This novel tells the story of May Kimble, a plucky young woman who’s tragedy has turned into a life she could have only dreamed of. She and her mother live in New York in relative poverty around the turn of the century. When her mother unexpectedly dies, May fears for her future only to have her rich aunt’s family swoop in and move her to live with them in San Francisco. Except nothing is as it seems. May’s mother and her aunt allegedly had a falling out and never spoke to each other before May was born. She’s never met these people. What could go wrong in this scenario?

Without giving away too many spoilers, the plot structure of this book is broken up into three main sections. The first is May’s journey settling into her new rich life. The second section is centered around May coping with time in an asylum. The third section is May’s escape from the asylum and attempt to rectify the wrongs done to her set amongst the backdrop of the 1906 earthquake and fires that destroyed much of the city.

Now on to my thoughts. I love historical fiction, particularly the build up of how the author is going to use a historical event to further their story. Throughout the first two sections of the book, the reader is left anticipating the tragedy to come. And it works! This narrative tension really makes the reader more invested in May’s story.

Overall, I didn’t care for the characters in this story much. My main complaint is that they’re all a bit one dimensional. They can pretty much be summed up in one word:

May- Naive

May’s uncle- conniving

May’s aunt- “crazy”

May’s cousin- flighty

And the list continues.

I really would have loved to see these characters have more nuance to them. There were definitely times May was unbelievable naive, the villains were unbelievably cruel, etc.

Another change I would have loved is to the overall structure. The first part of the book spends too long setting the scene for things that are not to be. The middle section is very short. The final section isn’t long enough. I would have loved to see less attention paid to the first section and more attention paid to May in a post-earthquake trying to rebuild her life.

My biggest complaint in this book was the asylum portion. I know that the history of psychiatric care in the US is appalling. I know that patients were treated cruelly and abused. But it comes off as trauma porn. This section of the book discusses various ways in which the asylum staff are unbelievably cruel and abusive to May, but ultimately it doesn’t matter much for the plot of the book anyway. This abuse doesn’t seem to have much of an impact on May in the final section of the book, when real-life psychiatric and medical abuse leaves long lasting scars on the patients.

Ultimately, I thought the book was interesting and the plot was unique. I think pitching this book to be more about the retribution aspect of the plot from the third section would be better to attract the type of reader who would like this than the “girl stumbles into riches” and has a Cinderella moment aspect of the first section that this book seemed to be pitched as. The weakest section of the book was the middle section that takes place in the asylum. I think the strongest part of this book is the historical backdrop and would recommend it to someone who loves historical fiction and Cinderella stories where the main character has to face many hardships before eventually getting their happy ending.

This book was provided to me by the publisher as an advanced reader copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, a great historical fiction novel! This book was so entertaining and had a lot of geographical details that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were fun to read about and the writing is so good. My only thing was I felt the plot and the pacing were a little off at times, though still a great read!

May Kimball arrives in San Francisco determined to make a good impression on her wealthy aunt and uncle. May has grown up in poverty living in New York City with her mother. For as long as May can remember, her mother has hinted about her mysterious absentee father, promising that one day May will be rich. May believes her dreams have come true, when she enters the lavish home of her rich relations, the Sullivans, but it does not take her long to realize that there is something not quite right about the household. Her aunt wanders around in a laudanum induced trance. Her beautiful, flamboyant cousin, Goldy, regularly sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night. Her uncle Jonny is overly solicitous, insisting that she and her cousin should devote themselves to having a good time. Megan Chance tells May’s story against the historical backdrop of San Francisco at the beginning of the 20th Century. Historical fiction fans will appreciate the careful attention to geographical details and the beautiful language. Chance mirrors the sudden changes and upheavals in May’s life with the historical fact of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the devastating fires that raged through the city for days after the quake. Fans of gothic fiction will quickly become immersed in this fast-paced novel,

Dark Intrigue. Dramatic Adventure! What is ruin? How many versions of it are out there? What a great historical fiction book! This book moved really fast for me, in no time I was able to read it because I thoroughly enjoyed the cast of characters from May after the great earthquake in San Francisco to the Sullivan family, to the different settings such as Chinatown and the city of San Francisco. Over all it was entertaining and I would read anything else by Ms Chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this free E- ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love revenge stories and although the basic plotline of this one is not exactly a new one, the book is still well written.

For all the common sense May Kimble possesses, it takes her to get duped and conned by her own relatives and sent to a mental asylum on false charges of insanity and committing murder as a result of it to finally open her eyes and listen to her intuition. May's revenge may not be a bloody one in the end but it is a satisfying one.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Lake Union Publishing and the author for the e-Arc of the book.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

I liked all the ways ruin is portrayed in this book. Well written. It was the first book I’ve read by the author, and I’ll read others. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Set in the early 1900’s May Kimble finds herself alone and penniless in New York after the death of her mother. Shortly after her mother's passing, she receives a letter from a wealthy aunt in San Francisco inviting her to come and live with her and her family. However, this aunt has never been mentioned to her although her mother has always told her that she does indeed belong to high society despite their current circumstances. As May has nowhere else to go, she takes up the opportunity and moves to San Francisco to meet her new-found family and starts a new life.

Once in San Francisco, May discovers her aunt is unwell and hides away in her room but her cousin Goldie takes her under the wing and introduces her to life in high society filled with excessive extravagance, social elitism and gossip being the main form of entertainment. However, not all is as it seems as the cracks begin to appear and May falls hard and fast as she is lead down the wrong path filled with deceit. What happens to her and will she seek her revenge?

This is an average fictional history novel, although the protagonist was at times rather unbelievable. She is supposed to be an intelligent young lady, however, she ignores all warnings of her fate.

The story is split into three parts, with part two being mostly unnecessary, however, there wouldn’t be much of a book without it. It is in part two where May seems to have a personality change and suddenly, she gets her wits together and forms a rather simplistic and unrealistic plan and everything magically starts going her way. Part three for me was the most interesting, as it does give a brilliant description of the 1906 earthquake in San Fransico and factual information is what I am drawn to when reading fictional history novels as it spurs me to learn more and results in me looking up information.

Overall, this book is fine if you are looking for an entertaining easy read to pass time and if you enjoy fictional history novels.

What a beautiful and hauntingly subtle but impactful book.

Megan Chance did a fantastic job evoking a nostalgia for a city that was (even a city that is, I never cared for San Francisco but she made me miss it), describing the 1906 earthquake and its aftermath, describing destruction I've only imagined and making it palpable. Most of all, she traps you with a feeling of suspense but where is the suspense coming from when she's only talking about mansions, and gilded hallways, and champagne fueled afternoons?! incredible.

She constructed this book, this plot, this story so masterfully. The deception, the betrayal, the love subplot that didn't feel sickeningly cliché, the ending that is after everything that has happened subtle, almost anticlimactic but the cherry on top. Not overdone.

Sadly I did have to skim through the asylum scenes, so vivid and horrendous, and my immersion and understanding of the book suffered a little for skimming. They were personally too much for me, but that is not to detract others from reading this.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Net Galley for a free copy of this E Book ARC in exchange for an honest review.

May Kimble just lost her mother when she received a letter from her Aunt to move to San Francisco. She live a simple life with her mom in New York. So when she got to Nob Hill she was not used to <i>"high society"</i>. But she was happy that her family, the Sullivans welcome her with open arms. Goldie her cousin took her to <i>"high society"</i> parties and gatherings but May eventually got bored. Then slowly she discovers the Sullivan's secrets and she eventually got caught in the web of all the façade, lies and even murder.

The beginning of the book was interesting then I got bored and it got interesting again but towards the end it felt rushed, like the author just want to finish this book in a hurry so we can write her next project.

Glitz, glamour, romance, and revenge... this book was a whirlwind ride, and I liked every minute of it! The author wrote a compelling character that you couldn’t help but root for, and I thorough enjoyed myself. I’ll definitely read this author again!

May Kimble is called to live at the Sullivan’s in San Francisco with her Aunt she’s never met after her mother dies. Her Aunts family welcome her into their wealthy, opulent world. But all isn’t as it seems. May almost loses everything, until the 1906 San Francisco earthquake gives her the ability to take it all back.

I loved reading this historical novel. I loved the setting, the characters and the mystery and drama of it.

Following Mays journey as she blunders through mixing with a higher social circle, as she tries to find out her past and as she realises what’s happening in the Sullivan’s house is entertaining and page turning.

The setting of the earthquake and how that gives May the ability to take her life back is a great storyline.

My only complaint is I would have liked the ending to be longer, or there to be a sequel. I’d love to know just how May is living her new life now.

4.5 stars

A Splendid Ruin is a treat for anyone interested in the turn of the century, but particularly for those who have lived in or have known San Francisco. San Francisco plays a most compelling character – vulnerable, hopeful, honest, and melancholic. As it is, even today. The main character is very modern, and utterly compelling in her bravery and belief in herself. This is an interesting, fun, immersive look into San Francisco high society at the same time as it's a time machine to the great earthquake of 1906. I thoroughly enjoyed, from start to finish.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is both a #netgalley and an #amazonprimefirstreads that was an enjoyable escape to San Francisco around the time of the 1906 earthquake. Heroine May Kimble thinks she is orphaned but discovers she has family willing to take her in and makes the move from Brooklyn to San Francisco. What seemed like a stroke of luck turns out to be her worst nightmare, but she is able to rise from the ashes of the destroyed city like a phoenix. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read that is mostly a thriller but has just enough romance to satisfy those seeking a #historicalromancenovel. 📚📚📚 #netgalleyreview #netgalleyreads #lakeunionpublishing #amazonkindle #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #asplendidruin

Added this to the DNF list around the 45% mark. If I didn't care what happened to any of the characters by then, chances are pretty good that I never would. 1 star because it's required, 1 for .... I don't even know. Not giving up sooner, maybe.

This one was just so....middle of the road. It tried to be a bit historical fiction without many facts. Everything this book alights on it's not but a moment before it has gone onto another idea. May, the weak to strong leading character is shallow in personality. The writing is slow paced and the story just never scratches below the surface. If you are looking for a fluffy thoughtless read this is for you.

I wanted to love this so badly! The time period seemed so right for a story like this, but I just couldn’t get into it I’m sad to say.

It’s almost like I just couldn’t grab onto the characters well enough. Whatever that piece is that makes a character so intriguing and likable wasn’t quite there for me.

Thoroughly enjoyable! The book is in 3 parts and written in the first person. In part 1 the suspense builds - you know there is something underhand is going on, but not quite what. The culmination of this leads directly into part 2. This part is difficult to read and difficult to contemplate what some poor souls endured at that time. Part 3, to me, is the best part of the book. The descriptions of the earthquake and its aftermath, the sights, sounds and smells, everything vividly described. I was there with them all, waiting in line for soup, nowhere to go, city in ruins. The earthquake gives our heroine her opportunity to take her revenge and redeem both her reputation and what is owed to her. May’s character gets stronger as the book goes on and we see the naive girl turn into a woman who knows how to look after herself. You find yourself rooting for her and cheering her on. Love the title - A Splendid Ruin - it certainly was; in more ways than one! This is my voluntary review of a free copy of the book.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was super fun and really light read without being terrible. I guess one can argue that its too out there, I know I felt that way when Aunt Florence was trying to warn May about Goldie. Someone described May as TSTL (too stupid to live) which is so on point. I love that at some point even Dante is like ummmm bro, please be careful. I do like that she actually wants to stick around and watch her revenge, even though there isn't much revenge. Like very minimum. And of course the main is slightly Mary-Sue ish.

If you're here for something that'll become a classic, then you're in the wrong spot. If you're here for something chill and glamourous and with a hint of meaning, you'll do just fine.

I have read many books by this author and really enjoy her writing style. This book follows a similar formula to some of the others, a female protagonist thrust into a challenging situation who must overcome almost insurmountable obstacles to succeed. I found May to be an interesting character whose mother has prepared her for a life that she never imagined could exist for her. That she initially appears to be a little naive, perhaps incredibly so, and cannot see that she should not trust so easily is understandable considering her lack of exposure to the wide world. This book offers so much historical content that helps the reader envision what San Francisco must have been like during that time period. And the description of the earthquake and aftermath was detailed and a very compelling read. While the ending was somewhat satisfying I do wish that May had been able to exact a little more “revenge” on those who sought to destroy her.

Fantastic, historical fiction set in turn of the century San Francisco. An atmospheric, slow burn with well developed characters. Richly written and relatable. I was immediately drawn into the story, it was very easy to get invested in the protagonist's life and choices. Pick this novel up today, you won't be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book in exchange for my honest opinion.