Member Reviews
In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the beautiful, young secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the much older thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. The elderly Countess Clarissa—still ensconced on the property—the host of a camp television show, is about to head into a disastrous marriage. Sleet is becoming increasingly difficult, distracted by the seductive and ruthless bitcoin goddess Zamora, but Kitto’s sister Blaze and her husband, Joshua, will support Ayesha’s clever plan as she discovers shocking secrets, takes action, and brings the family together.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! This book has already been released and I unfortunately just got to it last month. High Tim was full of family drama, British humor, and satire of the wealthy and famous. There were a lot of different characters in this book and I had a little difficulty finding anything likable about nearly all of them. They were all selfish and quite over the top, but I liked how in the end they all banded together to support Ayesha against Steel. This wasn’t my favorite read, but it was a sharp commentary and had a good ending.
I found High Time by Hannah Rothschild to be a fun, enjoyable read that nevertheless provided opportunities to reflect on family dynamics, wealth, and the way we, and our society, see both.
It took a little bit of time to get into the story given the size and complicated backstories of the Trelawney family. Although I wasn’t familiar with The House of Trelawney prior to reading and was able to enjoy the book, I wonder if I would’ve gotten more from reading High Time if this weren’t my introduction to the Trelawney family.
Thanks to Hannah Rothschild, Knopf, and #NetGalley for a digital Advance Reader Copy of #HighTime to enjoy and review.
In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the beautiful, young secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the much older thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring the once run-down Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. Its a fun, modern English comedy of morals and manners, about a highborn family of outrageous characters, in a story that proves revenge can be sweet.
Thank you for the ARC Netgalley!
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3
This here is a book about a whole lot going on! Brexit, a dilapidated castle, beautiful women, those trying to recapture their youth, and a whole lot of family drama. It was a little wonky to follow at times, so I had a hard time keeping my attention on the story.
Thanks to NetGalley for and ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Enjoyable dark comedy of the British upper crust. It wasn't billed as a sequel, and does stand alone, but I wished I had read the first book before this, because it took me a bit to get into it, and to keep track of the characters and their relationships.
I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!
Hannah Rothschild’s “High Time” is a captivating exploration of wealth, power, and the intricate dance between past and present. Set against the backdrop of a stately English mansion, the novel unfolds with a rich tapestry of characters and a plot that seamlessly weaves through generations. Rothschild’s prose is elegant and immersive, drawing readers into a world where societal expectations clash with personal desires. The narrative skillfully navigates themes of privilege and societal expectations, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the complexities of family dynamics. With a keen eye for detail and a compelling narrative structure, “High Time” is a poignant and engaging novel that transcends its setting, leaving a lasting impression on those who venture into its pages.
Loved the characters in this book. I realized I had not read the first book after reading the second and immediately got that a read through.
Characters are fun and eccentric. It’s a lovely layered piece.
This was a very enjoyable black comedy set during the Brexit vote, outlining the financial and family drama of a British Upper Class family. It's improbable and over the top at times, but I couldn't put it down, wanting to see what would happen next! This is a sequel to House of Trelawney. I had not read the first book, but didn't have any problem learning the characters of the family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Hannah Rothschild is one of my favorite authors. Her new book High Time is wonderful . You will enjoy all the characters and their stories. Happy reading!
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
"High Time" by Hannah Rothschild is a biting and satirical yet poignant and moving novel set against the backdrop of the months leading up to the Brexit referendum. The story revolves around Ayesha, the secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, who embarks on a journey filled with family drama, love, and secrets. She is married to the brutish banker Tomlinson Sleet, and is determined to restore Trelawney Castle, her family's legacy in Cornwall, to its former glory. As the narrative unfolds, the eccentric cast of characters, including the elderly Countess Clarissa, Lady Jane, and others, adds layers of complexity to the plot.
Rothschild's narrative skillfully weaves together a tale of madness, mayhem, and mischief, keeping readers engaged throughout. The book offers a satirical commentary on contemporary society while also exploring themes of family bonds and personal growth. Ayesha's clever plan to uncover shocking secrets and bring her family together serves as the central thread of the story. "High Time" is a delightful read that combines humor and heart, making it a compelling and entertaining novel.
I just reviewed High Time by Hannah Rothschild. #HighTime #NetGalley
This is a satire that follows an aristocratic British family in the run-up to Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. There book is mainly centered around Ayesha, who is navigating a challenging marriage to a much older and wealthy man. The book was engaging, although it was hard to keep track of the characters. While this is the second book following this family, I didn't have any issues following the story without reading the first book.
Thank you to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, Knopf and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.
The Trelawneys have been kicked out of their British manor by a boorish American businessman and his wife, who is an illegitimate member of the Trelawneys, who they never accepted. When the wife, Ayesha, discovers that her husband is planning on discarding her like he has to all of his other wives, she hatches a desperate plan to keep the house as well as custody of her daughter.
High Time by Hannah Rothschild was a bit slow. It took me a while to get into it, but I managed to finish it. I wasn't really engrossed in any of the characters, it seemed pretty surface-y to me.
High Time is following the Trelawney family in a sequel following more specifically their illegitimate child and her navigation through the world of aristocracy, high finance, and eventually - divorce.
I (admittedly) judged a book by its cover on this one and thought it was going to be more regency era, but after discovering it was a modern book I was still hoping to love it for its dramatic plots and romances. Unfortunately, this was just NOT the book for me.
I think the one redeeming factor was just watching Enyon navigate everything and I really loved the relationship between her and her daughter. I also enjoyed the way everything concluded.
Overall, not the book for me - but if you enjoy modern high class london or the infinite complexities of learning high finance this might be the book for you!
I had the hardest time following this book at first. I switched to ebook from audiobook and it was a lot easier to follow.
The story is a rollercoaster. Sleet is the worst human being ever, and you want nothing more than Ayesha to escape. And she hits road block after road block and you’re just like omg give this poor girl a break.
I enjoyed how her entire family came together to take down the villain, and the story has a positive ending.
This book had some funny moments, some of the characters were so ridiculous sometimes, but it’s all very charming. Except Sleet, he was garbage and we hate him.
This was an entertaining read, but I’d recommend print and/or ebook. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of and the POV switches back and forth fluidly, sometimes hard to follow in audio.
Thank you @netgalley and @aaknopf for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This one wasn't for me. Rich people behaving badly can be fun to read but I didn't like this family or their snooty ways. I couldn't get into and just didn't find it worth my time to keep trying. Probably more a me thing than anything wrong with the book itself. Just not my cup of tea. Many thanks for a chance to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
I started this book twice, but was unable to finish it. I did not connect with the characters or the story. In all fairness ,I did not read the first book and felt like I “ entered in the middle of a conversation “. I have read and enjoyed other novels by this author, and look forward to reading her works in the future.
Fun entertaining read. The characters were hysterical. Of course the main heroine Ayesha, in a loveless marriage to a jeolous thug of a husband, does everything in clever ways to bring up her daughter in a love filled home. The mischief that transpires between the Countess, tucked away in the Castle that is no longer hers, Sleet and Kitto make for laugh out loud moments.
This is one for fans of novels about eccentric British families. Set in 2016, it hits multiple themes - a secret daughter, a real estate deal, a crumbling castle, a creep of a husband, and an exuberant cast that is a bit unwieldy. Oh, and world events, Ayesha, the erstwhile protagonist, is conflicted and somewhat immature but she's more likable than the rest. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I suspect fans of the first novel will enjoy this more than those who, like me, read it as a standalone.
Delighted to include this title in the July edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)