Thanks to Henry Holt for the copy of this book!

A story of a biracial family that moves from London to the English Countryside, THE HOUSE OF BROKEN BRICKS is told from all four POVs of the family members. Tess and Richard have fraternal twins - but Max presents as white and Sonny presents as Black. This impacts their family dynamic greatly.

I really enjoyed having all of the family viewpoints in this story because they all provided an important perspective. While this was a unique read, I did find it fairly slow-moving.

Fiona Williams's debut novel, "The House of Broken Bricks," transports readers to the dark corners of the human brain in a frightening way. This intriguing story of secrets and redemption, set against the backdrop of a run-down home with a sordid past, captivates readers from the first page to the last, spine-tingling revelation. I loved it

I had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis but unfortunately the book, itself fell short. Very poorly written.

This book pulls you right into the heart of a family that's as real as they come, dealing with everything from deep loss to finding where they fit in the world. This is the authors debut novel and she deserves a pat on the back! She flips between characters' points of view so smoothly, you'll feel like you're getting to know each one personally, thanks to her knack for stunning visuals and words that stick with you. The book doesn't shy away from the hard topics, like racism & grief, making it all feel incredibly relevant. Williams' storytelling makes the whole journey feel intimate, and honestly, it's a book that'll linger in your thoughts for a good while. Definitely a standout piece that shows just how powerful and touching storytelling can get.

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for this eARC.

A lovely book about love and resilience; this cathartic and magical story will break your heart, and then return to heal it.

Until next time, pick up a copy!

Family dynamics are complicated; family dynamics when you're trying to come to terms with a crippling loss are even more complicated.

The Hembry family lives in a small, rural English town, the kind of town where everyone knows everyone else. Tess, a Londoner with Jamaican roots, has never felt like she fit in in this tiny village, and her feelings only intensify when she and her husband welcome twin boys, one who is white and one who is Black.

As the story unfolds, readers step into the shoes of each of the four characters. Their different points of view highlight the growing feelings of disconnection, distance, and anxiety rippling through the fractured family. About halfway into the story, readers finally figure out why emotions are so strained, and that revelation allows you - or at least it allowed me - to reassess how you feel about the Hembrys.

Williams tells her story with beautifully lyrical prose, and the idea to align the plot of the story with the passing of the seasons is a good one. I do wish that the shifting perspectives happened a bit more gradually. Moving from one character to another every two pages sometimes made it difficult to connect with them. And the ending also felt a tiny bit rushed.

Overall, Williams has crafted an admirable debut piece. I'd give it 3.75 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story is beautifully written with carefully crafted characters that draw the reader in and holds their attention until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As an ARC reader for Fiona Williams' "The House of Broken Bricks," I was immediately drawn into the rich tapestry of this captivating tale. Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, the novel follows Tess, a Londoner of Jamaican descent, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she moves with her partner Richard to a rural community where she feels like an outsider.

Williams skillfully navigates themes of identity, belonging, and family dynamics through the lens of Tess and Richard's journey, especially as they grapple with the arrival of their fraternal twins—one black, the other white. The complexities of race and heritage are sensitively explored, adding layers of depth to the narrative as the characters confront their own prejudices and insecurities.

The alternating perspectives offer a multifaceted view of the family's struggles and triumphs, each voice adding depth to the overarching story. Tess's yearning for familiarity amidst the unfamiliar landscape, Richard's avoidance of difficult conversations, and the keen observations of their son, Sonny, all contribute to the novel's emotional resonance.

One of the novel's strengths lies in Williams' vivid depiction of the setting, where nature serves as both a backdrop and a character in its own right. The imagery of predatory birds, bartered goods, and the crumbling house with its broken bricks adds a palpable sense of atmosphere, mirroring the internal conflicts of the characters.

As the story unfolds and the seasons change, there is a tangible sense of growth and renewal, offering hope amidst the darkness. "The House of Broken Bricks" is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit—a deeply affecting read that lingers in your mind long after the final page is turned. What a fantastic book!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction

This is my first book by Fiona Williams. The story revolves around a family of four members over the course of a year during all four seasons. Tessa, the London-born daughter of Jamaican parents, is a person of color who is married to Richard, a white farmer. The two have twins, Sonny and Max. The two twins are not identical. One is colored, and the other one is white.

The family moves to live in the countryside, but Tess, being the city girl she is, finds it difficult to adapt to living in this small Somerset village, especially since she is the only person of color there. The twins also find it too difficult to convince people there that they are twins.

The book is divided into four parts, each representing one of the seasons. The story is narrated from the perspective of the four characters. However, the author has used two types of narration styles for the characters, with Richard using a third-person narration style, while the other three are narrated in the first-person style.

This is mainly a character-driven story, as the tale delves into the lives of the members of this family. As a reader, you will be able to connect to what they go through, be it their struggles, grief, or all the other emotions. Themes like race, acceptance, healing, and family dynamics are the focus of the story.

The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and the author’s setting descriptions are vivid and breathtaking. There is an unexpected twist in the book that shakes things up for you as a reader. At least, it was adequate for me and clarified the characters' perspectives. I’m not a fan of multiple points of view, but this book was an exception, as the author organized everything very well.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

The House of Broken Bricks is a beautifully written emotional debut novel about a family grieving the loss of one of their own and struggling to heal the wounds. The chapters alternate POVs between family members. I couldn't help but fall in love with Sonny's poetic musings. This story will break your heart and I grieved with the family. Thanks to author Fiona Williams, Henry Holt and Co., and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Well-written but I don’t think the story was for me. I was also struggling with the various POVs with such short chapters to start and it made it hard to get into.

Tess, a black Jamaican-Londoner, falls in love with Richard, a white country farmer. Against the protests of Tess' family they move to the country where there are no other black or mixed families. With their fraternal twins, one white, one black, the family struggles to find a balance in their lifestyle. Additionally, there is more to the family, causing more and more space between Tess and Richard. The story flips from point of view of the sons and Tess and Richard. As the story progresses, you gain a better understanding of the difficulties that family faces in all their endeavors.

Overall, this was an interesting novel, and certainly one that has an element of uniqueness. The writing with poetic and beautiful, but I struggled to keep "investment" while reading. The story itself was heart-breaking and frustrating. Additionally, there is an aspect to the novel that became clear to me almost immediately, but in reading other reviews it is absent, so I assume it was not supposed to be that obvious from the start? Overall, for lover's of literary fiction and beautiful writing this one could be for you. However, for myself the story lacked a dimension that kept me fully engaged.

“The House of Broken Bricks” by Fiona Williams was an interesting novel about a marriage on the verge of collapse. The prose is beautifully descriptive and deals with the complexity of a biracial marriage with twin sons.. It’s an emotional ride that speaks to issues of great loss, depression and denial. I would have enjoyed this more if it had more detail, and I would have liked more closure so I felt a bit let down. That is my reason for the 3 star review.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on April 9, 2024.

What are the chances? Tess and Richard have moved to the suburbs of London with their twins - a white and black boy. Richard is a born and bred Londoner but wants to grow vegetables and bring the family peace. Tess is from Jamaica via London, she missed the buzz of the city immediately. . They and their children present us with 4 different point of view in this new town. All four members have suffered loss and Williams slowly brings us through each story - layer by layer, piece by piece.

This story was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed spending all four season with the Hembry family and with I could stay with them longer!
#henryholt #thehouseofbrokenbricks

I'm a sucker for family drama and this one was so well done! The description and detail were spot on and I could imagine myself in the story mixed up in it all. The hardship and trials in the MC's marriage, as well as their children's, were gut-wrenching and written in such a beautiful, powerful way.
I recommend everyone read this story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to review this book.

I loved how this book flowed. Short chapters with every character having a voice from their prospective. It is a beautiful story.

Tess is a Londoner who is married to Richard, a farmer. He transports her to the English countryside where birds hover over the fields, buses only run twice a day, neighbors barter, and no one looks like her or her children.

As time goes on, Tess years for the comforts of the city, and Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted instead of dealing with conversations he doesn’t bear to have.

As the seasons change, can the family start to heal?

This was an interesting story, a window into this family. Not much happens necessarily over the course of the book, it is more of a character study over anything else. We dive into the complex trauma of the parents, each of which we get from their point of view. We also get the point of view of their two children. I always find it interesting to get the points of view of children in books, and in this case, I found the children to be written older than they were stated as being. I do think that there was just something lacking from each one, just something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it held me back from fully connecting to the characters. This book was beautifully written, and the descriptions were wonderful, it was just that little extra, however, I did enjoy this story. I found the “twist” to be a bit of a let down and I kind of felt that it was a cop out in a way, or an old cliché ringing true. I enjoyed how the book was laid out by seasons, it helped break the book apart for me in a meaningful way.

If you are looking for a beautifully written character study with some beautiful descriptions, then check this one out.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company, @Henryholtbooks and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was so enthralling! And also relatable.. a family suffering a great loss and how each deals with the loss so differently. the story speaks of each individual and how they are coping. the story weaves together each individual and then in the end they all come together with all the love they have for each other.

Thanks go to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for the ARC of the novel "The House of Broken Bricks."
Fiona Williams employs her undergraduate degree in biological sciences to use a polytunnel as a focal point of symbolism to demonstrate how a marriage fraught with tribulation can bloom into something beautiful.
Channeling Barbara Kingsolver with her knowledge of plants and lush descriptions, Fiona Williams explains how a house made of broken bricks can be the sturdiest of all.
Tess, a Caribbean Londoner, and Richard, an Englishman, from the rural area surrounding Combe Leigh, are married with twin boys. When tragedy strikes, their marriage is tested.
The family dynamics were extremely relatable, as was their friendship with Cyril, but the concern of the townspeople over the polytunnel and the sales marketing of the property near the couple and its possible effect on their lifestyle loomed more importantly than any monetary gain. Many issues weren’t addressed.
The book’s conclusion verves in a different direction and belies the complexity of the couple’s relationship. It failed to address the weightiness of the issues and the loose ends made the ending seem abrupt.