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Beholden
The story begins with Nell, the “spinster on the hill” near St. Peter’s, Cape Breton. Scarred by her own childhood, she swears she could never love a child and that she will never marry, denying herself a life with the man she loves. She’s proven wrong when a baby is born just down the road from her. Her love of little Jane, despite herself, propels us forward through generations trying to untangle their own traumas and secrets. Eventually, we meet Bridie—joyful, kind, capable Bridie—and see her struggling through the echoing pain of those who came before her. Her choices, her bravery, her “nest of wonderful women,” and her ultimate refusal to settle for anything less than love, eventually redeem her and everyone around her—even the spinster on the hill.
364 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2018
50 people are currently reading
655 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Crewe
19 books724 followersLesley grew up in Montreal, PQ. After graduating from Concordia University with a degree in English and Education, she and her hubby settled down in Homeville, Cape Breton and raised a family.
From 2000-2005, Lesley was a features writer and columnist (Home Fires) for Cape Bretoner Magazine, and from 2005-2009, a columnist (Lesley's Letters) with the on-line magazine, Cahoots.
In 2005 her first novel, Relative Happiness, was published by Vagrant Press, the fiction imprint of Nimbus Publishing. It was an instant bestseller, and was shortlisted for the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. She has since written nine other novels.
In 2012, Relative Happiness was optioned for film, and in 2014, Lesley's characters came to life on the big screen. The movie was produced by Wreckhouse Productions, directed by Deanne Foley, and stars Australian Melissa Bergland (Winners and Losers), and homegrown Canadian talent like Susan Kent (This Hour has 22 Minutes), Jonathan Torrens (Mr. D, Trailer Park Boys), and Rob Welles (Trailer Park Boys).
From 2000-2005, Lesley was a features writer and columnist (Home Fires) for Cape Bretoner Magazine, and from 2005-2009, a columnist (Lesley's Letters) with the on-line magazine, Cahoots.
In 2005 her first novel, Relative Happiness, was published by Vagrant Press, the fiction imprint of Nimbus Publishing. It was an instant bestseller, and was shortlisted for the Margaret and John Savage First Book Award. She has since written nine other novels.
In 2012, Relative Happiness was optioned for film, and in 2014, Lesley's characters came to life on the big screen. The movie was produced by Wreckhouse Productions, directed by Deanne Foley, and stars Australian Melissa Bergland (Winners and Losers), and homegrown Canadian talent like Susan Kent (This Hour has 22 Minutes), Jonathan Torrens (Mr. D, Trailer Park Boys), and Rob Welles (Trailer Park Boys).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 9, 2018
I loved the book, but the copy editing was atrocious. Patty and Peggy were used for the same person repeatedly. Maud and Mavis were mixed up as well. There were other editing issues too. I know I am a stickler, but it ruins a book for me. And I loved the story. 🙁
March 19, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, though I'm having a hard time reviewing it. The characters and the narrative are strong and the setting is beautiful Cape Breton. This is about strong women and community and love and loss. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time. I don't like the cover or the title, neither seem to fit the story but if you can get past that, and the need for another editing job, this is a great read.
October 14, 2019
I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't get enough of it, and couldn't wait to pick it up each night. This was the right book at the right time for me. Crewe does such a great job bringing the characters to life, I really felt like I was in Cape Breton (yay!) and watching these lives unfold. 1940s to 1970s I think. Amazing characters. We get huge chunks of time told from the perspective of Nell, a young girl with an unloving childhood who falls in love but pushes him away and decides to live alone. And huge chunks from Bridie's perspective, an orphaned girl raised by a lovely man and his cousin. I am leaving out the details and connections because it was so fun to read. This is a story of amazing women, and the love between them and around them really touched me. I didn't want it to end.
July 20, 2021
Lesley Crewe has been highly recommended to me many times and I have finally read my first of her books. It won’t be my last! I absolutely loved this story. Told progressively from Nell, Eileen, George and Bridie’s point of view, it is a “family” tale of mistakes, tragedy, loss and survival. It is written in an easy reading style with a plot that makes it nearly impossible to put the book down. #indigoemployee
February 7, 2019
This felt like it was written by a teenager. Every character was undeveloped and one dimensional. There was a never ending stream of bad events that never seemed to have any meaning. I don't recommend this book to anyone.
June 1, 2019
Loved the story and characters but the editing wasn’t good. At some points Patty was named Peggy & Maud and Mavis’ names were mixed up. If there is a reprint it needs to be re-edited.
November 2, 2019
Crewe’s tenth novel is set her in Cape Breton, in a place near St. Peter’s, where she tells the story of three generations of women. Readers are first introduced to Nell who grew up in a home feeling both unwanted and unloved. Her experience led her to make a vow to herself; she would never love a child or ever marry. When her parents die in a car rash, Nell is left to manage her life alone, but stays isolated from those around her, eventually becoming known as “the spinster on the hill”.
The only person who gives Nell any comfort is her childhood sweetheart George who asks her several times to marry him, but Nell refuses, determined to stick to the promise she made to herself. George eventually leaves and marries another woman, but he and Nell continue to carry on a sexual relationship over the years, one that provides comfort and pleasure to both of them.
Nell’s vow to never love a child is challenged when a baby is born just down the road from her, a young girl called Jane who is left with an uncaring parent when her mother dies. Jane lives alone with her father who is often absent from home, drinks and is prone to violence. Nell worries about her, takes a special interest in her and tries to watch out for her safety.
Several years pass, the story moves to Sydney and another orphaned child named Bridie. Her life is filled with a mean older sister, a jealous stepmother and a gentle loving housekeeper Bridie calls “Mama”. Birdie lives a life in which she is both loved and resented by those around her, but she grows up to be a kind, generous and capable human being, able it seems to handle whatever cards life deals her.
As the story unfolds, readers know that among these women in St Peter’s and Sydney, there are connections, past traumas and long held secrets they have struggled to successfully negotiate. As they cross paths those connections are revealed, traumas are shared and long held secrets become known. Each woman is trying to create a life for herself but the past will always be a part of it.
I have read all of Lesley’s Crewe’s wonderful books. She has an easy conversational style and a knack of creating interesting, compelling and sometimes quirky characters. She has also mastered a way to describe the wild and very unique landscape of Cape Breton, unforgiving in its harshness and unmatched in its physical beauty. She knows the area well, understands the people who live there, their way of life and how family and friendship are valued. Readers also enjoy Crewe’s easy going, down to earth humour and her descriptions of the small objects which evoke memories of the past which form an important part of the narrative. Things such as a doll sewn from scraps of red velvet, a lover’s pipe and some tangled fishing gear, hold memories that remind readers of the past lives of her characters.
This is the story of how one woman’s choice early in life leads to a lifetime of loss, a loss that later helps her struggle through difficult times, live through heart breaking trauma and manage to find happiness. Some reviewers have referred to a number of editing problems, which I know can be annoying, but they did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
Crewe is a wonderful story teller and once again has given her readers a very enjoyable read.
The only person who gives Nell any comfort is her childhood sweetheart George who asks her several times to marry him, but Nell refuses, determined to stick to the promise she made to herself. George eventually leaves and marries another woman, but he and Nell continue to carry on a sexual relationship over the years, one that provides comfort and pleasure to both of them.
Nell’s vow to never love a child is challenged when a baby is born just down the road from her, a young girl called Jane who is left with an uncaring parent when her mother dies. Jane lives alone with her father who is often absent from home, drinks and is prone to violence. Nell worries about her, takes a special interest in her and tries to watch out for her safety.
Several years pass, the story moves to Sydney and another orphaned child named Bridie. Her life is filled with a mean older sister, a jealous stepmother and a gentle loving housekeeper Bridie calls “Mama”. Birdie lives a life in which she is both loved and resented by those around her, but she grows up to be a kind, generous and capable human being, able it seems to handle whatever cards life deals her.
As the story unfolds, readers know that among these women in St Peter’s and Sydney, there are connections, past traumas and long held secrets they have struggled to successfully negotiate. As they cross paths those connections are revealed, traumas are shared and long held secrets become known. Each woman is trying to create a life for herself but the past will always be a part of it.
I have read all of Lesley’s Crewe’s wonderful books. She has an easy conversational style and a knack of creating interesting, compelling and sometimes quirky characters. She has also mastered a way to describe the wild and very unique landscape of Cape Breton, unforgiving in its harshness and unmatched in its physical beauty. She knows the area well, understands the people who live there, their way of life and how family and friendship are valued. Readers also enjoy Crewe’s easy going, down to earth humour and her descriptions of the small objects which evoke memories of the past which form an important part of the narrative. Things such as a doll sewn from scraps of red velvet, a lover’s pipe and some tangled fishing gear, hold memories that remind readers of the past lives of her characters.
This is the story of how one woman’s choice early in life leads to a lifetime of loss, a loss that later helps her struggle through difficult times, live through heart breaking trauma and manage to find happiness. Some reviewers have referred to a number of editing problems, which I know can be annoying, but they did not interfere with my enjoyment of the book.
Crewe is a wonderful story teller and once again has given her readers a very enjoyable read.
September 1, 2025
Why I have just read my first Lesley Crewe novel?! Thanks to my local library's Read Local Summer Reading Challenge, I chose the audio book (my first audio book) of Beholden. I started listening and so did my husband and children! The audio book had to be returned when we were halfway through, so I read it aloud. What a wonderful story and I love Bridie! I definitely look forward to reading each of Lesley Crewe's novels!
January 25, 2025
As always, Leslie Crewe is amazing.
January 22, 2025
Loved it. Quite the dysfunctional family. Characters were great. Funny and enjoyable to read
February 26, 2023
Loved this book! It was long, over 1000 pages, but worth it. Loved that it took place in Cape Breton and the author is from Nova Scotia.
February 23, 2024
I started off really liking this book. I was ready to give it a very high rating and got caught up in the tragic love story of Nell and George right away. Somewhere along the way though, the story got too weird and it went awry. There were errors in the names which threw me completely off. Patty became Peggy and Mavis was sometimes Maud so I didn't know if there were two new characters I had missed or what was going on. I went back to figure it out and discovered there were only Patty and Mavis and that Peggy and Maud were errors. That wasn't the worst of it. I was shocked when George killed himself! He was steadfast and true but I guess still waters run deep. I actually thought he and Nell would end up happy and together. Not so - instead I went on a wild goose chase with Bridie who seemed to always be in the right place at the right time as person after person left her horses, houses, trust funds and vast amounts of money. Meanwhile, she almost ends up marrying her half brother and never seems to have a place to call home or know who or where she came from until close to the end. By then I was tired of the secrecy and the drama. Bridie did get a rough deal in life, no question, but she falls to her knees once too often for me. Some characters didn't even make sense as to what they were in the story for there in the first place. It just seemed very corny and contrived. I love that it was a cape Breton story written by a Nova Scotian but it fell short for me and I'm actually bummed about that as it sure seemed like a winner at first to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2020
Another great book by Lesley Crewe. Quirky, over the top drama. Wonderful characters.
Sadly, I do not like the cover. It looks like it belongs to a creepy horror story......and while the story does have its own bits of horror/huge drama, it is far from a horror story.
This is the type of a book that you sit down in a cozy room with a cup of tea and watch the story unfold. It is a generational story which builds up to the star character.
It is about strong women who bucked the trend to be meek long before it was fashionable to do so. It is about women who take charge of their lives. It is about loyalty between women. And of course, love.
I loved the setting of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia......and area I am quite familiar with.
Sadly, I do not like the cover. It looks like it belongs to a creepy horror story......and while the story does have its own bits of horror/huge drama, it is far from a horror story.
This is the type of a book that you sit down in a cozy room with a cup of tea and watch the story unfold. It is a generational story which builds up to the star character.
It is about strong women who bucked the trend to be meek long before it was fashionable to do so. It is about women who take charge of their lives. It is about loyalty between women. And of course, love.
I loved the setting of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia......and area I am quite familiar with.
January 5, 2019
This book is gut wrenching, but heart warming at the same time. How is that even possible? I loved it, and I had a hard time putting it down long enough to sleep.
October 2, 2023
I didn’t think I liked Lesley Crewe’s writing, but once again I found this book to be entertaining. Although I couldn’t keep all George’s women straight at first. I like stories about Nova Scotia and Cape Breton - they have some odd characters: e.g. the Spinster on the Hill, Uncle Donny and Mavis. George too had some wierd solutions to his problems, for example, what to do with Birdie when her mother was killed in the car accident. Strange how women seemed to do whatever he wanted.
Overall, a good read.
Overall, a good read.
August 13, 2019
This is a tightly woven story. There are many twists that you cannot anticipate. I despaired midway through as characters were lost but Lesley Crewe fully redeemed herself with an ending of reconciliation and satisfaction. I appreciated the strong female characters who succeeded in their own ways without the help of the men in their lives.
August 11, 2022
I loved the beginning and the ending, great premise but so much editing was needed. The story dragged from about halfway to 3/4 of the way through. Names were used interchangeably, spelling errors were rife throughout the book. If you’re going to write an excellent story like this, polish it up before sending it into the world. It could have easily been a 5 star novel.
September 11, 2023
I have become quite a fan of Lesley Crewe's books and while this one didn't quite meet the rating of The Spoon Stealer (my favourite of hers to date), it did catch my attention from the first page and keep me interested. I actually couldn't put it down at first and read the 1st half in one day which I rarely find the time to do these days. I liked the characters and thought they were all quite realistic and relatable... even though I did not like Mavis. I will admit that I found the last third a bit slow and maybe a bit longer than necessary but, overall, I really did enjoy this story and, despite some fairly obvious predictabilities, I was really happy with how their lives all ended up.
November 3, 2024
I have read quite a few of Lesley Crewe's books and up until now The Spoon Stealer had been my favourite. Then I read Beholden. This book covered a couple of generations, introduced a host of amazing characters both main and supporting. Some you loved, others you loathed. There was happiness and humour and heartbreak. The main characters were made even richer by the wonderful supporting cast. I had a really hard time putting this book down. Go ahead and treat yourself to this book. You won't be sorry you did.
September 22, 2021
I first heard of Lesley Crewe's books 2 weeks ago. As soon as I read that they are set in Cape Breton (basically my backyard) I knew instantly I needed to read the first one I could get my hands on. That happened to be Beholden. The cover was off putting I must admit, very dark and rather creepy, so I waited for a sunny afternoon and sat outside to read what I was in for. And yes there was sadness, drama, and upheaval... A couple of times I needed a break from darker turns. However the wonderful characters, beautiful setting, easy flow of words, and a touch of suspense, kept me thinking about the story until I could pick the book up again. The more I read, the more I reaped the rewards of this Maritime welcome; that blend of practicality and dreams, plain talk and humour, work and play. I finished the book feeling like I had just come from visiting with family and friends... And already wondering which of Crewe's books I will be visiting with next.
August 19, 2024
I loved this book.
The story takes place over a couple of decades and every few chapters are told from one of the characters points of view. A good story about relationships between family and friends.
The story takes place over a couple of decades and every few chapters are told from one of the characters points of view. A good story about relationships between family and friends.
October 19, 2024
I love when an author can be counted on to provide a good read. Lesley Crewe delivers every time with strong, wonderful women and a well-developed plot. There are places in this book where the dialogue is a bit clunky, but it was still a book that I couldn’t put down and didn’t want to end.
January 15, 2021
Loved reading about beautiful Cape Breton and places I recognized. A few mistakes in the book (Peggy instead of Patty and Mavis when they were talking about Maude) but I enjoyed the story and the scenery
November 4, 2025
I believe I’ve found a new favourite author! And she’s local! Amazing character work and settings in familiar with 🥰
October 1, 2019
Although the story was at times heavy, I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps it was the writing style, perhaps it was the fact that I recently traveled to Cape Breton and recognized many of the place names?
September 16, 2023
Love, love love this one!
Lesley Crewe may well be my new favourite author!
Lesley Crewe may well be my new favourite author!
September 4, 2023
Another great Lesley Crewe book!
Happy reading
Happy reading
September 29, 2021
This was a great read!
February 24, 2019
I found it slightly off-putting as a few of the main characters died or killed themselves seemingly with little warning. While it may have been an accurate sign of the times in small communities in this timeframe i did find the number of characters subjected to sexual abuse/assault quite high. The story does wrap up with a positive ending for a few of the main characters but overall i found it a sad read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2019
This was an amazing book! I loved every chapter of it! I really like her style! Just finished a couple hours ago and here I am on my new kindle app and my first purchase is another book by this author! I really enjoyed the telling of the relationships. Well written and flows nicely. Funny and emotional and firey, I laughed, I cried, I was inspired and comnected to the characters!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews