The Many Lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery is one of the best books I've read recently. The story and writing are compelling and rich. The history, the romance, and the legacy of Hazel Lavery were so interesting, and I just wanted to know more.

I joyed the book for the most part, but found it a bit too long. I loved learning about Hazel, someone I actually had never heard of before. She was a very interesting woman who loved deeply. She would have thrived in another time. She was very modern for her time.

This is a very interesting fictional account of Hazel Lavery who lived in the.1920s.. She was a socialite who was involved in politics. She was rumored to have had an affair with Michael Collins, a younger man, from Ireland while she was married to her 2nd husband, the famous painter John Lavery. To me this was the most interesting part of the book. The first part was rather disjointed and had a lot of unrelated things going on. All in all a good read.
Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this beautifully captivating and well written fictional story of Hazel Lovery, who was an exceptional, remarkable, and influential socialite and political figure in the 1920s. I enjoyed how this story blended in meticulous historical research, the delicious romance, and the themes of loss and love. I thought her to be very fascinating, strong-willed, complex, and such a vibrant woman. I recommend reading!

The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahill. The Many lives & Loves of Hazel Lavery was a very detailed book about her life.

Hazel Martyn, John Lavery, Michael Collins: three names pivotal to Cahall’s fine biographical fiction, which features a large secondary cast of early 20th-century historical figures. Of those three, only Michael Collins was known to this reviewer, but the other two stories weave through his, into a narrative that feels familiar and comfortable to spend time in. Hazel Lavery, née Martyn, is a free-spirited, artistic socialite with strong Irish roots. We become privy to the men in her life, but also her family loves, primarily her adored and tragic sister, Dorothy. Mrs Martyn, an elitist snob and less than attentive mother, exerts far too much control over her daughter’s freedom, but this results in Hazel having opportunities ladies of lower status would not have enjoyed. One of these is meeting Irish painter and portraitist, John Lavery, who, at almost twice her age, is not considered suitable for Hazel’s hand. Throughout many years their devotion never wavers, and they marry in 1910, after Mrs. Martyn’s death. The age disparity plays a positive role in Hazel’s search for a stable father figure, but over time becomes a dampener on her fun-loving exuberance.

The novel’s world view broadens as it draws in the charismatic Michael Collins, a leading Irish freedom fighter long before he falls for Hazel. Their relationship is touching and tenderly evoked. Within this framework, their shared love of Ireland and their achievements in promoting Irish independence, become the overriding theme. Cahall manages it all expertly, spotlighting a truly charming socialite who reinvents a simpler version of herself, using her drive and zest for life to influence a positive political goal. The novel explores Collins’ and Sir John Lavery’s, as well as Hazel’s, contributions to the times in which they lived. This vibrant portrait of Hazel taps into the soul of yet another woman painted into a back-corner of history.

The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery by Lois Cahall shines with its historical depth and provides an intriguing look at the life of a woman who played a pivotal role in Ireland's fight for independence. Hazel Lavery was undoubtedly a remarkable figure, and the book does a great job of highlighting her importance in both social and political spheres. The narrative gives a detailed account of her life, and I appreciated the attention to the historical context.

However, while the history was rich, the storytelling left me feeling disconnected. The book is written from Hazel's retrospective point of view, which occasionally made the pacing feel uneven and the narrative a bit fragmented. I struggled to fully engage with the characters, especially in the first half, where the story felt bogged down by too many figures and events, making it hard to form an emotional connection with anyone.

The romance between Hazel and John also didn’t fully capture my interest. It felt rushed, and their relationship lacked the emotional depth I was hoping for. At times, it was hard to see the foundation of their connection, which diminished its impact.

Cahall does a fantastic job of honoring Hazel’s legacy, and the research behind the book is evident. Still, I wish there had been more creative freedom taken with the narrative to fill in the blanks where history is less clear. A bit more exploration of the emotional aspects of Hazel’s life would have made the story more compelling.

Overall, the book is a solid read for those interested in historical fiction, especially fans of meticulously researched works. However, if you're looking for a more engaging or emotionally immersive story, this might not be the right fit. I'm giving it 2 ⭐.

The cover was lovely and I liked the premise, but sadly this book was a DNF for me at this time.
I will revisit in the future in hopes of finishing it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this DRC.

I gravitate towards these historical fiction books focusing on fascinating women who were lost to history. Hazel Lavery, the face of Irish currency for a while, married to a famous painter 20 years her senior and supposed paramour of Irish rebel Michael Collins, is one such woman.

Hazel's life was certainly fascinating and I enjoyed learning about her, but I didn't 100% love this book. The first 2/3 were very uneven. I couldn't quite grasp Hazel's motivations, and I really didn't like Hazel. The last third of the book focuses more on her affair with Michael Collins and his role in the struggle for Irish independence. It almost seemed like a different book, focused more on him and his story.

This book started too early, with the main character’s childhood, and nothing much really happening. The story had no narrative drive. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

Hazel Lavery lived an extraordinary life, an influential socialite and political figure who played a key role in Ireland’s fight for independence. Her story has all the ingredients for a captivating read, and while <i>The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery</i> by Lois Cahall delivers on historical detail, it left me wishing for more in terms of narrative connection. For me, it’s a solid 3-star read.

Cahall describes Hazel as one of the "untapped women who changed the course of history," and the book does an admirable job of showcasing her importance. Hazel was a fascinating figure, and you get a strong sense of her vibrant character and the significant role she played in bringing together key players during Ireland’s struggle for independence.

However, the writing style didn’t work for me and sometimes detracted me from the story. It’s written as Hazel looking back on her life, but this perspective often felt disjointed, leaving me disconnected from the narrative. The pacing improved when Michael entered the story, but the first half felt overcrowded with characters, making it hard to connect with any of them.

I also struggled to feel invested in the love story between Hazel and John. It felt rushed, and I couldn’t fully understand their connection. A quote from the book, where Hazel’s sister critiques John’s letter—“‘This is dull. You call this love?’ ‘It’s brilliant,’ I exclaimed.”—sums up my experience. While some readers may find their romance compelling, I found it lacking depth.

The book is well-researched, and Cahall does a fantastic job honoring Hazel’s real-life legacy. Still, I wish the author had taken more creative liberties to fill in the gaps where history remains silent. As a work of historical fiction, there was room to diverge from strict accuracy to create a more engaging narrative.

Overall, I liked the book but didn’t love it. It’s likely to resonate more with readers who appreciate meticulously researched historical fiction over those seeking a more immersive or dramatic story.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This was a wonderfully done historical fiction novel that I really enjoyed getting to read this. It had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed that the main character was of Irish descendant. Lois Cahall was able to weave a strong storyline and characters that I cared about.

The author Lois Cahall is a brilliant storyteller who brings her readers along this tale of a woman who has to face vanquished desires, duty, and destiny with enthusiasm in a way that honors the character.

“The Many Lives and Loves of Hazel Lavery” is a historical fiction book by Lois Cahall. I felt, reading the description of this book, that it would be right up my alley. Turn of the 20th century setting, a flamboyantly interesting main character, a love story (and love triangle), art, and WWI. So, it was with rather high expectations that I began this book. I liked the introduction - a mention of Michael Collins and an estate sale. Settling into the story, I think I know what bothered me - the writing style doesn’t match the time period. Hazel is flighty (she is barely out of her teens so I gave that a pass) but the reads younger than she should. When discussing art she seemed full of exclamation marks and breathless but then went into teenage pouting when she couldn’t get her way with her mother. It just felt “off.” I think Ms. Cahall is trying to bridge “then” with “now” - postpartum depression is referred to as that - not what it was called back in the early 1900s (which wasn’t PPD as that term was coined in the 1970s). I believe Hazel Lavery lead a fascinating life, but, for me, this book didn’t present it in a way that I enjoyed.

"I'm learning that in loss and in living, it's best to expect nothing and appreciate everything."
I loved John and Hazel's friendship, their adventures together made up this story. Ned was a weird character, it felt like his part in the story didn't have much effect.
"My mind was playing tricks on me. I'd been married to John Lavery so many times in recurring fantasies that it felt like I'd already been his wife.
To me this book feels like it's jumping around in time a lot. Some of the timelines are not accurate, maybe this author did this on purpose but maybe not. It felt very disjointed. I read most of it but I couldn't continue past page 150 roughly. The characters were interesting though and Hazel was an interesting main character that developed throughout the novel.

One thing to point out though is that there are too many different characters. I'm finding that with most books, you only need 2-4 characters at most.