I saw someone post a 5 star review on this book and the second I read the summary, I knew I wanted to read it. I started out really enjoying it and for most of the story I did. I liked the main character and the story itself was interesting and engaging. There was also nice reveal about 25% of the way through that I really enjoyed. This is also the book I read the quickest so far this month, so there is obviously a nice flow to it as well. The other aspect I liked was the idea of a group of females coming together over a common problem and growing stronger because of it. You could also tell the author did a good deal of research about the earthquake piece of things, and I always love seeing the research people do go into a book. I think for me what didn't land was how it all wrapped up in the last 25% of the book. I felt like the ending just tied up too quickly and neatly to seem realistic. Of course it is fiction and doesn't need to be, but I didn't feel like what the police officer did would have ever happened, so I didn't feel satisfied in the end. Still, I did enjoy the journey, and liked a lot about this book, so I think others would (and have) really enjoy it too!

The Nature of Fragile Things
By Susan Meissner


A captivating story of resilience placed Amidst the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant desperate to get out of a squalid New York tenement. She answers a mail order bride advertisement and agrees to marry a man she's never met who lives in San Francisco. When she arrives in San Francisco the widower Marvin Hocking proves to be elusive, disappearing for work for days at a time and rarely has much to say when he is home. Despite that, Sophie quickly develops a deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter. Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her situation isn't quite right.

Early one spring evening Belinda Bigelow, a young pretty pregnant women knocks on Sophie’s door looking for her husband, James. Sophie soon discovers she has something in common with Belinda as well as with another woman, Candace who is sick with consumption and lives hundreds of miles away in Arizona.

The fate of these three women are intertwine forever on the eve of a devastating earthquake that will test their resiliency and resolve.

“It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fires to burn. And just as it is the nature of men and women to build, it is also in our nature to begin again after disaster.

REVIEW
The Nature of Fragile Things is a must-read captivating book placed amidst the devastation of 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The earthquake toppled not only the city, the but newly built life that Sophia had just created. The man that she married was not who he said he was. Secrets abound in this immersing and delightfully descriptive historical fiction novel.

Author Susan Messiner has drawn a powerful portrait of a strong and smart woman with filled with perseverance and resilience in the character of Sohpie. This is a unique and fascinating story that expands the definition of family and the bonds of friendship. It is perfectly paced, creatively constructed and emotionally intense. Highly Recommended.

Susan Meissner is the author of numerous novels most recently including The Last Year of the War (2019) and As Bright as Heaven (2018),

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Publisher Berkley
Published February 2, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

“I don't think love is something you can start and stop by choosing. Our hearts tell us who we will love, and not the other way.”

Synopsis ✨

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right. Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events.

My Review ✨

I haven't read a historical fiction novel in a while that gripped me from the beginning like this one did. I have never read a book by Susan Meissner, but she made me feel like I was in San Francisco in 1906 during the earthquake. Prior to reading this, I didn't know much about this event in history.

I think my favorite part of this entire story was the emphasis on the choices we make in life, the resilience of women, the bond of friendship + a little mystery. I didn't want to let these characters go. I loved them all for very different reasons.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must read. I also think that people who may not be as into historical fiction would love this one too. There's a lot of twists with a little mystery thrown in. Cannot recommend it enough! ✨

many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Compelling story! I could not stop turning the pages, this book continually keeps you guessing and I loved it. Susan Meissner is a master storyteller!

The Nature of Fragile Things is a well written historical novel. Good plot and character development. Fans of historical books will enjoy this book.

This book was a wonderful historical fiction- I first fell in love with historical fiction when Susan Meissner released As Bright as Heaven, and this book certainly did not disappoint. I wish I would have connected a little bit more with the main characters.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A stunning historical novel about love, deception, bonds forged, and overcoming the casualties of life.

THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS is a beautifully written novel that both pulls at the heartstrings and gives hope about making it through the more difficult times in life. Meisner has crafted a story nothing less than captivating.

What made this book so brilliant is the layers and the multiple facets woven within the tale. This is not simply about a woman who marries a man and raises his child. There is mystery, duplicity, and complications that make everything so much richer. Then you have the characters. Each person met comes to life on the page. They are three-dimensional and real as their flaws are laid bare.

From being transported in time to getting to know the women in this book, THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS is the best of what historical fiction can be. It shows strength can come out of hard situations, friendships can be made in the most unlikely ways, and most importantly, it gives characters with secrets and complicated pasts a chance to move forward to become who they are meant to be.

This is such a wonderful story of a woman (Sophie) who has been dealt a handful of tragedies in life, yet continues to do all she can for a better life.
When she answers the call for a mail-order bride of sorts, it pulls her out of a destitute situation and into a beautiful home where she wants for nothing, other than love from her new husband.
Sophie becomes endeared to his young, quiet daughter, and they form a bond. The author paints realistic characters and settings, dropping the reader into San Francisco in 1906, and the tragic earthquake. It's just one of the many obstacles Sophie must work through to hang on to the family she's come to love, and the family that's created from deceit by her husband.
I loved learning more about the famous earthquake and enjoyed the journey of Sophie's fight and perseverance to create a new life for herself and those she loves.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this great historical read!

I really enjoyed Susan Meissner books when she was writing for a christian publishing house. This book was good but I felt that the story had been told before. I feel it was not as complex as some of her previous books.

Sophie Whalen is an Irish immigrant that gets more than she bargained for after agreeing to marry a man she hadn't yet met. Set in the early 1900s and revolving around the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. Well-paced with lots of twists and turns. If you enjoyed The Orphan Collector, you'll enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing, The Tall Poppy Writers and NetGalley for allowing me to read a pre-release of this novel. My review was voluntary and all opinions are my own.

I couldn’t put this book down.

The story takes place in early 1900s where a young woman, Sophie, settles into a marriage of convenience with a man - a widower - she has never met. She has her reasons why, and he does too. They settle into life and she takes to her role in raising his daughter and loving her as if she was her mother.
Their world literally turns upside down as the great San Francisco earthquake tears apart the city. Right before the earthquake however, Sophie discovers disturbing secrets about the man she married.

I was glued to this story and really liked the female characters and their developing relationships with each other.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Five SOLID stars for THE NATURE OF FRAGILE THINGS! I loved this book. This was my second Susan Meissner book (read Secrets of a Charmed Life many years ago) and now I need to read ALL her books! ⁣
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1906 San Francisco earthquake historical fiction that has dark secrets and almost thriller elements. It grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I was hooked til the end. For people who aren’t sure if historical fiction is their jam, this would be a great one to try. ⁣
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Highly recommend!⁣
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TW: domestic abuse, infant loss

📚BOOK REVIEW📚
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Genre: Historical Thriller (is that a thing??)

Synopsis: A young Irish immigrant answers a newspaper ad for a widower and his young daughter in San Francisco that need a wife and mother, hoping to rebuild her life with a new family. But as she transitions into her new role, she discovers secrets about her new husband and discovers the situation was not as simple as the news ad made it seem. A surprise visit from a stranger and a destructive earthquake then sets into motion events that bring to light hidden pasts and uncertain futures for all involved.

Review: What a unique story line! I absolutely loved the characters and was wholly invested in a positive outcome for them. At the beginning of the story, there were a good number of twists, and I was totally drawn in. The last half of the story, the twists don’t really come anymore, and hints of secrets were pretty apparent to me, BUT it didn’t stop me from loving the story. I couldn’t put this one down! I highly recommend this story!

Favorite quote: “Don’t borrow tomorrow’s burdens.”

This book was fantastic. This was my first of Susan’s books but I’m now I’m converted into a long time fan! (Cue the backlist search)

The Nature of Fragile things is a beautifully crafted historical fiction about love and loss and how to pull yourself together when everything else is falling apart.

It takes places during the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake of 1905 which I had never read about before. I’ve been to the museum and have stood in the simulator but being able to submerse myself in this time period was really unique. It also asks the question...what do you have to be running from to marry a man you’ve never met?

This is a story of women and friendships and survival. The way that the author pulls all the stories together is so well done. There’s a few overhanging mysteries that will keep you reading...ok binging...to find out their secrets.

If you love...
historical fiction
mystery
female friendships
unique time periods
fantastic well done writing

THIS IS FOR YOU.

Thank you to @uplitreads and Susan herself for an advanced copy of the book! I will be forever recommending this one to others so they can lose sleep too.

Sophie Whalen is an Irish immigrant living in poverty in New York City in 1905 when she decides to answer a newspaper ad from clear across the country in San Francisco. Recently widowed Martin Hocking placed the ad, asking in it for a woman to come west, marry him, and care for his grieving motherless young daughter. Sophie jumps at the chance and as luck would have it, Martin chooses her. Sophie heads to California, into the unknown. She doesn't realize how much her world will be turned upside down until truths start revealing themselves in tandem with the devestating San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Everything she knows is literally shaken up, and nothing is as it seems...

This is the second novel I have read by Susan Meissner, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The first, As Bright As Heaven, I read early on in the Coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020 and found the Spanish Flu epidemic she wrote about in that book alluring and eerily intriguing in comparison to our current day craziness. It wasn't just the parallels of that novel that drew me in, it was her incredible stroy telling, her rich and deep characters who you can't help but fall madly in love with. Meissner has a true gift for taking you on historical journeys using unique and interesting backdrops, while weaving enchanting stories that keep you feverishly turning pages. The Nature of Fragile Things certainly did the same and I might go so far as to say is my favorite read of the year.

If you like historical fiction that isn't always from WWII but that includes mystery, intrigue, and strong female relationships, you MUST read this book. I couldn't put it down and can already feel the book hangover coming on STRONG. Amazing story!!!

A tremendous thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me the gift of this exquisite book in exchange for my honest review.

The Nature of Fragile Things is without a doubt, my favorite book by Meissner. The different elements and themes are engaging and her story is unique, and although you are transported to time and place, you feel connected to the characters as if they were living today.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake devastated the city and left well over 200,000 homeless and a high death toll. A fire broke out and quickly spread through parts of the city making it even more unsafe. Meissner’s historical telling of the earthquake and fire is wonderfully woven into the story.

What I liked most about Sophie is that she is a complex protagonist. She is not what you would call a goody-two-shoe heroine, but a woman with flaws and at times, doubt is cast about her motives and her life. Meissner steps out of the norm of one- dimensional characters I often see in stories. Readers need to see the characters battle their own demons, grow and learn from them. You get that and more from this story.

A compelling story blended with history and fiction.

I couldn’t put this book down.

Stephanie Hopkins

"It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fire to burn."

The Nature of Fragile Things is a different kind of story than I expected that centers around four strong female characters, each with their own conflicts. There are elements of suspense, tension, and mystery to this historical time in history. Secrets are the core of the story, with female solidarity themes while exploring the bonds of mother's love and friendship. On the eve of the earthquake, secrets are revealed that unite the characters, and their lives become connected. At a time when women were seen as fragile, the author brilliantly weaves in the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco as a backdrop to the story.

I enjoyed and loved the unique dynamics between the characters and the bonds they developed. They start off not knowing how fragile their world is until everything around them crumbles and set on fire, and they find out just how strong they are together. Susan Meissner creates some twists and turns along the way that I liked and one I had to not overthink. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely loved everything about this book! This is the kind of book that makes me want to find every other title written by this author and just immerse myself in them. I had previously read one other of her books and liked it a lot as well. I am adding her name to my list of authors to read no matter what they book is about!

Great character development, realistic storyline, characters a reader will actually empathize with.

The Nature of Fragile Things
By Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner's A Nature of Fragile Things is a wonderfully told story that completely immersed me into the early 1900's San Francisco and into the lives of Sophie Whalen, an irish immigrant desperate to improve her impoverished life by answering a call for a mail-order bride and marry a man she only just met from San Francisco, a widower named Martin Hocking and his five year old daughter Kat. Sophie immediately develops a deep attachment with Kat and also slowly unpeels the situation she finds herself in. Martin's odd behavior tells Sophie that something just does not feel right at all. A woman named Belinda shows up on their doorstep and things to start unravel with Sophie's life and her world, literally too as the San Francisco rocks the city causing massive devastation and damage. in the midst of this amazing historical fiction novel is a well researched story about the time frame, and about female friendships, secrets, lies, love, and loss.

A masterfully written story that I highly recommend.