Two love stories, one painting, and absolutely no way you’re going to stop reading.
Why it deserves a place on your reading list
Jojo Moyes at her most ambitious: two timelines, a century apart, connected by a single painting and the women who love it. The First World War sections carry a weight and beauty that feels different from the contemporary story, and the way Moyes weaves the two together is the kind of craft you only notice when it’s working exactly right.
I read this one and felt all the feelings, which is a reliable signal that a novel has done its job. If you love historical fiction with a twist of the present, or you’re looking for a book that stays with you after the last page, this is an excellent choice.
WHO’LL LOVE THIS
For the reader who wants to be completely absorbed for the next few days. Fair warning.
The Historical Fiction Fan: Two timelines, a world war, and a love story that survives a century. Everything they want in a novel.
The Jojo Moyes Reader Who’s Run Out of Her Books: If you loved Me Before You, this is the one to read next. Different in tone, equally good.
The Book Club Group: Dual timelines give you plenty to discuss, from themes of sacrifice to what we carry across generations.
The Gifter Looking for a Novel That Feels Like a Gift: Beautiful story, beautifully told. This is one you give knowing they’ll love it.
