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Bad Relations
A rich, immersive novel about three generations of one family, by the author of AFTER THE PARTY - available for pre-order now
BAD RELATIONS tells the story of a family fractured by history, geography and desire. On the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William's experience of war is to bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries. In the 1970s, William's English descendants invite Stephen, a distant Australian cousin, to stay in their bohemian house in Cornwall - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a dramatic fall from grace. Half a century later, a confrontation between the surviving members of the family culminates in a terrible reckoning.
Cressida Connolly's magnificent new novel is a tale of a tragedy that seeps through generations, and a family forced to confront what they truly value in life.
BAD RELATIONS tells the story of a family fractured by history, geography and desire. On the battlefields of the Crimea, William Gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. William's experience of war is to bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries. In the 1970s, William's English descendants invite Stephen, a distant Australian cousin, to stay in their bohemian house in Cornwall - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a dramatic fall from grace. Half a century later, a confrontation between the surviving members of the family culminates in a terrible reckoning.
Cressida Connolly's magnificent new novel is a tale of a tragedy that seeps through generations, and a family forced to confront what they truly value in life.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2022
45 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Cressida Connolly
6 books59 followersCressida Connolly is a reviewer and journalist, who has written for Vogue, the Telegraph, the Spectator, the Guardian and numerous other publications. Connolly is the author of three books: The Happiest Days, which won the MacMillan/PEN Award, The Rare and the Beautiful and My Former Heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
August 11, 2022
The first thing to say is that if you looked at the cover without reading the blurb you might be surprised to discover the first part of the book, making up nearly one third of the story, is set during the Crimean War.
I found these early chapters particularly powerful, depicting as they do the mismanagement of the campaign and the needless loss of life both as a result of the conflict and of disease. An officer in The Royal Welch Fusiliers, William Gale returns from the Crimean war to a hero’s welcome but is a changed man. Whether as a result of the trauma of his experiences or the manipulation of others, he makes a rather inexplicable decision that has longlasting repercussions for his family, especially for his wife, Alice, and their young son.
The novel than makes a massive jump in time – from the 1850s to the 1970s. I found myself rather disappointed that I wasn’t going to learn more about what happens to William and Alice (particularly Alice, who comes across as a really interesting character) or their descendants over the next century. Instead we find ourselves in the 1970s, generations later, with a story that explores family dynamics in an insightful way but which seems quite different from what went before. Having said that, I have to admit the author does a great job of matching her writing style to the different periods: the formality of the Victorian age in the first part of the book and the more vibrant and liberated spirit of the second part, all ‘sex and drugs and rock’n’roll’.
The connection between the first and second part of the book felt a little tangential. Although it features descendants of William and Alice Gale, it could really have involved any family group to which an outsider is introduced. In fact, I think the second part of the novel could have made a book in itself because the story is compelling, insightful and ultimately rather sad. To me, the third and final part of the book felt a little like a prolonged epilogue, a way of tying up some loose ends, in particular regarding an object that features in the first two parts. And I’m not sure that I would categorise the book’s conclusion as ‘a terrible reckoning’ – more some expression of home truths – and I felt it ended on quite an uplifting note. Some of the characters who reappear in the final part of the book were a lot less likeable than when we first encountered them. For example, the beautiful Cass seems to have been transformed from coolly unattainable to rather cold and avaricous, especially when the prospect of an unexpected fortune presents itself. This contrasts with one of the new characters, Stephen’s sister Hazel, who despite being treated with a degree of snobbery comes across as entirely open and honest in her intentions.
At times Bad Relations seemed to me like three separate books. (I confess I did have the uncharitable thought that the author may have come up with three ideas, couldn’t decide which one she liked best and so put them all together.) In a way I felt the same about Bad Relations as I did about the author’s earlier book, After the Party, that whilst I admired the skilful writing and there were bits of it I enjoyed, overall I was left with a slight sense of disappointment.
I found these early chapters particularly powerful, depicting as they do the mismanagement of the campaign and the needless loss of life both as a result of the conflict and of disease. An officer in The Royal Welch Fusiliers, William Gale returns from the Crimean war to a hero’s welcome but is a changed man. Whether as a result of the trauma of his experiences or the manipulation of others, he makes a rather inexplicable decision that has longlasting repercussions for his family, especially for his wife, Alice, and their young son.
The novel than makes a massive jump in time – from the 1850s to the 1970s. I found myself rather disappointed that I wasn’t going to learn more about what happens to William and Alice (particularly Alice, who comes across as a really interesting character) or their descendants over the next century. Instead we find ourselves in the 1970s, generations later, with a story that explores family dynamics in an insightful way but which seems quite different from what went before. Having said that, I have to admit the author does a great job of matching her writing style to the different periods: the formality of the Victorian age in the first part of the book and the more vibrant and liberated spirit of the second part, all ‘sex and drugs and rock’n’roll’.
The connection between the first and second part of the book felt a little tangential. Although it features descendants of William and Alice Gale, it could really have involved any family group to which an outsider is introduced. In fact, I think the second part of the novel could have made a book in itself because the story is compelling, insightful and ultimately rather sad. To me, the third and final part of the book felt a little like a prolonged epilogue, a way of tying up some loose ends, in particular regarding an object that features in the first two parts. And I’m not sure that I would categorise the book’s conclusion as ‘a terrible reckoning’ – more some expression of home truths – and I felt it ended on quite an uplifting note. Some of the characters who reappear in the final part of the book were a lot less likeable than when we first encountered them. For example, the beautiful Cass seems to have been transformed from coolly unattainable to rather cold and avaricous, especially when the prospect of an unexpected fortune presents itself. This contrasts with one of the new characters, Stephen’s sister Hazel, who despite being treated with a degree of snobbery comes across as entirely open and honest in her intentions.
At times Bad Relations seemed to me like three separate books. (I confess I did have the uncharitable thought that the author may have come up with three ideas, couldn’t decide which one she liked best and so put them all together.) In a way I felt the same about Bad Relations as I did about the author’s earlier book, After the Party, that whilst I admired the skilful writing and there were bits of it I enjoyed, overall I was left with a slight sense of disappointment.
June 15, 2022
As the daughter of Cyril Connolly, author of Enemies of Promise and editor of Horizon, Cressida Connolly is literally a link with the great age of British literature of the Second World War. Appropriately, she excels at historical fiction. I loved After the Party, which featured the British followers of Sir Oswald Mosley who were interned during wartime. Now we sweep from the 19th-century to the mid 1970s, and conclude in 2015. I was a little put off by publishers’ notice, which made the story sound like a family saga with an ancestral curse. That sort of thing I prefer to leave to Aeschylus. And George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman series left me with an awkwardly facetious attitude towards even the most sanguinary episodes of the Imperial wars of the Victorian era. But I simply loved Bad Relations.
The middle section, set in Cornwall, where Stephen, a 20 y/o Australian is visiting an English family with whom he shares an ancestor who won the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War (so relevant these days), recalled poignant memories. One of the few privileges of old age is to criticise historicals at first hand and I had the great pleasure to spend a good many summers in England in the sixties and seventies, though mostly on a boat rather than a farm. Connelly caught the flavour of the time perfectly. Stephen’s distant cousin Georgie and her BF Helena seem the fulfilment of a young man’s wildest dreams, but other sister Cass and mother Celia are rather off-putting. And the dream visit turns into nightmare.
In the final section, two Australian women in their middle years visit Cass and Georgie to return a heirloom that brings the events of the Crimean War most satisfyingly to full circle. The ending is indeed a perfect test of virtue, both for the characters and for readers: if you find the resolution completely satisfactory, you are a person of the right kind. Bad Relations belongs to the all-too-rare category of books that we read compulsively to find out how they turn out, and then are still more surprised and delighted by the ending.
There was also one touch of dialogue I simply adored. In the last section Cass mentions her daughter Skye(!), who is a yoga instructor, as ‘a therapist’. Gerogie reposts: ‘She’s not a therapist, she’s a gym teacher with pretensions.’
The middle section, set in Cornwall, where Stephen, a 20 y/o Australian is visiting an English family with whom he shares an ancestor who won the Victoria Cross in the Crimean War (so relevant these days), recalled poignant memories. One of the few privileges of old age is to criticise historicals at first hand and I had the great pleasure to spend a good many summers in England in the sixties and seventies, though mostly on a boat rather than a farm. Connelly caught the flavour of the time perfectly. Stephen’s distant cousin Georgie and her BF Helena seem the fulfilment of a young man’s wildest dreams, but other sister Cass and mother Celia are rather off-putting. And the dream visit turns into nightmare.
In the final section, two Australian women in their middle years visit Cass and Georgie to return a heirloom that brings the events of the Crimean War most satisfyingly to full circle. The ending is indeed a perfect test of virtue, both for the characters and for readers: if you find the resolution completely satisfactory, you are a person of the right kind. Bad Relations belongs to the all-too-rare category of books that we read compulsively to find out how they turn out, and then are still more surprised and delighted by the ending.
There was also one touch of dialogue I simply adored. In the last section Cass mentions her daughter Skye(!), who is a yoga instructor, as ‘a therapist’. Gerogie reposts: ‘She’s not a therapist, she’s a gym teacher with pretensions.’
May 13, 2022
Split into three parts, Bad Relations takes us through the generations of a family, encapsulating the butterfly effect.
Part One is set in 1855 during the Crimean War, following William and his wife Alice. In Part Two, we travel to Cornwall in the 1970s and meet Stephen, who is a descendent of Alice and William. We follow him on his journey from Australia to visit his distant cousins. Finally, in Part Three we skip forward to 2015 where the two families meet again.
I loved the writing in this and feel like the three parts worked really well. Part Two was probably my favourite and the part were I felt the most engaged. I did feel like something was missing and can’t quite put my finger on what, however overall I really enjoyed it!
Part One is set in 1855 during the Crimean War, following William and his wife Alice. In Part Two, we travel to Cornwall in the 1970s and meet Stephen, who is a descendent of Alice and William. We follow him on his journey from Australia to visit his distant cousins. Finally, in Part Three we skip forward to 2015 where the two families meet again.
I loved the writing in this and feel like the three parts worked really well. Part Two was probably my favourite and the part were I felt the most engaged. I did feel like something was missing and can’t quite put my finger on what, however overall I really enjoyed it!
June 21, 2022
This multi-generational historical family saga fell completely flat for me. It’s not a bad book, by any means and it’s obvious that many have thoroughly enjoyed it. But for me it felt just ordinary. There’s nothing original or particularly insightful here. The writing is competent on the whole although the dialogue sometimes failed to convince. But it’s written on the outside looking in and I remained unengaged and distanced from the characters, all of whom largely conform to stereotype. A great disappointment following After the Party – I know Connolly can do better than this run-of-the mill effort.
April 18, 2022
First of all, this writer is a treat. As the book shifts between the three different timelines, so does her writing. She really does excel in giving the reader so so much context and information as each scene begins all the while keeping us fully engaged.
Another pro is that her characters are very animated and feel real. I was really bemused by Alice in the first of the three stories and her friendships as she navigates William and Mrs Lockwood’s conspiring, unfortunately when these chapters ended so did a lot of the joy in this book. None of the other characters even when given more time than Alice seemed as vibrant to me on the page.
I have a few friends who I think would enjoy this book more than I did, just as it’s not my typical genre in reading. I do want to keep an eye out for future releases because I did really enjoy her prose but unfortunately the plot of Bad Relations wasn’t enough to stay with me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book. The review is honest and unbiased.
Another pro is that her characters are very animated and feel real. I was really bemused by Alice in the first of the three stories and her friendships as she navigates William and Mrs Lockwood’s conspiring, unfortunately when these chapters ended so did a lot of the joy in this book. None of the other characters even when given more time than Alice seemed as vibrant to me on the page.
I have a few friends who I think would enjoy this book more than I did, just as it’s not my typical genre in reading. I do want to keep an eye out for future releases because I did really enjoy her prose but unfortunately the plot of Bad Relations wasn’t enough to stay with me.
Thank you to Netgalley for the copy of this book. The review is honest and unbiased.
July 17, 2022
This was a really good novel. I found following the different family members and generations really interesting and I liked how everything ties up together. I feel I got quite attached to Alice and William, the first generation we meet in 1855 with William fighting in Crimea and I would have liked to know more. The middle story - 1977 Cornwall - interested me less than the others, and I really enjoyed the 2017 part with relatives meeting up and sharing stories about the previous generations. It was well written, each period felt convincing. It reminded me a bit of Anne Tyler's generational stories and novels but with larger gaps between the characters. It was really good and I read it in one afternoon.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
Free ARC sent by Netgalley.
January 5, 2026
Starting in the mid-19th century, this is the story of a family in different time periods. It begins with William Gale who returns home to his wife Alice after fighting in the Crimean War. But something happens that causes repercussions in the next century. The narrative next picks up in 1977 where two branches of the family collide and one night changes their whole relationship. We next meet Gale's descendants in 2015 where they attempt to reunite through their shared family history. Such a brilliantly written and engaging book.
October 2, 2022
The story of the Boer War was interesting and I liked hearing about this period of history often left out of popular historical fiction. However the core plot was somewhat forgettable none of the characters particularly well built out of loveable.
June 10, 2022
Absolutely loved the first 2/3 of this novel. I've not read Cressida Connolly before but she has a unique and refreshing style. She was able to evoke different time periods well by using different writing styles and her descriptions of places were wonderful. The stories and characters were fantastic. My only frustration is the final one, which ends rather underwhelmingly.
January 7, 2023
Another reviewer on Goodreads - Cathy - has pretty much written exactly the review I would have written of this novel, and has said it better than I could have. I wonder if other readers have experienced the phenomenon I did, and whether it applies in any other artistic endeavours - the music industry is an obvious one - but having absolutely loved the first novel I read by Cresida Connolly (After The Party) and been desperate to devour another, I was, like Cathy, ultimately left a bit disappointed by the dreaded 'second album' syndrome.
In trying to say why, I think the intention was on the epic scale, but it was a little too short for this intent and the three different stories do not interconnect enough to execute it in the right way. The first story was by far the most interesting as I have a current fascination with The Crimean War, due to the recent global events that semm to be embedded in the annexation of The Crimea in 2014.
Perhaps the other two stories in the three parts were all a bit depressing and I have read the novel in the depths of Winter and in the global desire to come out of COVID / Cost of Living / War / Energy Crisis.
Or perhaps we just need variety and I won't be rushing to find another novel by Connolly, despite how much I enjoyed the first one.
In trying to say why, I think the intention was on the epic scale, but it was a little too short for this intent and the three different stories do not interconnect enough to execute it in the right way. The first story was by far the most interesting as I have a current fascination with The Crimean War, due to the recent global events that semm to be embedded in the annexation of The Crimea in 2014.
Perhaps the other two stories in the three parts were all a bit depressing and I have read the novel in the depths of Winter and in the global desire to come out of COVID / Cost of Living / War / Energy Crisis.
Or perhaps we just need variety and I won't be rushing to find another novel by Connolly, despite how much I enjoyed the first one.
April 29, 2022
Firstly thank you to @netgalley @viking and of course Cressida Connolly for gifting me this ARC
This was a very unusual read for me and was really a book of two half’s . At the beginning i felt it was a little slow but once I got to Stephen’s story I was hooked . It was a little jumpy between the gaps of years which I found a little hard to adjust to but the confidence of the authors writing was mesmerising.
This is a beautiful lovely yet tragic story
with a rich plot full of vivid characters. There was so much in terms of context/information that it is easy to not be able to put this book down (I read half in one sitting!)
I would love to read more from this author and will definitely be recommending!
This was a very unusual read for me and was really a book of two half’s . At the beginning i felt it was a little slow but once I got to Stephen’s story I was hooked . It was a little jumpy between the gaps of years which I found a little hard to adjust to but the confidence of the authors writing was mesmerising.
This is a beautiful lovely yet tragic story
with a rich plot full of vivid characters. There was so much in terms of context/information that it is easy to not be able to put this book down (I read half in one sitting!)
I would love to read more from this author and will definitely be recommending!
May 23, 2022
What an engaging book - Connolly truly knows how to suck you in to a family tale. Part shocked me, parts made me cry - but I loved it. I loved the character of Stephen and I wanted his sisters to get more answers. (Sorry, no spoilers to explain that).
Connolly's story, like with 'After the Party' leaves me with a lot to think about. Her stories are never over for me with the end of the book; thoughts-wise and research-wise. It was conveyed so strongly that the things we find so important in our lives are so easily lost within a couple of generations - or less if they don't overlap. Those "fussy" people who dig into family trees to keep details alive are owed a lot of gratitude or how whould we know anything of our roots or memories of relatives?
A superb story. There are some 'Bad Relations' indeed within these pages. Thank god for the good ones - who deserved more. This book will stay in my thoughts; and it deserves a re-read when I feel like giving myself a treat!
Connolly's story, like with 'After the Party' leaves me with a lot to think about. Her stories are never over for me with the end of the book; thoughts-wise and research-wise. It was conveyed so strongly that the things we find so important in our lives are so easily lost within a couple of generations - or less if they don't overlap. Those "fussy" people who dig into family trees to keep details alive are owed a lot of gratitude or how whould we know anything of our roots or memories of relatives?
A superb story. There are some 'Bad Relations' indeed within these pages. Thank god for the good ones - who deserved more. This book will stay in my thoughts; and it deserves a re-read when I feel like giving myself a treat!
July 11, 2022
This multi-generational story is set over a period of roughly 170 years, starting around 1850. It illustrates the butterfly effect and how one decision can have repercussions for many years to come. Unfortunately, it felt flat and I found that I was unable to care about any of the characters. Although the story was interesting it didn’t feel as though it was fleshed out enough. At moments the book felt too slow and then towards the end it felt far too fast; it never seemed to find the correct pacing.
However, I did enjoy learning more about the Crimean War and the history of the Victoria Cross. The Crimean War isn’t something I have really come across in books yet, but I’m glad I was able to read about it here.
However, I did enjoy learning more about the Crimean War and the history of the Victoria Cross. The Crimean War isn’t something I have really come across in books yet, but I’m glad I was able to read about it here.
February 14, 2024
I found the plot magnificent, and something refreshing.
Cressida Connolly managed to craft a compelling novel that spans across three separate time periods, that are all linked by a common thread.
Out of the three “parts”, I found the second part (set in the 70s) the most riveting.
With that said, there were areas which I felt could have been afforded more depth to really make things more “juicy”, but overall, still a great read!
Cressida Connolly managed to craft a compelling novel that spans across three separate time periods, that are all linked by a common thread.
Out of the three “parts”, I found the second part (set in the 70s) the most riveting.
With that said, there were areas which I felt could have been afforded more depth to really make things more “juicy”, but overall, still a great read!
March 7, 2023
This was a slow burner, but it definitely got better as it went on.
December 30, 2023
"All the time she felt the tug of grief, pulling and pulling at her, as visceral as indigestion. I can lie on the floor and weep after I've done this, she'd think as she performed each little task. But somehow she managed to stay upright."
3.5 stars. This book had three timelines, but I felt that far too many pages were given to the first, which was set during the 19th century. It was well-written but a bit cold because its style reflected its setting. I would have liked to hear a lot more from Stephen and the sisters in the 70s. In their later story, Cass was a proper wagon. All the same, there were some very moving moments, and I enjoyed the book.
3.5 stars. This book had three timelines, but I felt that far too many pages were given to the first, which was set during the 19th century. It was well-written but a bit cold because its style reflected its setting. I would have liked to hear a lot more from Stephen and the sisters in the 70s. In their later story, Cass was a proper wagon. All the same, there were some very moving moments, and I enjoyed the book.
January 19, 2023
This book needed more goddamn commas.
September 19, 2022
beautifully written story spanning across generations. feel like there could have been a little bit more detail about stephen’s mental health situation. the book was divided into thirds, each part set in a different period, tied together nicely by one family. especially adored the 70’s section.
lovely read.
lovely read.
September 25, 2023
3.75 stars
October 28, 2023
An inter generational story about family secrets and ancestry which I really enjoyed.
Not a fast paced book at all, and I was quite confused to open the book straight into the Crimean war. However, that then set the scene for what followed.
Really interesting to see how decisions made by distant relatives change future lines. The book moved on through the generations following the same family and there were some unanswered questions as we skipped to the next decade but it seemed to work here, I didn’t feel as though anything was missing. When looking at a family tree you will never get all of the answers - or at least we haven’t been able to, in the social media age maybe our children’s children’s children won’t have the same problems!
An easy readying, cosy book is my summary. If it’s on your shelf, pick it up soon.
Not a fast paced book at all, and I was quite confused to open the book straight into the Crimean war. However, that then set the scene for what followed.
Really interesting to see how decisions made by distant relatives change future lines. The book moved on through the generations following the same family and there were some unanswered questions as we skipped to the next decade but it seemed to work here, I didn’t feel as though anything was missing. When looking at a family tree you will never get all of the answers - or at least we haven’t been able to, in the social media age maybe our children’s children’s children won’t have the same problems!
An easy readying, cosy book is my summary. If it’s on your shelf, pick it up soon.
May 17, 2022
Bad Relations by Cressida Connolly is a beautiful and yet devastating piece of historical fiction. It is told in three parts, beginning in the battlefields of the Crimean War, before moving into the 1970s and ending in the recent past. This is a story of fractured family, told across the generations.
Bad Relations begins with the story of William and Alice. Following his experiences during the Crimean War, William has become a changed man. The impacts of these changes will come to reverberate through his family for the next two centuries. The story moves to the 1970s, where William’s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relative to stay with them for the summer. Though this summer seems at first to be golden, it comes to end in great tragedy. Finally we are witness to a confrontation between the surviving members of the family that culminates in a fierce reckoning.
I very much enjoyed the way that Connolly told this story. Each part of the book contains its own distinct story, but yet they weave beautifully together as we learn more about the different generations throughout. I really appreciated how Connolly built significant historical events and individuals into her narrative, it’s clear just how much research must have gone into developing her novel.
Though there are several main characters across the differing parts of the novel they were each well developed. As you might expect with a story based around families, there are members that you warm to more than others. I was particularly fond of Alice, Stephen and Hazel and yet came to dislike Cecilia, Cass and Adam, though for reasons I don’t wish to explain so as to not spoil the story for others. At the root of this family is William Gale, a complicated man, so clearly changed by his experiences. I think he’ll make a really interesting character to discuss.
There are moments of lightness within this story, yet it’s undercurrent is one of tragedy, where we a witness to events of cruelty and deep unkindness. The ending, however, was beautiful and felt healing in many ways.
This is a powerful novel and one that fans of historical fiction and family dramas will no doubt love.
With thanks to Viking Books for my gifted copy in return for my honest review.
Bad Relations begins with the story of William and Alice. Following his experiences during the Crimean War, William has become a changed man. The impacts of these changes will come to reverberate through his family for the next two centuries. The story moves to the 1970s, where William’s descendants invite Stephen, a distant relative to stay with them for the summer. Though this summer seems at first to be golden, it comes to end in great tragedy. Finally we are witness to a confrontation between the surviving members of the family that culminates in a fierce reckoning.
I very much enjoyed the way that Connolly told this story. Each part of the book contains its own distinct story, but yet they weave beautifully together as we learn more about the different generations throughout. I really appreciated how Connolly built significant historical events and individuals into her narrative, it’s clear just how much research must have gone into developing her novel.
Though there are several main characters across the differing parts of the novel they were each well developed. As you might expect with a story based around families, there are members that you warm to more than others. I was particularly fond of Alice, Stephen and Hazel and yet came to dislike Cecilia, Cass and Adam, though for reasons I don’t wish to explain so as to not spoil the story for others. At the root of this family is William Gale, a complicated man, so clearly changed by his experiences. I think he’ll make a really interesting character to discuss.
There are moments of lightness within this story, yet it’s undercurrent is one of tragedy, where we a witness to events of cruelty and deep unkindness. The ending, however, was beautiful and felt healing in many ways.
This is a powerful novel and one that fans of historical fiction and family dramas will no doubt love.
With thanks to Viking Books for my gifted copy in return for my honest review.
February 22, 2022
Bad Relations - Cressida Connolly (2022)
Jumping across generations, Bad Relations examines the butterfly effect of a single decision.
Initially, we meet William and Alice Gale, as William prepares to return from service in the Crimean War, a decorated veteran whose brother was killed in the trenches. The decisions he makes upon his return home have repercussions which will play out over the next two centuries.
In the 1970’s, young Australian artist Stephen heads to Cornwall, to spend time with his distant cousins. A dreamy, hedonistic summer comes crashing to a halt, and will bring two families together from across the globe for a dramatic confrontation.
I won’t lie, I found this book to be a bit of a slog. I couldn’t immediately identify what exactly I didn’t like, but I didn’t feel excited to pick it up at any point.
Just as I began to become invested in characters, the timeline changed. I was really growing to love Alice and Caroline in part one, and before I had time to process that, the book jumped forward in time over a century. Part two introduces a new cast of characters. While the dreamy teenage hedonism was pleasant, I didn’t care for any of these characters really, and found the dialogue a bit flat (verging on ‘she breasted boobily’). I felt quite relieved to move forward in time by the end. Part three picked up for me, tying together the loose strands (at the very last minute!), with character development and humanity that felt far more authentic than the previous sections.
I always fear I rag on books too much; there was a lot to like here too! The author captures the vernacular of the different time periods in a way that feels authentic and fluent. I enjoyed finding out more about the Crimean War, something I previously knew nothing about except the name. The genealogy aspect was also fascinating, and it’s inspired me to get to my local library to find out more about my family tree.
Thanks very much to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for the advance copy! Bad Relations will be published on May 19th 2022.
TW: infant death, suicide, mental illness
Overall, 3 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Jumping across generations, Bad Relations examines the butterfly effect of a single decision.
Initially, we meet William and Alice Gale, as William prepares to return from service in the Crimean War, a decorated veteran whose brother was killed in the trenches. The decisions he makes upon his return home have repercussions which will play out over the next two centuries.
In the 1970’s, young Australian artist Stephen heads to Cornwall, to spend time with his distant cousins. A dreamy, hedonistic summer comes crashing to a halt, and will bring two families together from across the globe for a dramatic confrontation.
I won’t lie, I found this book to be a bit of a slog. I couldn’t immediately identify what exactly I didn’t like, but I didn’t feel excited to pick it up at any point.
Just as I began to become invested in characters, the timeline changed. I was really growing to love Alice and Caroline in part one, and before I had time to process that, the book jumped forward in time over a century. Part two introduces a new cast of characters. While the dreamy teenage hedonism was pleasant, I didn’t care for any of these characters really, and found the dialogue a bit flat (verging on ‘she breasted boobily’). I felt quite relieved to move forward in time by the end. Part three picked up for me, tying together the loose strands (at the very last minute!), with character development and humanity that felt far more authentic than the previous sections.
I always fear I rag on books too much; there was a lot to like here too! The author captures the vernacular of the different time periods in a way that feels authentic and fluent. I enjoyed finding out more about the Crimean War, something I previously knew nothing about except the name. The genealogy aspect was also fascinating, and it’s inspired me to get to my local library to find out more about my family tree.
Thanks very much to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for the advance copy! Bad Relations will be published on May 19th 2022.
TW: infant death, suicide, mental illness
Overall, 3 stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 19, 2022
Bad Relations is a poignant look at the complicated branches of a family tree. Doing genealogical research builds a picture of dates, places and people but the stories, motivations and historical background gets lost.
The narrative moves from the 1853 Crimean War to 1970s Britain and then 2017 telling the stories of a fractured family.
The characters were nuanced and interesting and kept my interest in the narrative. There were no acknowledgements or afterword in the pre-published edition I read but I can imagine that the author had a family connection with the Crimea themselves, as well as relating some experiences from the 70s.
I was left ruminating about how heirlooms are passed down and the different ways in which people are memorialised so that their lives mean something to future generations who may not have had any contact with them.
The narrative moves from the 1853 Crimean War to 1970s Britain and then 2017 telling the stories of a fractured family.
The characters were nuanced and interesting and kept my interest in the narrative. There were no acknowledgements or afterword in the pre-published edition I read but I can imagine that the author had a family connection with the Crimea themselves, as well as relating some experiences from the 70s.
I was left ruminating about how heirlooms are passed down and the different ways in which people are memorialised so that their lives mean something to future generations who may not have had any contact with them.
May 17, 2022
I really enjoyed "after the party" and was looking forward to reading this book. The writing gave it an easy to read style and I always enjoy a family saga demonstrating how the actions of one generation have, often unforseen, consequences on the family for many years to come
However, in the end, I didn't really feel particularly connected to the characters or have strong feelings about what happened to them
Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy of this book.
However, in the end, I didn't really feel particularly connected to the characters or have strong feelings about what happened to them
Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Books for an advance copy of this book.
July 16, 2022
DNF - Got bored after 100 pages
September 24, 2023
"Families don't always bring out the best in people."
I won a copy of Bad Relations earlier this year (thanks Penguin books!) and dutifully placed it on my bookshelf. I skimmed the 'blurb' on the back but it was the cover that I really paid attention to - two young women, I'd say in their mid-teens, sitting on some grass and smoking cigarettes. I thought that it meant the story would be about young women, possibly coming-of-age themes and set in the 1970s/80s. So when I opened the book and started reading, I was completely unprepared for the beginning to take place during the Crimean War! In fact, I had to check there hadn't been a misprint! When I eventually cottoned on to the fact that it WAS the proper text, I got stuck into the story and absolutely loved it!
The novel is set in the first part during the Crimean War (1853-1856). William Gale survives the battlefields and is awarded one of the first Victoria Cross medals for bravery, but his beloved brother Algernon perishes, leaving William changed forever. It is William's actions that then have the effect of changing his family's future, which we see in 1970s England. Stephen is taking a year out from study at university in Australia to work on the farm of his distantly-related cousin, Celia, descendent of William. Celia and her husband Nick are completely different to his parents, artistic and argumentative, and their daughters Georgie and Cass beautiful and intriguing. Before his stay is up, Stephen is forced to leave the farmhouse in disgrace. The effects of this decision echo into the present day (early 2000s), with Stephen's little sister, Hazel, on a journey of her own to England with a determination to learn more about her brother and rectify mistakes from the past.
I absolutely loved this story - the writing was compelling, the story was captivating and the characters were so real I felt I knew them. The author captured the teenage angst so perfectly! I was in bits for the part when Stephen was alone in London, absolutely heart-rending. And cried again at the end with the bit involving the Victoria Cross!
Perfect for fans of family sagas, Atonement-style novels or fans of Tessa Hadley. This was a treat of a book and I loved it.
I won a copy of Bad Relations earlier this year (thanks Penguin books!) and dutifully placed it on my bookshelf. I skimmed the 'blurb' on the back but it was the cover that I really paid attention to - two young women, I'd say in their mid-teens, sitting on some grass and smoking cigarettes. I thought that it meant the story would be about young women, possibly coming-of-age themes and set in the 1970s/80s. So when I opened the book and started reading, I was completely unprepared for the beginning to take place during the Crimean War! In fact, I had to check there hadn't been a misprint! When I eventually cottoned on to the fact that it WAS the proper text, I got stuck into the story and absolutely loved it!
The novel is set in the first part during the Crimean War (1853-1856). William Gale survives the battlefields and is awarded one of the first Victoria Cross medals for bravery, but his beloved brother Algernon perishes, leaving William changed forever. It is William's actions that then have the effect of changing his family's future, which we see in 1970s England. Stephen is taking a year out from study at university in Australia to work on the farm of his distantly-related cousin, Celia, descendent of William. Celia and her husband Nick are completely different to his parents, artistic and argumentative, and their daughters Georgie and Cass beautiful and intriguing. Before his stay is up, Stephen is forced to leave the farmhouse in disgrace. The effects of this decision echo into the present day (early 2000s), with Stephen's little sister, Hazel, on a journey of her own to England with a determination to learn more about her brother and rectify mistakes from the past.
I absolutely loved this story - the writing was compelling, the story was captivating and the characters were so real I felt I knew them. The author captured the teenage angst so perfectly! I was in bits for the part when Stephen was alone in London, absolutely heart-rending. And cried again at the end with the bit involving the Victoria Cross!
Perfect for fans of family sagas, Atonement-style novels or fans of Tessa Hadley. This was a treat of a book and I loved it.
March 24, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this.
Bad Relations was an interesting read for me - I came into it very excited at the prospect of a multi-generational story, something I have been really enjoying recently. And it certainly was that, though I personally didn’t enjoy the large jumps between generations (it took me a sec to mentally switch from the 1850/60s to the 1970s!). Cressida Connolly has an absolutely beautiful writing style, and her ability to write so convincingly in the vernacular of the time period the generation is situated in bolsters this book so much. I definitely enjoyed the first generation the most, and only wished we got more time with Alice - a character with a lot of depth, which I would have liked to have seen more of. I did enjoy the guesswork the reader had to put in to figure out what happened to Stephen until everything was fully, although very hastily, revealed in the final part and all the loose ends were tied up. If anything that final part felt slightly rushed, and it wasn’t helped by the fact that I felt the structure of the generations to be a little jumpy. The modern characters we join in 2015 don’t feel as developed and as soulful as the others we’re introduced to earlier in the novel; even Cass and Georgie seem a little off, although I think their combined reactions to their mother are perfect (and I liked the sense of justice they provided!!). Ultimately, what shone for me in Bad Relations was the gorgeous, intricately crafted writing which slotted into generation after generation, and made every different setting very animated. I equally enjoyed how I, unknowingly, developed quite a hatred for some characters by the end - William, Celia etc - I think Connolly sneakily persuaded you to hate them bit by bit before revealing the true extent of the actions in the final part, so it feels rewarding to have your dislike for them affirmed! Overall, a really enjoyable read however I found it slightly jumpy, which created a disconnect in the whole generation lead framework.
As ever, if goodreads allowed for half stars, I’d be giving this 3.5 stars!
Bad Relations was an interesting read for me - I came into it very excited at the prospect of a multi-generational story, something I have been really enjoying recently. And it certainly was that, though I personally didn’t enjoy the large jumps between generations (it took me a sec to mentally switch from the 1850/60s to the 1970s!). Cressida Connolly has an absolutely beautiful writing style, and her ability to write so convincingly in the vernacular of the time period the generation is situated in bolsters this book so much. I definitely enjoyed the first generation the most, and only wished we got more time with Alice - a character with a lot of depth, which I would have liked to have seen more of. I did enjoy the guesswork the reader had to put in to figure out what happened to Stephen until everything was fully, although very hastily, revealed in the final part and all the loose ends were tied up. If anything that final part felt slightly rushed, and it wasn’t helped by the fact that I felt the structure of the generations to be a little jumpy. The modern characters we join in 2015 don’t feel as developed and as soulful as the others we’re introduced to earlier in the novel; even Cass and Georgie seem a little off, although I think their combined reactions to their mother are perfect (and I liked the sense of justice they provided!!). Ultimately, what shone for me in Bad Relations was the gorgeous, intricately crafted writing which slotted into generation after generation, and made every different setting very animated. I equally enjoyed how I, unknowingly, developed quite a hatred for some characters by the end - William, Celia etc - I think Connolly sneakily persuaded you to hate them bit by bit before revealing the true extent of the actions in the final part, so it feels rewarding to have your dislike for them affirmed! Overall, a really enjoyable read however I found it slightly jumpy, which created a disconnect in the whole generation lead framework.
As ever, if goodreads allowed for half stars, I’d be giving this 3.5 stars!
March 22, 2025
I must admit when I first picked this up I was dubious as to whether I was going to enjoy it but as always and being an eclectic reader I kept an open mind. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that I really enjoyed it! I love how the author tells the story in 3 parts from several different perspectives. The first part takes us back to they year 1855 is told from the perspective of William Gale who goes to fight in the Crimea War. I originally really liked William but after he returned from the War I was disgusted with how he treated his wife Alice. I really enjoyed reading an insight of a soldier in the Crimea War which I did not really know much, if anything really about. The story then moved on to the year 1977 and we are taken to Cornwall where we meet the distant relatives of William from both Alice's side and Sarah's. Stephen Nolan goes to stay with the 'Clarke' side where we meet Nick and his wife Celia as well as their children Georgie and Cass. We see what the three youngsters get up to where there is drama, romance and tragedy. I could not abide Celia who was an absolutely horrid person and my heart went out to Stephen. The final part takes the author between Melbourne and Cornwall from the year 2015. We learn about Stephen's sister Hazel as well as revisiting the Clarke's when Hazel meets up with them. Cass and definitely become like her mother as she had grow older and I disliked her also. I really enjoyed seeing how William's actions rippled through the years going from generation to generation. I definitely think this was an intriguing concept to see the butterfly affects through the generations and I enjoyed the storyline which was engaging as well as interesting. I enjoyed the historical aspects as well as seeing what came of the characters in each of the generations. I ended up reading the book in one sitting and would definitely be interested in reading more books by this author. It is very well written with vivid descriptions which really set the scene for the reader and put them in the storyline with the characters.
July 4, 2022
Book Group selection
A very satisfying novel, one of those books you know will stay with you and makes you immediately look up the author's other works. Can I just say, however, the cover is rubbish!
What impressed me most about the novel was how much Connolly squeezes into 280 pages, with enough material to fill the doorstop length more common to multi-generational family saga. Some readers might regard this brevity as a negative, that it makes the reader work to make connections and extrapolate the impact of past upon present, the cascading effects of love, war, loss, grief. I love a thick juicy read but one that leaves its reader wanting more shows writerly assurance.
I admire too the skill with which Connolly depicts three very different time periods: uptight Victorian England at the time of the Crimean War, mid 70s Summer haze in a Cornish farmhouse idyll, modern day (upper middle class) England and down-to-earth Australia. Each part has characters to love or loathe. Three captured my heart...no, make that four, three women, one man (boy). A very English book for all the Aussie interlude.
You could never find out everything, she realised. A family consisted of elders long buried, as well as the living: stories were the bridges that connected the generations. But not everyone had a story...you couldn't always fill in the gaps that made the fabric of a life. Nor could you know the things that really mattered...
I loved how everything comes together at the end, believably, appropriately. As one character says, Families don't always bring out the best in people. Our lives are fragile and short. Past wrongs impact upon those who come after, cannot be undone but sometimes it is possible to put it right for those in the here and now, and that's enough.
A very satisfying novel, one of those books you know will stay with you and makes you immediately look up the author's other works. Can I just say, however, the cover is rubbish!
What impressed me most about the novel was how much Connolly squeezes into 280 pages, with enough material to fill the doorstop length more common to multi-generational family saga. Some readers might regard this brevity as a negative, that it makes the reader work to make connections and extrapolate the impact of past upon present, the cascading effects of love, war, loss, grief. I love a thick juicy read but one that leaves its reader wanting more shows writerly assurance.
I admire too the skill with which Connolly depicts three very different time periods: uptight Victorian England at the time of the Crimean War, mid 70s Summer haze in a Cornish farmhouse idyll, modern day (upper middle class) England and down-to-earth Australia. Each part has characters to love or loathe. Three captured my heart...no, make that four, three women, one man (boy). A very English book for all the Aussie interlude.
You could never find out everything, she realised. A family consisted of elders long buried, as well as the living: stories were the bridges that connected the generations. But not everyone had a story...you couldn't always fill in the gaps that made the fabric of a life. Nor could you know the things that really mattered...
I loved how everything comes together at the end, believably, appropriately. As one character says, Families don't always bring out the best in people. Our lives are fragile and short. Past wrongs impact upon those who come after, cannot be undone but sometimes it is possible to put it right for those in the here and now, and that's enough.
May 16, 2022
BAD RELATIONS tells the story of a family fractured by history, geography and desire. on the battlefields of the crimea, william gale cradles the still-warm body of his brother. william’s experience of war is to bring about a change in him that will reverberate through his family over the next two centuries. in the 1970s, william’s english descendants invite stephen, a distant australian cousin, to stay in their bohemian house in cornwall - but their golden summer entanglements will end in a dramatic fall from grace. half a century later, a confrontation between the surviving members of the family culminates in a terrible reckoning.
i’m unsure of how to start this review tbh because I’m unsure how to describe this book. it has historical fiction, explores family dynamics and relationships, some aspects of mystery reminiscent of psychological thrillers, and also is a love letter to Cornwall. connelly manages to vividly portray all of these different but interweaving aspects into a really tender and moving novel.
this book is definitely a slow burner for the first 100 pages, at the start I thought I wouldn’t get into it, but just after the 130 page mark, things really change and I was fully immersed into the story. and it got completely crazy and wild (in a good way!!). there is tragic aspects and one that completely devastated me (won’t spoil it !! read the book !!) as well as purely darkly funny moments too. however, the book as a whole is quite dark.
when I finished this book I really realised how good it is and how much I enjoyed it, despite the slow start. saying this I think the slow start is necessary, and it makes the second half of the book ‘click’ mentally. looking forward to the publish date of this book so everyone else can enjoy this wild book.
thank you so much to @vikingbooks for gifting me this proof !!! very appreciated 💘
i’m unsure of how to start this review tbh because I’m unsure how to describe this book. it has historical fiction, explores family dynamics and relationships, some aspects of mystery reminiscent of psychological thrillers, and also is a love letter to Cornwall. connelly manages to vividly portray all of these different but interweaving aspects into a really tender and moving novel.
this book is definitely a slow burner for the first 100 pages, at the start I thought I wouldn’t get into it, but just after the 130 page mark, things really change and I was fully immersed into the story. and it got completely crazy and wild (in a good way!!). there is tragic aspects and one that completely devastated me (won’t spoil it !! read the book !!) as well as purely darkly funny moments too. however, the book as a whole is quite dark.
when I finished this book I really realised how good it is and how much I enjoyed it, despite the slow start. saying this I think the slow start is necessary, and it makes the second half of the book ‘click’ mentally. looking forward to the publish date of this book so everyone else can enjoy this wild book.
thank you so much to @vikingbooks for gifting me this proof !!! very appreciated 💘
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