The Life She Was Given was a surprising mystery read with a twist. I felt it was a bit rough but that added to the gritty feel of the story. Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not influenced to give a positive review.

Another book I “wished” for on Net Galley – and was lucky enough to receive! – was THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN by Ellen Marie Wiseman. I had been hearing good things about this story of a girl who joins the circus. This was a really memorable read, interesting yet disturbing, and eventually I felt haunted by the ending. But – it was soooo good! If you like historical fiction, and can handle the disturbing child neglect/abuse, then you should check out this novel!
Some readers may find the alternating points of view confusing, but each story was moving along a tangent where you know they would eventually converge.
If I had one issue, it’s that I like a happy ending that is neat and tidy.
This one still haunts me…
Thank you for my review copy!

It’s 1931 and Lilly Blackwood dreams of visiting the circus that she has glimpsed from the window of the attic. Lilly has been locked in the attic all her life, promised by her Momma that it’s for her own safety. That other people would be afraid of her. But one night Momma comes for Lilly, having dreamt of venturing beyond her lofty room for such a long-time Lilly is excited, but nervous of Momma’s sudden change of heart. Until all becomes clear, when they reach the circus all is in darkness and Lilly knows that something is not right. It soon becomes clear that she is to be sold to the circus sideshow.
 
Over two decades later, Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and with it the sadness and mysteries of her childhood. Hoping to start a fresh and erase the unpleasant memories Julia quickly becomes embroiled in unravelling the secrets Blackwood Manor holds, involving a hidden attic room and photographs of a striking circus performer.
 
Can Lilly find a place for herself within the circus community, or has she swapped one prison for another? And will Julia ever learn the truth her parents fought so hard to conceal?
 
Wow! Just, wow!
 
Having loved “What She Left Behind” I was eager to get my hands on a copy of Wisemans’ latest novel. I find her writing to be so engaging and can easily lose a whole day within the worlds she creates.

Firstly, Wiseman’s character development is, as always, is top notch. Everything that Julia and Lilly felt or thought was beautifully described and really helps the reader to flesh out a character and make them believable. The secondary characters were just the right amount of likeable to not overshadow the main protagonists. I often find, as an avid reader, getting distracted by the supporting characters in a lot of novels and usually liking them more. Even the down right nasty pieces of work had me absorbed.

Written in dual narrative the story moves effortlessly between both of the girls points of view, intertwining at a mutual crossover point rather than finishing bluntly and changing voice. I did have, possibly what was meant tone a plot twist, figured out from very early on in the story, but this neither influenced my overall opinion or diminish my enjoyment.

I have but only one critique and that would be the lack of feeling for the era in Julia’s parts. It is supposed to be the 1950’s but apart from one music reference I did keep finding myself believing it could be the modern day.

I simply can’t enthuse enough about this book and since finishing it last night have already told so many people they need to look out for it as a must read! I look forward to reading much more from Ellen Marie Wiseman in the future.

To be published in numerous magazines in September:Lily knows she’s different. After all, her parents have kept her locked away for all of her nine years, in case she scares people. But then one day, in 1931, her mother drags her away from Blackwood Manor, and sells her to the circus. Fast forward to 1956 and Julia returns back to the home she ran away from. Two women, one house, 25 years apart. Will the secret of Lily finally come to light? Well researched, with believable characters and a story that really draws you in, this is a must for fans of historical fiction.

I was given a free ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It saddens me to give such a low rating for this book - I really liked [book:What She Left Behind|17802747] and was looking forward to this one.

This was not a long book, and yet it took me too long to finish. I like books with circus and sideshow themes and yes, I'm aware the true histories of those amusements are not as fun as nostalgia would have us believe.

I think my problem stems from the fact that much of the writing in this one seemed juvenile. The beginning is told from the viewpoint of a nine-year-old girl, but after an interval where the main character becomes an adult, the writing never progressed beyond the simplistic, if that makes sense.

Also, because this is an "historical" circus tale, you know there's going to be animal abuse, and people abuse. There is.

The storyline is improbable and the ending convenient. There's no explanation for the mother's horrible treatment of her child other than "it was the times" and her religious beliefs. A mother doesn't strongly desire a child through eight miscarriages and then lock the one viable child in an attic for ten years because she's an albino "freak".

The animal connection is weird and never explained.
And I'm not a cat person, but seriously, who would do that?!

The ending? Can't say much without giving away spoilers, I guess, but, no. At least the horses will live happily ever after.

Bringing to mind "Like Water for Elephants" and "The Museum of Ordinary Things," this touching story of difference and disability will almost certainly end up on the movie screen. Lilly is treated by her parents as a freak and a monster because she is born with albinism. Locked in an attic, she never sees light of day and is treated as a punishment from God by her mother. One day, while her father is away on business, Lilly's mother sells her to a traveling circus as a sideshow oddity, an alien from space. A mere child, Lilly mourns her lost home, even the cruelty of imprisonment, However, among the freaks and side show oddities, Lilly finds acceptance and a family of sorts. She also discovers her greatest talent as an animal whisperer, especially with the elephants. Her relationship with an elephant, Pepper, in particular, makes her a circus star and also brings her into the sphere of Cole who overlooks her differences and finds the beauty that lies within Lilly. Together, Cole and Lilly form a family, giving Lilly a daughter to finally form a family bond with her child. However, in a freak disaster based on the real death of a circus elephant, Lilly and Cole die and their daughter is returned to the hateful family that rejected Lilly. This is a heart-rending story, not just of love, acceptance, and what makes a family, but also the very current issue of the treatment of animals in circuses and zoos. While the similarities to the earlier books are unmistakable, this book stands on its own as a strong read. Recommended.

I don't have nearly enough words to express my love for this latest novel by Ellen Marie Wiseman.The Life She Was Given, is a dark, brutal portrayal of family life, with a few glimmers of hope shining through when the reader least expects it. It's a book I sped through and then wished I had taken more slowly so as to savor the gorgeous writing, engaging characters, and richly imagined plot.

It's the summer of 1931, and young Lilly Blackwood spies circus lights from the window of her attic bedroom. She's never set foot outside her room, and only recognizes the circus because of the pictures she's seen in books brought to her by her guilt-ridden father. She longs to see the circus, but is sure her parents will not permit her to do so. After all, her mother tells her almost daily how frightened people in the outside world would be if they caught even the most fleeting of glimpses of her. But then, much to Lilly's surprise, her mother enters the room late at night and whisks Lilly outside for what the child believes is a private showing of some of the circus's acts, but Lilly's mother has other, much more sinister ideas. Lilly is sold to the circus sideshow. She's thrust into what she believes is just another prison, one populated with countless strangers.

At first, Lilly isn't sure what to make of her new life. She wonders why she's been sent away from home and cries herself to sleep at night, hoping her father will come and save her. But Lilly is quite resilient, and, over the coming months, she makes a place for herself in the Barlow Brothers traveling circus. She's one of the sideshow's greatest attractions, and she finally comes to the realization that her albino appearance is not the curse her mother always claimed it to be.

Lilly also discovers she has a great affinity for animals, especially elephants. She befriends Cole, the young son of the chief elephant trainer, and forms a bond with mother elephant Pepper and her calf Jojo. Circus life can be quite brutal, and there are times when Lilly longs for something more. She detests the gawking, jeering crowds and the cruel circus overseers. Cole knows Lilly is capable of so much more than she's allowed to do, and together, they come up with a plan they hope will get Lilly out of the sideshow forever.

Over twenty years later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood returns home to her family's estate after an absence of nearly three years. Home was never a happy place for her; her mother was overly strict, and her father seemed to care about nothing save his horses and his whisky, so Julia ran away. Now though, her parents are dead and the Blackwood estate and its prosperous horse farm have been left to Julia, who isn't certain what to do with any of it. At first, she plans to sell it, but, after getting to know the horses, the cranky farm manager, and the exceedingly handsome veterinarian who cares for them, she begins to think she might be able to keep the farm going after all.

As Julia goes through her parents' possessions, she stumbles upon several clues to what seems to be a long-buried family secret. Who slept in the well-hidden attic bedroom, and what reason could her father possibly have for saving numerous newspaper clippings dealing with a traveling circus in the 1930's?

Ellen Marie Wiseman tells a fascinating story of two very different women with a hidden connection. The focus switches seamlessly between Lilly and Julia, bringing both periods of American history to life very vividly and I felt sorry for both women, neither of whom feels she belongs in the life she was born into. Both are incredibly courageous and daring, though these traits manifest in each woman very differently. Lilly endures some horrific abuse at the hands of the men in charge of the circus, and Julia is forced to come to terms with a secret that will shatter everything she thought she knew about her family and herself. Still, neither of our heroines gives up in the face of overwhelming adversity; each strives to come out on top of circumstances that sometimes seem insurmountable.

If you're looking for a light beach read, The Life She Was Given isn't the book for you. I cried several times while reading, and I had to take some pretty deep breaths as I read through some horrifying scenes of cruelty toward both animals and marginalized human beings. Ms. Wiseman's writing is both stark and evocative, making me feel almost as if I was living through the experiences of our heroines. But don't think this book is a total downer - in fact, it's anything but that. The author pays tribute to the ability of the human spirit to keep on living, hoping and loving even when life seems bent on keeping a person down.

Fans of Water for Elephants, The Tumbling Turner Sisters, and The Orphan's Tale should definitely give this book a try. It's obvious the author did a great deal of research into both the glamorous and the seedy aspects of life lived on a circus train. She doesn't shy away from the brutality, but neither does she short-change the camaraderie and love the performers feel for one another. This truly is well-written historical fiction at its best.

Buy Now: A/BN/iB/K

A difficult topic, beautifully written.
Although I needed tissues during this story, I came away with a strong feeling of "Love yourself and forgive those who cannot, for they cannot love themselves."
I enjoyed how each chapter was told from Lily's story and then to Julia's story.
The heartbreak, anger and sadness I felt as I continued on thru the book, made me love this wonderful novel.
I read it in 2 days and it will stay with me a long time.

Warning! This book made me cry, so if you don't like books that move you to tears, this one is not for you. The gut-wrenching story of Lilly and Pepper the circus elephant is told in such a superb way that you cannot remain untouched by it. The reader gets a peek into the circus life in the twenties, but unlike some of the other books I have read, this novel uncovers the less attractive sides as well. The animals and even some of the sideshow freaks are treated like commodities and apart from those who work directly with the elephants, there seems to be very little compassion and willingness to take into account animal welfare. Lilly feels a strong bond with Pepper, maybe because she herself has been treated badly because of her disability, but she will have to pay a high price for defending her elephant. As you, together with Julia, gradually uncover Lilly's fate, it's almost impossible to stop reading, even though it hurts. Excellent!

This is my first book by Ellen Marie Wiseman but it definitely won't be the last. What an incredible story written with such beautiful detail. I was quickly drawn into this beautiful, heart-breaking and heart-warming story. It's a story I won't soon forget. My next task is to search out all Ms. Wiseman's previous works and add them to my TBR list. Six stars? May I?

A very special thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Ms. Wiseman for an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC. This is a book I probably never would have read if it weren't for NetGalley. I don't normally read historical fiction but I am glad I requested this one. What an amazing story. It takes place across several decades in the early 1900's. Lilly is born--she is albino--and was then hidden in her parent's attic until she is 7. Her parents take care of her basic needs for the most part but her mother is nasty mean and is mean to her telling her how ugly she is and how others will hate her etc... The mother sells her to the circus. The chapters are about Lilly and what happens to her at the circus over many years and Julia who was raised in the same house Lilly was without any knowledge of Lilly. Julia ran away as a teen and returns home after her parents die because they left her the house/farm. She starts going through things and soon realizes that something is wrong--her parents seem to have a big secret, especially her father, who mostly spent his time locked in his den crying and drinking. I knew that Julia was definitely somehow connected to Lilly but I could not guess the outcome so I read this book voraciously to the finish. The writing was amazing, the descriptions of the circus and Lily's life was easy for me to imagine. The story is heart-breaking yet beautiful and tragic at the same time. So sad. Lilly was an amazingly strong character to have survived all that she did through out her life. Definitely recommend this book!!

Water for Elephants meets Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. The Life She was Given is a story about Lilly, a young girl with a very grim life, parents that are rigid, unresponsive, unloving, no hope. Yes a very sad life she was given, gets worse, gets better, one day when she was 11 her cruel mother sells her to the circus, gets worse, gets better, then gets out of control. No spoilers here, not happy with the ending. Ellen you sent me on a wonderful ride, usually at the end of the ride there is light. This ride was not only dark, but bumpy. The ending felt rushed and incomplete. I could think of so many ways the story could have ended. I still enjoy it very much, love Ellen and will read anything she writes. 4****

THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN was a very good use of my reading time. I was dying to read this book as I'm fascinated with stories of the circus so thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for granting my wish for an advanced copy. This is the story of a girl sold to the circus by her mother and another girl who runs away from her mother. Told from both perspectives in alternating chapters, Wiseman captures the complexity of girls coming of age who must look to themselves for guidance as they can't get it from their parents. The plot of this story is so engaging and the visuals are sharp and concise. You can smell the peanuts and taste the tears. I loved every word and every plot twist. I really thought I knew how the novel would end and was completely wrong. Wiseman delivers characters you raise in your heart and a story your mind will never forget.

I was loving this until the part where the baby elephant is ripped away from his mother and then the mother elephant is killed. hat was absolutely heartbreaking and really hard to get through. Saddest thing I've read in a long time. I was sobbing. But I really enjoyed the story, especially Lilly's part more so than Julia's, but I liked how everything came together in the end. I will definitely recommend this book to friends! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

(This review is based on an advance reading copy I downloaded from NetGalley in May, 2017. Please be advised that the few items quoted below may change in the final published copy, but needed to be included in order for me to leave a meaningful review. Since I only read the first half of the book, I'm not really sure if anything below can be considered a spoiler, but there are some references below to people and events that occur throughout the first half. Read on at the risk of learning that all your assumptions about how the plot develops are actually correct.)

I have not read anything so awful in years. I forced myself through the first half, intending to finish regardless, but I just couldn't. The scene with the zebras, followed by the completely predictable and trite love scene in the water, was the last straw. Having satisfactorily finished reading "What She Left Behind", I can only guess that the author turned over writing duties on this one to her 12-year-old nephew. First off, why use a passive voice in the title? Very odd. Secondly, a very heavy reliance on "the questioning mind" construct really turned me off. ("What was it? And why had her father hidden it in his dresser? " Or, "What was she supposed to do now? And what about the horses? Were they okay? Would Claude show up to take care of them? Most of the horses would be fine..., but what about Blue and her baby? Could they take this cold?") I actually have enough intellect to figure out where an author is leading me without needing it to be spelled out for me as part of the narrative. This happened at least every few pages, and was just draining.

And the characters - so Glory keeps telling Lilly how "everything will be ok", and she'll protect her from Merrick. Well, as of the halfway point, Glory has done absolutely nothing to protect Lilly. Nothing. Merrick (and the townies) have completely abused Lilly, and Glory has never stopped it. Oh! And Lilly takes a whipping from Merrick with a riding crop where each blow was harder than the last, but IT NEVER BREAKS THE SKIN?!!! Give me a friggin' break!

Also, again as of the halfway point, we have yet to be told why Lilly frequently has this inability to breathe (does she have asthma? Does she suffer from panic attacks?), that she can get through just be telling herself to. The same with her counting - is she OCD? ADD? Autistic? Why is she counting things all the time? With no other symptoms of any mental disorder.

And Julia - what a complete overnight turnaround for a runaway to just slide into the role of Mistress of the Manor! How fortuitous that she's so comfortable with the horses.

Oh! And let's not forget to refer to EVERY SINGLE CIRCUS CHARACTER by his or her first name and description every time they're referenced. (eg: Hester the Monkey Girl and Magnus the World's Ugliest Man). At some point (certainly after the first several months with the circus), it seems that Lilly and others would no longer need the longer appellation in order to know who they're referring to; Hester and Magnus would probably do the trick.

I could go on about the many ways in which this book fails, from outsized and over-the-top characters (momma, Merrick) to trite and predictable plot lines (the elephant boy), to 5th-grade sentence structure and development, to overused constructs, and beyond. This was just awful AW. FUL. I will actively steer folks away from this title, if possible. I'm embarrassed for everyone who contributed to the production of this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for gifting me with an ARC of The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman. In exchange for the book, I am providing my unbiased opinion.

I should have loved this book because I generally like books that feature dual narrations, timelines and circus settings. However, I never fully engaged with either main character. It bothered me that Lilly was so indifferent to her situation and never seemed to display any true emotions. Julia's story was bland and although her story was set in the 1950's, I never got the feeling for that decade. Her story felt modern and lacked the details needed to create time and place.

This book was a fast read and the pages turned quickly. Although I was not emotionally invested,I was curious to see how the stories would play out and I was pleasantly surprised by an unexpected twist. For me, one of my biggest gripes was the comparison given to Night Circus and Water For Elephants, which had peaked my interest, but ultimately led to my disappointment. If a reader goes into this story with no expectations or literary imaginings, I think they will enjoy this story much more. Not my favorite Ellen Marie Wiseman novel, but still a fine read.

It was a great read. Heartbreaking tale that shows the differences between generations and how people who had physical differences were treated years ago. Recommend keeping tissues next to you when reading.

Great story! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!

This was an incredibly written book. While much plot revolves around a circus, it's really more about Lilly and Julia, two women who are "given" difficult lots in life and find their places through strength of character. A cocoon/butterfly metaphor would probably be apt here, but let's not push it. It was easy to root for both of them, especially through some truly heartbreaking moments. Wiseman's writing is wonderfully descriptive and I got a strong sense of place, but I didn't really get a strong sense of time. Yes, the 1930s timeline was a bit easier because the whole circus freak show business is very dated, but Julia's life in the 1950s practically could have been yesterday. So that was a bit of a weakness, but it didn't take away from the novel as much as it could have because the story and characters were so solid. I thought a big part of the central mystery Julia was attempting to unravel was fairly obvious, but observing the impact the discovery has on Julia is compelling enough on a character level that I didn't miss the shock factor on the plot level. I'm doing a terrible job of reviewing this book, but before I close I'll say that there will be obvious parallels to Water for Elephants, and it is kind of a "find yourself at the circus" sort of story with similar levels of drama (or melodrama, if you prefer). If you want to compare it to a circus novel, it's probably more like The Thunder of Giants, what with parallel stories of outsiders. But really it stands on its own as a novel about women finding inner strength when they most need it and making the best of what they are given.

What bleak times it was in the 1930s. So many inhumane and cruel acts perpetuated against the weak, different, women, children and animals. The story was at times heart wrenching and unbearably sad. Well written, reliable characters, not an easy read but a good one.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.