The Glittering Hour

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey is a stunning, tearfully, gut-wrenching historical fiction that is a dual timeline but weaves into one at the end. This is an impressive and ingenious novel that weaves a story slowly spun, but spirals to the satisfying and touching conclusion.
This story mainly weaves the loves of Alice and her mother, Selina, and tells a bittersweet story of love, loss, redemption, and finding one another against the odds and years. The puzzle pieces slowly fit together as the story continues onward, but not in chronological lines. The result is truly a masterpiece.
The three things I love most about this book: the imagery that the author creates for the reader is breathtaking, you feel as if you are actually there. Second, is placing the narrative with other characters as well. We get to see the inner thoughts of Selina’s mother, Polly, Lawrence, Rupert, Mr Patterson, etc. Every character gets their turn, its ingenious. Lastly, I love the ending. It is just perfect. Nothing else could have possibly been appropriate.

5/5 stars. Stunning

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Dunne books for this amazing ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review And opinion.

I am posting this to my GR account immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Bookbub, and B&N accounts upon publication.

I really enjoyed this very lovely book that deals with the lives of the chic set Of “bright young things” in post WWI England. The author does a great job of bringing the reader into the rarefied world of the glitterati during those years. Her descriptions are vivid, her characters well-drawn.

The plot seems simple at first, but some unexpected twists make it far more complex and engaging. I found myself liking the main characters, especially the characters of Selina and her daughter, Alice.

This is also a fine social history of the years when England was mourning the victims of WWI as they stood on the precipice of WWII. It also speaks to the role of women and the strictures placed on them by society. The great homes and wealth of prior years are quickly changing with crumbling mansions, diminished wealth and the lack of staff to maintain the once great houses and the families.

I especially liked the way the author was able to tie the story together. I must admit I found myself deeply involved with these wounded souls.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to be a reviewer.

When you finish this book you will be filled with deep sorrow and uplifting sense of joy. The story set in the roaring twenties about young socialites thinking life was just wild abandoned fun. The heroine comes crashing to earth and feels the true meaning of living. The sorrows and love that comes at a terrible cost. A haunting story that will remain with you long after.

Stunning and splendid, this is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. I can't think of a more evocative, lush, romantic rendering of first love. Set in the poignant madness of post WWI, it features a society girl and a talented artist from a rough background - both seeking meaning beyond their confining worlds. The magnificent and sensitive writing calls to mind Rosamunde Pilcher's <i>The Shell Seekers</i>. The story will stay with readers a long time, a mark of a truly talented writer. This is a transcendent, gorgeous story of love. Exceptional!

Set in London and covering a decade in the life of Selina Lennox, one of the bright young people whose life is one party after another without thought to consequences or propriety, and whose life is turned upside down by a chance meeting with Lawrence Weston. A painter who aspires to be a famous photographer. 

Selina has a wild affair with the man but she understands that she must marry for money and not love. And she does. But she has a special gift from Lawrence that will forever change all of their lives.

There was a lot of truth in this beautiful and moving story of love, loss, and redemption. I am not ashamed to admit I cried more than a little. The characters were flawed and real, with a backdrop of one war over and another about to begin. 

A truly beautiful story from a talented author!

NetGalley/ December 10th, 2019 by Thomas Dunne Books

Well, this just confirms it. I'm going to have to add another name to the select group that I recommend to patrons as outstanding authors. I fell in love with Letters to the Lost, and I was very hopeful this new novel would be just as wonderful.

It is. It really is.

The writing is superb, the setting very atmospheric, and the characters were wonderfully crafted. The emotional impact is huge. I finished this book a couple of days ago, and I'm still not over it.

A must read. An absolute must.

Historical fiction at its best .I was swept away by the characters the setting an emotional read I didn’t want it to end.An author I will be following and recommending to all lovers of literary fiction. #netgalley#st.martinsbooks.

I once again am stunned that this author has not written more books, as this is only her second novel to be released. Like her first release, this is a historical fiction that will move you. Nothing drives me crazier with historical fictions than not doing a bit of research to be historically accurate- with events, the scenery, the interactions, etc. Iona Grey does this flawlessly- the history is there but it blends in with the story, she doesn't overload facts. I personally enjoy the time spans and switching from past to present. It allows for a more saga type feel covering generations and the life span vs just a small snippet of their story.
I recommend this to anyone who is a historical fiction fan, especially those who enjoy ones based around World War times. Will be recommending to our customers and getting in stock for the store at release!

"True love found and lost and the secrets we keep from one another."
Fantastic read. And yes I stayed up much to late reading!
Set in England during the 1920's-30's. Selina Lennox shares a story with her daughter Alice who is staying with the "grands." Selena and her friends were known as "the Bright Young Things" in the society pages. Selena was a free-spirit. So different than her sister who only worried who she was to marry and the house and clothes and money was her main concern. I felt very sorry for Selena and her child. You won't be sorry in reading this wonderful story!

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey Historical Fiction in early 20th Century England between World War I and World War II. Selina and Lawrence have an unusual story to tell that no one should miss. A story of people, love, happiness and sorrow that is a part of life and our memories. A beautiful and unforgettable book that will touch many hearts. I absolutely loved it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars

The Glittering Hour A Novel by Iona Grey is a beautifully written historical romance that is set in England during the 1920's-30's. A classic read that pulls you in and sweeps you away to another time. A story of star-crossed lovers that are determined to find a way to be together. The Glittering Hour is a roller coaster of emotions that is sure to stay with you long after reading. A lovely story for readers who love historical romances.

I was a little intimidated by the length of this book and all the characters when I started it, but it flowed right along and was not confusing. The story starts out in 1926 in Blackwood Park and focuses on Selina Lennox and her other wealthy friends who are focused on partying and doing outlandish things which always ends up on the society pages of the newspaper. The story then switches to 1936 and focuses on Alice, Selina's 9-year-old daughter who goes to stay with her grandparents in Blackwood Park while her mother and father go to Burma to deal with his business. The story alternates between those two time periods with a lot of very interesting story lines and family dynamics. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this dynamic family saga in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgally and publisher for giving me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Glittering Hour made my heart swell with love and loss. I have often read comments about book hangovers, and now I understand what people are talking about.

This is a story of a mother sharing her story with her daughter while they are separated. Selina Lennox tells Annie the story of growing up in high society, living on the edge, and pushing boundaries as much as she could. She tells the story of a great love she found in her youth and recounted occasions of significant losses in her life. Selina shares her viewpoint of never being able to live up to the expectations of decorum set by her parents and older sister and how she planned to escape it. But the best laid plans…Her life takes a sudden turn.

While her parents are away, Annie stays at the house her mother grew up in with her grandparents. Homesickness is slightly repreived by letters from her mother and a special treasure hunt to find clues about her mother’s past. Being cared for by her mother’s lady in waiting, Annie is submerged into a epic story.

I loved this book. I loved the characters. Iona Grey did a lovely job capturing the esssence of love and loss and the pressures of growing up in the world of society papers. I could feel the heart struggles between Selina and Lawrence, the acceptance Selina felt when she resigned to the life that was expected of her, and the longing that Annie endured while missing her mother.

If you want to get lost in a world of extravagance a all encompassing love…I highly recommend!

I thought I was burned out from WWII historical fiction, but wow! I'm SO grateful to have read The Glittering Hour. I was also feeling burned out from alternating timelines, however, Grey's writing is so beautiful that it didn't bother me. Couldn't put this one down!

4.5 stars

When I was first asked to join the blog tour for Iona Grey’s latest novel The Glittering Hour, I was a little apprehensive at first, as I had never heard of this author before and of course hadn’t read her debut novel Letters to the Lost, which came out back in 2015. After reading the summary for the book though and seeing that it fell into one of my favorite genres (historical fiction), I decided to take a chance with this one and see where it would take me. Looking back now after having finished the book, I am tremendously glad that I did so, as this turned out to be an excellent read – one in which not only the story continues to stay with me, but also the characters, almost all of whom I can’t stop thinking about. This was one of those books where the beautiful writing drew me in from the first page and I found it difficult to stop reading once I had started.

With a duel timeline alternating between 1925 and 1936, the crux of the story centers around an unlikely romance between Selina Lennox -- a wealthy, privileged young woman from a noble family who spends majority of her time drinking, partying, creating scandal – and Lawrence Weston, a penniless but hardworking painter whose real talent lies in photography and capturing life’s most candid moments. Despite being from two completely opposite worlds, Selina and Lawrence fall hard for each other and, for a brief period of time, it appeared that true love and happiness were within their reach. But then tragedy strikes and Selina decides to forego her relationship with Lawrence in favor of the “safe” option of Rupert Carew — her deceased brother’s friend and also a match approved by her parents. A decade later, in 1936, nine-year-old Alice Carew is left in the care of her grandparents and a beloved maid at Blackwood, the estate where her mother Selina grew up, while her parents are on a business trip to Burma for a few months. Alice is a sensitive soul and not being able to stand the separation and secluded loneliness of Blackwood, she yearns for her mother and whiles away the time thinking about their many moments together. Through her maid Polly, Selina sends her daughter letters in which she scatters clues about her past, sending Alice on a treasure hunt of sorts to discover one of her most prized secrets. The two threads of the story — Selina’s past from 1926 and Alice’s current reality in 1936 —eventually come together in a surprising, emotional ending that is almost guaranteed to have the reader in tears.

My first thought after finishing this book is how beautifully written this story was. Even though the story leans more toward romance than historical fiction, the historical elements were still done extremely well, to the point that I truly felt transported to the time and place depicted (England in the 1920s and 1930s). For those who may be concerned about the romance piece — yes, the love story IS the core around which the rest of the story revolves, however don’t worry, as the narrative is well-balanced enough that the romance piece doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. With an epic story such as this one, maintaining such a balance along with a nearly flawless execution is no easy feat and Grey absolutely delivers here. Structure-wise, within the alternating timeline, each of the main characters also got the chance to contribute their piece to the story without diluting the main narrative that revolved around Selina and Alice. I appreciate this structure, as it allowed me to get better perspective on each of the characters and see another side to them that I wouldn’t otherwise have known.

Given how much I enjoyed this one, it was very close to being a 5 star read for me, however there were a few things that put it more in the 4.5 range for me. I felt that part 1 of the story dragged a little in a few places, plus a few scenes seemed repetitive and perhaps not entirely necessary...with that said though, part 2 was wonderfully written, with its emotional impact nearly making up for the minor flaws in the first part.
Without a doubt, I would definitely recommend this moving story of love, loss, passion, betrayal, family dynamics, hidden secrets, and the complexities of pursuing the truth. If you decide to read this though, definitely have some tissues ready.

Received ARC from Thomas Dunne Books via NetGalley.

Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an engrossing historical fiction set in the post WWI England. The author delicately laces her story of love and loss with history. This is not a heavy-handed history lesson, but appropriate mentions of significant events during that era are mentioned to provide character backstory and motivations.

The Glittering Hour takes place in 1935. When nine-year-old Alice's mother, Selina, leaves her with her stoic grandmother, she writes her daughter letters giving her scavenger hunt clues that will illuminate Alice's start in life. Through flashbacks, the reader learns of young Selina as a 1925 flapper. Her flamboyant lifestyle of drinking, smoking and partying shows off Ms. Grey's writing and researching. I could really sense Selina and her friends' boozy, smoky lifestyle. They're bored and bourgeois. They're frightened by the heightened awareness of their own mortality as a result of WWI and the Spanish Influenza Epidemic. Selina's glittery life in 1925 juxtapose to the decaying family estate where her daughter lives in 1935 really shows how the war has affected everyone.

Outwardly, Selina appears to be confident and bold, but she is hiding from her childhood insecurities and her fear of losing another loved one. The extent of her family's dysfunction is more evident with each layer peeled away. Like every young woman in the era, family expectations trump one's own desires; after all, one needs safety and security as well as social acceptability. When Selina finds love, she must choose between a soul mate and stability.

The family secrets and story denouement are easily-enough determined early in the story, but the novel is no less interesting for it. I loved the perfect twist in Lawrence Weston's life as well as the evocative descriptions of the characters and settings. Ms. Grey's storytelling is marvelous and her characters are captivating. The Glittering Hour is a delicious read for lovers of historical fiction and romance.
4.5 stars

A fascinating and sometimes sad read. But it was well worth the time spent reading. I highly recommend this book. I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey is an incredible historical fiction novel set in England.

The time frame spans well over two decades and is set in the Era of World War 2.
The author expertly crafts a time frame that consists of two different time frames , the past and the present which left me happily putting pieces of the story together.

The characters are complex, complicated and well fleshed out. Trust me, they will break your heart at times, as they did mine.

I really enjoyed the relationships in this novel and how they played out. Choices were made by some that ended up in situations that were truly heart breaking.

The author does a fantastic job of keeping the reader guessing. There are definite twists and quite a few surprises that I never saw coming.

Such a well written gem, I highly recommend this novel.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for the chance to read and review this book. The author has created a masterpiece! I just loved this story! One of the best books I've read this year! Selina Lennnox is a young girl just enjoying herself (going to parties, socializing, etc.). While she is out one night she meets Lawrence Weston, a penniless painter. Even though they quickly fall in love, they cannot really be together because of their different backgrounds. Even though Selina marries someone else, she never forgets Lawrence. I don't want to give away the plot, but this is a romance that never dies. Just read this book! You will love it!

The vivid prose and moving story in The Glittering Hour did not disappoint. I cannot recommend this book enough.