Inspired by her own family, Amanda Churchill has written a love letter about the connection between one Grandminnie and one Lia. With a strong foundation on keeping things secret, the two women come together and open up like a Texas bluebonnet in April.

This is the story of one woman's journey from Japan to Texas post-World War II. It's also the story of a granddaughter who wants perfection but finds her chosen career path full of obstacles because of one man. The alternating POVs help move the story along while filling out the details.

This is a story of abuse, male dominance, Asians in a postwar society, family, honor and above all things, this is the story of love. Romantic, family and self.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. The Turtle House was a really enjoyable read. There were parts that made me feel sad, and parts which made me feel hopeful. I really enjoyed the dual timelines. I also enjoyed how Mineko and Lia connected through the book. Bridging the intergenerational gap was really heartwarming.

Wow. Looking for a read that leaves you with tears on your cheeks, a lump in your throat and hope in your heart? Then this one is for you. The ending of this book is just spectacular. Thank you to @thoughtsfromapage for putting this one on my radar and for sharing the arc through her Patreon membership.

This dual POV story takes us from Japan into the States following Mineko, a war bride. Hardened by an unloving and critical mother, a lost love and a marriage of convenience, she works tirelessly to provide a better life for her children. This story parallels that of her granddaughter, Lia, who is living back home after mysteriously leaving her prestigious architecture firm. Themis story follows each of their lives individually and also together as roommates in Mineko’s son and Lia’s father’s house.

“It was hard to hold the girl at arm’s length, but she did so quite well and would try to do so with this next child, too. Mineko felt as if she were a gaping hole in the ground and that if they were to get too close, they would tumble in.”

Be forewarned that this book has a slow start. Please, please keep reading. There is so much beauty and heartache and grit and loss and struggle and redemption in this one- it is so so worth the read. It brought to life the realization that we may never fully understand the difficulties and struggles our parents and grandparents lived through. That each generation holds on to memories and secrets, some too painful to share.

“I park and I pick at my scalp, and in the waning light of the afternoon, I wait for answers to questions I don’t even know how to ask.”

I loved the importance of turtles in this story. The way they reminded Mineko of happiness and hope.

Thank you to @netgalley, @harperbooks and Cindy at @thoughtsfromapage. This was another 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me.

I was told once, "homesickness is for little kids at camp." Which the irony being I was the kid at camp who called my parents to come get me on day one. Day three they finally came and got me. But I still have experienced homesickness, even in my own home. I get homesick for my parent's house that is no more. I miss the pride I felt in the first house my ex and I lived in. My daughter has her own home, but I miss her coming back home on the weekends. NO OF THIS means I don't love my home and the life I have now.
Why is this relevant? If I feel pangs of nostalgia even in my home state, home city, with loved ones around me. What utter agony would I have felt if I was removed from my home, my country, separated from all of my what-ifs?
That is exactly how Grandma Minnie feels day after day since landing in Texas of all places as a war bride. Family surrounds Minnie but her time at home is coming to an end. It is her shelter and her past, but not all of it. Part of her is still in Japan. Homesickness creeps in and blurs her edges as her days grow shorter.
Her equally lost in plain sight granddaughter, Lia, chats with her grandmother nightly as the two very different generations learn they aren't that different. And perhaps they will be a stronger force if they link together.
IF you love family sagas, especially set with mixed cultures under one family tree, such as novels by Philippa Gregory, Lisa See, Kristin Hannah, and Adriana Trigani, THEN you will love and tear up reading The Turtle House.
This is one of those novels I will recommend for years to come.

Ah, 'The Turtle House', you sweet, sweet book, you! This story is like a warm embrace that envelops you in love, hope, and the power of family. Minnie and Lia will capture your heart, and their journey will make you laugh, cry, and nod your head in understanding.

The way Amanda Churchill masterfully weaves their stories together is like a tender hug from someone who knows just what you need. You'll be transported to small-town Texas and Japan, and the characters will become like family - flaws and all.

What I adore about this book is how it celebrates the beauty of intergenerational relationships. Minnie and Lia's bond is the kind that'll make your heart sing. Their love, trust, and acceptance of each other is a reminder that family is more than just blood ties - it's the connections we make and the memories we share.

Reading 'The Turtle House' is like being enveloped in a warm blanket on a chilly day. It's a comforting reminder that no matter what life throws our way, love, family, and a sense of belonging can get us through anything. So grab a box of tissues, a cozy throw, and settle in for a read that'll fill your heart to the brim with joy and warmth. 🥰♥️

Huge thanks to Netgalley and publisher Harper for an ARC ☺️

The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill is a beautifully written story of love, secrets, and the meaning of home. How home lives in our bodies, minds and souls is melded into this book through intertwining stories about a grandmother and granddaughter - both facing struggles and adversity while maintaining their strong, resilient character.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Beautifully written story of a grandmother and her granddaughter, both battling demons from their past. The story is set in two time periods and two places, Japan in the 1940’s and Texas 1999. Mineko’s story is one of much sadness, as the love of her life is drafted into military service. Mineko eventually marries an American stationed in Japan, moving to Texas and leaving all she has known. Lia is a graduate student in architecture, when she suddenly returns home without explanation. Mineko begins to tell her story to Lia, hoping Lia will open up and explain what was going on with her. There is much heartbreak and sadness, but also tremendous family support and love. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"But you carry his photo."

I loved this book. The relationship between Mineko and Lia was so lovely to read. As someone who lost my grandmother who also went through WWII, albeit in America, I should have asked more questions. My heart broke for Mineko so many times while reading. Her strength and determination was so inspiring. Mineko's life left me thoughtful and sometimes livid for her. All in all her story will stay with me for a while.

What do you do after your life has been completely turned upside down? In the beginning of this novel, Mineko and her granddaughter Lia are both facing unexpected changes in their lives that neither wanted. It draws them together and inspires Lia to record Mineko's story of growing up in Japan during WWII.

I loved the dual timeline that showed Mineko growing up in Japan but then brought it forward to present day in a tiny town in Texas with her son and granddaughter Lia. It highlighted some of the similarities of struggles that women have faced across time, as well as the specific struggles Mineko faced as a new Japanese bride in a small Texas town right after WWII, when feelings were not so warm towards the Japanese people.

If you love a good intergenerational story with a strong sense of place, both in the past in Japan and the 1990s in Texas, this book will be for you.

Thank you to @thoughtsfromapage and Amanda Churchill for the lovely author chat. It always enhances my reading so much to get a chance to hear from the author about their writing process. And the story behind this novel is so touching! Definitely don’t skip the author’s note in this book.

This cover! I have only seen it on my kindle so far but I can’t wait to see a physical copy of it. It’s so pretty.

The Turtle House is seen through the eyes of two characters. Mineko a grandmother. and her grandaughter Lia. The book spans from the 1930s to 1999. Minekos story start where she was born in Japan. She grew up there until she became a war bride and forced by her cruel husband to move to Texas with their small daughter and pregnant for her son. She remembers her real love Akio a sweet young man who she formed a nice friendship with. Mineko also has fond memories of an old house she found in Japan that was by a pond and had many turtles. she called her found old house "the Turtle House" world war 2 changed all of her dreams. Akio sent to war. she was forced to marry a cruel demanding man and move to Texas.
Granddaughter Lia has moved back to her town after attending college. She came back home with a secret. Her grandmother has lost her home and Mineko's son wants her to be put in a home. MIneko who is now called by her "american' name Minnie does not want to be in an "old folks" home she wants to go the turtle house home. and bring home a relic she had from those year.s. A good story. The book went back and forth between years but at least easy to follow.

This is one of those books that you think about for days when you are done or for me when I spot a turtle.
I loved it. I felt like I was there listening to the tapes of her life. While also unraveling what was happening to the granddaughter. It didn’t feel like a history lesson, but it was one I needed on the ‘brides’ and experiences during the war & following.
I’m so glad I had a chance to read this

really interesting, deep story about a three generation family, the grandmother and granddaughter bonding while in the same place.thanks for the arc.

This book contains three storylines/timelines about a Japanese woman during WWII, her life in Texas after the war, her granddaughter's experiences during and after architecture school, and their combined experiences after both experience some life altering traumas. I really loved Mineko's and Lia's relationship with each other and how, through storytelling, they are able to help each other and themselves process sadness/grief and challenging experiences in their lives.

Beautiful debut, publishes February 20, 2024!

Mineko is a Japanese grandmother who came to the United States when she married James after WWII. She moved with James to the small town of Curtain, Texas, where his family's ranch was located. Now (in 1999) the main house on the ranch burned down under mysterious circumstances, and she's living with her son Paul and his family, including his daughter Lia who moved back in under unnamed circumstances after her first job out of college.

In this novel, we learn about Mineko's life story in her words, and the second narrative is from Lia's (the granddaughter's) perspective. Like many dual narratives, the past storyline is much more interesting. However, whose life story that sweeps international waters and war wouldn't be more interesting than the past year or so of a college graduate's life? It's an unfair comparison, but I can't be the only one who wanted a more intriguing (and unique) story from 1999? The 1999 storyline is achingly slow and uninteresting, including the character of Lia.

Mineko's story kept me turning the pages, and I looked forward to seeing how her life unfolded. It did take me a while to get into her story, but once I settled in I became more and more invested. I particularly liked how the friendship between Mineko and Dimple was cultivated in Texas. I really *felt* that relationship.

This is an very good historical fiction debut centering on the first generation Japanese American experience.

Side note, this cover is exquisite and represents the book exceptionally well!

#theturtlehouse #amandachurchill

Confession time! I LOVE stories about the Asian experience especially during WWII. The Turtle House tells the story of Mineko, a young Japanese woman during WWII and then her life in North Texas.

Interspersed with Mineko’s story is the struggle of her granddaughter, Lia, who has quit her job in Austin and has returned home to live with her family.

Mineko is a great character. She’s suffered loss but it doesn’t change her spirit. She loves hard but not in a smothering way. She takes her role as a mother seriously and does whatever she can for her children, providing for them and also sheltering them from some of the harsher aspects of life.

Ms. Churchill based The Turtle House on her own grandmothers experience. There was so much I learned from this book about the Japanese during the US occupation after the war. I also learned more of how the Japanese were treated once they relocated to the US.

This is a debut novel but it was very well written. The harsher aspects of the story were handled with so much finesse. I really enjoyed this historical fiction novel and won’t soon forget Mineko. I also loved the references to Plano, Fort Worth and Austin. It’s always fun to have been where characters go in books!

Thank you to @thoughtsfromapage , Cindy Burnett, and @harperbooks for this fabulous story! I was able to read an advanced copy as part of the Thoughts From a Page podcast lit lovers patreon first reads program and I also got to meet virtually with Ms. Churchill to hear her discuss the book.

I truly loved this novel and felt very seen in its character, Lia. This is really a story of a grandmother and her granddaughter and how they connect to one another with stories of their past and present. When the grandmother is forced to move in with her son because of a house fire, and Lia moves back home after quitting her job, the 2 become close and share their most internal secrets. They grow close and make new plans together. I loved the storytelling and I especially loved the historical aspects of the story. I rarely read a story written with characters that I so closely connect to but as someone with a Japanese grandmother who moved from Japan and had trouble connecting with her grandchildren, I really saw my own self in this story. I loved this novel and recommend it highly.

Wow, what a powerful piece of art the author has created with this book. It is intergenerational with a dual timeline exploring how what occurred in one character's past affected their life to come, as well as generations after. Very well done and deep yet readable and wonderfully enjoyable.

Spanning generations and continents, THE TURTLE HOUSE is a fantastic debut that I want on your radar for the new year. Amanda Churchill based this big-hearted story on her grandmother’s experience as a Japanese woman who married an American soldier during WWII.

We meet feisty Japanese-American Mineko and her granddaughter Lia as they share a bedroom together in Curtain, Texas. Each woman has vastly different life experiences and finds themselves at a crossroads in the spring of 1999. Told in alternate timelines we see how Mineko’s life in Japan is upended as she marries an American soldier during WWII and moves to Texas and we root for Lia as she seeks to find her footing in her early career as an architect.

There is so much to learn and love about this story. It asks readers to consider what constitutes our identity, what makes a place a home, and what lengths we go to preserve pieces of who we once were. I loved watching Mineko and Lia’s relationship blossom as they find common ground and carve out new dreams.

Consider this your unofficial invitation to join us for Chapters & Chats book club as we host Amanda in April. More details to come!

PUB DATE: February 20, 2024
RATING: 4.5/5 (rounded up to 5 stars)

Many thanks to Harper and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5
Two POV's, a grandmother and a grand daughter who connect because they are sharing a bedroom.

As the reader we are brought into the grandmothers past as we learn of her life and time in Japan during and after WWII. This was my favorite part of the story. It was so interesting to read of her time during and after the war. I've been reading a lot of post war books lately and I'm seeing a similar theme among them that's giving me a new perspective and understanding. This, perhaps is one of my greatest joys in reading.

The grand daughter, Lia also has her story to tell. I found this POV dragged for me.

Towards the end of the book I became fully engaged and found myself very invested on the dual storylines.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the advance e-copy of this book.

This book was somehow heartbreaking, and yet it also was kind of a feel good story. The character development was really great, and I felt very connected to everyone.