Rachel Fordham has a way of writing stories that will have the reader invested from the first page and sad to tell the characters goodbye at the end.

Beyond Ivy Walls is a beautiful example of Fordham’s talent.

Otis and Sadie both have things in their life they would prefer to keep private. Circumstances arise that makes being secretive harder and harder.

As Otis and Sadie get to know each other, they learn to trust not only themselves, but realize the other can be trusted with their deepest secrets. Will those secrets tear them apart though?

I loved how the story has so many layers, so many reminders that things and people are often not what they seem, that we are often more self-conscious that those who truly love us will be, and our stories can often help others if we are willing to open ourselves up and share.

Thank you to Uplit Reads and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy of this book. All views are my honest opinion.

Beyond Ivy Walls is a heartfelt historical romance that delves deep into themes of love, loss, and resilience. Set in a vividly portrayed period setting, Fordham crafts a story that is both emotionally engaging and historically immersive. The characters are well-developed, with complex motivations and growth arcs that make them relatable and endearing. Fordham’s prose is elegant, evoking a strong sense of time and place, which adds to the authenticity of the story. The plot is well-paced, keeping readers engaged from beginning to end, and the romance is tender and moving, providing a satisfying emotional journey.

Fordham's ability to weave together historical detail with a compelling love story makes Beyond Ivy Walls a standout in the genre. Readers who enjoy historical romance with depth and heart will find this book a rewarding read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Uplit Reads and Rachel Fordham for the arc!

I absolutely love the way Rachel Fordham writes! Her stories are heartwarming, her characters are genuine and every book flows with charm and meaning, drawing you into pages like a warm hug. I also adore her use of letter writing between characters … there is just something extra romantic about these exchanges that make your heart full to overflowing.

Beyond Ivy Walls is no exception!! With Beauty & The Beast vibes, this grumpy x sunshine historical romance uplifts and inspires and left me with all the sweet feels! The epilogue is a beautiful HEA and rounds out the entire hope filled story with perfection! One of my favorite books of 2024 for sure!

Such a tender book, a sweet love story, a story of living again, of friendship and of making tough decisions for the ultimate good. Also had its funny moments. An all around 5 star read.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

I loved this book so much. I adored The Letter Tree by Rachel Fordham and so I was excited to read another release from her. I was not disappointed!

Beauty and the Beast retellings have always been a favorite of mine. This book has realistic characters, with real-life issues to deal with. I very much appreciated that aspect of it. I also enjoyed the unique setting.

This is labelled under Christian romance, but has someone who does not read that genre, this is still a great historical romance. I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a super sweet and wholesome historical romance. It had a little mystery, forced proximity and grumpy/sunshine in it some of my favorite tropes to find in a historical romance. For a historical I actually enjoyed this one it is not normally a genre I would pick for myself.

It is beauty and the beast esque but definitely not a retelling.

I rated it 3 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

"Why can't it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the same?"

Beyond Ivy Wall is a story of friendship, family, betrayal, hurt, shame, and true love. With some tidbits of Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast, this is a delightful read that is thought-provoking regarding how we treat people who are different. The author, Rachel Fordham, takes the reader to a time that seems far off, but really it's not that far from the reality we live in today. If you are looking for a lovely read on a weekend, Beyond Ivy Walls is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for allowing me to read this book at no cost in exchange for my honest review.

Reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast, with a nod to Jane Eyre, Beyond the Ivy Walls was a very lovable read! The story is in Iowa 1903 in a small town of Monticello, where Sadie West has moved to, to get a job in a feather duster factory to help support her family’s farm. Also where Otis Taylor’s childhood home is located and visits after being exiled many years ago. There is a mystery, a slow-burn clean romance, light faith content, and wholesome values. 5⭐️

A historical fiction fairytale take on Beauty and the Beast. A rich heir has come home to settle family affairs after being sent away as a boy. Little did the town know it was because of scarring he had that couldn’t be cured (cue the beast of the story). Little does he know that a sweet young lady of a poor family has been squatting in his family’s abandoned factory while she tries to work to provide for her family back home bc her father has taken ill (cue the beauty.). Also has some hints of Little Women as well. Sweet storyline and not a deep or serious book but a must for Beauty and the Beast lovers like myself. ***Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.***

One of the best books of the year! Oh, how I adored this book! It is a story that will stay pinned on my heart and in my memory. Otis and Sadie are characters not often written. They, along with a host of secondary characters, bring this book to life in a grand way. The author’s voice rings out on subjects inside the story that are near and dear to her heart. That, along with her talent and passion, will keep you coming back for more. There is so much to glean from Beyond Ivy Walls, like: how to love one another, how to forgive, and how to look on the inside of a person. All wonderful things to put into practice in my own life.

What a wonderful, look behind the mask story. This historical romance mixes dedication, hard work, commitment, insecurities, family, acceptance, and love into a story to inspire everyone. This book is so easy to read, the characters breath life into the story. And Rachel Fordham delivers a detailed setting for the story to live in. I loved learning about the obsession of roller skating and how parties were built around it.
Witty banter between the characters had me laughing out loud at times, thoroughly enjoying how they built a relationship with each other. Faith is woven through each part of life, as normal as breathing for Sadie. Otis learns to turn to his faith through the unwavering acceptance Sadie provides. A wonderful dance throughout the book that adds more depth to the characters. The sweet romance blossoms through each interaction, and though not pain free it is more realistic and entertaining.
Rachel Fordham is such a marvelous writer, I always look forward to another book from her. This one did not disappoint at all. Make sure you plan extra time to read this book in as few as sittings as possible. It is hard to put down! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction -- Thomas Nelson for allowing me to read and review Beyond Ivy Walls, A Novel, by Rachel Fordham on NetGalley.

Published: 08/13/24

Stars: 3.5

My second Fordham came with a little disappointment, but still a nice read. The house characters are likable, each has a distinctive personality: I liked that. The outside characters are a mixed bag, all moved the story along. This was an easy and fast read. I enjoyed the feather duster factory backdrop.

I didn't see a Beauty and the Beast similarity other than a scar.

This was okay. I could see myself gifting this to any age. This is a nice waiting room book -- interesting but not mind blowing.

Thank Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I loved this book! It had a lot of elements that reminded me of beauty and the beast but was a whole new take on it. I love when I can see similarities but the story is it's own and I don't know exactly how they will get together. This story was so sweet in not judging someone by how they look and getting to know them first. Otis and Sadie were so cute together. I also liked how she threw in another part of the story about sacrificing what you think you want want or need for somebody else to be happy. I would highly recommend this book for romance lovers set in a different time period.

Dry in parts but a lovely story! Love how the "difference" of the MMC was so unique. The way everything was connected was interesting too. Really loved how the whole story was wrapped up.

Jane Eyre vibes, wrapped in a storyline remeniscient of Beauty and the Beast, with a dash of epistolary, this book had so many things to draw me in. I was also pleasantly surprised to read the author's note at the end of the story and learn that it was written by a foster mom.
I was interested in the story from start to finish. It also had many literary references; which I cannot help but love. I will say, that the lower star rating is simply because I typically do not read stories where the main focus is on the romance.
I would definitely recommend this title. I plan to read the backtitle The Letter Tree and will look forward to additonal new releases by Rachel Fordham.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to preview this book.

3.5 Stars. In Iowa in 1903, Sadie West has been working at the Hoag feather duster factory, hoping to save enough money to help her family. She seeks shelter at a nearby abandoned building, until she comes face-to-face with the owner, Otis Taylor, who had kept himself hidden away due the scars that tarnish his appearance. Otis allows Sadie to stay, and the two begin to form a friendship as they embark on a journey to try to find Otis’ long lost niece.

I absolutely loved all the nods to Beauty and the Beast in the plot of this novel—I’m a huge fan of the fairy tale and I think the author did an incredible job tying in aspects of Beauty and the Beast while creating a completely unique story as well. I also really appreciated the author’s note at the end of the book where she noted her personal connections to the story, as well as the research done to ensure historical accuracy. While I enjoyed the premise and plot, the one thing that fell short for me was the pacing—I felt like parts of the book were a bit slow. Overall, it was a decent read!

Thank you to UpLit Reads and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my gifted copy and including me in this book campaign, as well as NetGalley for my gifted e-galley!

As someone who isn't typically a fan of romance novels, I loved this story! The writing was extremely immersive and I felt sucked right into each scene, excited to follow each storyline to the end.

Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another amazing book by Rachel. Well done.

Hard to put down retelling of Beauty and the beast. Sweet love story of Otis and Sadie.
Otis a man scarred physically, mentally and emotionally. Incapable of being loved. But a beautiful girl with a great heart named Sadie will heal his broken heart.

Beyond Ivy Walls was a beautiful story of acceptance & love. A twist on Beauty & the Beast, Otis & Sadie gripped my heart in ways I didn't think were possible. There were aspects that reminded me of Phantom of the Opera as well. I was left in tears at the end. You won't regret reading this one. Rachel Fordham is a delightful storyteller.

“What is normal? Why can’t it be normal to be varied and different? In a world full of colors and shapes and backgrounds, who decided we were all supposed to be the same?”

It’s always a treat to read a book by Rachel Fordham, and Beyond Ivy Walls is no exception. With vibes of Beauty and the Beast and references to Jane Eyre, the storyline pulled me in and kept me turning pages. Set in Iowa in the early 1900s, it features Sadie West who is working in a feather duster factory and Otis Taylor who is returning to his home in the same town. Otis is somewhat of a recluse because of physical and emotional scars but is also an accomplished pianist and heir to the family home and land. When he reluctantly returns to settle the family affairs, he meets Sadie who is trying to help her family survive while her father heals from an injury. These main characters, along with a stellar cast of secondary characters, are engaging, relatable and well-drawn. I enjoyed the banter between them and the changing relationship as they got to know each other.

“Plans are a good thing, if they’re held lightly. Some folks hold on too tight and they can’t let go when life changes.”

This story is well-written and captivating with themes of acceptance of others and the importance of families, whether they are biological or pieced together with love. I enjoyed the author’s note at the end with a little background on the writing of this book. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.