Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill!

I both listened to this and read it. Really poignant and sweet story that looks at how we both view our past and how the past of our ancestors shapes us.

I really enjoyed The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill and was surprised to see it was her debut novel!

Dual timeline books are my favorite, and this one was so unique - the timeline alternated between WWII-era Japan and Texas in 1999. The stories of a grandmother, Mineko, and her granddaughter, Lia, were linked - both in Texas and through Mineko's sharing of her life experience, her loves, her loss, her trauma, and finally, her redemption. I was inspired by Mineko's story and her bravery. Many WWII-era novels are set in Europe and this presents a completely different perspective. Parts of this book were hard to read because they center around abusive marriage, rape, war, and the subjection of women. However, the subject matter was handled delicately and at a high level. The issues were there, but details were not.

One thing I that bothered me a bit about this book was that I couldn't find a reason why Lia's story (and the budding intimacy between her and her grandmother) took place in 1999. Nothing seemed to link the story to the time period, except maybe Mineko's age/health situation. Overall though, I was captivated by this book and am inspired to learn more about Japanese culture and architecture - the descriptions in this book are fantastic.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

The Turtle House was a very captivating debut novel by Amanda Churchill. I was initially drawn to the beautiful cover. Amanda Churchill’s inspiration for The Turtle House came from her paternal grandmother’s history, life and secrets that she had kept very close to her heart. I really enjoyed the closeness and the relationship that grew berween Lia and her grandmother, Mineko over the course of the book. The Turtle House was written in a duel time line that alternated between Mineko’s childhood in pre-war Japan in the 1930’s and the years that followed until Mineko became a Japanese war bride and found herself living on her husband James’s ranch in Curtain, Texas and Mineko’s granddaughter Lia’s life in the late 1990’s in Curtain, Texas and then as she worked for a prominent and successful architect company situated in Austin until something happened that brought Lia back to Curtain, to her childhood home where she shared her bedroom with her grandmother. I really enjoyed Mineko’s character the best. She was feisty, determined to share her story with her granddaughter and seemed to possess an ultimate goal from the start. As Mineko described and reminisced about her life in Japan with Lia it was easy to visualize the hurt she experienced as a young girl from her mother, how her and Akio’s love evolved, her all encompassing love for the “turtle house”, why she married James and her life in Curtain, Texas after the war. I did not enjoy Lia’s story. It felt contrived and an afterthought. I felt that The Turtle House would have been better if it had concentrated entirely on Mineko’s story and the relationship that was evolving between Mineko and Lia. Overall, I enjoyed reading The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill and recommend it. Since this was Amanda Churchill’s debut novel, I look forward to seeing what she writes next.

Thank you to HarperCollins Publishing for allowing me to read The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

US pub date: 2/20/24
Genre: historical fiction
Quick summary: Lia and her grandmother Mineko grow closer as Mineko shares the story of her life in pre-WWII Japan - including her first love Akio and the place they fell in love, the Turtle House.

I read this book right before I went to Japan - the timing was so perfect! So much historical fiction in the US market is set in Europe, and I enjoyed the chance to read something different. I'm a big fan of dual timeline historical fiction, and Churchill did a great job balancing the two perspectives and settings (Japan and Texas) well. I loved seeing Lia and Mineko's relationship grow, and Mineko's love story with Akio gave me all the feels. There's a lot of bittersweetness in the novel, which reminded me of one of my all time faves, THE STATIONERY SHOP. This is a really strong debut, and I'm excited to see what Churchill writes next!

Thank you to @thoughtsfromapage podcast and Harper for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of the Turtle House by Amanda Churchill. The story goes back and forth between Japan in the 1930s and Texas in 1999. Mineko grew up in Japan then moved to Texas as a war bride. She is sharing a room with her 25 year old granddaughter, and starts to reveal things that she has never told anyone in all her years in America. It is a beautiful story with some very tough parts, she went through a lot. Sharing with her granddaughter Lia helps both of them to process and appreciate the other. It was part historical fiction, but part contemporary, which I appreciate. #theturtlehouse @amandachurchill #netgalley #advancedreadercopy #multigenerationalstory #japan #texas #familystory #bookstagram #booklover #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #thoughtsfromapagepodcast #tbr #readallthebooks #fictionreader

The granddaughter / grandmother relationship that this author's narrative wraps around the reader is what had me rapt and paying attention to every detail. The swim, the token on the house the love story. . .

Out of all of the battles this author chose to fight with her characters, perspectives and words she rises victorious in my opinion. There were so many fronts: life in Japan as a young woman just before WWII, dreams and desires of life where others arrange life choices for young people, then changes and terrors of WWII in occupied Japan - this is the grandmother before she is even a mother, Mineko who starts out in Osaka. Granddaughter Lia is an American, a Texan, a citizen of Curtain, a brand new architect, and her storyline is in the 90's. She's trying to figure out the events that led to her existence as it relates to Mineko. Their awkwardness convinced me - if you have been apart and are then thrown by life circumstances (like grandma's house burning to the ground) together and told "don't worry! you're going to love her! She's your grand X" can present its own kind of difficulties. These two had them . . . .

Pages will fly as you recognize much of the feelings these two discover when their very different stories sum up to the same kinds of love, hope and yearnings, and some of the very same kind of challenges, wearing different calendars. A great read!

*A sincere thank you to Amanda Churchill, Harper, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #TheTurtleHouse #NetGalley

4.5, rounded up. I really enjoyed this debut novel, which was written by an author here in DFW (and an alumna of my current university!). I received an ARC of the digital book several months ago, but I just now had time to read it. The writing is engaging, the story is compelling, and I loved the north Texas setting. My only real complaint is that the timeline jumps around a lot, which sometimes made it difficult to follow; there is a historical timeline about Mineko and a 1999 timeline about Lia, but both of these timelines feature additional flashbacks, which is where some of the confusion came in. I alternated reading and listening to the book, and the narrators did a superb job. Really an awesome book.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Harper for an advanced copy of this book.

The Turtle House is told from the two different perspectives of Minkeo and her grandaughter Lia. Mineko's perspective was by far the most engaging and well developed.I enjoyed following Mineko's story as a child all the way to old age. Her experiences in Japan during WWII and life after in Texas was very interesting.

Lia's perspective never quite hit the mark. I did however appreciate the relatinoship that her and Mineko form as they learn more about each other. It's sweet to see grandparent and grandchild relationships. I also was interested in the parts where the Cope family struggle to figure out a solution for Mineko's care in her older years. There is alot of conflict in this part of the story and it wasn't easy for the family to come to terms.

Another thing I struggled with is the different timelines as well. It made the flow of the story feel disjointed and it took time to adjust whenever it changed timelines. I think this book would have been more powerful if it has been told only from Mineko's point of view.

This was everything I want in historical fiction. I liked this family and was very involved in the chapters of Mineko's life. While a lot of historical fiction relies on trauma and big historical events, the heart of this story lies in our dreams and how we cope and move on when they don't turn out as planned. I liked the dual timeline although I could have done without so much of the granddaughter's backstory. To me, the story should have focused fully on Mineko, past and present. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper publishing for this free ARC. Mineko's story was one I was so glad to have.

REVIEW

The Turtle House
by Amanda Churchill

🌟🌟🌟🌟

A dual timeline debut (with a gorgeous front cover) from @AmandaGChurchill, The Turtle House is a heartwarming (and at times heart wrenching) story about love, family, friendship, and overcoming adversity. The novel is told from Texas 'born and bred' Lia Cope’s 1999 UTAustin postgrad POV as well as her Japanese grandmother’s pre - and post WWII POV.

I loved how Churchill developed her characters and their relationship to each other (I especially fell in love with Grandminnie [Mineko Cope], as well as Dimple [Lia’s great aunt Delilah]). And, TBH, I also loved learning about Japanese war brides and, even more, a bit about Japanese architecture! I wish I had my own minogame onigawara (or turtle roof ornament).

While there were a few slow points in the novel, I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this - so much so, I wished my own grandmums were alive so that I could go and interview them. I would definitely recommend this novel and look forward to Churchill’s next novel! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ebook.


#TheTurtleHouse #NetGalley #InstaBooks #InstaReads #bookish
#READ #BookLover #BookWorm #Bookstagram #BOOK #BookReview

Amanda Churchill delivered in The Turtle House. Loved the book so much I purchased my own signed copy. Love the cover too! Ready for her next book.

The Turtle House is about family and identity, and the relationship between a grandmother and her granddaughter. It has dual timelines and settings, alternating between two very different places: Japan, beginning in 1936, and a small Texas town in 1999.
The story started slowly for me, but I eventually became absorbed in the main storylines of the lives of Minnie/Mineko and Lia. Both are at turning points in their lives and we're able to see how their stories developed and now unfold. I did feel that one of the storylines was left hanging.
I particularly liked Minnie's story, and more specifically about her life in Japan during the war. It was beautifully written and we were able to get a sense of the challenges faced by the ordinary Japanese citizen during the war. The Turtle House is a slow burn of a novel that will grab your attention and interest. It's a debut and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Churchill.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Pubishers for the opportunity to read The Turtle House!

From the author: It’s spring 1999, and 25-year-old Lia Cope and her prickly 73-year-old grandmother, Mineko, are sharing a bedroom in Curtain, Texas, the ranching town where Lia grew up and Mineko began her life as a Japanese war bride. Both women are at a turning point: Mineko, long widowed, moved in with her son and daughter-in-law after a suspicious fire destroyed the Cope family ranch house, while Lia, an architect with a promising career in Austin, has unexpectedly returned under circumstances she refuses to explain.

First sentence: Paper hates water. It hates wind. And fire. Paper falls apart. There is no home safe enough for paper, did you know this?

My thoughts: A beautiful cover, an intriguing titel and a debut novel - Yes, this was a must read for me, one that did not let me down.

The Turtle House drew me in fast. It was a place I want to stay and linger. Not only did I love being in Mineko’s world back in Japan during and after the war as she navigates a whole new world, but I also loved seeing the relationship she had with her granddaughter, Lia, grow into something really special in the present day (Texas, 1990s). I’ve always been a fan of intergenerational stories, but this one is truly something special.

Churchill's story is for anyone who loves books that span generations and continents, revealing the power of connection and the search for belonging in a world filled with challenges and uncertainties. It's for people who love magical connections between family and the hope and happiness found in those special relationships.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper for sharing a deliciously wonderful debut novel perfect for book clubs! Churchill leaves us thinking for a book club – what gives us our identity, what makes a home, hope and resilience, and different relationships.

I’ve read few novels set in Texas and reading a story of a Japanese war bride set in Texas was fascinating. I appreciate the attempt to tie the grandmother’s life with her granddaughter’’s but there were significant elements missing to make the comparison-good idea-not a good execution. And interesting read.

The debut novel of Amanda Churchill, The Turtle House was a fascinating read! I had the opportunity to get an advanced reader’s copy from @thoughts with thanks to @harperbooks. I signed up too late to get the book read before the author talk, but I went anyway and was completely charmed by Amanda and fascinated by the background for her story. I decided to pre-order the book and read the finished copy. I’m glad I did! You know how some books just have a special feel to them? This is one of those books, from it’s stunning cover, with soft paper jacket to the perfect weight in the hands. It was enjoyment in reading! Oh, and if you own this, be sure to take a peak at the binding under the dust jacket! I love when publishers add those extra special touches!
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I loved this book! It was an enjoyable read, with pages that turned easily. I read it in three nights, which is really fast for me. It’s an original story and it is well written. I wanted to know how much of it was from her Grandmother’s story and how much was fiction, honestly I’m sure much was fiction, but it had an authenticity to the telling that was really compelling. There were a couple of things that I didn’t prefer, but when I thought about it, I think that those were things the Japanese War Brides actually experienced. It really brought out my empathy. Their’s was a sad situation and they had few options. “All of her country-men and -women, walking about with dead eyes, just skin-draped ghosts.” This war bride made the best of her situation and gave her granddaughter hope and wisdom!
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I recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction, especially about the Japanese women who came to this country after World War 2.

The Turtle House is a debut novel inspired by author Amanda Churchill’s grandmother. The plot traces the life of Mineko (Minnie) in a nonlinear fashion from her girlhood in Japan, her marriage to an American GI and living on a military base in Japan, leaving the Army and adjusting to civilian life in Texas, and eventually life as a widow with a son and daughter.

A secondary storyline features Lia, Minne’s 25-year-old granddaughter, who’s struggling to find a way forward after an incident disrupts her personal and professional lives. The only positive thing about living with her parents is the opportunity to strengthen her relationship with Grandminnie and capture audio recordings of her memories.

I was deeply invested in Minnie’s story with its many heartaches and transitions, less so with Lia’s until the final quarter of the book; I loved how their lives intertwined in the final chapters.

The Turtle House reminded me of Banyan Moon by Thao Thai in several ways (debut novel, character driven, strong grandmother-granddaughter bond, immigrant story, house fire). Each tells its own story, but they could certainly be in conversation with each other.

Thank you to Harper and the Thoughts From a Page podcast (patron perk) for a review copy of this novel.

Amanda Churchill creates an interesting historical fiction drama of life in Texas as a Japanese woman. As stories emerge between two generations of women grandmother and granddaughter they learn their secrets are what binds them. The stories of The Turtle House and her journey. With beautiful imagery one is taken to the historical time as it weaves in easily with the present. A true novel of hopes, dreams, and family.

I think this is the wrong book for the wrong person. I feel no attachment or interest in finishing it. I keep making myself pick up it and life is way too short for that. DNF at 60%.



Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

This book caught my attention because it's set in Texas, where the author is from (I'm from Texas as well), and it features dual timelines spanning from WWII Japan to the modern-day. What I loved most were Lia and Mineko's heartfelt relationship, their challenges, and their mutual desire to support each other. Mineko's wartime experiences in Japan were eye-opening, and I found myself craving to learn more about that era after reading about her early life.

The story follows Mineko as she shares her life journey with Lia, her granddaughter, bridging the gap between past and present. The portrayal of Japan during WWII and modern-day Texas felt vivid and immersive. Mineko and Lia's bond was touching and amusing, adding depth to their characters.

Overall, this book was captivating and featured themes of love, identity, and overcoming adversity. Despite some pacing issues in Lia's storyline, Mineko's compelling narrative and the richly depicted settings made it an enjoyable experience. Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy.