Joy Calloway's love for the history of the Grove Park Inn shines in the meticulous detail she has woven into this story of its construction. While the main characters are fictional, many of the supporting cast are historical. I have long been entranced by the history of the area around Asheville. Throw in the history of an iconic hotel and I an hooked. Calloway's vivid prose brings the setting to life.

Belle hoped to remain inconspicuous while vacationing with family to the mountains of North Carolina. Tasked with writing an article about the construction of the hotel, she chooses to focus on the ordinary people and their stories. While struck by the magnificence of the undertaking, she recognizes that it takes many ordinary people to accomplish something extraordinary.

Readers will be entranced by this young woman's journey of finding healing, a sense of purpose and love.

Content warning: use of mild curse words

****I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Joy Callaway's novel, "What the Mountains Remember," presents an engaging narrative that intertwines elements of romance, historical context, and the theme of self-discovery. Initially, some readers may find the pace gradual, but the story progressively unfolds into a well-crafted tale that educates and motivates. It is particularly suited for readers who have an affinity for historical fiction characterized by well-developed characters and an element of romantic intrigue.

"What the Mountains Remember" is an eloquently crafted work that vividly brings to life the nuances of a past epoch alongside the universal quest for personal identity. The novel's ability to engage the reader's emotions and intellect makes it an excellent choice for one's collection. It comes highly recommended for its immersive storytelling that has the power to elevate the mundane to the extraordinary, leaving a lasting impression on its readers.

I really enjoyed the setting of the book, the history of the Grove Park Inn, and the cover is gorgeous!! I ended up listening on audio book and thought it was an enjoyable read.

I loved the history of this book! It takes place in the mountains of NC while the Grove Park Inn is being built. Such a great story!

Do you want to know what is one of the most delightful experiences in the reading world? When one is pleasantly surprised by how much they love a new book. That is me with this one. I knew the barest of information about this book before picking it up, so I didn’t entirely know what to expect. And I was so pleased around every turn and bend and page. I finished on a sigh of happiness, with a desire for it to keep going.

Belle is a wonderful character. She clearly has her struggles, but she refuses to be hemmed in by them, to be shackled by the weight of her fears and insecurities. And I loved that about her. Her mountain background had given her a firm resolve and level head, and she was able to face life’s challenges with determination and grit, as well as the learned poise and grace she gained later.

The way she dealt with the people she interacted with was beautiful. I loved the underlying themes that everyone has something of value to offer the world, and that when we look for them, we can find things about others to learn from and admire. I thought she was especially kind to Marie Austin, even though I didn’t think she deserved it (she is so bothersome!). I also loved Belle’s natural writing ability, and how one person seeing her own goodness opened doors for her.

I was so confused about Worth for awhile, even though I liked him a great deal. He is incredibly swoony. One thing I loved about their relationship was how they tackled their problems head on, not letting them fester for days on end. It was refreshing and I loved how their communications with each other helped to reinforce their relationship.

My very favorite scenes happen near the end. Papa Newbold is just so good and I love him. And I loved how much Belle (and, by extension, Worth) grow in the short time they are on this Vagabond camping trip. Also, the kissing scenes (and almost kissing scenes—swoon!) were so, so good. So good!

I also found the history absolutely fascinating. Every single piece, from the hotel, to the consumption, to the fancy “camping” (the historical version of glamping!), was a lot of fun to read.

I am hooked on Joy Calloway’s writing now, and I’m off to locate another of her books to listen to. This one was just so well done, with incredible themes, a sweet, slow burn romance, and immersive writing (I could have sworn I smelled wood smoke at one point and felt the chill of the mountain air—and being a mountain lover, I cannot express enough just how much I loved all the mountain settings). I highly recommend for all fans of historical fiction and romance.



**CW/TW: parent deaths (occurred before book) by accident and fire; other deaths by disease; mention of affairs; starvation and extreme poverty; hunting and fishing, and preparing freshly caught fish; deception and lying; tongue mentioned during kissing


**many thanks to Austen Prose, NetGalley, and Harper Muse for the copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

This book was fulll of heart and I love the perspective from our leading lady. As someone who loves Asheville, I also enjoyed the history woven through every page. Couldn’t put it down.

This was a refreshing historical fiction novel. I really enjoyed learning about a historical period that I didn't know anything about. I lived the Ashville, NC setting. The writing was so beautifully done that it made me feel like I was in the mountains of North Carolina.

Historical fiction somewhat based on some true events.

Bella is swept up in the building of Grove Park Inn. She had to come to terms with her past and how she and her mother have been presented since her father's death, along the way discovering the beauty of her location and what she truly dreams of and truly is as a person.

Well written and full of thoughts and feelings.
Recommended for book clubs - there are discussion questions at the end of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book #sponsored

I so enjoyed Joy Callaway's book The Grand Design and fell in love with her descriptions of the Greenbrier Resort, so I was immediately drawn to What the Mountains Remember hoping for another chance to immerse myself in a historic resort, the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina.

I loved so many things about this book, from the descriptions of the famous Henry Ford Vagabonds excursions to the glimpses into the construction of the Grove Park Inn as well as the details about the sanatoriums in Asheville being used to treat tuberculosis. The novel was a true historical fiction lovers delight!

The characters are well developed and the storyline kept me engaged. I look forward to reading more books by Joy Callaway in the near future. I received this book courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

1913, Asheville, North Carolina. The Vagabonds, a group consisting of Henry Ford, Edsel, Firestone & Burroughs came here for a week of fancy camping and invited others along. Belle and her family and they become interested in the building of the nearby Grove Park Inn. The story combines fact and fiction, there are many secrets and much appreciation of the workers building the inn. And a delightful love story that develops between Belle and Worth.

DNF after 5 chapters/50 pages.

I was really excited about this read, after discovering it was partly about the Grove Park Inn; I visited Asheville last November, so had a vested interest in learning more about the area.

Marie Austen turned me off as a character almost immediately; I really didn't like her (or her life choices, heh, and after not one but two compromising situations, I was over it). Callaway's writing style, at least in this particular book, was also on the wordier side for my taste; not much happened even in these few chapters. Little drew me to the MC or made me want to keep reading. So, for now, it's back on the shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was drawn to this book because I love the Grove Park Inn (and spent my wedding night there). The characters were great. The FMC is a strong woman born poor who’s doing her best to keep her past a secret. The supporting characters include The Vagabonds (Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs) and it’s the historical aspects of the story that shine. The romance was sweet, but a strange third act breakup made the story lag a bit. (3.5/5)

That was a lovely book. I found myself thinking of the characters during the day and couldn't wait to pick it back up in the evening. The timing was a little off though. That was a lot to cram into a week. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions and the history behind the story. The dresses and cars and buildings set the scenes wonderfully. The on again, off again thing with Worth was a little overdone, but it was part of their story. Stubborn young people!! ;-)
I was rather sad to see it end, but can't wait to return to the Asheville mountains to see Grove Park Inn for myself. I love to google what I'm reading about. Joy does a great job putting you there with her words.

This is a wonderful historical fiction book set in Asheville, NC. Family secrets, romance, intrigue - this book has it all! This author is a dream and I was so glad to learn about her at a book signing for another author. Keep writing, Joy!

What the Mountains Remember is a historical novel set in 1913 Asheville. Belle Newbold has traveled with her mother and stepfather on a trip with the Vagabonds. This is a group of wealthy travelers who camped (or glamped) through the United States, led by Henry Ford and including Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone, and John Burroughs. Belle meets Worth Delafield, who she has agreed to marry; both Belle and Worth want a marriage of convenience and friendship, and both are wary when real romantic sparks fly. Belle also is fascinated by the Grove Park Inn, which is under construction ... and she ends up chronicling the story with her writing.

I wanted to read this novel because I love historical fiction. Asheville is one of my favorite southern places, and I enjoy books set at vintage resorts.

This was a lovely read! There is so much going on in this book at once. I found myself reading more slowly than usual just to sort out all the different storylines at once. I ended up reading more online about the Vagabonds, and listened to a podcast (Stuff You Missed in History Class) about the building of the Grove Park Inn.

I really liked Belle and Worth but at times felt a bit frustrated with their reluctance to marry because of their genuine romantic feelings. There were also numerous surprises through the book that caused shifts in the story - and their relationship.

All the history of Asheville and the Grove Park Inn was completely fascinating to me. I am sure that other readers who enjoy historical fiction and have an interest in southern settings will enjoy this book as well.

A captivating novel that explores themes of love, betrayal, guilt, and forgiveness against the backdrop of North Carolina’s majestic landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to HarperCollins Focus and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Belle Newbold is traveling with her mother and stepfather, gasoline magnate Shipley Newbold. They are part of a camping vacation called the Vagabonds Tour to Asheville, North Carolina. Others are wealthy men in society such as Henry Ford, Mr. Forrester, Mr. Edison, and Mr. Burroughs. Belle had grown up in Red Dragon, West Virginia where her father was a miner killed there in an accident. When her mother met Mr. Newbold, he thought she came from a wealthy family so it’s a secret about their background. Mr. Newbold has been very good and generous to Belle and her mother. Mr. Newbold wants Belle to marry Worth Delafield, 24, a man who has made a fortune in buying and selling land across the country. Belle is quite taken with the scenery as it reminds her of her birthplace in West Virginia.

Traveling with them is Marie Austin Kipp, daughter of the wealthy Augustus Kipp. Marie and Belle are friends of sorts. Marie has her eye on a young man she wishes to marry.

They have traveled from Tennessee to Asheville, North Carolina. Here, they will camp and investigate the building site of the proposed Grove Park Inn financed by Mr. Seely. Belle finds herself fascinated with the construction and the views the Inn will provide. When she is given the chance to interview the workers and write about the construction, she is thrilled. So, each day she and Worth head to the site and find out how intricate the building is and the learn about the skills of the workers. Unfortunately, there is a lot of tuberculosis in Asheville and many sanitariums. The head of construction of the Inn is worried that people will learn about the tuberculosis and not want to come to the Inn.

This book is intricately detailed about the construction of the Inn and all of its components. I was somewhat confused about the relationship between Belle and Worth. There is too much angst between them. However, as I love Asheville and have visited there many times, I was eager to read this book. I hope readers will enjoy it and perhaps visit Asheville sometime in the future to see not only the Inn but the Biltmore Castle as well. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The area around the historic Grove Park Inn is the setting for this novel, by Joy Callaway, "What the Mountains Remember". It is a story of a young woman, now in a rich society-driven world of the famous and elite who is running from secrets of her past. She is emmersed in writing, but stifled by the morays of the day. Culture, reality, and her past sometimes collide in this world, as she meets a young man who has some issues from his own past. This novel is rich in its plot, setting, and character development and is a must-read for those who enjoy heroines who are able to combine their own quest with love and romance. Thanks to #NetGalley#WhattheMountainsRemember for the opportunity to read and review this book. This book is reviewed online at https://www.facebook.com/thereadingandwritingsentinel/

What The Mountain Remembers is a beautifully and gently told story set in Asheville, North Carolina in 1913. Author Joy Calloway has woven fact into the fiction to bring to life the artisans who constructed the magnificent Grove Park Inn. Using Belle Newbold, who grew up as a coal miner’s daughter but with a passion for writing, Calloway depicts both the unspekble hardship that faced both the coal mining community and the famiies of those men who worked on the Inn. Belle’s father has died before this story opens and she is now living with her mother and wealthy stepfather as a debutante about to become engaged to wealthy land developer Worth Delafield, I loved the way Belle’s questions enabled the craftsmen to detail what it was they did and how, while also bringing those men to life. As this story unfolds, the central theme is Belle’s understanding with Worth, a dascinating story in itself, with each character slowly revealing themselves to the other while also falling in love despite their best intentions. In the background is the Vagabond tour led by the likes of Henry Ford . This is not a quick read, though it is still compelling. I was thoroughly intrigued throughout and fascinated by the author’s notes at the end if the story.

Author Joy Calloway has brought to light another piece of history in this fictional story. She combines her research on the construction of Grove Park Inn near Asheville, NC with a fictional story of those who built this magnificent inn.

Belle has not been back to the Inn since her father died and she, her mother ,and stepfather are returning for a "glamping" trip, or what was then called "Vagabonds", with Henry Ford. She hopes to reunite with Worth, her future fiance. An arranged marriage but she likes it that way. So many challenges face Belle on what she sees is a simple way to a life with money and without worries. So many secrets from the past she discovers. But no one escapes life without problems - in the present and from the past.

The Author's Note is not to be missed!

My thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy of this e-book and Harper Collins Focus for an advanced copy of the audiobook. Narration by Brittany Pressley was especially good!