to see what the 'big secret' was. Secret twins. Shocker. Kinda figured it might be as such when I picked it up, though thought the journey through the story would be worth it. Its not. I just cant keep my attention on it and I typically get through books in 2-6 days depending on length because my attention span for novels is fairly reliable when the book is even half decent. I even tried skimming through a bunch of the other pages to see if it gets better and its taxing how boring it is. DNF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
Nach dem Tod seiner Mutter findet Matt das Rosenholzkästchen wieder, in dem er als Kind besondere Dinge gesammelt hat. Aber die Zeiten haben sich geändert: nach dem Tod seines Vaters verfiel seine Mutter zunehmend in Depressionen und das Kästchen geriet in Vergesssenheit. Das dachte Matt zumindest. Als er es jetzt öffnet, findet er eine Reihe Bilder von sich, die im Abstand von einem Jahr aufgenommen zu sein scheinen. Nur er ist auf diesen Bildern, nicht seine Schwester Imogen. Matt kann sich nciht erinnern, wann eines dieser Bilder gemacht worden ist. Er fährt in die Heimat seiner Mutter, nach Exmoor. Dort hofft er, mit Hilfe einer Freundin seines Vaters seine Erinnerung wieder zu finden.
Matt nimmt den Tod seiner Mutter zum Anlass, seinem Leben in London zu entfliehen und an den Ort seiner Kindheit zurück zu kehren. Er ist auf der Suche nach Antworten, denn das Rosenholzkästchen gibt ihm mehr als ein Rätsel auf. Nach und nach erinnern er und seine Schwester Imogen sich an ihre frühe Kindheit, als ihr Vater noch lebte und ihre Mutter noch glücklich war.
Die Geschichte beginnt vielversprechend. Die Autorin nimmt sich Zeit für die Menschen in ihrer Geschichte. Auf den ersten Blick scheint alles einfach zu sein. Aber das ist nicht so: jeder Einzelne von ihnen hat seine eigene, traurige Geschichte. Alle Geschichten sind miteinander verbunden, das macht es für Aussenstehende schwer, einen Platz in dieser Gemeinschaft zu finden. Imogens Ehemann wird in die Familie aufgenommen, Matts Freundin dagegen nicht.
Die Beziehungen innerhalb von Familie und Freunden sind wunderbar beschrieben. Trotzdem habe ich mich beim Lesen immer gefragt, wohin das Ganze führt. Die Geschichte hat keine Spannung aufgebaut. Sie plätscherte eher dahin und drehte sich mal in die eine, mal in die andere Richtung ohne eine große Entwicklung zu haben. Erst ganz gegen Ende kam Spannung auf, aber dann brach das Buch fast schon abrupt ab. Für meinen Geschmack wurde der Rest der GEschichte dem starken Anfang nicht gerecht.
Matt nimmt den Tod seiner Mutter zum Anlass, seinem Leben in London zu entfliehen und an den Ort seiner Kindheit zurück zu kehren. Er ist auf der Suche nach Antworten, denn das Rosenholzkästchen gibt ihm mehr als ein Rätsel auf. Nach und nach erinnern er und seine Schwester Imogen sich an ihre frühe Kindheit, als ihr Vater noch lebte und ihre Mutter noch glücklich war.
Die Geschichte beginnt vielversprechend. Die Autorin nimmt sich Zeit für die Menschen in ihrer Geschichte. Auf den ersten Blick scheint alles einfach zu sein. Aber das ist nicht so: jeder Einzelne von ihnen hat seine eigene, traurige Geschichte. Alle Geschichten sind miteinander verbunden, das macht es für Aussenstehende schwer, einen Platz in dieser Gemeinschaft zu finden. Imogens Ehemann wird in die Familie aufgenommen, Matts Freundin dagegen nicht.
Die Beziehungen innerhalb von Familie und Freunden sind wunderbar beschrieben. Trotzdem habe ich mich beim Lesen immer gefragt, wohin das Ganze führt. Die Geschichte hat keine Spannung aufgebaut. Sie plätscherte eher dahin und drehte sich mal in die eine, mal in die andere Richtung ohne eine große Entwicklung zu haben. Erst ganz gegen Ende kam Spannung auf, aber dann brach das Buch fast schon abrupt ab. Für meinen Geschmack wurde der Rest der GEschichte dem starken Anfang nicht gerecht.
October 23, 2019
Hm. It did not go in the direction I expected. Somehow I was expecting a parallel world, though I suppose that wouldn't fit with the genre. However, I did think that Matt's discovery of the truth was a little unrealistic (aka a huge leap of logic to "aha, twins!"). And what happened to the photos between childhood and adulthood? I guess a sequel is inevitable...
Some thoughts: I was not fond of either Imogen or Nick - they were fairly realistic, but in a way that I didn't like. Even when Im makes up with Juls, she is intentionally dishonest about her relationship with Nick because she knows it crossed an invisible line. And her argument with Juls over the Summer House...I get the feelings of self pity and feeling martyred, but after being married for years, you would think that either of them would swallow their pride and apologize. Even when you feel wronged, sometimes you have to make that sacrifice to your own pride for the sake of the relationship. Then it becomes easier for the other person to apologize. Believe me, I hate it as much as anyone, and can wallow in my self righteousness like a champ, but in the end it serves no one.
Nick was just a weak moron, and I had no respect for him or his wife. I did enjoy Lottie and Milo, and felt their odd relationship was perfect. Sara, on the other hand, is clearly responsible for Nick's crappy character.
It's kind of an odd book because it meanders along without a lot of plot. The interesting stuff all happens in the last few pages, and I would say the rest of it is more a reflection about relationships. Kind of odd ones, given the tangle of how they are pseudo family.
Some thoughts: I was not fond of either Imogen or Nick - they were fairly realistic, but in a way that I didn't like. Even when Im makes up with Juls, she is intentionally dishonest about her relationship with Nick because she knows it crossed an invisible line. And her argument with Juls over the Summer House...I get the feelings of self pity and feeling martyred, but after being married for years, you would think that either of them would swallow their pride and apologize. Even when you feel wronged, sometimes you have to make that sacrifice to your own pride for the sake of the relationship. Then it becomes easier for the other person to apologize. Believe me, I hate it as much as anyone, and can wallow in my self righteousness like a champ, but in the end it serves no one.
Nick was just a weak moron, and I had no respect for him or his wife. I did enjoy Lottie and Milo, and felt their odd relationship was perfect. Sara, on the other hand, is clearly responsible for Nick's crappy character.
It's kind of an odd book because it meanders along without a lot of plot. The interesting stuff all happens in the last few pages, and I would say the rest of it is more a reflection about relationships. Kind of odd ones, given the tangle of how they are pseudo family.
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