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Ellie and the Harpmaker
In the rolling hills of beautiful Exmoor, there’s a barn. And in that barn, you’ll find Dan. He’s a maker of exquisite harps - but not a great maker of conversation. He’s content in his own company, quietly working and away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right.
But one day, a cherry-socked woman stumbles across his barn and the conversation flows a little more easily than usual. She says her name’s Ellie, a housewife, alone, out on her daily walk and, though she doesn’t say this, she looks sad. He wants to make her feel better, so he gives her one of his harps, made of cherry wood.
And before they know it, this simple act of kindness puts them on the path to friendship, big secrets, pet pheasants and, most importantly, true love.
But one day, a cherry-socked woman stumbles across his barn and the conversation flows a little more easily than usual. She says her name’s Ellie, a housewife, alone, out on her daily walk and, though she doesn’t say this, she looks sad. He wants to make her feel better, so he gives her one of his harps, made of cherry wood.
And before they know it, this simple act of kindness puts them on the path to friendship, big secrets, pet pheasants and, most importantly, true love.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2019
737 people are currently reading
14315 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Prior
7 books886 followersHazel Prior is the author of ELLIE AND THE HARP MAKER and Richard & Judy Book Club number one bestseller AWAY WITH THE PENGUINS (UK title)/HOW THE PENGUINS SAVED VERONICA (US title). Her third book, CALL OF THE PENGUINS, is a continuation of Veronica's adventures. LIFE AND OTTER MIRACLES came out last year and the third in the penguin trilogy, GONE WITH THE PENGUINS is out now. As well as writing, Hazel is a freelance harpist. She lives on Exmoor, in England, with her husband and a huge, ginger cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,378 reviews
October 28, 2025
4.5 stars
One day Ellie wanders down a new path and stumbles upon a wonderfully hidden secret.
A harp maker (Dan) lives in a beautiful old barn where he hand-carves harps of all sizes and shapes.
Dan escaped from the modern world in part because he has troubles in most social situations.
In explicably, he takes a liking to Ellie (in part due to her cherry-red socks) - and gifts her a small cherry-red harp.
While she is overjoyed at first, she soon realizes that her husband may have an issue with this.
Her husband, the breadwinner, has a very specific mindset on how his housewife should behave...and accepting harps from strangers does not fulfill his expectations.
And soon their quiet friendship blossoms.
Dan is unlike anyone she's ever met - his sweet and uncomplicated reactions come as a welcome relief from her everyday life.
There's just no way he'd believe that she was actually trying to learn the harp (despite it being the truth) ...but there's also no way she can keep a secret like this forever.
This was such a sweet and unconventional book - I adored Ellie and Dan, and I loved the way their friendship grew over the book. So many books rush right into the romance and neglect the relationship but Prior balanced that beautifully.
Dan's voice was unexpectedly endearing - he clearly looked at life through a completely unique perspective and I adored whenever the book swapped to him. His gentle and simple outlook took a hold of my heart from the very beginning.
Ellie's perspective was also well-done, though her blinders when it came to her husband frustrated me.
I wish the author had shown a few flashbacks so we could get a better idea of how those blind spots came to be in order to make her reactions feel a bit more realistic.
Also, her inner voice sometimes strayed a little too close to Dan's tone. I think it needed to be a bit more distinct but perhaps that was how the author wanted to show that Ellie and Dan would click together.
I loved how the author's love for harps shown through in the book - I never would have guessed I would become so invested in the livelihood of a harp carver.
All in all - I really enjoyed my time between these pages - I'm going to have to watch for more books by this author!!
With thanks to the author and Berkley Publishing for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes come from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication.
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It was completely and totally unexpected, but it happened.
"Christina, I'm totally in love," I confided, "With the harp."
One day Ellie wanders down a new path and stumbles upon a wonderfully hidden secret.
A harp maker (Dan) lives in a beautiful old barn where he hand-carves harps of all sizes and shapes.
Dan escaped from the modern world in part because he has troubles in most social situations.
In explicably, he takes a liking to Ellie (in part due to her cherry-red socks) - and gifts her a small cherry-red harp.
While she is overjoyed at first, she soon realizes that her husband may have an issue with this.
Her husband, the breadwinner, has a very specific mindset on how his housewife should behave...and accepting harps from strangers does not fulfill his expectations.
"No, I think I'll leave it to you. If I go with you it might look as if I forced you to take it back...you go, hon, and don't forget to make it clear it's your choice."But when Ellie tries to return it, Dan instead offers her a place to learn to play.
And soon their quiet friendship blossoms.
Dan is unlike anyone she's ever met - his sweet and uncomplicated reactions come as a welcome relief from her everyday life.
I thank her profusely. I was very enthusiastic because nobody has ever, ever given me seven jars of jam before. Let alone ones with checked blue-and-white hats.And the more Ellie visits, the less she wants to go.
...I'm happily married, aren't I?The longer she continues her visits, the better she plays but the more lies she needs to spend to keep her husband's suspicions at bay.
Of course I am.
I clutch my husband's arm.
There's just no way he'd believe that she was actually trying to learn the harp (despite it being the truth) ...but there's also no way she can keep a secret like this forever.
I've pulled myself loose from my rock, but now I'm floating with the tides and I've got no idea where I'll end up.Ahhh, my heart is too full.
This was such a sweet and unconventional book - I adored Ellie and Dan, and I loved the way their friendship grew over the book. So many books rush right into the romance and neglect the relationship but Prior balanced that beautifully.
Dan's voice was unexpectedly endearing - he clearly looked at life through a completely unique perspective and I adored whenever the book swapped to him. His gentle and simple outlook took a hold of my heart from the very beginning.
Ellie's perspective was also well-done, though her blinders when it came to her husband frustrated me.
I wish the author had shown a few flashbacks so we could get a better idea of how those blind spots came to be in order to make her reactions feel a bit more realistic.
Also, her inner voice sometimes strayed a little too close to Dan's tone. I think it needed to be a bit more distinct but perhaps that was how the author wanted to show that Ellie and Dan would click together.
I loved how the author's love for harps shown through in the book - I never would have guessed I would become so invested in the livelihood of a harp carver.
All in all - I really enjoyed my time between these pages - I'm going to have to watch for more books by this author!!
With thanks to the author and Berkley Publishing for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
All quotes come from an uncorrected proof and are subject to change upon publication.
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
December 26, 2021
Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior, Katharine McEwan, Philip Battley
From the time I knew that this book was going to be published I looked forward to reading it and I finally had a chance to listen to the audio version of the book, instead. It'd seemed like the type of book I enjoy but instead, I had some issues with it, mainly with the character of Ellie. I didn't care for a lot of the characters but Ellie is the one that matters the most. I feel like meek, submissive Ellie ran roughshod over the life of Dan.
Dan Hollis designs and makes Celtic harps, in his barn/home, in the countryside of the English moors. Dan is many things, extremely smart, very creative, and happy with his life. Dan seems to be on the spectrum, can take care of himself and probably could do even more if his sister, Jo, would foster his independence rather than discourage it, for selfish reasons. Several people seem to be taking advantage of Dan because his good nature makes doing so an easy thing to do. Jo is completely in control of Dan's finances, Dan's concert harpist 'girlfriend' gets free harps and music students from Dan, and Dan's postmaster friend lets Dan buy him his drinks. No one really does much for Dan but he doesn't need much, he's very happy and self sufficient, thriving in his creative routine.
Ellie Jacobs stumbles on his barn, while out for a walk. This is a woman who is a doormat to her abusive husband, who has been floating along in her boring, restrictive, housewife life but when she meets Dan, she latches onto all that is good about him. Ellie doesn't even know how to run her own life but she's going to dig into Dan's life and dig she does, until eventually she tears it to the ground. I won't go into any detail but to say that although this should be a feel good romance it felt so wrong to me. Yes, at some point Dan justifies everything that happens but I can't forget the things that Ellie should not have done or should have done differently. It's as if she doesn't even know how to function in the real world and I don't think that is what the story is meant to convey.
Published August 6th 2019
From the time I knew that this book was going to be published I looked forward to reading it and I finally had a chance to listen to the audio version of the book, instead. It'd seemed like the type of book I enjoy but instead, I had some issues with it, mainly with the character of Ellie. I didn't care for a lot of the characters but Ellie is the one that matters the most. I feel like meek, submissive Ellie ran roughshod over the life of Dan.
Dan Hollis designs and makes Celtic harps, in his barn/home, in the countryside of the English moors. Dan is many things, extremely smart, very creative, and happy with his life. Dan seems to be on the spectrum, can take care of himself and probably could do even more if his sister, Jo, would foster his independence rather than discourage it, for selfish reasons. Several people seem to be taking advantage of Dan because his good nature makes doing so an easy thing to do. Jo is completely in control of Dan's finances, Dan's concert harpist 'girlfriend' gets free harps and music students from Dan, and Dan's postmaster friend lets Dan buy him his drinks. No one really does much for Dan but he doesn't need much, he's very happy and self sufficient, thriving in his creative routine.
Ellie Jacobs stumbles on his barn, while out for a walk. This is a woman who is a doormat to her abusive husband, who has been floating along in her boring, restrictive, housewife life but when she meets Dan, she latches onto all that is good about him. Ellie doesn't even know how to run her own life but she's going to dig into Dan's life and dig she does, until eventually she tears it to the ground. I won't go into any detail but to say that although this should be a feel good romance it felt so wrong to me. Yes, at some point Dan justifies everything that happens but I can't forget the things that Ellie should not have done or should have done differently. It's as if she doesn't even know how to function in the real world and I don't think that is what the story is meant to convey.
Published August 6th 2019
July 13, 2020
Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior is a 2019 Bantam Press publication.
Dan, is a Harpmaker who spontaneously gives one of his harps to Ellie, a woman visiting his little out of the way shop one day.
Ellie’s husband, however, insists she return the harp. Instead, she winds up storing it at Dan’s place, scheming behind her husband’s back to visit the harp regularly, secretly learning how to play it. While Ellie and Dan begin developing a friendship, Ellie discovers a shocking secret that will change Dan’s life forever.
Meanwhile, Ellie struggles to convince herself she loves her husband that she is happy in her marriage, all while walking on eggshells around him, hiding her relationship with Dan and her harp lessons from him. But, sooner or later everything comes into the light putting Ellie and Dan’s friendship in jeopardy.
While this is mostly a light, charming tale, it is also one of those stories in which the presentation prevents serious subjects from becoming too heavy, insulating the darker topics behind a whimsical veneer. However, these topics never dig too far beneath the surface, giving the story just the right amount of depth, allowing it to balance the dark undertones and the lighter overtones.
Dan's big, open heart made me want to reach through the pages and hug him. It was easy to see why Ellie was drawn to him.
This is a cute, offbeat romance, a feel good story that is warm and touching, with a sweet ending that will leave you with a smile on your face. Everyone needs a story like this one from to time to take the edge off life’s trials for a while.
Overall, quick, easy, and very enjoyable!
Dan, is a Harpmaker who spontaneously gives one of his harps to Ellie, a woman visiting his little out of the way shop one day.
Ellie’s husband, however, insists she return the harp. Instead, she winds up storing it at Dan’s place, scheming behind her husband’s back to visit the harp regularly, secretly learning how to play it. While Ellie and Dan begin developing a friendship, Ellie discovers a shocking secret that will change Dan’s life forever.
Meanwhile, Ellie struggles to convince herself she loves her husband that she is happy in her marriage, all while walking on eggshells around him, hiding her relationship with Dan and her harp lessons from him. But, sooner or later everything comes into the light putting Ellie and Dan’s friendship in jeopardy.
While this is mostly a light, charming tale, it is also one of those stories in which the presentation prevents serious subjects from becoming too heavy, insulating the darker topics behind a whimsical veneer. However, these topics never dig too far beneath the surface, giving the story just the right amount of depth, allowing it to balance the dark undertones and the lighter overtones.
Dan's big, open heart made me want to reach through the pages and hug him. It was easy to see why Ellie was drawn to him.
This is a cute, offbeat romance, a feel good story that is warm and touching, with a sweet ending that will leave you with a smile on your face. Everyone needs a story like this one from to time to take the edge off life’s trials for a while.
Overall, quick, easy, and very enjoyable!
July 24, 2019
3.5 stars rounded up.
I can’t think of any other way to describe this other than what sounds cliche - a sweet, charming story with characters I loved, but that is precisely what it is. Dan, the harp maker, a little quirky from the beginning, reminds me of Don Tillman from the Rosie Project and subsequent books in that series, and Ellie, the housewife- there’s something sad and lovely about her. Predictable from the beginning, but a few things happened here that I was not expecting. Dan, not quite a recluse, makes beautiful harps and Ellie who fills her time with walks in this beautiful setting in the countryside of Exmoor, England comes upon the barn where Dan works and lives. After their brief meeting, Dan gives Ellie one of his harps. This lovely act of generosity sets in motion a secret kept from Ellie’s domineering husband, her harp playing and friendship with Dan. Of course secrets kept are only kept for a while and when divulged Ellie’s life is changed in ways she didn’t imagine. Another secret kept by Dan’s former girlfriend and Ellie’s harp teacher changes Dan’s life forever when it is out in the open. I’m not a big reader of romance and I suppose this could be categorized as that, but this was really a lovely, uplifting story and I need one of those once in a while. I have to round up to 4 stars because Dan and Ellie are characters that I will remember.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkeley through Netgalley.
August 30, 2019
3.5 STARs
A cast of quirky characters, with some unexpected and even quite odd turns made this one a unique read for me, although the end was quite predictable.
I'm not a big romance reader so this was a lighter read and definitely a slower paced story than my typical genre. I enjoyed the two main characters Dan and Ellie and their approach to the little joys in life and love for nature and harps of course.
Two lost souls who meet and find friendship and kindness in each other. I may have said, "hmm" several times while reading because I couldn't quite wrap my head around some of their "choices". Do they even live in the real world?
I enjoyed it mostly even with some of the unlikely circumstances that occurred. I was rooting for them though - wondering if the fairy tale would have a happy ending.
A cast of quirky characters, with some unexpected and even quite odd turns made this one a unique read for me, although the end was quite predictable.
I'm not a big romance reader so this was a lighter read and definitely a slower paced story than my typical genre. I enjoyed the two main characters Dan and Ellie and their approach to the little joys in life and love for nature and harps of course.
Two lost souls who meet and find friendship and kindness in each other. I may have said, "hmm" several times while reading because I couldn't quite wrap my head around some of their "choices". Do they even live in the real world?
I enjoyed it mostly even with some of the unlikely circumstances that occurred. I was rooting for them though - wondering if the fairy tale would have a happy ending.
September 13, 2019
Enchanting, sweet, & heartwarming!
ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by HAZEL PRIOR is a feel-good, delightful, up-lifting, lighthearted, and lovely story that completely entranced me.
HAZEL PRIOR delivers an engaging, humorous, entertaining, enjoyable and beautifully written tale of music and love here that is told through alternating chapters between Dan and Ellie.
I absolutely loved Dan’s endearing, quirky, fun, innocent & loveable character and thought that he definitely stole the show. He was the highlight of the book for me and I loved how selfless, caring, carefree, giving, creative, and loving he was.
I was thoroughly entertained and invested in Dan and Ellie’s relationship and was rooting and hoping for the best for both of them.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Not all that creative of a cover design but I do actually quite like the color schemes and the simplicity of it which is an effective and fitting representation to storyline.
Title: A simple and unimaginative title that represents the storyline quite effectively.
Writing/Prose: Lovely, engaging, captivating, humorous, and readable.
Plot: Fun, quirky, endearing, charming, lighthearted, entertaining, and enjoyable.
Ending: Heartwarming, uplifting, and a feel-good ending that left me feeling such warmth and love for these characters and this book.
Overall: This book was such a breath of fresh air to read and one that is packed full of heart. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Hazel Prior for gifting me an advance copy of this book.
Review can also be seen at Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER by HAZEL PRIOR is a feel-good, delightful, up-lifting, lighthearted, and lovely story that completely entranced me.
HAZEL PRIOR delivers an engaging, humorous, entertaining, enjoyable and beautifully written tale of music and love here that is told through alternating chapters between Dan and Ellie.
I absolutely loved Dan’s endearing, quirky, fun, innocent & loveable character and thought that he definitely stole the show. He was the highlight of the book for me and I loved how selfless, caring, carefree, giving, creative, and loving he was.
I was thoroughly entertained and invested in Dan and Ellie’s relationship and was rooting and hoping for the best for both of them.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Not all that creative of a cover design but I do actually quite like the color schemes and the simplicity of it which is an effective and fitting representation to storyline.
Title: A simple and unimaginative title that represents the storyline quite effectively.
Writing/Prose: Lovely, engaging, captivating, humorous, and readable.
Plot: Fun, quirky, endearing, charming, lighthearted, entertaining, and enjoyable.
Ending: Heartwarming, uplifting, and a feel-good ending that left me feeling such warmth and love for these characters and this book.
Overall: This book was such a breath of fresh air to read and one that is packed full of heart. Would recommend!
Thank you so much to Elisha at Berkley Publishing and Hazel Prior for gifting me an advance copy of this book.
Review can also be seen at Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
August 6, 2019
Ellie and the Harpmaker is such a sweet, feel-good story! I’d also like to visit Exmoor asap!
Deep in the hills of Exmoor, Dan is making harps. He’s not very social and prefers his work to people, anyway.
Ellie stumbles into Dan’s barn one day, and while she looks sad, they have a wonderful conversation, which is not the norm for Dan. He wants to give Ellie something, so he gives her a treasured harp he’s made.
That harp is only the beginning of the story of Ellie and Dan. There’s much more left to tell.
Ellie and Dan begin in one place and end up in quite another. The book encompasses their friendship and how it slowly and sweetly develops into love. I adored Dan and Ellie and watching their love flourish.
Also, there is a distinctive love for the beauty of harps here- in their appearance and in their music, and the author’s own penchant for the instrument comes through perfectly.
Overall, this is a story full of charm and endearing characters, one in which I was completely invested, and I was left feeling uplifted and warmhearted in the end. I’m most grateful for that.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Deep in the hills of Exmoor, Dan is making harps. He’s not very social and prefers his work to people, anyway.
Ellie stumbles into Dan’s barn one day, and while she looks sad, they have a wonderful conversation, which is not the norm for Dan. He wants to give Ellie something, so he gives her a treasured harp he’s made.
That harp is only the beginning of the story of Ellie and Dan. There’s much more left to tell.
Ellie and Dan begin in one place and end up in quite another. The book encompasses their friendship and how it slowly and sweetly develops into love. I adored Dan and Ellie and watching their love flourish.
Also, there is a distinctive love for the beauty of harps here- in their appearance and in their music, and the author’s own penchant for the instrument comes through perfectly.
Overall, this is a story full of charm and endearing characters, one in which I was completely invested, and I was left feeling uplifted and warmhearted in the end. I’m most grateful for that.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
June 7, 2019
This is a quirky, original novel that reminded me a little of Where’d You Go Bernadette and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Like Eleanor, Dan isn’t great at reading social cues and gets anxiety talking to people he doesn’t know. He doesn’t care about money, only making harps. When Ellie stumbles into his place, she and Dan begin to talk, and she tells him she is a housewife. For some reason Dan doesn’t understand, she is sad. To cheer her up, he gives her a harp.
We the readers know that Ellie is sad because she’s in an unhappy marriage. When she brings the harp home, her jealous husband Clive freaks out. Thus, she brings the harp back, but secretly begins taking lessons from what Dan calls his girlfriend. Hanging out at the barn with Dan strengthens their friendship.
What happens is a relationship based on two good people who have misinterpreted things in life, but you hope that there will be enough understanding to get themselves out of bad relationships and into positive ones.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 6, 2019.
We the readers know that Ellie is sad because she’s in an unhappy marriage. When she brings the harp home, her jealous husband Clive freaks out. Thus, she brings the harp back, but secretly begins taking lessons from what Dan calls his girlfriend. Hanging out at the barn with Dan strengthens their friendship.
What happens is a relationship based on two good people who have misinterpreted things in life, but you hope that there will be enough understanding to get themselves out of bad relationships and into positive ones.
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel, which RELEASES AUGUST 6, 2019.
September 8, 2019
3.5 stars
Ellie and the Harpmaker is an entertaining, uplifting eccentric escapism with unusual likable characters. There is nothing new to the overall plot of the story. It's all about the tone to the story. The quirky personalities of the characters drew me into the story right from the start. At times their peculiarities seemed a little extreme yet fun.
Hazel Prior creates an oddly charming and enchanting fairy tale feeling story that is full of heart. I loved the warm friendship here between our main characters and watching their relationship blossom through kindness and quirky moments. I recommend for when you are in the mood for a quirky, feel-good story
I received and ARC from Berkley Publishing
Ellie and the Harpmaker is an entertaining, uplifting eccentric escapism with unusual likable characters. There is nothing new to the overall plot of the story. It's all about the tone to the story. The quirky personalities of the characters drew me into the story right from the start. At times their peculiarities seemed a little extreme yet fun.
Hazel Prior creates an oddly charming and enchanting fairy tale feeling story that is full of heart. I loved the warm friendship here between our main characters and watching their relationship blossom through kindness and quirky moments. I recommend for when you are in the mood for a quirky, feel-good story
I received and ARC from Berkley Publishing
July 13, 2019
Beautifully written! This was very atmospheric in the manner of a lyrical journey - it almost felt like a fairy tale. Ellie, a housewife of Exmoor, wandered into Dan the harp maker's barn one day and they struck up a conversation. Dan thought she was a little sad so he gave her a beautiful harp. They become fast friends.
This story was enchanting and I know it will stay with me a very long time. I loved the characters Ellie and Dan. I found the writing exquisite in its simplicity.
Thanks so very much to Hazel Prior and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this wonderful book!
This story was enchanting and I know it will stay with me a very long time. I loved the characters Ellie and Dan. I found the writing exquisite in its simplicity.
Thanks so very much to Hazel Prior and Edelweiss for an advance copy of this wonderful book!
December 2, 2023
This book was a delight, the author’s prose immediately sucking me into the quaint, at times sad narrative of Ellie, a middle-aged Englishwoman stuck in an emotionally abusive marriage, a woman who chances upon a tradesman who builds harps. After being gifted a harp and required by her husband to return it, she’s offered the chance to instead keep it at the harp maker’s house and come to practice it there instead. Dan is neuroatypical, a gifted woodworker, very straightforward, kind and intelligent. He and Ellie develop a friendship in secret as she has to hide her harp playing from her husband. Many cleverly drawn characters in this one. I was completely enraptured by every scene with Phineas the pheasant, charmed by Ed, and kept on my toes by Ro Deer. So adorable. A charming and heartwarming tale.
August 30, 2019
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, Penguin Random House Canada, and Hazel Prior for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Ellie and the Harpmaker. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
SPOILERS AHEAD - PROCEED WITH CAUTION
I have a bone to pick. I know you are supposed to be carried away with the romance and root for Ellie and Dan BUT I don’t like it one character is married while falling in love with another. Especially in this story, we are not really sure if Clive is a bad guy or not. Clive flips flops as a character, sort of being who the author wants him to be depending on the circumstances. Is a violent, wife abuser? Or a wounded man who was once cheated on and now extra sensitive to it happening again. Is he a psychopath who burns down a barn? Or is he alcohol dependent and in need of rehab? I mean come on, pick a lane. Commit. Again, I will reiterate, if you don’t like your husband, leave him. Deal with your shit. Then find someone else to fall in love with.
Clive’s worst nightmare came true. Ellie snuck around, got the hots for the harpmaker and then wants to leave her husband. She lied to him for months while developing this relationship. Ellie made jam for Dan, she wrote love poems about him. Yes, Clive lost his shit. I couldn’t relate to Ellie at all. She was weak, self-indulgent, dishonest and a bunch of other characteristics that made me dislike her. I remember when “Eat Pray Love” came out. Everyone loved that book so much, but I kept thinking that this was the most selfish, narcissistic, self-indulgent woman I ever heard of. Ellie gave me the same feelings.
The minor characters were also something I couldn’t relate to. Ellie’s one and only friend, Christine, was awful. As someone whom Ellie admits can’t hold a relationship, maybe don’t go to her for advice. She just encourages Ellie to lie to her husband, take off for vacation at Christmas and basically do whatever it is you feel like, regardless of the consequences. If Clive really was a violent husband, she could have gotten Ellie killed. Thomas, Dan’s friend, was another odd friend that isn’t really a friend.
I think the character of Dan was also mishandled. Obviously, there is something that makes Dan different. But it isn’t dealt with in any meaningful way. The people in Dan’s life mistreat him. The girlfriend who completely takes advantage of him and his character, who dates him and then breaks up with him, except, oops, she doesn’t tell him for five years. Don’t get me started with having sex with Dan and he doesn’t even really know what it is. If this was a female character we would be crying rape. Dan’s sister seems to be using him financially and again taking advantage of his quirks, or condition, or whatever it is. This is awful!!
I felt like the character of the boy was also mishandled. Is he like his Dad? If so, why isn’t it addressed by the adults in his life? It seems like the boy is a problem to both his mother and his grandparents. Although Dan’s condition reminds me of “The Rosie Project”, that novel deals with it honestly, openly and in a beautifully touching manner.
So, in case you can’t tell, I just wasn’t into this book. I was so angry most of the way through. Then ending was even worse. It was so unrealistic where it seemed like the author just made arbitrary things happen so it would all work out with a happy ending. I did enjoy the nature, the bits about the harp making and the soul of the harp. I could have had more of that. I really liked Dan even though I don’t feel like his character got a fair or honest shake. My favorite character was probably the pheasant. That says it all.
SPOILERS AHEAD - PROCEED WITH CAUTION
I have a bone to pick. I know you are supposed to be carried away with the romance and root for Ellie and Dan BUT I don’t like it one character is married while falling in love with another. Especially in this story, we are not really sure if Clive is a bad guy or not. Clive flips flops as a character, sort of being who the author wants him to be depending on the circumstances. Is a violent, wife abuser? Or a wounded man who was once cheated on and now extra sensitive to it happening again. Is he a psychopath who burns down a barn? Or is he alcohol dependent and in need of rehab? I mean come on, pick a lane. Commit. Again, I will reiterate, if you don’t like your husband, leave him. Deal with your shit. Then find someone else to fall in love with.
Clive’s worst nightmare came true. Ellie snuck around, got the hots for the harpmaker and then wants to leave her husband. She lied to him for months while developing this relationship. Ellie made jam for Dan, she wrote love poems about him. Yes, Clive lost his shit. I couldn’t relate to Ellie at all. She was weak, self-indulgent, dishonest and a bunch of other characteristics that made me dislike her. I remember when “Eat Pray Love” came out. Everyone loved that book so much, but I kept thinking that this was the most selfish, narcissistic, self-indulgent woman I ever heard of. Ellie gave me the same feelings.
The minor characters were also something I couldn’t relate to. Ellie’s one and only friend, Christine, was awful. As someone whom Ellie admits can’t hold a relationship, maybe don’t go to her for advice. She just encourages Ellie to lie to her husband, take off for vacation at Christmas and basically do whatever it is you feel like, regardless of the consequences. If Clive really was a violent husband, she could have gotten Ellie killed. Thomas, Dan’s friend, was another odd friend that isn’t really a friend.
I think the character of Dan was also mishandled. Obviously, there is something that makes Dan different. But it isn’t dealt with in any meaningful way. The people in Dan’s life mistreat him. The girlfriend who completely takes advantage of him and his character, who dates him and then breaks up with him, except, oops, she doesn’t tell him for five years. Don’t get me started with having sex with Dan and he doesn’t even really know what it is. If this was a female character we would be crying rape. Dan’s sister seems to be using him financially and again taking advantage of his quirks, or condition, or whatever it is. This is awful!!
I felt like the character of the boy was also mishandled. Is he like his Dad? If so, why isn’t it addressed by the adults in his life? It seems like the boy is a problem to both his mother and his grandparents. Although Dan’s condition reminds me of “The Rosie Project”, that novel deals with it honestly, openly and in a beautifully touching manner.
So, in case you can’t tell, I just wasn’t into this book. I was so angry most of the way through. Then ending was even worse. It was so unrealistic where it seemed like the author just made arbitrary things happen so it would all work out with a happy ending. I did enjoy the nature, the bits about the harp making and the soul of the harp. I could have had more of that. I really liked Dan even though I don’t feel like his character got a fair or honest shake. My favorite character was probably the pheasant. That says it all.
May 24, 2020
Many thanks to Berkely for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
”Music helps fill up the holes that people leave behind”
Ellie and the Harpmarker is a great tale of music and love. We follow Ellie and… the harpmaker. Because whoever was in charge of giving this a title doesn’t know what subtlety is. When the harpmaker, Dan, gives Ellie a harp, completely free of charge, I might add, her life is sent snowballing in both good and bad ways. She begins to fall in love with the harp and playing it but, unfortunately, her asshole of a husband does not approve. But she continues to play it in secret and slowly but surely falls in love with it. But the harp may not be the only thing she is in love with.
This novel was quite a surprise, in that it made me laugh and cry. It was unlike anything I’ve ever read. Not quite romance. Not quite literary fiction. And almost a mild undertone of domestic thriller.
I think the best part of this book was Dan. Now, for those who have read the book, you’ll understand what I’m about to talk about. Dan, in my opinion, is most likely on the autism spectrum. Now, I actually spoke with the author, asking her to confirm or deny Dan’s autism. She told me that she purposely left it open for the reader to decide for themselves. I think that it’s possible and likely that Dan is on the spectrum. But people are so much more than the way their brains work. Dan was quirky, funny and lovable. He was the shining star in this novel.
On the other hand, Ellie, our main character, was absolutely infuriating. Again and again, she continued to let Clive (or is it Clide? I honestly don't give a sh*t that asshole doesn’t deserve to be called by name) emotionally and verbally abuse her. And then when he would play the victim, she would apologize and woo and do her best to win him back. It was so frustrating!
Overall, this novel was a really great read. Funny, sad and beautifully written. This story of music, love and where they can take you will find a place in every reader’s heart.
Bottom Line:
4 Stars
Age Rating: [ PG-13 ]
Content Screening (Spoilers) - Educational Value: [Some brief and simple discussion of chords and harp playing] ~ Positive Messages: [Love and freedom] ~ Violence: [Arsen, burns and gunshots] ~ Sex: [Brief discussion of intercourse. Nothing detailed on page] ~ Langauge: [Brief cursing] ~ Drinking/Drugs: [None]
TW: Domestic abuse
Reps: [Autism]
Cover: 4/5 ~ Characters: 4/5 ~ Plot: 4/5 ~ Audio: 4/5
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: August 6th, 2019
Genre: Fiction/Romance
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August 29, 2024
4.5 🌟
‘Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine’ …I’m IN 😻 also may I add, perfect for fans of The Rosie Project series.
I absolutely adored this super cozy read set in the English countryside of Exmoor. It is so charming, uplifting and highly entertaining.
The book was told from 2 POV’s - Dan and Ellie; Dan the harp marker of Exmoor and Ellie the housewife of Exmoor. Both of whom I absolutely loved from the outset and they felt VERY REAL. The dual storyline worked perfectly as both of them had so much going on in their own lives, and own heads for that matter. As usual it is the characterisation that sets this book, and all of Hazel’s books, apart from the rest. Dan and Ellie are such genuine characters, you can’t help but love them and root from the beautifully long love story they are creating.
Dan was definitely autistic (speaking as an autistic myself) which definitely heightened my enjoyment of the book. It also made both characters all the more likeable. Furthermore, if you don’t know this already about autistic people, we usually have trouble lying and are know for always saying what’s on our minds which can be funny but can also get us into some tricky situations, both were definitely the case here! This also made the storyline very charming and furthermore, I think this novel was really quite unique as personally I have never read a book about a harp maker!
I had a lot of sympathy for Dan, particularly in regard to his relationships. Probably because I have had similar experiences in the past. However, despite their preoccupations with other relationships, neither Dan nor Ellie could do anything but think of each other. Dan concluded that Ellie was already married and he was apparently ‘made of all the wrong ingredients’ however ‘at least we still have music’; music - the one thing tying the both together.
I also really liked how Ellie cherished his intricacies and liked him all the more for it…‘one thing was for sure, Ellie knew that when Dan gave her a compliment she felt it much more. As she concluded, it was because she knows he never lies.’
Clive (Ellie’s husband; who we don’t like) doesn’t make Ellie’s life easy and certainly doesn’t support her love for harp playing and so she begins to tell him some little lies that lead, of course, to bigger lies or as Ellie so beautifully puts it in form of a poem:
‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive.’
I have to admit as much as I loved this book, my interest did dip a little in the middle (minus 1/2 🌟). There seemed to be a lack of substantial plot however, it soon gathered pace and peaked my attention once again. Especially since Ellie gets herself involved in a little light espionage…and soon a little, turned into a lot which turned into a rather messy explosion 💥 very entertaining to read, of course!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book, especially if you have enjoyed any of Hazel’s other books as the writing style and characterisation is very similar. This is actually the first book Hazel wrote and is a standalone novel, although I do wish she had made it into a series because I am SO NOT READY to let Dan and Ellie go. I really and truly fell in love with this pair. The plot was strong apart from a slight drop in the middle but it did pick up very quickly and it came back with a punch! And looking back on it, so much happened in this relatively short book. It is full of hope and dreams, with a little dark twist for good measure…sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what happiness really is…
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
‘Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine’ …I’m IN 😻 also may I add, perfect for fans of The Rosie Project series.
I absolutely adored this super cozy read set in the English countryside of Exmoor. It is so charming, uplifting and highly entertaining.
The book was told from 2 POV’s - Dan and Ellie; Dan the harp marker of Exmoor and Ellie the housewife of Exmoor. Both of whom I absolutely loved from the outset and they felt VERY REAL. The dual storyline worked perfectly as both of them had so much going on in their own lives, and own heads for that matter. As usual it is the characterisation that sets this book, and all of Hazel’s books, apart from the rest. Dan and Ellie are such genuine characters, you can’t help but love them and root from the beautifully long love story they are creating.
Dan was definitely autistic (speaking as an autistic myself) which definitely heightened my enjoyment of the book. It also made both characters all the more likeable. Furthermore, if you don’t know this already about autistic people, we usually have trouble lying and are know for always saying what’s on our minds which can be funny but can also get us into some tricky situations, both were definitely the case here! This also made the storyline very charming and furthermore, I think this novel was really quite unique as personally I have never read a book about a harp maker!
I had a lot of sympathy for Dan, particularly in regard to his relationships. Probably because I have had similar experiences in the past. However, despite their preoccupations with other relationships, neither Dan nor Ellie could do anything but think of each other. Dan concluded that Ellie was already married and he was apparently ‘made of all the wrong ingredients’ however ‘at least we still have music’; music - the one thing tying the both together.
I also really liked how Ellie cherished his intricacies and liked him all the more for it…‘one thing was for sure, Ellie knew that when Dan gave her a compliment she felt it much more. As she concluded, it was because she knows he never lies.’
Clive (Ellie’s husband; who we don’t like) doesn’t make Ellie’s life easy and certainly doesn’t support her love for harp playing and so she begins to tell him some little lies that lead, of course, to bigger lies or as Ellie so beautifully puts it in form of a poem:
‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave
When first we practise to deceive.’
I have to admit as much as I loved this book, my interest did dip a little in the middle (minus 1/2 🌟). There seemed to be a lack of substantial plot however, it soon gathered pace and peaked my attention once again. Especially since Ellie gets herself involved in a little light espionage…and soon a little, turned into a lot which turned into a rather messy explosion 💥 very entertaining to read, of course!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book, especially if you have enjoyed any of Hazel’s other books as the writing style and characterisation is very similar. This is actually the first book Hazel wrote and is a standalone novel, although I do wish she had made it into a series because I am SO NOT READY to let Dan and Ellie go. I really and truly fell in love with this pair. The plot was strong apart from a slight drop in the middle but it did pick up very quickly and it came back with a punch! And looking back on it, so much happened in this relatively short book. It is full of hope and dreams, with a little dark twist for good measure…sometimes it takes a chance encounter to discover what happiness really is…
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
August 17, 2019
TITLE: ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER
AUTHOR: Hazel Prior
RELEASE DATE: August 6th 2019
GENRE: Women's Fiction
RATING: 4 Stars
CLIFFHANGER: No
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
I've read stories about people on the autism spectrum and I loved every single one. These characters are often honest to a fault, don't pick up social cues or behave a little awkwardly in their interaction with other people, a little quirky, very smart and utterly sweet in their disposition. And that's Dan in a nutshell although it's nowhere mentioned that he is, indeed, autistic.
The way he talks and processes thoughts, it's so endearing and adorable. He made this story so special and my heart broke a little when he thought he wasn't made for relationships because somebody told him that he didn't have "the right ingredients." Dan had a pure heart, he was made out of light and love.
I was sad. Sad with a sadness I’d never felt before. The sadness chewed me up and swallowed me bit by bit. I was so sad I wanted to spend the whole day walking and looking at trees and gathering pebbles, but I couldn’t. My leg wouldn’t let me.
Ellie is married to a controlling, overbearing and overly jealous man. Granted, he's had his former girlfriend cheat on him but the way he treated Ellie was absolutely rotten. I wish I could say that I understood Ellie, holding on to her marriage as she did but, no, I didn't, even with her history with her mother who instilled extra-low self esteem in her. She was mousy, trying not to upset her spouse so she let him walk over her for quite some time. Ellie did ultimately grow a backbone and put a lid on it but I have to admit that it took her a little too long. That notwithstanding, I found her lovable, how she cared for Dan and looked out for him, loving him with all his peculiarities and eccentricities.
“However, I had a feeling the heart of Ellie the Exmoor Housewife was completely lacking in stony components. I had a feeling it was made of much softer stuff.”
The magic of this story lies not only in the characters and their interactions but also this authors writing style. It's as quirky as Dan and switches between past tense and present tense and I have to admit that I couldn't figure out why the author changed tenses so often and what the purpose for it was, but I didn't find it jarring or irritating, not at all. I really enjoyed the writing. Ellie and the Harpmaker is a charming tale about the unusual friendship between Ellie and Dan, who both captured my heart. I'm absolutely stunned that this is a debut novel - it doesn't feel like one. Hazel Prior is an author to look out for in the future. I'm expecting big things from her.
As I watch from the window the landscape becomes wilder and hillier and sheepier. I feel that simultaneously I am becoming Dannier. And I realize that Exmoor is more than my home. Much more. Exmoor, in a way, is me. It is where I can do my harpmaking and where I can be my absolute self, and those two things are very bound up in each other.
dnf
August 4, 2019DNF :(
I am definitely in the minority it seems, but this book just isn't for me. I really tried to give it a go (several times), but I honestly just dreaded picking it up each time I did and when I did I only read a few chapters and wanted to call it quits each time. I made it 50% through.
Sadly, I am sure I am part to blame because I was looking for a story that had a little more substance to it. Having read Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Girl He Used to Know within the past year, it really sunk this one. To me, those two books are the gold standard on characters that appear on the spectrum. In my opinion, this was a very paint by number book on girl who is unhappy with husband (but stays) and starts to fall for the oddly charming (who just so happens to be very good looking) guy who is nice to her. While this formula can most assuredly work (and I cheer for them to work), this just lacked the 'x factor'. It failed to move beyond the lines and really move me. Add that to the pacing that was on the slow side, I just can't bring myself to finish because I don't really see the benefit.
I did really want this to be something special and lots of people agree that it is. Unfortunately, it wasn't me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing and Hazel Prior for the opportunity to read this and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 8/1/19
Publication Date: 8/6/19
I am definitely in the minority it seems, but this book just isn't for me. I really tried to give it a go (several times), but I honestly just dreaded picking it up each time I did and when I did I only read a few chapters and wanted to call it quits each time. I made it 50% through.
Sadly, I am sure I am part to blame because I was looking for a story that had a little more substance to it. Having read Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and The Girl He Used to Know within the past year, it really sunk this one. To me, those two books are the gold standard on characters that appear on the spectrum. In my opinion, this was a very paint by number book on girl who is unhappy with husband (but stays) and starts to fall for the oddly charming (who just so happens to be very good looking) guy who is nice to her. While this formula can most assuredly work (and I cheer for them to work), this just lacked the 'x factor'. It failed to move beyond the lines and really move me. Add that to the pacing that was on the slow side, I just can't bring myself to finish because I don't really see the benefit.
I did really want this to be something special and lots of people agree that it is. Unfortunately, it wasn't me.
Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley Publishing and Hazel Prior for the opportunity to read this and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 8/1/19
Publication Date: 8/6/19
August 13, 2019
Dan is a harpmaker, crafting gorgeous Celtic harps in his barn in the English countryside. Ellie is a housewife who stumbles upon Dan's barn one day. He gives her a harp that matches the color of her socks, giving Ellie's humdrum life a gentle nudge in a different direction.
I love Celtic harp music, so the description of this book pulled me in. I enjoyed Dan's character the most. He was a bit quirky with a unique way of seeing the world. On the other hand I struggled with Ellie's character. She came off as part flighty and part doormat, though I appreciate what she did for Dan as the story progressed. (Not everything though!)
ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER was a light and sweet story with an almost fairy tale quality to it. I was not quite convinced of the romance between the two main characters, but it is a lovely story of friendship, and also finding one's self identity.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love Celtic harp music, so the description of this book pulled me in. I enjoyed Dan's character the most. He was a bit quirky with a unique way of seeing the world. On the other hand I struggled with Ellie's character. She came off as part flighty and part doormat, though I appreciate what she did for Dan as the story progressed. (Not everything though!)
ELLIE AND THE HARPMAKER was a light and sweet story with an almost fairy tale quality to it. I was not quite convinced of the romance between the two main characters, but it is a lovely story of friendship, and also finding one's self identity.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 2, 2019DNF @ 35%
August 25, 2019
Ellie and the Harpmaker is a lovely, debut novel by Hazel Prior that I found completely enchanting!! I found this book to be completely heartwarming—I loved the way it explored an unconventional love story between two people that from the outside shouldn’t work together. A lonely, emotionally abused housewife and a shy, eccentric, and likely autistic harpmaker befriend each other at a time when their souls need that connection.
Ellie is a bored housewife in an unhappy marriage, living in the beautiful Exmoor countryside. She dreams of being a poet and spends her time writing when she’s not keeping house and caring for her husband Clive. Ellie loves music, words, nature, and dreams of a different life. But in her current marriage, those are only dreams.
Clive is emotionally abusive towards Ellie. He finds ways of manipulating her and destroying her self-confidence. He belittles her interest in music and writing, while peppering her with cute nicknames and love-y saying designed more to demean her than to show love.
Ellie loves to walk in nature—she finds it peaceful and calming. One day while strolling the countryside, she comes upon a barn that has been converted into a workshop by the handsome and eccentric Dan. Dan makes beautiful wooden harps in his workshop. Dan doesn’t speak much—he isn’t very comfortable being around people, he prefers solitude. But Dan is instantly drawn to Ellie, how sad she seems, and her cherry-colored socks, and he gives her a harp.
Ellie is so happy with the gift, but when she returns home Clive is not happy with it. In a state of jealousy, Clive insists Ellie return it. Why would a man give such an extravagant gift? And after all, he doesn’t believe Ellie will be able to learn to play it.
Ellie can’t bear the thought of parting with the harp. Returning to Dan’s workshop, she visits him and learns to play the harp from Dan’s girlfriend Rhoda. Rhoda is beautiful and glamorous. But when Ellie learns a secret about Dan and Rhoda, everything will begin to change. Dan and Ellie may be just what the other needs to heal and become whole.
I found this book heartwarming and surprisingly a bit twisty for a love story. The whole quadrangle between Dan, Clive, Ellie and Rhoda is quite dramatic! Dan is so adorably naïve—he is shocked when he learns how Rhoda views their relationship. He just processes events differently than most. I absolutely loathed Clive! I found him to be so manipulative and destructive towards Ellie—often making her feel like she isn’t good enough and that she is lucky to have him.
I read that the author herself plays the harp and I thought it made the poetic descriptions of the beautiful harps and their music resonate even more with me. Harp music is indeed beautiful, and harps are certainly not easy to learn to play, from what I’ve heard! Ellie is so isolated with Clive that she takes his opinions about her to heart. I loved seeing Ellie and Dan grow together, he shows her a different side of herself that Clive has slowly tried to diminish.
This is a story of redemption, of hope, of growth, and finding a partner who makes us shine, rather than dulls us. It’s a story of friendship, love, and endless possibilities. And it’s quite charming, from the harp playing to the setting, to Phineus the pheasant who warmed my heart! A lovely story that will sweep you away to those rolling hills and a quaint little workshop filled with music and love.
Thank you Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Ellie is a bored housewife in an unhappy marriage, living in the beautiful Exmoor countryside. She dreams of being a poet and spends her time writing when she’s not keeping house and caring for her husband Clive. Ellie loves music, words, nature, and dreams of a different life. But in her current marriage, those are only dreams.
Clive is emotionally abusive towards Ellie. He finds ways of manipulating her and destroying her self-confidence. He belittles her interest in music and writing, while peppering her with cute nicknames and love-y saying designed more to demean her than to show love.
Ellie loves to walk in nature—she finds it peaceful and calming. One day while strolling the countryside, she comes upon a barn that has been converted into a workshop by the handsome and eccentric Dan. Dan makes beautiful wooden harps in his workshop. Dan doesn’t speak much—he isn’t very comfortable being around people, he prefers solitude. But Dan is instantly drawn to Ellie, how sad she seems, and her cherry-colored socks, and he gives her a harp.
Ellie is so happy with the gift, but when she returns home Clive is not happy with it. In a state of jealousy, Clive insists Ellie return it. Why would a man give such an extravagant gift? And after all, he doesn’t believe Ellie will be able to learn to play it.
Ellie can’t bear the thought of parting with the harp. Returning to Dan’s workshop, she visits him and learns to play the harp from Dan’s girlfriend Rhoda. Rhoda is beautiful and glamorous. But when Ellie learns a secret about Dan and Rhoda, everything will begin to change. Dan and Ellie may be just what the other needs to heal and become whole.
I found this book heartwarming and surprisingly a bit twisty for a love story. The whole quadrangle between Dan, Clive, Ellie and Rhoda is quite dramatic! Dan is so adorably naïve—he is shocked when he learns how Rhoda views their relationship. He just processes events differently than most. I absolutely loathed Clive! I found him to be so manipulative and destructive towards Ellie—often making her feel like she isn’t good enough and that she is lucky to have him.
I read that the author herself plays the harp and I thought it made the poetic descriptions of the beautiful harps and their music resonate even more with me. Harp music is indeed beautiful, and harps are certainly not easy to learn to play, from what I’ve heard! Ellie is so isolated with Clive that she takes his opinions about her to heart. I loved seeing Ellie and Dan grow together, he shows her a different side of herself that Clive has slowly tried to diminish.
This is a story of redemption, of hope, of growth, and finding a partner who makes us shine, rather than dulls us. It’s a story of friendship, love, and endless possibilities. And it’s quite charming, from the harp playing to the setting, to Phineus the pheasant who warmed my heart! A lovely story that will sweep you away to those rolling hills and a quaint little workshop filled with music and love.
Thank you Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
September 2, 2019
“People say that certain sounds can melt a heart of stone. If there is anyone who has that sort of a heart―which I doubt (as far as I am aware hearts are made of fibrous materials, fluid sacs and pumping mechanisms)―if anyone does have a heart composed of granite or flint and therefore not at all prone to melting but just conceivably meltable when exposed to very beautiful sounds, then the sounds made by my cherrywood harp, I am confident, would do it. However, I had a feeling the heart of Ellie the Exmoor Housewife was completely lacking in stony components. I had a feeling it was made of much softer stuff.”
When Ellie comes upon Dan, the harpmaker by chance, she does not realize yet that this encounter will change both their lives. Seeing him work, she goes into his barn (his workshop). Dan senses that Ellie is sad as they talk and is prompted to give her one of his creations, a cherry wood harp (because of the color of her socks). Ellie is touched by the gesture but not her husband who urges her to bring the harp back. Dan insists that the harp belongs to Ellie and that she is welcome to come over to play it anytime she wants. Thus, Ellie begins to secretly go to Dan's barn to play the harp. In the process, a friendship starts blooming, a bond that will help Ellie and Dan heal their hearts.
Having come to this book by chance and knowing absolutely nothing about it, I was surprised by how much I like it. Dan lives and works in the countryside of Exmoor making harps, where his only neighbours are the trees and nature. He prefers solitude over people, takes things literally and can not read social cues well. Ellie is a housewife, she writes poetry and wishes to do more with her life. When she mentions to Dan that she has a list of things she wants to do and on that list is to play music, he gifts her a harp. After a back and forth, she takes the gift but returns it at her husband's urging. Dan suggests that she keeps the harp at the barn. Soon Ellie is coming to Dan's with great frequency and as she plays, she begins to know him. Something about the harp, the barn and Dan himself gives Ellie a sense she has not experienced in a while: joy. This is a sweet, tender and charming story. As cliched as that sounds, it was a great narrative about two people that deal with their struggles on their own until they meet. As Ellie finds peace at Dan's and Dan loves Ellie's company, friendship blooms. I am glad to have read this book.
Though not explicitly said, Dan appears to be on the spectrum and is a gentle soul. Ellie is in an unhappy marriage and feels constrained. This is a feel-good-story, a narrative of frienship and a love story. It reminded me of such book as A Man Called Ove, The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. While a few details in the book were not a surprise, the build-up and pace matched the heartwarming tone of the book. The overall narrative is simply lovely. Its hard not to like Dan or Ellie and I was rooting for both. Foremost, this is a boook about kindness and compassion. This is a memorable read, one that I will cherish for a while.
When Ellie comes upon Dan, the harpmaker by chance, she does not realize yet that this encounter will change both their lives. Seeing him work, she goes into his barn (his workshop). Dan senses that Ellie is sad as they talk and is prompted to give her one of his creations, a cherry wood harp (because of the color of her socks). Ellie is touched by the gesture but not her husband who urges her to bring the harp back. Dan insists that the harp belongs to Ellie and that she is welcome to come over to play it anytime she wants. Thus, Ellie begins to secretly go to Dan's barn to play the harp. In the process, a friendship starts blooming, a bond that will help Ellie and Dan heal their hearts.
Having come to this book by chance and knowing absolutely nothing about it, I was surprised by how much I like it. Dan lives and works in the countryside of Exmoor making harps, where his only neighbours are the trees and nature. He prefers solitude over people, takes things literally and can not read social cues well. Ellie is a housewife, she writes poetry and wishes to do more with her life. When she mentions to Dan that she has a list of things she wants to do and on that list is to play music, he gifts her a harp. After a back and forth, she takes the gift but returns it at her husband's urging. Dan suggests that she keeps the harp at the barn. Soon Ellie is coming to Dan's with great frequency and as she plays, she begins to know him. Something about the harp, the barn and Dan himself gives Ellie a sense she has not experienced in a while: joy. This is a sweet, tender and charming story. As cliched as that sounds, it was a great narrative about two people that deal with their struggles on their own until they meet. As Ellie finds peace at Dan's and Dan loves Ellie's company, friendship blooms. I am glad to have read this book.
Though not explicitly said, Dan appears to be on the spectrum and is a gentle soul. Ellie is in an unhappy marriage and feels constrained. This is a feel-good-story, a narrative of frienship and a love story. It reminded me of such book as A Man Called Ove, The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. While a few details in the book were not a surprise, the build-up and pace matched the heartwarming tone of the book. The overall narrative is simply lovely. Its hard not to like Dan or Ellie and I was rooting for both. Foremost, this is a boook about kindness and compassion. This is a memorable read, one that I will cherish for a while.
November 13, 2023
This a feel-good, delightful, up-lifting, lighthearted, and lovely story that completely entranced me.
The author presents and delivers an engaging, humorous, entertaining, enjoyable and beautifully written tale of music and love that is told through alternating chapters between Dan and Ellie.
Overall, this is a story full of charm and endearing characters, one in which I was completely invested.
I was left feeling uplifted and warmhearted in the end.
I needed this....what about you?
The author presents and delivers an engaging, humorous, entertaining, enjoyable and beautifully written tale of music and love that is told through alternating chapters between Dan and Ellie.
Overall, this is a story full of charm and endearing characters, one in which I was completely invested.
I was left feeling uplifted and warmhearted in the end.
I needed this....what about you?
March 31, 2019
5 I love this, very stars
Oh my god.
I was not expecting this when I went diving into this book.
#WillBeBackAfter2ndRead
Oh my god.
I was not expecting this when I went diving into this book.
#WillBeBackAfter2ndRead
August 27, 2019
When Ellie visits the Harp Barn, she is stunned at the beauty of the harps made by the owner Dan. She is even more stunned when Dan gives her one of the harps. She’d always believed herself to be happy with her life with her husband Clive. But that visit and the harp reveals something has been missing in her life. The gift of making music. Suddenly it becomes important to her to continue to learn to play the harp. Ellie is prepared to do anything to continue. Dan is happy making his harps but has no business skills. This is left to his older sister Jo, who takes care of such things and looks out for his interests always. When Ellie uncovers a secret in Dan’s life it unwittingly sets in train a chain of events with consequences that no-one could foresee.
This charming book captivated me from the start. I loved both Ellie and Dan and even Jo, whose words and actions are motivated by a deep love for her brother. Dan has a unique way of looking at the world and is not always aware of things that to other people are obvious. I also enjoyed his postman friend Thomas. The setting of Exmoor is so beautifully described you almost feel you are there. And I loved the care taken in describing the making of the harp, the different woods they are made off and the little secret talisman in each harp.
This is not going to be a book that will appeal to everyone. But those who do respond to it will, I suspect, love it as much as I did. The whole book is beautifully understated and I absolutely adored it. Each time I had to put it down because of life issues, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. A thoroughly enjoyable book that gently wound its way into my heart. Well worth reading.
This charming book captivated me from the start. I loved both Ellie and Dan and even Jo, whose words and actions are motivated by a deep love for her brother. Dan has a unique way of looking at the world and is not always aware of things that to other people are obvious. I also enjoyed his postman friend Thomas. The setting of Exmoor is so beautifully described you almost feel you are there. And I loved the care taken in describing the making of the harp, the different woods they are made off and the little secret talisman in each harp.
This is not going to be a book that will appeal to everyone. But those who do respond to it will, I suspect, love it as much as I did. The whole book is beautifully understated and I absolutely adored it. Each time I had to put it down because of life issues, I couldn’t wait to get back to it. A thoroughly enjoyable book that gently wound its way into my heart. Well worth reading.
April 7, 2019
I had a lot of problems with this book. Ellie was such a doormat, for starters. Comparing her husband to a rock, and herself to a limpet did not help. I tend to feel put off by stories where the character is married but falls for someone else (even if there is no actual infidelity) and in the first half of the book Clive is overbearing but not an ogre. I found the story frustrating, and the love story almost unbelievable. Dan seemed so childlike that it was hard to picture them together in a romantic way, and the part where she drops the candle - YOU GUYS, THE PART WITH THE CANDLE - left me rolling my eyes so hard. First of all she's carrying a candle, which is contrived, and then she's so shocked to see her husband that she drops the damn thing and sets the barn on fire instantly? Yes, I know there were gasoline soaked rags directly in the path of that candle, but I just refuse to believe the whole barn became a raging inferno in 60 seconds, or whatever. Yeah, there was a lot more that bothered me too, but I'm not even going to go into it. Time to move on and read something less annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2019
A heartfelt and lovely story about finding friendship and love in the unlikeliest of places and with the unlikeliest of people. Hazel Prior did a superb job in this debut novel. The characters were a pleasure to get to know, especially Dan. I loved seeing the world through his eyes. It was quite refreshing and I always love reading about characters like him and the special someone that befriends them.
This book made me want to take walks through the English countryside, eat small sandwiches, and run my hands over the smooth wood of a harp. Sadly, only the eating of the sandwiches is possible at this time. But thankfully, Hazel Prior’s beautifully descriptive writing took me to the Harp Barn in the English countryside and I could envision Dan’s beautiful harps.
I also really loved the ending. I was getting extremely anxious as the percentage remaining was counting down. The best way I can describe the ending without giving anything away is to say it was understated and elegant. This book was a joy to read.
This book made me want to take walks through the English countryside, eat small sandwiches, and run my hands over the smooth wood of a harp. Sadly, only the eating of the sandwiches is possible at this time. But thankfully, Hazel Prior’s beautifully descriptive writing took me to the Harp Barn in the English countryside and I could envision Dan’s beautiful harps.
I also really loved the ending. I was getting extremely anxious as the percentage remaining was counting down. The best way I can describe the ending without giving anything away is to say it was understated and elegant. This book was a joy to read.
March 19, 2020
Ellie Jacobs, out for a walk on the anniversary of the death of her father, stumbles upon Dan's barn. Dan makes exquisite handmade harps, and Ellie reveals that learning to play a harp is on her bucket list. Dan decides to give Ellie a harp, setting off a chain of events that will change their lives for the better and for the worst.
The scenery is described in such a beautiful way that it made me want to take a walk in the woods of Exmoor. I loved Dan, Ellie took a bit more time to warm up to.
A sweet, charming love story that was a nice distraction from this fearful time we are experiencing.
The scenery is described in such a beautiful way that it made me want to take a walk in the woods of Exmoor. I loved Dan, Ellie took a bit more time to warm up to.
A sweet, charming love story that was a nice distraction from this fearful time we are experiencing.
July 27, 2019
Ellie and the Harpmaker is a sweet, lovely debut novel that crept up on me and then completely entranced me! Such a magical and deceptively simple tale.
Told through alternating chapters, we get to see the world through Dan and Ellie's eyes. Dan is unusual, to say the least. He loves his solitude, the peace of Exmoor, the woods and streams and pebbles all around him, and most of all, the hand-carved harps that are his passion and his livelihood. He view the world and understands interactions completely literally -- he's presented here as someone who appears to be somewhere on the Asperger's spectrum, although this is never actually stated. He functions well, but lacks the ability to interpret many of the social constructs and behaviors that others take for granted.
Ellie is an unfulfilled housewife in her 30s, a woman whose father's death has prompted her to make a list of things to do before she's 40 -- and one of these is to learn to play music. When she happens upon the Harp Barn, she's astonished by Dan's workmanship and the beauty of his harps, and is intrigued by Dan himself. Dan insists on gifting her with a harp, but Ellie's husband Clive forces her to return it, believing that she misunderstands Dan's intentions. But Dan then insists that the harp is and always will be Ellie's, and tells her he'll keep it for her, for her to play whenever she wants.
Thus begins a warm and unusual friendship between two people whose paths would likely have never crossed. Each adds to the other's life. As Ellie gets to know Dan better, she digs into his world and his assumptions about the people in it, opening his eyes to new and different aspects of his life that he'd never realized before.
(Being vague here... no spoilers!)
Although the book started slowly for me, I was soon swept away by the lovely writing and the wonderful characters. At first, I was afraid that Ellie and the Harpmaker would feel too much like a clone of The Rosie Project and other recent reads about people who present with social difficulties and/or on the spectrum. Not so. Very quickly Ellie and the Harpmaker won my heart in its own way, erasing thoughts of comparisons to other books from my mind.
I grew to love Dan and Ellie, and felt all the feels as I read about their journeys, alone and together. Ellie's marriage is frustrating to read about and I wanted to give her a good shake, but she becomes more self-aware as the book progresses, and I was proud of her for the realizations she finds along the way. Dan is simply lovely -- a giving, creative, uncomplicated person who only knows how to be good. He's really marvelous, and someone I won't soon forget.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book! Ellie and the Harpmaker is a delicious read that left me hungry for beautiful music and a forest to wander through.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Told through alternating chapters, we get to see the world through Dan and Ellie's eyes. Dan is unusual, to say the least. He loves his solitude, the peace of Exmoor, the woods and streams and pebbles all around him, and most of all, the hand-carved harps that are his passion and his livelihood. He view the world and understands interactions completely literally -- he's presented here as someone who appears to be somewhere on the Asperger's spectrum, although this is never actually stated. He functions well, but lacks the ability to interpret many of the social constructs and behaviors that others take for granted.
A woman came to the barn today. Her hair was the color of walnut wood. Her eyes were the color of bracken in October. Her socks were the color of cherries, which was noticeable because the rest of her clothes were sad colors.
Ellie is an unfulfilled housewife in her 30s, a woman whose father's death has prompted her to make a list of things to do before she's 40 -- and one of these is to learn to play music. When she happens upon the Harp Barn, she's astonished by Dan's workmanship and the beauty of his harps, and is intrigued by Dan himself. Dan insists on gifting her with a harp, but Ellie's husband Clive forces her to return it, believing that she misunderstands Dan's intentions. But Dan then insists that the harp is and always will be Ellie's, and tells her he'll keep it for her, for her to play whenever she wants.
It was her harp, and always would be. I never took back a gift. The harp would sit here in my barn and wait for her. It would sit and wait until all the cows had come home. This did not sound like a very long time, so I made it longer. The harp would wait, I told her, until the sea dried up (which someday it would if you gave it long enough) and the stars dropped out of the sky (which someday they would if you gave them long enough), but nevertheless this harp would never, ever belong to anyone else.
Thus begins a warm and unusual friendship between two people whose paths would likely have never crossed. Each adds to the other's life. As Ellie gets to know Dan better, she digs into his world and his assumptions about the people in it, opening his eyes to new and different aspects of his life that he'd never realized before.
(Being vague here... no spoilers!)
Although the book started slowly for me, I was soon swept away by the lovely writing and the wonderful characters. At first, I was afraid that Ellie and the Harpmaker would feel too much like a clone of The Rosie Project and other recent reads about people who present with social difficulties and/or on the spectrum. Not so. Very quickly Ellie and the Harpmaker won my heart in its own way, erasing thoughts of comparisons to other books from my mind.
Sometimes the ifs work for you and sometimes they work against you. Sometimes you think they are working for you whereas in fact they are working against you, and sometimes you think they are working against you whereas in fact they are working for you. It is only when you look back that you realize, and you don't always realize even then.
I grew to love Dan and Ellie, and felt all the feels as I read about their journeys, alone and together. Ellie's marriage is frustrating to read about and I wanted to give her a good shake, but she becomes more self-aware as the book progresses, and I was proud of her for the realizations she finds along the way. Dan is simply lovely -- a giving, creative, uncomplicated person who only knows how to be good. He's really marvelous, and someone I won't soon forget.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book! Ellie and the Harpmaker is a delicious read that left me hungry for beautiful music and a forest to wander through.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
September 18, 2019
I received a copy of this in a Goodreads giveaway and it has not affected my review.
I was excited to read this book but unfortunately it turned out to be very, VERY Not For Me.
Things I liked:
the harps!
the pheasant (and he's a very striking image so I'm glad that the cover has been updated to show him, even if the musician in me enjoyed seeing a music stand, and that gorgeous teal background, on the original cover)
Things that didn't work for me:
Characters who range from unpleasant to outright villainous - I hate it when Bad People are the ones driving all the conflict. Examples: it is clear from the moment we meet Ellie's husband that he's a manipulative, emotionally abusive jerk, and it just gets worse throughout the book (cw: ; there is a woman whose main character traits are Beauty and Selfishness and I hate this stereotype of the Evil Vamp; even Ellie spends most of the book being completely oblivious or in denial or digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole and it made for a very frustrating reading experience.
Sometimes the chapters are in present tense and sometimes they're in past tense and I don't see a pattern or reason and it was really confusing (I read an ARC and this might no longer be the case in the final published version)
It's immediately obvious from Dan's narration (he and Ellie alternate chapter POVs) that he is likely on the spectrum, but this is never addressed and instead mostly people just call him weird. This isn't an issue unique to this book but I still don't love this aspect of the trend in fiction to have protagonists that don't really feel like they fit in society. I mostly read in the romance genre where explicitly addressing neurodiversity is becoming something to be celebrated, e.g. in the incredibly popular (and amazing) books of Helen Hoang.
Those are my thoughts, but I know not everyone will feel the same! Overall I'd say the writing was lyrical and story was very touching in some parts, but the frustration with the heroine's passivity and with the malice of the surrounding characters made it a pretty negative reading experience for me.
I was excited to read this book but unfortunately it turned out to be very, VERY Not For Me.
Things I liked:
the harps!
the pheasant (and he's a very striking image so I'm glad that the cover has been updated to show him, even if the musician in me enjoyed seeing a music stand, and that gorgeous teal background, on the original cover)
Things that didn't work for me:
Characters who range from unpleasant to outright villainous - I hate it when Bad People are the ones driving all the conflict. Examples: it is clear from the moment we meet Ellie's husband that he's a manipulative, emotionally abusive jerk, and it just gets worse throughout the book (cw: ; there is a woman whose main character traits are Beauty and Selfishness and I hate this stereotype of the Evil Vamp; even Ellie spends most of the book being completely oblivious or in denial or digging herself into a deeper and deeper hole and it made for a very frustrating reading experience.
Sometimes the chapters are in present tense and sometimes they're in past tense and I don't see a pattern or reason and it was really confusing (I read an ARC and this might no longer be the case in the final published version)
It's immediately obvious from Dan's narration (he and Ellie alternate chapter POVs) that he is likely on the spectrum, but this is never addressed and instead mostly people just call him weird. This isn't an issue unique to this book but I still don't love this aspect of the trend in fiction to have protagonists that don't really feel like they fit in society. I mostly read in the romance genre where explicitly addressing neurodiversity is becoming something to be celebrated, e.g. in the incredibly popular (and amazing) books of Helen Hoang.
Those are my thoughts, but I know not everyone will feel the same! Overall I'd say the writing was lyrical and story was very touching in some parts, but the frustration with the heroine's passivity and with the malice of the surrounding characters made it a pretty negative reading experience for me.
October 2, 2019
Ellie stumbles across a harp maker in Exmoor and they develop a friendship despite hardship and quirks. This was a sweet read and seems to be inspired by real harps and harpmakers and Exmoor as a place!
Dan the harpmaker seems to maybe be on the autism spectrum, but it is never defined. The romance is definitely a slow and obtuse one but this may be the mood you are in.
This came out August 6 and I had a review copy from the publisher through netgalley but I got behind. This is a cozy read that was a nice balm after a stressful weekend.
Dan the harpmaker seems to maybe be on the autism spectrum, but it is never defined. The romance is definitely a slow and obtuse one but this may be the mood you are in.
This came out August 6 and I had a review copy from the publisher through netgalley but I got behind. This is a cozy read that was a nice balm after a stressful weekend.
November 25, 2020
"Ellie and the Harpmaker" is the charming debut novel of Hazel Prior, a professional harpist. Ellie, the wife of a controlling man, comes upon an isolated workshop when she's out walking. She meets Dan who makes beautiful Celtic harps. Ellie has a list of things she wants to do before she turns 40, and learning to play the harp is among her wishes. Although it is not spelled out, Dan seems to have autistic tendencies, feels uncomfortable in social situations, and loves the world of nature.
As their friendship grows, Ellie appreciates having music and simple pleasures in her life. Both Ellie and Dan are lonely people who need someone with sensitivity in their lives. Ellie is always on edge since her husband is emotionally abusive. Someone is hiding an important secret from Dan.
This was a heartwarming story with lyrical descriptions of harps and nature in the Exmoor countryside. It's a lovely book to pick up when you want to relax with a "feel good" read.
As their friendship grows, Ellie appreciates having music and simple pleasures in her life. Both Ellie and Dan are lonely people who need someone with sensitivity in their lives. Ellie is always on edge since her husband is emotionally abusive. Someone is hiding an important secret from Dan.
This was a heartwarming story with lyrical descriptions of harps and nature in the Exmoor countryside. It's a lovely book to pick up when you want to relax with a "feel good" read.
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