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The Cliff House
Some friendships are made to be broken
Cornwall, summer of 1986.
The Davenports, with their fast cars and glamorous clothes, living the dream in a breathtaking house overlooking the sea.
If only… thinks sixteen-year-old Tamsyn, her binoculars trained on the perfect family in their perfect home.
If only her life was as perfect as theirs.
If only Edie Davenport would be her friend.
If only she lived at The Cliff House…
Amanda Jennings weaves a haunting tale of obsession, loss and longing, set against the brooding North Cornish coastline, destined to stay with readers long after the final page is turned.
‘A beautiful, stirring story of loss and obsession’ Lisa Jewell
Cornwall, summer of 1986.
The Davenports, with their fast cars and glamorous clothes, living the dream in a breathtaking house overlooking the sea.
If only… thinks sixteen-year-old Tamsyn, her binoculars trained on the perfect family in their perfect home.
If only her life was as perfect as theirs.
If only Edie Davenport would be her friend.
If only she lived at The Cliff House…
Amanda Jennings weaves a haunting tale of obsession, loss and longing, set against the brooding North Cornish coastline, destined to stay with readers long after the final page is turned.
‘A beautiful, stirring story of loss and obsession’ Lisa Jewell
422 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2018
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About the author
Amanda Jennings
13 books271 followersAmanda is mother to three daughters and lives in chaotic contentment just outside Henley-on-Thames with a houseful of pets and a husband. She is the author of five books, Sworn Secret, The Judas Scar, In Her Wake, The Cliff House and The Storm which is coming out in July 2020. She is currently working on her sixth novel. A psychological thriller set on the wilds of Bodmin Moor, in Cornwall. If she isn't by the sea then she would like to be.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 268 reviews
January 15, 2019
Hmmm. I'm not sure if I actually enjoyed reading "The Cliff House" by Amanda Jennings or not.
I found the story to be very slow and repetitive and after devouring and thoroughly enjoying the author's previous book "In Her Wake", I felt quite let down and disappointed. However, the characters did get under my skin, even the unreliable narrators and the last quarter of the book did bring some excitement. I never wanted to not read it to the end or skip any pages but I wasn't exactly bowled over with the plot line either.
The story is a tale of loss, obsession and longing that turns bitter and vicious, causing a struggling Cornish family to fracture and fall apart. Believing the Davenports, a London family living in the imposing 'Cliff House' at weekends to be perfect, Tamsyn fantasises about a life of living there herself. When she befriends the daughter of the family, Edie, trouble and destruction lies ahead. Set in 1986, the intensely atmospheric Cornish coastline was particularly well written and I did visualise the commanding sea and the house vividly. I didn't particularly 'get' the raven in the story and didn't feel it was necessary to be included just because it was visible on the day Tamsyn's father died. The edge of creepiness I suspect it was meant to bring to the tale didn't really work for me and the constant first person, third person, present and past chapters seem disjointed and not thoroughly thought out.
All in all I'm glad I did read it, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it based on the issues I had but if you're into slow burn, character focused, atmospheric psychological reads then you may find it entertaining. I'm probably in a small minority with these thoughts but I did thoroughly enjoy the author's previous book and I would probably still read another by her again in the future.
3 stars
I found the story to be very slow and repetitive and after devouring and thoroughly enjoying the author's previous book "In Her Wake", I felt quite let down and disappointed. However, the characters did get under my skin, even the unreliable narrators and the last quarter of the book did bring some excitement. I never wanted to not read it to the end or skip any pages but I wasn't exactly bowled over with the plot line either.
The story is a tale of loss, obsession and longing that turns bitter and vicious, causing a struggling Cornish family to fracture and fall apart. Believing the Davenports, a London family living in the imposing 'Cliff House' at weekends to be perfect, Tamsyn fantasises about a life of living there herself. When she befriends the daughter of the family, Edie, trouble and destruction lies ahead. Set in 1986, the intensely atmospheric Cornish coastline was particularly well written and I did visualise the commanding sea and the house vividly. I didn't particularly 'get' the raven in the story and didn't feel it was necessary to be included just because it was visible on the day Tamsyn's father died. The edge of creepiness I suspect it was meant to bring to the tale didn't really work for me and the constant first person, third person, present and past chapters seem disjointed and not thoroughly thought out.
All in all I'm glad I did read it, I'm not sure if I'd recommend it based on the issues I had but if you're into slow burn, character focused, atmospheric psychological reads then you may find it entertaining. I'm probably in a small minority with these thoughts but I did thoroughly enjoy the author's previous book and I would probably still read another by her again in the future.
3 stars
July 16, 2019
The story is set in the 1980's in Cornwall. Sixteen year old Tamsyn is obessed with the Cliff House and the Davenport family. Tamsyn's family struggle while the Davenport's seem to have it all. Tamsyn. E comes friends with Evie Davenport and Tamsyn gets a chance to see what life is like art he Cliff House. Tamsyn's family see close but money is tight. Her father had been lost at sea six years ago. Evie is the black sheep of her family.
None of the characters in this story are likeable but it's easy to see why they act the way they do. In parts, Tamsyn is a sweet girl in other parts she's quite the menace. I've been to Cornwall and this story drew me that much that I felt I was actually there, especially as I know exactly where there is a Cliff House. The Davenport's have secrets and tragedy. The story is dark and it has a bit of a gothic feel to,it. It's quite a chilling slow burner that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amanda Jennings for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
None of the characters in this story are likeable but it's easy to see why they act the way they do. In parts, Tamsyn is a sweet girl in other parts she's quite the menace. I've been to Cornwall and this story drew me that much that I felt I was actually there, especially as I know exactly where there is a Cliff House. The Davenport's have secrets and tragedy. The story is dark and it has a bit of a gothic feel to,it. It's quite a chilling slow burner that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ and the author Amanda Jennings for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2018
THE CLIFF HOUSE is Amanda Jennings fourth novel and my first of her titles. Set in Cornwall, the descriptions are truly beautiful and you really feel as though you are actually there. The story has a lot of different strands that the author weaves together admirably, so the book is never tedious. It is genuinely haunting and dark with a deeply deceptive plot that is twisty from start to finish. I will remember the descriptions of the North Cornish coastline vividly in my mind for a long time to come. I have never been to Cornwall but this book makes me long to go!
A book that focuses on obsession, loss and longing. Set in the 1980's and against the backdrop of a stunning county, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended to crime readers who like their thrillers based in serene surroundings.
I would like to thank Amanda Jennings, HQ and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.
A book that focuses on obsession, loss and longing. Set in the 1980's and against the backdrop of a stunning county, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended to crime readers who like their thrillers based in serene surroundings.
I would like to thank Amanda Jennings, HQ and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and impartial review.
May 20, 2018
Sixteen year-old Tamsyn’s obsession with The Cliff House, and the family who use it as their weekend haunt, is rooted in the precious memories she has of illicit visits there with her beloved father on their frequent cliff-top walks. The Cliff House has come to embody everything she desires, filling the gaps she feels in her life and the sense of displacement from other people, even her loving mother and brother. ‘But here, at The Cliff House, the colours were exaggerated, the light brighter, the smells, tastes and sounds richer.’ However, it’s an ideal of perfection that the reader feels is likely to be disappointed.
When an opportunity does arise for Tamsyn to get closer to achieving her desire, it sets off a chain of events that will have unimaginable and unintended consequences for those around her. Along the way, using multiple points of view, the book explores themes of class, of rich and poor, the impact on rural communities of economic decline, and of bereavement, loss and grief. It also explores the idea that what’s on the surface and what lies beneath may be very different things. The Davenports seem to have it all – but do they? And as Tamsyn’s mother, Angie warns, “They’re different. To us.”
Throughout the book there is a brooding sense of emotional turmoil and impending tragedy, like a great storm approaching from out at sea. It’s something Tamsyn herself senses: in her nightmares that border on visions; in the evil she imagines emanating from the ravens perched on the roof of The Cliff House (echoes of Daphne du Maurier’s ‘The Birds’ here). The final scenes of the book play out on the sun-drenched terrace of The Cliff House which comes to resemble the stage of some Shakespearean tragedy, with events building to a dramatic and devastating climax.
The Cliff House is a compelling picture of obsession and desire born out of loss and grief and a great summer read.
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, HQ, and NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
When an opportunity does arise for Tamsyn to get closer to achieving her desire, it sets off a chain of events that will have unimaginable and unintended consequences for those around her. Along the way, using multiple points of view, the book explores themes of class, of rich and poor, the impact on rural communities of economic decline, and of bereavement, loss and grief. It also explores the idea that what’s on the surface and what lies beneath may be very different things. The Davenports seem to have it all – but do they? And as Tamsyn’s mother, Angie warns, “They’re different. To us.”
Throughout the book there is a brooding sense of emotional turmoil and impending tragedy, like a great storm approaching from out at sea. It’s something Tamsyn herself senses: in her nightmares that border on visions; in the evil she imagines emanating from the ravens perched on the roof of The Cliff House (echoes of Daphne du Maurier’s ‘The Birds’ here). The final scenes of the book play out on the sun-drenched terrace of The Cliff House which comes to resemble the stage of some Shakespearean tragedy, with events building to a dramatic and devastating climax.
The Cliff House is a compelling picture of obsession and desire born out of loss and grief and a great summer read.
I received a review copy courtesy of publishers, HQ, and NetGalley in return for an honest and unbiased review.
January 16, 2018
I always know I'm safe in Jennings' poetic hands, and she didn't let me down. The Cliff House (I briefly lived in a place called The Cliff as a kid, but it certainly wasn't as glamorous!) is a sensual and simmering novel set during the summer of 1986. Though perhaps not as twisty and turny as her previous - the gripping bestseller In Her Wake - this novel is Jennings' most beautiful, and her characters just pulsated off the page. Some of the description is breathtaking. I didn't just read it; I was in that pool, at that beach, with these characters. A great house is at the centre of so many classic novels - Rebecca, Jane Eyre, Gone With The Wind - and I think The Cliff House might just become another.
May 30, 2018
An author who can set a book in a place close to home that I know very well and at a time when I could have been there, when I could have brushed shoulders with one of her characters, and hold me through the whole story without ever doubting that her characters lived and breathed, that the events she writes about happened, is an author I am very glad to have met.
It takes more than authenticity to make a good book of course, and this book has much more than that. It has a wonderful understanding of character and relationships and it has an absorbing story where there is always something in the air; something like a great storm at sea moving closer and closer to the Cornish coast ....
In July 1986 Tamsyn was a teenager, living with her mother, her brother and her ailing grandfather in the small town of St Just in the far west of Cornwall. They were a close family but money was tight, jobs were few since the mine had closed, and they were still coming to terms with the absence of Tamsyn’s beloved father, a lifeboat man who was lost at sea during a rescue.
He had taken Tamsyn on walks along the coastal path, spotting birds, observing familiar landmarks, and admiring the beautiful art deco Cliff House. It was the second home of Davenport family, who lived in London and usually only visited for occasional weekends. Secure in that knowlege, Tamsyn and her father would even swim in the Cliff House's pool.
Tamsyn continued to walk alone, and she observed the Cliff House more and more carefully. She is was entranced as she watched Mr and Mrs Davenport, she was sure that their lives were quite perfect, and she wished that there was a way for her to step into their world.
When Edie Davenport, the daughter Tamsyn had never seen before and didn't know existed, caught her swimming in the pool Tamsyn was horrified. But Edie was amused, and she was pleased to meet someone who might be a friend for the long summer holiday that her parents has decided to spend in Cornwall.
They were unlikely friends, but each girl was lonely and isolated and needed the other; and each girl had something that the other lacked. Tamsyn was drawn to the wealth and glamour of the Cliff House, but Edie's life there was far from happy and she loved the natural warmth and welcome that she found in Tamsyn's family home.
The drawing of that friendship is beautifully balanced, and I found that I could emphasise with each girl. Tamsyn is still grieving for her father and she is unhappy that her mother's friendship with a local man might become a romance; while Edie is burdened by a family situation that she is unable to talk about.
I was particularly taken with Tamsyn's mother; the portrayal of her as a mother, a young widow, a woman who knew that her children were growing up and that she still had a life ahead of her was pitch perfect.
Everything rings true.
The whole world of this book is beautifully evoked. I can't quite place the Cliff House, but I can believe in two girls a few years younger than me, in everything that happened around them, in the whole story that played out just a few miles away from me.
I was completely drawn in, I cared and I wanted to know what would happen, and so I turned the pages quickly.
The only thing I didn't care for was the symbolism of the raven and the hints of what lay years in the future. It felt clumsy and it was a distraction from the story of what happened in the summer of 1986.
Tamsyn's involvement with the Cliff House - and the presence of her brother Jago, who is burdened by his grief for his father and his inability to step up and be the man of the family in a time and place when there are no jobs and no prospects for young men - led to a chain of events that would have unimagined and unintended consequences for two families.
The story moved slowly and steadily, and I love the way that it twisted and turned.
It spoke profoundly the gulf between rich and poor, the impact on rural communities of economic decline, and the effects of bereavement, loss and grief.
It spoke of how different what we see on the surface and what lies beneath can be; and where the line between love and obsession, between reason and madness, might lie.
I loved it from the first page to the last.
It takes more than authenticity to make a good book of course, and this book has much more than that. It has a wonderful understanding of character and relationships and it has an absorbing story where there is always something in the air; something like a great storm at sea moving closer and closer to the Cornish coast ....
In July 1986 Tamsyn was a teenager, living with her mother, her brother and her ailing grandfather in the small town of St Just in the far west of Cornwall. They were a close family but money was tight, jobs were few since the mine had closed, and they were still coming to terms with the absence of Tamsyn’s beloved father, a lifeboat man who was lost at sea during a rescue.
He had taken Tamsyn on walks along the coastal path, spotting birds, observing familiar landmarks, and admiring the beautiful art deco Cliff House. It was the second home of Davenport family, who lived in London and usually only visited for occasional weekends. Secure in that knowlege, Tamsyn and her father would even swim in the Cliff House's pool.
Tamsyn continued to walk alone, and she observed the Cliff House more and more carefully. She is was entranced as she watched Mr and Mrs Davenport, she was sure that their lives were quite perfect, and she wished that there was a way for her to step into their world.
When Edie Davenport, the daughter Tamsyn had never seen before and didn't know existed, caught her swimming in the pool Tamsyn was horrified. But Edie was amused, and she was pleased to meet someone who might be a friend for the long summer holiday that her parents has decided to spend in Cornwall.
They were unlikely friends, but each girl was lonely and isolated and needed the other; and each girl had something that the other lacked. Tamsyn was drawn to the wealth and glamour of the Cliff House, but Edie's life there was far from happy and she loved the natural warmth and welcome that she found in Tamsyn's family home.
The drawing of that friendship is beautifully balanced, and I found that I could emphasise with each girl. Tamsyn is still grieving for her father and she is unhappy that her mother's friendship with a local man might become a romance; while Edie is burdened by a family situation that she is unable to talk about.
I was particularly taken with Tamsyn's mother; the portrayal of her as a mother, a young widow, a woman who knew that her children were growing up and that she still had a life ahead of her was pitch perfect.
Everything rings true.
The whole world of this book is beautifully evoked. I can't quite place the Cliff House, but I can believe in two girls a few years younger than me, in everything that happened around them, in the whole story that played out just a few miles away from me.
I was completely drawn in, I cared and I wanted to know what would happen, and so I turned the pages quickly.
The only thing I didn't care for was the symbolism of the raven and the hints of what lay years in the future. It felt clumsy and it was a distraction from the story of what happened in the summer of 1986.
Tamsyn's involvement with the Cliff House - and the presence of her brother Jago, who is burdened by his grief for his father and his inability to step up and be the man of the family in a time and place when there are no jobs and no prospects for young men - led to a chain of events that would have unimagined and unintended consequences for two families.
The story moved slowly and steadily, and I love the way that it twisted and turned.
It spoke profoundly the gulf between rich and poor, the impact on rural communities of economic decline, and the effects of bereavement, loss and grief.
It spoke of how different what we see on the surface and what lies beneath can be; and where the line between love and obsession, between reason and madness, might lie.
I loved it from the first page to the last.
May 10, 2018
A haunting and beautifully written literary novel which brings that gorgeous stretch of Cornish coast, which I know and love so much, to life. Angst, despair, love and loss resonate through the novel. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
July 21, 2018
Set in 1980’s Cornwall and told from various perspectives, The Cliff House could quite possibly be one of the most unsettling novels I’ve ever read.
Sixteen year old Tamsyn is utterly obsessed with The Cliff House and the Davenport family. Tamsyn doesn’t have it easy. Her family is struggling but the Davenports seem to be living the dream with their stunning house, flashy cars and oozing glamour. Tamsyn has yet to learn that all the money in the world doesn’t buy you happiness. Striking up an unlikely friendship with Edie Davenport will give Tamsyn a glimpse into life at the Cliff House.
This exquisitely written character-study makes one heck of a psychological thriller. None of the characters are particularly likeable, yet it’s perfectly easy to understand where they’re coming from and why they act the way they do. The looming presence of the Cliff House itself gives this story a bit of a gothic feel and the house is almost a character on its own.
The Cliff House is a dark and disturbing tale of obsession. Rich in atmosphere and full of wonderful descriptions, this slow-burner had me completely captivated. There is a constant almost threatening sort of vibe, an impending feeling of doom. You know something is coming but you have no idea what it will be. I thought there might be clues in the present day chapters but I couldn’t at all figure out which of the girls was talking.
With a brilliant plot, this story about family, loss, grief and obsession slowly builds up to one of the most jaw-dropping endings I’ve ever read. A deliciously haunting tale by Amanda Jennings and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
Sixteen year old Tamsyn is utterly obsessed with The Cliff House and the Davenport family. Tamsyn doesn’t have it easy. Her family is struggling but the Davenports seem to be living the dream with their stunning house, flashy cars and oozing glamour. Tamsyn has yet to learn that all the money in the world doesn’t buy you happiness. Striking up an unlikely friendship with Edie Davenport will give Tamsyn a glimpse into life at the Cliff House.
This exquisitely written character-study makes one heck of a psychological thriller. None of the characters are particularly likeable, yet it’s perfectly easy to understand where they’re coming from and why they act the way they do. The looming presence of the Cliff House itself gives this story a bit of a gothic feel and the house is almost a character on its own.
The Cliff House is a dark and disturbing tale of obsession. Rich in atmosphere and full of wonderful descriptions, this slow-burner had me completely captivated. There is a constant almost threatening sort of vibe, an impending feeling of doom. You know something is coming but you have no idea what it will be. I thought there might be clues in the present day chapters but I couldn’t at all figure out which of the girls was talking.
With a brilliant plot, this story about family, loss, grief and obsession slowly builds up to one of the most jaw-dropping endings I’ve ever read. A deliciously haunting tale by Amanda Jennings and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
July 31, 2020
The Cliff House is an utterly mesmerising story of a vulnerable adolescents unaddressed grief fuelling a dangerous obsession and the damaging consequences that ensue for two very different but similarly dysfunctional families. Beautifully written and set on the coast of Cornwall during the summer of 1986 the location and characters are so vivid and well-conceived I was entranced, and on edge, throughout.
Six years on from the loss of her father and sixteen-year-old Tamsyn Tresize has never recovered from her grief. Her mother works all hours and is struggling to make ends meet, the closure of the tin mine has left her brother Jago unemployed and dejected and her ailing grandad is slowly dying from silicosis. An outcast at school and painfully naive, Tamsyn withdraws into her memories of bird watching with her father at the spot where they spent so many hours overlooking The Cliff House, a stunning white-walled house that he promised they would one day live in. When the wealthy and glamorous Davenport family moved in two year earlier and Tamsyn glimpses what she believes do be the perfect family life she begins to nurture a dangerous obsession. With envying eyes she watches the couple’s weekend visits and is brought up short when a fleeting visit sees her learn that they also have a seventeen-year-old daughter. Precocious, manipulative and not so innocent Edie is bored and makes the decision to strike up an unequal and uneasy friendship with Tamsyn and welcome her into the lion’s den of The Cliff House.
Tamsyn is frighteningly out of her depth and vulnerable and the dynamics of her friendship with Edie has a sinister undertone as she is drawn into a family just as fractured as her own but in far more dangerous ways. Tamsyn’s mother, Angie, cleans at The Cliff House and knows the Davenports’ world is a very different one to their own and there is something worrying off about Eleanor Davenport. As Tamsyn fixates on The Cliff House and is blind to the signs which suggest something is amiss the writing exudes an uncomfortable sense of foreboding. When Jago too finds employment alongside Angie at the house and the fallout ensues it has unimaginable repercussions that devastatingly alter everything for both families.
The narrative is comprised of four multiple perspectives with only Tamsyn’s in the first-person and Edie, Angie and Jago all in the third giving the reader the upper hand and providing the complete picture of what is going on in all their heads. The Cliff House is subtle, well-observed and menacing and alongside morally ambiguous characters is a perfect blast of 80s nostalgia. Recommended for readers who prefer strong characterisation over twists galore.
Six years on from the loss of her father and sixteen-year-old Tamsyn Tresize has never recovered from her grief. Her mother works all hours and is struggling to make ends meet, the closure of the tin mine has left her brother Jago unemployed and dejected and her ailing grandad is slowly dying from silicosis. An outcast at school and painfully naive, Tamsyn withdraws into her memories of bird watching with her father at the spot where they spent so many hours overlooking The Cliff House, a stunning white-walled house that he promised they would one day live in. When the wealthy and glamorous Davenport family moved in two year earlier and Tamsyn glimpses what she believes do be the perfect family life she begins to nurture a dangerous obsession. With envying eyes she watches the couple’s weekend visits and is brought up short when a fleeting visit sees her learn that they also have a seventeen-year-old daughter. Precocious, manipulative and not so innocent Edie is bored and makes the decision to strike up an unequal and uneasy friendship with Tamsyn and welcome her into the lion’s den of The Cliff House.
Tamsyn is frighteningly out of her depth and vulnerable and the dynamics of her friendship with Edie has a sinister undertone as she is drawn into a family just as fractured as her own but in far more dangerous ways. Tamsyn’s mother, Angie, cleans at The Cliff House and knows the Davenports’ world is a very different one to their own and there is something worrying off about Eleanor Davenport. As Tamsyn fixates on The Cliff House and is blind to the signs which suggest something is amiss the writing exudes an uncomfortable sense of foreboding. When Jago too finds employment alongside Angie at the house and the fallout ensues it has unimaginable repercussions that devastatingly alter everything for both families.
The narrative is comprised of four multiple perspectives with only Tamsyn’s in the first-person and Edie, Angie and Jago all in the third giving the reader the upper hand and providing the complete picture of what is going on in all their heads. The Cliff House is subtle, well-observed and menacing and alongside morally ambiguous characters is a perfect blast of 80s nostalgia. Recommended for readers who prefer strong characterisation over twists galore.
September 11, 2019
Haunting and evocative, The Cliff House is beautifully and elegantly told with gorgeous, lyrical prose and an eerie, almost nostalgic storyline. It's one of those books that you just want to savour, rather than race through, because every page feels like you're actually there, feeling the sun on your skin and dipping your toes in the pool.
Throughout the book you can feel the beauty of the Cornish coast around you as a sense of trouble and impending doom broods. With authentically written characters who will most definitely get under your skin, this is a stunning novel that sets Jennings firmly in the literary category.
Throughout the book you can feel the beauty of the Cornish coast around you as a sense of trouble and impending doom broods. With authentically written characters who will most definitely get under your skin, this is a stunning novel that sets Jennings firmly in the literary category.
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February 19, 2018A haunting story with the moral ambiguity of du Maurier. Sea scented air filled with sunlight and menace ...brilliant
May 12, 2018
Amanda Jennings is a new author for me, although I did buy a copy of In Her Wake quite some time ago; it's sitting in my bookcase winking at me right now and I'm silently promising to read it soon. I suppose I am in quite a good position to review The Cliff House as I cannot compare it to Amanda Jennings' previous works, but I'm struggling to start my review as I feel slightly breathless and completely bereft since turning the final page and the only word that comes to mind is 'WOW'. So here's my 'words fail me' review.
Set in 1986 with teenage main characters, this is a haunting tale of obsession and hidden envy that slowly creeps under your skin, inch by inch like the tide coming in. Tamsyn can only dream of living in The Cliff House until she meets Edie Davenport one day and is invited into their perfect world. Only it's not as perfect as it appears through Tamsyn's binoculars and she now has a front row seat as the idyllic lifestyle of the Davenports starts to implode.
Tamsyn is such a brilliant character; grieving from the death of her father, she is haunted by a raven that promises more death and destruction to follow. Tamsyn is written in such a way that she quickly swings from innocence to menace as the raven's prophesies play out in her mind. I loved these quick snapshots of darkness; they appeared out of nowhere and for a moment I felt myself straying into this dark alternate reality but then being snapped back almost in the blink of an eye.
Reading The Cliff House is like diving into a warm and inviting pool: smooth, immersive and all-encompassing to the point where I had to keep reminding myself to come up for air. It feels like an innocent story of a forgotten summer at first, but suddenly it has the feel of menace and danger but, by then, I was powerless to resist as I too had fallen in love with The Cliff House.
Amanda Jennings, what a disturbing and hauntingly beautiful tale you weave; The Cliff House is simply breathtaking with outstanding, evocative prose and vividly painted scenery that I can still close my eyes and bring to mind long after turning the final page. Completely stunning and highly recommended.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Set in 1986 with teenage main characters, this is a haunting tale of obsession and hidden envy that slowly creeps under your skin, inch by inch like the tide coming in. Tamsyn can only dream of living in The Cliff House until she meets Edie Davenport one day and is invited into their perfect world. Only it's not as perfect as it appears through Tamsyn's binoculars and she now has a front row seat as the idyllic lifestyle of the Davenports starts to implode.
Tamsyn is such a brilliant character; grieving from the death of her father, she is haunted by a raven that promises more death and destruction to follow. Tamsyn is written in such a way that she quickly swings from innocence to menace as the raven's prophesies play out in her mind. I loved these quick snapshots of darkness; they appeared out of nowhere and for a moment I felt myself straying into this dark alternate reality but then being snapped back almost in the blink of an eye.
Reading The Cliff House is like diving into a warm and inviting pool: smooth, immersive and all-encompassing to the point where I had to keep reminding myself to come up for air. It feels like an innocent story of a forgotten summer at first, but suddenly it has the feel of menace and danger but, by then, I was powerless to resist as I too had fallen in love with The Cliff House.
Amanda Jennings, what a disturbing and hauntingly beautiful tale you weave; The Cliff House is simply breathtaking with outstanding, evocative prose and vividly painted scenery that I can still close my eyes and bring to mind long after turning the final page. Completely stunning and highly recommended.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
May 15, 2018
This book intrigued me and I’m glad I got the opportunity to read it.
Tamsyn watches The Cliff House through her binoculars and fantasises about the people who live there and is desparate to get more of an insight into their perfect lives.
The family that lives there now and again comes to stay for the Summer, and Tamsyn makes friends with their daughter Edie, who is also sixteen.
The girls strike up a great friendship but Tamsyn’s Mum is wary as she is the cleaner for the family, and knows deep down the mother, Eleanor is not a pleasant person.
This is an understatement as she turns on Tamsyn and her family one by one, and makes life unbearable for them all.
Edie then starts to develop feelings for Tamsyn’s brother and it seems the girls friendship will suffer.
The final few chapters race along and we find out what happens to these two families.
I really enjoyed this book and loved the descriptions of the area where the book is set.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Tamsyn watches The Cliff House through her binoculars and fantasises about the people who live there and is desparate to get more of an insight into their perfect lives.
The family that lives there now and again comes to stay for the Summer, and Tamsyn makes friends with their daughter Edie, who is also sixteen.
The girls strike up a great friendship but Tamsyn’s Mum is wary as she is the cleaner for the family, and knows deep down the mother, Eleanor is not a pleasant person.
This is an understatement as she turns on Tamsyn and her family one by one, and makes life unbearable for them all.
Edie then starts to develop feelings for Tamsyn’s brother and it seems the girls friendship will suffer.
The final few chapters race along and we find out what happens to these two families.
I really enjoyed this book and loved the descriptions of the area where the book is set.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
May 13, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
Well this was an unsettling read! A childish obsession with rich neighbours turns into something more. She’s upset yet curious of the ‘posh’ family who take up residence in the rental villa – the Cliff House – where her mother cleans. The daughter of the family soon becomes a friend but she is the black sheep of the family. The mother on the other hand is very demanding and act and theren there’s the father…what a bunch they turned out to be!
The writing is luscious and really brings summers on the beach to the front of your memories. I remember when I used to look at posh beach side houses and imagine who lived there. Still do sometimes if I’m honest. The visits to the house, the ever increasing obsession of the girl to the Cliff House and the people inside.
Nicely written and very tense in places. The writing is very evocative of nice seaside holidays and beach walks, taking in Sennen Cove, Botallack, St Just and Gwynver Beach which is a lovely journey around the rugged Cornish coast. The crashing waves, the high Cliff House hanging on the edge of the cliff – bit like the action in the book. You never know what’s going to happen next and it builds a disturbing sense of foreboding.
Next time I see a cliff house for real, I’m going to wonder!
March 30, 2018
This is the first book of Amanda Jennings I have read. The Cliff house is a beautifully written novel that describes area of the Cornish coastline and the nature that lives there.
The story is set in the 1980’s Tamsyn lives in a small Cornish cottage with her mother, her brother Jago and her grandfather. Her father died 6 years previously drowned off the Cornish coast when Tamsyn was 10 and she hasn’t quite got over it. She is a loner at school and quite timid for her age. She spends her days up on the cliff path with her binoculars watching the residence of the The Cliff House and sometimes her mother who works part time there as a cleaner. The Davenports only come to the cliff house at weekends. So, during the week Tamsyn without her mother knowing takes the key and secretly swims in the pool at the cliff house. When one day while swimming Tamsyn hears a noise only to be confronted by the Davenports daughter Edie and they soon start up a friendship, to the distaste of her mother. Angela believes that things are not going to turn out well.
This is quite different to the usual thrillers that I have read. But, I thought this was a beautifully written tale of love, loss, relationships and social class. I liked how the author described the areas of Cornwall, the wildlife, it made me believe I was there or would like to visit there one day. I will look out for more of the authors books.
Thank you Netgalley and HQ for a copy of this book.
The story is set in the 1980’s Tamsyn lives in a small Cornish cottage with her mother, her brother Jago and her grandfather. Her father died 6 years previously drowned off the Cornish coast when Tamsyn was 10 and she hasn’t quite got over it. She is a loner at school and quite timid for her age. She spends her days up on the cliff path with her binoculars watching the residence of the The Cliff House and sometimes her mother who works part time there as a cleaner. The Davenports only come to the cliff house at weekends. So, during the week Tamsyn without her mother knowing takes the key and secretly swims in the pool at the cliff house. When one day while swimming Tamsyn hears a noise only to be confronted by the Davenports daughter Edie and they soon start up a friendship, to the distaste of her mother. Angela believes that things are not going to turn out well.
This is quite different to the usual thrillers that I have read. But, I thought this was a beautifully written tale of love, loss, relationships and social class. I liked how the author described the areas of Cornwall, the wildlife, it made me believe I was there or would like to visit there one day. I will look out for more of the authors books.
Thank you Netgalley and HQ for a copy of this book.
June 22, 2020
This book was a bit of a struggle for me. Parts of it were well written, and I certainly felt that Edie and Tamsyn were carefully crafted and well depicted characters. However, for a book that was sold as a thriller, it was a little slow paced for my liking.
The other thing that I struggled with, was Tamsyn's obsession with the Cliff House, and why it was so important to her. I can understand the pull of the lifestyle that the house represented, and her aspirations to that type of lifestyle, but her relationship with the house just never really worked for me.
Some parts of the book I thought were well done. This includes the descriptions of the ravens, and the visions and dreams that accompanied this. But all in all, the book left me feeling a little underwhelmed, and more relieved that I had made it to the end so I could turn my attention to something a little more engaging, or with a little more substance.
I can almost guarantee that if you were to ask me in six months' time what this book was about, I will not be able to tell you. So in that sense, it fails my test to determine whether or not it is a good book (mind you there are some truly terrible books that I remember on account of being so damn awful). It is not a book that I would be tempted to pick up again.
The other thing that I struggled with, was Tamsyn's obsession with the Cliff House, and why it was so important to her. I can understand the pull of the lifestyle that the house represented, and her aspirations to that type of lifestyle, but her relationship with the house just never really worked for me.
Some parts of the book I thought were well done. This includes the descriptions of the ravens, and the visions and dreams that accompanied this. But all in all, the book left me feeling a little underwhelmed, and more relieved that I had made it to the end so I could turn my attention to something a little more engaging, or with a little more substance.
I can almost guarantee that if you were to ask me in six months' time what this book was about, I will not be able to tell you. So in that sense, it fails my test to determine whether or not it is a good book (mind you there are some truly terrible books that I remember on account of being so damn awful). It is not a book that I would be tempted to pick up again.
February 10, 2018
A beautifully haunting and evocative tale of loss, love, friendship and obsession here from Amanda Jennings. With the beautiful writing I've come to expect from her.
Full review nearer to publication.
Full review nearer to publication.
May 8, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
There is one thing being asked to kick off a blog tour full stop, but then there is another thing being asked to kick off the blog tour for an author you admire not only for her literary skills, but also for her presence, views and the way that she has her tea. Yes, I am being serious. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they drink their tea, and let me tell you now, Amanda Jennings is my type of person – it’s definitely a bonus that she can write exceptionally well, too ;).
The cover of ‘The Cliff House’ is one of the most relaxing yet highly intriguing covers I have seen for a while. It was pretty clear before I read the book that there was a lot more to the story that meets the eye, and boy it wasn’t wrong!
Usually I lean more towards storylines which send a rocket up your youknowwhat almost straight away, but the fact that the pace of ‘The Cliff House’ was slow, meant that the vibe came across a lot more haunted due to the authors incredible talent of creating vivid imagery in her readers minds. I genuinely think that had the pace been fast, the storyline wouldn’t have worked as well as it did, and I don’t think I would have reacted the way that I did. It wasn’t that the story was creepy, because it wasn’t. I found it to be more of an intense, haunted and mesmerising type of read, which seemed to capture all of my senses and hold them hostage until the very last page.
I don’t want to go into too much detail about the book as that wouldn’t be fair on the readers or the author, however, there were certain elements of the book which I was able to relate to unexpectedly. The main one which made me sit up and take notice was the fact that the main character, Tamsyn, had lost her father. I found the way in which Tamsyn reacted to the aftermath of her father’s death such a realistic portrayal of grief, especially where a parent is involved. It wasn’t a case of her father passing away and she just got on with it and forgot about it as she was young (kudos if you can do that, but kudos if you can’t, obviously!), instead her grief came out in her personality and the way that she lived her life. It was quite emotional to read, yet it hit open rather drastically.
As for the rest of the storyline, I actually can’t find anything that I disliked about it. Every page flowed with the previous one and the next, taking me under its wing by allowing me to lose myself in the spirited and charismatic storyline as though I was one of the characters myself.
‘The Cliff House’ isn’t just about beautiful views and a house you wish you could live in, no. It’s dark, compelling, addictive, beautiful, and utterly, utterly breathtaking. It’s books like this which make me feel exceptionally proud to be an avid reader, because if I wasn’t, I would be missing out on a diamond in the rough, cut above the rest, gem of a read. ‘The Cliff House’ really is one of my most favourite books of all time. How can it not be?
There is one thing being asked to kick off a blog tour full stop, but then there is another thing being asked to kick off the blog tour for an author you admire not only for her literary skills, but also for her presence, views and the way that she has her tea. Yes, I am being serious. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they drink their tea, and let me tell you now, Amanda Jennings is my type of person – it’s definitely a bonus that she can write exceptionally well, too ;).
The cover of ‘The Cliff House’ is one of the most relaxing yet highly intriguing covers I have seen for a while. It was pretty clear before I read the book that there was a lot more to the story that meets the eye, and boy it wasn’t wrong!
Usually I lean more towards storylines which send a rocket up your youknowwhat almost straight away, but the fact that the pace of ‘The Cliff House’ was slow, meant that the vibe came across a lot more haunted due to the authors incredible talent of creating vivid imagery in her readers minds. I genuinely think that had the pace been fast, the storyline wouldn’t have worked as well as it did, and I don’t think I would have reacted the way that I did. It wasn’t that the story was creepy, because it wasn’t. I found it to be more of an intense, haunted and mesmerising type of read, which seemed to capture all of my senses and hold them hostage until the very last page.
I don’t want to go into too much detail about the book as that wouldn’t be fair on the readers or the author, however, there were certain elements of the book which I was able to relate to unexpectedly. The main one which made me sit up and take notice was the fact that the main character, Tamsyn, had lost her father. I found the way in which Tamsyn reacted to the aftermath of her father’s death such a realistic portrayal of grief, especially where a parent is involved. It wasn’t a case of her father passing away and she just got on with it and forgot about it as she was young (kudos if you can do that, but kudos if you can’t, obviously!), instead her grief came out in her personality and the way that she lived her life. It was quite emotional to read, yet it hit open rather drastically.
As for the rest of the storyline, I actually can’t find anything that I disliked about it. Every page flowed with the previous one and the next, taking me under its wing by allowing me to lose myself in the spirited and charismatic storyline as though I was one of the characters myself.
‘The Cliff House’ isn’t just about beautiful views and a house you wish you could live in, no. It’s dark, compelling, addictive, beautiful, and utterly, utterly breathtaking. It’s books like this which make me feel exceptionally proud to be an avid reader, because if I wasn’t, I would be missing out on a diamond in the rough, cut above the rest, gem of a read. ‘The Cliff House’ really is one of my most favourite books of all time. How can it not be?
June 26, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Told from varying perspectives, The Cliff House is an atmopsheric, magnificent and at times emotional story of a young girl who desperately wants to be accepted, and doesn't realise that money really doesn't equal happiness.
This is the first novel I've read by Amanda Jennings, and I have to say I'm so impressed at the way that she creates such a sense of time and place (mainly Cornwall in the 1960s), as well as evoking the drama and strife that the Davenports create all around them, in one way or another. The characters in this story are a real mixed bunch; the demanding, difficult and rather exhausting personality of mother Evelyn is contrasted with Tamsyn's own poor mother, and Tamsyn and Edie are also polar opposites in many ways, too. I liked the complexities of the characters; they all had their own issues and less-than-desirable traits but they're interesting to read about and, though at times I hated them for how they treated other people, I also felt sorry for them sometimes - even Evelyn, who seems to have such a glamorous life but is so obviously unhappy.
I loved the feeling of almost being there with them in Cornwall, and you can really tell how, at first, Tamysn becomes swept away by the glamour of the Davenports, particualrly because of the history with her dad. I don't want to give too much away but this is certainly not a light-hearted, fluffy story - there's a dark sense of foreboding over a lot of it, mixed with the heady, powerful feelings of desire, desperation and envy. A haunting summer read.
Many thanks to HQ for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
Told from varying perspectives, The Cliff House is an atmopsheric, magnificent and at times emotional story of a young girl who desperately wants to be accepted, and doesn't realise that money really doesn't equal happiness.
This is the first novel I've read by Amanda Jennings, and I have to say I'm so impressed at the way that she creates such a sense of time and place (mainly Cornwall in the 1960s), as well as evoking the drama and strife that the Davenports create all around them, in one way or another. The characters in this story are a real mixed bunch; the demanding, difficult and rather exhausting personality of mother Evelyn is contrasted with Tamsyn's own poor mother, and Tamsyn and Edie are also polar opposites in many ways, too. I liked the complexities of the characters; they all had their own issues and less-than-desirable traits but they're interesting to read about and, though at times I hated them for how they treated other people, I also felt sorry for them sometimes - even Evelyn, who seems to have such a glamorous life but is so obviously unhappy.
I loved the feeling of almost being there with them in Cornwall, and you can really tell how, at first, Tamysn becomes swept away by the glamour of the Davenports, particualrly because of the history with her dad. I don't want to give too much away but this is certainly not a light-hearted, fluffy story - there's a dark sense of foreboding over a lot of it, mixed with the heady, powerful feelings of desire, desperation and envy. A haunting summer read.
Many thanks to HQ for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
August 16, 2018
The Cliff House is Amanda Jennings fourth novel and after reading In Her Wake (published by Orenda Books in April 2016) I could not wait to reacquaint myself with Jennings’ beautiful writing and locations.
The Cliff House transports its reader to 1980’s Cornwall where sixteen-year-old Tamsyn is obsessed with The Cliff House and absolutely fascinated by the Davenports. Tamsyn has always been intrigued by the property given its prominent and beautiful setting overlooking the sea. Tamsyn hasn’t had the easiest of lives therefore is completely transfixed by their idyllic and glamorous lifestyle in the house that she is wishing that she lived in. Tamsyn makes friends with Edie Davenport, and begins to infiltrate their lives as well as spending more and more time at Cliff House. It is like Tamsyn lives two lives, her actual life with her mum along with their struggles as well as her dream life as part of a well-off family living in a beautiful house.
The setting of the book is absolutely perfect, it is both beautiful and haunting. The house is somewhat isolated which reflects how Tamsyn feels, she is lonely and desperate to be a part of Cliff House and its perfect family…although the cracks start to show.
Once again, Jennings’ writing is beautiful and draws you in from the start. I finished this book some time ago but it’s subject and the writing style stays with me. I can still see in my mind Tamsyn spying on the house from her vantage point and the image of her walking along the coastal walks. The reader is truly transported to Cornwall.
Cliff House is as much of a character as the people themselves – the presence that it has over the cliff adds to the atmospherics of the story and gives it a gothic edge. As for the other characters, I cannot say I completely liked any of them but there were parts of each of them I did like and could understand why their flaws were there, what made them act in the way they did. All of the characters were well developed and their individual flaws added to the overall tone and atmospherics of the book.
The Cliff House is an absolute page turner but not because of its fast pace – it is actually a chilling slow burn of a read which truly makes you feel on edge throughout the book! I adored this book from start to finish, it is wonderfully atmospheric and a completely hypnotic read!
The Cliff House transports its reader to 1980’s Cornwall where sixteen-year-old Tamsyn is obsessed with The Cliff House and absolutely fascinated by the Davenports. Tamsyn has always been intrigued by the property given its prominent and beautiful setting overlooking the sea. Tamsyn hasn’t had the easiest of lives therefore is completely transfixed by their idyllic and glamorous lifestyle in the house that she is wishing that she lived in. Tamsyn makes friends with Edie Davenport, and begins to infiltrate their lives as well as spending more and more time at Cliff House. It is like Tamsyn lives two lives, her actual life with her mum along with their struggles as well as her dream life as part of a well-off family living in a beautiful house.
The setting of the book is absolutely perfect, it is both beautiful and haunting. The house is somewhat isolated which reflects how Tamsyn feels, she is lonely and desperate to be a part of Cliff House and its perfect family…although the cracks start to show.
Once again, Jennings’ writing is beautiful and draws you in from the start. I finished this book some time ago but it’s subject and the writing style stays with me. I can still see in my mind Tamsyn spying on the house from her vantage point and the image of her walking along the coastal walks. The reader is truly transported to Cornwall.
Cliff House is as much of a character as the people themselves – the presence that it has over the cliff adds to the atmospherics of the story and gives it a gothic edge. As for the other characters, I cannot say I completely liked any of them but there were parts of each of them I did like and could understand why their flaws were there, what made them act in the way they did. All of the characters were well developed and their individual flaws added to the overall tone and atmospherics of the book.
The Cliff House is an absolute page turner but not because of its fast pace – it is actually a chilling slow burn of a read which truly makes you feel on edge throughout the book! I adored this book from start to finish, it is wonderfully atmospheric and a completely hypnotic read!
April 27, 2018
Tamsyn lives with her Mother, Grandfather and brother in a small house in Cornwall. She has always admired and watched through binoculares the Cliff house where her mother works as a cleaner. One day she goes over to fetch something and is astonished when she meets a girl of her own age. Edie is the daughter of the owners who Tamsyn never knew existed. When they strike up a friendship she is over the moon. This is the story of their summer in 1986 . Occasional chapters give a glimpse of now. Edie is of a family worlds apart from that of Tamsyn as Tamsyn learns to her cost, but is enthralled that she is allowed a glimpse of their lives by being friends with Edie. This is one of those beautifully described books that would be lovely to read whilst on holiday or even if not- it transports you to the sounds of the sea and evokes your own childhood experiences of the sounds and smells of the beach. Of wondering about cocktail parties and wearing elaborate clothes. Of a life that can’t be yours but you love to dream about. I wouldn’t personally have classed this as a psychological read (which it is classed as) more, for me of a women’s fiction. That said still an enjoyable read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
November 6, 2021
I read this after hearing Lisa Jewell’s recommendation during a Suffolk Libraries author event. I wouldn’t have chosen it from the synopsis, as it sounded like chick-lit. It is not! It has depth and breadth and realism. Will read more from Amanda Jennings.
June 7, 2019
2.5 stars
For me,a lot of build up,to not very much anything.
I have no problem with a long build up,but I found it a little ordinary,not enough tension.
It happily killed a few hours on a train for me.
For me,a lot of build up,to not very much anything.
I have no problem with a long build up,but I found it a little ordinary,not enough tension.
It happily killed a few hours on a train for me.
May 13, 2018
All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...
I became a huge fan of Amanda Jennings’ writing when I read her previous novel, In Her Wake, nearly two years ago now, so I was excited to see what her follow up would be. The Cliff House is an evocative and mesmerizing piece of fiction with a dark undercurrent. Amanda makes the setting feel so real, and she draws you into Cornish landscape, I could easily picture the scenery around me.
Sixteen-year-old Tamsyn has always been drawn to a property built at the top of the rugged, Cornish cliff face, known to her as The Cliff House. The house holds very poignant memories for her as she used to visit it with her father before he died and they would often swim in the pool when the family who owned it weren’t staying there, without their permission. Tamsyn becomes obsessed with the family who live there, the Davenports, who travel up from London to spend the holidays in Cornwall. To Tamsyn their life is full of glamour; it is the image of perfection. But their lives aren’t what they quite appear to Tamsyn, and as she becomes embroiled in their family troubles, it becomes harder for her to let go.
Amanda writes her characters so well; like Tamsyn I became captured by The Cliff House, especially in the opening chapter in which Amanda so brilliantly sets the scene through Tamsyn’s eyes as she stares at the house through her binoculars. Edie Davenport was a fiery and perplexing character, the relationship that she has with her parents is an interesting one, and it was one of the main hooks of the novel as Amanda slowly peeled away the dynamics in their relationship. I wanted to find out what was really going on in their lives.
As Tamsyn and Edie Davenport became friends, I did wonder how she would fit into Edie’s life; I kept imagining scenarios inside my head as I wondered if their friendship was going to work as they both come from very different backgrounds and mix in different social circles. Tension simmers on every page as their friendship develops and as the drama in Edie’s family life begins to unravel.
Amanda Jennings has written a superb novel. Her writing never fails to draw me in. The Cliff House is haunting and spellbinding, I loved it.
I became a huge fan of Amanda Jennings’ writing when I read her previous novel, In Her Wake, nearly two years ago now, so I was excited to see what her follow up would be. The Cliff House is an evocative and mesmerizing piece of fiction with a dark undercurrent. Amanda makes the setting feel so real, and she draws you into Cornish landscape, I could easily picture the scenery around me.
Sixteen-year-old Tamsyn has always been drawn to a property built at the top of the rugged, Cornish cliff face, known to her as The Cliff House. The house holds very poignant memories for her as she used to visit it with her father before he died and they would often swim in the pool when the family who owned it weren’t staying there, without their permission. Tamsyn becomes obsessed with the family who live there, the Davenports, who travel up from London to spend the holidays in Cornwall. To Tamsyn their life is full of glamour; it is the image of perfection. But their lives aren’t what they quite appear to Tamsyn, and as she becomes embroiled in their family troubles, it becomes harder for her to let go.
Amanda writes her characters so well; like Tamsyn I became captured by The Cliff House, especially in the opening chapter in which Amanda so brilliantly sets the scene through Tamsyn’s eyes as she stares at the house through her binoculars. Edie Davenport was a fiery and perplexing character, the relationship that she has with her parents is an interesting one, and it was one of the main hooks of the novel as Amanda slowly peeled away the dynamics in their relationship. I wanted to find out what was really going on in their lives.
As Tamsyn and Edie Davenport became friends, I did wonder how she would fit into Edie’s life; I kept imagining scenarios inside my head as I wondered if their friendship was going to work as they both come from very different backgrounds and mix in different social circles. Tension simmers on every page as their friendship develops and as the drama in Edie’s family life begins to unravel.
Amanda Jennings has written a superb novel. Her writing never fails to draw me in. The Cliff House is haunting and spellbinding, I loved it.
August 2, 2020
"Cornwall im Sommer 1986. Fasziniert beobachtet die sechzehnjährige Tamsyn ihre neuen Nachbarn: den attraktiven Mr. Davenport, seine wunderschöne Ehefrau und ihre schillernde Tochter Evie, die etwa in Tamsyns Alter ist. Als sich die ungleichen Mädchen schließlich kennenlernen, hat dies ungeahnte Folgen. Denn hinter dem scheinbar perfekten Familienidyll der Davenports verbergen sich dunkle Abgründe, und Tamsyns neidvoller Blick auf ihre Nachbarn wird immer mehr zur unheilvollen Obsession ..."
Ich hatte mir die Geschichte irgendwie anders vorgestellt.
Ich bin sehr gut in die Geschichte reingekommen, da der Schreibstil einfach und flüssig ist. Die Geschichte wird aus verschiedenen Perspektiven erzählt, sodass man die Charaktere gut kennenlernen kann und sie besser verstehen kann. Jedoch fand ich niemanden so wirklich sympathisch oder habe mitfühlen können, obwohl so viel über die Charaktere erfährt. Schade.
Die Kapitel sind kurz, sodass man einfach weiterlesen will, obwohl die Spannung sich nur ganz langsam aufbaut. Leider bleibt der Spannungsbogen über die ganze Geschichte sehr niedrig. Es gibt zwar unheilvolle und düstere Stellen bzw. Momente, aber das war irgendwie zu wenig. Auch die Andeutung mit den Raben hätte man besser ausarbeiten können.
Insgesamt war es schon ein interessanter und solider Roman den man für Zwischendurch lesen kann. Ich habe die Geschichte gerne gelesen, aber es hat einfach etwas an Spannung gefehlt.
3,5 von 5 Sternen ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Ich hatte mir die Geschichte irgendwie anders vorgestellt.
Ich bin sehr gut in die Geschichte reingekommen, da der Schreibstil einfach und flüssig ist. Die Geschichte wird aus verschiedenen Perspektiven erzählt, sodass man die Charaktere gut kennenlernen kann und sie besser verstehen kann. Jedoch fand ich niemanden so wirklich sympathisch oder habe mitfühlen können, obwohl so viel über die Charaktere erfährt. Schade.
Die Kapitel sind kurz, sodass man einfach weiterlesen will, obwohl die Spannung sich nur ganz langsam aufbaut. Leider bleibt der Spannungsbogen über die ganze Geschichte sehr niedrig. Es gibt zwar unheilvolle und düstere Stellen bzw. Momente, aber das war irgendwie zu wenig. Auch die Andeutung mit den Raben hätte man besser ausarbeiten können.
Insgesamt war es schon ein interessanter und solider Roman den man für Zwischendurch lesen kann. Ich habe die Geschichte gerne gelesen, aber es hat einfach etwas an Spannung gefehlt.
3,5 von 5 Sternen ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
September 21, 2018
The Cliff House is so many things, it isn’t just a psychological thriller, it is a coming-of-age meets a family coping with grief and the hard realities of living below the breadline story. When you put all those components together and add a layer or difference of socioeconomic status between two friends, that’s when you can see the cracks start to appear in the seemingly innocent story of a young lonely girl.
A girl almost consumed with grief after the death of her father, despite the fact it has already been many years since his death. Tamsyn focuses her obsession on any place she visited with her father and even on any object he may have touched at one point. When anyone invades those memories she becomes irrational and antagonistic.
One of the places she obsesses about is a house her father told her would one day be theirs. The Cliff House and its inhabitants are the objects of her daily routine. She watches, she imagines and she becomes part of the family, if only in her head.
One day her routine is disrupted and her fantasy threatened when the daughter of the house discovers Tamsyn trespassing. The ensuing relationship or what she perceives to be a relationship is the beginning of a downward spiral for everyone in both families. Her reaction when someone encroaches upon her territory is indicative of a dark side of her personality.
Jennings plays around with the alleged innocence of youth, the divide between rich and poor, and the invisibility each girl suffers from in their own family settings. Every family has problems regardless of their economic status.
Jennings underplays the importance of the obsession, so it becomes a subtle undertone in the background. It buzzes around like a persistent reminder, but not enough to think it might be an actual threat. It’s a sublime well-plotted story.
*I received a free copy via NetGalley*
A girl almost consumed with grief after the death of her father, despite the fact it has already been many years since his death. Tamsyn focuses her obsession on any place she visited with her father and even on any object he may have touched at one point. When anyone invades those memories she becomes irrational and antagonistic.
One of the places she obsesses about is a house her father told her would one day be theirs. The Cliff House and its inhabitants are the objects of her daily routine. She watches, she imagines and she becomes part of the family, if only in her head.
One day her routine is disrupted and her fantasy threatened when the daughter of the house discovers Tamsyn trespassing. The ensuing relationship or what she perceives to be a relationship is the beginning of a downward spiral for everyone in both families. Her reaction when someone encroaches upon her territory is indicative of a dark side of her personality.
Jennings plays around with the alleged innocence of youth, the divide between rich and poor, and the invisibility each girl suffers from in their own family settings. Every family has problems regardless of their economic status.
Jennings underplays the importance of the obsession, so it becomes a subtle undertone in the background. It buzzes around like a persistent reminder, but not enough to think it might be an actual threat. It’s a sublime well-plotted story.
*I received a free copy via NetGalley*
April 23, 2018
I really enjoyed The Cliff House. As Lisa Jewell states, it’s a beautiful, stirring story of loss and obsession.
On one hand we have Tamsyn. She lives with her brother, grandfather and mother Angie. Angie works for the Davenports, cleaning up at Cliff House. The Davenports seem to have everything and Tamsyn spends her days spying on them with binoculars. She thinks their lives are perfect and wants nothing more than their daughter Edie to be her friend.
Beautifully written and a fabulously compelling read. Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
On one hand we have Tamsyn. She lives with her brother, grandfather and mother Angie. Angie works for the Davenports, cleaning up at Cliff House. The Davenports seem to have everything and Tamsyn spends her days spying on them with binoculars. She thinks their lives are perfect and wants nothing more than their daughter Edie to be her friend.
Beautifully written and a fabulously compelling read. Highly recommended. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
April 26, 2018
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ, and the author.
Although an interesting premise and enjoyable at times, I was a bit disappointed by this book.
It felt quite long and drawn out, leading up to an ending and 'reveal' that was slightly strange and inconceivable, considering the earlier progression of the story.
The characters also felt a little absurd at times, so it was hard to feel fully involved and invested in the story. 2.5 stars.
Although an interesting premise and enjoyable at times, I was a bit disappointed by this book.
It felt quite long and drawn out, leading up to an ending and 'reveal' that was slightly strange and inconceivable, considering the earlier progression of the story.
The characters also felt a little absurd at times, so it was hard to feel fully involved and invested in the story. 2.5 stars.
September 8, 2018
This one was a slowwww burn. It moves very slowly and didn’t have much of a big twist or plot line that pulled me in.
November 1, 2018
Took me a minute to get into it but lovely descriptions and interesting story. I wasn't sure how it would end up.
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