3.5 Stars

This is the story of the daughters of Thomas Gainsborough, a famous painter in the 1700s, Peggy and Molly, as well as his life as a struggling artist as this begins.

The two girls are inseparable, and as they live in a fairly quiet location, surrounded by acres of fields to roam through and run through as they please, they live a fairly idyllic life. Their father, nearby, painting, their mother inside making sure the home is kept the way she wants it. A simple life.

Neither of the parents seem to be aware of the reason why the girls are inseparable, though. Only Peggy seems to be aware of how Molly seems to drift away, forgetting the simplest of things, including who she is, or where they are, at times. Peggy takes it upon herself to be Molly’s ever constant companion, sleeping beside her to make sure that Molly doesn’t wander off without her being aware of it.

In the midst of this, their parents decide to move to Bath, where they will no longer have the freedom they had before. They are now a part of a community which carries certain expectations, attending church, and taking part in community events. As Molly declines, it becomes harder and harder for Peggy to protect her from what will become of her as she continues to fade away from reality. Still, Peggy is determined to protect Molly as long as she can.

Then a young man, Johann Fischer, enters the picture, he catches the eye, and hearts, of both girls - unbeknownst to Peggy or Molly, he begins courting them both at first, but eventually Peggy questions his relationship with him, and her relationship with Molly, as well.

I loved this story of the bond of sisterhood, although it began to unravel a bit for me as the end approached.


Pub Date: 27 Feb 2024

Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster

This book will make you want to read about the Gainsborough's on Wikipedia and see for yourself what the portraits of Molly and Peg look like. It's a fascinating depiction of life in England in the 17th century. You will not only see and feel the differences between classes and the contrast. between wealth and poverty. The differences in food, clothing, housing and yes, even odors are beautifully rendered and for the duration of the novel, you will be back in that time and place.

Molly, the elder by a year, suffers from intermittent bouts of mental illness. From their youngest days, Peggy, the younger sister, takes it upon herself to keep the secret of her sister's lapses from their parents, and to devise methods of bringing her back to normal behavior.

In between chapters about Sussex and Bath (where the family moves from country to city, there are interlude chapters titled "Meg". Who is Meg? You will not find out until almost the very end (unless you are very clever.
This tale is gripping and highly recommended. It will leave you thinking about love and self-sacrifice, about caring and self-destructiveness, and make you want to learn more about the painter and the period.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the interesting book.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. Having quite a number of sisters of my own, I am drawn towards books about sisters. This book jumps between the POV of Peg who tries to hide her sister Molly's mental lapses from her family and Meg who works as a barmaid for her abusive father. Peg and Molly's father is a painter who is content to let his daughters run around the fields and play, but their mother has higher ambitions for them. A book with the heartache of being unable to protect others or make their choices for them.