4.5★ This book wasn't perfect, but it was one of my most memorable and satisfying reads of the year so far. Two things I loved about it the most were the location and the botany.

A classic dual timeline structure gives us Daisy Laverock in the present, and her great-great-aunt Violet Mackenzie-Grant in the late 1920s. The action takes place in Scotland and Nepal.

Violet is a woman ahead of her time. Rather than settle for a good/correct marriage, she has a keen interest in botany and commences studies at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. She's also a gifted botanic artist, and this skill brings her to the attention of Callum Gillespie, a gardener at the Royal Botanic Garden, who recommends Violet to the Regius Keeper (i.e. his boss) who is in need of someone to illustrate specimens sent back from an expedition to Tibet. Working side by side at the Botanics, Violet and Callum develop an affection for each other despite their different social standing.

In March 2020, Daisy is thrust into the middle of a nightmare when her long-planned trip with her mother to Nepal is turned upside down by the emergence of Covid-19. She's not sure she has the strength to adapt and make it work. A lucky (very lucky) chance meeting sets her on the right path and as the world shuts down she finds herself sheltering in place in the remote Khumbu village of Phortse, where she discovers unexpected connections with her ancestor, Violet.

Valpy has done a pretty good job of bringing Nepal to the page, both in the present and in the past. One or two cultural and linguistic errors were big enough to notice, but not to spoil the overall reading experience. There's a 15 minute video on Valpy's website that shows her research trip to Phortse, and it really is worth a look for context. https://www.fionavalpy.com/books/the-... The only reason I'm not rating the full 5 stars is that the book includes one of my pet hates: supposed journal entries that read like a novel!

Fiona Valpy has been on my radar for a while, although this is the first of her novels that I've read. I'm happy to see there are so many more to discover, including The Skylark's Secret, which includes characters from this book (with a focus on Daisy's mother). I wasn't aware of that until I'd finished reading, so clearly this one works well as a standalone.

Highly recommended.

This is my first @fionavalpy but it will definitely not be my last! This book has so much depth and feeling! Set both in the late 1920s and early 2020! I connected so well with Violet and Daisy and felt like they were friends I cared deeply about! I was invested in their life and well-being throughout their struggles.
The setting of Nepal was gorgeous! Learning more about the Sherpa people was very interesting and I definitely want to read more.
There were some triggers with the fears and struggles during the first few months of the COVID. If you still have strong feelings about that time, maybe wait a bit longer for this one.
However, if you enjoy strong women overcoming the odds, gorgeous setting, and learning about an amazing culture and people who don't get a lot of attention, definitely check this one out! It is set to be published this week, so add it to your TBR and pick it up Tuesday!
Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
#TheSkyBeneathUs #NetGalley

The Sky Beneath Us is the first book that I've read by this author and I loved it! It's a story about resilience, fighting against prejudice, loss, love, finding a place in the world and also with beautiful descriptions of Nepal, its mountains, traditions, people and flora. Reading the story I could transport myself to the mountains and to observe and feel the hardships imposed by distance and difficulty in accessing places. The story gives lots of food for thought regarding life, where we want to be and what makes us happy. Highly recommended!
I thank Ms. Valpy, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

What a wonderful read.
I was drawn to this book by the cover, as we often are, and I am so glad I was. This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author but it definitely won’t be the last.
A fabulous historical novel told over two timescales, one deep in Covid times.
Beautifully written, this book takes you on a colourful emotional journey from the 1920s to modern day Nepal and Scotland.
Through the eyes of the characters you’ll experience the huge changes that have occurred in both countries both in their infrastructures and in their attitudes. Their journeys through Nepal are faithfully captured and as I’ve trodden those paths myself it took me back to the beauty of the country and its people.
All that being said the very best thing about this novel are the characters whom you immediately relate to and I’m already feeling bereft as I leave their company.
A definite contender for the ‘if you read just one book this year’ prize

The Sky Beneath Us is a beautifully crafted story that flows as gracefully as the valleys of Nepal and the Himalayas. Fiona Valpy’s novel is truly a masterpiece and will likely be one of my top reads of the year.

Told through the voices of Violet and Daisy, the narrative spans two timelines. Violet’s journey begins in 1927 when she enrolls in Edinburgh’s College of Gardening for women. An exceptional artist, she loves sketching plant specimens, but life’s twists lead her far from home to Nepal. Meanwhile, Daisy’s story unfolds in 2020. She has been planning this trip since she discovered Violet’s sketches hidden in an old wardrobe. Intrigued, she decides to follow in Violet’s footsteps, but as the pandemic shuts down the world, Daisy finds herself stranded in Nepal. What secrets will she uncover about Violet’s life, and what will she learn about herself?

As a gardener, this novel resonated deeply with me. The importance of conserving plants in their natural habitat, along with the need to protect biodiversity, has never felt more urgent. Valpy’s depiction of Nepal’s rugged beauty is so vivid that I felt I was right there with Daisy, exploring the majestic valleys and landscapes. The metaphors connecting the endurance of plants in harsh environments with human resilience were incredibly moving. Ultimately, this is a story about beauty, faith, and perseverance.

Fiona Valpy is one of my favorite authors, and The Sky Beneath Us does not disappoint. It’s an uplifting, poignant tale that celebrates both nature and the human spirit.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for this wonderful book.

Content Warning: This novel is set during the pandemic, which may be sensitive for some readers.

I adore a dual timeline book and absolutely loved all of Fiona Valpy’s books I’ve read so far.

Violets story in the past is both heartbreaking and inspiring, she’s a strong female character who seeks out a life for herself after life throws her a curveball.

in the present day we meet Daisy, a woman kind of lost after a divorce and travelling in the footsteps of Violet to Nepal she find herself helped by the kindness of
others and discovers more than she ever could have imagined.

The setting is stunning - Nepal and its peaks are beautifully described, the nature and the landscapes which challenge take you there and I adored the link with the past and the importance of family and love.

What a wonderful book and one which will give your heart joy and immerse you in a nostalgic reading experience
Brilliant !!!

This is not the first Fiona Valpy book I’ve read - but one of my favourites! Such a heartwarming read searching for family history, secrets and love.

As Covid hit the world in March 2020, Daisy embarked on her journey to Nepal trekking the Himalayan’s to discover her family history.
Violet enrolled in Edinburghs school of gardening for women in 1927 unsupported by her parents. Whilst there she met the love of her life Callum another avid gardener - both families against their love.
Callum was selected for a once in a lifetime expedition across Nepal where struck with illness ended this trip. Violet hiding a secret gambles everything in search of Callum treks across Nepal before settling there herself.

We learn of the heartbreak and love of Violets past through Daisy and the diary entries whilst embarking on the same path to discover her families history.

Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy!

I loved this book and didn’t want it to end, ever!
I enjoyed the dual timeline with Violet and all that she had to endure and what she did for the Sherpa people and Daisy and her adventure and voyage of discovery.
This book shows girl power at its best and also, just how important family is.
A tremendous amount of research was done and it was well worth it.
I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who will listen to me.

Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion.

I seem to have decided to read books this year that stay with me long after I have finished reading. This one was very different to the others which were set in WW2 and depicted the horror of War.
This one was harrowing in it's way with the depictions and descriptions and effects of the Pandemic - which, of course, is still in the minds of many of us.

I had not read the previous book where Daisy is mentioned and did wonder if I had missed something important in her earlier life.

I had no idea about the lives of the Sherpas in Nepal and found this aspect of the book fascinating. It was obvious that Fiona Valpy had researched this well and in fact had visited the area.
I recommend that you follow the link to the video about her visit and the people she met there.

This is essentially a dual timeline story about Daisy and her Great-Great Aunt Violet. Violet was a pioneer in a way - dealing with what life threw at her in an unorthodox way (for those days) which pretty much fashioned the rest of her life.
Daisy had found documents, drawings and plant material pertaining to Violet and decided to follow her journey to Nepal - then Covid hit.
The medicinal side to the Nepalese plants was interesting as well.

A really well written book that made me think about both plant collecting and mountain climbing.
This deserves more than the 5 stars I can give it - I recommend this book

The Sky Beneath Us by Fiona Valpy

Fiona Valpy is a newish author to me, someone that I’ve come across while blogging and I always request her books on NetGalley. I know I’m going to get a read that’s focused on women, their history and characters going through an experience that changes their outlook on life. I love the psychology behind these stories and this new novel was no exception, taking our main character through her family history to explore her identity and her direction now she’s in middle life. In two timelines we meet Violet Mackenzie- Grant and her great niece Daisy almost a century later. In 1927, Violet is leaving the family estate to focus on a new and exciting career path for women. Having watched her sister settle into the role of wife, Violet wants her life to be different and enrols at The Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. Manual labour isn’t really what her family had in mind for her daughter, but Violet is so excited especially when she gets the chance to use her drawing skills to sketch plant specimens for the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. She is thrilled to see the amazing plants being brought back from expeditions all over the world. Little does she know that this work will inspire a journey of her own; the trek of a lifetime to Kathmandu and beyond. In 2020, her great niece Violet Loverack has always dreamed of retracing Violet’s steps ever since she discovered her journals at the family home in Scotland. Her plant hunting exploits inspired Daisy’s own career as a landscape gardener, but from her tiny flat in London, Kathmandu has always seemed a long way away. Now divorced and with her last daughter leaving home for university, she’s made the decision to go on the trip of a lifetime. As she arrives in Nepal, ready for her trek into the Himalaya, fate has a different plan in store for her in the shape of the COVID pandemic. It prevents her mother joining her on the trip and soon after her arrival, the country is shut down leaving her stuck mid-way to the village Violet mentions with her two Sherpas. She must now undertake her journey alone with her guides, hoping for shelter at the same village. As she starts to piece together all the parts of Violet’s story she uncovers long held family secrets, can they inspire Daisy to find her own path forward and build a new life for herself?

I was so inspired by this story, especially the adaptability and courage of these women. It gave me the travel bug too and I booked a little trip to Venice half way through! Violet is an incredible character, brave and perhaps a touch naïve at first. She doesn’t want to be restricted by what her family and society expect for her, but isn’t quite prepared by how strong their beliefs and rigid class structure is. Even going away to study us a massive step away from that path of marriage and children her parents were hoping for and manual labour for a woman of Violet’s class is possibly unheard of. There’s an openness and freedom to how she thinks that’s partly being young, part never challenging the status quo before and partly her own restless spirit. Things changed rapidly after WW1 for both women and the rigid class structure of the Edwardians. There’s a definite generational gap between those who remember those early years of the early Twentieth Century and those born after the war. Men were more scarce and that applied particularly to women of Violet’s social standing. There were more spinsters at that time, but the war also had an effect on class. It’s a change watchers of Downton Abbey saw between the dowager Duchess played by Maggie Smith and her granddaughter Sybil, who elopes with the young chauffeur. The family also struggled to keep the estate financially viable and many aristocratic families at this time had to give up their stately homes or married American heiresses who were only to keen to gain a British title in return for fixing the stately home’s roof or paying the multiple death duties. Young people of the 1920’s were the flappers and bright young things of the ‘Roaring Twenties’. Violet’s parents seem relatively relaxed about her studying, but probably assume Violet will give it all up when the right man comes along. In finding him, I’m not sure Violet understood how restricted her choices actually were.

When Violet meets Callum Gillespie at the botanic gardens it’s a meeting of minds as well as hearts. Both love gardens and are inspired by the intrepid plant hunters who travel all over the world to bring back the specimens that Violet is sketching. They are experimenting by cultivating seeds and cuttings to see which plants grow well in the Scottish climate. Violet’s home is situated where the Gulf Stream brings milder temperatures and along with it”s mountainous countryside it could be the perfect site to cultivate plants coming from Nepal. Violet has fallen in love with the stunning Himalayan poppy, it’s sky blue petals and orange centre jumps out from the page and she’d love to grow it back home. Callum is going on the next expedition to Nepal, but first Violet takes him to meet her parents. It’s fair to say she’s stunned by their reaction. They insist that there’s no future in their relationship. He’s so far beneath them in class, that they couldn’t possible give their blessing to the relationship. Violet must break off their relationship. Determined to be with Callum, they both leave and spend the night in a nearby bothy together, cementing their union before a trip to Callum’s parents where they expect a better reception . Sadly things are equally awkward. Callum’s mother is uncomfortable when Violet tries to help out with tea. They are more used to working for people of Violet’s class, and to Callum’s embarrassment they act more like servants than family. They tell Callum he should look for a wife from his own class because this will never work and he could ruin Violet’s chances of a more suitable marriage. As Callum leaves for Nepal the pair are downcast and worry for their future. They continue to write to each other over the weeks and Violet becomes ever more sure that he is her soulmate. Surprise news makes Violet realise she wants to be with him, wherever he is and with the help of her sister she sets off to Nepal where life changing events await her.

Years later Daisy is setting out on the same journey. She’s recently been very uncertain about the direction of her life now she’s no longer a wife or a full-time Mum. I loved following her journey, taking Violet’s steps into the Himalaya and at such an extraordinary time too. While the landscape itself is unchanged, more and more tourists have made their own attempts to conquer Everest. Previously, the Nepalese people thought it disrespectful to the mountain goddess to climb her, but since then both the Tibetan and Nepalese governments have allowed tourism in the area. Of course this has opened up the small communities to the rest of the world and allowed communication links to and from the area. It was fascinating to read about the effects of tourism on the people and the delicate eco-system around them. Sherpas are now employed to to tackled the most dangerous aspects of climbing Everest. They know the mountain, the weather and the best paths to take. Some are employed to create paths of ladders across the glaciers and many lives are lost, depriving families of their fathers and the income. It was clever to set Daisy’s journey in the pandemic because she gets to see the valley where Violet lived without tourists. The place feels untouched and even more remote as tourists have rushed home and the villages are locked down. So Daisy gets to experience the trek very much like Violet did, it’s quiet, there’s nobody on the same path and when she reaches the village she’s so surprised to a warm welcome. She’ll have to quarantine of course, but she has a family here with so many cousins she’s lost count. She also has access to the rest of Violet’s journals and will be able to read what remains of her life story. Just as these people did for Violet when she arrived a century ago, they now take Daisy in and look after her,

I loved the equality of the village and I’m sure this is what Violet enjoyed too. There’s no class structure and seemingly no judgement either. She was taken in and as soon as a house becomes available it is cleaned and given to her for as long as she needs it. They don’t find industrious and hard working women an anomaly. This is somewhere Violet can settle and now Daisy can meet Violet’s descendants. Their societal structure is based on community and sharing. No one is without, but equally no one has ownership either. I loved how Daisy is inspired by the villagers and their generosity. It sparks a fire in her for community garden, partly to put something back into this wonderful place, a replacement for what years of visitors have taken. She also thinks it could work back home in Scotland, sharing some of the land that’s been her privileged birthright with the community. She inspires her daughters to improve the estate with an organic gardening project and more ethical values. The settings in the novel are incredible, equally beautiful but it’s hard not to be in awe of the incredible landscapes Daisy uncovers on each day’s trek. The valley between the mountains has its own climate and a unique combination of plants. I was blown away by the author’s description of the flower meadow which I pictured as a living rainbow of roses, rhododendrons and climbers. Of course there are also those vivid blue poppies and yes, I have already sourced some seeds. The idea of being above the clouds was incredible, almost as if it’s a magical, heavenly place.

Of course there are some darker moments. COVID hits the family hard, just as typhoid hit Violet’s plans a hundred years earlier. The trek is challenging as Daisy struggles with the altitude and the stamina required to reach the village, in fact she’s stunned by how sure footed and physically fit the older members of the community are. This was heartbreaking in parts but also incredibly uplifting. It left me thinking I could start to tick off those bucket list items and fulfil those dreams I had for my life but set aside when I first became ill. Daisy’s Sherpa has a great way of combatting her fears and anxieties about completing the trek. He tells her to keep taking small steps, one in front of the other and I think this is great advice for any overwhelming task and life in general. You only fail if you give up.

This book tells the interwoven stories of two women from different eras, Violet in 1927 and Daisy in 2020. Violet, a student at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women, faces an unexpected pregnancy and decides to leave the school to embark on a journey to Nepal to reunite with the father of her child. Almost a century later, Daisy, newly divorced and with her children grown, discovers Violet's journals. Inspired by her great-great-aunt's story, Daisy decides to follow in her footsteps and travel to Nepal.

The novel alternates between these two timelines, exploring themes of passion, determination, love, and sacrifice. The author, Fiona Valpy, skillfully integrates the COVID-19 pandemic into Daisy's story, making it relatable and authentic for contemporary readers. The book is praised for its engaging plot twists, relatable characters, and compassionate reflection on the pandemic, creating a compelling and beautifully written narrative about two women navigating challenges in Nepal’s rugged environment.

"The Sky Beneath Us" is a novel with a dual timeline, set in 1927 and 2020, following the stories of Violet Mackenzie-Grant and her great-great-niece, Daisy Laverock. Violet, thrilled to be studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women, embarks on an adventurous journey to Nepal, settling in the Himalayan village of Phortse. She is captivated by the stunning scenery, the Sherpa people, and the local flora, including wild rhododendron bushes.

Decades later, Daisy discovers Violet's letters and journals and becomes determined to uncover what happened to her. Despite the outbreak of Covid-19, Daisy travels to Nepal to follow in Violet's footsteps. Her plans to trek to Mount Everest are disrupted, but she finds inspiration in Violet's legacy. She meets two Sherpa men who invite her to their village, allowing her to experience the rich culture, beliefs, and way of life in the high altitudes of the Himalayas. The novel offers a vivid portrayal of Nepal and the challenges brought by the pandemic, blending historical and contemporary narratives.

This was my first novel by Fiona Valpy, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book checked all my boxes - a faraway place to discover, two different time periods, interesting characters, a storyline that made me fall in love with the people and places.

Violet, like the flower, bucks her familial traditions and falls in love with a man who is considered below her station. She is threatened with being disowned, but love prevails. She travels from Scotland to be with her true love who has gone on an expedition in Nepal. As she catalogs and paints plants, she goes to live with the Sherpas.

Daisy, like the flower, has grown up reading her great aunt Violet's letters home to her sister Hetty and her journals. Daisy goes on a pilgrimage to Nepal herself to follow in Violet's footsteps just as the Covid pandemic hits and restricts all travel - and her own mother can't join her now on the trip they had planned.

As we follow both Daisy and Violet, we learn about the area and the Sherpas - and fall in love with these people.

I really recommend this book, especially if you are looking for something that will allow you to learn about another country and people. You can escape for a few hours while you read and for long after.

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

I think this might be my new favourite Fiona Valpy book (it was the Skylarks secret). I loved the setting of this one, the scenery and people of the Himalaya so vividly described, I knew the author must have been there! It was also interesting to read a book that mentioned the pandemic and was a reminder of how we were all living back then, not so long ago.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for my arc.

Wow! What can I say? What an amazing book! I have literally just finished reading and I feel like I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions. I was plunged back into the uncertainty, disbelief and fear of the early days of the pandemic. The depth of feeling between Daisy and Violet was almost tangible and the descriptions of Nepal made me feel like I was actually there and believe me I've never been close! I just can't express how well written this book is so you'll just have to read it for yourselves! 5 Well deserved stars from me.

What a fantastic story. Violet leaves Scotland to seek out her fiancée but all is not what it seems when she finds him. The storyline follows their journey from 1920’s as well as Daisy who seeks out to find details of her Great Aunt but gets more than she bargains as the time is 2020 and world lockdown begins. Thanks to Fiona and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley.

Travel writing and historical events are blended together in this beautiful and inspiring story told over two timelines.

1927. Violet is a student at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women and she clearly an early journaller, writing down her thoughts on life as well as documenting her work at the school. Once she realises she's pregnant and not yet married, she decides to escape the school before it's too late. She embarks on an epic journey to Nepal to be with the father of the child, a fellow student from the gardening school (the male part of it...).

2020. Daisy has come across Violet's journals and when she finds herself divorced and the children have flown the nest, she decides to follow her dream of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet. I normally dislike Covid being part of fiction books, but in this one, Fiona Valpy has skilfully used it to strengthen the story, to make it more believable.

Lovely feel-good story with botanics thrown in as well.

This absolutely wonderful story was a joy to read, it was inspirational and emotional. The story starts with Violet who in 1927 enrols at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women and her fight to be accepted in training as a female gardener and her entry to the collage, the dismissal of her choice from her family who then gave her an ultimatum to stop and return home to marry well.. Violet meets Callum another gardener who accepts her in the role and they become friends and more. This book spans from Edinburgh to Nepal, it follows Violets life and the choices she makes and with the duel time line which is excellent follows her great, great niece Daisy following in her footsteps. I don’t want to give more away but the book takes you to the places Violet and Daisy go to and you can only imagine the hardship Violet endures.
There is a link at the end of this book where the author takes on the journey herself and I loved watching it and seeing some of the places both Violet and Daisy went to and the trek they made. Please take the time to click on the link after reading the authors notes as it is really worth the watch.
An amazing book and I can whole heartedly recommend it.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and publisher Lake Union Publishing for the early read.

The Sky Beneath Us is so beautifully written! The alternating POV stories come alive with passion, determination, love, and sacrifice as two strong women, many years apart, forge their way into Nepal’s harsh, unforgiving environment - ultimately with surprising outcomes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Fiona Valpy's The Sky Beneath Us is a delightful dual-timeline story about a resilient woman who sets out on a journey through Nepal during the pandemic to uncover the mysteries of her family's past, and perhaps, rediscover herself in the process. What an ambitious undertaking of a novel, executed brilliantly! It's well-researched, fascinating, gripping, emotional; and most of all, rich with wisdom that touched my heart. Valpy is at the top her game. Brava!