The Woman in the Photo

by Mary Hogan, Tavia Gilbert (Narrator), Cassandra Campbell (Narrator)

In this compulsively-readable historical novel, from the author of the critically-acclaimed Two Sisters, comes the story of two young women—one in America’s Gilded Age, one in scrappy modern-day California—whose lives are linked by a single tragic afternoon in history.

1888: Elizabeth Haberlin, of the Pittsburgh Haberlins, spends every summer with her family on a beautiful lake in an exclusive club. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains above the working class community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the private retreat is patronized by society’s elite. Elizabeth summers with Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks, following the rigid etiquette of her class. But Elizabeth is blessed (cursed) with a mind of her own. Case in point: her friendship with Eugene Eggar, a Johnstown steel mill worker. And when Elizabeth discovers that the club’s poorly maintained dam is about to burst and send 20 million tons of water careening down the mountain, she risks all to warn Eugene and the townspeople in the lake’s deadly shadow.

Present day: On her eighteenth birthday, genetic information from Lee Parker’s closed adoption is unlocked. She also sees an old photograph of a genetic relative—a 19th Century woman with hair and eyes likes hers—standing in a pile of rubble from an ecological disaster next to none other than Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. Determined to identify the woman in the photo and unearth the mystery of that captured moment, Lee digs into history. Her journey takes her from California to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, from her present financial woes to her past of privilege, from the daily grind to an epic disaster. Once Lee’s heroic DNA is revealed, will she decide to forge a new fate?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Book Club, Historical, Mystery, Adult, Contemporary

Audiobook

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Though an Okie by birth, I grew up in Southern California in the era of baby oil tans. Except mine. My youth was filled with sunburns and other red-faced events. Now, I live in the blessed shade of skyscrapers. New York City. Where I was meant to be all along.

At the risk of sounding bigheaded, I love GOOD books. I like to read writers who inspire me to read their sentences over and over just for the joy of it. You know that feeling? Like, wow, how did she think of that phrasing?

That said, I joined Goodreads because I'd become a genre snob. There are good Sci-fi novels, right? Historical? To my delight, I've found that to be true. As in life, when you open up, the world opens with you. Or so said Oprah. Before she abandoned us. :)

On a personal note, I am married to the man of my dreams. We share our home with the lovely Lucy, a Catahoula rescue dog who, frankly, isn't that into us. In another life, she was Greta Garbo. When I smother her with kisses she literally rolls her doggy eyes.

Professionally, I'm the author of ten novels. Seven Young Adult novels (HarperCollins), one bestselling mainstream book (TWO SISTERS) an historical novel called THE WOMAN IN THE PHOTO (William Morrow) and the upcoming love story, LEFT (Morrow). Goodreads helped me open up to WRITING in new genres, too. Thank you!!

Both LEFT and TWO SISTERS are personal novels for me. TWO SISTERS was inspired by my own sister, Diane, who passed away in 2010. The fictional story emerged as I struggled to understand why my sister died the way she did. It's a story about secrets and how they can disintegrate a family.

LEFT is a love story with a twist. It tells the tale of a woman who develops a fantasy life to cope with her husband's descent into dementia. Alzheimer's and other dementias run in my family. This novel is for the current--and future--caretakers who inspire me every day.

For another VERY personal story, I wrote an article about my mom's last days for Woman's Day magazine. If you've gone through your mom's passing, or soon will, you may relate. (If you feel like reading it, I posted the link on my website maryhogan.com)

I swear it's all true.

Reviews

[Angela M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt connected to the two characters focused on in the alternating narratives. In the 1888 -1889 time frame, Elizabeth Haberlin from a well to do family, part of the circle of famous rich people of the day - the Fricks, the Carnegies, proves to be her own person as she is not ready to conform to the acceptable behavior for a young lady ready to make her debut. She spends summers at an elite club not far from Johnstown, PA. Lee Parker, in the present day story lives in California and was adopted in a closed adoption. She knows nothing of her roots until a letter arrives from Social Services when she turns eighteen, indicating that there is "New nonidentifying background information regarding the medical history of the above referenced adoptee." A photograph of two women is also discovered in the file and so begins Lee's search for clues about where she came from.

It was an engaging story waiting for the time that the two would be connected by this photograph. However the writing fell short for me in places with phrases such as "Like a cranky toddler after a drawn out nap" , and "The air was thick as Jell-O and other cringe worthy similes. Having said that, there are several things I liked about this book and because of these I gave it 3 stars . The story was fascinating in that I didn't know much about the Johnstown Flood, and I enjoy past and current blended stories . I also found it quite interesting to learn some of Clara Barton's story. I felt invested in the lives of these two young women and loved the addition of the photos .


Thanks to WilliamMorrow/HarperCollins and Edelweiss

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two time lines, one the Gilded age, one present day. Two settings, one in Johnstown, PA. One in California. Two young women, Elizabeth Haberlin, soon to make her début, spends her summers with her family and the other wealthy elite such as the Fricks and Carnegies in Johnstown, Pa. Lee, the other young lady, eighteen and adopted, wants to find out about the family and the mother who gave her away. Both of these young ladies have strong minds of their own. A photograph of two women will be the initiating factor in bringing these two stories together.

The Johnstown flood was a horrible disaster and this written account is well done and harrowing. A flood that could easily have been prevented. Clara Barron makes an appearance, another strong woman, who made and still does, a difference to so many. Loved learning a little about her life.

So the two storylines eventually come together and I really enjoyed them both equally. This almost never happens. The story is of interest and well done, definitely a book worth reading. My only criticism is that at times it was too..... too sentimental, too moralistic, though maybe rightfully so, and too pat in places. Did love the photos, actual photos from the archives of the club where the wealthy stayed. Added a personal and authentic touch. A new writer to watch for and I look forward to her next book.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! First, it's SO refreshing to read a historical fiction book that's not a romance in disguise (though there is some romance) second, it is a clean book! No sex, no bad language. Totally 100% PG. I hate how rare that is to find. So this is refreshing. I knew nothing about the Johnstown flood before this book. It was interesting to learn about it and now I want to google and learn more (always a sign of a great book) this book is a little clean romance, a little chick lit, a little women's fiction, a little coming of age wrapped in one fantastic book. I was equally hooked on the present day story and the historical one. This book will stick with me for a long time . Definitely one of my favorites of 2019!

[Karina · Rating 2 out of 5]

So when I first grabbed this book I thought it was a thriller based solely on the cover. I finally get a chance of reading it and while I like the premise the way the story was told fell flat for me.

1889: I learned about the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood in 1889 through the eyes of Elizabeth Haberlin. She was a snotty rich debunte with a summer house nestled in the Allegheny Mountains. I would have like a story based on her and her alone. I didn't connect with her and her attitude of being above everyone else. She redeemed herself in the end but for me it was too late into the story.

Present Day: Lee Parker is 18 and adopted. She gets a letter saying there was something left in her file. Based on a photo with the founder of The American Red Cross, Clara Barton and the mystery woman next to her, she starts doing some digging into her past to discover all the horrors of the flood. She finds out her great-great-great- grandmother is Elizabeth Haberlin but what will she do with this information? (Clara Barton was an amazing woman of her time!)

The two stories didn't mesh together very well for me. I would be annoyed going back to Lee's present day but I didn't care for Elizabeth either. The stuff they had in "common" felt forced. The way the author made a point by making her words into italics to get me to feel what she wanted was VERY annoying. The ending fell flat. It could've been 100 pages shorter and made the same message.

The only thing that redeemed it from being a one star was the historical fiction being well researched. It was a tragedy everyone should know about. Several countries came to the American aid including Russia. No one from the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club stepped up to help or were ever held accountable for negligence of the dam's repair and maintenance even after many families sued.

10 minutes it took for Lake Conemaugh to destroy a town of 30,000
3 days the fire burned uncontrollably at the stone bridge
80 souls perished while trapped, alive in the fire and rubble at the bridge
30 acres of a debris field
20 million tons of water in Lake Conemaugh that careened downhill to Johnstown
40 miles per hour the massive wave sped into town
2,209 was the final death tally
99 entire families killed
750 mutilated bodies too burned to identify
1911 was the year the final body was found. 22 years after the flood. Bodies as far as Cincinnati- more than 350 miles away. (Epilogue: Page 403)

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first historical fiction I have read that deals with the flooding of Johnstown on May 31st, 1889. This is a very dramatic and tragic aspect of the book and one of the reasons I liked the book so much was just the fact that it really moved me.

But, I'm getting ahead in the story. We are first introduced to the characters in the dual stories, Elizabeth Haberlin a rich young woman who spends the summers by the beautiful lake above the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. She spends the summers rubbing shoulders with the Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks and she seems at first to be just another rich spoiled girl. But, as the story progresses do we learn more and more about her she is actually a very bright, although sheltered girl. And, a disastrous event will change her whole life...

In the present story do we meet Lee Parker, who on her 18th birthday finally learns more about her real mother. She was adopted as a baby and she loves her adopted mother, but she has a need to find out more about where she came from. In her papers is there a photo of her mother, standing in a pile of rubble from a disaster, besides Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. She got curious and decides to find out more about this...

I really liked this book, the class differences that are a large part when it comes to both stories. At first, I found Elizabeth Haberlin a bit hard to connect to, but after a while did she start to grow on me and towards the end did I find myself really liking her. Contrary did I find Lee Parker to be right from the very start a fabulous character, easy to connect with. I also liked how the Jewish lifestyle was a big part of both stories. All and all is this a great book!

[Brooke Blogs · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan is a book that had my rapt attention from start to finish. The book takes place in two time periods: present day, and also the end of the 1880s. The Woman in the Photo follows Elizabeth Haberlin, an elite member of Pittsburgh society, who spends her summers at their private retreat in the Allegheny Mountains high above Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The story also follows the present day story of Lee Parker, who turns 18 and has her closed adoption file opened, providing genetic information.

Living in Ohio, but near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, many of the names of the society people were familiar to me. Before reading this book, I did not know really anything about the Johnstown Flood. The Woman in the Photo has sparked that interest for me and it's something I have looked into further as a result. I found the archival photos at the beginnings of some of the chapters really helped bring the story to life.

I really enjoyed the character of Elizabeth ~ she was smart and strong and when it mattered most, she went against everything society taught her and she did what was right. Honestly, I would have enjoyed the story had it only been an historical fiction rendering of the Johnstown Flood and Elizabeth's story, and didn't have a present-day component. I found myself wanting Lee's chapters in the book to go quickly so that I could head back in time with Elizabeth. I liked how the story came full circle at the end, though, and how Lee's story was important as well.

The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan was a riveting read that I found myself flying through. I am looking forward to reading more books written by this author.

FTC Disclosure: I was provided with a review copy of this book from the publisher, William Morrow, in the hopes that I would read it and share my honest thoughts on the book. I was not required to review it or to share a positive review, and no monetary consideration was received. My honest opinion is included in this review and is not influenced in any way.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Woman in the Photo" is set in two time periods. Elizabeth, living in the late 1800s, is lucky enough to be among the wealthy set of those who come to vacation in Johnstown, PA. She rubs elbows with the likes of the Carnegies and the Fricks among other titans of energy. When a tragic flood decimates the town, Elizabeth will have to find new courage. In the present day, Lee is a young woman who was adopted as a baby in a closed adoption. One small clue (the photo alluded to in the title) will lead her on a journey to understand where she came from.

I was definitely more drawn to the historic story as I often am in books told in two times. Families like the Carnegies and Fricks fascinate me. I ate up the History Channel series, The Men Who Built America, and would love to see more of them in historical fiction, my genre of choice. I loved the rich world that the author created around these people who could afford leisure. I also appreciated how the author was able to show their lifestyles in contrast with the people who actually lived in Johnstown. Elizabeth's story is so interesting and really kept me engaged!

Having the book told in two times worked but I really wanted to know more about Johnstown. While Lee's story is interesting, it was not nearly as interesting as Elizabeth's. I did like seeing how the author brought the two stories together.

The writing of the book was okay. I liked how much detail the author included in the historical part of the book to include the inclusion of historical photographs from the time period (a very nice touch indeed)! The narrative often veered into telling too much rather than showing. The book definitely could have been streamlined a bit!

[Ann Woodbury Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a double story. In 1888 Pennsylvania (told in first person) Elizabeth Haberlin, the spoiled, selfish daughter of a wealthy physician, vacations with her family at an exclusive resort in the Allegheny Mountains. She flirts with an Englishman and slowly becomes acquainted with--and sympathetic to--the working-class residents of nearby Johnstown. The next year, Dr. Haberlin sends his family to the resort earlier than usual and they experience the devastating Johnstown Flood, when the resort's man-made dam collapses and over 2000 people are killed. Elizabeth redeems herself by working with Clara Barton and the Red Cross in rescue efforts. Meanwhile, in contemporary Los Angeles (told in third person), Lee Parker, an adoptee whose life has crashed in pieces due to her father spending her college money and abandoning the family, turns 18 and is allowed access to private documents. She discovers a connection of some kind to Elizabeth, who turns out to be her great-great-great-grandmother; solves the mystery, thanks to modern technology, and meets her relatives; and acquires a boyfriend. Elizabeth's story is far more interesting than Lee's. Hogan writes young adult books, and Lee unfortunately reflects the worst of this--slang and pop-culture references that are already dated, ridiculous coincidences, and a vast lack of forethought (have Lee, her mother and school counselors never heard of scholarships?). Also, since Elizabeth is just one of 16 of Lee's 3-greats grandmothers, the emphasis on their similarities and genes is, to me, severely stretched. Finally, Hogan has a terrible habit of overusing often cringe-worthy metaphors and similes.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

Giving up on page 109. I thought the writing was weak, plot moving slowly and I'm 110% I know where it's going. I very rarely give up on books but my pile to read is too long to spend on this book

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review soon

[Stacy Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was another, "I'm bored and need something to occupy myself while I spend 17 hours in the car on the way to Utah." A photograph bridges the lives of two young women living decades apart. Written around the events of the Johnstown Flood, a real life disaster, and involving the actual participants in this historical tragedy, the story was oft times clunky in its delivery. I felt like the author was just trying too hard to draw correlations between the two women, so that instead of being surprised or interested, I was just waiting to have my conclusions confirmed. Take a pass.....

[WroteTrips · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this novel. I had looked forward to reading it. Part of the novel was supposed to be about the Johnston Flood, which is an historic event I have read about before; I have also visited Johnston, Pa. I felt the novel glossed over the tragedy, and used it as a vehicle for change in one of the characters. I found the metamorphosis of the character unbelievable. The novel varies between two time frames, and I didn't find the protagonists in either story line believable.

[Karyn Niedert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two thumbs up!

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 1889 Johnstown flood speaks

Two time periods told in alternating chapters:

1888-89 Johnstown, PA – Elizabeth Haberlin – daughter of a privileged Pittsburgh family who take their summer vacations with other notable families at the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club – owners and operators of the South Fork dam.

Present day California – Elizabeth (Lee) Parker is adopted. She finds a photograph which she believes could be of her long lost relative standing beside Clara Barton in South Fork, PA. Such begins her journey to identify her birth family.

The only way to get through this book is by skimming. It is overly wordy especially in the present day chapters. Not a build up to suspense or anything like that, it is mere trivia.

For example: Chapter 27 – “North Beverly Park” – Present day - Lee is sneaking off to attend a party at a neighboring house. It takes her seven (7) pages to get there!

The most interesting story line is that of the May 1889 Johnstown flood which is told, I think, with accuracy, portraying the devastation that would have been felt at the time. The photographs at the beginning of these chapters lend authenticity and allow the reader a feeling of connection to the events.

I enjoyed the 1888-89 chapters for the most part, the present day chapters, not so much.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/20...

The Woman in the Photo by Mary Hogan is a new historical fiction/contemporary novel that explores the Johnstown Flood. In the late 1800s, a bunch of rich Pittsburgh industrialists (Carnegie, Frick, etc.) had a private lake in South Fork, PA. The lake was man-made, held in place by an earthworks dam. The industrialists did not maintain the dam, and in 1889, after a particularly rainy Memorial Day weekend, the dam burst. Thousands of people downstream died, and nobody was held accountable.

The story of the Johnstown Flood is one that’s close to my heart, as I was born in Johnstown, PA and grew up in one of the small towns nearby. I’ve been to the Flood Museum on many occasions, and have gone hiking in the bed of the valley that was once Lake Conemaugh. Despite the fact that Andrew Carnegie is viewed as one of the heroes of my profession (so many Carnegie libraries), all the philanthropy in the world could not make up for the lives lost through carelessness and irresponsibility, and I was filled with silent rage every time one of my library school professors sang his praises.

When I first heard about The Woman in the Photo, I was excited and nervous, especially as the book jumps between the Johnstown of the past and the Johnstown of today. I hoped that the author would be able to get Johnstown right–it’s a city full of proud and hardworking people, despite the fact that the economy there isn’t what it used to be (when the 2008 recession happened, nobody really noticed it, because after the mills and the mines closed 20 years before, there wasn’t much of anything left to crash). It’s a city filled with history, with resolve, and with the will to persevere even when times are hard. I was heartened the moment that I read the book’s dedication: To the resilient people of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Past and present.

Now, enough backstory. On to my review.

Elizabeth Haberlin’s father is a physician who treats Pittsburgh’s elite. Her family has a cabin along Lake Conemaugh, where they escape each summer to a world that’s entirely carefree. As we hear Elizabeth describe her pursuit of the handsome Mr. Tottinger, we see her gradually come to realize her position of privilege, and her isolation from the rest of the world. This becomes especially obvious after a chance encounter with Eugene Eggar, a local mill worker, who warns her about the dam’s dangerous potential.

Meanwhile, we’re introduced to Lee, a young woman living in California. She had the grades to go to an Ivy League school, but then the recession hit. Her family lost everything, and her father and brother left town. Lee and her mother are now living in the pool house of the rich lady for whom Lee’s mom works as a maid. Lee is also adopted, which is where her story intersects with Elizabeth’s–although it was a closed adoption, Lee sees a photo in her file of a young woman standing next to Clara Barton standing in a pile of rubble. Lee begins researching the photo trying to find clues about her birth family’s identity.

As I mentioned earlier, I had some initial concerns about whether The Woman in the Photo would really get the story right. That was especially true as I started reading about Elizabeth, and found it an interesting choice to use a protagonist who was an insider at the Club. However, Mary Hogan managed to strike a good balance in creating a character whose eyes are opened as the story progresses, and who eventually has to make hard choices about what her own values are.

While Elizabeth and Lee are two very different people from two very different worlds, they have many similarities. Each of them struggles with issues of social class–Lee as she begins to fall for a Beverly Hills boy, and Elizabeth as she begins to leave her sheltered world to confront the much harsher realities of life. The two women are both independent, free-thinking, and resilient, and it’s a pleasure to see each of them make their way in the world.

The one major weakness in The Woman in the Photo had to do with shifting protagonists and points of view. Elizabeth and Lee were the main point-of-view characters, and were excellent. However, two other characters had point-of-view moments–Lee’s mom and Clara Barton. Lee’s mom’s moments were usually embedded within Lee’s own chapters, and seemed unnecessary. And Clara Barton was a tertiary point-of-view character who didn’t show up until midway through the book, and whose character could have used some expansion.

The Woman in the Photo was a solid read, and I will recommend it to friends and family without hesitation. It joins a handful of other books in sharing the story of the flood, only some of which I’ve read. These include:

In Sunlight, In a Beautiful Garden by Kathleen Cambor
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough
Julie by Catherine Marshall
Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood by Jame Richards

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, interesting , two time periods and topics nicely connected/intertwined; and I learned from both. First was the Johnstown, Pa. flood - what led up to it and why it was not prevented. Then present time a teen in California trying to locate her birth mother with only a picture from the Johnstown flood as a clue. Throw in a bit of Clara Barton. Just a good read.

[Rachelle Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

One year when I was in school, we went on a school trip to Johnstown PA. I was young and found the whole thing rather boring then. I do remember being completely saddened by the crazy amount of loss, but there are many details that I didn’t remember.
I found this book in a Goodwill and in skimming the description, I saw the words: Pittsburg, Johnstown and Allegheny Mountains. I grew up North of Pittsburg, so just knowing it was set in my corner of the world made me bring it home with me. And it was totally worth the $3 I paid for it! I would have actually paid more.
Like I already alluded to, I learned things about the Johnstown flood that I didn’t remember from my childhood field trip. I actually really would love to redo that field trip now!
The other part of the book involves a girl who was adopted looking for her birth family. With my sister having just adopted the cutest baby in the world, this part was also very interesting for me and I felt like Mary Hogan did a really good job of explaining the complexities of an adoptees feelings.
Yeah, I’ll probably be adding this book to my library. I feel like it would be super fun to have a section of books set in this area.
Rated: PG

[Vera Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knowing little of the Johnstown flood, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, alternating between 1889 — the story of Elizabeth Haberlin — and Lee Parker in the present day. Lee Parker’s world has fallen apart and she decides to look for her birth mother. Elizabeth Haberlin’s story is one of supreme courage. One of the original feminists before feminism was born. How these two stories intersect, is of course what brings this very readable book to its inevitable conclusion.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so intrigued by this story line that I could not pass up a chance to read about the Johnstown Flood. I live not far from the town; I have traveled there on numerous occasions for work or fun. I always held the knowledge that once upon a time, there was a catastrophe that happened there, but I had never learned any of the details. I had never taken a look at what stands today or given thought to what had preceded our time.

This had me feeling like I was taking a step back in time. The detail that described the events had me feeling like I was right there as Elizabeth. The structure of the story was well put together. Elizabeth Haberlin's portion of the story is told from the first person, while a brief piece about Clara Barton along with the modern day Elizabeth's (or Lee, as her adopted mother names her) are in third person. Each chapter is marked with the year it is taking place, so you are able to transport from one to the other with ease. I found myself equally wanting to know how present-day Elizabeth manages to find her birth family, along with desiring to know the events surrounding the flood. The detail of the historical events felt well researched. I could easily relate to Elizabeth, watching the events unfolding in front of her eyes. I could feel her emotions. While some things, she did on a whim, I could understand what she does without knowing her exact motivations. I was also fascinated with the other historical figures mentioned in the story; the Fricks and Carnegies. I currently reside about half way between Pittsburgh and Johnstown, so these are people that I'm aware of, but have never read their histories. Seeing them as personalities in this story really helped me cement this in our region.

As for Lee's story, I was interested in learning about her. While I could only imagine how she'd feel as an adopted child, I did understand her feeling of not quite belonging and searching for the thing that connects her to her heritage. She embodies a balance of appreciating what she has left after a scandal, while desiring for more. There was a rawness to some of her reactions to things that really brought her to life.

There were so many things to take away from this story. Several of the characters took charge of their own lives, casting off what was given to them by birth to create powerful personalities. I've actually fallen on both sides of the question "does your DNA determine who you will become" because I've seen people go against their bloodlines and others who aren't exposed to things that take on the qualities of their family members. This story will make you think about so many things. I'd highly recommend this story. It isn't a quick read, but a thought-provoking one that will tempt you to delve more into the history of our area. But whether you are from the Pittsburgh region or not, I think people who love seeing history come alive will appreciate this novel. Also, the additions of the photographs from 1889 were delightful. I also very much enjoyed reading the few pages added at the end where the author told how she developed the story; an extended version of the Q&A included above.

My recommendation: buy the paperback so you can loan it to friends and family members.

I received a copy of this story from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1888 and Elizabeth's family has enough status to spend their summers at a lake in the Allegheny Mountains. The lake is above Johnstown. The inhabitants of the town don't interact much with the people who are staying at the club. The members are elite, people who are proud to be able to afford a place there and look down on the inhabitants of the town. However, Elizabeth doesn't blindly follow the opinions of her parents and can think for herself. Something isn't right with the lake, there's a danger she can't quite process. She also doesn't believe in staying away from the people who are living in Johnstown and becomes friends with Eugene, who works at the local steel mill. When a disaster is about to happen Elizabeth has to make a tough choice, what will she do?

Lee and her mother are living in poverty. She was supposed to go to university, but there's no money left to pay for the tuition. Lee's almost eighteen years old and that's when the genetic information of her closed adoption will become available. Lee would love to know more about her ancestors and is especially curious after seeing a photo of one of them standing next to Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. Lee's search brings her to Johnstown, will she like what she finds there and will she be able to embrace her family history?

The Woman in the Photo is a beautiful story about two strong girls in different times. Lee is a smart girl who has a glorious future ahead of her. Unfortunately something went wrong and she has to start over with nothing. She's determined to find a way to make her dreams come true in a different way and I admired her spirit and resourcefulnesses. She doesn't give up and even though it isn't easy she's trying to make the best of her situation. Meanwhile she's also looking for her family. Elizabeth is an interesting ancestor. She's clever and headstrong and she and Lee have a lot in common. It was interesting to find out more about their connection and about their lives. I loved how Elizabeth makes up her own mind and tries to follow her own path, no matter the consequences. Mary Hogan writes about two beautiful strong women and I enjoyed every single page of her story.

The Woman in the Photo is an impressive coming of age story. Mary Hogan describes life in society with its etiquette and expectations in a gorgeous impressive way. I was intrigued by Elizabeth's world, the rigidity of it, the suffocating rules and customs and the way she tries to escape the shackles that bind her. Mary Hogan skillfully alternates between the past and the present and the stories are equally fascinating. The way she writes about the lake kept me on the edge of my seat. I was spellbound by her story from beginning to end and highly recommend this fantastic book.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel switches between the 1880's and the present day, with wealthy debutante Elizabeth's story in the past leading up to the tragic Johnstown flood, and 18-year-old Lee's story in present-day LA as she searches for answers about her birth family's ancestry. The author makes it abundantly clear from the beginning that these young women are somehow connected and even share a few physical similarities, so it's no big surprise when their stories eventually intertwine, but it felt like a stretch. I would've much preferred Elizabeth's story as stand-alone historical fiction. Lee's chapters felt like an unnecessary mechanism for unfolding the story, an at times, a distraction. Like many, apparently, I was clueless about the Johnstown flood, so upon learning more about the magnitude of this actual event, I was fascinated and compelled to learn more about it outside of the novel. It was devastating and impactful, not to mention the added dynamics of class and corruption behind the event, so there are certainly stories to tell. I also found the bit about Clara Barton's background and involvement pretty interesting, albeit brief in the novel. I never had to write a requisite biography report about her so I didn't know much about her life, which was pretty revolutionary. Perhaps the story would've benefitted from just being told in the past from these two women's perspectives.
But let's get back to Lee. Poor Lee, I'm sorry, but you were the rotten egg here. Yes, your life took some hard turns. But the angsty melodrama, bad metaphors, fairly implausible living scenarios (as in, banished to hide in her mom's boss's pool house like a modern-day Cinderella, only to meet her rich Prince Charming while "undercover" at a neighbor's party...ughhh...) It all just read like bad, corny YA in a voice that didn't feel very authentic.

[Hart's Reader Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review--so, here it is!

This was my first book by Mary Hogan and, after reading the blurb, I was rather intrigued. I occasionally like to dig into stories without romance or suspense--I'm eclectic like that.

This story was chronicle of two different women across two different generations. They're both dealing with what life throws at them with grace and a heaping helping of learned lessons.

The beginning was a little slow, but I stuck with it and was rewarded with an engrossing tale that left me with a happy feeling.

The one complaint I have about the story is that Lee, the modern day chronicler, has kind of a rude attitude regarding her biological family. She doesn't show understanding or curiosity or any soft emotions for the people who were her blood. And, because her family wasn't at fault for the things that happened in her life, I was expecting a LITTLE bit of warmth toward her family.

I don't know. I was raised by my birth mother, so I can't possible understand what Lee was going through. But the author made Lee out to be a mean-spirited person, and I don't think that was what she was trying to accomplish.

Overall, the story is great. I recommend it highly!

Read the full review on my website.

[Morgan R · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the late 19th century, the Pittsburgh elite leisurely spend the days on the sunny banks of Lake Conemaugh at the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club. Elizabeth Haberlin is trying to secure a husband and her future when she catches wind that the dam is fragile and will not hold for much longer. Modern day California, adopted Lee Parker turns 18 and begins to learn about her biological family's past holding in her hand a photo of Elizabeth Haberlin and Clara Barton. What unfolds next is 250 pages of boring character development, cringe-worthy metaphors, and insufferable writing like, “Mr. Tottinger supposedly had his knickerbockers tailored to flatter the musculature of his legs. They say the very sight of him on horseback inspired such intense gasps that proper ladies forget to resume their breathing and faint dead away.” The only part that merits a 3-star rating is the intense description of the dam breaking and its aftermath. At 400 pages long, I was expecting more about the history of the Johnstown flood and less about what Elizabeth wore and how uncomfortable it was to be a proper lady of society.
If I didn't have to read this for book group, I would have given up long ago.

[CoCoBug · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was leaning towards a hard two star rating, but learning about the Johnstown flood, Clara Barton, and alternating history bumped it up to three stars.

My two biggest issues (ok maybe 3) are 1. The alternating chapters are waaayyy too short. Elizabeth rows to one side of the lake. Switch POV. Then she gets rowed back. Switch POV. It really detracts the reader from the story. 2. The excessive use of similes and metaphors. Some of the comparisons made my eyes roll so far up in my head I thought they would be stuck. 3. Elizabeth was a most unlikeable character. At first I thought she would be witty and charmingly self centered but she was kind of awful in actuality.

Ok and maybe 4.... York actually says to Lee, “You aren’t like other girls.” 🤢

On the plus side, the devastation of the flood is portrayed seriously and is historically fascinating and heart breaking. The history of the entire Johnstown Flood is really the highlight of this story.

[Amanda Bynum · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could MAYBE give two stars for the portions about the flood and its aftermath, but ultimately, there aren't a lot of redeeming qualities in either main character, and it all seemed very convenient. If you want historical fiction with tandem time and story lines done right, read The Eight by Katherine Neville instead.

[Nancy Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was highly recommended and I was not disappointed. Although I knew about the Johnstown flood I did not realize many of the circumstances tha caused this terrible event. The book is an easy read and the story-although taking place in the past and present-is very clear. Historical fiction can often not capture the emotions of the past. I think this book did.

[Jennifer Christofersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in a rut on what to read next at the library and when I saw this book was immediately intrigued by its description. I absolutely loved this book. If you enjoy getting to the bottom of a mystery that connects past and present this is the book for you.

[Susan Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I enjoy books that go from past to present with each chapter. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Mary Hogan's beautiful writing style made you wanting for more. Her descriptions were so accurate.

[Maureen DeLuca · Rating 3 out of 5]

more of a 3.5 stars. Interesting story- another historical fiction- good enough read for those who like this type of book !

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Felt very YA to me.