Neglected Faithfuls – Emma's Biblio Treasures

Published July 18th, 2013 by Cornerstone
Suspense, Domestic Fiction, Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

An unforgettable story about a family with a terrible secret. From the #1 bestselling author of The Family Upstairs and None of This is True comes a new edition of The House We Grew Up In, with a brand new introduction from Lisa Jewell!

‘Unputdownable’ RED
‘Simply stunning’ Daily Mail
‘Fantastically gripping’ HELLO!
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When a tragedy breaks a family apart, what can bring it back together?

The Birds seem to be the perfect family: mother, father, four children, a charming cottage in the country.

But one Easter weekend, something happens – something so unexpected, so devastating, that no one can bring themselves to talk about it.

The family shatters, seemingly for good.

Until, years later, they are forced to return to the house they grew up in, and to confront what really broke the family apart . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

One of my 2026 goals is to read more of my TBR. Specifically, the backlist books by authors that have languished on my shelves for far too long. Lisa Jewell is one of my favourite thriller authors, but I’m ashamed to say I didn’t start reading her books until 2019, which means I have her huge backlist of books still to enjoy. So, when I was looking for a mood read I decided it was time to dive into that backlist, and finally read The House We Grew Up In.

The Birds seem like the perfect family: mum, dad, four children and a charming country cottage. But all of that changes one Easter weekend when tragedy strikes. And instead of coming together, it fractures them completely; each family member retreating into their own, private grief and torment over what happened. Now, the family is being forced back together for the first time in years after the death of matriarch Lorelei, and must confront the tragedy that tore them apart.

My heart is totally destroyed after this book. Compelling, tense and twisty, I was not prepared for the heartrending emotion that is woven into this story. I expected a fast-paced thriller and heart-stopping twists, but instead Lisa delivers a steadily paced, moving story where the twists are teased out slowly. It is expertly written, cleverly plotted and perfectly paced, moving seamlessly between dual timelines with extracts from emails from Lorelei and her online sweetheart, Jim, peppered throughout. I was on tenterhooks from start to finish, eager to discover whatever dark secrets this family held.

So, let’s talk about the Birds. This is a very character-driven story so having captivating and richly drawn characters is vital. Obviously, we know Lisa writes fantastic characters, but her talent for writing characters really shines in this book. We get to know each member of the Bird family in detail over the course of the book, all of their imperfections and fears exposed as we peel away the fractured layers of this family. They are all complex, flawed, real. Lorelei isn’t your typical matriarch. She loves her children and being a mother, but she’s also very quirky. And after the tragedy she spirals, her ‘quirks’ of keeping objects because she feels they have sentimental value becoming a full-blown hoarding disorder that ends up with her house being uninhabitable. Each member of the family deals with both the tragedy and Lorelei in their own way, but it is eldest daughter, Megan, who challenges it most and I really felt for her. She was probably my favourite character and my heart hurt for all that she went through.

A must-read for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968.

Her first novel, Ralph’s Party, was the best- selling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another twenty novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks.

Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over thirty languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Published February 2nd, 2021 by Pan Macmillan
Historical Fiction, Romance Novel, Domestic Fiction

Welcome to my review for this phenomenal masterpiece. Thank you to Bookbreak and Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale set in Depression-era America that makes your heart break and soar in equal measure.’ – Matt Haig, author of The Midnight Library

The Four Winds, an instant New York Times number one bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, is a deeply moving story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah.

‘Powerful and compelling’ – Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads Sing

She will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .

Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.

Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?

From the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds – Elsa’s incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the ones we love.

‘A story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope. I loved this book so much!’ – Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo

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MY REVIEW:

Kristin Hannah has done it again. Powerful, moving, mesmerising and timeless, The Four Winds is another unforgettable masterpiece. A story of love, loss, survival, courage, heroism and hope set during the Great Depression, it follows Elsa Martinelli as she fights to survive on the Great Plains during the Dust Bowl era and then as she travels to California with her children in search of a fresh start. Will it be the land of milk and honey as she’s been promised?

This atmospheric and all-consuming tour-de-force packed a strong emotional punch and has left me with a huge book hangover. I could have lived inside this story forever and was bereft at finishing it. I’ve now read three books by Ms. Hannah and each one has been magnificent, so it seems I’m guaranteed something spectacular with every book and I’m excited for what her backlist has in store for me.

Masterfully written, I was totally immersed in this epic saga which transported me back to the Great Depression. Hannah’s meticulous research is evident on every page, and with evocative imagery she paints vivid scenes that bring to life the dust-swept plains of Texas and the bleak reality of these people’s lives – dust storms that last weeks, the dust choking you and coating every surface, the muddy milk of cows forced to eat dust-covered grass, the gnawing hunger they felt as their crops failed, and the heartache of watching your loved ones slowly waste away. Desperation, drudgery and fear permeates every page, but there is also resilience, determination, bravery, and a fierce strength that left me in awe. Hannah explores a multitude of themes on these pages including the complexities of motherhoods, the power of community, social injustice, and the American Dream, creating a relatable, stirring and timely story that I got lost in.

Hannah has filled the pages with richly drawn, flawed and compelling characters, creating a strong connection between her characters and the reader and making us feel invested in their stories. The book’s protagonist, Elsa, is a formidable woman who battles against seemingly insurmountable odds, facing one hardship after another. We meet her as a spinster from a well-off family but when she becomes pregnant Elsa swaps her life of comfort and finery for one of toil and hardship when she’s forced to marry Italian farmer, Rafe. It’s a huge change, but she learns to love her new life. But after Rafe leaves, the Great Depression hits, and drought and winds turn the land into the Dust Bowl, things get even harder for Elsa and we see just how much strength she has, but we also see her vulnerability and fear. The other narrator, Elsa’s daughter Loreda, was my favourite character. She is a firecracker and I loved her spark, spirit and ferocity. You could tell this girl would go far and I loved watching the lessons that she and Elsa taught each other.

Phenomenal, breathtaking and extraordinary, I can’t recommend this book highly enough and if I could give it more than five stars I would. Read it now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. You can listen for 60 days free by clicking my affiliate link here*

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From Kristin’s Website: Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. Additionally, it was a selection of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club in 2023. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018, The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.

The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstores’ bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and the Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.

The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with Dakota and Elle Fanning set to star. Tri Star has also optioned The Great Alone and it is in development. Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.

A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.

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BUY THE BOOK:

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Thanks for reading Bibliophiles xxxx