3.25 Stars

Bethlehem, the debut novel by Karen Kelly, is an ambitious, multigenerational novel set in the glory days of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, site of Bethlehem Steel Corporation. At one time the BSC was the second largest steel producer in America and one of the great innovators in beam structures used to advance the building of skyscrapers. They were also major producers of ordinance used in WWI and WWII. The novel, which cuts back and forth between 1918-25 (Susannah's early years) and 1962 (Joanna's story intersecting with Susannah's), tells the story of family secrets, deceptions, and illicit love during the Great War period to the lead up of the Great Depression. While the novel presents two interesting periods of in American history, I found it oddly paced (the first half is quite slow) and wanted more from the story, particularly more from Joanna's character. (I felt it was clear that Susannah was Kelly's favorite child?) I would have enjoyed a family tree, at least at the end, to help track family connections, as there are quite a few characters, a number with nicknames.

While some aspects of the plot are haunting in terms of the choices we make and live with, in recent years I've sadly been spoiled by reading very polished historical fiction novels by writers like Martha Hall Kelly, Kate Quinn, and Susan Meissner and Kelly's writing suffers in comparison. Nevertheless, Kelly shows great promise and in tighter editorial hands, I'm sure she will continue to grow as a writer. I'll definitely pick up her next novel.

Memorable quote:

"The fact that some skin doesn't show scars does not mean there haven't been wounds." - Joanna Collier.


I received a Digital Review Copy from St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of Bethlehem by Karen Kelly.

Joanna is visiting a local graveyard close to the her husband's family's estate that she has just moved to. There she finds that the town, as well as her family, as many untold secrets, secrets that may directly apply to her. Listening to the stories of the past, Joanna learns the mysteries of the family that lived in Bethlehem years before.

This book has a lot of beauty and rich storytelling, but it was work, the whole way through. I had a really hard time attaching myself to the characters and places, but sometimes certain books just don't come to us at the right time.

Because her husband Frank is called to work away, Joanna and her two children move in with her mother-in-law. Frank’s family residence is grand and Joanna quickly finds herself overwhelmed by the opulence of her new home. During an outing with her children, they discover at tombstone in the cemetery with the simple inscription Baby Hayes. Little does Joanna know that this tombstone has a sad story of love, family, friends, forbidden relationships, secrets and forgiveness.
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Karen Kelly presents a beautiful story delivered in two timelines which happens in the 20’s and 60’s. The writing is beautiful and descriptive. The characters are well defined and lovable. This is a lovely historical novel.
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💁🏼‍️ Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for sending me an eARC of this stunning book.

1962

Joanna, her husband, Frank, and their two children Charlie, 6, and Daisy, 5, have moved into Brynmor, Frank's family’s home. His mother, Susannah, and grandmother, Helen, also live there. The Collier family is very wealthy and heavy into Bethlehem Steel.

Joanna had been a nurse when she met Frank. Her family is a modest Catholic one and she married into the Collier Episcopal family.

Living with her mother-in-law and Frank working late every night is difficult for Joanna. She has little say in how things are done and even her children’s birthday party plans are taken from her hands.

In her walks around town, Joanna meets Doe Janssen, the cemetery custodian of the graveyard. Her home is called Grange House located in the cemetery and they have lived there for 50 years. Doe is a delightful woman and Joanna enjoys spending time with her. Soon, Doe’s grandson, Daniel, comes to live with her to help out with the work in the cemetery. He and Joanna begin a friendship and she is happy to have found a friend to supplement her lonely life.

This book switches back and forth in time to when Susannah and her sister were young and how life was during that time. We learn of her true love and of the man she is expected to marry.

At first, I felt like this book dragged but it finally started spilling long-kept secrets. As Joanna learns the secrets, she realizes that she and her mother-in-law aren’t so different after all.

A good story that I think readers will enjoy. The privileges and expectations of the wealthy of that time period is laid out well. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bethlehem, by Karen Kelly, is a family saga that is situated in Bethlehem, PA, home to Bethlehem Steel. It focuses on two prominent and intertwined families, two time periods, and two women. In the 1960’s, Joanna moves with her husband and two children into the ancestral home of her in-laws, including her mother-in-law, Susannah. In the 1920’s, we meet the young Susannah, a debutante and a young woman in love. Both women are complex, mysterious, and struggle to figure out what values and whose needs are most important.

Although there is a mystery that is resolved, this story is driven almost entirely by the character study of the two women. Unfortunately, the complexity of these two women is somewhat obscured by the deluge of minor characters and the pace of the first half. While Kelly writes beautifully and evokes the landscape of Bethlehem and Lehigh University (where I once taught), location does not seem to matter all that much to the plot. Also, it is noteworthy that the 20’s and 60’s were both times of great social, political, and economic upheaval that deeply impacted the lives of women. Yet, neither woman seemed to be touched. I am not sure I would characterize this novel as historical fiction. Nonetheless, I recommend this novel.

Joanna and Susannah will stay with me for a long time. They reinforce the message that our lives are often determined by random events which we control only in the way we respond. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I finished this book a couple of days ago and still struggling with my feelings. I was somewhat apprehensive since the blurb compares Kelly’s writing style to that of Ian McEwan and I’m not a fan of his. But I found the blurb intriguing effort, it’s the lesser-known bits of history I love reading around and Bethlehem Steel fits the bill. Also when Kate Morton's name is included I take notice - being a HUGE fan of hers.

I started this book a couple of times before finally finishing it. I’ll confess that I struggled, especially when I got halfway through. I was bored, being unable to connect with the characters and really finding the point to the story was getting to me. Shortly after that though things changed dramatically and a nice little story came through.

Given the title, I anticipated more involvement of the steel industry and that didn’t happen.

My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bethlehem is a quiet novel that details the past 50 years or so of the Collier and Parrish family. It alternates between current day, where wife (and outsider) Joanna is getting used to living in the family home, and the past, where Joanna's mother-in-law Susannah is growing up. The novel's plot is well paced, with enough revelations to keep the reader interested. It is definitely a character study. It shows how we react to situations that are placed before us and what we do when faced with a crossroad. It also examines marriages in many forms, both the newly started, the ones stuck in the middle, and the ones that have survived the years intact while facing bumps and challenges. It also examines relationships, both romantic, familial, and friendships. How they evolve and change over the years and how, when faced with our darkest days, there are always people we can turn to for love and support. Bethlehem was a fantastic novel that has a lot of heart and feeling and emotion that will stay with you even after you've finished it.

*Between 3 and 3.5 stars

This is a family saga set in Bethlehem, PA and centers around three generations of matriarchs, grandmother, mother, and daughter-law, which is told in two alternating timelines: 1918 and 1962.

The story gets off to a rather slow start, which is perhaps its greatest flaw. I was surprised there wasn't a more dramatic lead-in to the story before plunging into their fairly mundane everyday lives. But the stage had to be set for the drama to come, I assume.

About midway through, I was pleased to find myself totally immersed in the story so I was glad I had the patience to hang in there. Lots of trials and tribulations, and what some may call a bit of melodrama, but with a strong cast of supporting characters to see them through with unconditional love: "I'm never here to judge you; I'm only here to help you." Wow, if only we all could have that kind of support in our lives. I found myself liking these women very much.

I received an arc of this book from the publisher via netGalley for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

A working-class girl married into an elite industrial family, Joanna Collier must bring her young children to live at her husband's family home in the steel-town of Bethlehem. Lonely and losing herself into a listless existence, Joanna struggles to connect with her children's grandmother, Susannah, and great-grandmother, Helen. Meanwhile, having taken over his father's company, Frank's work pulls him away more and more, leaving little time for the two to mend the cracks that threaten to tear their marriage apart.

Forty years earlier, we see the story of Frank's mother, Susannah. Raised as the privilege daughter of a steel titan, Susannah Parrish was always destined to wed Wyatt Collier, until the autumn she discovered that his older brother was in fact "the one." The pain of a secret romance and the untold stories swirling around Susannah's life come to the surface to explain the quiet, guarded woman who raised Frank Collier and who will come to be a friend to Frank's wife Joanna. 

This was a beautifully rendered dual narrative novel that shows both the flapper era of the 1920s and the nearer era of the 1960s. In a story with no "bad guys," the tension created by circumstance was palpable and propelled me with barely a break from cover to cover. When stories deal with infidelity or incipient infidelity, there is always the question of how duty and desire will be dealt with. This story handles the concepts with the appropriate gravity and perspective. The terrible weight of secrets and deception is skillfully portrayed, and the final epilogue nearly made me shed a tear. Bethlehem surprised me by being one of my favorite books of the year so far. Recommended. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was such a good story. I couldn't put it down! I loved Karen Kelly's writing style, although sometimes the names and nicknames got a little confusing for me. This one is a must read for historical fiction fans!

Bethlehem by Karen Kelly contained a pleasant surprise, it was about Bethlehem, PA, which is about an hours drive from my home and therefore a locale with which I am familiar. The fact that it is a multi-generational saga of 2 families and the way in which their lives have intertwined over the years only adds to its appeal in my eyes. The story is told through different voices and jumps back and forth through time, which only deepens its appeal and makes you want to keep turning those pages.

If you enjoy family sagas and well written stories, this book is definitely one you should not miss!

Bethlehem is a beautifully written, well-structured story about two privileged families with deep interconnections over a span of four or more decades. For the Colliers and the Parrishes, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the steel industry is something of a "family business," one which treats them well.

Author Karen Kelly uses alternating timelines to tell the two families' stories. In the 1920s we meet the five offspring, whose childhood and adolescence is carefree, prosperous and easy. In the 1960s we see them again as life has honed them. Kelly handles the transitions skillfully, making them painless for the reader.

Perhaps we gain more insight into family members because the point of view character is an outsider. Joanna (who came from a humble background) is now the wife of Frank Collier, who has become a steel executive in the family tradition. Upon Frank's father's death, the couple has returned to the imposing home, complete with ballroom, in which he grew up, and where his mother and grandmother still live.

Early in the book, it seems as if the characters -- all of them -- are quite shallow, the original family members in their casual entitlement and Joanna is her resentful consciousness of class differences. As the book progresses, though, we discover (just as with a live human friend) depths that were at first hidden.

Kelly's attention to detail made the passages from both eras feel authentic. The psychological insight she included was deft. But my favorite parts of the book were the mysteries that seemed to haunt the vast Collier mansion, and the emotional bombshells that were set off as the mysteries were revealed.

And with all that, there was plenty of subtle humor. Even those (like me) who usually avoid historical fiction will find much to like in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance readers copy.

Bethlehem is a carefully written, touching and moving family saga that takes a different approach here to those buried family secrets. The story explores temptation, regret, cost of carrying those secrets and how it changes the people who do.

Things start off slow here or better described as quietly as we see the relationships between the characters develop and get a strong sense of how they care for each other. It takes some patience here and comes at risk here for reviewers as we are often rushed to get to the long list of titles we have. However, my Traveling Sisters warned me and I waited to start this one when I could give it the focus it needs.

What seems as a simple story develops into a complex story and there is a lot of depth to this one. Once the layers are placed the pace starts to pick up and the story becomes quite interesting. There are two timelines and stories going on here with our main characters and I found one to be much stronger than the other and at times the weaker one added some weight to the story. However, I really enjoyed how it all came together and thought it was brilliantly done. There is a lot to think about and discuss with this one and it really lead to a great discussion among the Traveling Sisters who read this one. I highly recommend for group reads especially when they are read over a longer period of time and some focus can be given to it.

I have just finished it late last night and I'm still thinking about it this morning. The first few chapters are very rich in character introduction and development so when you start this book I would highly advise you to begin the book at a time and place where you can read without distraction. I had to reread the first couple of chapters because I am normally multi-tasking and just couldn't retain what i was reading or keep the characters and the time frame straight. . That said though - once i focused solely on those important chapters I was good. The story shifts between the 1920s and 1960s in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania going back and forth in time and the reader comes to know how the past impacts the present. This is not a fast paced novel but a more character driven novel. I wasn't particularly surprised by anything in the plot but I was surprised at how much I came to like Susannah and Joannna and learning their stories. I especially loved the powerful epilogue. For a debut novel the author really has written such a beautiful novel. that I will be looking forward to reading more of her work in the future. I give this book 4 1/2 stars. Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read Bethlehem in exchange for my honest review.

Bethlehem is an excellent novel, telling the sweeping stories of two families in the city hosting the Bethlehem Steel Company. The Colliers and the Parrishes are forever interlinked in beautiful and heartbreaking ways. Though this is a woman's novel, it is not just romance. There is lots of drama, detail, scenery, sadness, and happiness. I loved that the family homes (a fancy house, as well as cemetary caretaker home) played such a big role in the scope of the novel. Not quite character level, but close. The ending elevated this book for me. I can't wait to read more from Karen Kelly. The only drawback of this novel for me is that there were so many characters/family/children that it was hard to keep track and pair everyone up at the beginning, especially since the novel took place at various points in the 1920s and 1960s.

Thanks to the publisher for a free electronic copy through NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Bethlehem by Karen Kelley is the story of three generations of wives in the Collier family. For a short time, all lived under the same roof. The book hops from time period to time period, primarily the 1920's when Wyatt and Savannah had been young adults, and 1962, when Frank And Joanna have come to live in the family home in Bethlehem. Each of the women has secrets that they don't share with anyone. Joanna feels like she is living a lie; in someone else's home and with her husband at work all of the time. Now that both her children are in school, she has time to herself but she makes only two friends, and elderly lady who lives at the cemetery, Doe; and Doe's grandson, Daniel. Each of them has their own story, away from the main story. Susannah, Joanna's mother-in-law, is slowly opening up to Joanna, trying to help in her own way. Frank's father and grandfather have both passed on, leaving Joanna as the only married woman in the group.

What a truly wonderful book. I cried through the last ten percent of it. These women and the things in their lives that never broke them show the kind of strength it takes to live a life. It is an intriguing look at people's lives and loves and how they manage. It is the story of marriages and how they survived. It is also the story of lost love and love that never quite happened. It is a masterfully crafted piece of writing. One I will not forget any time soon. I recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Bethlehem. All opinions expressed herein are solely my own. #netgalley #bethlehem

Moody and romantic, this historical fiction moves on two timelines that dovetail neatly to provide inspiration and closure for two families intertwined across generations. Author Karen Kelly does a good job recreating both time periods, 1962 and 1918, and her principal characters are engaging and absorbing. The only stumbling blocks for me were the inclusion of extra family members who were only walk-on characters, at best, and oh so many nicknames! I realize the habits of this particular social group is to nickname themselves like crazy but with the addition of so many needless walk-ones, I almost lost sight of the plot. The book gets really good about half way through and becomes impossible to put down at that point. Don’t give up on the slow start, it’s worth the effort. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Family Secrets Shadow the Lives of Three Generations of Women

With the death of Frank Collier’s father, he takes on the responsibility for management of the family’s steel company in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Frank’s extended trips leave Joanna alone with the two children. This situation is putting strain on their marriage, so Joanna agrees to move to the estate owned by Frank’s family.

The house is already occupied by Frank’s mother, Susannah, and his grandmother. Although the women are friendly, Joanna feels increasingly out of place. The mansion reeks of tragedy. Although Joanna thought the move would bring her closer to Frank, she finds that her loneliness is driving them further apart.

If you enjoy books with haunting mansions, family secrets, and romance, this is a well done book. The opening is a little hard to get through. Many characters are introduced all with both nicknames and given names which are used throughout the text. However, the characters are compelling. The stories of Joanna and Susannah are told in the time periods of the 1920’s and the 1960’s. I found Susannah’s story more dramatic, but Joanna’s story of trying repair her marriage is also interesting.

The background is mostly about the family, but we get glimpses of the steel industry particularly in the 1820. The ending is the part that makes the book. It’s surprising and thoroughly satisfying.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

Karen Kelly is a new author to me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I found Bethlehem to be a book that kept me wanting to turn pages to learn more about the characters and the town of Bethlehem.

The story of Frank and Joanna who go to live at Frank’s family home along with their two children are set in the 1960s. In the home resides the two matriarchs of the family, Frank’s mother and grandmother. This leaves Joanna feeling like she is a visitor in her home, decisions are made without her being asked, her children are given freedoms and without her consent, and Frank is always at work. Joanna feels like she is losing herself. The mother-in-law, Susannah, also gets to tell her story that starts in the 1920s and leads to the revealing secrets that she has kept close to the heart to not cause any family problems.

I felt that the start was a little hard to follow because there were so many characters introduced at one time. I struggled to keep them straight and to follow who’s story I was reading. As the story continued it became easier to figure out and I grew more attached to both the characters and the story itself.

Bethlehem is a woman’s historical fiction. It tells of life in a town that is supported by the U.S Steel industry but goes on to show the bond between a mother and daughter and the struggles of marriage. The cover should draw your attention but the storyline will keep you entertained.

Wow! What a read! I loved this book. Bethlehem by Karen Kelly is a back-and-forth in time read that is set in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and bounces between 1962 and the early 1920s. The 1962 section is told from the point of view of Joanna, and back in the early 20s, we see things primarily from Susannah’s perspective. Susannah is Joanna’s mother-in-law, and so the two time periods have an obvious connection that doesn’t feel forced.

I liked both time periods. The setting is the same, Brynmor, the Parrish family estate, and early on we learn that Susannah Parrish marries Wyatt Collier, the son of the head engineer at Bethlehem Steel, which is owned and operated by the Parrish family. The time period in the early twenties tells the story of how Susannah and Wyatt fell in love, and the 1962 section tells of Joanna, and her struggles living at Brynmor, and trying to fit in and live with her husband’s family.

For at least the first half of the book, not a whole lot of plot happens. I was enjoying the book, but wasn’t sure where it was going. We read about life at Brynmor, and read of Joanna’s struggles to fit in and feel a sense of belonging, and we see a youthful Susannah full of energy and happiness. Then the book starts to shift, and I realized all of the carefully crafted buildup, and I couldn’t put the book down. While it started quietly, it ended with a stunning conclusion that still leaves me a bit shaken.

Bethlehem is a book with a love triangle (or two) that works. Love, family, secrets, grief, and time all play a role. To say more would spoil the unwinding of this beautifully crafted story. This is a book about love – the kind of love you wish that you are lucky enough to find. It’s also a book about secrets and how they can weigh us down. I loved it!

Bottom Line: An excellent read. Would make a great book club selection!