If you are a fan of the poet, W.B Yeats, you’ll enjoy this debut novel about Georgie Hyde-Lees, the woman who inspired some of Yeats later poems. Alice Miller gives an empathetic look at what Georgie’s life might have been like. Her alcoholic father spoiled her. Her Mother expected Georgie to live the life women in the early 1900’s was supposed to live. But Georgie had spunk and chose how she wanted to live. Taking place around 1916, Georgie worked in hospital for World War I officers. She also loved seances and parties. Her interest in spiritualism introduced her to a friendship with Yeats and a quiet moment led to what she assumed was a plan of marriage to Yeats. Yet, he pursued other women and he returns to his romance with Maude Gonne. A chance meeting with Maude’s daughter lets Georgie see her naivete. She flees London but there’s still a lot of living that Georgie wants to do. She’s quite a resilient person and determines what will make her happy. the narration of the audiobook. The various voices, both male and female, were well done. It was an easy, relaxing book for listening.

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Let me first say that I loved the narrator. She was great! Really enjoyed her voice.

“Every one interprets everything in terms of his own experience. If you say anything which does not touch a precisely similar spot in another man's brain, he either misunderstands you, or doesn't understand you at all.”
~Aleister Crowley

That is how I felt about this novel. Well written, complex characters. Lots of stuff going on. And yet..... I did not like a single person in this story. Well, I liked Pike.
And Pike was that person who will come into your life when you don’t expect it and they see the messed up part of you and he won’t run away. He wants to save you, center you. Bring out the best in you. But his, “nice, gentle, forgiving, dedicated” made him look weak.... And that’s where I really think this could of been saved! It would of turned out so much better. That was the point when I kept asking myself....... Why? What is going on?? Why that ending??? Does anybody know?
So I’m giving this a 3.5 star because the author is talented. And this felt like realistic fiction. No thank you.


Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this audiobook ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

2.5⭐
I'm really picky with historical fiction reads so I didn't have high expectations of this one. I liked the premise but somehow this book fell flat. I couldn't get into the story enough.
I actually listened to the audiobook and the only thing that kept me into the story was the narration. The narration was really gorgeous.
Maybe this wasn't my cup of tea but I still think this book could've been so much more.

With the Great War looming on the horizon, Georgie Hyde-Lees meets W.B. Yeats. Although the poet is much older than 21 year old Georgie, the two are drawn to each other. As war comes to England, Georgie spends her days nursing injured soldiers and her night with Yeats where he becomes obsessed with The Order, a secret society that believes in magic and summoning the souls of the dead. I knew nothing of Yeats’s personal life, but this book, based on real events, changed all that. Lee’s gorgeous narration of a lost time and place is simply enchanting

I liked the opening quote. I loved going back in time and hearing Georgie's story. I loved hearing about Georgie's job at the hospital. I loved hearing about the wars effect on the soldiers . I didn't care for the matron.