While away on a business trip to Burma with her husband, Salina Lennox leaves her daughter with the girl's grandparents. There she is staying in Blackwood House all alone except for the grandparents, the governess, Miss Vera Lovelock and Salina's personal maid, Polly. Unhappy and missing her mother terribly, Alice begins writing to her and in her replies, Salina sets her daughter on something of a scavenger hunt. It is through this hunt, that we find the story of Salina Lennox set in 1925. At that time she was known as a "Bright Young Thing" enjoying parties, drinking, and being in the fashionable set of the time. Those were the "heady" years, the years between WWI and WWII. New found freedom, the old conventions no longer applied, the youth who flaunted their attitudes, looking for adventure, yet at what cost? It was at a treasure hunt during one of Salina's "wild" party nights that her life changed. The glittering hour, filled with fun and shrieks of joy and laughter, they carried on with never a thought about what the future would bring. But with everything that has a beginning, everything has an end.

It is 1936 when we meet 9 year old Alice and the secrets of Blackwood House as its inhabitants surface. Alice whose mother writes to her, providing her clues to a treasure hunt, where upon the little girl learns her mother's history before she was born.

This is a story of heartbreak, complexities and a highly emotional read. The story is one that not only draws you in at the onset, but keeps you firmly enthralled as you go further. This was the first book I have read by Iona Grey, it won't be my last.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this outstanding novel and the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

How sad life can be when we do what others expect of us or when we do not take chances as previous disappointments still consume us. Selina ‘s personal feelings left her incapable of really trusting those who loved her dearly, especially In regards to Lawrence and Alice. A sad read about lost opportunities. Often what we perceive as the right course of action has consequences that are unfortunate and sad for others. This is for most of the characters in this novel. An engaging read that sometimes get bogged down with irrelevant details but for the most entertaining.

I couldn't finish this book...the writing seemed influenced by Fitzgerald, who did a far better job with this era. Selina's letters to her 10-year-old daughter were boring and seemed highly inappropriate. The concept of Alice, the child, who clearly struggled with language skills, investigating and figuring out her mother's clues were so improbable...

This was one of the most beautiful, spellbinding books I've ever read. The author has the remarkable ability to make you feel like you are one with the story as it unfolds, and you can almost see and feel what the characters are experiencing.

I grew to care a great deal about the three main protagonists - Selina Lennox, her daughter, Alice, and the man who was Selina's first, and truest love, Lawrence Weston. There is sadness and loss, but there is also unrelenting hope and love.

Quite simply, it's an evocative masterpiece.

Thank you, Net Galley and Thomas Dunne Books.

3.5*

A lovely book tinged with sadness. A story about a big love and secrets told in two parts. I especially enjoyed the time period and tone of the book.

The story is about Selina Lennox, who was a young socialite in England. She marries in 1926 to a man that her family deems to be acceptable and gives birth to a daughter, Alice. The story begins in 1936 as Selina accompanies her husband on a business trip to Burma. She has to leave her daughter in the care of her up-to-do family. As she knows it will be hard for her daughter to be away from her and stay with her family that has always been a little distant she starts a little game with her. She begins to write letters to Alice and tells her she will reveal to her about how she "became to be." Essentially the story of Alice. With the letters are clues to a treasure hunt that will lead Alice to discover things about her life. The story here goes back and forth from 1926 to 1936.

I thought the premise of the book was pretty clever. Although the story was engaging I did find part one to lag somewhat. I would have also preferred for the big love story to be drawn out a little bit more. I found that part lacked some depth for me initially although it made up for it in part two. Part two of the book was very touching (albeit sad.)

I read, Iona Grey's first novel, "Letters to the Lost" and loved that one a lot. I didn't find myself as captivated by this one but nevertheless I still enjoyed it. I think she is an up and coming and talented author who I will for sure keep my eyes out for any upcoming releases.

A wild debutante who doesn't mean to rock the society boat but always does meets the man of her dreams even if those dreams can't be the reality. Selina is one of the "bright young things" who party every night and usually have no memory of it the next morning. Lawrence is a struggling portrait artist whose heart belongs to the camera. Jump ahead ten years and Selina's young daughter is spending time at her upper-crust grandparent's manor home. Their "children should be seen and not heard" attitude and a mean spirited governess is making time stand still until her parents return from a business journey to Southeast Asia. Alice is miserable and lives for secret letters from her mother that give her clues for a treasure hunt that will enlighten Alice about her mother's youth and how Alice came to be. A beautifully written historical novel that pairs a secret love story with a lonely little girl's chance at happiness. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Beatriz Williams. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Historical fiction at its best .I was swept away by the characters the setting an emotional read I didn’t want it to end.An author I will be following and recommending to all lovers of literary fiction. #netgalley#st.martinsbooks.

Well, this just confirms it. I'm going to have to add another name to the select group that I recommend to patrons as outstanding authors. I fell in love with Letters to the Lost, and I was very hopeful this new novel would be just as wonderful.

It is. It really is.

The writing is superb, the setting very atmospheric, and the characters were wonderfully crafted. The emotional impact is huge. I finished this book a couple of days ago, and I'm still not over it.

A must read. An absolute must.

Stunning and splendid, this is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. I can't think of a more evocative, lush, romantic rendering of first love. Set in the poignant madness of post WWI, it features a society girl and a talented artist from a rough background - both seeking meaning beyond their confining worlds. The magnificent and sensitive writing calls to mind Rosamunde Pilcher's <i>The Shell Seekers</i>. The story will stay with readers a long time, a mark of a truly talented writer. This is a transcendent, gorgeous story of love. Exceptional!

Set in London and covering a decade in the life of Selina Lennox, one of the bright young people whose life is one party after another without thought to consequences or propriety, and whose life is turned upside down by a chance meeting with Lawrence Weston. A painter who aspires to be a famous photographer. 

Selina has a wild affair with the man but she understands that she must marry for money and not love. And she does. But she has a special gift from Lawrence that will forever change all of their lives.

There was a lot of truth in this beautiful and moving story of love, loss, and redemption. I am not ashamed to admit I cried more than a little. The characters were flawed and real, with a backdrop of one war over and another about to begin. 

A truly beautiful story from a talented author!

NetGalley/ December 10th, 2019 by Thomas Dunne Books

I really enjoyed this very lovely book that deals with the lives of the chic set Of “bright young things” in post WWI England. The author does a great job of bringing the reader into the rarefied world of the glitterati during those years. Her descriptions are vivid, her characters well-drawn.

The plot seems simple at first, but some unexpected twists make it far more complex and engaging. I found myself liking the main characters, especially the characters of Selina and her daughter, Alice.

This is also a fine social history of the years when England was mourning the victims of WWI as they stood on the precipice of WWII. It also speaks to the role of women and the strictures placed on them by society. The great homes and wealth of prior years are quickly changing with crumbling mansions, diminished wealth and the lack of staff to maintain the once great houses and the families.

I especially liked the way the author was able to tie the story together. I must admit I found myself deeply involved with these wounded souls.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to be a reviewer.

When you finish this book you will be filled with deep sorrow and uplifting sense of joy. The story set in the roaring twenties about young socialites thinking life was just wild abandoned fun. The heroine comes crashing to earth and feels the true meaning of living. The sorrows and love that comes at a terrible cost. A haunting story that will remain with you long after.

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey is a stunning, tearfully, gut-wrenching historical fiction that is a dual timeline but weaves into one at the end. This is an impressive and ingenious novel that weaves a story slowly spun, but spirals to the satisfying and touching conclusion.
This story mainly weaves the loves of Alice and her mother, Selina, and tells a bittersweet story of love, loss, redemption, and finding one another against the odds and years. The puzzle pieces slowly fit together as the story continues onward, but not in chronological lines. The result is truly a masterpiece.
The three things I love most about this book: the imagery that the author creates for the reader is breathtaking, you feel as if you are actually there. Second, is placing the narrative with other characters as well. We get to see the inner thoughts of Selina’s mother, Polly, Lawrence, Rupert, Mr Patterson, etc. Every character gets their turn, its ingenious. Lastly, I love the ending. It is just perfect. Nothing else could have possibly been appropriate.

5/5 stars. Stunning

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Dunne books for this amazing ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review And opinion.

I am posting this to my GR account immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Despite one or two instances of improbable motivating factors, there were moving scenes. More importantly, I enjoyed reading it.