Really enjoyed the way the women were centralised in this novel and the portrayal of Vincent. Beautifully written and evocative with lovely details. I would have preferred to hear about Rachel rather than Gauguin - that decision felt like a strange interruption in the women’s narratives.

No one becomes who they are alone, even if they feel alone. This was an interesting look into the lives and feelings of the women who helped to make Vincent van Gogh the artist he was. Throughout history, women’s contributions to art, society, and the men around them have been undervalued and misrepresented. Similarly, the complicated life of Vincent can Gogh can often be misrepresented in both fiction and nonfiction. This book tries to correct these misunderstandings by providing the women in van Gogh’s life a voice therefore making the famous painter more human. I think it achieves its mission. Each woman becomes so real, so familiar and the readers connection to van Gogh grows along with each woman. The research the author clearly put into creating this book keeps the book from feeling overtly fictional.

I enjoyed jumping into the lives of these women and learning more about such a renowned artist.