What do you think?
Rate this book
Helen and The Grandbees
'Breathtaking and moving' Awais Khan
'Authentic and tender' Carmel Harrington
Forgetting your past is one thing, but living with your present is entirely different.
Twenty years ago, Helen is forced to give up her newborn baby, Lily. Now living alone in her small flat, there is a knock at the door and her bee, her Lily, is standing in front of her.
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has questions. Lots of them. Questions that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew, the father of her daughter, to violent Kingsley who fathers her son.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most.
Told in Helen’s quirky voice Helen and the Grandbees addresses matters of identity, race and mental illness.
'Breathtaking and moving, Helen and the Grandbees is a novel that bravely explores themes of familial discord, race and love in modern Britain. It is a book that immediately gripped me, compelling me to keep turning the pages well into the night. Morrall writes with confidence, poise, and a sense of humour to match. At times heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a novel readers won't soon forget. A riveting debut.' Awais Khan, author of In the Company of Strangers
'Alex can write; she has a way, a bit like playwright Mike Leigh, of zooming into the tiniest, seemingly mundane physical details of a situation, and in so doing, conveying the complexity, circularity and pattern of relationship and emotion. There is a humanity and a realism about her writing that Is far from commonplace despite the fact that when you read about the people and situations in her storytelling, they are instantly recognisable. Helen and the Grandbees is unbearably sad but because Alex manages the seemingly impossible feat of introducing hope right from the start it is possible to read and read on, with curiosity and enjoyment.' Dr Kairen Cullen, Writer and Psychologist
'Authentic and tender' Carmel Harrington
Forgetting your past is one thing, but living with your present is entirely different.
Twenty years ago, Helen is forced to give up her newborn baby, Lily. Now living alone in her small flat, there is a knock at the door and her bee, her Lily, is standing in front of her.
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has questions. Lots of them. Questions that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew, the father of her daughter, to violent Kingsley who fathers her son.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most.
Told in Helen’s quirky voice Helen and the Grandbees addresses matters of identity, race and mental illness.
'Breathtaking and moving, Helen and the Grandbees is a novel that bravely explores themes of familial discord, race and love in modern Britain. It is a book that immediately gripped me, compelling me to keep turning the pages well into the night. Morrall writes with confidence, poise, and a sense of humour to match. At times heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a novel readers won't soon forget. A riveting debut.' Awais Khan, author of In the Company of Strangers
'Alex can write; she has a way, a bit like playwright Mike Leigh, of zooming into the tiniest, seemingly mundane physical details of a situation, and in so doing, conveying the complexity, circularity and pattern of relationship and emotion. There is a humanity and a realism about her writing that Is far from commonplace despite the fact that when you read about the people and situations in her storytelling, they are instantly recognisable. Helen and the Grandbees is unbearably sad but because Alex manages the seemingly impossible feat of introducing hope right from the start it is possible to read and read on, with curiosity and enjoyment.' Dr Kairen Cullen, Writer and Psychologist
301 pages, Paperback
Published October 28, 2020
About the author
Alex Morrall
8 books18 followersWriter and artist born in Birmingham but living in south east London. She writes about the complexities of society with warmth, empathy and a touch of humour in novels and poetry.
Alex is often ideally found on her bike, enjoying food or by the sea. I also food blog and you can follow me, watch videos and find out about new publications on https://alexmorrall.com
FREE DELETED SCENE, ‘Helen, Ruth and One Bee’ and sign up for updates on https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4tuuxw7ihs
‘Helen and the Grandbees’ is based in the deprived areas of Deptford, and is about the strength of family love overcoming the most intimidating of barriers.
Represented by Philippa Sitters at DGA
Favourite authors include: Helen Dunmore, William Boyd, Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, Curtis Sittenfield
Alex is often ideally found on her bike, enjoying food or by the sea. I also food blog and you can follow me, watch videos and find out about new publications on https://alexmorrall.com
FREE DELETED SCENE, ‘Helen, Ruth and One Bee’ and sign up for updates on https://dl.bookfunnel.com/4tuuxw7ihs
‘Helen and the Grandbees’ is based in the deprived areas of Deptford, and is about the strength of family love overcoming the most intimidating of barriers.
Represented by Philippa Sitters at DGA
Favourite authors include: Helen Dunmore, William Boyd, Elizabeth Strout, Ann Patchett, Curtis Sittenfield
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 27, 2020
I'm obviously biased, as Alex is my daughter, but this is a book that I have enjoyed enormously and would like to share with others. It confronts hard truths about the world we live in while at the same time shows deep compassion for those people who live on the margins of our society, the shadows we so easily walk past. The strength of the writing, which explores the complexities of Helen's experiences by drifting in and out of the past, is that the reader gains insight into the world of the forgotten and the invisible, discovering on the way that it can also be a world of hope. The overall message is an upbeat one, that everyone, from every background, can form relationships, make friends and create a life of individuality and fulfillment.
October 28, 2020
Helen and the Grandbees is Alex Morall’s debut novel and is a warm, uplifting and simultaneously moving and heart-wrenching read, which is perfect to curl up with on a chilly Autumn evening. Among the subjects it addresses are familial relationships, abuse, trauma/PTSD, duty of care, sacrifice, love, self-destruction and mental health issues. Helen has had a tough life. Leaving home merely a teenager due to the mental anguish associated with abuse, the constant anxiety of being around an abuser and walking on eggshells likely contributed to her mental decline. Things didn't get any better after leaving, though, as along came a whole new set of issues adding to the strain on her mental health. She inadvertently and unexpectedly falls pregnant and nine short months later gives birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl she calls Lily. But despite trying her utmost to care for her newborn, when she begins to lose her grip on reality, she is forced to relinquish her parental rights and sadly Lily is put up for adoption.
Two decades later, Ingrid (formerly Lily) is reunited with her birth mother and is building a family of her own: her and seemingly dutiful husband, Andrew, are awaiting the birth of their firstborn; everything seems every inch as perfect as it should be. That is, until Helen discovers Ingrid is planning a divorce and not for the usual reasons. This sets off Helen's alarms bells but she doesn't wish to say or do anything to throw their fragile, young-lived relationship off track and risk losing contact with her grandchild, Aisha. Can Helen provide the missing piece Ingrid craves or is trauma from her past too great to overcome? This is an moving, emotionally-resonant tale based in the deprived areas of Deptford, and is, at its heart, about the strength of family love overcoming the most intimidating of barriers. Lyrically written, this is such a captivating novel and an unforgettable debut. Morall is definitely a writer to watch. Highly recommended to those who enjoy uplifting women’s fiction. Many thanks to Legend for an ARC.
Two decades later, Ingrid (formerly Lily) is reunited with her birth mother and is building a family of her own: her and seemingly dutiful husband, Andrew, are awaiting the birth of their firstborn; everything seems every inch as perfect as it should be. That is, until Helen discovers Ingrid is planning a divorce and not for the usual reasons. This sets off Helen's alarms bells but she doesn't wish to say or do anything to throw their fragile, young-lived relationship off track and risk losing contact with her grandchild, Aisha. Can Helen provide the missing piece Ingrid craves or is trauma from her past too great to overcome? This is an moving, emotionally-resonant tale based in the deprived areas of Deptford, and is, at its heart, about the strength of family love overcoming the most intimidating of barriers. Lyrically written, this is such a captivating novel and an unforgettable debut. Morall is definitely a writer to watch. Highly recommended to those who enjoy uplifting women’s fiction. Many thanks to Legend for an ARC.
November 17, 2020
Helen And The Grandbees is nothing like I expected! Nothing! In the best way possible.
I find it so hard to believe this is a debut because Alex Morrall's writing is stunning.
The story follows Helen and her life as she
finds her way back to her daughter, The daughter that was adopted because Helen, was young and experiencing deep trauma that nobody knew about. Its about love and doing whatever you can to protect those you care about, its about forgiveness and learning to forgive yourself as well as others.
Its about healing and learning to trust again.
I'm writing this review with tears rolling down my face so forgive me if it doesn't make much sense but this book really got to me. It really touched something inside that's super personal and I think that was how real to life Helen deals with trauma, she's relatable and Alex has done an amazing job of writing her character and showing her vulnerabilities.
There's so much to unpack in this novel and it covers a lot of issues from race, mental health, abuse, domestic violence and its done with sensitivity and compassion but I think the thing that really makes it personal for me is its not over dramatised or romanticised it felt so real and raw.
I loved the characters in this book my heart lies with Helen but I also felt so much empathy for Lily/Ingrid and the struggle with not knowing where you come from, your true heritage. I didn't always agree with her choices but then I know how hard it can be to make the right choices when you haven't had the best start in life so I related to her in a lot of ways.
If I could rate this book a hundred stars I would. I want to thank Alex for writing this very special book. It touched me more than you could ever know. I apologise for the rambling review.
I hope this book soars because it truly deserves too!
I find it so hard to believe this is a debut because Alex Morrall's writing is stunning.
The story follows Helen and her life as she
finds her way back to her daughter, The daughter that was adopted because Helen, was young and experiencing deep trauma that nobody knew about. Its about love and doing whatever you can to protect those you care about, its about forgiveness and learning to forgive yourself as well as others.
Its about healing and learning to trust again.
I'm writing this review with tears rolling down my face so forgive me if it doesn't make much sense but this book really got to me. It really touched something inside that's super personal and I think that was how real to life Helen deals with trauma, she's relatable and Alex has done an amazing job of writing her character and showing her vulnerabilities.
There's so much to unpack in this novel and it covers a lot of issues from race, mental health, abuse, domestic violence and its done with sensitivity and compassion but I think the thing that really makes it personal for me is its not over dramatised or romanticised it felt so real and raw.
I loved the characters in this book my heart lies with Helen but I also felt so much empathy for Lily/Ingrid and the struggle with not knowing where you come from, your true heritage. I didn't always agree with her choices but then I know how hard it can be to make the right choices when you haven't had the best start in life so I related to her in a lot of ways.
If I could rate this book a hundred stars I would. I want to thank Alex for writing this very special book. It touched me more than you could ever know. I apologise for the rambling review.
I hope this book soars because it truly deserves too!
November 26, 2020
Honesty, help and hope are three themes of this spirited contemporary novel of the experience of parenthood. Helen’s story can be seen as one of desperation, lack of control and struggle, but also the conviction that something can be done for the woman she calls her bee, and her two grandbees. Indeed, names are important in this vivid novel of domestic interiors and memories. Helen is not called “mother” or “mum” by her daughter, and she struggles to refer to the person she called Lily is now determined to be Ingrid. Helen begins with the claustrophobia of family life as she reflects on her relationship with her parents, which moves onto the feeling of control over her environment as she lives in a completely clean flat. What has happened to her in the past, what is happening to her in the present and what she imagines will happen in the future is always seen in relation to others, their moods and abilities. This is a novel which seeks to convey the intensity of feeling in one woman’s life, even if she seeks to be self effacing. Plaintive, yearning and questioning, this writer is able to convey so much in small descriptions of setting and behaviour, it is a successful book of a woman’s life. I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this effective novel.
This novel records something of a girl’s desperation to leave her family home, which is transfigured by emotion. As she runs away, she is surprised by a baby, which leads to her understandable confusion and resolve to keep the flat clean without her bee, who she has called Lily. An empty time of dreams and memories ends when Lily/ Ingrid turns up out of the blue, full of facts about her adoptive parents, somewhat heedless of the effects of her words on Helen, as she takes in the shabby, lonely conditions in which she lives. As the novel proceeds it becomes obvious that Lily is demanding, perhaps unaware of what she already has in her life. Helen’s aware of her fragility and her unwillingness to reveal much of her past, which she comes to realise means that Lily will be angry with her. She is surprised at the strength of the protectiveness that she feels for Lily, her helplessness in the face of this woman who she only meets as an adult, seemingly making decisions that she cannot understand. That are times when Helen recognises that she is happy, content to what she is allowed to do, but always there is the nagging fear that her bee, and her grandbees, will go away from her.
The author has made a wonderful job of creating the character of Helen with all her insecurities but also her bravery in confronting what she thinks she must do to protect others. I also thought that her depiction of the teenage Aisha is well handled in the context of challenging relationships, especially in echoing some of the fears that Helen has experienced. This book handles realistically the problems of relationships defined by passing comments, facial expressions and unsaid questions. It is a book full of insight, and compassion, and I recommend this deeply personal novel.
This novel records something of a girl’s desperation to leave her family home, which is transfigured by emotion. As she runs away, she is surprised by a baby, which leads to her understandable confusion and resolve to keep the flat clean without her bee, who she has called Lily. An empty time of dreams and memories ends when Lily/ Ingrid turns up out of the blue, full of facts about her adoptive parents, somewhat heedless of the effects of her words on Helen, as she takes in the shabby, lonely conditions in which she lives. As the novel proceeds it becomes obvious that Lily is demanding, perhaps unaware of what she already has in her life. Helen’s aware of her fragility and her unwillingness to reveal much of her past, which she comes to realise means that Lily will be angry with her. She is surprised at the strength of the protectiveness that she feels for Lily, her helplessness in the face of this woman who she only meets as an adult, seemingly making decisions that she cannot understand. That are times when Helen recognises that she is happy, content to what she is allowed to do, but always there is the nagging fear that her bee, and her grandbees, will go away from her.
The author has made a wonderful job of creating the character of Helen with all her insecurities but also her bravery in confronting what she thinks she must do to protect others. I also thought that her depiction of the teenage Aisha is well handled in the context of challenging relationships, especially in echoing some of the fears that Helen has experienced. This book handles realistically the problems of relationships defined by passing comments, facial expressions and unsaid questions. It is a book full of insight, and compassion, and I recommend this deeply personal novel.
November 17, 2020
3.5 ⭐
Helen and The Grandbees at its core, is a heart-wrenching and deeply resonant story. One in which we see the desperate attempts of a woman from Deptford plagued by the traumatic memories of her childhood and the loss of her daughter to social services, intricately piece together a life worth living. The story is told mainly through a stream of consciousness narration with little dialogue; an effective method of portraying the multitudinous thoughts of characters and in this instance, the impact of unresolved trauma on mental health. This narrative method affords the readers a deeper connection with the characters; almost like a fly on the wall of their mind, gaining a nuanced understanding of their psychological state and world view.
The story is about many things; families falling apart and together again, learning not only how to give but also receive love, and the importance of leading with empathy and compassion when supporting people struggling with their mental health. I grew to love and care for Helen and found her efforts to protect her family, not only brave but admirable. Within all the sadness and struggles of life, she was the constant source of hope and courage — the epitome of resilience and unwavering strength, especially for her grandchildren. I found Lily (Ingrid) to be the most complex and flawed character. Harbouring a deep desire to understand her roots and heritage but facing resistance from her mother, Helen, Lily seeks to belong elsewhere. In an attempt to plant her own familial roots, she hops from one relationship to another, hoping that one will eventually feel like home. Although her actions were questionable at times, and I found myself frustrated with her choices, I thought she was a realistic portrayal of a troubled woman, struggling to find peace within herself.
Morrall has written an incredibly realistic story, with characters that you grow to like and love and maybe even dislike at times, but by the end, you wish them all the very best and hope that life is a little kinder to them.
Helen and The Grandbees at its core, is a heart-wrenching and deeply resonant story. One in which we see the desperate attempts of a woman from Deptford plagued by the traumatic memories of her childhood and the loss of her daughter to social services, intricately piece together a life worth living. The story is told mainly through a stream of consciousness narration with little dialogue; an effective method of portraying the multitudinous thoughts of characters and in this instance, the impact of unresolved trauma on mental health. This narrative method affords the readers a deeper connection with the characters; almost like a fly on the wall of their mind, gaining a nuanced understanding of their psychological state and world view.
The story is about many things; families falling apart and together again, learning not only how to give but also receive love, and the importance of leading with empathy and compassion when supporting people struggling with their mental health. I grew to love and care for Helen and found her efforts to protect her family, not only brave but admirable. Within all the sadness and struggles of life, she was the constant source of hope and courage — the epitome of resilience and unwavering strength, especially for her grandchildren. I found Lily (Ingrid) to be the most complex and flawed character. Harbouring a deep desire to understand her roots and heritage but facing resistance from her mother, Helen, Lily seeks to belong elsewhere. In an attempt to plant her own familial roots, she hops from one relationship to another, hoping that one will eventually feel like home. Although her actions were questionable at times, and I found myself frustrated with her choices, I thought she was a realistic portrayal of a troubled woman, struggling to find peace within herself.
Morrall has written an incredibly realistic story, with characters that you grow to like and love and maybe even dislike at times, but by the end, you wish them all the very best and hope that life is a little kinder to them.
November 13, 2020
Oh my goodness, Helen and the Grandbees is such an emotive book that touches on some hard-hitting subjects with sensitivity and grace. Alex Morrall has created such a wonderful character in Helen and she has wedged herself so firmly in my heart that I will never forget her.
Helen's quirky voice is apparent from the very first page and it is clear from the prologue that we are in for a heart-wrenching story. It seems at times that Helen is stuck in her little girl body; she is still innocent and almost childlike in a way, despite the awful things that have happened to her. Helen learnt about the birds and bees the hard way but the worst thing for Helen was having to give up her little bee, Lily. Twenty years pass before Lily comes back to Helen in search of her heritage.
Now named Ingrid, Lily wants answers that Helen can't give her. Helen won't divulge any details of Lily's father or even Helen's own parents and Lily is understandably upset and frustrated with Helen. It was heartbreaking to see how this affected Lily's fledgling relationship with Helen and Lily was so self-centred that she couldn't see what damage was being done to Helen by dredging up the past.
Alex Morrall’s writing is absolutely beautiful and Helen and the Grandbees is a stunning debut. There are some difficult subjects touched upon which give the story a dark undercurrent but Helen's quirky voice, and indeed her strength, make it such an uplifting and hopeful read. I loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Thank you to Legend Press for my gifted copy; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Helen's quirky voice is apparent from the very first page and it is clear from the prologue that we are in for a heart-wrenching story. It seems at times that Helen is stuck in her little girl body; she is still innocent and almost childlike in a way, despite the awful things that have happened to her. Helen learnt about the birds and bees the hard way but the worst thing for Helen was having to give up her little bee, Lily. Twenty years pass before Lily comes back to Helen in search of her heritage.
Now named Ingrid, Lily wants answers that Helen can't give her. Helen won't divulge any details of Lily's father or even Helen's own parents and Lily is understandably upset and frustrated with Helen. It was heartbreaking to see how this affected Lily's fledgling relationship with Helen and Lily was so self-centred that she couldn't see what damage was being done to Helen by dredging up the past.
Alex Morrall’s writing is absolutely beautiful and Helen and the Grandbees is a stunning debut. There are some difficult subjects touched upon which give the story a dark undercurrent but Helen's quirky voice, and indeed her strength, make it such an uplifting and hopeful read. I loved it and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Thank you to Legend Press for my gifted copy; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 24, 2020
An excellent story about mental illness and how deeply people will bury their past when they don't want to confront their trauma.
This book is narrated in this stream of consciousness style that so effectively shows the long lasting effects that this type of trauma can have on a person. It has a way of deeply connecting you to Helen right from the beginning, and you can really see her growth from the frightened girl who ran away from home into the brave woman doing everything she can to protect her grandchildren from her past.
There's no real plot twist, as its pretty easy to guess what happened to her even if she never says anything. I'm not sure if this was intentional or it was intended to be a 'twist' but it didn't really affect my enjoyment of the novel at all.
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
This book is narrated in this stream of consciousness style that so effectively shows the long lasting effects that this type of trauma can have on a person. It has a way of deeply connecting you to Helen right from the beginning, and you can really see her growth from the frightened girl who ran away from home into the brave woman doing everything she can to protect her grandchildren from her past.
There's no real plot twist, as its pretty easy to guess what happened to her even if she never says anything. I'm not sure if this was intentional or it was intended to be a 'twist' but it didn't really affect my enjoyment of the novel at all.
ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
January 3, 2021
4.5/5 star
Helen and the Grandbees is a tender, nuanced story that goes straight to the heart.
Helen had to give up her newborn baby as a teenager, and since then has been living alone in a tiny flat. One day she is visited by her twenty-year old daughter, her ‘bee’, who is desperate to know more about her heritage. But Helen thought that she had locked away her past, and while she is overjoyed to be reunited, feels helpless that she’s unable to give her daughter the answers she’s seeking. She watches her wilful daughter move from one relationship to the next, and when it’s obvious that her’grandebees’ (grandchildren)are in danger, then she realises that she has to intervene and therefore confront her deepest fears.
I love the quirky, endearing characterisation of Helen. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant or Ove then you’ll probably love this, but Helen is less prickly and more vulnerable, in my opinion. She has vivid red hair, her talisman is bright pink nail varnish “to be her home and help her think of pretty things”, she zones out of stressful situations by humming “Beep Beep Bop” to escape, and she’s immensely protective of her ‘bees’ (daughter and grandchildren).
This would make a perfect book club read as it sensitively explores many emotional issues: trauma, abusive relationships, adoption, social services, race, poverty, class and mental illness.
Thank you @legend_times for sending me this very satisfying and moving debut - highly recommended! #gifted
Helen and the Grandbees is a tender, nuanced story that goes straight to the heart.
Helen had to give up her newborn baby as a teenager, and since then has been living alone in a tiny flat. One day she is visited by her twenty-year old daughter, her ‘bee’, who is desperate to know more about her heritage. But Helen thought that she had locked away her past, and while she is overjoyed to be reunited, feels helpless that she’s unable to give her daughter the answers she’s seeking. She watches her wilful daughter move from one relationship to the next, and when it’s obvious that her’grandebees’ (grandchildren)are in danger, then she realises that she has to intervene and therefore confront her deepest fears.
I love the quirky, endearing characterisation of Helen. If you liked Eleanor Oliphant or Ove then you’ll probably love this, but Helen is less prickly and more vulnerable, in my opinion. She has vivid red hair, her talisman is bright pink nail varnish “to be her home and help her think of pretty things”, she zones out of stressful situations by humming “Beep Beep Bop” to escape, and she’s immensely protective of her ‘bees’ (daughter and grandchildren).
This would make a perfect book club read as it sensitively explores many emotional issues: trauma, abusive relationships, adoption, social services, race, poverty, class and mental illness.
Thank you @legend_times for sending me this very satisfying and moving debut - highly recommended! #gifted
January 6, 2021
I loved this debut novel by Alex Morrall! I found it sensitive and compassionate. Morrall writes about areas I am familiar with, places and people close to my heart and I found that she perfectly crystallised the area and the people. This novel deals with Issues of race, mental health and trauma survival. It is not a light-hearted book yet touching on these serious subjects does not feel heavy. The author, although not writing from her own personal circumstances, shows a real insight into others’ experiences with these issues.
I found the story compelling enough that by the end I was committed to these characters and not necessarily the ones I had originally thought I would identify with more. Which seems to have been the purpose, to be able to empathise with usually dislikeable or misunderstood personalities. In the end the reader is left edified and educated by hearing Helen’s story. I would definitely recommend this as a serious but not dispiriting read.
I found the story compelling enough that by the end I was committed to these characters and not necessarily the ones I had originally thought I would identify with more. Which seems to have been the purpose, to be able to empathise with usually dislikeable or misunderstood personalities. In the end the reader is left edified and educated by hearing Helen’s story. I would definitely recommend this as a serious but not dispiriting read.
November 1, 2020
Breathtaking and moving, Helen and the Grandbees is a novel that bravely explores themes of familial discord, race and love in modern Britain. It is a book that immediately gripped me, compelling me to keep turning the pages well into the night. Morrall writes with confidence, poise, and a sense of humour to match. At times heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a novel readers won't soon forget. A riveting debut.
November 7, 2020
For those who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, this touching story told from the perspective of an unorthodox female trying to navigate family and friendship is must read. I fell in love with Helen and her struggle to make sense of an unfair and confusing life. Both tender and uplifting, this was a lovely read.
September 8, 2022
Sensitively written story of Helen whose daughter was adopted as a baby and comes back as an adult. Issues of identity, mental health and abuse weave throughout but it remains an uplifting story of friendships and forgiveness
April 23, 2021
This is such a sensitive, emotional and tender novel. I loved Helen who had to give her baby up 20 years previously. When her Lily turns up on the doorstep it changes her life completely. Beautifully written and incredibly moving. It covers so many subjects in its 269pages. I didnt want to leave the world of the Grandbees. An excellent debut novel.
November 3, 2020
Oh! how I loved this book for the beautiful way in which it told the heartbreaking and painful story of Helen's life. It touches on many topical issues; trauma, mental health, abuse, adoption, racism and love.
Written from different character point of views, who each have their own chapter, the story moves between timelines, which are full of hard hitting truths and observations of their lives. I loved how Helen's story unfolded detailing an insight into her world.
A beautiful and empathetically written moving debut.
Written from different character point of views, who each have their own chapter, the story moves between timelines, which are full of hard hitting truths and observations of their lives. I loved how Helen's story unfolded detailing an insight into her world.
A beautiful and empathetically written moving debut.
November 15, 2020
This was such a unique and memorable read. I honestly couldn’t put it down.
Helen is a quirky character who has lived through some tough circumstances and awful situations - but her outlook on life is surprising. I found my heart breaking for Helen and fell in love with her instantly. In fact, all of the characters are memorable, some for good reasons, some for bad.
Helen’s story deals with mental illness and race identity in modern-day U.K. but above all Helen’s story revolves around her family and the extent to which she will go to protect them.
Morral’s talent with the pen is evident as she creates a heart-wrenching story of every day life which feels so real and genuine, and is one which will undoubtedly stay with me.
Helen is a quirky character who has lived through some tough circumstances and awful situations - but her outlook on life is surprising. I found my heart breaking for Helen and fell in love with her instantly. In fact, all of the characters are memorable, some for good reasons, some for bad.
Helen’s story deals with mental illness and race identity in modern-day U.K. but above all Helen’s story revolves around her family and the extent to which she will go to protect them.
Morral’s talent with the pen is evident as she creates a heart-wrenching story of every day life which feels so real and genuine, and is one which will undoubtedly stay with me.
October 9, 2020
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told alternately by the characters of the story, each with their own hopes, fears, anger, confusion and blind spots.
Helen, the tragic heroine. She left home as a teen and though her own telling, a lot of BAD things happened to her. We suspect, abuse coupled with mental illness. She is surprised to find one day that she has given birth to a beautiful baby girl, that she names Lily. Though she does her best, she is not able to care for her while reality sips from her fingers, and Lily is taken from her and put up for adoption. 20 years pass and suddenly Lilly in back in her life, now named Ingrid.
Ingrid/ Lily is pregnant and married to a wonderful man named Andrew. They seem to have a good life together when suddenly Ingrid decides that Andrew annoys her with his niceness, and she wants a divorce. Helen sees what is happening but is afraid of losing her tenuous contact with Ingrid and the baby, named Aisha, is helpless to prevent Ingrid from ruining her own life. Ingrid craves something from Helen, a missing piece of family that Helen can’t provide becuase her trauma is too great.
The lives of her Grand bees- what she calls her grandchildren is a different story. Though terrified, Helen will overcome a lot of her fears to protect them, at any cost.
Such the story goes as Helen, Ingrid, Aisha and others tell their stories, tugging on each other. The unfolding of the story and what happened to Helen kept me engaged. The story is full of heartbreaking relationships of mothers and daughters and how they disappoint each other all the while loving each other with everything they have. The story isnt a particularly happy one, with a lot of difficult subject matter covered, though it does have a happy ending. Recommend
This story is told alternately by the characters of the story, each with their own hopes, fears, anger, confusion and blind spots.
Helen, the tragic heroine. She left home as a teen and though her own telling, a lot of BAD things happened to her. We suspect, abuse coupled with mental illness. She is surprised to find one day that she has given birth to a beautiful baby girl, that she names Lily. Though she does her best, she is not able to care for her while reality sips from her fingers, and Lily is taken from her and put up for adoption. 20 years pass and suddenly Lilly in back in her life, now named Ingrid.
Ingrid/ Lily is pregnant and married to a wonderful man named Andrew. They seem to have a good life together when suddenly Ingrid decides that Andrew annoys her with his niceness, and she wants a divorce. Helen sees what is happening but is afraid of losing her tenuous contact with Ingrid and the baby, named Aisha, is helpless to prevent Ingrid from ruining her own life. Ingrid craves something from Helen, a missing piece of family that Helen can’t provide becuase her trauma is too great.
The lives of her Grand bees- what she calls her grandchildren is a different story. Though terrified, Helen will overcome a lot of her fears to protect them, at any cost.
Such the story goes as Helen, Ingrid, Aisha and others tell their stories, tugging on each other. The unfolding of the story and what happened to Helen kept me engaged. The story is full of heartbreaking relationships of mothers and daughters and how they disappoint each other all the while loving each other with everything they have. The story isnt a particularly happy one, with a lot of difficult subject matter covered, though it does have a happy ending. Recommend
Read
January 11, 2021Helen and the Grandbees 🐝 by Alex Morrall
This is one of the most unique books I’ve read in quite a while! Helen is an impressive and brave character who has faced some horrible things in her life, including abuse and mental illness. But she is persistent and still full of love. Her passion for her daughter (nicknamed bee) and grandkids (Grandbees 😉) is powerful. This is the story of Helen and her relationships with her neighbours, family members and how she views the world. It deals with mental illness, race, family and identity.
I loved reading her perspective on life, and also getting snippets of thoughts from the other characters. It is a thought provoking story. It makes you think of how often people judge others and how you never know what someone else is going through. I appreciated how lasting and how forgiving the love in this story is. It shows the power of friendship and a good laugh against all the bad things in the world.
Thank you @netgalley and Legend Press for my advance copy! Helen and the Grandbees is out this week on October 28th.
#helenandthegrandbees #alexmorrall #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #kindle #kindlebooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammer #arc #netgalley #legendpress #loveofreading #fiction #booksofinstagram
This is one of the most unique books I’ve read in quite a while! Helen is an impressive and brave character who has faced some horrible things in her life, including abuse and mental illness. But she is persistent and still full of love. Her passion for her daughter (nicknamed bee) and grandkids (Grandbees 😉) is powerful. This is the story of Helen and her relationships with her neighbours, family members and how she views the world. It deals with mental illness, race, family and identity.
I loved reading her perspective on life, and also getting snippets of thoughts from the other characters. It is a thought provoking story. It makes you think of how often people judge others and how you never know what someone else is going through. I appreciated how lasting and how forgiving the love in this story is. It shows the power of friendship and a good laugh against all the bad things in the world.
Thank you @netgalley and Legend Press for my advance copy! Helen and the Grandbees is out this week on October 28th.
#helenandthegrandbees #alexmorrall #bookreviews #bookrecommendations #kindle #kindlebooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #canadianbookstagrammer #arc #netgalley #legendpress #loveofreading #fiction #booksofinstagram
November 7, 2021
Surprisingly good
I like a good ending, and this one was perfect. Even though the story is about horrible things that hapenned, it is still written in a way that does not leave us frustrated and angry but hopeful.
I like a good ending, and this one was perfect. Even though the story is about horrible things that hapenned, it is still written in a way that does not leave us frustrated and angry but hopeful.
November 22, 2020
November 17, 2020 – Helen and the Grandbees by Alex Morrall (NetGalley)
Social services took away Lily – Helen’s child/her “bee” – because she was unable to properly care for her: “The System took her to ‘Better parents, older parents, ones with a similar ethnic background’.” Twenty years later, Lily (now known as Ingrid) arrives at Helen’s door. Slowly, the two build a relationship, though strains develop when Lily wants information about her father and grandparents, information Helen refuses to share. Helen loves her grandchildren Aisha and Ryan, her grandbees, and when Lily’s choices put them in danger, Helen has to confront her past to protect them.
Helen is a unique narrator. Trauma in her past has left her mentally fragile; she has spent time not in the hospital but “in the other building. The one next door. The mental ward.” Slowly it emerges that she requires sleeping pills, anti-anxiety drugs, and antidepressants. Because of events in her childhood and adolescence, she suffers from post-traumatic stress. To cope, she has tried to bury her past but when Lily keeps prodding for information, Helen becomes severely anxious. To complicate her situation, Helen knows that she may lose Lily once again if she doesn’t give her what she wants.
Because Helen is the narrator, what happened to her in the past is not directly mentioned. It is not difficult, however, to determine what occurred. Sufficient information is revealed by her fragmented memories, nightmares, and triggers. Only to Lily does the truth not seem to be obvious, but then she doesn’t ever directly ask why Helen doesn’t want to talk about her family. It is to Aisha that Helen says, “’Maybe I don’t tell you because I love you?’”
Whereas Helen is endearing, I found Lily difficult to like. Constantly discontented, she moves from one relationship to another. She divorces her first husband because she becomes bored with him! I became increasingly frustrated with her choices, especially when they obviously impact her son and daughter. She is so selfish and self-centred that she cannot see the effect her constant questions have on her mother. She puts her need to know ahead of any concerns about why her mother might not want to discuss Lily’s heritage. Helen perhaps has more understanding of Lily’s behaviour: “maybe my secrets are what gives Lily-Bee the discontent, because she is looking for something I cannot tell her. She is looking for something that I cannot solve for her, so she looks in other places to find the things I cannot give her. She turns to the arms of different men so that she knows where she is going, even if she doesn’t know where she comes from.”
The novel touches on a number of difficult subjects, but all are treated sensitively. For me, it is the portrayal of mental illness that stands out. Helen has all the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and because she hasn’t received help and support, she sees her life as “a broken-up jigsaw, no roots, no branches, no sky, no ground, no horizon, but the blankness never went away.” She tries to cope as best she can, trying to live a better life. She believes Lily was taken away because Helen wasn’t able to keep her home clean so now she obsesses about cleanliness. Her capacity for love is such that it leaves Lilly confused and admitting, “I really don’t know what to do with all that love.”
The theme is that love can overcome fear. Helen must face her worst fears in order to protect her grandchildren from danger. In the process, she also helps herself; she thinks “the pieces of my life [are] almost forming a complete whole. I have started to see the picture that is my broken jigsaw, and there are only a few more pieces to add here and there.”
This novel has a dynamic protagonist whom the reader will come to admire; it thoughtfully examines mental illness; it has an uplifting message; and it is written in a captivating style. There is much to recommend and little to criticize.
Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
Social services took away Lily – Helen’s child/her “bee” – because she was unable to properly care for her: “The System took her to ‘Better parents, older parents, ones with a similar ethnic background’.” Twenty years later, Lily (now known as Ingrid) arrives at Helen’s door. Slowly, the two build a relationship, though strains develop when Lily wants information about her father and grandparents, information Helen refuses to share. Helen loves her grandchildren Aisha and Ryan, her grandbees, and when Lily’s choices put them in danger, Helen has to confront her past to protect them.
Helen is a unique narrator. Trauma in her past has left her mentally fragile; she has spent time not in the hospital but “in the other building. The one next door. The mental ward.” Slowly it emerges that she requires sleeping pills, anti-anxiety drugs, and antidepressants. Because of events in her childhood and adolescence, she suffers from post-traumatic stress. To cope, she has tried to bury her past but when Lily keeps prodding for information, Helen becomes severely anxious. To complicate her situation, Helen knows that she may lose Lily once again if she doesn’t give her what she wants.
Because Helen is the narrator, what happened to her in the past is not directly mentioned. It is not difficult, however, to determine what occurred. Sufficient information is revealed by her fragmented memories, nightmares, and triggers. Only to Lily does the truth not seem to be obvious, but then she doesn’t ever directly ask why Helen doesn’t want to talk about her family. It is to Aisha that Helen says, “’Maybe I don’t tell you because I love you?’”
Whereas Helen is endearing, I found Lily difficult to like. Constantly discontented, she moves from one relationship to another. She divorces her first husband because she becomes bored with him! I became increasingly frustrated with her choices, especially when they obviously impact her son and daughter. She is so selfish and self-centred that she cannot see the effect her constant questions have on her mother. She puts her need to know ahead of any concerns about why her mother might not want to discuss Lily’s heritage. Helen perhaps has more understanding of Lily’s behaviour: “maybe my secrets are what gives Lily-Bee the discontent, because she is looking for something I cannot tell her. She is looking for something that I cannot solve for her, so she looks in other places to find the things I cannot give her. She turns to the arms of different men so that she knows where she is going, even if she doesn’t know where she comes from.”
The novel touches on a number of difficult subjects, but all are treated sensitively. For me, it is the portrayal of mental illness that stands out. Helen has all the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and because she hasn’t received help and support, she sees her life as “a broken-up jigsaw, no roots, no branches, no sky, no ground, no horizon, but the blankness never went away.” She tries to cope as best she can, trying to live a better life. She believes Lily was taken away because Helen wasn’t able to keep her home clean so now she obsesses about cleanliness. Her capacity for love is such that it leaves Lilly confused and admitting, “I really don’t know what to do with all that love.”
The theme is that love can overcome fear. Helen must face her worst fears in order to protect her grandchildren from danger. In the process, she also helps herself; she thinks “the pieces of my life [are] almost forming a complete whole. I have started to see the picture that is my broken jigsaw, and there are only a few more pieces to add here and there.”
This novel has a dynamic protagonist whom the reader will come to admire; it thoughtfully examines mental illness; it has an uplifting message; and it is written in a captivating style. There is much to recommend and little to criticize.
Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.
Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).
November 12, 2020
Oh my, Alex Morrall what have you done? I could not put this book down, so involved did I become with Helen, your wonderful character.
This poor woman who ran away from home, who had her baby taken away and then had to watch her daughter almost self destruct as she and her grandchildren watched on. Alone in her flat we read as Helen had to fight her inner demons and make sense of a world she had shut herself away from.
The tenderness and emotion Morrall infused was remarkable, the way in which she entered Helen’s mind, so full of anxiety and traumatic events so long locked away was, for me the outstanding feature.
You didn’t know what Helen had runaway from, nor the story behind her pregnancy, but Morrall left us hints, suggestions that left you in no doubt it was the reason for so much of her mental illness. For her daughter, Ingrid, it was a problem as she niggled, probed Helen further and further to know who she was, where she was from. This is where I became a little conflicted. on the one hand you almost felt Ingrid had a right to know and you empathised with her, felt her frustration, her need to feel that she belonged somewhere. Flip to the other side and all I saw was Ingrid’s selfishness, her lack of respect and disregard for Helen and her feelings.
What about Helen herself? You knew she hid from her past to protect herself, frightened that if she looked back, let the barriers down, she would plunge into a deep dark chasm never able to emerge. It was the only way she could think of that would protect her daughter, the truth too painful and not something she felt her daughter would be proud of, or may even blame Helen for whatever occurred.
If Helen’s relationship with her daughter was filled with trepidation, her grandchildren, Aisha and Ryan were her saving grace. You read as she poured all her love and energy into them, and love and protection that she was never able to offer Ingrid. I found it so heartwarming as it pushed Helen’s boundaries, forced her to confront real life that she had so long she ran away from.
You knew it wouldn’t all be smooth sailing, that events would conspire against Helen and Morrall didn’t hold back, didn’t shy away from the sheer wretchedness of mental illness. In some respects it was brutal, and one particularly scene will stay with me for a longtime as Morrall’s narrative perfectly portrayed Helen’s sheer agony and utter despair.
I wanted Helen to find that inner strength to fight back, to be able to move forward and the truth when it emerged somehow wasn’t a shock but what you had guessed all along. The truth was important, but I don’t think that was Morrall’s real point in her narrative, her story. Her concern, her point was the devastation an event, an action can have throughout a persons life, the consequences for future relationships, but also the glimmers of hope and the ability to move on is in everyone of us.
To say that Morrall had done this well would be an understatement, the novel, for me, was superb and I was in awe of her skill and ability.
This poor woman who ran away from home, who had her baby taken away and then had to watch her daughter almost self destruct as she and her grandchildren watched on. Alone in her flat we read as Helen had to fight her inner demons and make sense of a world she had shut herself away from.
The tenderness and emotion Morrall infused was remarkable, the way in which she entered Helen’s mind, so full of anxiety and traumatic events so long locked away was, for me the outstanding feature.
You didn’t know what Helen had runaway from, nor the story behind her pregnancy, but Morrall left us hints, suggestions that left you in no doubt it was the reason for so much of her mental illness. For her daughter, Ingrid, it was a problem as she niggled, probed Helen further and further to know who she was, where she was from. This is where I became a little conflicted. on the one hand you almost felt Ingrid had a right to know and you empathised with her, felt her frustration, her need to feel that she belonged somewhere. Flip to the other side and all I saw was Ingrid’s selfishness, her lack of respect and disregard for Helen and her feelings.
What about Helen herself? You knew she hid from her past to protect herself, frightened that if she looked back, let the barriers down, she would plunge into a deep dark chasm never able to emerge. It was the only way she could think of that would protect her daughter, the truth too painful and not something she felt her daughter would be proud of, or may even blame Helen for whatever occurred.
If Helen’s relationship with her daughter was filled with trepidation, her grandchildren, Aisha and Ryan were her saving grace. You read as she poured all her love and energy into them, and love and protection that she was never able to offer Ingrid. I found it so heartwarming as it pushed Helen’s boundaries, forced her to confront real life that she had so long she ran away from.
You knew it wouldn’t all be smooth sailing, that events would conspire against Helen and Morrall didn’t hold back, didn’t shy away from the sheer wretchedness of mental illness. In some respects it was brutal, and one particularly scene will stay with me for a longtime as Morrall’s narrative perfectly portrayed Helen’s sheer agony and utter despair.
I wanted Helen to find that inner strength to fight back, to be able to move forward and the truth when it emerged somehow wasn’t a shock but what you had guessed all along. The truth was important, but I don’t think that was Morrall’s real point in her narrative, her story. Her concern, her point was the devastation an event, an action can have throughout a persons life, the consequences for future relationships, but also the glimmers of hope and the ability to move on is in everyone of us.
To say that Morrall had done this well would be an understatement, the novel, for me, was superb and I was in awe of her skill and ability.
October 29, 2020
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐬 by @alexmorrall_author_art
On the book tour with @legend_times
⭐⭐⭐⭐
An unforgettable novel of a deeply traumatic storyline written in a truly beautiful way. I have adored reading this book, don't get me wrong the storyline isn't beautiful it's heartbreaking. The lives of mother and daughter pieced together to show unconditional love buried deep in all its glory.
Each of the characters are equally given their own quirky existence, allowed to project their own stories, without taking the limelight off of the main character Helen. I loved the writing style Alex has created, the chapters for each character & the first person speaking. This is a story of strength and courage, and a character i really grew fond of.
"20 years ago, Helen is forced to give up her newborn baby, Lily. Now living alone in her small flat, there is a knock at the door and her bee, her Lily, is standing in front of her.
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has a lot of questions, that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew to violent Kingsley.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most"
On the book tour with @legend_times
⭐⭐⭐⭐
An unforgettable novel of a deeply traumatic storyline written in a truly beautiful way. I have adored reading this book, don't get me wrong the storyline isn't beautiful it's heartbreaking. The lives of mother and daughter pieced together to show unconditional love buried deep in all its glory.
Each of the characters are equally given their own quirky existence, allowed to project their own stories, without taking the limelight off of the main character Helen. I loved the writing style Alex has created, the chapters for each character & the first person speaking. This is a story of strength and courage, and a character i really grew fond of.
"20 years ago, Helen is forced to give up her newborn baby, Lily. Now living alone in her small flat, there is a knock at the door and her bee, her Lily, is standing in front of her.
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has a lot of questions, that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew to violent Kingsley.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most"
May 20, 2021
Twenty years ago, Helen is forced to give up her newborn baby, Lily. Now living alone in her small flat, there is a knock at the door and her bee, her Lily, is standing in front of her.
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has questions. Lots of them. Questions that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew, the father of her daughter, to violent Kingsley who fathers her son.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most.
Told in Helen’s quirky voice Helen and the Grandbees addresses matters of identity, race and mental illness
A debut novel, this book addresses some very difficult subjects, but with the utmost compassion. As a reader, you get a glimpse into the world of those we usually forget. The people we walk past, and pretend we do not see, those that live on the edge, in the margins, those who struggle more than most.
This book is about finding yourself, about love and compassion, forgiveness, understanding. What a wonderful read!
Thank you to Legend Press & Netgalley for this ARC
Reuniting means the world to them both, but Lily has questions. Lots of them. Questions that Helen is unwilling to answer. In turn Helen watches helplessly as her headstrong daughter launches from relationship to relationship, from kind Andrew, the father of her daughter, to violent Kingsley who fathers her son.
When it’s clear her grandbees are in danger, tangled up in her daughter’s damaging relationship, Helen must find the courage to step in, confronting the fears that haunt her the most.
Told in Helen’s quirky voice Helen and the Grandbees addresses matters of identity, race and mental illness
A debut novel, this book addresses some very difficult subjects, but with the utmost compassion. As a reader, you get a glimpse into the world of those we usually forget. The people we walk past, and pretend we do not see, those that live on the edge, in the margins, those who struggle more than most.
This book is about finding yourself, about love and compassion, forgiveness, understanding. What a wonderful read!
Thank you to Legend Press & Netgalley for this ARC
August 14, 2022
THIS BOOK BROKE ME IN HALF 😭 It was such a bittersweet and heart-clenching story. It follows Helen who grows up in a broken family and tries to break that cycle when she has a family of her own. I really just wanted to jump in the book and give Helen a hug.. 🥺
I really enjoyed Morrall’s writing style and her seamless ‘jumps’ in time that all flawlessly circles back. I loved how great Morrall was at discussing topics with the perfect depth and her understanding of how much to talk about something because it then became all the more powerful and emotional when some things were left unexplored and unsaid (in the best ways possible). The section titles were also just so perfect!
I was soooo hooked onto every single character, there was not one in this book that felt out of place! It’s an extremely tragic story and I’ll definitely remember it for a long time.
A lot of very intense triggers though so do the research you need to before diving into this one. With that said, I do think that so many of the heavy topics in this book is dealt with extreme sensitivity and thought. All in all, I am so impressed with Morrall’s writing, flair and observant eye. It was truly gorgeous.
I really enjoyed Morrall’s writing style and her seamless ‘jumps’ in time that all flawlessly circles back. I loved how great Morrall was at discussing topics with the perfect depth and her understanding of how much to talk about something because it then became all the more powerful and emotional when some things were left unexplored and unsaid (in the best ways possible). The section titles were also just so perfect!
I was soooo hooked onto every single character, there was not one in this book that felt out of place! It’s an extremely tragic story and I’ll definitely remember it for a long time.
A lot of very intense triggers though so do the research you need to before diving into this one. With that said, I do think that so many of the heavy topics in this book is dealt with extreme sensitivity and thought. All in all, I am so impressed with Morrall’s writing, flair and observant eye. It was truly gorgeous.
March 24, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley & Legend Press for this ARC.
If you read and enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, this one is definitely for you. A beautifully written uplifting narrative that touches on race, trauma, mental health and family in a sensitive and honest way.
Helen, the protagonist, is such a wonderfully constructed character. I felt all her eccentricities, quirks, anxieties, emotions and confusion. Her matter of fact nature and slightly unconventional way of thinking filled me with joy.
I also loved Aisha - the tumultuous rollercoaster of teenagers captured perfectly, without detracting from or downplaying the very real emotion and trauma.
Not quite a five star for me, as I felt like the exposition around Helen’s childhood was a bit too obvious and revealed too early on (I would have liked to have kept guessing) and I wasn’t keen on Lilingrid as a character. I think she feels a bit too one dimensional for a pivotal character.
But overall a really strong debut. Really enjoyable.
If you read and enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, this one is definitely for you. A beautifully written uplifting narrative that touches on race, trauma, mental health and family in a sensitive and honest way.
Helen, the protagonist, is such a wonderfully constructed character. I felt all her eccentricities, quirks, anxieties, emotions and confusion. Her matter of fact nature and slightly unconventional way of thinking filled me with joy.
I also loved Aisha - the tumultuous rollercoaster of teenagers captured perfectly, without detracting from or downplaying the very real emotion and trauma.
Not quite a five star for me, as I felt like the exposition around Helen’s childhood was a bit too obvious and revealed too early on (I would have liked to have kept guessing) and I wasn’t keen on Lilingrid as a character. I think she feels a bit too one dimensional for a pivotal character.
But overall a really strong debut. Really enjoyable.
January 13, 2021
This book touched on all the feels and has many triggers including mental illness, incest, rape, domestic violence, and child abuse. Our protagonist, Helen Kennedy, had her infant removed from her care. Twenty years later, her daughter knocks on her door. Throughout the book, Helen grapples with her past and present. While the storyline was difficult to follow at times, overcoming the past helps Helen work through her demons to protect her grandbees while also coming to terms with her daughter's "need to know" her own heritage. Truly emotional. Thank you, Netgalley, author Alex Morrall, and Legend Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. 3.5 Stars
October 26, 2020
Twenty years after Helen's baby is taken from her, her daughter Lily, her "bee," comes back looking for answers about her heritage, answers that Helen can't give her. Their relationship is strained through the years as Lily progresses through various relationships and has children of her own, while still wanting answers and becoming more discontent with her life and her relationship with Helen, leading eventually to Helen believing her grandbees are in danger and needing the courage to do what is right for them. It was a really good book. I loved Helen. 4.5 stars rounded to 4.
November 18, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a slow burn for me. Not enough that I wanted to put it down, but slower than I usually read. That being said, I'm not upset I read it. It deals with some important issues (incest, rape, domestic violence, and mental illness) and the characters were realistic. At first I didn't realize the mental illness that Helen copes with so reading about her past with her Beep Beep Bop made me slightly crazy. But it all made sense. I also want to add that the ending was wrapped up a little too neatly but we all need happy endings some times don't we?
This was a slow burn for me. Not enough that I wanted to put it down, but slower than I usually read. That being said, I'm not upset I read it. It deals with some important issues (incest, rape, domestic violence, and mental illness) and the characters were realistic. At first I didn't realize the mental illness that Helen copes with so reading about her past with her Beep Beep Bop made me slightly crazy. But it all made sense. I also want to add that the ending was wrapped up a little too neatly but we all need happy endings some times don't we?
October 27, 2023
A lovely story of Helen who became pregnant at a young age and because she couldn't cope with the baby she was taken away from her. Helen progresses in life and her daughter when grown comes to visit her. Helen becomes involved in her daughter's life and her two grandchildren. It shows of a great love, a recollection of past wrongs and how the family survives being together.
A good read and sad to think this can really happen.
A good read and sad to think this can really happen.
November 7, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 4.5 Some books are just so well written and tackle mental health along side a truly fantastic story, and this is one of them. I love Helen. I cannot tell you how much. I fell in love with her. This is a remarkably written book and follows the journey of Helen and Lily across their lives. I couldn't put it down. Thank you @legend_times for my #gifted copy.
October 30, 2020
addresses complex issues of race and identity within a compassionate portrayal of trauma-induced mental health difficulties. https://annegoodwin.weebly.com/1/post...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews