I don't know how Kate Atkinson writes books in so many diverse genres and nails each one of them. I have ordered this for everyone on my Christmas list, I can't imagine a single reader who wouldn't love this story.

This was an enjoyable read. In true Kate Atkinson style, the characters are multidimensional, and their stories overlap and intersect in intriguing ways. I was engaged by the story from beginning to end, and will gladly recommend it to fans of Atkinson and of historical fiction in general.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read it in advance of publication.

I'm not sure what to think of this novel. Since it was an ARC it's possible that changes were made that would improve it. I found it poorly edited - the time lines clunky in places and the writing needed polishing. Only the vocabulary and the asides let me know this was indeed a Kate Atkinson book as it is quite different from her others. Not sure yet if I'll staff pick this one when it comes in, but at this point I'm leaning towards not.

Thrilled to include this sprawling Dickensian story in the September instalment of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)