Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for access to this arc.

I know a bit about Thomas Gainsborough, as I love his portraits, but when I saw the blurb for this book I realized I know zip about his daughters even though I’ve seen Gainsborough’s portraits of them. Overall, I found this novelization of their lives to be well written and interesting though a bit uneven at times.

I found the first part to be the most interesting. Peggy is a child of ~ eight and the way she describes her life feels that age. Later during the early years in Bath – while she’s still supposed to be fairly young – her voice feels older than it should to me. I would have preferred life in the country too, wandering fields, picking blackberries, and playing in a stream rather than Bath, no matter how interesting the people or sights.

During the second half of the book, I felt more ill at ease but also a little bored. It’s endless rounds of parties for the sisters who are now back from their six years at a school. As their portraits had when they were children, their adult social activities were meant to serve as accessories for their father’s career. But also I knew that the Event that nearly separated the sisters as well as Molly’s final descent into mental illness were around the bend.

The descriptions of 18th century life are not prettied up. This is particularly evident in the parts with the sisters’ grandmother. Her life was grim but she did find a cleared-eyed way out of it. Thoughts regarding how she did this might differ but she had a goal and she got it. Early in the book, Peggy mentions a series of eight (Hogarth) prints that the family has which (from her description) are illustrating Bedlam. This horrible place is how we begin to see what might happen to Molly if she’s deemed to be “mad” and why Peggy works so hard to cover up her sister’s symptoms. But yes, there is a degree of becoming her sister’s keeper involved as well. I can also understand – as it’s shown – why Molly might have tried to throw over the traces at one point in order to try to live a normal life.

The sparse details of their lives and the possible backstory of their mother and grandmother are wound into an interesting explanation of the sisters’ lives. I like that the events for which there is no evidence other than the known personalities of the people involved are mentioned in the afterwards note. It’s sad that Peggy’s and Molly’s lives couldn’t remain as happy as they were as children chasing a white butterfly in a garden as their father painted them.

This debut from Emily Howes is a work of art 🤩🖼️

I’ve really been loving historical fiction lately, especially when it tackles heavier themes in a suspenseful way. While it is on the slower side, the pacing is steady, and I found myself riveted by our two female perspectives 👏🏻

While both Meg and Peggy’s stories kept me engaged, it was Peggy’s that truly captured my full attention. We know that Molly, Peggy’s older sister, is not quite right and is experiencing bouts of “madness.” 😢 Peggy takes it upon herself to hide this secret from everyone and, in her eyes, protect her sister from being found out and subsequently sent to an asylum. She’s ill-equipped to handle this as a child herself, but the bonds of sisterhood run deep, and she sees it as a necessary sacrifice and act of love and devotion.

This brings into question larger ideas of love vs. sacrifice and protection vs. control that are illuminated in greater detail towards the end of the book when we finally get some insight into Molly’s views on her life 💔 The sisters’ interactions amongst themselves, family and eventually polite society are all fraught with tension, suspense and unease waiting for the other shoe to drop, and this added shadow and depth to the underlying tone of the book 📖

If you’re a fan of art history or loved the Netflix show Queen Charlotte and how it captured mental illness, I think you’ll find this book fascinating!

Thank you Simon Books for my #gifted copy of The Painter’s Daughters! #simonbooksbuddy #ThePaintersDaughters

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟕, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★✰(4.5)

What a debut! I fell in love with how beautifully written this was and had a hard time putting it down. I always admire books that are character driven and also involve a lot of research. It is evident that the author took great care to research and accurately depict the characters and time period. I remember learning about Thomas Gainsborough in an art history class in college, but do not recall much besides his name and the time period. One of the reasons I love historical fiction so much is that I get to learn about a person or period, and I’m so grateful I picked up this book. Once I finished, I found myself looking up some of the paintings by Gainsborough and researching more about him and his family.

My copy of The Painter’s Daughters contained a note to the reader from the author. I loved learning more about the ‘why’ behind this book and the passion Howes has for women’s mental health. It’s these types of connections that really show in the writing throughout the book.

I really enjoyed the focus on sisterhood and the relationship between Peggy and Molly. Howes truly painted a portrait with this one. If you are lookin for a character driven historical fiction novel, this one is for you!

🖌️Historical Fiction
🖌️Sisterhood
🖌️An Element of Mystery
🖌️Mental Health

Posted on Goodreads on February 24, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around February 27, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on February 27, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This debut novel combines Thomas Gainsborough’s numerous paintings of his two daughters with some historical facts to create a literary accounting of Molly and Peggy Gainsborough’s life. According to Emily Howes, theirs was a melancholy life, stifled by an overbearing mother, a distracted father, and a swinging-door household with Gainsborough’s clients ever present. Throw in mental health issues, extreme naivete, unrequited love, and a side story that seemed to have no relevance—you can understand why some found this story lacking.
Howes excelled in her depiction of life in 18th century England. Her descriptions of the bucolic Ipswich, the bustling Bath and finally London are good. Jane Austen fans will love this.
I personally struggle with novelists dissecting historical paintings. I had the same reaction many years ago to Chevalier’s “The Girl with a Pearl Earring” for the same reason. I wonder what the great artists from the past would think of 21st century novelists putting their masterpieces into words? Just a thought.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.
3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this historical fiction tale of Peggy and Molly Gainsborough, the daughters of one of England’s most famous portrait artists of the 1700s, Thomas Gainsborough.

Peg and Molly are best of friends, playmates and very close sisters. The story opens with their idyllic childhood in the countryside playing while their father paints, and their mother strives for a more proper life. But not is all well with the sisters as Molly periodically experiences bouts of mental confusion, even forgetting who she is. Peggy instinctively knows she must help cover up her sister’s condition. Things become more complicated when the family moves to Bath with their mother's plans on the girls entering society.

I loved the setting in the 1700s of England, from the countryside of Ipswich to the bustling streets of Bath. The story is beautifully written and includes a duel story of another Meg and her connection to the Prince of Wales. Both stories dovetailed nicely at the end. Highly recommend!!!

This debut historical fiction novel paints a dark and dreary picture of how life and love can be cruel. I enjoy a good book about artists and their paintings, but I had a hard time connecting with this one and would be hard pressed to recommend it.

Set in 18th century England, the settings in this story have a very Old World feeling and seem to be always filled with mud. The story started off rather slow and I waited and waited for it to get better. Though the chain of events in the lives of Thomas Gainsborough's daughters, Peggy and Molly, were interesting, it was the other storyline about the innkeeper's daughter and her life that I found to be very distracting. Back and forth the chapters would switch from the two Gainsborough girls to a different time period and the other woman. At 50% into this secondary story, I still had no clue what connection it had to the Gainsborough family. Things were often alluded to rather than being explained and I felt too often that many questions were left unanswered.

Overall, I liked this story about sisterly love, betrayal, and devotion. I just didn't love it.

The Painter's Daughters" by Emily Howes is a captivating exploration of art, family, and the intricate relationships that shape us. Howes skillfully weaves a narrative that revolves around the lives of the titular daughters, bringing depth to their characters and their connection to the world of art. The story unfolds with a delicate balance of emotion and intrigue, drawing readers into the complex dynamics of the painter's family. Howes' writing style is evocative, painting vivid scenes that linger in the mind. While the pacing may vary, the overall narrative remains engaging, making "The Painter's Daughters" a compelling read for those who appreciate a nuanced portrayal of familial bonds and the world of art.

Potatoes and Paperbacks 3 ⭐️
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Thank you @simonandschuster for the arc!
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Following the lives of painter Thomas Gainsborough’s daughters Peggy and Molly, this novel chronicled their unusual family circumstances as well as Molly’s descent into mental illness.
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💭 Thoughts 💭
This book was very well written, and I was intrigued to see how life would turn out for them. The family was very protective of their own, even if they had to resort to unusual ways to do so.
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⏳ Favorite Moment ⌛️
The bond between the sisters was strong.. almost too strong at times. But, it was great to see the family stick together in the face of difficulty.
This book was strange but captivating and discussed a time that I did not know much about.

The Painter's Daughters
By Emily Howes

This is a fictionalized version of the lives of Thomas and Margaret Gainsborough and their two daughters, Molly (Mary) and Peggy (Margaret). Thomas was an artist in the eighteenth century noted for his portraits of notable people of the time and his exquisite paintings of his two daughters.

Thomas' mother-in-law, Margaret Burr, gave birth to a bastard daughter who was provided for by the Duke of Beaumont, presumed to be her father. However, it is more than likely that the Prince of Wales, Frederick, was in fact her father. Molly suffered from porphyria, a rare hereditary disorder which can cause confusion and hallucinations – at that time leading to a diagnosis of madness and often institutionization. This is the same illness which affected "Mad King George the 3rd".

The story line here, with some liberties taken by the author, is pretty much factual. It is a sad story, both for the sufferer and the sister who gives up her life to be a caregiver. It is a behind-the-scenes look at British society and mores of the times.

The Painter’s Daughters is a sad and tragic look at the life of Molly and Peggy Gainsborough, daughters of English painter Thomas Gainsborough. Molly, the oldest, is inflicted with some type of mental illness, and Peggy, the youngest, is tasked with protecting her sister.

Little was known about mental illness in the 1700s and it’s never really made clear what Molly suffered from (though it is hinted in the author’s note at the end). I also think the story focused more on Peggy hiding and protecting her sister without really showing the reader why - I wanted to see more descriptive writing of Molly’s episodes. And do the parents really not see it or are they just in deep denial??

There were times I found it difficult to stay engaged with the story due to the slow pace and disjointed writing style. There was also the unexpected second storyline of a girl named Meg that initially threw me but in the end, I found interesting. It would also have been helpful if the author had indicated that this storyline took place in a different timeline than that of the sisters. Add in all the similar names - Meg, Margaret, Mary, Molly - and things could get confusing. Honestly, there were several times I almost decided to DNF but I’m glad I stuck with it as the two storylines came together in the end.

Bravo, Emily Howes, on writing a beautiful and poignant life history of the painter Thomas Gainsborough and his family. I didn't realize I needed to know this story but you have proved I did. It looks like Howes did a lot of research to write this and from what I have gathered from my own research, is pretty close to spot-on with most of the details and facts of this family. It was remarkable how, even with small elements, she was able to bring it all to life with stunning attentiveness.

This story has two parts to follow: one is the lives of the painter and his wife and children, Molly and Margaret (his daughters). Specifically we are reading through Margaret's eyes. We are introduced to them as young children and follow their upbringing - all the way through to the end. The sisters have a unique bond, one that is threatened time and again, especially as madness plays a big part in their relationship. I should warn that there is a lot related to mental illness, so if this is a trigger, please note it. The other part is about a woman named Meg, who begins a journey too few would be able to survive. These two parts do merge in a shocking way (unless you have done your research and know the history). Every time I opened the book I was intrigued and needed to know more. The heartbreak these characters go through is sometimes immense.

If you have ever looked at Gainsborough's paintings you will see them come to life in this book. And Howes creates the reasons behind each one as well. If you are a historical fiction lover, this is absolutely the book for you. I unfortunately had to wipe my tear filled eyes at the end because I knew there wasn't anything left to read. Everything came together nicely in the end, with explanation for the two story lines. If Howes takes on another project like this, I will devour it.

This is an interesting and lyrical historical novel about Peggy and Molly Gainsborough, daughters of Thomas Gainsborough, the famous 18th century portrait artist who often painted his daughters. Peggy is a protective younger sister as Molly struggles with bouts of mental confusion. When the family moves to Bath, rubbing elbows with polite society, the stakes for these two young women are raised and Molly’s increasing mental health issues sends Peggy into high gear to protect her sister from ending up in an asylum. This is a novel about art, sisters, protection and control. Thank you to Simon & Schuster and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

Two young English girls and their unorthodox upbringing in the mid 1700’s.

Mary (Molly) and Peggy (Margaret) are the two daughters of the renowned English painter Thomas Gainsborough, himself a founding member of the Royal Academy. Their early years are spent in Suffolk where they live a relatively unstructured life, a reason for discord between their father and mother; Thomas wants them to enjoy nature and be happy, while his wife Margaret (whose own origins are somewhat mysterious, with the author’s version of the truth only being unveiled towards the end of the novel) wants them to be young ladies above reproach. Peggy, the younger of the two, is more adventurous and impetuous, while Molly is more sedate and inclined to good behavior. Unfortunately Molly also has mental lapses, a sort of fugue where she either appears vacant or speaks nonsensically. Her parents don’t want to acknowledge that there is anything wrong with Molly, and Peggy instinctively does her best to cover up the lapses. After a particularly bad event, the decision is made to move to the city of Bath, where Margaret hopes the girls’ behavior and prospects can be improved and where Thomas can further his career. There, the girls will enter society, fall in love, and strive to live a normal life despite Molly’s condition.
The Painter’s Daughters weaves a beautiful story about life, love and sisterhood against a vivid background of life in the Gainsborough family at this time in English history. While I certainly knew the name Gainsborough as that of a well-known artist, and when I looked into his work I recognized several of his paintings, I knew very little about his life, and nothing at all about his daughters despite their having been his subjects on many occasions. The story is told mostly from Peggy’s point of view, and for those who loved the character of Jo from Little Women, Peggy will hold an appeal. The struggles to hide an imperfection at a time when young women of a certain social standing were expected to be free of blemish make a definite impression; mental illness in that time was neither understood nor handled well. Margaret trying to raise two “proper” young ladies against the backdrop of Gainsborough’s circle of musicians, artists and other reprobates makes for an enjoyable read. The character of Peggy is the most sharply defined, with the alternating narrator of a young woman named Meg also brought slowly to life (although the reader doesn’t find out exactly how Meg connects to the story until much later in the book, which rendered the storyline a bit loose). With themes of love, loss, control, devotion and betrayal, and the ways in which some of those are woven together, The Painters Daughers is an interesting imagining of the lives of these two young women. Readers of authors like Tracy Chevalier, Daisy Goodwin and Nancy Horan will likely enjoy this story. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me access to an early copy of Ms Howes’ lovely novel.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster 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 February 27, 2024.

This is very interesting book. Before reading the book, I didn’t have any idea who Thomas Gainsborough was. I thought that the set up of the book was well done though there might have been a better way to indicate that Meg’s story was in the past and not concurrently happening with Peggy and Molly’s story. I felt so bad for both daughters. All they wanted was to be loved. Yet with Molly’s infliction and society’s outlook on those who were not sound of mind I understand Peggy’s trying to hide any type of abnormality from public view. I love that this book looked at a famous painter from his family’s perspective. The children are many times forgotten. I think it is especially fun since he painted his daughters a lot and while the paintings looked picture perfect their true lives were far from it. This was a very interesting book overall, a tad to slow paced for me at parts but overall, I enjoyed learning something new about someone I previously didn’t know about.
Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

This is a novel that has a lot of say about sisterhood and women's lives in the 18th century, Peggy's loyalty to her sister is admirable. However, one has to wonder how much one of one's own wants, needs, and desires one should be willing to give up in service to another, especially at a time when her own prospects very much hinged up her own ability to find a suitable husband to support her.

It also has a lot to say about mental illness. During the time that the novel takes place rather than being judged as sickness to be treated, mental illness was something to be swept under the rug and hidden away. Although things have clearly gotten better since then, sometimes even now there is a stigma attached to the idea of mental illness, and it is not always dealt with in the open and honest way that it should be.

On the whole, the novel is well-written and paints a vivid portrait of 18th-century life particularly for women. However, it is definitely not an uplifiting novel and it can be hard to take a times.

In an effort to break out of my usual genres, I downloaded the eARC when contacted by the publisher. One of my goals for 2024 is to read more historical fiction, and this debut title from Emily Howes fits the bill.

British master painter Thomas Gainsborough had two daughters. From a young age, the younger daughter, Peggy, realizes something is wrong with her older sister, Molly. Worried that she will be institutionalized, Peggy tells no one of her sibling's condition. Intertwined is a story of a painter barely staying financially afloat and how this affects the entire family's situation.

I enjoyed the complex characters and the storyline. The writing was compelling and lyrical. However, it was too leisurely paced for my liking. It wasn't until well into the book's second half that my interest finally picked up.

Round up to 3.5 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6213749962
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A beautifully written story of the lives of the family of English 1700's painter Thomas Gainsborough centered around his daughters, Peggy and Molly (well known subjects of his work when they were young girls. ). Molly suffers from an undiagnosed mental illness which periodically overtakes her and the sister's close attachment leads them (mostly Peggy) to learn to cover up the illness as best they can for fear that Molly will be sent to the madhouse. Meanwhile we learn of familial secrets and betrayals that have occurred within the Gainsborough marriage. A well written and researched biographical fiction that will appeals to readers of historical fiction and lovers of art and culture. Highly recommended.

A really endearing historical fiction that strongly stands without needing a popular or widely-known cast of real life characters. This dual timeline really gripped me quickly, with endearing life in 1700s Europe and a quick witted young girl who proves wise beyond her years. The story was engrossing and a tale of so many things - parents that fall from grace, first love, honor and obedience, expectations of family, sisterly bonds, survival... well written and a greatly appreciated ARC. Thank you!

The Painter’s Daughters by Emily Howes

The painter is famed British portraitist Thomas Gainsborough, and the daughters are keen observer Peggy and her mentally unstable sister Molly, his favorite subjects from their innocence childhood to their maturity. When he moves the family from rural Suffolk to the fashionable spa city of Bath, Peggy grows ever more protective of Molly, striving to keep parents and others from discovering the seriousness of her malady. She also recognizes her parents’ foibles and faults—an unfaithful father and a stern, social-climbing mother constantly aware that the family fortunes depend upon flattering and pleasing the rising artist’s wealthy and aristocratic patrons.

This is also a dual timeline story, set in an earlier period, as Meg, a desperate country girl, seduces and is impregnated by a German prince, the heir to England’s throne. Her history is woven throughout the novel, as she attempts to trace her royal lover in London and secure the support she believes and her child are owed. Before the conclusion of the Gainsborough girls’ story, her connection to them is clarified.

Howes paints with words as she reveals Peggy’s inner life, her love for and callous betrayal by a musician, and her constant struggle to cover her sister’s mental lapses and save her from the horrors of a madhouse. Molly, chafing at the severe attempts to control her, is determined to prove that she’s destined for a life of her own choosing, but her temporary escape from the family only plunges her deeper into distress.

The author depicts the Georgian era, domestically and socially, with painstaking and evocative detail, and the few lapses in accuracy cannot detract from the power of the writing and the characters, drawn with the same precision as a Gainsborough painting. A tale of devotion taken to extremes, with life-altering consequences, it is sure to please historical fiction fans. (Simon & Schuster, 352 pp., hardcover/ebook/audio, February 2024)