Cover Image: Drawing Home

Drawing Home

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Member Reviews

3.5 Stars

The setting of the picturesque and historic town of Sag Harbor during the summer months was a nice backdrop to the novel.

Emma, a single mom and her teenage daughter, Penny are living their everyday lives when they are "surprised" by an unexpected inheritance. The key to understanding this "mystery" of why Penny was left the inheritance will be pieced together as other characters show up to fight for a piece of the action.

While I enjoyed this one, I do feel it moved at a slow pace and I found myself challenging some of the characters decisions. It did pick up during the last half and I was surprised and satisfied with the wrap up.

Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. This one is out in May 2019

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I am a huge fan of Jamie Brenner so I was beyond excited to see Drawing Home on Netgalley.
Drawing Home was an extremely heartwarming story that had me glued to my kindle until the very last page. The characters were amazing in true Jamie Brenner fashion!
Jamie is becoming a permitted fixture on my must read list! I truly look forward to reading more from Jamie!

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Loved this book!

When legendary artist recluse Henry Wyatt dies, he sets off a storm of unlikely events by leaving his Sag Harbor mansion to the 14 year old daughter of the local hotel manager. We meet an array of talented, loving, damaged people, and they're thrown into upheaval because of the artist's bequeathment. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Wyatt's last will and testament wasn't a dotty old man's sentimentality at work, it was a caring recluse's ultimate Art Installation.

Loved the interaction of characters. Loved the characters!

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Jamie Brenner, Author of "Drawing Home" has written an intriguing, captivating, enthralling, delightful, heartwarming and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this story are Fiction, and Women's Fiction. There is a "dash" of mystery and surprise in this book as well. The story takes place in Sag Harbor on Long Island. I love the vivid descriptions of the beautiful town, and beaches and water that Jamie Brenner has written. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some are dysfunctional and quirky.  I love reading about the summer  in Sag Harbor, with historical references, beautiful beaches, and a very traditional hotel in a small town. This is also a coming of age story.

Emma Mapson, single mom to fourteen year old Penny, works hard managing the front desk at the American Hotel. Penny is very artistic, and loves graphic books. Often the famed Artist Henry Wyatt, can be seen working with Penny. Henry Wyatt is an older Artist. When Henry Wyatt passes away suddenly, it appears that Penny and Emma's life will take an interesting turn.

Bea Winstead has been friends and business partners with Henry for over 50 years, and comes from New York City to check on his estate. Bea is a very outspoken woman and is grieving her friend, but is shocked at what  Henry's new will states.  She is determined no matter what to get to the bottom of the changes to the will, and to find out what is going on.

One of my favorite parts of this story is the "Treasure Hunt" to find some of Henry's drawings that are scattered through-out the town.  I appreciate that Jamie Brenner discusses the importance of family, friends, community, honest, love and hope. The contemporary problems of drugs, and Obsessive Control Disorder are also brought up.

I highly recommend this heartwarming and thought-provoking novel for those readers who enjoy a delightful read. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

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I really enjoyed this book! Jamie Brenner is one of my auto-read authors, and this book did not disappoint! I loved the Sag Harbor summer setting, and I really enjoyed reading about the mother-daughter relationship between Emma and Penny--this book had so many feel good family aspects to it. I particularly liked Penny as a character and how Brenner portrayed anxiety, depression and OCD through Penny's character. I particularly liked how Penny dealt with her anxiety and OCD through her art. Such a positive message for those struggling with those things--find your "art" or whatever helps you cope. I loved Penny's terminology of "bossing back" her OCD when she was faced with an anxious situation.

The supporting characters were great too--though Bea annoyed me most of the book. Kyle and Angus were great. The ending to the book was satisfying and made for a perfect feel good read. If you're a Jamie Brenner fan, this one won't disappoint! If you haven't read Jamie Brenner--now is the time to start!

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Jamie Brenner’s Drawing Home incorporates all my favorite things into one incredible story. There was family drama, a mystery, and even a light romance element. This is the perfect read to get you excited for summer! Set in Sags Head, Emma is conflicted when a wealthy artist residing in the town passes away and leaves his expensive estate, including his artwork, to her 14 year-old daughter. However, his longtime friend and business partner will not accept that she did not inherit his estate – and will stop at nothing until she figures out why he did this and how she can get what she thinks she rightfully deserves. You will not want to put down this incredibly engaging story!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Emma and her daughter Penny live in Sag Harbor. Emma works the front desk at The American Hotel and Penny who is 14 has OCD and anxiety which makes it difficult to make and keep friends. Penny makes friends with Henry Wyatt a man who is in 80's and a famous artist. Henry realizes Penny is an amazing artist and takes her under his wing. Sadly Henry dies, but he leaves his house and his art to young Penny. That starts an avalanche of problems for Emma and Penny. This is a beautiful story of family and the ones who become our family. I loved the characters and the scenery. I absolutely loved this book and the ending was perfect! I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Company. All opinions are my own.

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A solidly enjoyable beach read -- with enough family drama and romance to appeal to fans of Elin Hilderbrand.

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Once again, Brenner delivers a solid story with richly layered characters. This is a story about unlikely friendships, small town, a mother-daughter relationship and a teenager dealing with OCD.

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This is a heartwarming story about a teenage girl, Penny, who inherits a mansion from her art teacher, Henry. To her, he was just a man who taught her to draw. To him, Penny taught him to enjoy a new type of art and life in a small town. To the world, he was a renowned artist. The story involves many characters that eventually come together to celebrate what is important in life.

The story takes place in Sag Harbor and Penny's mom manages a hotel that Henry hangs out in each day. This is how he gets to know Penny. When Penny inherits Henry's mansion, Bea Winstead, his longtime friend and art manager, can't believe that Henry would leave his fortune to a teenage girl and figures something must be fishy. She fights the inheritance with everything in her power.

I give this book four stars because it the characters are inviting and believable. I like how the author weaves all of the characters together throughout the book.

This book was given to me for my honest review.

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This is a story of a single mother and her teen daughter living in tourist oriented Sag Harbor. Emma works at the American Hotel, the most prestigious lodging available. Her daughter Penny goes to school and visits with the hotel guests. Henry Wyatt lives in Sag Harbor and is a regular patron of the bar and restaurant. He and Penny become good friends as he encourages her to work on her art. He's famous in the art world and when he suddenly dies he leaves his estate to young Penny. When the will is contested by his good friend Bea, Emma must fight for her daughter. This is a good story of family and gives a little insight to the world of the gifted and talented. I loved all the characters, including Bea who should have been the antagonist and hated. I've read several of Jamie Brenner's books and this one is a nice addition to her title list. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this summer must-read! I loved the story and I love each of Jamie Brenner's books. This one takes place in Sag Habor where Emma Mapson lives and works, managing the front desk of the American Hotel. Emma's daughter, Penny, inherits a beautiful estate, worth millions, from one of the bar patrons at the hotel after he suddenly passes away. Fighting against her is Bea Winstead, the dead man's former agent/best friend who immediately heads to the area to claim what she believes is more right fully hers. Through some twists and turns, the author navigates us through summer in the ritzy Sag Harbor area, a mystery graphic novel that must be pieced together by going to various locales in the area, some romance and a nice, somewhat neat ending. Can't wait for Jamie's next book!

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Another hit for Jamie Brenner! The world building in this charming beach read was wonderful. I loved the main characters, from single mother Emma, to troubled teenager Penny, to curmudgeon Bea as well as the supporting characters. I think what I loved the most was that there was a mystery built into the story and the author kept it to herself until the very end. I anticipate Brenner's new releases each year and look forward to 2020 already!

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Heart-tugging, tender, and sincere!

Drawing Home is an uplifting, engaging tale that takes us to Sag Harbor and into the life of Emma Mapson as she juggles all sorts of highs and lows, including single motherhood, an unexpected inheritance left to her teenage daughter, an ex who suddenly reappears out of nowhere, and an elderly woman determined to contest the final wishes of her oldest friend.

The prose is immersive and expressive. The characters are well-drawn, troubled, likable, and genuine. And the plot is a wonderful mix of life, loss, forgiveness, grief, love, familial drama, friendship, community, contentment, coming-of-age, and art.

Overall, Drawing Home is another lighthearted, beautiful, beach read by Brenner that mixes a side of a mystery with her innate ability to delve into all the psychological and emotional entanglements found in nuclear families.

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I really enjoyed this book and its wide cast of characters. Penny, a young adolescent inherits a grand home when an older artist she has befriended passes away. This leads to animosity and apprehension from others involved in the story. As the situation resolves, a new family is formed. Touching and heartwarming. As a parent of a young daughter who seriously suffers from OCD, I found its depiction to be one of the most accurate I have seen in a book. Being paralyzed by the disorder, being held hostage. Hours of CBT, and Exposure Response Prevention. The author handled this in a wonderful way. When I picked up this book, I had no idea there would be a character with OCD in it. Nonetheless a teen who illustrates and writes graphic novels (just like my girl). I highly recommend this book. I would say the main message of this story that resonates from the start of the book to the end is that family can be made in all sorts of circumstances with seemingly different people!

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Emma 's young daughter inherits a house from an elderly man, Henry Wyatt who has befriended her and has been working with her on her drawing. Emma and her daughter, Penny had no idea that he was a famous artist and that he would be leaving his house to Penny. However, enter Bea Winstead, an old friend of Henry's. She has come to take possession of the estate only to find that it seems as though Henry has changed his will in the past few years. Bea is determined to figure out what went wrong and she will be staying at the estate while she is in town. She makes life miserable for Emma. Emma is caught in the middle and just wants to protect Penny from all the drama. This is a good story with great characters. It flows very nicely and has a satisfying ending.
I received an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

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Thanks to Netgalley & Jamie Brenner for this advanced copy. I couldn’t put it down. It’s another great summer read.

I enjoyed getting the POV for three generations of women. I’m not that schooled in the arts, but I was sucked right in. Truly enjoyed it!

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**Many thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Let’s be honest friends, is there any possible way to see this cover and NOT want to read it? I don’t think so! I was immediately smitten by the sight, and thrilled to dive in.

Drawing Home was lush with environmental detail, richly crafted characters, and a theme that tugs at all the heart strings. It was also a joy to be surprised by the ending... which doesn’t happen all that frequently any more. We the reader meet Henry Wyatt in the first few pages of the book- but come to know his life and legacy as the story progresses, playing out through those who loved him most.

My only two criticisms are the slightly monotone feeling of the story, as well as Bea. Honestly, for the first 3/4 of the book, I could hardly stand to read anything she was saying or recalling. So glad Bea redeemed herself! Ps) Love Angus!

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Drawing Home by Jamie Brenner is a wonderful story about family, both the family we are born with and the family we create for ourselves. This is the third Brenner book that I have read and does not disappoint.

Emma (the mother) and Penny (the daughter) live in the sleepy, little beach town of Sag Harbor that springs to life every May by tourists. Penny has OCD and not many friends her age but she loves to draw and makes friends with Henry Wyatt, the towns' most famous resident. Henry came to Sag Harbor from a busy life in NYC when he retired from his career as a painter. Henry hangs out at the bar of The American Hotel, where Emma works and Penny spends time. Henry gives drawing lessons to Penny and the two form a deep friendship over graphic novels, drawing and art.

Upon Henry's death, Emma and Penny discover that Henry has left his amazing showplace house, the furnishings and all of his art to Penny, which confuses Emma and infuriates someone from Henry's past.

The characters are well written and likable. Jamie Brenner is one of my favorite writers and while the story summaries and book covers may look like her books are just another fluffy beach read, they are much more. This one is a summer beach story, a family story and a story of friendship. Thanks to Netgalley, Jamie Brenner and Little Brown & Company to the opportunity to review this one ahead of the publish date of May 7, 2019.

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I received an ARC of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for my review. Emma Mapson runs The American Hotel. While she is busy running the hotel, her daughter Penny hangs out with renowned artist and local resident, Henry Wyatt. When Henry dies unexpectedly, Emma is shocked to find out that Henry left his millions of dollars home to Penny. Even more shocked was Henry’s manager and friend, Bea Winstead. Bea decides that she needs to contest the will and claim the house for herself, but she is not the only one interested in getting a share of Henry’s pie.

This story has a great plot and lots of intriguing subplots to keep the story moving along. I really liked the mother/daughter relationship in this story. Overall a very good story.

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