This one is hard to review. In the one hand, I really enjoyed the book throughout the development of the story, but I really was thrown by the ending.

(3.5 stars, rounded up to 4)

"Small Pleasures" delicately explores the intricacies of human relationships amidst the backdrop of 1950s suburban England. Set in a time when societal norms were rigidly defined, Clare Chambers skillfully navigates themes of love, longing, and societal expectations.

The novel follows Jean Swinney, a lonely journalist, who becomes entangled in the lives of the Morrow family after they claim that their daughter, born after fertility treatment, is the result of a virgin birth. Chambers excels in crafting complex characters, each grappling with their own desires and disappointments. Jean's journey is compelling and relatable as she seeks connection and purpose in a world that often feels isolating.

One of the novel's strengths is its vivid depiction of 1950s England, capturing the era's societal attitudes and constraints with precision. Chambers's prose is evocative, transporting readers to a time when propriety reigned supreme and conformity was the norm. However, while the premise is intriguing and the characters well-developed, the pacing feels uneven, with certain plot points dragging while others feel rushed. Additionally, the resolution of certain storylines feels somewhat predictable.

"Small Pleasures" is a nuanced exploration of human emotions and societal pressures and a poignant reflection on the complexities of love and longing. While it may not be without its flaws, it is a worthwhile read for those interested in historical fiction that focus on character-driven narratives.

This was was very meh for me. I had a very hard time following along and then that ending... just kind left me wanting more. I think that writing was great but the just needed to develop more from the the main characters and leave a little less out for those secondary characters, especially if they aren't really adding to the story.
I am disappointed because the blurb left me intrigued and then confused and I was hoping that the book would clear things up and it really didn't.

British Woman Claims 1st Virgin Birth in Over 2000 Years???

Holy schomoly, 1950s London-area woman claims to an area newspaper that her 10-year-old daughter is the result of a ‘virgin birth’—that no man was involved in her impregnating—in Clare Chambers triumphantly exquisite historical fiction, “Small Pleasures.”

Home tips writer Jean Swinney is offered the assignment of reporting on this outlandish claim made by Gretchen Tilbury regarding the pregnancy and birth of her spitting-image little girl, Margaret, because all of the men at her paper are incredulous of the woman’s preposterous notion and refuse to give it credence. Thrilled to have a chance for a real story, Jean jumps on the opportunity to make a splash with her first byline.

A stickler for research, Jean learns that as a child Gretchen suffered from crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis and was hospitalized in a woman-only care facility. Consequently, girls were the only patients at the hospital and Nuns and female clinicians cared for those treated.

As Jean determined after speaking to numerous sources, it was strange that less than nine months of her release from the facility, Gretchen gave birth to a full-term baby girl. How was that possible? Could this in fact be a miraculous birth?

Oddly, a current scientific research topic of the time was parthenogenesis—asexual reproduction in which an embryo forms from an unfertilized egg cell. This was being proven in cases of some birds, amphibians and plants. However, it would be a huge scientific leap to consider parthenogenesis as a possibility for human conception.

Was it possible? Could Margaret’s birth be a result of this strange phenomenon of parthenogenesis? Or was there another explanation for Gretchen’s impregnation? Something that someone was not revealing?

One thing was for certain, Gretchen’s current seemingly perfect marriage to perfect gentleman, Howard, wasn’t quite as perfect as it appeared on the surface. He doted on her and her daughter, Margaret. However, Gretchen seemed only mildly affectionate towards him—definitely not in love with him.

This fact became clearer, the more that Jean investigated the case and became better friends with the family. Oddly, the more intimate that their friendships became—not an objective perspective for a journalist—the more that Gretchen seemed to fob off Margaret and Howard on Jean. This was very strange indeed. What was Gretchen’s motivation?

While awaiting results from numerous doctor administered tests—DNA, skin graft and others required to prove or disprove the virgin birth—this intriguing multi-layered mystery unfolds.

It is beautiful and complex, multi-layered and original, heart-wrenching and powerful in both it’s initial innocence, then quasi-risqué theme. Nonetheless, in “Small Pleasures” Chambers intimately soul-searches our deepest reservoirs of hope and desire, then plunges us to the depths of our deepest despair through squelched dreams and unfulfilled possibilities.

What a cathartic rollicking ride! I love it, and look forward to reading more from Chambers.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Clare Chambers, and Publisher Custom House for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Engaging and expertly crafted. A recommended purchase for collections where women's and lit fic are popular.

Clare Chambers is an absolute master. I am *still* thinking about this book weeks after finishing it. One of those stories you can't put down, and can't stop recommending to everyone around you.

I really enjoyed this until the admittedly bizarre ending, which makes this really difficult to review. I do like Clare Chambers' writing quite a bit, I'm just...disappointed.

While the premise was pretty intriguing and started out strong it quickly dwindled for me. Set in the late 1950s it follows Jean, a journalist at a local paper in the suburbs of London. Though she's around 40 years old she still lives with her mother whose cantankerous and overbearing manner leaves little room for Jean to have a personal life. Jean is assigned to write a feature about Gretchen, a Swiss woman who claims her daughter is the result of a virgin birth. During the process of researching this curious case Jean gradually develops a personal relationship with Gretchen, her husband Howard and their daughter Margaret. The author skillfully evokes the atmosphere of mid-20th century England alongside a compelling mystery which plays out in such an interesting way. It's a delight how Jean's fluffier news pieces about domestic matters are interspersed throughout the novel. The writing is descriptive and visual, yet simple. I loved how the author's writing carried me through the backstories and then into the newness of each relationship. A quiet novel but the fifties setting and the character of Jean are well drawn. Interesting subject matter.

Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley.

This book was an interesting and heavy reflection on the pressures placed on women to put others well-being above their own. I liked the characters and their arcs

I really enjoyed the puzzle that existed in this book. I went into it completely blind and am so glad I chose to pick this book up. I didn't love the ending, so dropping my rating a few stars to account for that.

In December 1957, a train crash kills 90 people and injures many more, and therefore, pushes a story off of page one of the local newspaper. This is Jean a story that Jean Swinney has been working on for months, starting with a letter received from Gretchen Tilbury. Gretchen writes to the paper claiming that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth. She states that she has never even been kissed, but yet, has a daughter who will soon be 10.
Jean visits the family hoping to prove/disprove the story. But, Jean becomes involved with the family. She and Gretchen become friends, and she also cares for Margaret, the child. However, Jean falls in love with Howard, Gretchen's husband, a kind man who accepted Margaret as his daughter. But, it is a loveless marriage.
As Jean and Howard grow closer, you wonder if they will be able to finally find true love.
This is a snapshot into the daily lives of a few people in the late 50s in England, the mystery of what happened with the pregnancy, and the tragedies that their lives faced.
It is a well-written story, and heartbreaking in many instances.

Very different subject matter about a potential virgin birth and the news reporter investigating the story. Jean, the reporter and main character, is a lonely middle aged woman caring for her difficult, somewhat agoraphobic mother. She becomes embroiled in the lives of the woman (Gretchen) that she is investigating and eventually finds an unexpected love. The ending of the story is abrupt and sad bringing us back to a news event featured at the start of the book. Part of me wanted to see what the future held for the main characters and whether Jean found some peace in spite of her loss. One thing that I thought might have been negligent on Jean’s part was not Shari g the likely origin of Gretchen’s daughter’s conception, and the possible future inherited mental condition.

All in all, I enjoyed the book.

Initially, I questioned the premise of the story line of this novel, an immaculate conception. As the story unfolded, a news reporter, Jean, is on a quest to dig deeper into the past to find the truth about Gretchen becoming impregnated while a child in catholic home for ill girls. For me, the story is more about Jean and her personal struggles and questioning the path her life is on. Seeing her character change and evolve from outside forces and the people that intersect her life is what pulled me into this novel. I enjoyed this novel. There are many negative reviews about the ending, but I understood why Chamber ended the story in this way. What I question is the title of the book and the cover art. These have a disconnect for me.

Small Pleasures is a lot like typical Irish weather: mostly dreary, signs of possibly brightening, then the worst storm ever. I think Clare Chambers writes fluidly and the story definitely moves along. But relationship between mother and daughter is depressing throughout, the “solving” of the mystery is a bit disappointing, and the ending (after a hopeful turn in the story) is terribly sad. I asked myself, of all possible endings, why THIS one? Read with a large dose of Prozac.

I really enjoyed this story. Great descriptions of the area, and the plot was different in a great way. Good, clean reading!!

In 1957 suburban London, thirty-nine-year-old reporter Jean Swinney’s days are filled with recipes, household hints (damp sawdust cleans carpets), and her demanding, widowed mother. The women share a home, and Jean measures time by filial duties. Jean gets the assignment when a reader claims a virgin birth and her life blossoms. A mystery that evolves into an unexpectedly moving love story.

A little slow for me but it kept me reading and was wonderfully written. The characters are relatable in a sense. All in all a good layered story.

The story of a woman who really believes her child is the product of a virgin conception? Sounds far fetched but given the medical capabilities of the 1950s, it actually worked as a plot device for this book. I really liked the woven stories of Jean, Gretchen, Howard, and Margaret. Jean could have been a much more interesting character if the author didn't weigh her down with her troubled mother. Unfortunately, I feel like the storyline in British-set books of a needy, dependent, or "mad" mum is so overdone, I really just don't feel like reading it anymore. And more to the point, this book really didn't need it. Jean could have been the complex, career woman that also yearned for a traditional family without this honestly, depressing storyline. So this isn't a direct critique of this book but rather a frustration with the editors/publishers allowing the mother issue to be so prevalent in these type of books. Overall, I did really enjoy this book - even (or especially?) the ending , even though there are many reviews out there saying the ending was unsatisfactory. I felt the opposite. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.

Honestly, I found this slow and depressing. There were not many glimmers of hope for happy lives for the majority of characters and the glimmers that were there were snatched away fairly quickly. The conclusion for parentage of the virgin birth child did not really seem a pleasant resolution to that storyline either.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was such a lovely book--until the end. Beautifully drawn portraits of sympathetic characters, a well-drawn picture of post-war England, an engaging plot, a satisfying denouement, and then...

If you choose to ignore the ending (which I will do from here on out), this is a solid 4-star read.

Many thanks to the Book Club Girl Early Read program, Harper Collins, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book.