The Thing About Clare

There seems to be an imperceptible bond which ties siblings together for always.
This theme is a very important part of this novel.
Dorothy is loving and kind but way too soft. As the matriarch, she tries very hard to keep her family together while her husband hardly tries at all.
Their children at times have uneasy and contentious relationships. However, they come to each others assistance whenever there is a crisis,
A new development brings about an impasse and they are forced to look into their family interactions and attitudes. This book touches on some typical family situations, with no answers but offers reflection. Do parents really have a favorite amongst their children? Is there a conflict between nature and nurture? This story will bring some insights which are quite interesting.
An intriguing family story!

Siblings! Each family has different dynamics, each child has distinct characteristics. Clare has always seemed different than her siblings..Beats to her own drummer. Why?

The writing is excellent, you get a vivid picture of each member of the family And the different dynamics of each within. Unfortunately for me, the story itself was a little flat. Seemed like a long, drawn out story. Could have been summed up in a short story. Ending was disappointing.

Have never read this author but Would try this author again.

Thanks to Publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is my own.

The Thing About Clare by Imogen Clark was an okay read with quite a few well rounded characters. Ms. Clark does a great job with characters, descriptions and writing a story that will pull you in, bit by bit.

I did feel that the story dragged a bit and after a certain point just wanted to find out what was going to happen because I'd invested my time and interest, but I didn't care about any of the characters really. I especially found the parents selfish and the "children" (adults in part of the book) all over the map. I also found the siblings rather selfish and self-important. They all loved to talk about Clare, but no one really did anything, especially with River.

There's a lot of family drama here for people who enjoy that and some mystery that is cleared up in the end. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for approving my request for an ARC. My thoughts are my own.

Clare has never felt like she belonged with her family. She was the screw-up, while they all had perfect lives. Each of them seemed to have it all together, no matter what came at them. Clare on the other hand drank to much, and could not be bothered to look after her son, River.
When their mother passes away, a secret comes to light, and this one could explain the feelings that Clare has harbored all these years. What if her family isn't really her full family?
While each of the siblings struggle with their thoughts and try to keep Clare from her self-destructive roles, they are all wondering the same thing - how will this affect their family moving forward?

This book was WOW. I started reading it last night and had a hard time putting it down. No family is perfect, but this one captures the ordinary family to a T. Great weekend read if you are looking for something amazing! You won't be disappointed at all!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book for my unbiased review.

I’m kind of in limbo about how I felt about this story. Family dynamics are difficult to understand, and this family had many flaws, despite a seemingly close family unit. Involved parents, enough money to be comfortable and that one sibling that seemed to keep everything unsettled, kind of like my own middle sister, who always blamed everyone else for her issues.
Maybe Clare reminded me too much of my own sibling, that managed to keep the family in a state of upheaval. I just didn’t see a lot of affection for each other, they basically lived together, without really bonding, although I found Dorothy, loving and nurturing with her family.
This is a novel with well defined characters, a Mother’s secret, that silently has an affect on all of her children. She entrusts that secret to her “favorite” child Anna, and burdens her with information that could completely destroy the fragile relationships they have. I thought it was an interesting read, but maybe a little too depressing. Imogene Clark is an excellent writer, interesting characters, and a well developed plot.
I thank Lake Union and the Author for my ARC. I enjoy British novels and did find this entertaining.

This is a book basically about siblings and their relationships with each other. They are raised by two loving parents who have different parenting styles but it seems to work for the most part. Each child is loved but how each child perceives the other siblings is key in how their relationships change as they age. The sibling dynamics is an interesting aspect to write a novel about and this one seemed to take the reader on a life journey with more rivalry at its core. I felt the story had so many dark places between the kids and I really felt bad for them all. Jealousy, secrets, suspicions, and mistrust was a big part of it. This book reminded me of a soap opera in written form. There were a few happy, high points in the lives of the characters but it was more on the side of a drama that kept going on and on. The author created a story around a topic that is so different in every family and the make up of them. This family had love for each other but it was strained for most of the book although like most siblings, when one needed help, they were there no matter what. Just as siblings should be.
Thank you Lake Union, Netgalley and Ms. Clark for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Thing About Clare was an entertaining novel about the complicated relationships of the Bliss family. The interactions between the different family members are at times easy and at other times full of typical family dynamics. The story alternates between the present time and the past when the children were all very young. We see what happened over the years between the kids and their parents. The four children have had a mostly close, but sometimes complicated relationship over the years. It is only after their mother passes away that things become really strained. Secrets and misunderstandings create problems and mistrust between them all. Can they get through this time and repair their relationships? Author Imogen Clark has filled her story with both deep emotion and moments of humor.

I enjoy multi generational stories featuring strong women and this book was a hidden gem, as I had never read anything by this author before. This was extremely well written and an enjoyable read!

The Thing About Clare by Imogen Clark is a top notch women’s fiction that definitely pulls at your heart. The characters are interesting and there’s enough so you can love and dislike, making the story pretty fast paced. I loved the different twists throughout and the ending was satisfying!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of The Thing About Clare in exchange for an honest review.

A heartfelt story about the relationships between family members. Clare has always felt like an outsider in her own family (can anyone else relate?). Her mother has recently passed away and given her other daughter, Anne, specific instructions to destroy her will and a letter she had written to Clare. Anne cannot help herself and reads the letter, leaving her in a dilemma about whether or not to tell Clare of its contents. The mystery unfolds, leaving a family in turmoil. I loved this story of complicated relationships and forgiveness.

The Thing About Clare by author Imogen Clark is a witty and moving novel about family, secrets and siblings. It follows a complicated bunch of siblings after the death of their mother. Really a great book, definitely one I would recommend.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of The Thing About Clare in exchange for an honest review.

Loved the book!! I loved Postcards From A Stranger and couldn't wait to read this book. My favorite part was getting to know the Bliss family. The book alternates between Dorothy and her four children. The siblings were all different and were very much realistic. Dorothy's secret wasn't very shocking for me, there wasn't much of a mystery there. I loved the story, writing style and characters (most of them). Clare was never my favorite. I hated the way she acted and blamed her problems on everyone else. I hold her accountable for how River turned out. He never got to see how much his aunts, uncle and grandparents tried to help out. One of my favorite chapters was about Dorothy right after she had Miriam. She's a new mother dealing with her baby, while her husband is at work. She feels like her baby is a demon with all the screaming and wonders if they make gags for babies.

Definitely recommend the book. It's a book about family, love and being there when your siblings need you. I can't wait to read more books by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author, Imogen Clark, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

While I did read and enjoy this book, it left me with many questions. I’m not sure if I missed something or it’s just a question without an answer, but what was The Thing About Clare? I understand that she was a bit different from her siblings and there were a few questions later on about her, her mom and dad, but still what was The Thing About Clare.

I liked how the siblings interacted with each other. It was typical. Yes there is usually a favorite, but I think in most, normal, families it is every child in different ways. I have a favorite, but I also only have one child. A little humor there.

Clare is very troubled for sure. Her son is very determined and I did not think Clare was a good mother.

Each child had their own problems and they dealt with them in their own way. But they seemed to be there for each other always.

The parents were loving and caring but the mother I thought was very selfish to Miriam. She expected her to do things that really were not her job. I think she put a few to many demands on her and caused her to lose out on the things she wanted to do so bad. Miriam gave up her dreams for her mother and that was just wrong.

While I did like the story, I am still left wondering what The Thing About Clare truly is. I felt for her and disliked her at the same time.

Thank you NetGalley and Imogen Clark and the Lakeside group for a copy of this in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I gave it a 4 star and it’s really only 3.5 stars. I do look forward to reading more by this author though.

The Thing About Clare...is a book full of secrets.
The Thing About Clare...is about siblings and families and death and pain and lies.

Shifting back and forth through the past, we watch as the lies unravel and the story unfolds. This is the story of a family, in all it's forms.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thought that this was a really disappointing read. It was beautifully written and the characters were really well described. I think the ending ruined it. I feel that I have wasted my time reading this book. The whole story seemed pointless.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Beautifully written tugged at my heart needed a box of tissues.Multi layered the connection between the sisters the death of their mother and the hidden secrets.Highly recommend.#netgalley#lakeunionpublishing.

This was definitely a story that made you think! A story of family, especially siblings, over the years, that brings into focus how different siblings can be. Coming from a large family, and being the oldest, it was interesting to see the dynamics as they grew into adults, and see how their paths were forged. Sibling drama, family struggles, life choices, and, even secrets shaped this character-driven novel. I enjoyed the way the author created her characters and how she wrote from the various points of view at different times in their lives.
A new author to me, I look forward to reading her previous novel and her future works.
#TheThingAboutClare #ImogenClark #LakeUnion

I received this book "The Thing About Clare" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I thought that this was an okay book. There is lots and lots of family drama. The story was kinda predictable.

A fantastic family drama that examines the often complex dynamics between siblings. Clare is one of four children , along with her sisters Miriam and Anna and baby brother Sebastian, and the book has chapters told from each of their perspectives, set at various points in their lives. A fairly ordinary family, from England, they lead a very ordinary life, but are very different characters. Sensible Miriam gives up her dream of studying drama to help her mother look after surprise arrival Sebastian, while Clare has always felt out of place, and struggles with alcoholism, while Anna who has always been her mother's favourite seems to glide through life without bother. When their mother dies, the trouble really begins and the family ties that bind them seem likely to be severed completely. Their mother has been hiding a secret that could change everything ,
While there is plenty of drama and intrigue to keep the reader entertained, the real highlight of this book are the wonderfully well realised characters, who are vividly brought to life on the page. I particularly liked the fact that all the siblings had shades of grey, none were completely likeable, but their flaws and moments of weakness made them so much easier to empathise with.
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Favorite Quotes:

An argument was never very far away from her sister. Even when they were kids, Clare could start a row in an empty room. It was funny how they’d all just grown up into older versions of how were they were as children.

It was barely recognisable as the beautiful cherub in the Bounty Baby pictures that Frank had convinced her to pose for in the early days of motherhood, back before she decided that her child was a test sent to her by the Devil himself. Indignation radiated from the baby’s every pore… The baby locked its gaze on to Dorothy’s like a heat-seeking missile, paused briefly to fill its lungs with a fresh supply of oxygen and began to scream again. How could something so small cause so much wanton destruction, wondered Dorothy.

Thank the Lord that her own parents hadn’t been around to see how Clare was turning out. She could virtually feel the breeze that was coming off her father spinning in his grave.

She’ll die an old maid, eating cat food and surrounded by back copies of the Reader’s Digest.

She was sixty-five for God’s sake. She should lower her expectations a little. Her own mother had considered herself old at this age but she still felt like a young woman. Well, she did in her heart. It was a slightly different story in her knees.

Frank had loved words. They had dripped from his lips like honey from a spoon. Often he spoke as if he were on a stage, his words a performance rather than merely a means of communicating his thoughts.

My Review:

This compelling book was superbly written, cunningly clever, shrewdly paced and packed with sharp wit, remarkable insights, and observant details. Each complex character inhabited a quirky personality, which was skillfully and enticingly fleshed out. I adored it and didn’t want to put it down. I read it slowly and with great delight as I coveted, marveled, and savored every well-chosen word. Imogen Clark is a master scribe; I want to amass and hoard all her clever words.

Every family has secrets and most people are intrinsically drawn and curious to unearth them as other peoples’ hidden foibles are so much more interesting and alluring than our own shame, but unfortunately, as you get older, you find there are some secrets you wish you didn’t know yet cannot erase or hit delete once you’ve played Pandora. And every family has at least one walking disaster wastrel - mine has several. But then my family tree is horribly diseased and should be chopped down and burned for good measure. While this captivatingly portrayed family had several drama llamas, Clare was an imposing piece of work. Even in childhood, she had rebelliously pushed every boundary with an abrasive personality, and as an adult, she was simply vile, irresponsible, unpredictably volatile, and increasingly self-destructive. I fervently loathed her with fascination!

In addition to the thrill and privilege of perusing one of my favorite reads for 2018, Ms. Clark also provided me with two new treasures for my Brit Word List with an idiom of “bugger that for a game of soldiers” – for screw this; and bone idle – which Mr. Google informed me was the ultimate of sloth and laziness as it went all the way to the bone. How glorious!

Solid storytelling, good family drama.

Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m afraid that I gave up on this book, which doesn’t happen very often. I thought reading the storyline it sounded like my kind of book but instead, sadly, found it really dull, boring and pointless. Sorry, not the book for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.

The Thing About Clare by author Imogen Clark is a family drama that I found touching and very sad at times. Very good writing and while a bit slow to form, the plot was quite good. I found the characters complex and flawed....just the way I like them! None of the characters were completely likeable but that made them easier to understand and empathise with.
I recommend this book for those who like books about family, love and being there when your family needs you...even when you don't want to be.

As part of a large family myself, the relationships between siblings is always complicated. Miriam is the eldest, responsible and organized, while Clare is the second and the black sheep. Anna is seen as her Mom’s favorite, and Sebastian is the unexpected baby. The story tells how they each approached their lives, and how they react when a basic truth is tested. An appealing read, thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I usual,y like a good family drama with rich characters. Some characters you may like more than others. I really like the Dorothy but that was about it in this drama. Speaking of drama.....There was really very little drama in the story. It was a long drawn out sibling rivalry that got a little old. The most dramatic part was very easy to see coming and then it fizzled. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about the Bliss family, the mother Dorothy and her four children Miriam, Clare ,Anna and the latecomer Sebastian. The author deals with the complexity of relationships within a family. Why is a mother not equally fair or attached to all of her children. Why is there often one problem child ? Why do siblings relate differently to each other?
All these issues are sensitively narrated and the book forces the readers to reflect on their own relationships. This is a very thoughtful book about what makes a family function or malfunction. No easy answer is possible but at least the Bliss siblings found their way. I would recommend this novel.

The Thing about Clare is the story of Dorothy and Frank and their children - Miriam the eldest daughter followed by Clare and Anna the youngest. Then there’s Sebastian the youngest child by far and the only boy. Dorothy was Irish and I just loved the author’s portrayal of her no nonsense approach to motherhood and yet she was kindly. Then there was Frank who had the opinion. why use five words when you can use twenty five. He was a journalist so the family was used to his flowery way with words. I loved this book. It was very well written and well paced and kept my interest from start to finish. I enjoyed the dynamics of the family - past and present. I found the story funny and witty yet poignant and touching. Recommended
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

Family dysfunction has a name and it is Bliss! Set in Ireland, this story could be told anywhere. Sibling rivalry is universal, but add in the time of the Troubles and after, and you have an unique look at a time period many of us know about. the Bliss family is no different than most families, except their dynamic was changed by a late in life baby. But where most families would have problems with the youngest, with the Bliss family it is the second oldest, Clare. Why does Clare seem cut from a different gene pool from the rest? When their mother dies, they may find out why. But will it change the sibling dynamic? Or stregthen it? This is a book to be savored and enjoyed, but a must read!

The story of Claire, on of Dorothy and Franks four children, which flashes back to both their childhoods and following thr death of their mother. I enjoyed this book, but although there was a focus on Claire, more than her siblings,I didn’t think it was quite as focussed specifically on her life as it could have been. As a family saga it was a lovely, slightly emotional read.

Really loved this read, a great family story told very well, could totally relate to the different personalities living in the house, reminded me of growing up with 3 siblings

Deep dive into the complicated relationship between three sisters and their. Told through the eyes of both the sisters and the mother, this is a well-written novel, with well-realized character and I really enjoyed it.

This was a very entertaining novel about four siblings who are dealing with their mother's estate. Apparently the mother had a one time affair between her first and second child and was never sure who the father was. It also happened that this second child was a particularly difficult and free spirited child and adult, and the mother wondered if this was the result of her possibly the child of the other man. The books goes back and forth between each of the characters, both in the present and in the past. It was very well done and not easily put aside to do other things. I strongly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.

When Dorothy Bliss dies and seemingly leaves no will the four children are left a bit at sea. Miriam is the oldest, followed by the troublesome Clare then the favourite Anna and lastly the afterthought Sebastian. The only problem is there was a will and a letter for Clare that Dorothy gave to Anna and asked her to destroy........ but Anna read it first and is now in a dilemma as whether to reveal the contents or not......... is there a reason that Clare has always seemed the odd one out!

A good family story with secrets that come out and flashbacks to childhood, a bit of a slow burner but that didn't matter as it wasn't an action packed story just a nice easy gentle pace

I'll be honest. I didn't like this book for several reasons. First, I didn't like any of the characters. They had no redeeming qualities. Second, while I know sisters and brothers can be mean to each other it seemed like none of them liked each other. It was dreadfully depressing and long. I read the book all the way through. But I cannot recommend it. And I still don't understand "the thing about Clare."

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book

This book was so truly boring, I could have made better use of my time. Typical sibling drama surrounding the death of their mother and the fight over the will. Predictable secrets come out.

The Truth About Clare - Imogen Clark

I wasn’t really sure about this book, its not my favourite genre but I can read virtually anything. I think my ultimate decision was that this book wasn’t for me.

A tale of four dysfunctional adult children behaving likes immature teenagers while arranging their mother’s funeral and trying to clear through the family home. A secret that one of them holds threatens to destroy their fragile relationships. None of who were particularly likeable but Clare was in a league of her own. I couldn’t feel much sympathy for her as it seems that she is her own worst enemy.

We are told in both the past and the present day, each era we read through is coloured with historical events making me smile especially the silver jubilee, an event that I remember vividly.


Read for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishers

I found this book to be too long, to difficult to get through and the characters were not likable. Very disappointed in what I thought would be a great read.

I wanted to like this book, but I didn't. It seemed childish and immature at times.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Fiction
Adult
All families have secrets, but some secrets can be devastating. Should they stay buried? When mother Dorothy passes away, the four Bliss siblings – sensible Miriam, wild and unpredictable Clare, favourite child Anna, and adored little brother Sebastian – gather at the funeral, where we learn Anna has, in response to Dorothy’s dying plea, retrieved her will and an accompanying letter. But she has not destroyed them as her mother asked. Anna eventually discovers why her mother was so desperate to bury the secret, and now carries the burden herself. It’s a secret that could change her siblings’ lives forever.
Author Clark unveils the story slowly, flashing back through time to introduce us first to Dorothy’s struggles as a new mother in 1961, and to each child’s own stories as they grow into adults, with all the challenges that brings. These siblings never seem to stop squabbling – at the funeral, Anna muses: “Even when they were kids, Clare could start a row in an empty room. It was funny how they’d all just grown up into older versions of how were they were as children.” Indeed, that pretty much sums up this book. The only story that is fully fleshed out is Clare’s, and to some extent Anna; I wanted more about Miriam and Sebastian’s lives, but this is really Clare’s story. Clark has created sympathetic though flawed characters who are realistic and likable. Their struggles are real, and their motivations authentic. While not a great novel, it’s a good one, a satisfying read that raises questions about family and what makes us who we are. As someone who is quite “different” from her siblings, The Thing About Clare resonates for me, and I really enjoyed this one. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40049299

The Thing About Clare is an intriguing story of familial relationships and long buried secrets. This was my first book by Imogen Clark but not my last.

I'm a big fan of Imogen Clark, as her novels are always engaging and comes with label-fuls of heart. Highly recommend for anyone who wants an enveloping read.

The task of repopulating the senior library has been an exciting and daunting task aS in a boarding school our aim is to encourage all members of the community to read. Because of this, I have been searching down a wide and diverse range of books to read that will entice a wide cross-section of the school to come in, browse and find books that they love.
Books like this will ensure that the senior students in the school see the library as a diverse, modern and exciting place with books that speak to them and they want to recommend to their friends, classmates, teachers and tutors.
It is an engrossing and exciting read with fully-formed characters and a plot that ensures that it's hard to look away. It is as far from formulaic as it is possible to be and kept me up far too late in order to finish it. I immediately wanted to read all of this writer's other books as I loved their voice and found that it really drew me into the story and made me think about it even when I'd stepped away from this tale.
This is a thought-provoking read which I'm sure will be a popular and well-read addition to our new library; I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read it and I know that the students are going to absolutely love it too!

I suspect other readers might, like me, figure out what it is about Clare. She's one of four siblings and she'a always been different. Now, though, her mother's secret is going to come out. Mom died, leaving behind a will and a letter,both of which she wants destroyed but why? Lots of drama with familiar characters.