A really well written historical book which drew me in immediately and whisked me away to Paris in a bygone age. I adored this book in some many ways. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

‘I’m going to bring Vincent van Gogh’s art to the world. I’ll let others see his genius.’

Most of us know, of course, of Vincent Van Gogh. Many of us know that his work did not become famous until after his death. Then why - I ask myself - have I never asked the question: who was responsible for presenting his art to the world? This book answers all that and more in such a way that will stay with me … probably for my lifetime.

‘If it takes until my very last breath, one day, every single artist, art lover and art critic in the world will know the name Vincent van Gogh.’ He laughs. ‘You’re as mad as the earless painter.’

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who is even slightly intrigued by a fictional narrative on this topic. In the words of the author herself: “.. shocked and bewildered that despite her key role in the growth of Vincent’s posthumous fame, Johanna’s story had been all but ignored … I’m neither a historian nor a biographer, I had little choice - and much pleasure - in writing an imaginative reconstruction of a brief marriage and the story of how a young widow changed art history … this novel offers a creative account of the remarkable woman who became “the guardian of Vincent van Gogh’s legacy.”

‘He’s one of the most progressive painters alive. He has to keep painting,’ he says. ‘He forces us to surrender conventional ideas when viewing his art. But Jo … Can I hope that one day he’ll be understood?’

Johanna was only married to Theo for a short two and a half years - mind blowing in the big scheme of things. To consider that in such a short time she met and became engaged to Theo, witnessed Vincent’s mental collapse, married, had a child, witnessed Vincent’s death then, sadly, Theo’s mental collapse and death. ‘A former schoolteacher who stepped into two and a half years of madness, love and grief. After that, aged only twenty-eight, some might have turned their back on the Van Gogh name. But nevertheless, Mrs Van Gogh-Bonger persisted. She spread him over the world, selling at least 195 paintings and 55 drawings by Van Gogh, including Sunflowers to London’s National Gallery of British Art in 1924, the year before she died.”

‘I’m at a loss for words. I’ve stepped into a world where madness and art seem to hold hands to dance. I’m not sure I know how to exist here.’

In light of this, Caroline has penned such an incredible story. It’s raw, it’s heartbreaking but it’s filled with resilience and fortitude that moved me beyond measure. It’s a massive undertaking and Caroline does it with such poise and panache that it truly is one of the most remarkable fictional narratives I have read. I don’t even have the space to go into the ease of her writing, the depth of her research and portrayal of artists of the era or the days in Paris (love the weekly Eiffel Tower photo) and especially, the nod to the role of women in the era. Just do yourself a favour and go read this book! You won’t be disappointed - the tale of such a remarkable woman who became the caretaker of the Van Gogh legacy.

‘For in the routine of daily life there is so little time to reflect, and sometimes days go by when I don’t actually live, but let life happen to me, and that’s terrible. I would think it dreadful to have to say at the end of my life: “I’ve actually lived for nothing, I have achieved nothing great or noble”…’ Johanna Bonger, aged seventeen (March 26, 1880)’








This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

I mentioned to someone I was reading "Mrs Van Gogh" and they immediately said "I thought he never married?".
And therein lies the reason for this historical fiction work about the other Mr Van Gogh's wife. Mrs. Van Gogh is the story of Johanna Bonger, who becomes Mrs. Theo Van Gogh.
With a little fictional license thrown in, we join Jo arriving in Paris, after an embarrassing love with a married co-worker became public, and is set to ruin her families reputation.
Her brother moves in artistic circles and she quickly meets his friends...including Vincent and Theo Van Gogh. Vincent is penniless, experimental and crazy! Theo's brotherly love sees no limit, as he supports Vicent and strongly believes in his brilliant ability. Sadly this is often at the cost of his relationship with Jo. Vincent is manipulative and often frightening towards her. His escape from reality was alcohol....and luckily for us, his art. So observant of his surroundings.
While there is no definitive diagnosis of what was wrong with Vincent, he seemed to be manically depressed, had psychotic episodes and probably had syphilis as well, as sex at brothels was widely undertaken in those heady days ..... ultimately this was the under lying cause of Jo's husbands spiral into madness.
Without Johanna's dedication to the cause of exposing Vincent's art to the world posthumously, he would have remained obscure. Johanna loved her husband and loved his love for his brother.
This book covers a small time frame...only a few years from Jo arriving in Paris, meeting and marrying Theo, having his child, the death of Vincent and then the death of her husband. I was thoroughly absorbed and loved learning of another little known remarkable women, before Caroline Cauchi was herself inspired and took the time to thoroughly research, then stitch in a fictional web of story line, to produce the beautiful book.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy historical fiction and was drawn to this book by its offer of an untold story of Johanna Bonger, sister in law of Vincent Van Gogh. Whist I am familiar with Van Gogh’s more famous artwork, I knew nothing about his life nor the art world in Paris. I was intrigued to know the woman behind his fame today.
The story started with good pace and quickly drew me in, with Jo’s arrival in Paris to stay with her brother and her desire for independence, her search for strong independent women artists, and her wish to explore her own interests in art. Paris came to life in the pages and several strong minded women characters were introduced. As Johanna’s courtship with Theo developed, I did find myself becoming frustrated with her at times though, as she seemed to lose her initial strength of character and I sometimes felt that section could have been briefer. However, the story then resumed its pace for me and Johanna rediscovered her strength and resolve following the deaths of the Van Gogh brothers.
I enjoyed the style of writing of the book, a mixture of prose, letters and diary entries, which helped develop the characters. I also enjoyed the relationships between the different characters, Jo and her brother, the brothers Van Gogh, and the other minor characters, especially those involving Camille Claudel, Sara and Agostina.
Overall, a fascinating story, which although a work of fiction, certainly opened my eyes to a period of history that I knew very little about and has made me think about the artists of those days in a very different way.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter, for an E-arc in exchange for a review.

A fictional story based on fact this was a fascinating read. The addendum at the end of the book explains how much was based on fact and what was poetic licence, and there was a lot of the latter. Well written and I found it a wonderfully insightful story about a woman ahead of her time in many ways. Mrs Van Gogh nee Johanna Bonger married Theo Van Gogh, Vincent’s older brother and, despite Vincent’s at the time despicable behaviour towards her, treated him as her brother.

Briefly, after Vincent was ‘exiled’ to Arles, after exhibiting unacceptable behaviour in Paris, he started painting brighter works of nature but his psychotic episodes grew worse and after a disagreement with his friend Gauguin cut off part of his own ear. Meanwhile Johanna and his younger brother Theo had married and had a son, a fact that may have contributed to Vincent’s heavy drinking and subsequent periods in psychiatric hospitals.

Johanna was an amazing woman who after the deaths of both Vincent and Theo in their 30’s determined that her husband’s life dreams to see Vincent’s work recognised would happen; it took many years but she never gave up, and the rest as they say is history. I love all the historical details, the building of the Eiffel Tower, the nightlife at Le Moulin de la Gallette and Le Chat Noir and the lives of other renowned artists such as Auguste Rodin. I’m a big fan of Impressionism and post Impressionism and Van Gogh’s works are some of my favourites. I ended up reading this in a day as I was so engaged with the excellent and exciting story. A great read.

Today, it seems almost inconceivable that one would not know the name Vincent Van Gogh, but when in 1890 after Vincent's early and tragic death, you would be hard pressed to find someone who had actually purchased a Van Gogh painting. The artist had died virtually penniless and tragically unrecognised for his artistic merit. It would take the indefatigable efforts of a woman to ensure that the name Vincent Van Gogh would never be forgotten.

Cauchi reimagines the life of Johanna Bonger, better known as the wife of Theo Van Gogh, the beloved brother to the famous painter. Johanna's dedication to her brother-in-law would make her, arguably, one of the most successful art dealers the world has seen.

Teasing out the threads of mental health, love and loss that ran ever constant in the Van Gogh family, the author handles this with great care and sensitivity with vibrant storytelling that details the heartbreaking events occurring during Johanna's lifetime.

The level of research and development that has gone into this novel is truly astonishing and while the author does admit in her author's note to taking creative liberties where historical record is lacking in Johanna's life, it is undeniable that Cauchi performs an exquisite job to seamlessly blend history and fiction together into what was a beautifully written novel.

Many thanks to @onemorechapterhc and @netgalley for allowing me to read this novel pre-release.

This is the story of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent Van Gogh's sister-in-law and the keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, who has, until now, been written out of history. I was instantly hooked when I saw the name "Van Gogh" and wanted to learn more. I knew the basic facts of Vincent's history, but was not aware that he had a brother, Theo, nor the existence of Johanna. Although this book at times felt like it rambled on a bit, it was full of information, and was interesting and very eye-opening. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then you will definitely want to add this to your TBR list.

This book is neither a biography or a historical reconstruction of Johanna van Gogh who married Vincent van Gogh's brother Theo and was the mother of Vincent's nephew - also Vincent.
However as a novel this is an illuminating, clever and absorbing read fully exploring the life of a woman immersed with two brothers - an artists and an art dealer who had left a legacy of paintings, letters and sketches which illuminated the tragedy and the triumph of an artist whose works still engage us. I have always had a copy print of Vincent's wonderful 'Sunflowers' -. Is this the world's favourite painting? More so than the 'Mona Lisa'? I think it is because it evokes hope. Not a face of intrigue but a vase of hope.
I learnt so much from the novel and became intrigued about Johanna. She was marvellously drawn as a whole character, strong but yet emotionally flawed at first. The imagined part of life was submerged cleverly with the facts until the whole story seemed real.
The world in Paris of painters and sculptors, of the Eiffel Tower being built, of women artists being ignored or abused as models brought the wildness and genius of artists to the fore.
The story is tragic. But the life of Johanna was not. In the end she preserved the images and the lives of both brothers - Theo and Vincent.
And when we step into London's National Gallery and see (one of the versions painted by Vincent) of those amazing 15 sunflowers simply held within that vase this books helps to bring them to the life that emerged from the paintbrush of Vincent and the love shown by his brother Theo and the woman who preserved their reality beyond a frame on a wall.

I love reading books set in the art world. Van Gogh's artwork is so complex and beautiful, and as soon as I saw another reader post about this book I immediately requested a copy. I have some background knowledge of Van Gogh but didn't know much about his family. I had no clue it was his sister-in-law who fought to give his art its deserved recognition.

Mrs Van Gogh tells the story of Van Gogh's sister-in-law, Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger and how she first met the Van Gogh brothers to how she defended and pushed Vincent's art out of obscurity. Set in the late 1800s, Johanna moves to Paris to stay with her brother after a scandalous relationship forces her out of a job. Not long after her move, she catches the eye of Vincent's brother and is completely drawn into the orbit of both brothers. As a first-hand witness to Vincent's depression, madness and genius, Johanna doesn't shy away from a difficult family life or what she truly desires.

After Vincent's death, Johanaha becomes the gatekeeper of all his work and pushes to get him gallery exposure and the true credit his art deserves. She elevates his value with her determination and it is remarkable.

I enjoyed this story but felt the pacing was off. Much of it is focused on Johana's early relationship with Vincent and his brother and while that part is a great setup and is important to understanding their dynamic, the end felt rushed. I wanted to know more about how Johanna fought for Vincent's art to be recognized. If that part had been more drawn out, I think it would have shown even more of the amazing woman's strength.

This book releases on Amazon this week, on the 30th! If you've ever wanted to jump into a Vincent Van Gogh wormhole, this is a great starting point.

A fascinating story about Johanna Van Gogh, the wife of famous artist Vincent's brother Theo. The story follows Johanna and her love of art, living in Paris with her brother to learn more, when she meets Theo and Vincent. The reader sees how their relationships develop, and how one woman becomes determined that the world will never forget Vincent Van Gogh.

I really enjoyed the book - the name drops of many famous artists, the way the author describes the passing of time using the build of the famous tower in Paris, and the tragic description of Vincent's life. Definitely worth a read.

Greatly enjoyed novel, gave me an entirely different insight into Vincent and Theo Van Gogh. Hard not to feel sorry for the women in their lives. After being dragged to an immersive Van Gough experience in Bristol, (enjoyed it more than I expected, it was a very different way to understand paintings; Starry Night and the Wheat field in particular), I had gathered that Johanna, his sister in law was largely responsible for his fame, and that Vincent's legacy didn't disappear into obscurity. However there was little more real information beyond a portrait.

The novel necessarily is fiction and while actually she didn't go to Paris, the evocation and excitement of Belle Epoch Paris, its salons and artistic community, with the ongoing Eiffel Tower construction and Haussmann redesigning the grand boulevards all around was really well done. Equally powerful, her depiction of claustrophobic middle class life and marriage market in Amsterdam.

My main criticism would be that the explanation of how she got Vincent's paintings displayed and sold was almost an afterthought, to say nothing of her remarriage. This was her triumph, (and substantial windfall). I'd say it warranted a second novel as a follow up rather than shoehorning in.

Mrs. Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi is a very thought filled historical fiction novel. I was totally captivated by this story. The characters were wonderfully deep and definitely unforgettable. The settings were beautifully described. You could easily picture yourself in Paris when the Eiffel Tower was being constructed. You can picture the clothing, the homes and the streets. Reading this novel was wonderful. It is a gem for sure. While there was creative license used during the story, the main characters are historically based. Well done. I will be looking for more books by Ms. Cauchi.

I would like to thank the author, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter as well as NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a stunning and incredibly colourful portrayal of the Van Gogh brothers and the woman Johanna Bonger who tried to keep it all together in this mad and mesmerising world of artists and dealers. The language is exquisite, the descriptions breathtaking and the comparisons riveting. Caroline Cauchi knows how to capture the reader’s attention with her vivid and original imaginings of what might have happened during the years when Johanna was a part of their lives.

When Johanna’s brother Andries introduces her to the Van Gogh brothers, she is thrust into a bizarre world. Jo originally wants to be an artist but does not have the confidence in her abilities. Her brother tries to help by making connections for her to meet and learn from other artists. He wants her to achieve her dreams but their parents are keen to marry Jo off to an old man of their choosing. This sets Jo on a runaway path to avoid the inevitable. Theo Van Gogh, though, has his eye on Johanna and though she is slow to respond, due to a previous heartbreak, she eventually falls deeply for this brother of Vincent’s. (In some ways, Theo becomes her rescuer in a society that sees women as needing a husband. He just wants her to be herself. ) But becoming involved with one Van Gogh, means being part of the other brother’s life, too. And that presents some heavy challenges and later unexpected surprises.

We are all aware that during Vincent’s lifetime, his art did not draw much attention yet upon his death, things began to take off. Many do not know that it was due to the efforts of Johanna. After Theo’s death, she tried to carry on her husband’s mission: to make Vincent’s art known and appreciated for its striking personal style.

Ms Cauchi delves into the mind of Vincent, his battle with depression, his fierce connection to his brother, but also his love of nature (obvious in his paintings). Vincent felt akin to the raw wild splendour of the natural world. It is where he ‘captured the play of light and shadow on foliage.’ In the personal arena, he certainly is seen as having non-traditional relationships and sometimes humour was his safeguard. This made me think about the fine line between comedy and tragedy. and those with a tragic perspective often use comic relief like an antidote to numb their pain. Some of the saddest people in the world of art and entertainment have been the most successful in the area of comedy. Possibly because it helps them cope with society. The question about Vincent’s life is whether in his last battle he tried to end it or whether he was injured in an accident? There has been much speculation, even that he was protecting someone, possibly a child who may have accidentally shot him. It is hard to say and only Vincent knows.

But this story is more about Johanna and how the view towards independent women in the late 1800s was severe. The torment she endured, the ridicule by jealous onlookers, the struggles she had being caught between the love of two brothers. The portrayal here is that she was a strong woman who carried some heavy burdens, regrets and grief from her loss. Her marriage to Theo was sadly too short but her fierce protection of the child born of their love is triumphantly displayed in this novel. I was so glad Ms Cauchi included the later aspects of her life and that of her son’s.

This is a novel that made my heart ache. I could feel anguish oozing from its pages. My emotions were all over the place. There were moments in the story when I truly did not like Vincent: especially with some of the comments he made in his dialogue. But then his letters provided another side of him. And by the end of the story, I felt as Johanna did. Sad for not understanding his loneliness. Which took me back to my thoughts of him before. I had always felt he had been misunderstood. And his own personal demons took him down strange and turbulent roads. Regardless of his issues, he was a talent that the world would not realise until he was gone. Thanks to Johanna, his artwork became a fascination for art lovers and his work even converted those who may not have been enthusiasts. We see samples of his art now everywhere and it is easily recognisable. Images of his Starry Night and Sunflowers and other scenes and faces are spread on everything from iPad covers to clothing.

I want to say while reading this novel, I truly felt the agony and ecstasy of Mrs Van Gogh and Vincent’s profound struggles. As Aristotle once said: ‘there is no great genius without a touch of madness’. True, it seems, in this artist’s case. But knowing or not knowing the person he might have been, does not keep me from appreciating his amazing artwork. The triumph is in the fact that his glorious paintings and drawings are still available for the world to see, thanks in part to this woman’s efforts. Johanna preserved them and persisted to expose these priceless treasures to the world and, as a result, generations have been touched by Vincent Van Gogh’s creative wonder.

I highly recommend 'Mrs Van Gogh' to everyone who loves historical fiction with heart, depth and imagination. It is quite life-changing reading this book. Your perception may be altered. At least, you won’t be able to think of Vincent Van Gogh and his work again without remembering now the woman who helped make this genius artist known.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK (One More Chapter) and Netgalley for my review copy.

I should have known that a book titled "Mrs. Van Gogh" would center around a man's wife and not the woman herself. It started off promising, with Jo deciding to be her own woman, to enjoy herself in Paris, devote herself to the art she loves and to speak up for women in the art world.
But then soon after she meets the Van Gogh brothers. Suddenly it's: "Theo, Theo, Theo." Or "I must get Vincent to like me" because: "Theo, Theo, Theo." Then, of course they get married and it's: "my husband, my husband, my husband!" "I didn't know life until I was a wife."

I know not a lot is written about Johanna Van Gogh, but this just made her feel flat and as if her only purpose in the world was to show it Vincent Van Gogh. Which is when things did get interesting again, once the Van Gogh brothers are dead. So maybe they were the problem?
Anytime Vincent was around I kept thinking I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting to shoot him. And instead of finding a way to address his problems excuses are made, and it seems that a woman is mainly to blame. Mainly Jo, of course. He was sent away from Paris, because Jo kept rejecting him; he cut his ear, because Jo and his brother announced they were getting married. And so on.


(Also knowing what we know now about Paul Gauguin's possible involvement with the ear incident I found her: "Paul is being suspicions about this," but leaving it at that annoying. I understand they weren't supposed to know anything about it but why bother pointing it out if nothing will come of it?)

I was so excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. I love novels that transport me somewhere new and teach me something, and this did both, immersing me in artistic Paris in the late 19th century. I found myself eager to learn more about several (female) artists, such as Berthe Morisot and Camille Claudel, as well as the heroine herself, Jo Van Gogh-Bonger.
The final section was a triumph, with the claustrophobic feel of Jo’s confinement, and the horribly inevitable tragedy hanging in the air. So much happened to Jo in such a short time, and I’d have loved to read more about her later years.
Thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley.
4.5 stars.

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and as soon as I saw the blurb on NetGalley I knew it would be a book I would enjoy. I wasn’t wrong and devoured this book in a few weeks. The book is told from the view of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, who married Vincent Van Gogh’s brother. I had not heard of her until I read this book but she left behind a huge volume of letters and correspondence, which the author drew upon to create this book. Although the book is based on many facts, it is also a work of fiction so some parts of the story have been re-told or re-imagined.

I loved the story and the author has a gift for transporting you to the elegant streets of Paris. I didn’t know much about Vincent Van Gogh until I read this book and it’s made me want to seek out his works of art and find out more about him. I do love a good story and this is a great work, and a brilliant tale of a woman on a mission.

Initially intrigued by the premise of this book and gaining an insight into the life of Jo and her relationships with the Van Gogh brothers. The pace of the book I found very slow . Unfortunately this just did not hit the right tone for me and I was disappointed after the advertising blurb

A creative story highlighting the input of Jo Van Gogh, the wife of Theo and sister in law to Vincent.. We know of how close the brothers were, but how did Vincent get so popular after both of them were dead? This woman believed in both of them and was able to get the art world to embrace Vincent's creations. The story starts before they met and is passionate, emotional and a bit crazy at times, probably a bit like Vincent himself. It shows the turbulence of the three way relationship over the three year period, as it possibly could have been.

Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, or Jo, was born in an era when women had few rights or means by which to earn a living. Men, the powerbrokers and gatekeepers, scoffed at the idea that a woman could be a professional of any kind. Yet, when Jo was widowed in 1891 with a small child to raise, she defied Victorian norms and became a promotional phenom. Through determination and perseverance, she pushed her brother-in-law’s name and art into the public eye. In November 2022, Vincent van Gogh’s 1888 painting Orchard with Cypresses sold for $117 million. This is what Jo’s claim to fame should be—her extraordinary contribution to art history. She is the reason millions can enjoy his art by visiting museums worldwide. But only the last ten percent of the book covers this period of her life, and then in digest form.

Until Jo and Theo marry at sixty percent of the way into the book, the story is fictionalized and unfolds as a historical romance starting with Jo arriving in Paris under a cloud of shame, hoping to be an artist. This drives the plot as she meets various artists, most of whom have famous names with imagined personalities. Jo is subject to various lewd advances and trickery by Vincent, which she makes worse by acting stupid. This, and a jealous woman’s gossip keeps her brother busy protecting the family reputation and calming down Theo. After that, Vincent will move to Arles, and the story unfolds with some inspiration from correspondence between the Bongers and Van Goghs.

Why allot such a small amount of real estate in a 400 page book to the goal of “painting” Jo’s name back into history for her extraordinary contribution to art? The author says, “There is, of course, considerably more that I could have written about Johanna’s life after Theo’s death.” But she didn’t because, she says, “I’m neither a historian nor a biographer.”

I am disappointed because I had relied on the book’s marketing. Johanna elbowed her way into a man’s world to secure her spot among a handful of female art dealers of her time and left Vincent van Gogh’s art legacy to the world. She deserved more than this.

Thank you to Harper Collins, UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

As a big fan of Vincent van Gogh’s work I had to read this book. It did not disappoint me.
Letters, diary entries and in a descriptive narrative you are learning about the live of Johanna Bonger. The book’s first part covers the time from Johanna’s move to Paris until Theo’s death. In this section Vincent, Hugo, Johanna, but also Johanna’s brother are the main characters, but there are also some other people playing smaller, some bigger, roles in the lives of the forenamed people. It also gives you an idea of live in Paris during that time, the Eiffel Tower is being build and Johanna’s brother is taking a picture, with his box camera, every week to capture the build of this big iron thing. It is nice to read about everyday live in Paris and how Johanna and Theo get to know each other and start dating, or courting as it was called those days.
In the next part Johanna and Theo are married and this tells the story of their married live, how they both struggle but also love each other. Vincent and Theo’s letters are nice to read, and so are Johanna’s letters to her brother. Sometimes it was not straight away clear to me from whom the letter was when I started reading it, but at the end of the letter there was always a name.
The last two, and much smaller, parts of the book are set after de death of Vincent and Theo. How Johanna believes in Vincent’s art and tries to sell his works and also have it exhibited. For her time, she was a strong willed and persistent woman, and the Van Gogh Museum, which I have frequently visited as it’s not far from where I live, is amongst others the result of this.
I was a little bit disappointed to read that there was quite a lot fantasised, but all in all the book gives you a nice insight in how Johanna put Vincent to live.

Characters = 9| Atmosphere = 9 | Writing style = 9 | Plot = 9 | Intrigue = 9 | Logic = 8| Enjoyment = 9 | Score 8.86 = 4 stars