A compelling, well-researched biographical fiction novel about the woman who preserved Van Gogh’s work and helped secure his legacy.

To me, there has always been an unexplained gap between Vincent’s lack of an audience for his work during his lifetime and then later becoming considered one of the world’s greatest painters. This novel makes a very plausible case for Mrs. Van Gogh being the true catalyst for his recognition and his well deserved place in art history.

This is an interesting book. The pacing is slow. The story is based on true events. It felt a little repetitive at times. It is written very well and descriptive. It was a depressing read in places

I have always been fascinated by the story of Van Gogh and have a love for his art so was really drawn to this book....

Found this an interesting book about Theo Van Gogh's wife and her experiences with Vincent Van Gogh and Theo.

The author also then writes about what happened after the death of Theo and how important Mrs. Van Gogh was in working to have Vincent's diaries published and his paintings displayed and I found this a great section. Overall a 3 star from me

I really wanted to like this book more, the Impressionists and the artists just after them, Paris in the late 1800s are all topics I;m interested in but for some reason this book just didn't gel for me - it neither felt like a piece of historical fiction or a modern read. It also just didn't feel quite right factually.

The last 40% was good. And I wished there was more about Jo after Vincent and Theo died because that was very much rushed through and most of it skipped. Too much of the book was focused on before Theo and Jo married. For me the book was slow moving.

This is the book about Van Goghs – the Van Gogh brothers, and more importantly – the wife of Theo Van Gogh. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger was the woman who made Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous names in art history. Many of us know that Vincent, unfortunately, died as a struggling artist, not only financially but mental health wise, too. What many of us don’t know – or at least, I didn’t until now – who made sure that his huge talent and massive amounts of work produced would receive the recognition they deserve and in fact, how much of a struggle it entailed. Vincent didn’t live to see it, but I’m sure he’d be happy if he could.
I found this read quite emotional, the author put up a great effort not only to describe events as they went but also to show the characters in depth, which made them feel relatable. The struggles, ups and downs, and whirlwind life full of quickly changing events – one wouldn’t think that so much could happen in such a short amount of time. While facts remain facts, the author at the end of the book disclosed the fictionalized parts, explaining her choices and I had absolutely nothing against it. To be completely fair, I think she did a great job, too.
The book also relies on the diary entries, letters, and announcements, which are largely a real deal and show more intimate details of Van Goghs’ lives, short as they were. The text is beautifully written, easy to read and completely engrossing – it didn’t take me long to read from the first to the very last page.
To put it in short, I enjoyed this book very much. If you’re into the historical fiction and/or art – go, read it!

Content warnings: mental illness, attempted rape, loss of a family member, loss of a spouse

Johanna Bonger leaves her Danish city for Paris to stay with her brother Andries. There she meets Theo van Gogh, an art dealer who will later become her husband. But with Theo comes his brother Vincent, a troubled painter who produces brilliant work but puts a strain on their relationship.

When the van Gogh brothers die, Johanna inherits hundreds of Vincent's paintings. She makes it her life's work to show Vincent's brilliance to the art community. Without Johanna, the world may never have known Vincent van Gogh's works.

The narrative is Johanna's, but the novel is interspersed with letters from Theo and Vincent. The letters are sometimes to Johanna and sometimes between Theo and Vincent.

Frankly, the novel doesn't explain why Johanna married Theo despite Vincent's unacceptable behavior, and why she became his supporter without spending much time with him at all. Either the historical material didn't provide enough information, or Cauci should've padded the narrative with more of Johanna's interactions with both Vincent and Theo.

Only recommended if you are a Van Gogh devotee, but what you see here won't flatter the artist.

Representation: mentally ill main characters

This was a wonderfully researched book that was an interesting read about Vincent Van Gogh’s sister-in-law and how she rescued him from obscurity. As historical fiction, some of the details are not based on fact, but it definitely brings the efforts of Joanna Van Gogh-Binger to light. She was an amazing woman and her efforts to bring Van Gogh’s artwork to light should be admired. I enjoyed feeling as though I were part of life in Paris with the cafés and clubs. Life was vividly displayed and that appealed to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Whenever I picked up "Mrs Van Gogh", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this moving and powerful story.

Caroline Cauchi is an amazing author! She seamlessly weaves history and historical fiction, and this book truly is so difficult to put down. I can only imagine the amount of research she must have done, as I felt immersed in the world of the story as well, and Ms. Cauchi's storytelling is phenomenal. As someone who loves art and history, this book was so intriguing.

This novel tells the story of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, A determined, intelligent, and strong-willed woman who believed so passionately in the power of art, she made sure that her brother-in-law's, Vincent Van Gogh's, work was known. Upon marrying Theo Van Gogh, so much begins to change in Johanna's life. I do not want to say too much about this book due to spoilers, but, I will say, this novel has so much in it. From heartbreaking moments, to hopeful, varying family relationships, art history, and so, so much more, this book is very impactful.

If you enjoy historical fiction novels, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC of this book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed the story of Johanna Bonger and the Van Gough brothers, a really great book, thank you for telling Joanna’s story.

A beautifully written book that explores love, passion, and the power of art. Mesmerizing.
May thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great book, I loved the letters between Jo and Vincent. I think in general the letters and journal we a great addition!

Johanna Van Goh-Bonger was the sister-in-law of Vincent Van Goh. After her husband’s death, Johanna inherited her brother-in-law’s art collection. Johanna worked tirelessly to establish Vincent Van Goh’s legacy and preserve his fame by showcasing his paintings at exhibitions. This historical novel shows Johanna as a woman who loves her husband but admires her brother-in-law’s talent. Through her faith in Vincent Van Goh, Johanna worked hard to ensure the world would continue to remember his work.

Johanna is a very admirable character. She is an intellectual. She loves reading novels and has a passion for art. She is a very strong-willed woman and is determined to live her life according to her own terms. I loved her romance with her husband, Theo. It was a very sweet relationship. I also admired her friendship with her brother-in-law, Vincent. She emphasizes with him as he makes his descent into madness. However, she sees his talent and potential for greatness. Thus, her relationship with the Van Goh brothers was the best aspect of this novel.

Overall, this novel is about art, love, and family. I found all of the characters to be very fascinating. As much as I liked the characters, the novel was not without flaws. I thought that this book was very slow and repetitive. I also thought that after the Van Goh brothers died, the rest of the story was rushed. Even though it was a long book, it needed to be to flesh out the latter parts of Johanna’s life. Still, I found this novel to be meticulously researched and was very well-written. I liked how the setting focused on the art world of Paris, and it made me feel as if I was walking with Johanna along the Parisian streets. Thus, this novel is a must-read for art lovers! I recommend this novel for fans of Rodin’s Lover, The Other Alcott, and Ophelia’s Muse!

This was such a good book. I love historical fiction, especially when it is about eras/ situations that I previously knew nothing about and this was definitely one of those books. It was so well researched and so compelling in its narrative that not only did I love reading it but I felt that I learned too. A really enjoyable read and perfect for any fans of historical fiction. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A historical novel based on the story of Van Gogh's sister in law Joanna. Though the narrative pace is slow, it will appeal to art lovers.

I loved this book ! I know its fictional but the the storyline and the characters added so much more life to one of my favourite painters! Its not a fast paced book however the story keeps you engaged and stays with you for a very long time!

I didn't love this book but I did enjoy it. The story of van Gogh's wife, the archetypical woman behind the well known man, is a lovely idea and I think for people who like either the painter and would like to have a fuller view of him or of his time too I think this is ideal.

From the moment I heard about Mrs Van Gogh, I knew I had to read it. Vincent Van Gogh is one of my biggest inspirations, and his story is one that fascinates me, but not a lot of people know how important his sister in law was to his story and success. I was extremely lucky to receive a copy of the book through NetGalley, and since finishing it, I have bought myself a physical copy because I just HAD to have it on my shelves. Before I get in to the rest of my review, I just want give a quick mention to one small detail that I absolutely loved, which is that Caroline Cauchi titled every chapter (excluding the diary entries) with the name of a Van Gogh piece, which I thought was a very clever touch.

The story begins with Johanna Bonger before she knew her future husband, Theo Van Gogh. After a recent affair which left her disgraced and jobless, Jo finds herself in Paris, to stay with her brother, Andries, while things blow over. Jo’s love of art is an integral part of this story. As an aspiring female artist in a world that still doesn’t accept women within the art world, Jo is determined to make a change. Andries has many connections within the art world of Paris, male and female, and is more than happy to introduce and show off his sister. She soon makes the acquaintance of Theo Van Gogh, and is introduced to his troubled brother Vincent.

The relationship was turbulent to say the least, and Theo’s love for his brother often created problems within his relationship with Jo. He was completely and utterly devoted to Vincent, they had a connection that no-one could even come close to, not even Jo. The story shows the deterioration of Vincent’s sanity, and how it effected those around him, alongside Jo’s struggles within her family and also the views of the world she lived in. I loved travelling through Jo’s journey, from the very beginning, to her first meeting with Theo, to the very end.

The book gives a very clear insight in to how women of that time were viewed, particularly in the art world, and how women began to fight back. Not only did we hear Jo’s story, but also the devastating stories of other female characters, which take you on such an emotional journey. These powerful, ambitious, talented women were seen as nothing more than a male’s play thing. They lived in a man’s world, and daring to be different, and to step out of the dutiful housewife role had such huge effects on their lives, and not in a positive way. They were judged, ridiculed, and ostracised by everyone around them, and although we still have a way to go, it makes me so glad that I live in a time where the views of women has moved so far forward.

The final few chapters broke me, but not in a bad way. After everything she went through, Jo never gave up on the Van Gogh brothers, and never gave up on Vincent’s art. Her perseverance paid off in ways that no-one could have imagined, and Vincent’s work was finally given the spotlight that it deserved. As someone who admires Van Gogh’s work so greatly, that final chapter where Vincent’s Portrait of Dr Gachet sells for 82.5 million dollars truly moved me, it brought me to tears. It was the same well of emotion, and overwhelming feeling of awe and appreciation that swells within me every time I see a piece of his work in person, and it’s a feeling that I will never fully be able to explain.

This book was everything I had hoped it would be, and I will be thinking about it for a long time. However, it is important to remember that this is a dramatised version of events, and not everything in this book is fact. The story of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger is so important to the success of Vincent’s work, one that needs to be more appreciated, and one that needs to be told more often. Without Jo, the world probably wouldn’t even know one of the greatest artists to have ever lived. Hopefully through this book, Johanna’s story will be much more recognised, and for that I want to say a huge thank you to Caroline Cauchi for creating this beautiful, moving, and incredible version of events.

I give Mrs Van Gogh an easy 5 star rating!

I will be buying this for a former employee that has been obsessed with Van Gogh all her life and in another lifetime likely was one of Vincent’s lovers.