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The Legacy
A death in the family rarely brings out the best in people - even the deceased.
Jonathan Coulter planned for his death meticulously, leaving nothing to chance. His will states that his three adult children must decide between them how to dispose of his estate. If they cannot come together over their inheritance, then they risk losing it.
But Liv, Noah and Chloe never agree on anything. And now, with only one weekend to overcome their rivalry, tensions begin to rise.
Why has Jonathan left the decision to them? And why has he made no mention of his new partner, Megan, or the children's mother, Eloise? If he wanted to teach them a lesson from beyond the grave, what is it? And can the siblings put their differences aside for long enough to learn it?
A powerful novel about love and loss, and what we truly pass on to our children.
Jonathan Coulter planned for his death meticulously, leaving nothing to chance. His will states that his three adult children must decide between them how to dispose of his estate. If they cannot come together over their inheritance, then they risk losing it.
But Liv, Noah and Chloe never agree on anything. And now, with only one weekend to overcome their rivalry, tensions begin to rise.
Why has Jonathan left the decision to them? And why has he made no mention of his new partner, Megan, or the children's mother, Eloise? If he wanted to teach them a lesson from beyond the grave, what is it? And can the siblings put their differences aside for long enough to learn it?
A powerful novel about love and loss, and what we truly pass on to our children.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2021
25 people are currently reading
447 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 31, 2021
Johnathon Coulter planned for his death meticulously, leaving nothing to chance. His will states that his three adult children must decide between them how to dispose of his estate. If they cannot come together over their inheritance, they risk losing it. But Liv, Noah and Chloe never agree on anything. And now, with only one weekend to overcome their inheritance, tensions begin to rise.
I liked the authors style in writing this book. The characters are complex. Liv, Noah and Chloe have to decide what's to haooen to their father's estate or it will wnd up going to charity. They have to decide whether to five anything to Magan, their father's partner. Tension rises between the three siblings whilst they try to make the right decisons. This is an intriguing read with a situation i wouldn't like to be in. I liked the reason behind Johnathon doing this to his children. I really enjoued this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AtlanticBooks and the author #CarolineBond for my ARC of #TheLegacy in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the authors style in writing this book. The characters are complex. Liv, Noah and Chloe have to decide what's to haooen to their father's estate or it will wnd up going to charity. They have to decide whether to five anything to Magan, their father's partner. Tension rises between the three siblings whilst they try to make the right decisons. This is an intriguing read with a situation i wouldn't like to be in. I liked the reason behind Johnathon doing this to his children. I really enjoued this book.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AtlanticBooks and the author #CarolineBond for my ARC of #TheLegacy in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2021
I enjoy Caroline Bond's writing so I had high hopes for this latest novel. Disappointingly, I was not so enamoured to start with as I didn't warm to any of the characters and the emotional impact was dull, as if it needed a good watering.
HOWEVER, I am happy to say that as I settled into the book, I became more involved and interested in the motivations and decisions of the characters.
Jonathan Coulter has died of Motor Neurone Disease and we meet his partner, his three children, the carer and his ex-wife in what appears to be a family based drama about inheritance.
This might be why the novel starts in a dusty and dry way, as we are led to believe that Liv, Noah and Chloe are simply going to argue about who is entitled to what. And yes, there is a fair amount of rivalry, greed and squabbling.
What makes this novel interesting though is the individual lives behind the every day facades, so as we get to understand each sibling, we become more intrigued by their thought processes, what has gone before, and what might be about to happen.
Lisa, the carer, is the only one where a straightforward instruction has been left in the will, for her to receive £5,000. This provides an element of mystery as the rest of the estate is left for the 'children' to decide how best to divide it.
There is hurt and emotional pain and sadness, there is grief and fear and worry. And that is before you even factor in the aloof ex wife Eloise and the strangely passive much younger woman Megan, who lived with Jonathan until he died and who is held mostly responsible for breaking up Eloise's marriage to Jonathan.
I thoroughly enjoyed the modern day exploration of human behaviour and came to care about what would happen to all those people affected by Jonathan's death.
I particularly liked the relationship Noah has with his nephews and thought the ending between Noah and Josie really brought the book title, The Legacy, to an elevated meaning. Chloe's involvement shifts the dynamics between the sisters and brother and I was rooting for Liv to arrive at a certain decision.
All in all a book I would recommend to others.
Thank you to Netgalley, Pigeonhole, the author and publishers for the chance to read The Legacy.
HOWEVER, I am happy to say that as I settled into the book, I became more involved and interested in the motivations and decisions of the characters.
Jonathan Coulter has died of Motor Neurone Disease and we meet his partner, his three children, the carer and his ex-wife in what appears to be a family based drama about inheritance.
This might be why the novel starts in a dusty and dry way, as we are led to believe that Liv, Noah and Chloe are simply going to argue about who is entitled to what. And yes, there is a fair amount of rivalry, greed and squabbling.
What makes this novel interesting though is the individual lives behind the every day facades, so as we get to understand each sibling, we become more intrigued by their thought processes, what has gone before, and what might be about to happen.
Lisa, the carer, is the only one where a straightforward instruction has been left in the will, for her to receive £5,000. This provides an element of mystery as the rest of the estate is left for the 'children' to decide how best to divide it.
There is hurt and emotional pain and sadness, there is grief and fear and worry. And that is before you even factor in the aloof ex wife Eloise and the strangely passive much younger woman Megan, who lived with Jonathan until he died and who is held mostly responsible for breaking up Eloise's marriage to Jonathan.
I thoroughly enjoyed the modern day exploration of human behaviour and came to care about what would happen to all those people affected by Jonathan's death.
I particularly liked the relationship Noah has with his nephews and thought the ending between Noah and Josie really brought the book title, The Legacy, to an elevated meaning. Chloe's involvement shifts the dynamics between the sisters and brother and I was rooting for Liv to arrive at a certain decision.
All in all a book I would recommend to others.
Thank you to Netgalley, Pigeonhole, the author and publishers for the chance to read The Legacy.
April 1, 2021
When Jonathan Coulter dies, following a struggle with MND, he gathers his family to his solicitor’s office to hear his will and statement of wishes.
His family comprise of siblings Liv, Noah and Chloe. But then there is also Megan, his partner of the last few years, oh and his ex wife Eloise. Jonathan had an affair with Megan, causing his marriage to break up so, understandably, the atmosphere between everyone is less than harmonious.
The results of his legal documents force the family to come together - which results in tensions coming to the boil, as secrets and deceptions are unearthed.
I read One Split Second by this author and LOVED it. Couldn’t put it down. This was definitely not such a thrilling read, sadly I found it a little bland. It’s that thing again where I didn’t like any of the characters, so I didn’t really care what happened to them. I also found lots of it implausible. Why did Jonathan write his statement of wishes? What was the point of it?
However it’s still a very well written and methodically plotted story of a dysfunctional family (aren’t they all?) If you like character led stories which reveal layer after layer of secrets then you’ll love this.
His family comprise of siblings Liv, Noah and Chloe. But then there is also Megan, his partner of the last few years, oh and his ex wife Eloise. Jonathan had an affair with Megan, causing his marriage to break up so, understandably, the atmosphere between everyone is less than harmonious.
The results of his legal documents force the family to come together - which results in tensions coming to the boil, as secrets and deceptions are unearthed.
I read One Split Second by this author and LOVED it. Couldn’t put it down. This was definitely not such a thrilling read, sadly I found it a little bland. It’s that thing again where I didn’t like any of the characters, so I didn’t really care what happened to them. I also found lots of it implausible. Why did Jonathan write his statement of wishes? What was the point of it?
However it’s still a very well written and methodically plotted story of a dysfunctional family (aren’t they all?) If you like character led stories which reveal layer after layer of secrets then you’ll love this.
March 31, 2021
I read this with Pigeonhole over 10 days and on the whole found it enjoyable. We get to know the members of a family, including children, ex wife and new partner after the death of Jonathan. Each has their own feelings and memories of Jonathan and the ending was well written as we got to discover what happened to each of them in the months following the death. I must admit to preferring Caroline’s previous books, which I found to be more gripping but thanks for the chance to read “The Legacy”.
April 1, 2021
After their father dies, his three children have to decide how and what to do with his legacy, taking into consideration his last wishes. Sibling rivalry, childhood jealousies and past hurts have to be acknowledged and addressed as the siblings cope with their grief and some difficult decisions. I think the siblings all grow and change for the better as a result of this experience. The ever changing family dynamics are so well described throughout and the wider family dynamics too.
Thanks pigeonhole for the opportunity of reading this thought-provoking novel.
Thanks pigeonhole for the opportunity of reading this thought-provoking novel.
April 1, 2021
A family drama story about a man who, suffering from a terminal illness, plans for his own death, leaving a Will with a legacy to be disposed of as his three children wish. It may sound uncomplicated but it’s not as easy as that!
I enjoyed this slow burner of a tale . It’s very much a character based story, none of them at first seeming particularly pleasant. But, of course, as it progresses, we see them evolving. Family dynamics are really well depicted and the siblings’ individual journeys and their interactions with each other make for an interesting and tense read. I loved how they all came together at the end as well as the separate concluding chapters for each character. It’s not an action packed tale, more of what I would class as a ‘slice of life’ story. It definitely gives food for thought!
I enjoyed this slow burner of a tale . It’s very much a character based story, none of them at first seeming particularly pleasant. But, of course, as it progresses, we see them evolving. Family dynamics are really well depicted and the siblings’ individual journeys and their interactions with each other make for an interesting and tense read. I loved how they all came together at the end as well as the separate concluding chapters for each character. It’s not an action packed tale, more of what I would class as a ‘slice of life’ story. It definitely gives food for thought!
June 2, 2021
What I enjoy about Caroline Bond's books is the fact that she portrays the interpersonal dynamics of family life so very well. She writes her novels with nuance and a realistic insight into family.
This novel features three children who are assigned the task of dealing with their father's estate after he passes away. To complicate matters, there is a second wife, who their father had left their mother for, and a mother.
Each of the family members has their own secrets, or troubles in their personal lives, which affect how they enter into the situation.
I expected a few more twists and turns but, overall, this was a well observed and well written book.
Thank you to The Pigeonhole and the author for access to this book over ten daily installments.
This novel features three children who are assigned the task of dealing with their father's estate after he passes away. To complicate matters, there is a second wife, who their father had left their mother for, and a mother.
Each of the family members has their own secrets, or troubles in their personal lives, which affect how they enter into the situation.
I expected a few more twists and turns but, overall, this was a well observed and well written book.
Thank you to The Pigeonhole and the author for access to this book over ten daily installments.
March 25, 2021
One of the things I love most about Caroline Bond’s writing is the fact she places her characters in often controversial situations, their behaviour affected by the moral dilemmas they face which always makes for a thought provoking read. In The Legacy she tackles a most tricky subject, that of inheritance, which can be a difficult topic to broach with your nearest and dearest, especially when the family in question no longer exists in its original form. It’s a perfectly reasonable assumption to make that in this day and age many families are going to be of the blended variety, making the passing on or dividing up of assets fraught with complexities. In the Coulter’s case, husband and father of three Jonathan has remained living in the family home, The View, with partner Megan,until his recent demise from motor neurone disease. At the time of his split from wife Eloise, all three adult children cast Megan as the cuckoo in the nest, solely blaming her for embarking upon an affair with a married man which sounds the death knell for their parents marriage. The novel opens with the reading of Jonathan’s last will and testament with Olivia, Noah, Chloe and Megan in attendance, a scene that is excruciatingly awkward and tense given their open hostility towards their late father’s partner. However, things are about to get even more awkward when realisation dawns this is by no means a straightforward case of splitting everything three ways. Instead, Jonathan shocks them into stunned and quiet disbelief with his statement of wishes in which no provision has been made for his current partner nor ex wife, stipulating that his funeral should not take place until all three siblings have agreed on how to divide up his assets, whether that be fairly and squarely or not! His legacy is left in their hands, to do with as they see fit. This unexpected revelation is guaranteed to set the cat amongst the pigeons, a sign sent from beyond the grave that death doesn’t prevent their father from testing their mettle one final time.
Naturally you can expect a certain amount of fireworks between Liv, Noah and Chloe as they invade Megan’s space for a weekend spent thrashing out an agreement as to the best way forward. If you’re already familiar with this author’s writing then you’ll know that in no way will she treat this matter in a sensationalist manner. Instead this novel is a thoughtful, sometimes beautiful, sometimes poignant, honest but never overly sentimental portrayal of a family in the throes of a crisis, each member dealing independently with their grief as well as any other problems that may exist in their personal lives. Caroline’s understated, eloquent approach to this sensitive subject combined with her depiction of every character affected by Jonathan’s sudden death, trapped in a state of heightened emotions, contributes to the powerful impact the narrative has on your own thoughts and feelings. As the author exposes individual flaws and the complexities in the relationships between each sibling and their father and with each other two things really struck me. Firstly the fact all three siblings honour their father’s statement of wishes, given that it’s not legally binding and secondly that by coming together in one household they automatically revert to their childhood selves and the roles they adopted as youngsters. How many of us will recognise this bizarre state of affairs in our own sibling relationships?!? The author has a keen eye for the nuances of family dynamics, an astute observer of human nature and it’s fragility so you can expect nothing less than believable, realistic characterisation. You wouldn’t think they were adults at all but all three children play their allotted roles to perfection as do the much aligned Megan, aloof, indifferent ex wife Eloise and the calm, unflappable carer Liz. Liv as the eldest, uber organised, juggling motherhood with a demanding job as an A & E consultant, naturally takes control of the situation, whilst baby of the family Chloe lives up to the low expectations held by her siblings as aimless, helpless and frankly useless, content to fade into the background. Middle child Noah in my opinion is the most complex of the three siblings and I couldn’t help feeling his outbursts and selfishness hide an inability to cope with his true feelings surrounding his father’s death. As the narrative progresses you can form your own opinions regarding these characters personalities and the way they conduct themselves but for me it is Megan who steals the thunder in terms the dignified way she copes with the Coulter family descending en masse and their evident hostility towards her.
To read The Legacy is akin to slipping into a warm heavenly scented bath, sinking into a state where you can allow all these characters emotions to percolate and seep into your consciousness. Every conceivable emotion is enmeshed in their behaviour, from petulance, resentment, bitterness and rage to secrecy, jealousy, blame, guilt and denial which makes this a very human novel, a novel to luxuriate in. Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this storyline are the snatches of conversation the author treats us to between the dying Jonathan and his lover relating to his illness and the ravaging effects it has on his body and their relationship in general. Moving, brutally honest and sincere the prose speaks volumes about the dying process, death and grief; grief which manifests itself in all manner of ways and every character present is living proof of that.
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter whether you like or dislike these individuals because Caroline has excelled herself, yet again, in creating perfectly imperfect characters, all of whom undergo transformations throughout the course of their weekend together and in the aftermath of Jonathan’s death. In many ways, they are unrecognisable from the group of people we first meet in the solicitor’s office and it’s impossible not to wish them well. Perhaps that’s the real legacy Jonathan has left behind for his loved ones. A first class read and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
Naturally you can expect a certain amount of fireworks between Liv, Noah and Chloe as they invade Megan’s space for a weekend spent thrashing out an agreement as to the best way forward. If you’re already familiar with this author’s writing then you’ll know that in no way will she treat this matter in a sensationalist manner. Instead this novel is a thoughtful, sometimes beautiful, sometimes poignant, honest but never overly sentimental portrayal of a family in the throes of a crisis, each member dealing independently with their grief as well as any other problems that may exist in their personal lives. Caroline’s understated, eloquent approach to this sensitive subject combined with her depiction of every character affected by Jonathan’s sudden death, trapped in a state of heightened emotions, contributes to the powerful impact the narrative has on your own thoughts and feelings. As the author exposes individual flaws and the complexities in the relationships between each sibling and their father and with each other two things really struck me. Firstly the fact all three siblings honour their father’s statement of wishes, given that it’s not legally binding and secondly that by coming together in one household they automatically revert to their childhood selves and the roles they adopted as youngsters. How many of us will recognise this bizarre state of affairs in our own sibling relationships?!? The author has a keen eye for the nuances of family dynamics, an astute observer of human nature and it’s fragility so you can expect nothing less than believable, realistic characterisation. You wouldn’t think they were adults at all but all three children play their allotted roles to perfection as do the much aligned Megan, aloof, indifferent ex wife Eloise and the calm, unflappable carer Liz. Liv as the eldest, uber organised, juggling motherhood with a demanding job as an A & E consultant, naturally takes control of the situation, whilst baby of the family Chloe lives up to the low expectations held by her siblings as aimless, helpless and frankly useless, content to fade into the background. Middle child Noah in my opinion is the most complex of the three siblings and I couldn’t help feeling his outbursts and selfishness hide an inability to cope with his true feelings surrounding his father’s death. As the narrative progresses you can form your own opinions regarding these characters personalities and the way they conduct themselves but for me it is Megan who steals the thunder in terms the dignified way she copes with the Coulter family descending en masse and their evident hostility towards her.
To read The Legacy is akin to slipping into a warm heavenly scented bath, sinking into a state where you can allow all these characters emotions to percolate and seep into your consciousness. Every conceivable emotion is enmeshed in their behaviour, from petulance, resentment, bitterness and rage to secrecy, jealousy, blame, guilt and denial which makes this a very human novel, a novel to luxuriate in. Perhaps the most poignant aspect of this storyline are the snatches of conversation the author treats us to between the dying Jonathan and his lover relating to his illness and the ravaging effects it has on his body and their relationship in general. Moving, brutally honest and sincere the prose speaks volumes about the dying process, death and grief; grief which manifests itself in all manner of ways and every character present is living proof of that.
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter whether you like or dislike these individuals because Caroline has excelled herself, yet again, in creating perfectly imperfect characters, all of whom undergo transformations throughout the course of their weekend together and in the aftermath of Jonathan’s death. In many ways, they are unrecognisable from the group of people we first meet in the solicitor’s office and it’s impossible not to wish them well. Perhaps that’s the real legacy Jonathan has left behind for his loved ones. A first class read and one I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.
September 4, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. The author portrays the difficulties within family relationships exceptionally well especially during an emotive time in their lives. The choices and decisions that people have to make and their reasons for doing so are explored sensitively and insightfully.
One of those books that leaves you feeling a little bereaved at the end as the characters carry on life without you knowing what happens next.
An exceptional read.
One of those books that leaves you feeling a little bereaved at the end as the characters carry on life without you knowing what happens next.
An exceptional read.
February 12, 2021
Wow this book was a complex tapestry to unravel. When the bereaved Coulter family arrive at the solicitors following their father's death from MND, the solicitor states that their father's wishes are to be carried out before his funeral. Jonathan Coulter stated that between his children (Liv, Noah & Chloe), they must decide what to do with his estate. If they can't come to a decision then it will be donated in it's entirety to charity.
As Liv, Noah & Chloe take on this unthinkable task in such a devastating time, true feelings and thoughts bubble out, unable to be contained. Whilst they argue about whether to leave their father's partner Megan anything (being that she cared for him until the end when they were absent), can they overcome their differences and still remain a family unit? Or will their resentment at Jonathan's infidelity that led to their parent's marriage breaking down (with Megan being the only physical being that they can take their anger out on) prevail?
This was a very interesting plot. Grief is such a strange thing. It's not linear, there is no right and wrong and everyone deals with it differently. Liv being the oldest and the most organised when into her modus operandi. Noah who was struggling in his marriage kept thinking selfishly. Chloe, the youngest who had never stood on her own 2 feet kept thinking about how the money could help her. Yet no one considered Megan. It was frustrating as I wanted to bang their heads together, then I reminded myself that no one is clear headed in grief. Especially where money is concerned.
Megan was the only likeable character for me. Yes she did wrong in being the co-party to Jonathan's marriage breaking down, but she deeply loved him and stayed with him throughout his palliative care. Eloise, the ex wife was truly one character I loved to hate.
A true character piece, what you think of each person changes at the end.
I would like to thank Corvus Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
As Liv, Noah & Chloe take on this unthinkable task in such a devastating time, true feelings and thoughts bubble out, unable to be contained. Whilst they argue about whether to leave their father's partner Megan anything (being that she cared for him until the end when they were absent), can they overcome their differences and still remain a family unit? Or will their resentment at Jonathan's infidelity that led to their parent's marriage breaking down (with Megan being the only physical being that they can take their anger out on) prevail?
This was a very interesting plot. Grief is such a strange thing. It's not linear, there is no right and wrong and everyone deals with it differently. Liv being the oldest and the most organised when into her modus operandi. Noah who was struggling in his marriage kept thinking selfishly. Chloe, the youngest who had never stood on her own 2 feet kept thinking about how the money could help her. Yet no one considered Megan. It was frustrating as I wanted to bang their heads together, then I reminded myself that no one is clear headed in grief. Especially where money is concerned.
Megan was the only likeable character for me. Yes she did wrong in being the co-party to Jonathan's marriage breaking down, but she deeply loved him and stayed with him throughout his palliative care. Eloise, the ex wife was truly one character I loved to hate.
A true character piece, what you think of each person changes at the end.
I would like to thank Corvus Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
March 31, 2021
As usual with Caroline Bond books, her characters are well researched and well rounded. They develop throughout the book, so that the reader's opinions of them change as the story progresses.
I could identify with most, if not all of the main themes of the book. Terminal illness, the role of carer, family dynamics and death of a loved one are all interwoven in this meticulously plotted story. We are drip fed information and character traits, influencing our thoughts and opinions in the way that Caroling does best.
This is not a happy book as we delve into sibling rivalry, childhood roles, mother influences and the invasion of a mistress into a marriage. But all situations seemed real and familiar to me, and although there was no great twist, Caroline did us the honour of a follow up chapter for each character. I needed this, as all the initially unlikeable characters had developed redeeming features, so that I cared what happened to them.
Thanks to Caroline and Pigeonhole for this emotive read.
I could identify with most, if not all of the main themes of the book. Terminal illness, the role of carer, family dynamics and death of a loved one are all interwoven in this meticulously plotted story. We are drip fed information and character traits, influencing our thoughts and opinions in the way that Caroling does best.
This is not a happy book as we delve into sibling rivalry, childhood roles, mother influences and the invasion of a mistress into a marriage. But all situations seemed real and familiar to me, and although there was no great twist, Caroline did us the honour of a follow up chapter for each character. I needed this, as all the initially unlikeable characters had developed redeeming features, so that I cared what happened to them.
Thanks to Caroline and Pigeonhole for this emotive read.
April 1, 2021
Jonathan Coulter is dying, having lived with Motor Neuron Disease for a number of years. He has three grown-up children, three grandchildren, an ex-wife Eloise and a new partner who he left his wife for and she is half his age.
Partner Megan lives with Jonathan, but he has a carer called Lisa and youngest daughter Chloe also lives at The View – the Coulter’s’ family home in Scarborough. Megan and Chloe barely speak – both would prefer that they didn’t have to live together.
When Jonathan dies, they discover that the will is not what they expected. Jonathan has left the three children to decide who inherits what. And Megan and ex-wife Eloise are not included, but Lisa gets £5,000. They are horrified by Lisa’s inheritance, though I didn’t really understand why – after all she nursed him right up to the end.
They have one weekend to make a decision, but it’s not going to be easy as Liv, Noah and Chloe don’t get on. They can never agree about anything, so it’s going to get interesting.
This book is a very slow burn and it took me until the very end to realise the point of the will or in fact the point of the whole story. There are a few reveals along the way, but don’t expect any major twists and turns. It’s not that kind of book. This is about love, loss and finally finding oneself in the face of grief and adversity.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
Partner Megan lives with Jonathan, but he has a carer called Lisa and youngest daughter Chloe also lives at The View – the Coulter’s’ family home in Scarborough. Megan and Chloe barely speak – both would prefer that they didn’t have to live together.
When Jonathan dies, they discover that the will is not what they expected. Jonathan has left the three children to decide who inherits what. And Megan and ex-wife Eloise are not included, but Lisa gets £5,000. They are horrified by Lisa’s inheritance, though I didn’t really understand why – after all she nursed him right up to the end.
They have one weekend to make a decision, but it’s not going to be easy as Liv, Noah and Chloe don’t get on. They can never agree about anything, so it’s going to get interesting.
This book is a very slow burn and it took me until the very end to realise the point of the will or in fact the point of the whole story. There are a few reveals along the way, but don’t expect any major twists and turns. It’s not that kind of book. This is about love, loss and finally finding oneself in the face of grief and adversity.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
April 24, 2021
Caroline Bond writes a thought-provoking tale of vulnerability, family resentment and tough decisions.
Jonathan Coulter dies following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. He has planned for his death though his only bequest is a £5,000 gift to his carer, Lisa. Everything else he owns he leaves to his three executors, his three children, to be decided between them.
The characters in The Legacy were pretty vile, nevertheless, they are drawn extremely well; they are multidimensional, well rounded and felt extremely real. The situation they find themselves in is entirely plausible and is a credible drama. A family coming together after death is something most can identify with and the author explores the family dynamics brilliantly. A first-class, powerful read.
I read The Legacy in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. A special thank you to Corvus, Caroline Bond, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
Jonathan Coulter dies following a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. He has planned for his death though his only bequest is a £5,000 gift to his carer, Lisa. Everything else he owns he leaves to his three executors, his three children, to be decided between them.
The characters in The Legacy were pretty vile, nevertheless, they are drawn extremely well; they are multidimensional, well rounded and felt extremely real. The situation they find themselves in is entirely plausible and is a credible drama. A family coming together after death is something most can identify with and the author explores the family dynamics brilliantly. A first-class, powerful read.
I read The Legacy in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. A special thank you to Corvus, Caroline Bond, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
March 27, 2021
First of all thank you to readers first for this copy.
I have to admit it's not what I had quite expected. That's not a bad thing, I really enjoyed it!.
I probably shouldn't, and I'm sure some will disagree with me, but I felt so bad for Megan!. I felt she was treated very unfairly, and it really bothered me. I understand how the siblings must feel towards her, but I did really feel for her. Although without saying to much I had a little victory dance for her.
Jonathan knows he is dying. In his Will, he states that when he does pass, it's up to his three adult children to split his estate as they see fit. He also states he dosent want a funeral until this is all settled.
The story follows Liv, Noah and Chloe, who are trying to come to the same conclusion about the estate. They fight and argue between themselves to try and figure out who gets what.
I think Caroline Bond captured all this perfectly!.
I have to admit it's not what I had quite expected. That's not a bad thing, I really enjoyed it!.
I probably shouldn't, and I'm sure some will disagree with me, but I felt so bad for Megan!. I felt she was treated very unfairly, and it really bothered me. I understand how the siblings must feel towards her, but I did really feel for her. Although without saying to much I had a little victory dance for her.
Jonathan knows he is dying. In his Will, he states that when he does pass, it's up to his three adult children to split his estate as they see fit. He also states he dosent want a funeral until this is all settled.
The story follows Liv, Noah and Chloe, who are trying to come to the same conclusion about the estate. They fight and argue between themselves to try and figure out who gets what.
I think Caroline Bond captured all this perfectly!.
March 31, 2021
Completely different from my usual books, but extremely interesting!
It follows three siblings and their father’s partner after their father has died. He leaves a will, but in it his only instructions are that the siblings have to all agree on what to do with his estate or it all gets donated to charity, the only other person that is named in the will is his carer of the last few months of his life.
What follows is a weekend of arguments, sly digs and suspicion. And when the ex wife turns up, it looks like things could get explosive between her and her ex husband’s grieving partner. The family have never taken to her, blaming her for splitting the family up.
It was very interesting seeing the family dynamics, and trying to work out the secrets that the siblings are hiding from each other and what big things have been going on in their lives that the others don’t know about.
A very interesting concept, and something that I don’t know a lot about. Definitely one that I’ll be recommending to people who want something a little different.
It follows three siblings and their father’s partner after their father has died. He leaves a will, but in it his only instructions are that the siblings have to all agree on what to do with his estate or it all gets donated to charity, the only other person that is named in the will is his carer of the last few months of his life.
What follows is a weekend of arguments, sly digs and suspicion. And when the ex wife turns up, it looks like things could get explosive between her and her ex husband’s grieving partner. The family have never taken to her, blaming her for splitting the family up.
It was very interesting seeing the family dynamics, and trying to work out the secrets that the siblings are hiding from each other and what big things have been going on in their lives that the others don’t know about.
A very interesting concept, and something that I don’t know a lot about. Definitely one that I’ll be recommending to people who want something a little different.
April 2, 2021
This book explores what happens after Jonathan Coulter dies with Motor Neurone disease and leaves his three children strict instructions about dividing their inheritance between them. This is complicated by the fact that they seem to have a rather difficult relationship with each other, and with their father’s partner of 5 years, Megan, for whom he left their mother. Should Megan be given money? Should their mother, who has had a divorce settlement? And why is the only named bequest to his carer?
Caroline Bond has shown in her previous books that she’s really good at exploring human relationships and motivations and this novel is no different. I think the siblings were well drawn and their arguments had the ring of truth about them. A good family drama.
Read with The Pigeonhole.
Caroline Bond has shown in her previous books that she’s really good at exploring human relationships and motivations and this novel is no different. I think the siblings were well drawn and their arguments had the ring of truth about them. A good family drama.
Read with The Pigeonhole.
August 19, 2021
Brava!
👏👏👏👏
One of the best books I've ever read. Considering it is over 300 pages and I only started yesterday, I'd say it's the quickest I've ever gotten through a book.
I just could not put it down.
The best thing about this book is that the characters are so awful when you first meet them, but give them a few chapters and they feel like real people. They are flawed, kind, irritable, angry, joyful, sorrowful... Just generally HUMAN!
The only character I didn't like was Jonathan. He was so selfish in life, that no matter what he did in death he could not redeem himself.
This is one of those rare books which makes me agree with the sentiment: 'You can never have a book long enough, or a cup of tea big enough".
👏👏👏👏
One of the best books I've ever read. Considering it is over 300 pages and I only started yesterday, I'd say it's the quickest I've ever gotten through a book.
I just could not put it down.
The best thing about this book is that the characters are so awful when you first meet them, but give them a few chapters and they feel like real people. They are flawed, kind, irritable, angry, joyful, sorrowful... Just generally HUMAN!
The only character I didn't like was Jonathan. He was so selfish in life, that no matter what he did in death he could not redeem himself.
This is one of those rare books which makes me agree with the sentiment: 'You can never have a book long enough, or a cup of tea big enough".
March 31, 2021
Fantastic book showing the issues with sibling rivalry and also dealing with the harrowing disease MND
April 2, 2021
A quite enjoyable, poignant, sensitive and emotional read. Not much in the way of big surprises but the characters were well developed. Thank you to Caroline for sharing this through the Pigeonhole and giving us the opportunity to read it.
April 6, 2021
This was a beautifully written story that focuses on the family of a man who dies from MND. It is sensitively approached and the characters realistically portrayed. As with previous.books I have read by Caroline Bond, this is well worth your time and I recommend it.
April 11, 2021
This is an interesting look at a family grieving for their father, partner and ex-husband and deciding how best to divide his estate.
When Jonathan dies after a battle with MND, he assigns his three adult children (Liv, Noah & Chloe) as executors of his will, and tells them it’s up to them to agree on how his money should be shared - not just between them, but also his ex-wife Eloise, and the woman he left her for and lived with, Megan. With so much going on in their own lives, and emotions highly charged, agreeing on an outcome is far from easy...
This is a poignant and honest look at how people deal with grief, and the way it can make them behave. It’s very much a character driven story, with the narrative moving between all of the siblings and the two women from Jonathan’s life. There’s also quite a focus on Jonathan’s carer, Lisa, and how important she was to him in his final months - a beautiful message about the people who so selflessly choose to help others in their final days.
I was really intrigued when I read the first few chapters, but I think I expected this to perhaps get a bit darker and more exciting than it did. There were some surprises, but nothing which I’d call a shock twist which had me speeding through this novel. It is very much an emotional portrayal of loss and family rather than any great mystery, but the author really nails the dialogue around the horrible business of dividing a loved one’s estate.
I’d recommend this to anyone who is happy for a quieter, more tender and character driven read - and especially those who enjoy a good family drama, but I think I just went in with the wrong expectations. It’s brilliantly written, and really compassionate and understanding towards the realities of grieving, and how that can sometimes bring out the worst in people.
When Jonathan dies after a battle with MND, he assigns his three adult children (Liv, Noah & Chloe) as executors of his will, and tells them it’s up to them to agree on how his money should be shared - not just between them, but also his ex-wife Eloise, and the woman he left her for and lived with, Megan. With so much going on in their own lives, and emotions highly charged, agreeing on an outcome is far from easy...
This is a poignant and honest look at how people deal with grief, and the way it can make them behave. It’s very much a character driven story, with the narrative moving between all of the siblings and the two women from Jonathan’s life. There’s also quite a focus on Jonathan’s carer, Lisa, and how important she was to him in his final months - a beautiful message about the people who so selflessly choose to help others in their final days.
I was really intrigued when I read the first few chapters, but I think I expected this to perhaps get a bit darker and more exciting than it did. There were some surprises, but nothing which I’d call a shock twist which had me speeding through this novel. It is very much an emotional portrayal of loss and family rather than any great mystery, but the author really nails the dialogue around the horrible business of dividing a loved one’s estate.
I’d recommend this to anyone who is happy for a quieter, more tender and character driven read - and especially those who enjoy a good family drama, but I think I just went in with the wrong expectations. It’s brilliantly written, and really compassionate and understanding towards the realities of grieving, and how that can sometimes bring out the worst in people.
September 30, 2022
This potters along nicely. No surprises in the plot just a family saga. Yes a bit predictable but sometimes that’s quite nice
An easy audio
Jonathon leaves his will for his family but it’s not what any of them are expecting. There then follows the ups and downs of them sorting out his ex wife and mistress as well as where they each stand
An easy audio
Jonathon leaves his will for his family but it’s not what any of them are expecting. There then follows the ups and downs of them sorting out his ex wife and mistress as well as where they each stand
April 2, 2021
This is an intriguing book with lots of threads to unravel. It begins in the solicitors office as Jonathan Coulter's adult children (Liv, Noah and Chloe) and his partner Megan are present for the reading of his will. Basically he has given the three siblings control of deciding who gets what in regards to his estate, he requests that he is not buried until it is decided and if they can't decide all his money is do be donated to the motor neuron disease association (what he died from). So the tale follows them over the subsequent weekend whilst they stay in their old family home as they decide what to do. Should they give a share to their mother (Eloise), his ex-wife who he left after his affair with Megan? Should they give something to Megan, who was with him for five years and cared for him during his final illness? What about the £5K he wishes to be given to his carer, why such a large amount.
This was a tale of sibling rivalry, grief, loss, marriage breakdown and the toll a terminal illness can take on a family.
Although it occasionally dragged in places, this was an absorbing human story with fascinating characters. Thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read.
This was a tale of sibling rivalry, grief, loss, marriage breakdown and the toll a terminal illness can take on a family.
Although it occasionally dragged in places, this was an absorbing human story with fascinating characters. Thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read.
February 1, 2024
An audiobook which I thoroughly enjoyed. An interesting storyline. Inheritance wills can be extremely divisive and potentially bring out the worst in people- greed is a terrible emotion. The deceased had three adult children, who were the executors of the will, but also the main inheritors. They were not generous or kind individuals either between themselves or towards their mother (divorced from their father) and his new partner. Ultimately I think they did divide the spoils relatively fairly but the ‘step mother’ was not really given due credit for the love and care she gave their father- fortunately he had anticipated this and had purchased her a home - the ‘children’ felt they were being extremely generous in not challenging this purchase. The middle child was also extremely agitated by the only direct bequest in his father’s will to a carer -he felt she had no right to any money as she had been well paid and was just doing her job.
It does make you think and I would certainly not leave a will so open to interpretation.
It does make you think and I would certainly not leave a will so open to interpretation.
April 1, 2021
Thanks again to @readersfirst for my copy 💚
I can't remember the last book which absolutely gripped me from the first chapter, but this one did.
It's hard to really describe what genre it was. I was expecting a thriller but it didn't meet those expectations, and it's very hard to define. Not a lot happens in the book in all honesty but at the same time, something about it was just so gripping? What was really great about it was all the secrets, all the well thought out little plot twists.
The only character I really felt strongly towards was Noah and I really liked his character; the rest I didn't really have an opinion on either way.
I really really enjoyed this but I just cannot explain why! And I can't say much more without giving anything away so just go and read it please!
I can't remember the last book which absolutely gripped me from the first chapter, but this one did.
It's hard to really describe what genre it was. I was expecting a thriller but it didn't meet those expectations, and it's very hard to define. Not a lot happens in the book in all honesty but at the same time, something about it was just so gripping? What was really great about it was all the secrets, all the well thought out little plot twists.
The only character I really felt strongly towards was Noah and I really liked his character; the rest I didn't really have an opinion on either way.
I really really enjoyed this but I just cannot explain why! And I can't say much more without giving anything away so just go and read it please!
March 31, 2021
I might have enjoyed this book if even one of the characters had been likeable but even Jonathan who had died wasn’t particularly nice. That said it was a good depiction of the utter selfishness of people and how traits come to the fore when money is at stake. A great concept in allowing the deceased’s children to make the ultimate decision on how to divide the inheritance but sadly for me this book failed to hit the mark as I think it could have been more plausible in places rather than the predictable monologue it was.
Read
April 5, 2021Going into this book it wasn't clear what the genre was, but it sounded interesting enough for me to give it a go and I actually really enjoyed it! I was interested in the charactes, how they interacted with each other and how their relationships with each other developed. I thought the plot was different and genuinley wanted to know how everything panned out and whether it would all be resolved. I had never read any of this author's book prior to this book, but enjoyed her writing style and found it a nice easy read.
April 5, 2021
I am a huge fan of Caroline Bond. She can capture family dynamics and emotions brilliantly. I had high hopes for her latest release.
Jonathan has recently passed away. He leaves his estate to his executors his three children, Liv, Noah and Chloe to distribute as they see fit. Apart from a gift to his carer that's it. Throw in an ex wife and a mistress and you have all the ingredients for a brilliant family saga.
I did enjoy this and Caroline's writing was up to its usual standard but for me something was missing. It was a very slow burner of a book. I waited a long time for the explosion to happen but it was more of a damp firework. It just needed a bit of something else to kick start it.
Jonathan has recently passed away. He leaves his estate to his executors his three children, Liv, Noah and Chloe to distribute as they see fit. Apart from a gift to his carer that's it. Throw in an ex wife and a mistress and you have all the ingredients for a brilliant family saga.
I did enjoy this and Caroline's writing was up to its usual standard but for me something was missing. It was a very slow burner of a book. I waited a long time for the explosion to happen but it was more of a damp firework. It just needed a bit of something else to kick start it.
March 6, 2023
Caroline Bond writes about complicated family dynamics really well, I've enjoyed all of her books so far. Most of the characters here come across as downright unpleasant to begin with, but you come to understand them better as the story unfolds.
October 26, 2021
Poignant
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