I find it insane how many high scores this book has, considering all the flaws it has. I read the only 1 star review it had and thought, before reading: "Oh, that's mean. Probably an exageration."
But man, how right that person was!
This book is like sapphic After with gothic vibes and I'm about to explain you why.

This is going to be a rant (with sense, don't cancel me yet). So for those who don't want to read a will, I'll summarize what you're going to find in this book:

💀 Clichés in nearly every dialogue
💀 A Predictable plot
💀 Nothing historical, just vibes
💀 Nothing artistic, more vibes
💀 Characters without personality
💀 Romantized toxic behaviour
💀 The most straight sapphic romance I´ve ever seen

That being said, allow me to ellaborate.

It´s true the narration reads very clumsy. I wouldn´t compare it to a fic, but only because I´ve read fanfiction better than this one. However, the style -and also the plot- could very well fit a teenager that began to write recently.
I had an ARC of this book via Netgalley (and for that, I thank the author and the website), and I understand the copy I got is not the finished manuscript. However, there were so many details that were badly done, that truly don´t think they´d be able to fix it all for the final product.

Narration was just a tiny piece of the overall issue: Not only it is full of scenes that are cliché and repetitive, but a lot of times there was something lacking in it for the reader to get the full picture. An example of this? Well, If I remember correctly, Clara, the protagonist, was living at a house with some Mrs Pembroke... My guess it´s that house was a student´s residence. But it´s just a guess because neither the premises nor who works there and how, ever gets described.
(In fact, I finished this book with the impression that there was only one employee at Pembroke´s, and also only one employee at Fleming´s, precisely because we never get to see anyone else in charge.)

Also, narration often tries to be more flourished without really accomplishing it, especially when it comes to art or a developing romance. As if the author is trying really hard to tell us something, but ends up sounding quite cringey. Example:

Through the window, a woman passed through a pool of gaslight—black hair cut in a striking bob, moving with unusual grace through the evening crowd. Our eyes met briefly, and I caught a glimpse of sharp cheekbones and green eyes that seemed to see right through me. Her gaze held mine with an almost predatory intensity before she disappeared into the darkness. I foundmyself analyzing the shade of her hair, trying to decipher the blue hues from the stark onyx of her finger waves. The light caught it like liquid metal, the sort of color that would require a complex mixture of mars black and indigo—perhaps a drop of raw umber, though that still wouldn’t do it justice.


Ah... So much text just to say the character has black hair in a bob style and green eyes.
Which reminds me: There´s no slow burn in this story. Not really. This I just showed is the first time Clara sees Evelyn and, as you can see, she´s inmediately attracted to her.
They have some banter in the following chapters, for sure. Because just like in After, there is that dynamic of "I´m going to pretend to be enemies with you, just because I don´t like your personality... although I do actually feel attracted since the beginning".

Characters in this novel are annoying.
Or well... Clara and Evelyn (especially Evelyn) are. The rest of the people is more like background noise: They are there, they have to be there, but they´re blurred figures without a defined personality.

Clara is the stereotype of a nerd, of a good girl who always tries to get the highest scores and do what is expected of her (funny this, considering in that time -1922- what was expected of women was not to pursue a higher education at all).
The only personality Clara has is: She likes to paint. And she likes to be perfect in such thing, doing it always in the traditional way (whatever that means). Although we get so see that through the novel she abandons this goal of hers in order to become more rebellious (???). So I suppose by the end of the book, she just has half personality.
No, seriously, the woman is terrible naive. And since the author failed in providing a proper background for her (the only thing I know for sure about her is that her mom is hella annoying and must have used the TARDIS to live in 1870. Because, good God, the ideas she´s got...), it´s hard to have empathy for her.

Evelyn is the worst. I´m not exagerating when I say she is the most disgusting character I´ve read in a while. She is the stereotypical bad girl: Smokes, makes rude coments about Clara and manipulates her at every chance possible, she´s condescending and believes her ways are the best.
When I met her, in the first scene, I wanted someone to throw her in a pit.
Now that I´ve finished the novel I want someone to throw her in a pit and cover the hole so she´ll never torment anyone ever again.

The romance was toxic. Very manipulative on Evelyn´s part.
Take a look at this:

“You’re going to paint.” She said simply.
I reached for my familiar tools—ruler, pencil for preliminary sketches,but Evelyn’s hand caught mine.
“No,” she said, moving behind me. “Not like that.”
Her free hand settled on my waist, and I watched as she reached past me for a wide brush—the kind I’d never use for a first layer. She pressed it into my hand, her fingers lingering over mine. A jar of deep blue paint sat open on the table, its surface like black glass in the darkness.
“This isn’t how—” I started, but she tightened her grip slightly.
“Look,” she said, directing my gaze over the balustrade. The city sprawled below us, cathedral spires rising like shadows against the starscattered sky. Gas lamps traced the streets in threads of gold, their lightreflecting off the river in broken pieces. “Really look.”
Her breath was warm against my neck as she guided my hand to the paint.


I mean, hello? Am I the only one seeing the mansplaining?
During the entire story, the only thing Evelyn does is cancel Clara´s perspective, telling her that Evelyn´s ways are better, so things must be done her way. No questions nor doubts allowed.
I find amazing that this kind of books that perpetuate damaging stereotypes in romance (not only in sapphic books) keep being published and sometimes even praised. This is not good.

I will avoid talking, in this review, about the art. The whole art career.
Because I didn´t study that and, although if you read the story is pretty clear the author hasn´t either, I think I can be a better critic of other things... Like the historical context.

Because you see, this book´s historical context is all over the place.

We are supposed to be in 1922, but...

❎Here, characters wear gowns, as if we were in the Victorian era. In fact, there´s something very wrong with clothes: I remember a scene of a Ball (a ball in 1922! omg) where Evelyn came dressed in a suit. That is not normal, no matter how rebellious you are.
❎There is no electricity (cue: in 1922, there was electricity)
❎Women at that time couldn´t get to an academy/university so easily, they had to be wealthy and lucky. Not all could get to the studies they wanted and, even if they did, they suffered discrimination. Usually they weren´t able to study in the same classes as men. Yet... in this novel there is absolutely no mention of such discrimination, and Clara can study with the rest of the students regardles of gender.
❎The book fails to tell you, in regards of this, what is Clara (and the others) social status. My guess is that they come from a wealthy family but, who knows? Everything is written as if it were a YA book set nowadays.
❎Clara´s mother insists on her to find a husband at a Ball. Balls were a thing in the Victorian era. Edwardian at most. But in 1922... that was not the style anymore.
❎ Speaking of misses, there is no mention of jazz (of course, that would kill the gothic aesthetic) and neither we mention Europe had gone through a Great War on the year prior (I mean, no need to mention this one but, idk, maybe you could get to see the consequences in people if you set something in this year and place?)
❎ There is a live broadcast mentioned, but in the book never tells you if it´s on TV or the radio, so the reader has to guess (I´ll help you: it´s the radio)
❎ The descriptions of York in 1922 get reduced to imposing building and fog at all hours. No, literally, every time Clara went on to the streets there was fog. No matter the time of the day.

To summarize, this book is NOT historial.
In fact, I´m pretty sure all the author did in regards of getting info for the novel was to check wikipedia for a couple of names and then go straight to pinterest to see "gothic dresses".

The art of unmaking was such a pleasure to read, this is a master class in yearning and finding ones true self by shaking off the shackles of normalcy.

This is an historical tale set in York and the thriving art scene, we focus on Clara Bennet the straight laced 20 something art student who thrives on perfection who gets thrown into a new art form that challenges everything about who she believes she should be. We meat Evelyn and the ‘society’ who are shaking up the old world with new styles and ideas.

The whole tale really is around finding your true self and the art of self discovery, we see the world open up for Clara through her challenges on perception as well as a sapphic yearning that is so beautiful to read, the slow burn of slow burns. We see Clara slowly evolving into someone more who wants more for herself. A coming out story of self realisation mixed in with small looks and touches that do become something more and she breaks away from perfection. Finding the imperfect her perfection.

My only slight niggle was that the twist that plays out at the end feels quickly concluded and poorly executed, honestly I did think this was going to be something more occult to the tale but without spoiling anything it’s not something “Dorian grey” or vampiric it’s actually much more basic which I found a little disappointing.

This is quite a short quick read, beautifully wrote and overall a pleasure to read. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the authors for an opportunity to read this. I would highly recommend you all add this to your tbr pile!

Truthfully, this book kind of has me in a mind-f*** right now because it completely sucked me in.

First, let’s talk about plot twist, okayyy. Easter eggs were perfectly laid the entire book. Wow.

Second, the LGBTQ+ representation. I felt seen. I felt like it was so incredibly relatable. The tension and back and forth were perfect for this exact scenario. It felt personal.

Third, the representation of perfection, almost OCD like, was so raw and real. I could both feel and see the perfectionism spiraling, attacking and constraining the main character. Watching this character come into herself was fantastic and breathtaking.

This was a very fast paced story and I finished so easily. It was an easy read to take in, while also being complex and beautiful. It did feel rushed at times, but I think it’s because I just wanted more of the writing. It was so fascinating and kept me wanting more. I wasn’t sure, at first, how I felt about some things towards the middle/end of the book. At first it felt off, but when I finished the book, it all fell perfectly.

Definitely need to get my hands on more books by this author!!!

Thank you NetGalley and ONYX publishing for the early read!

Pub Date: 2/4/25 <3

𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙐𝙣𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 by Paker Lennox
𝙍𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: 2/4/25
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: Historical sapphic fiction
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 1 FTB and 1 open door scene
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨/𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
1920s York, London setting
Sapphic romance
Rivals to lovers
Dark academia
Secret Societies
Found family
Tortured artists
Slow burn
Standalone

This is definitely not my usual read but this absolutely blew me away!! From the lyrical writing to the entrancing plot and flawed characters, this art focused book immersed me in a world that I did not want to leave. It was atmospheric and enchanting despite being contemporary. You will feel like you cannot get enough and must know more about every single character. Even the art and act of drawing itself took on a magical quality and almost became a character in and of itself. The underlying tone of the book was one of discovering your true self despite what society expects of you. Which makes the book relatable even for today's time. I loved how everything was woven intricately and everything built on slowly within the plot.

Both FMCs, Clara and Evelyn, were enthralling and you could feel the tension on every page. From their first glimpses to the end of the book each interaction had me holding my breath. There was always a "will they or wont they" any time they were on page together.

I devoured this book and even though I was in the middle of another book when I started this one, I just kept being drawn back to this and would sneak in reading on my phone at every opportunity. I'm so glad that I took a chance and requested this book on @netgalley. It was an amazing book.

This book was so different for me. I'm not usually one for historical fiction but I thought I would dive in and try. I love the setting the story is in. 1900s, old style dress, art galleries, prim and proper women with the rebels on the side. Beautiful.

This story was wonderfully written. Clara, a girl that has always been proper, following the societal norms, when she meets a woman who intrigues her. Clara goes on to fight a battle not just within societal norms, but also within herself. Who is Clara? Can Clara escape this cage that her family but also herself has stuck her in?

Clara explores who she is within her artistic debate with Evelyn and it's beautifully written. The Art of Unmaking truly shows how someone with such a harsh and critical background, can come to life when given a chance to unravel a little bit.

Tropes:
historical romance
rivals to lovers
art student

From the beginning of the book, my main thought was “Oscar Wilde would adore this.” Think sapphic ‘The Portrait of Dorian Gray’-esque explorations of the Self through art with the lyrical prose to match.

Overall rating: 4/5

Spice: 3/5
Perception: 3.5/5
Execution: 4.5/5

Summary:
Clara is an art student that stays within the lines, not only within the boundaries of conventional artistic expression, but also within the expectations of society. After finding herself at a controversial exhibition, Clara slowly finds herself enmeshed within the mysterious Blackwood Society and drawn closer to a fellow painter Evelyn. How long with these new experiences can Clara remain within the lines, and how far will she push herself?

Review:
The prose was stunning - lyrical and perfectly balanced between the philosophical questions and the day-to-day experience of being an artist in 1920s York.

I found the explorations of the Self - not just sexuality, but deeper levels of who we are and how we relate to the world - incredibly well done. It didn’t come across heavy handed or preaching, and instead intricately ground these explorations into technical descriptions of the world, the art, the technique.

This is not my normal genre (neither historical or sapphic romance) but I loved Lennox’s fantasy debut and am thrilled to see how her writing has progressed even from that incredible start.

Tropes:
- rivals to lovers
- dark academia
- sapphic romance
- secret societies
- slow burn
- found family

Thank you Parker for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book instantly transported me to the English art scene of days gone by, making me feel as if I've walked into the pages of a Sherlock Holmes novel. The Art of Unmaking is full of art imagery, historical references, and a mystery that ever so gently looms in the distance. The struggle between the desires of young adulthood and the pull back to the lifestyle of childhood plays into the struggle the FMC has between the allure of freedom and the security of the mundane. Anyone who has experienced deconstructing their religious upbringing will find they relate well to Clara's struggle. This concept, as well as the resolution of the mystery, is done expertly, with incredibly descriptive inner dialogue and atmospheric elements that put you right there in the studio, the gallery, and the boardinghouse.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys being transported to another place and time, and who values a gentle, steadily paced love affair that also has complexity and depth. The author creates an atmosphere that makes you feel like an artist yourself, if only for a moment.

The Art of Unmaking

I cannot stop thinking about and talking about The Art of Unmaking.
(Apologies to my wife.)
I read this book while on my stationary bike. I read this book instead of doing my chores (sorry baby x).
I have lost sleep over this book.

To summarize, The Art of Unmaking is about an art student, Clara, who is a bit of a perfectionist. Well… not just a bit. An anxiety-inducing amount. Her art instructor recommends she visit a gallery featuring modern, experimental art. There she meets Evelyn and is introduced to a mysterious, secretive art society. I don’t want to spoil too much, but let’s just say the title of this book is perfect.

Right from the first couple of pages, my interest was piqued. The characterization of perfectionist Clara (whose point of view the book is from) was apparent right away. This helped me connect with her, and therefore the book, very quickly. I could not consume the words fast enough. There is a cat-and-mouse dynamic between Clara and Evelyn that is captivating and pulls the reader in. Along with the quick-natured pacing of the chapters, I never found myself rushing through descriptions or side character interactions to get to Clara and Evelyn. (Okay this might just be a personality flaw of mine!)

The side characters had enough depth and characterization that I could tell them apart and feel affection toward them, but they weren’t TOO developed in the sense that it didn’t feel like there were 8 main characters. I very much got found family vibes from the side characters even though Clara was honest to admit that many of them she didn’t actually know that well (realistic!).

The mystery and dark acadamia vibes, really rounded out the plot for me. I could not stop raving after I finished. I was shook, yet all the puzzle pieces fell into place. I have already recommended The Art of Unmaking to several of my friends, and I imagine I will continue indefinitely.

I have been unmade.

Thank you NetGalley, ONYX Publishing, and Parker Lennox for the free advanced review copy of The Art of Unmaking in exchange for my honest review. I am not the same person anymore.

Down below is some generalized review information for those interested. Possibility of minor spoilers. Read at your own discretion. (Micro-tropes and Content Warnings contain the most spoilers)

Medium to Fast Paced
First Person, Character Driven, Strong Character Development
Moods: Mysterious, Dark, Emotional
Rep: SC with Synesthesia
Romance: Sapphic, Classically Trained Artist x Modern Experimental Artist
Spice: 3/5 (one open door scene, other intimacy)
Tropes: Rivals-To-Lovers, Cat-and-Mouse
Micro-Tropes: Bathing/hair washing, cat-becomes-the-mouse, tell me what you want/I want to hear you say it, stay still/follow directions, hair pulling, look at me/I want to see you c*m, light praise kink, “take what you want”, light dominance, erotic painting/paint me like one of your French girls
Content Warnings (provided by author): explicit sexual content, violence/physical assault, emotional abuse/manipulation, death, murder, suicide, psychological distress, homophobia, classism, mild body horror, alcohol, smoking

If bloodgaurd and hunger games had a baby then this would be their love child. Love this coming of age story with a powerful message.

A very unfortunate DNF. Everything about the story sounds intriguing but the execution is more reminiscent of younger YA rather than the Adult Romance it is marketed as. The writing is too simple and just too obvious. At best this reads like it only got its adult status because of the explicit sexual content.

this was an absolutely stunning queer romance. from the cover first of all (which first caught my eye) i was intrigued by this story and it delivered!!!! i want to read anything lennox has to say, this was perfection 🫶🏼

Thank you to Parker Lennox and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of The Art of Unmaking intrigued me and the book cover is understated but lovely. Unfortunately, the writing style was too juvenile and underdeveloped. The first page read like a 2014 one direction fanfic. I had to dnf.

I could not have picked a better title for this artful romance! @parkerlennoxauthor gave me sapphic artists with lots of paint and self discovery! I loved every minute of it, the only note I have is I wish there was more! I want to see what Evelyn and Clara do next

The Art of unmaking follows our main character Clara Bennett, who has lived her life to the very letter of how she is supposed to, in 1920's York. A pristine art student at Fleming's school of Art, she has perfected her technical skills and proper art technique. But when she attend a gallery opening and meets a group of artists whose methods are unorthodox to say the least, so begins to re-imagine her life without the constraints she has always felt holding her into the mold of society. This gothic Sapphic romance will lead you down a road of self discovery, breaking societal barriers, betrayals, twists and turns.

The plot of this story was what initially drew my attention, and I was not disappointed at all! I loved everything about this stunning book, and Parker Lennox is now on my auto-buy author list.
The pacing of this story was perfect and really helped to build the tension and slow burn between Clara and Evelyn. The little hints and bits of information we get throughout the book about the Blackwood Society were perfect and really helped lead to the incredible twist towards the end of the book.

Clara is such an interesting and fun character in this book because her character development throughout this book is phenomenal, and I just think it was beautiful watching her take more risks with her art and become the person she wanted to be. The relationship was gorgeous and had all the tension you could want.
I don't want to spoil the whole book, so just know this book was beautiful, and I can't wait for everyone to read it!

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC of the art of unmaking and am so grateful for that!

This book took me back to my love of art growing up, the way Parker writes is beautiful and I felt like I was there and could smell the paint and feel the longing between Clara and Evelyn. The plot was full of intrigue and kept me guessing as to what was really going on in the Blackwood society and also what Evelyn’s life story was.

I really enjoyed the development of Clara and seeing her struggles and how she evolved, I’d loved if the last quarter of the book had been longer as I would have enjoyed reading more of the relationship development as well as more of the secrecy behind the society unfolding. The twist at the end I was not expecting! Which is great because usually I have some kind of inkling where a story is going. Looking forward to more Parker Lennox in the future!

Lennox’s stunning sapphic romance is a real delight for anyone who enjoys art, creativity, heart melting romance and an author who can beautifully turn a phrase. The verbal sparring between Clara and Evelyn is stimulating in the way only artistic debate can be, and there’s such a stunning authenticity to the way Lennox writes these women, and their world. Her prose is evocative, sumptuously rolling off her pen and into my mind and heart and she presents Clara, and her journey, with such sensitivity and humanity. Imagine the romanticism and poetry of classic fiction, but with spice. I’ve never read anything like this, but anything from Lennox lands squarely on my TBR at this point.

Clara Bennett has kept herself confined within the lines, both as an artist and as a proper woman in society. After being pursued to join the prestigious Blackwood society that empowers individuals to be themselves, Clara, with expectations set of who she should be and who she should become, questions who she is at the core. Society member Evelyn Price quickly pushes Clara's boundaries and makes her question everything she thought she knew about herself. Will she follow her heart or strengthen her facade as society's perfect woman?

The plot of this story excited me, but what really drew me in was Parker's writing. Every character description, the method of Clara creating her art pieces, the mood and setting was written so stunningly and eloquently I felt as though I was sucked into York in 1922 living this out as Clara. The pacing of the story was written perfectly, building up the slow burn and tension between Clara and Evelyn. I loved that this story also had an element of mystery and intrigue swirling around the Blackwood Society. The reader is given snippets of information about the Society that leads to a massive plot twist at the end of the book, which I was not anticipating at all.

The main character Clara goes through a few transformations during this story. Society and her own mother place this immense pressure for her to uphold certain standards of who to court, what to wear, and how to behave. Time and time again we see how her mother does not approve of her "spinster" ways, which we learn is really Clara coming to terms with her sexuality. In parallel, Clara is a classically trained artist who strives on control and sticking to the fundamentals in an almost OCD fashion. When Clara enters the Blackwood Society, she sees how free the members are and struggles with the idea of letting herself step out of the cage she has placed herself in. Taking bigger risks with her art transcends into taking bigger risks with her entire being, like entering a "forbidden" relationship with Evelyn. The parallels are quite stunning paired together - Clara loosening her art fundamentals so she can "feel" is a beautiful metaphor for her letting herself truly be who she wants to be.

Clara and Evelyn's story is a tension-filled "will they won't they" masterpiece. The longing looks, accidental and soft touches, and yearning created a palpable want and need between them. When they are commissioned to create a collaborative piece, their forced proximity had me kicking my feet, screaming for every stolen moment. They shared intimate details in conversations that made me understand they were truly seeing each other for their souls and that this was not lust, but love. This love story should bring hope to those that are struggling with their own sexuality because it embodies the idea that we deserve nothing less than being true to ourselves.

This book is ideal for those that love:
✨ sapphic romance
✨ period pieces / historical fiction
✨ rivals to lovers
✨ slow burn
✨ secret societies
✨ defying societal norms

Thank you to NetGalley and ONYX Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 🌟

“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦.”

Parker’s writing never fails to enthrall me so deeply, and so The Art of Unmaking was everything it promised. The portrayal of art in this was something I thought was exceptional. Parker really did her research because I felt so entranced by it all, even as much as the characters. It was as if I could truly FEEL it, and it sounds cheesy, it was beautiful.

Clara, our MC, had many layers to her that I’m glad we explored. As this is a story of self-discovery, her character’s complexities were so lavish. Clara loves for the approval of others; she dresses for others, she paints for others, she ignores her true wants for others, and while it’s painful to see, it makes the journey to her freedom all the better. We see her gain confidence, and it’s the most satisfying transformation. As for Evelyn, she’s a mystery this whole book, and while it’s unexpected, I felt it nicely added to the convoluted, moody atmosphere of The Art of Unmaking!!

WOW, the romance, the slow burn was PERFECT. And before you ask, no, it wasn't a cheap slow burn because everything good about slow burns was executed amazingly. The longing looks, lingering touches, almost kisses!! Clara and Evelyn had the most deliciously evocative tension and chemistry ever 😩 I was giggling and kicking my feet the entire time because it was SO palpable. Also, it was fun seeing how Evelyn challenged Clara to break down her artistic walls and let her passion come out. They made for an amazing ying-yang couple!

My only thing was the ending. My heart absolutely plummeted at that reveal, so the shock factor worked. But, it was such a crazy plot twist that I wished we had more time for it to develop so things could be smoothed over again. I would definitely read an extended version of this or even a sequel 👀 

The Art of Unmaking is an unforgettable gem! GO READ IT!!

Thank you ONYX Publishing, Netgalley and Parker Lennox for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The Art of Unmaking” by Parker Lennox is a wonderful historical fiction novel about two women from opposite sides of the art world. Clara is trapped in a traditional school, traditional values, and traditional expectations. And Evelyn belongs to a world promising innovation, illumination, and freedom. The book reminisces of Gentleman Jack in Evelyn’s critique of normality and her pushing the usual boundaries of what’s expected of women and Portrait of Lady on Fire with its dive into artistry and creation paralleling a burgeoning relationship.

Lennox does a wonderful job of illustrating the artworks and life of Clara and her society with just her words. I was enthralled and fascinated every step of the way. I could picture the foggy streets just as much as the impasto paintings they created together.

The book was filled with yearning and longing both for a destiny and a person beyond expectation. These themes feel so valid and relatable even 100 years later. I got goosebumps from the pining and the chemistry.

The only thing about this novel I wish I could change is its scope and length. Only 268 pages and easily consumed (but not easily forgotten). I want to dive deeper into this world and the relationships held within. I could easily see this being a series, but I would have loved to read 600 pages.

As an art history nerd, this book scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. I highly recommend “The Art of Unmaking” to book and art lovers in addition to those who love romance and fantasy.

Bonus! In addition to the beautiful cover, the book includes a lovely piece of art depicting Clara and Evelyn that I can imagine they would be proud of.