Despite having supernatural elements the book is not horror. his is not a horror novel. However, its a story of love, guilt, and grief, and the profound effects they have on the mind, body, and soul of a person.
3 stars because it was hard for me to go in to it.

What a rollercoaster of a novel! Even though this book touches themes like the supernatural and hauntings, I don't think it an horror book but a novel about grief and the way we lead with it and what grief and guilt can do to someone. I loved every minute. It had me gasping, giggling, crying and all sorts of emotions.

I really enjoyed A Cure for Sorrow as an October read. The book begins with Nora being a likable, strong-willed female character, but grief leads her to make horrible decisions. There are a lot of heavy issues covered in this story including death of a child, suicide, cheating, murder and autism. I enjoyed the way Wheeler worked the supernatural element into the book, because it adds a great macabre feel to the story.

I feel like the horror element in this book, is the way Nora’s life unfolds after losing Euan. Instead of working to overcome her grief, she succumbs to it and gives up on her dream of being a doctor and causes a lot of turmoil in Euan’s family when she goes to visit the farm. All of this continues to affect Nora throughout the rest of her life, and the relationship she has with her son at the end of the book. The other members of Euan’s family also have their own “demons” to deal with, and it definitely was not the best environment for Nora to try to deal with her grief.

A Cure for Sorrow is a well-written character driven story, with a mildly creepy undertone that adds an unsettling feel to the book, which made it a perfect read for me.

Despite the presence of the supernatural, this is not a horror novel. I’m not sure that I would call it a thriller either. It is, however, a story of love, guilt, and grief, and the profound effects they have on the mind, body, and soul of a person. I’m reminded of Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ in which the main character, Edith, an aspiring author, claims she writes love stories and the ghosts they contain are only a metaphor. The same is true of ‘A Cure for Sorrow’, a compelling read through and through.

A Cure for Sorrow by Jen Wheeler is a haunting novel about the power of science, the nature of love, and the enigma of the supernatural.
A captivating historical thriller was so well-written and full of exquisite descriptions.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and think it is well worth reading.

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

"From the author of The Light on Farallon Island comes a haunting novel about the power of science, the nature of love, and the enigma of the supernatural.

Convention-flouting Nora Harris is a determined young medical student in Gilded Age Manhattan. A surgeon's daughter, she always leads with her head - until her father's latest protégé, Euan Colquhoun, steals her heart. Love and logic bind the newly betrothed couple together, but a tragic accident cuts their bright future short.

Grief-stricken, Nora finds surprising comfort in corresponding with Euan's older brother, Malcolm. She decides to forsake her ambitions to retreat to the Colquhoun family farm deep in the tangled woods of upstate New York.

There, her longed-for peace is threatened by a suspicion that the whole family harbors haunting secrets. When she starts to see things that science can't explain, Nora fears for her sanity - and when she gives in to dangerous temptations, she fears for her immortal soul."

A country estate with things that "science can't explain" I need to know more!

A slow moving character driven novel that's very much a portrait of grief. Nora's fiance Euan died, sending her spiraling but now she's married to his brother Malcolm and living in what can only be termed a creepy place. What's really going on? This blends supernatural elements and reality but it never really got going for me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

Sometime last year I tried to read this author's previous novel and I struggled. Yet, I wanted to give Jen Wheeler a second try.
Sadly, this didn't work with me either.
I can't connect with the writing style or feel invested in the characters' storylines, which was a bummer because I do love a slow-paced, character-driven story.
Also, the historical side of this book couldn't engage me in the reading.
I'm sure this book will please other readers, especially the ones who enjoy character-driven stories.

This historical fiction was okay couldn’t really get in to it.

Still it was a engaging story to tell.

This historical fiction novel takes us back to Gilded Age Manhattan and introduces us to Nora Harris, a strong-willed medical student who defies convention and follows her own heart. But when tragedy strikes, Nora's life takes an unexpected turn and she finds herself seeking solace on a secluded farm in upstate New York.
This is a slow paced, character-driven novel that beautifully delves into the complexities of human emotions. But what truly made this book stand out for me was its exploration of grief and how it can consume us. Nora's transformation from a logical and ambitious student to a woman drowning in sorrow had me captivated from start to finish. A Cure for Sorrow is a must-read for anyone looking for an emotionally impactful novel.

A Cure for Sorrow follows Nora Harris as she navigates the complexity of grief and identity in the woods of upstate New York. There, she unravels family secrets that have long been buried and grapples with the fact that the science she knows can’t explain everything.

If there is one thing to know about this book, it’s that Jen Wheeler does an excellent job describing the multitudes of grief. Nora is an incredibly dynamic character that will keep you asking yourself “Why?” throughout the novel. All of the other personalities you meet in this story are just as multi-faceted and rich. Wheeler wove each character’s burdens into the story and the setting seamlessly. In the same vein, the setting is crucial to the plot itself. I can’t imagine a better place for this story to take place, as the loneliness of the landscape only intensifies Nora’s feelings of grief and displacement.

With all of its incredible qualities, A Cure for Sorrow did have a few drawbacks for me. First, the pacing of this novel is very slow. If you enjoy character-driven novels, this will likely be to your advantage! For me, I typically enjoy something that is a little bit faster. If a book is slow paced and character-driven, then I have to really like the characters for it to become an all-time favorite. That brings me to my second drawback: almost every single one of the characters was incredibly unlikeable. Wheeler did a fantastic job at making the characters so, but unfortunately it did not redeem the pace for me.

Overall, A Cure for Sorrow earns a solid 3/5 stars! While it didn’t end up being a favorite for me, I think that mostly comes down to my preferences not aligning with the book. I do recommend checking it out once it releases on September 24, 2024, but please read the content warnings first.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC!

A Cure for Sorrow is a heart-wrenching story that offers a moving blend of love, grief, guilt, and regrets, with a touch of the supernatural and a pinch of horror, all the while exploring the complexity and imperfection of human nature.

The plot revolves around a young woman named Leonora Harris (or Nora for short) who navigates through the grief of losing her lover, Euan Colquhoun. Wallowing in her sorrow, she unexpectedly finds some relief from her pain while corresponding with Malcolm, her late fiancé’s eldest brother. After some months, Nora finally decides to visit the Colquhoun family farm to formally meet Euan’s relatives and bring them his ashes, in an attempt to move on and resume her life. Once there, she senses a haunting presence dwelling on their house, which she cannot rationally explain not matter how hard she tries. As she entangles herself further in the Colquhoun family and seeks out truths long since buried, she finds herself slowly questioning her decisions and her beliefs.

Jen Wheeler is an amazing author, and it was delightful to immerse myself in her novel. She handles words with finesse and utmost sensitivity, which led me to be hooked on the story from the very first paragraphs. I loved the characters (or, at times, loved to dislike some of them) for how realistic they seemed. I was deeply moved by Nora’s despair; my heart ached at her emotional struggles.

Overall, the story is slow-paced, utterly introspective, and laced with a certain melancholy throughout, but this is exactly the kind of novel I enjoy reading. I know full well that this novel will stay with me for a long time, and I will definitely read it again.

I highly recommend it to anyone who relishes character-driven novels rather than plot-driven ones and who loves stories that make them feel emotional.

DNF @ 6%

I do not know if it is the book itself, if I am burnt out from reading so much this month, or because The Ballad of Robin and King Richard put me into a reading slump last night, but I just was not feeling the book. I felt that the first two chapters were far too rushed. I mean, a potential love interest within the first two chapters? That is far too quick for my liking.

I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I couldn’t connect to any of the character and I found the pacing too slow for me. I’m sure this book will find the right readers.

This is an engaging supernatural novel set between the late 1800s and 1920s. Following Nora, a med student who navigates love, loss, and a mysterious farm curse, the story offers compelling neurodivergent characters and supernatural elements. While it may not be a thriller or horror, it effectively explores themes of love, guilt, and grief. A solid read, though not a standout.

Thank you Net Galley for the digital ARC.

Ehhh … this one fell a little flat for me. It didn’t pick up until 60% of the way in and I was struggling to finish it.

It starts off in the late 1800s - the late 1920s and follows Nora who falls in love with another med student. They were set to get married, but he suffered an accident and died. Afterwards, she took to corresponding with his brother who lived on a farm in upstate NY as consolation. He invites her to visit the farm and she does. One thing led to another and they get married.

It’s said that the people who live on the farm are cursed but Nora doesn’t believe in curses. However, the longer she lives there, the more she begins to question her beliefs.

The book portrays neurodivergent characters as well as supernatural elements but nothing with a wow factor. I was left waiting for a plot twist that never happened and I had so many questions after I finished reading it.

Despite the presence of the supernatural, this is not a horror novel. I’m not sure that I would call it a thriller either. It is, however, a story of love, guilt, and grief, and the profound effects they have on the mind, body, and soul of a person. I’m reminded of Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Crimson Peak’ in which the main character, Edith, an aspiring author, claims she writes love stories, and the ghosts they contain are only a metaphor. The same is true of ‘A Cure for Sorrow’, a compelling read through and through.

Based on the description, I requested this book. Im not sure if Im confused after reading it or if I fabricated a plot based on the description. There was not a ton of "gotta keep reading" moments for me. I felt like it was lacking oomph, maybe magic or something. Im not sure. There wasnt a whole lot going on and Im left with more questions at this point.

A Cure for Sorrow was a disappointing read for me. The beginning of the book was macabre and it seemed like it was being set up as a Frankenstein-esque type of plot, however, this was not the case. The majority of the story was set in the backwoods of upstate New York in a dysfunctional family where not a whole lot happened, except for the hot blooded escapades of the main character Nora. The supernatural bits were too subtle and secondary to have any real impact on the story. Miraculously, I was able to finish the whole book because it seemed like there was going to be a major plot twist or big reveal, which unfortunately did not happen.

I wish the rest of the book was as good as the beginning, with more mystery, creepiness, and macabre elements.