The Art of Belonging

by Eleanor Ray

Grace's life is perfectly fine, thank you very much. A widow of seventy-two, she lives quietly, and although hearing a little more from her daughter and granddaughter would be nice, she has her health, her friends, her octogenarian yoga (however reluctantly attended) and most of all her weekly club where she creates exquisite, miniature train sets.

However, when her estranged daughter rings her in shock, about to lose her home, Grace invites Amelia and her daughter Charlotte to live with her. With them, they bring all the messy, complicated feelings from the past, and the more Grace gets to know her granddaughter Charlotte, the more she adores her. As Charlotte enlists her help to solve a mystery at school, the small family begin to find each other again. Grace is about to discover that although opening her heart again may be painful, in the end it's the only thing that makes life worth living . .

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Published July 13, 2023

About the author

Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh University. She lives in London with her husband and three young children.

Eleanor was inspired to write Everything is Beautiful (also known as The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton in the US) by the objects her toddler collects and treasures – twigs, empty water bottles and wilting daisies.

The Art of Belonging is her second novel and was written in lock down. It is about the messy, complicated and wonderful things that can happen when families are together.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out all my reviews on: The Book Review Crew Blog

This was such a lovely read. I so enjoy stories with multiple generations because they show how much we can learn from each other young and old. In this tale, we have three generations of women from the same family having to live under one roof. When Grace's daughter Amelia and granddaughter Charlotte move in with her after Amelia's marriage collapses because of her husband and his financial disaster they learn to let go of past hurts and mistakes through love, perseverance and acceptance...And along the way, they learn a little bit more about each other and themselves.

The story is told from each main character's point of view and I loved how authentic each woman sounded and how clear the voice of each character was. Every one of them has insecurities, wants, needs and loves...and they all come through loud and clear. And even though their three lives are closely entwined they each had their own lives and story going on. Amelia is dealing with her separation and work, Grace is dealing with the upheaval, miniature club, her husband's death and a budding romance. Charlotte's dealing with missing her dad, a new school and new friends. The way Eleanor Ray wrote about these situations and the character's ways of dealing with them was very realistic and true to life. What I took away from this story and what the characters learned is the fact that maybe we're not so different underneath it all.

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book about fractured families and how they can be put back together.
Amelia has just found out her husband is in major debt, and on top of the is cheating on her, she is forced to move back in with her mother Grace, taking her daughter Charlotte with her.
Grace isn't the best at showing Amelia the love she needs, and this has led to many tough conversations.
Charlotte is having to start a new school, but maybe she finds what she needs from Sammy.
Told from the perspective of Grace, Amelia, and Charlotte, the book shows the difficulties in relationships but also shines through with love shown in many different ways.
I liked how the story was woven together, how the women mended relationships and became stronger.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous, gentle book. Three generations of a family thrown together by circumstance. They negotiate the hurt and pain that all families knowingly or unknowingly inflict on each other as well as receiving the unconditional love that is nearly always there as well. Grace, Amelia and Charlotte discover that their experiences and feelings are not so different after all. Definitely a five star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Art Of Belonging is a heart felt novel by Eleanor Ray.

💖 Blurb -
Sometimes you need to open your heart to find where you truly belong…
When unexpected circumstances bring Grace’s estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, complicated feelings start to emerge, revealing a messy and emotional past which drove this family apart.
It will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other – and to appreciate what it truly means to belong together.
This uplifting novel will warm your heart and touch your soul, and remind you of all the reasons humans can be downright wonderful.

💜 Review -
This was such a lovely read. It was heartwarming and at times sad and also joyful in places. Eleanor's writing is beautiful and the pacing was just right. The story was easy to follow and had a good mix of characters. Overall, a brilliant novel that I would recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.

❤️The Art Of Belonging is released in paperback on 12th September.

💝 Thank you to Instabooktours, the publisher and author, Eleanor Ray for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful story of family and forgiveness.
Families are messy and complicated, but also loving and healing.
The novel follows three generations of women - Grace, her daughter Amelia and her daughter, Charlotte.
I loved watching their relationships and interactions - the blossoming relationship between Grace and her granddaughter, was such utter joy, and why was Amelia rejecting Grace, but as the story progresses we understand why.
Such a beautiful, heartwarming story - appreciating what it truly means to belong in a family unit
“sometimes you need to open your heart to find where you truly belong”
Thanks @eleanorraybooks @piatkus & @netgalley for the heartwarming read

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this a lot and it delivered what I was looking for (a heart warming, likeable read) but ultimately I don't think there's much here that's going to be memorable. It was a fairly predictable and easy read which I read while having some medical tests and it was perfect for that situation.

The story: Grace is an older woman who is mildly depressed after losing her husband a few years ago. She has a distant relationship with her daughter, but when Amelia's marriage ends she and 11 year old Charlotte come to live with Grace. Over the course of the novel they will all grow closer but there are also some significant sub-plots, including a missing school teacher.

One thing that really bugged me is the way that Grace - who is 72 - is portrayed as a doddery old woman who needs naps every day and needs occasional help getting up. I think the author's intention was to imply that she was prematurely ageing but she read more like a woman who was 10-15 years older than she was.

3.5 stars.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art of Belonging follows three generations of one family septuagenarian Grace, her estranged daughter Amelia, and granddaughter Charlotte. When Amelia’s marriage breaks down she and Charlotte move in with Grace while they get back on their feet, forcing Grace and Amelia to face their complicated relationship and the heartbreak that led to their relationship breaking down. Heartwarming, tender, emotional and endearing, this story of family, friendship, loneliness, forgiveness and healing will warm you from the inside out.

I loved Eleanor Ray’s outstanding debut so I couldn’t wait to read this book. Once again, Ms. Ray has crafted a thought-provoking story written full of pathos, charm, wit and heart. Difficult and emotional subjects are written with compassion and while the pain of these characters leaps from the pages, so does their joy. We know from the start that Grace and Amelia are estranged and that Grace blames herself, but as the story goes on their history is slowly unravelled, exploring the many nuances of their relationship and reminding us how easy it can be to misunderstand someone or for two people to view the same situation completely differently. Seeing these two women repeatedly misunderstand and hurt one another broke my heart and I was silently screaming at them to talk about things so they could finally see one another for who they truly were.

The three women at the heart of this book are compelling, complicated, flawed and wonderful characters who I adored. I’ll admit, I had a particular soft spot for Grace and a highlight of the book for me was watching her relationship with Charlotte blossom. The background characters are as richly drawn as the main characters and I loved the varied cast of ebullient characters on these pages. I do love an outsider, so I loved that many of these characters weren't popular people and had unique traits and hobbies. There are also some beautiful friendships on these pages that were a delight to read, especially the friendship between Charlotte and Sammy.

So if you’re looking for an uplifting and hopeful read that will make your day brighter, this is the book for you.

[Alice Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute wholesome read about the women in a family rebuilding their relationship

[Jasmine Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely heartwarming story!

[Pam Borrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart warming , perfect holiday read

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine read for someone I found in PP book exchange

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. Having read the author's previous book I was looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed, it had great characters and a lovely story. I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

[Ashima Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She’d decided when she hit seventy that she didn’t have enough life left to make her own puff pastry, and the ready-rolled packets stared back at her as if full of accusations.”

When unexpected circumstances bring Grace's estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, complicated feelings start to emerge, revealing a messy and emotional past which drove this family apart.

It will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other - and to appreciate what it truly means to belong together.

The Art of Belonging is an emotionally healing novel about infusing new life in relationships. It is about family, friendship, and standing in solidarity with those who matter to you.

Eleanor Ray has this knack of blending heart-warming, uplit fiction with a riveting mystery that adds layers to the central story and brings unexpected twists.

I thought Charlotte was a wonderful character in this story. As she struggles to settle into a new home and school, she chances upon an unusual friend. Eventually, Charlotte ends up being the one around whom everything starts to revolve.

My favourite character, however, was Sammy, Charlotte’s new friend at school. I loved his enthusiasm and conviction in everything he does. I absolutely adored his charm and playfulness, and his willingness to trust this new friend he discovers.

A story that recognises the messy, complex family dynamics and the tangled differences that come with it, The Art of Belonging is a beautiful, captivating read, with characters you come to cherish.

This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group.

For complete review, visit https://aquamarineflavours.wordpress....
Find me on other platforms via https://linktr.ee/AshieJayn

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in my feels in the best way. Like who gave Eleanor Ray permission to call me out while also healing my inner child?? 👀

The Art of Belonging is such a tender, layered story about three generations of women learning to understand each other, unpack old wounds, and slowly figure out what "belonging" actually means. I genuinely didn’t expect to fall so hard for Grace. She’s in her 70s, but honestly, such a baddie in her own quiet, no-nonsense way. And watching her bond with Charlotte? Actual serotonin.

I won’t lie, Amelia (the middle one) tested my patience 😭 like why are you 40+ acting like the teenager here?? But I weirdly appreciated that too; it felt real. People are messy, and hurt can stunt you, and growth isn’t linear. Still, I kept yelling at her in my head to grow up a little and stop projecting on her mum.

Also, this book had neurodivergent vibes — even if it never explicitly said "autism," some of the characters (especially Charlotte and Sammy) had those super sweet, focused, slightly offbeat traits that felt so authentic and beautiful. I really loved that.

There’s also a charming little mystery woven in, and I was not expecting the miniature railway to hit as hard as it did, but here we are 🚂✨

If you’re into gentle healing arcs, family drama that doesn’t feel overdone, and soft characters with unexpected depth, you’ll adore this. It's wholesome, emotional, occasionally frustrating in the way that only real-life relationships can be, and honestly just such a lovely read.

10/10 would recommend, especially if you’ve ever felt like the black sheep or struggled to reconnect with family. This one wraps you up like a warm cup of tea and a quiet “you’re not alone.”

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

[Jemmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such a warm and heartfelt story about family and healing. Amelia, who's facing a tough time after finding out her husband is cheating and in debt, moves back in with her mother, Grace, bringing her daughter, Charlotte. This move forces them all to confront old issues and start mending their strained relationships.
The book is told from the viewpoints of Grace, Amelia, and Charlotte, which gives readers a deep look into their emotions and struggles. As they adjust to living together, they each find their path to healing and connection.
Although the story takes a while to get into, it's a touching read that explores family dynamics and personal growth.
Grace, who seems older than her years, and the side plot about a missing school teacher add extra layers to the story.
Overall, if you enjoy books about family relationships and finding your place, The Art of Belonging is a satisfying and heartwarming read you would love.

[Sadhbh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this because I enjoyed Eleanor Ray’s other book ‘everything is beautiful’ so much. I loved that this book was completely different but had the same writing style.

The three main characters that you get the perspective of are all so different and I loved that when you were hearing from Grace, the grandmother, the pace of the sentences and all the thoughts and concerns were completely different to those of the daughter, Amelia, and Charlotte, the granddaughter.

It took me the first one hundred pages to actually get into the book. It was very slow to start up and it really feels as though all the action is packed into the last fifty pages.

Overall, the book was really enjoyable. I loved the way that each mother daughter relationship was explored from both perspectives.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleanor Ray's 'The Art of Belonging' was a cute, easy but nothing special read that I picked up recently.

It skillfully navigated the choppy waters of a family reeling from a recent breakup, alongside a different, older trauma that continued to cast a shadow over their relationships, especially the delicate dynamics between parent and child.

The straightforward and engaging storytelling made the book an effortless journey, weaving through themes of belonging and connection amidst the backdrop of everyday family challenges.

Not something I would be recommending, but equally, not something to avoid.

[Ade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an emotional read. It follows the story of Grace, her daughter Amelia and granddaughter Charlotte who are learning to live with each other.

It is a story of fractured, fragile and complex family relationships. It celebrates friendship (across ages) and healing.

I enjoyed the realness of the characters. They were so relatable and the author tackled sensitive issues with compassion and empathy.

I love how the mystery and trains closed the gap between the young and the old. There are lessons to be learnt from Grace and Amelia’s relationship.

If you enjoy books with complex family dynamics or if you are looking for something cozy to read this is your book.

[Greenreadsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Eleanor's first novel 'Everything is Beautiful', so I was very keen to read this one. Written in the third person, it focuses on 3 generations of women Grace in her 70s, in her 40s and 11 year old Charlotte. Grace is lonely and appears to have a minimal, distant relationship with Amelia and Charlotte.

When they are unexpectedly brought together by difficult circumstances, we begin to explore the tensions and their source and find out more about Grace's earlier life.

Family and friendships are at the heart of the story, as is communication and connection. I loved the story and the characters in this beautifully written, compelling novel. I nearly embarrassed myself crying on the bus on the way home finishing this. It's wonderful! Beautiful, uplifting, emotional, well crafted. I loved Sammy and Charlotte, loved Grace's miniatures gang and the multilayered richness of the story. Highly recommended!!

[Wendy Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle and heartwarming story listened on audio. Grace welcomes her daughter and granddaughter to live with her after Amelia's marriage breaks down. Their family history is unpicked as all three characters learn to get along. Charlotte and Sam's developing friendship, investigating their teachers disappearance and the challenges of adolescence made me smile. And at the other end of the generations Grace allowing love into her life again with her model railway friend brought happiness in later life. A satisfying listen.

[Danielle Amor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story in emojis: 🚂👷🏼💔

My Top 3 things from this book:
•Women in STEM
•Three Generations
•Edison

This book was such a lovely heartwarming book (although did have some very sad memories) which had such realistic themes/ events in.

I really liked the younger characters the most, Charlotte and Sammy were lovely
children and their friendship played a large part in the story which was nice.

My favourite part (aside from the dog) was definitely that Grace had had a career in STEM 👌🏼 #CareerWoman

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Marcia Weekes-Spears · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into and did not warm to Amelia at all. A pleasant book with some heartwarming moments, would have liked to see more character development and interaction between Grace and Amelia and their relationship (both challenges and reconciling).

Loved the relationship between Charlotte and Sammy.

The Mr Brown angle could have been either expanded on or not there at all as it didn’t really add any value as it was written.

[Sionainn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was extremely wholesome and well written. The story started of strong following a fractured family who, throughout the book, find themselves back together again.

A story about forgiveness and how important family is. I did enjoy the characters, but as we gradually went on, everything that could have happened did happen, which turned out to be a little too convenient for me!

A great pallet cleanser with a strong story!

[Ema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor Ray is on track to become one of those authors that I absolutely scream about while no one listens. I adore the way she crafts narratives and interweaves multiple characters and their stories in a way that feels so poignant and like such a bittersweet love letter to the human experience. At points, perhaps a bit simple, and perhaps a bit too obvious, but that didn't detract.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it. I really warmed to the character Grace and Charlotte, but not so much Amelia. The first 200 pages I felt was slow paced, setting up the end scenes. It was only until after that that it became a page turner for me. All in all, a nice easy to follow story with a good plot and lessons to learn from.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read. The 3 female characters were all very likeable and it was lovely to see how they navigated their new family situation of daughter and granddaughter living together with grandma as a family again whilst coping with their change of circumstances . I loved that they helped each other overcome difficulties. It was a very heart warming read. Recommend.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three key characters- Mum,Charlotte, and grandmother - have their own perspectives on the events facing them as Charlotte's mum's marriage fails, and they move to stay with grandmother at her house. It's a feel-good book.