As a big fan of Vincent van Gogh’s work I had to read this book. It did not disappoint me.
Letters, diary entries and in a descriptive narrative you are learning about the live of Johanna Bonger. The book’s first part covers the time from Johanna’s move to Paris until Theo’s death. In this section Vincent, Hugo, Johanna, but also Johanna’s brother are the main characters, but there are also some other people playing smaller, some bigger, roles in the lives of the forenamed people. It also gives you an idea of live in Paris during that time, the Eiffel Tower is being build and Johanna’s brother is taking a picture, with his box camera, every week to capture the build of this big iron thing. It is nice to read about everyday live in Paris and how Johanna and Theo get to know each other and start dating, or courting as it was called those days.
In the next part Johanna and Theo are married and this tells the story of their married live, how they both struggle but also love each other. Vincent and Theo’s letters are nice to read, and so are Johanna’s letters to her brother. Sometimes it was not straight away clear to me from whom the letter was when I started reading it, but at the end of the letter there was always a name.
The last two, and much smaller, parts of the book are set after de death of Vincent and Theo. How Johanna believes in Vincent’s art and tries to sell his works and also have it exhibited. For her time, she was a strong willed and persistent woman, and the Van Gogh Museum, which I have frequently visited as it’s not far from where I live, is amongst others the result of this.
I was a little bit disappointed to read that there was quite a lot fantasised, but all in all the book gives you a nice insight in how Johanna put Vincent to live.

Characters = 9| Atmosphere = 9 | Writing style = 9 | Plot = 9 | Intrigue = 9 | Logic = 8| Enjoyment = 9 | Score 8.86 = 4 stars

My interest was piqued to read about Van Gogh and how and why he became famous. I found this to be a descriptive, slow burn read. As much as I wanted to enjoy this book it didn't quite hit the mark for me.. Thank you to the publisher for the copy of my book

Beautifully written book .
Who has ever wondered about Mrs Van Gogh - not Vincent's wife but sister in law. She became custodian of Vincent's work after the death of her husband, Vincent's brother, not long after his death. She was only 28 but carried on with the work of her husband in getting Vincent's work appreciated through out the world.
This is the story of how she succeeded.

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️
Pub day: 1-30-2023

I loved how this started and the important light shined upon the female artists in Paris in the late 1800s. I’ve heard of women like Camille Claudel and Berthe Morisot but really only know their names in passing. This books takes a deeper look at the women who were overlook in those very patriarchal times and that, of course, led me down rabbit holes of research that was so enlightening! I’ll share some of what the book references in my stories.

I definitely knew nothing of Van Gogh besides his works or that he wasn’t actually well known until many years after his death. This books follows Johanna Bonger when she moves to Paris and as she meets the Van Gogh brothers and what happens posthumously. It was an interesting read that could have benefited from 50-100 pages of editing down.

Thank you One More Chapter & Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up.

In 1890, Vincent Van Gogh dies penniless, unknown, a man tortured by his own mind. Eleven years later his work is exhibited in Paris and his unparalleled talent is finally recognised. The tireless efforts of one woman gave the world one of its greatest creative minds. But twenty-eight-year-old Joanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent's sister-in-law and keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, has, until now, been written out of history. This beautiful, moving novel finally gives this extraordinary woman a voice.

The pace is slow throughout. this interesting read. The story is based on some true facts and events. This is a traumatic account of the lives of Vincent and his brother Theo Van Gogh. The story can be quite depressing at times. It was a little repetitive in the first half of the book. The book could easily have been a bit shorter. It covers - mental health, physical illness, love and loss. It has also been descriptively written. Johanna Van Gogh was a remarkable woman.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #CarolineCauchi for my ARC of #MrsVanGogh in exchange for an honest review.

By the late 1800s, Paris had become a hive of creativity, 'everyone who lives here is about to write an epic piece of prose or paint their masterpiece...Each individual is living a remarkable life.' Johanna Bonger, is soon caught up within this Bohemian lifestyle, jealous of artists' perceived freedoms and keen to make her indelible mark, despite it still being a man's world, 'Is it too much to wish for women to have equal freedoms?'

It is during this artistic heyday of greats such as Monet, Rodin, and Gauguin, that Johanna meets, and becomes entangled with the van Gogh brothers: Theo and Vincent. Theo is a successful art dealer and Vincent is a penniless, experimental artist. They are as passionate about each other, as they are about art, 'the three of us locked together in a painful trio of love, hurt and jealousy.' Johanna marries Theo but Vincent always seems to be a third wheel in their relationship. However, just two and half years after meeting, both brothers die and Johanna inherits Vincent's extensive collection of paintings and sketches, as well as a trove of letters between the brothers. Despite her grief, Johanna finally determines it's time to rise and make her mark, just as she always wanted to, 'I've realized that being strong is allowing love despite fear. It increases after errors. It rises.' Johanna single-handedly ensures Vincent van Gogh's infamy within the art world.

I really enjoyed 'Mrs Van Gogh'. This book covers much more than simply how Johanna ensured Vincent's notoriety; it contextualises the era as well as revealing Johanna's strong personality and feminist leanings, 'Even here, among the artists in Paris, women aren't permitted to occupy equivalent space to men. We exist as objects - not equals with views.' It is this strong character that enables her to persist in making Vincent's name within the world of art. I have not read any of Caroline Cauchi's other works, but I'm pleased this was my first as it will be memorable. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong women characters - let alone anyone who has an interest in art. A great read.

Were it not for his sister in law, the world might never have known the full extent of the talent and work of Vincent Van Gogh. Johanna wife of Theo is the one who promoted him- and her role has been largely unknown until now. Cauchi sent me back to look at Vincent's paintings but it's her portrait of Joanna that sings. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

This story was a delight to read. Little was known about Theo Van Gogh’s widow, sister in law to Vincent Van Gogh. Despite the omission Johanna worked tirelessly to promote Vincent’s work where he has become a world renowned artist.
Despite this being a historically fictional account you have the feeling of some reality within the story. I felt when I was reading the book the author brought us so clearly into the life of Johanna.
Excellently written and I loved reading about Mrs Van Gogh.

This historical novel tells the story of Vincent and Theo Van Gogh's final years from the standpoint of Theo's wife, Johanna Van Gogh. Beginning with her arrival in Paris in 1888 and continuing through her friendship and courtship with the brothers, Johanna and Theo's marriage, Vincent's madness, and the brothers' deaths, it paints a vivid picture of life in late nineteenth-century Paris.

As a novel, however, Mrs. Van Gogh leaves something to be desired. It feels unfocused, with a wildly variable pace and unpredictable side characters and subplots. Excerpts from Johanna's (fictional) diary comprise much of the book, and I found these sections to be repetitive and didactic. As for the main plot... well, I wasn't sure what it was. At first it seemed to be Johanna's quest for independence and artistic self-actualization. Then her love affair with Theo and Vincent's interference. Then motherhood. At the last, her efforts to promote Vincent's work. Any one of these could have made a really interesting novel, but all of them mashed together made for a very long, somewhat muddlesome read.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the historical detail, but I would have preferred the 300-page 4.5-star book that could have been carved out of this.

When I started reading this I had a misconception as to who was married to who! Once it became clear I found the book to be both interesting and engaging. I did a bit of googling at the end about the paintings and where they are today. Absolutely brilliant.

Thank you Caroline Cauchi for bringing vivid colors and beautiful detail to the life of Vincent’s sister in law Johanna. Long believing in his work and talents, she championed his art much as her late husband Theo. As the keeper of his collection she worked and championed his art endlessly and tirelessly for eleven years. She alone brought recognition and praise to Vincent’s name, paintings, sketches and journals. Johanna’s success is as enormous as the art she fought for. Single-handedly she was the vibrant light that led the way to gallery halls, museum walls and homes of private collectors.
A highly recommended treasure of a read.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

She had me at the words Van Gogh. This book offered a fictional glimpse into the life of Theo’s wife- her past, present and the future she sets in motion. Jo is a great character- full of flaws, but willing to examine them and move forward with them. I would definitely recommend this for any Van Gogh fan. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Mrs. Van Gogh in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This is a long book which has taken my some time to read. But all in all I am glad I read it as it was quite interesting although I would have preferred it to be edited to a little bit smaller version for easier reading.

We all know of Vincent Van Gogh but who really knows the story of his sister-in-law and keeper of his collection, Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger? This is her story and an intriguing story it is. It is a thoroughly researched and written book that brings Johanna's story to life. She was an incredible woman.

This is a captivating read which drew me into to the story being told and I felt I knew Johanna by the time I finished reading. It flowed well and in an order that made sense which I enjoyed. Complex, interesting, intriguing and very readable.

It was very interesting to read about Mrs Van Gogh's life even though it was slow going. Although I love historical fiction I couldn’t warm to the book but can’t put my finger on it as to why.

Thank you Caroline Cauchy and HarperCollins UK. Thanks also to NetGalley.

I loved this book it’s my kind of historical fiction in that it’s a good story well told but I learn thins about the subject I never knew which is so my jam.
Van Gough is a fascinating subject and I loved more about him and his history.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Did you know that the popularity of Van Gogh's paintings is all down to one woman - his sister in law?
This is a fictionalised account of the life of Jo Bonger who married Vincent Van Gogh's brother Theo. It sees Jo sent to Paris to stay with her brother. There she meets Theo an art dealer and many painters who are well-known today.

The story mainly focuses on her brief marriage to Theo. It tracks Vincent's increasingly chaotic life and Theo's illness from syphilis. Soon after becoming pregnant and giving birth, Vincent dies and her husband not long afterwards. Through her tireless efforts she succeeds in getting her brother in law's painting recognised.

It is a story that needs to be more widely known, but it suffers from some very modern expressions that are out of place a story from 1890s.

Utterly breathtaking, we all know of the great Vincent Van Gogh, but what about the woman who put her entire life on hold to make the world stand up and notice him?
This novel is beautiful and in many ways the true tragic story of the man who died penniless and unknown, some may argue known for the wrong reasons. This one woman took it upon herself after inheriting his entire collection of paintings to make him one of the most famous artists in the world. I regret to say I never knew of this woman until I read this the title grabbed me and I had to read this. Everyone has to read this

It was very interesting to read about Mrs Van Gogh's life, even though I know some of this book is not factual, it still is believable.

The book was very slow moving to me. Added to that, with the themes of lack of self-worth, the way women were treated in historical times, and mental illness, made this book quite difficult for me to read. I often wanted to stop and just have it "did not finish" on my book shelf, but I pushed through and I am glad I did. The last part of the book had a much better flow to it, and I was more invested in the story at that point. I was happy to have it end though.

I think readers that are more fans of historical books will appreciate this story more than I did. I chose to read this book since I was intrigued to find out more about Vincent's life and also the woman that was behind him becoming known as an acclaimed artist. I honestly did not know much about Vincent Van Gogh, except a few of his well known paintings and the song by Don McLean Starry, Starry Night, prior to reading this book. Now knowing so much of his life, it truly will break my heart a bit to look at his paintings.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

This is a novel about Johanna Van Gough - Bonger, who married Theo Van Gough and later was instrumental in bringing Vincent Van Gough's art to a wide audience. I enjoyed this book, but it plodded along a bit too slowly for my tastes. The novel follows "Jo" as a young woman who was jilted by a cad in Amsterdam and has fled to Paris to stay with her brother and move forward with her life. She comes across as a very silly young woman and not particularly interesting or sympathetic.

After reading the novel and then reading the author's note at the end, I was miffed to learn that this book of fiction was NOT based on a lot of facts. I wish the author had stuck to what facts were available on this historical figure, rather than making up so much.

Surprising, clever and beguiling, Mrs. Van Gogh is a Historical Fiction based on true people and events. Though we have all heard of the ingenious and disturbed Vincent Van Gogh, how much do we really know of Johanna Bonger who married Vincent's brother, Theo? This fascinating story is about love, loss, mental and physical illness and the tireless drive of a woman who strove to get Vincent's paintings noticed and keep them relevant.
She was successful in her quest as the paintings have sold for millions and millions of pounds and his art continues to be studied, vilified and admired. However, Vincent died penniless.

Author Caroline Cauchi details the time before and during Theo's and Jo's courtship through their very brief marriage and early deaths of both young men. Theo and Jo were introduced by Andries, Jo's brother. Their first few months were loving and harmonious. However, Vincent's disturbing mental and physical issues were a constant worry and as the brothers were extremely close, Theo put Vincent first. Throughout the story Jo goes through tumultuous emotions as she comes to grips with the family she has married into...and the one she left. Vincent and Theo's deaths are described as well as Jo's life over the ensuing decades.

Intrigued by the unusual? Keep your eye out for this one. Do know there is a disturbing graphic scene which reveals the ravages of various illnesses upon Vincent's mind and body.

My sincere thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this gripping book. It prompted me to do hours of further research into the lives of Theo, Vincent and Jo.