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Daughters of Cornwall
The new book from the Sunday Times bestselling author
Available to pre-order now!
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2020
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907 people want to read
About the author
Fern Britton
33 books414 followersFern Britton, an English television presenter, was born on 17 July 1957 in Ealing, London. She was educated at Dr Challoner's High School in Little Chalfont and underwent training in stage management at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She is the daughter of the English actor, Tony Britton and Ruth Britton. Fern Britton spent the early days of her life at Buckinghamshire. Her older sister, Cherry Britton, is a script writer and her younger half brother, Jasper Britton, is an actor. She is married to the celebrity chef, Phil Vickery and lives with her family at Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire.
Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments.
Since then, Fern Britton has hosted several programmes, which include Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, London News Network's London Tonight and BBC 1’s Holiday. She also featured in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show and in 1994, Fern Britton went onto present the famous television cookery game show, Ready Steady Cook. She hosted the show for a long span of six years until she was succeeded by chef, Ainsley Harriott. She joined hands with the British television presenter, Phillip Schofield to host the famous television magazine show This Morning. Since 1999, Fern Britton has been hosting the show and the couple was known for their hilarious presentation. The show was a big hit and won the 2003 & 2004 TV Quick Award for the ‘Best Daytime Viewing’. It also clinched the 2004 National Television Award for the ‘Most Popular Daytime Show’.
Fern Britton anchored the Pride of Britain Awards in 2002 and was one among the panellists on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News for You.
In 2006, the song, “The Fern Britton Experience”, which featured in the album, Hang The DJ was named after her by the UK DJ Shitmat. She hosted the reality television show, Soapstar Superstar, and the British Soap Awards 2006. At the Royal Albert Hall, on 31 May 2007, Fern Britton presented the Classical BRIT Awards and also co-presented the British Soap Awards that year.
Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.
Apart from television presentations, Fern Britton has also featured in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. She performed the title role in a Cinderella pantomime in 1988. In March 1998, her first book, Fern’s Family Favourites, was released and in October the following year, she launched her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights. Fern, My Story was published in November 2008 by Michael Joseph and it ranked among the Top Ten Bestseller list by The Sunday Times.
Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments.
Since then, Fern Britton has hosted several programmes, which include Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, London News Network's London Tonight and BBC 1’s Holiday. She also featured in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show and in 1994, Fern Britton went onto present the famous television cookery game show, Ready Steady Cook. She hosted the show for a long span of six years until she was succeeded by chef, Ainsley Harriott. She joined hands with the British television presenter, Phillip Schofield to host the famous television magazine show This Morning. Since 1999, Fern Britton has been hosting the show and the couple was known for their hilarious presentation. The show was a big hit and won the 2003 & 2004 TV Quick Award for the ‘Best Daytime Viewing’. It also clinched the 2004 National Television Award for the ‘Most Popular Daytime Show’.
Fern Britton anchored the Pride of Britain Awards in 2002 and was one among the panellists on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News for You.
In 2006, the song, “The Fern Britton Experience”, which featured in the album, Hang The DJ was named after her by the UK DJ Shitmat. She hosted the reality television show, Soapstar Superstar, and the British Soap Awards 2006. At the Royal Albert Hall, on 31 May 2007, Fern Britton presented the Classical BRIT Awards and also co-presented the British Soap Awards that year.
Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.
Apart from television presentations, Fern Britton has also featured in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. She performed the title role in a Cinderella pantomime in 1988. In March 1998, her first book, Fern’s Family Favourites, was released and in October the following year, she launched her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights. Fern, My Story was published in November 2008 by Michael Joseph and it ranked among the Top Ten Bestseller list by The Sunday Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
August 15, 2020
I’ve read all of Fern Britton books in the Cornish series and have enjoyed them all. This one was quite different from her others as it was set in different time lines were as her others were more present day. I loved this one the story pulled you in immediately and I could picture the people and the picturesque places in Cornwall.
This was Fern at her best.
This was Fern at her best.
June 12, 2020
I will declare my bias from the beginning of this review. I like Fern Britton as a writer and read all of her books.
This one is not one of her Cornish series but it is based in Cornwall. It is a family saga set during war time (wars I and II) and post war in the late 50s. It is about one daughter finding a trunk and uncovering the lives of the generations of women before her. Caroline's own mother Hannah and Hannah's mother Clara Bolitho.
The read is gentle, charming and engrossing. The detail of the landscapes in Cornwall, Kent, London, Penang and France whisk you away to different points in time in a way that feels authentic and makes you read on.
The characters are so well drawn and it is Clara, a strong and determined woman, whose actions might not always be understandable, but who continues to care for her family at a time when her secrets could have left her with very little, who stands centre stage.
It is a story of mothers and daughters, of great love and how one moment can destroy the future. It is about the lies we tell in order to survive, and how that survival can sometimes be at the cost of others. The story gets under your skin as you live with Hannah and Edward as children in Callyzion with their reverend grandfather Hugh, to a later date when David, another brother, is living with his siblings in Trevay where Clara runs a haberdashery and dressmaking shop. You live through the war effort, the women who found themselves doing amazing things, only to end up back in the home post war, and you live with the devastation of loss of lives and love that befall this family.
I laughed, I gasped, I cried and most of all I forgot the time and simply read for pure pleasure.
This is a book I can definitely recommend.
This one is not one of her Cornish series but it is based in Cornwall. It is a family saga set during war time (wars I and II) and post war in the late 50s. It is about one daughter finding a trunk and uncovering the lives of the generations of women before her. Caroline's own mother Hannah and Hannah's mother Clara Bolitho.
The read is gentle, charming and engrossing. The detail of the landscapes in Cornwall, Kent, London, Penang and France whisk you away to different points in time in a way that feels authentic and makes you read on.
The characters are so well drawn and it is Clara, a strong and determined woman, whose actions might not always be understandable, but who continues to care for her family at a time when her secrets could have left her with very little, who stands centre stage.
It is a story of mothers and daughters, of great love and how one moment can destroy the future. It is about the lies we tell in order to survive, and how that survival can sometimes be at the cost of others. The story gets under your skin as you live with Hannah and Edward as children in Callyzion with their reverend grandfather Hugh, to a later date when David, another brother, is living with his siblings in Trevay where Clara runs a haberdashery and dressmaking shop. You live through the war effort, the women who found themselves doing amazing things, only to end up back in the home post war, and you live with the devastation of loss of lives and love that befall this family.
I laughed, I gasped, I cried and most of all I forgot the time and simply read for pure pleasure.
This is a book I can definitely recommend.
June 23, 2020
This was different to the previous books I've read by Fern Britton. I love books set around the war years and this one spans from WWI to the present day. The story is told through the generations of Clara's family. Caroline in the present day, receives a trunk which reveals family secrets and explains what happened to Clara through the years.
Wonderfully drawn characters and the full sense of hardship through the war years, a glimpse of colonial life in the Far East, and the effects of the attrocities that the soldiers experienced in trenches, which had far reaching effects on them.
Wonderfully drawn characters and the full sense of hardship through the war years, a glimpse of colonial life in the Far East, and the effects of the attrocities that the soldiers experienced in trenches, which had far reaching effects on them.
July 12, 2020
It took me a while to get into this book but that could be more to do with my mood than the book itself, but when I did I couldn't put it down! A very good story. This is the first book from this author that I've read. I believe it's a bit different to her others.
It's told by a couple of people in different times. I did get a slight bit confused once or twice and had to check back to catch up but it didn't spoil the story for me.
The main character, who dominates the first part of the book was a person I couldn't make up my mind about. I still don't know if I liked her or not.
I love dual time stories, or triple as in this case and anything to do with the World Wars is a bonus. A great read that I would recommend .
It's told by a couple of people in different times. I did get a slight bit confused once or twice and had to check back to catch up but it didn't spoil the story for me.
The main character, who dominates the first part of the book was a person I couldn't make up my mind about. I still don't know if I liked her or not.
I love dual time stories, or triple as in this case and anything to do with the World Wars is a bonus. A great read that I would recommend .
June 11, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Fern writes with such warmth, and a good family saga is just what I needed at the moment, as I'm missing mine.
This is the story of four generations of women. Women who are human and make mistakes. Women who have loved and lost, and how they have dealt with it.
A lovely gentle read, which left me with a few questions. Will there perhaps be a sequel?
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Fern for this lovely read.
This is the story of four generations of women. Women who are human and make mistakes. Women who have loved and lost, and how they have dealt with it.
A lovely gentle read, which left me with a few questions. Will there perhaps be a sequel?
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Fern for this lovely read.
April 16, 2025
For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...
My second read from Britton and I was equally impressed. I enjoyed how this story spans three generations of women yet, their lives are full of secrets and omitted truths. Initially I felt like I was missing something from the story, but Britton weaves the narrative so that readers are piecing together the true family history of Clara, Hannah and Caroline.
My second read from Britton and I was equally impressed. I enjoyed how this story spans three generations of women yet, their lives are full of secrets and omitted truths. Initially I felt like I was missing something from the story, but Britton weaves the narrative so that readers are piecing together the true family history of Clara, Hannah and Caroline.
June 26, 2021
I think that this book should have been written as a simple narrative as the individual characters' stories were often absorbing. However I found the part about the trunk was pointless. when comments were interjected they often gave the plot away and stopped the flow of the story. I don't think that the writer is skilled enough to do multiple timelines.
I did'nt really like Clara and could not find a satisfactory explanation for her actions, particularly her lies and leaving when things got tough.
I did'nt really like Clara and could not find a satisfactory explanation for her actions, particularly her lies and leaving when things got tough.
June 12, 2020
I literally read this in two sessions. I wasn’t sure what to expect, this being my first Fern Britton novel, thinking it was probably a romance set in Cornwall or a bit like The Shell Seekers (though I loved that book in my thirties). How wrong I was! This is a tale of three generations of incredible women. Clara whose story is told partly by Clara herself and partly by her first and only true love, Bertie, during the First World War. Then it is the turn of her daughter Hannah, from the time she returns home from Penang in Malaya (as it was then called) where she and brother Edward were born, through to her time in the ATS during the second World War until 1947 and the illegitimate birth of her daughter Caroline.
We also hear from Caroline today, who has received a mysterious trunk containing letters, a Bible, a diary, clothes and other items which will tell her the true history of her family… and its secrets. All three women were born out of wedlock, but it didn’t stop them from being strong and courageous.
This book is truly remarkable. There are no holds barred when we are introduced to the horrors of the trenches, of the death, the rats, the bodies, the mud.
‘Mud’, says Bertie, ‘It was everywhere. In my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my ears. Men were going mad…. calling for their mothers……’
‘We fight, we carry the dead. We fight, we carry the dead’, he continues. Appalling.
The Second World War is not described in such horrific and graphic detail, but this is partly because the characters who were involved such as Hannah’s brother Edward in the RAF and Hannah in the ATS were fighting at more of a distance, while in Bertie’s case he was right in the thick of it, in the trenches, fighting at close quarters. And we see it from his point of view and in his beautiful letters to Clara.
I loved Hannah. She is so brave and resourceful. I wonder if I would have been like her. I hope so.
There is some romance too, but it takes place during both world wars when relationships developed very quickly, as partners had to return to the front or the air and knew that they might never come back.
I can’t praise this book enough. It has everything. Tears of sadness, tears of joy.
I only had one reservation about the unfolding of the story. Something that made me very sad, but that is the reality of what often happened, but I wish it could have been different. That’s all I’m saying. You’ll have to read it and decide for yourselves.
We also hear from Caroline today, who has received a mysterious trunk containing letters, a Bible, a diary, clothes and other items which will tell her the true history of her family… and its secrets. All three women were born out of wedlock, but it didn’t stop them from being strong and courageous.
This book is truly remarkable. There are no holds barred when we are introduced to the horrors of the trenches, of the death, the rats, the bodies, the mud.
‘Mud’, says Bertie, ‘It was everywhere. In my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my ears. Men were going mad…. calling for their mothers……’
‘We fight, we carry the dead. We fight, we carry the dead’, he continues. Appalling.
The Second World War is not described in such horrific and graphic detail, but this is partly because the characters who were involved such as Hannah’s brother Edward in the RAF and Hannah in the ATS were fighting at more of a distance, while in Bertie’s case he was right in the thick of it, in the trenches, fighting at close quarters. And we see it from his point of view and in his beautiful letters to Clara.
I loved Hannah. She is so brave and resourceful. I wonder if I would have been like her. I hope so.
There is some romance too, but it takes place during both world wars when relationships developed very quickly, as partners had to return to the front or the air and knew that they might never come back.
I can’t praise this book enough. It has everything. Tears of sadness, tears of joy.
I only had one reservation about the unfolding of the story. Something that made me very sad, but that is the reality of what often happened, but I wish it could have been different. That’s all I’m saying. You’ll have to read it and decide for yourselves.
June 8, 2021
The Daughters Of Cornwall is an engrossing, hugely enjoyable multi-generational family saga.
The story features strong women and It was interesting to follow them throughout the story and read about the challenges they faced. I liked their determination and though I may not have made the same decisions as they did, I found myself wanting to support them.
The story is told from the viewpoints of multiple narrators over a number of years starting at the beginning of WW1. Each character is given a different voice so it was easy to differentiate between them. The descriptions in this book were very vivid with the contrast between beautiful Cornwall and the horror of war really well depicted. The slow revealing of secrets was cleverly done ensuring my interest was held until the end. A heartwarming and heartbreaking story.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HarperCollins via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
The story features strong women and It was interesting to follow them throughout the story and read about the challenges they faced. I liked their determination and though I may not have made the same decisions as they did, I found myself wanting to support them.
The story is told from the viewpoints of multiple narrators over a number of years starting at the beginning of WW1. Each character is given a different voice so it was easy to differentiate between them. The descriptions in this book were very vivid with the contrast between beautiful Cornwall and the horror of war really well depicted. The slow revealing of secrets was cleverly done ensuring my interest was held until the end. A heartwarming and heartbreaking story.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HarperCollins via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
June 11, 2020
Enjoyed this gentle story spanning several generations of the Bolitho family. Quite different to her other books which have all been set in the current day. The ending I felt was a little rushed but funny how history repeats itself. An easy read. Thank you to The Pigeonhole and the author for the chance to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2021
This is a very different book to the ones I usually read. I enjoyed it but wasn’t totally drawn into it. The story felt quite rushed and a whole part of it wasn’t completely explained. It felt like a couple of chapters had been lost. I wanted to read this book after hearing Fern Britton talk about it on the radio but it didn’t really live up to the hype.
May 30, 2022
Enjoyable war time romance but a bit wet , don’t bother reading
June 2, 2020
I have read and enjoyed several of Fern Britton's books before and like the others, this is very firmly set in Cornwall (with a diversion to Ealing), but that's where the similarities end. This book is rather different to her other books as it is set over various time periods and has multiple narrators. This change of direction though has worked really well and I enjoyed following all the different yet connected storylines.
Daughters of Cornwall is a multi-generational tale beginning around the time of the First World War with Clara Carter. She has had a difficult childhood but is determined to reinvent and better herself. When she meets soldier Bertie Bolitho, love blossoms between them but the war of course tears them apart. Fast forward to the Second World War and we meet her daughter Hannah, living in the Bolitho family home at Collyzion. Hannah, along with her brothers want to do their bit for their country and all head off to war. In the present day, the third generation of Bolitho women Caroline is beginning to uncover some of the secrets of the previous generations and wants to pass on the knowledge of her heritage to her own daughter.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the emphasis on the strength of the women. Every one of the Bolitho women has had challenges to face up to and every one of them has dealt with them in the best way they could. They are all determined that their own children should be protected from their past mistakes and that they should have opportunities to better themselves. I had particular admiration for Clara and all she went through although there was one particular decision of hers I didn't agree with at all. I won't say what it was of course, as it is one of the big secrets of the book, but it was an emotional part of the story when that was resolved.
Daughters of Cornwall is a sweeping story spanning 100 years and taking in significant events not just in the history of Britain but also in the lives of the Bolitho women, all of which combine to make them the strong women they are. If you enjoy historical fiction with family secrets waiting to be uncovered, engaging storylines and spirited characters, then this is a book for you
Daughters of Cornwall is a multi-generational tale beginning around the time of the First World War with Clara Carter. She has had a difficult childhood but is determined to reinvent and better herself. When she meets soldier Bertie Bolitho, love blossoms between them but the war of course tears them apart. Fast forward to the Second World War and we meet her daughter Hannah, living in the Bolitho family home at Collyzion. Hannah, along with her brothers want to do their bit for their country and all head off to war. In the present day, the third generation of Bolitho women Caroline is beginning to uncover some of the secrets of the previous generations and wants to pass on the knowledge of her heritage to her own daughter.
What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the emphasis on the strength of the women. Every one of the Bolitho women has had challenges to face up to and every one of them has dealt with them in the best way they could. They are all determined that their own children should be protected from their past mistakes and that they should have opportunities to better themselves. I had particular admiration for Clara and all she went through although there was one particular decision of hers I didn't agree with at all. I won't say what it was of course, as it is one of the big secrets of the book, but it was an emotional part of the story when that was resolved.
Daughters of Cornwall is a sweeping story spanning 100 years and taking in significant events not just in the history of Britain but also in the lives of the Bolitho women, all of which combine to make them the strong women they are. If you enjoy historical fiction with family secrets waiting to be uncovered, engaging storylines and spirited characters, then this is a book for you
May 19, 2020
A huge thank you to Harper Collins and net galley for allowing me to review this ARC.
Having read all of Fern Britton's books which I absolutely love, I got so excited to read this one. When I read the blurb I was a little unsure, dating back to the war is not something I would usually pick up.
This style is not Fern's usual but boy did Fern put some great effort into researching the war.
I was totally smitten with Clara and Bertie's love story, which then followed down the line to Hannah and Caroline. What a wonderful family they all are.
Clara went though some deep hard times and sacrificed a lot for her children.
I love that all Fern's books are set in wonderful Cornwall and part set in Ealing an area I know so well.
A truly magical, heartwarming and heartbreaking brilliantly written book which gave me pleasure reading.
Fern delivers as always.
Having read all of Fern Britton's books which I absolutely love, I got so excited to read this one. When I read the blurb I was a little unsure, dating back to the war is not something I would usually pick up.
This style is not Fern's usual but boy did Fern put some great effort into researching the war.
I was totally smitten with Clara and Bertie's love story, which then followed down the line to Hannah and Caroline. What a wonderful family they all are.
Clara went though some deep hard times and sacrificed a lot for her children.
I love that all Fern's books are set in wonderful Cornwall and part set in Ealing an area I know so well.
A truly magical, heartwarming and heartbreaking brilliantly written book which gave me pleasure reading.
Fern delivers as always.
July 2, 2020
Loved it!
A brilliantly written story set in Cornwall; spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.
Three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and some secrets which have been hidden for decades.
This is a very emotional read, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
A brilliantly written story set in Cornwall; spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.
Three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and some secrets which have been hidden for decades.
This is a very emotional read, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
Read
July 10, 2021Pleasant story of family secrets, love and Devotion.
July 25, 2023
A nice easy read but no depth of character for me and too much erring on the chick lit side.
August 19, 2020
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS
This was a gentle family 'saga' spanning multiple generations of the Bolitho family from WW1, through WW2 and onto present day.
In the WW1 era, we meet young Clara - who is keeping secrets about her background/upbringing from everyone. When she meets the handsome Bertie, they have a whirlwind romance like so many of the time but he is killed in action, leaving her with another secret: Michael, her unborn son - Bertie's child.
By WW2 era, Clara has married Bertie's brother Ernest & they have 2 children Hannah & Edward. Much of the book takes place during this time & we see Hannah grow from a petulant child into a capable woman. When Clara returns to Cornwall from Malaya where she & Ernest had taken over Bertie's rubber plantations, Hannah discovers that there is a younger brother David that she knew nothing about. Coupled with over heard snippets of conversations, letters that are burned unread & the appearance of a mysterious stranger, Hannah believes that there is more to her mother's story than she knows & longs to know more, but her mother shuts her out. It is not until her mother is dying that the truth finally emerges about Michael. When Hannah has a brief wartime love affair with a dashing young airman, she too is left with a child - a daughter, Caroline.
By the time we reach the present day, we meet Caroline, Hannah's daughter, who now has her own daughter, Natalie. Caroline has been aware of some of the family secrets for a while and knows that she descends from string, capable women who prospered despite the pitfalls of their lives, but she has never known the identity of her father. Unexpectedly she receives a trunk containing some of her grandfather Ernest's possessions & amongst the old possessions she also find strands of her family history.
There are some well researched details about the ATS & other aspects of both WW1 & WW2 and the first part of the book (Clara & Bertie) drew me in & made me want more. It's a slow paced book, probably designed to be a summer beach type read, but unfortunately after the first section it lost what momentum it had, felt dreary/mundane and by the end, it really felt as if there was a "we need to bring this to an end so that will do" attitude.
The story is missing some fundamental parts that leave big holes in the story - we need to hear what happened between Clara arriving in Cornwall to meet Bertie's family & her arriving back with young David in tow having left Edward & Hannah in England with their grandparents 7 years before and even more importantly we need to hear Philippa's story (Michael's story really but it would fit much better told from Philippa's perspective)
This would have been so much more effective and engaging as a series!
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book via ThePigeonhole. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
This was a gentle family 'saga' spanning multiple generations of the Bolitho family from WW1, through WW2 and onto present day.
In the WW1 era, we meet young Clara - who is keeping secrets about her background/upbringing from everyone. When she meets the handsome Bertie, they have a whirlwind romance like so many of the time but he is killed in action, leaving her with another secret: Michael, her unborn son - Bertie's child.
By WW2 era, Clara has married Bertie's brother Ernest & they have 2 children Hannah & Edward. Much of the book takes place during this time & we see Hannah grow from a petulant child into a capable woman. When Clara returns to Cornwall from Malaya where she & Ernest had taken over Bertie's rubber plantations, Hannah discovers that there is a younger brother David that she knew nothing about. Coupled with over heard snippets of conversations, letters that are burned unread & the appearance of a mysterious stranger, Hannah believes that there is more to her mother's story than she knows & longs to know more, but her mother shuts her out. It is not until her mother is dying that the truth finally emerges about Michael. When Hannah has a brief wartime love affair with a dashing young airman, she too is left with a child - a daughter, Caroline.
By the time we reach the present day, we meet Caroline, Hannah's daughter, who now has her own daughter, Natalie. Caroline has been aware of some of the family secrets for a while and knows that she descends from string, capable women who prospered despite the pitfalls of their lives, but she has never known the identity of her father. Unexpectedly she receives a trunk containing some of her grandfather Ernest's possessions & amongst the old possessions she also find strands of her family history.
There are some well researched details about the ATS & other aspects of both WW1 & WW2 and the first part of the book (Clara & Bertie) drew me in & made me want more. It's a slow paced book, probably designed to be a summer beach type read, but unfortunately after the first section it lost what momentum it had, felt dreary/mundane and by the end, it really felt as if there was a "we need to bring this to an end so that will do" attitude.
The story is missing some fundamental parts that leave big holes in the story - we need to hear what happened between Clara arriving in Cornwall to meet Bertie's family & her arriving back with young David in tow having left Edward & Hannah in England with their grandparents 7 years before and even more importantly we need to hear Philippa's story (Michael's story really but it would fit much better told from Philippa's perspective)
This would have been so much more effective and engaging as a series!
Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book via ThePigeonhole. Whilst thanks go to the publisher & author for the copy of the book, all opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2021
This is the first book of Fern Britton that I have read and I loved it. The story follows a family through the years. Clara met Bertie and they instantly fell in love and spent as much time together as they could considering the onset of war. Clara had a traumatic childhood, escaped to London and found a job working for a paper. Bertie was from Cornwall and had a charmed childhood – so different. Bertie joined up and went to war but before that he made sure she was safe in a home in Ealing which he fully intended to return to. Unfortunately this did not happen as Bertie was killed in battle but Clara was pregnant. She returned to Kent to the lady who had helped her become the woman she now is. Michael was born. Clara was invited to Cornwall to visit Bertie’s parents leaving Michael behind to come home to after the visit. She never returned and her story gets messy in some ways. She marries Bertie’s brother, goes to Penang and has three more children. Life becomes difficult for her and she decides to return to Cornwall to reunite with two of her children which had been shipped back earlier on. She returns with David who is much younger than Edward and Hannah. Life goes on through their lives and it was lovely to read. I am going to stop here for fear of giving the story of their lives in Cornwall away suffice it to say it must be read – a lovely book
June 11, 2020
What a disappointment! Initially I was enjoying this but my feelings changed as the story failed to develop. The characters were really flat and one dimensional (once you got beyond Clara). Things just ‘happened’ with no explanation or exploration. And it really went downhill when they had steaks for tea in 1947 - with meat rationing still in place. The ending was so rushed it was like reading a children’s story (one written by, not for a child) This happened and this happened and we all lived happily ever after. Emotions weren’t explored, relationships weren’t developed, very poor.
July 2, 2020
I loved it!
A brilliantly written story set in Cornwall; spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.
Three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and some secrets which have been hidden for decades.
This is a very emotional read, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
A brilliantly written story set in Cornwall; spanning from the early 20th century to the present day.
Three generations of women, each with their own story to tell, and some secrets which have been hidden for decades.
This is a very emotional read, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
March 18, 2023
Based in Cornwall and spanning 100 years from the first world war to the present day this is an engrossing family story of the Bolitho women. When an old trunk from Penang is delivered to Caroline she finds that it holds the secrets of the women who came before her, Caroline’s mother Hannah and her grandmother Clara.
A beautifully written novel about the bond between mothers and their children and how lives can change in an instant.
A beautifully written novel about the bond between mothers and their children and how lives can change in an instant.
January 1, 2023
In the present day Caroline gets delivery of a trunk from Malaysia. On opening the trunk the contents reveal long kept secrets of her family starting during the First World War her grandmother then the Second World War her mother. The answers to many secrets kept of heartbreaking events makes this book a very compelling read seeing how the women dealt with the difficulties of the war years.
March 27, 2022
Tre madri, quattro figlie, quattro generazioni a confronto con un elemento in comune. La forza delle donne, la loro capacità di affrontare la vita tentando di dare il meglio di sé. Ogniuna con il suo bagaglio di esperienza e di segreti. Libro molto bello
July 21, 2022
Absolutely loved it. A very good read and very well written
July 9, 2024
Lovely family saga focusing on the strength of women and family.
November 8, 2024
Didn't enjoy this book as much as Ferns other books was a slow read for me
April 23, 2025
Lovely story - I really enjoyed this book!
August 2, 2022
I liked the concept of the story. It could have been really good but it was told too superficial and never went deep enough for me. Plus I never did gel with any of the characters.
February 24, 2024
Told in three timelines of three generations of Clara’s family. Present day Caroline is sent a trunk with belongings and secrets of her grandmother, Clara. The tales of the families history then unfolds. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
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