I was given a free copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I quite enjoyed this book, it was quite compelling and I read it fairly quickly. The story revolves around a once magnificent country house gone to seed, and the eccentric Trewlaney family struggling to stop the house from crumbling around them.
One main plot line between the on/off romance of one family member was quite irritating and predictable, but I enjoyed the other characters.
If you're looking for a British romp, with bumbling, eccentriciric characters then this is the book for you.
It could have been a bit shorter, but overall a good read.

This was my most disappointing read of 2020. I had been 'saving it' after having absolutely adored Rothschild's debut The Improbability of Love and settled down with high expectations. The concept sounded so promising - the Earls of Trelawney have lived in Trelawney Castle for over seven hundred years. There's a room for every day of the year. It's their 'three dimensional calling card'. But by 2008, it is in a state of complete disrepair. Walls crumbling, ceilings caved in. Vast tracts completely abandoned. And yet these fallen aristocrats stagger on. I was anticipating a book that sent up the aristocracy with the same wit with which Rothschild gently mocked the art world. Instead ... I got this.

The book opens promisingly, explaining the family's grand forebears and charting their sharp descent into poverty. The ageing Earl Enyon and his wife Clarissa dress for dinner each night and pretend not to know that it is their dogsbody daughter-in-law who prepares the food rather than the long vanished servants. Eldest son Kitto married Jane for her money, having been told not to 'let the sun set on your watch' and now the two of them scrape to pay the school fees to send eldest son Ambrose to Harrow. The younger two children have to make do with the local comprehensive. Kitto has also inherited his father's gambling streak and it is fairly clear from the get-go that they are not going to do well out of the upcoming financial crash.

I have a feeling that if Rothschild had kept tighter hold of this core cast, she might have managed a more effective book. But then there are the 'cast-off' Trelawneys from previous generations. It has long been a Trelawney tradition to evict the younger siblings to make way for the heir, so we have Kitto's sister Blaze who has a career in high finance in London, the gay uncle Tony and great-aunt Tuffy who loves insects. And then arriving into the middle of the action is young Ayesha, daughter to the long-vanished Anastasia, the girl who was Kitto's boyhood love and erstwhile best friend to Blaze and Jane - it seems that young Ayesha has the Trelawney family hair.

It's not uncommon to have a cast of colourful cliches in satire. Indeed, Rothschild even managed to deploy such characters effectively in The Improbability of Love. But that never happens here. The plot is strange, repetitive and extremely uneven. Blaze repeatedly jumps to the wrong conclusions and is staggeringly difficult to like. And yet I have the feeling that I was supposed to be rooting for her happy ending. By the time she had made the same mistake the third time, I was just hoping the guy would give up on her and find someone more interesting. And then there's Jane. Poor put-upon Jane. Who does everything for no thanks and who Rothschild repeatedly (so. many. times.) observes never even loved Kitto in the first place. So why is she still putting up with this? And is Ayesha really going to sell herself down the river so thoroughly to avenge her mother? Really?

It's hard to really care about a novel with such a void of pleasant characters. But what really kills its chances is when the fictional people exhibit behaviour that makes it hard to believe that they truly belong to the human race. The 'gotcha' twist was just unsavoury, the 'postponed' happy ending for Ayesha just seemed worse and was the reader really supposed to pity these exiled aristos who were so incapable of looking after themselves? Given Rothschild's own privileged background, the whole exercise seemed rather tone deaf. There even seemed to be a hint that Brexit would be born from the poorly managed working classes now that the nobility's day was done. More worrying though is the implication that India is still a wilderness to which people could be 'sent' as recently as the 1980s, not to mention several other eye-watering cliches. We're a little way past the days of the Empire now, Ms Rothschild, and you would do well to remember that.

I've read comic novels centred around impoverished toffs before. It can be done well. But I think that Rothschild over-reached with a setting as recent as 2008. Edwardian, inter-war, immediately post-war - any of those time periods would have been an easier sell. Ayesha's husband-hunting would have seemed less bizarre. The circumstances of the silly girl's conception would have made some degree of sense. Perhaps Blaze the career woman character would have floundered but she was not exactly a successful character as it was. House of Trelawney reveals once more that Rothschild is a witty and clever writer but with a plot populated by idiots who meander and go nowhere, I will most likely hesitate to seek out her books again.

Following the various twists and turns in the fortunes and lives of the aristocratic Trelawney family, with an 800-year-old heritage, ‘The House of Trelawney’ charts the different fates of each character and takes the reader on a journey of discovery as their inevitable downfall ensues. There are a wide variety of characters, perhaps too many at times, and they go through a range of moments of engaging and infuriating the reader, with their idiosyncrasies and attitudinal foibles, though sometimes the constant shifting of focus causes gaps and a lack of complete empathy where some are concerned. There are many moments to pique the readers’ interest, and the novel itself rumbles along at a jaunty pace for the most part, though the start is a little long winded, and some parts feel as if they could be shaken up to give them life.
That said, the plot is engaging and the characters themselves are mostly convincing, whilst providing a potential behind the scenes look at the negative side of a life with such opportunities, wealth and heritage - the Trelawney family themselves, it seems, are their own worst enemies, and the many setbacks they endure at their own hands provides a mixture of amusement and frustration simultaneously.
It is worth a read, but be prepared to persevere in parts and accept that the ending almost tails off leaving you questioning if it’s ended at all.

I loved this book, it was great fun. I've enjoyed recommending it to my customers, and I think it will do really well in paperback.

A story of an aristocratic family that had fallen on hard times. The saga of the Trelawneys trying to revive the dilapidated family home and the ins and outs family life was an enjoyable read. I loved reading about my favourite part of the UK, this funny family drama was a great read.

This one is a tricky book to review - it took forever to get into it, something about the first few pages just didn't grab me & I had to try again & again
Once in, it's one of those books that you want to like but somehow it just missed the mark for me - there wasn't really enough happening & I didn't engage with the characters. I really wanted to enjoy it but sadly didn't

Trelawney Castle is a beloved millstone round the neck of its owners, inhabitants, and former residents, the three generations of the impoverished aristocratic Trelawney family. I really enjoyed this satirical look at a family clinging too hard to the past and those desperate to snatch it away from them.

I’m afraid I found this book a bit of a disappointment. I’d really enjoyed the Improbability of Love, but this just didn’t ever find its feet. I sort of felt it didn’t ever get going and I didn’t really care about any of the characters. 

It just felt a bit flat, I’m afraid. I did finish it and it did get better as it went on. 

I’m sure it’ll do very well, but for me it just didn’t quite work.

I so wanted to love this book, but it didn't meet my expectations in the end.
What a great idea for a book, but I disliked every single character in the novel. Hannah Rothschild has a great writing style and j do like her descriptions of buildings, rooms and atmosphere. For me personally to be a good read, I need at least one connection with a character. It certainly made for an interesting dynamic between the women in the story, but not what I enjoy.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book! 

House of Trelawney was unfortunately not what I was expecting - a wealthy family losing it all, unlikable characters being forced to live in unexpected circumstances, and a general satirical take on class - I should have loved it.

Instead I was treat to a reasonably fine story, with little happening along the way, and a host of unlikable two-dimensional characters with nothing interesting or redeeming about them. 

It was very fine, and I can definitely understand why some people loved it! I think I was just expecting something different from the story.

Great book. Well written and plot flows beautifully well.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review

I struggled through a lot of this, but ultimately just found that the characters rubbed me the wrong way entirely. I found little that was redeeming about them, and that made the experience of reading this a difficult one. The story also was just a bit dull. Not one for me, unfortunately!

This would've been a DNF at 12% if it wasn't an ARC but it did get better and redeemed itself later in the novel. 

The start was very much a poor little rich family loses money but is still living in their castle.

The characters weren't relatable or particularly likeable. My favourite characters were Blaze and Aunt Tuffy.

It is set during the banker crash of 2008 and that is the main theme in the book.

House of Trelawney is the new book from Hannah Rosthchild, author of The Improbability of Love. Set against the financial crash of 2008, the book sets the fall of the aristocratic family of Trelawney against the fall of the banks and the old financial institutions. At the centre are Jane, Blaze and Anastasia, once three best friends but drifted apart and now live very different lives.  Brought back together by a sequence of difficult events, and a new family member, their lives will change and they will find each other, love and their vocation in life. The perfect mix of drama, romance and humour set against the crumbling House of Trewlaney, make this a joyous and entertaining read.

Reading the House of Trelawney reminded me in some way of the great British sit com The Good Life. The Trewlaney family have lived on their land, and in their castle for over  eight hundred years, but now it is falling to wrack and ruin due to lack of funds. Kitto is the current Viscout, married to Jane but their is nothing aristocratic about their lives apart from the titles. Jane spends her days trying one hundred dishes with mince, putting buckets under the leeks in the roof and carry hot water to her parents in law’s rooms. Clarissa, the Dowager Countess still gets dressed for dinner, believes they still have servants and is ever critical. She still lives in the past, the days of grandeur and parties, and adds some wonderful humorous moments to the book; she reminisces about royalty whilst Jane is chasing a horse and falling in the mud. Add to that a mad old aunt, who prefers the company of mice and fleas to humans, three teenagers  and you have an eccentric and memorable cast of characters.

Blaze was Jane’s best friend, and sister to Kitto, but hasn’t spoken to her family for twenty years. She has no idea how far they have fallen, the state of the castle of the lack of money. She is now a successful business women with millions in the bank, but ironically no one to share it with. That is until their other best friend sends her daughter, Aleysha, to live with her.   This is the catalyst for both Blaze and Jane, it brings old family arguments to the fore, but also brings both women closer. To say all three are different is an understatement, they all seem to want what the other has; a family, a castle, and money. Ultimately, it is the women in this story that come out on top, their resilience, adaptability and strength in the face of adversity.

Hannah Rothschild has a wonderful way with words, bringing the characters to life but also bringing humour to some difficult situations. She makes the castle a character in itself, old, out of date, crumbling, leaking but ultimately still standing like a grand old lady, maybe a shadow of the British institution at that time. She perfectly captures the atmosphere and feeling of the financial crash of 2008, how it effected people, people who had invested for their pensions, and the resentment that caused. This fall of the banks, mirrors the fall of the Trelawney family and the need for a new establishment and change in the way things were run.

House of Trelawney is a wonderfully entertaining satire of a dysfunctional, but loveable family. If you are a fan of Jilly Cooper, like me, you will love this book, it has the same humour, sarcasm and fabulous characters, including the animals.  This book made me laugh and smile and it was such a joy to read, I’m sure it is going to be on the bestseller list.

This was an interesting novel; it took me a while to get into it, but then I started to get get it. There were some features I did find annoying - how come so many characters, about whom we were told were really intelligent, had a common sense bypass? Also a number of other characters just disappeared for huge parts of the book, clearly the novel would have been epic (and probably quite boring) if we had followed everyone all the time, but even so! Most of the cast were generally reasonable, although Blaze needed a stern talking to, the baddie was a bit of a cut out pantomime villain and one of the plot twists was quite easy to guess. Would I read it again - no, would I read a sequel - yes. However, since I expect the author won't have sorted out Blaze, I may regret that decision.

This book is garnering rave reviews and I can see why. It’s funny, lively, and completely evokes the crumbling castle desperate family situation of its setting. Having said that, I didn’t read beyond the first 100 pages. It’s too dependent on cliche in characters and setting, and the rambling viewpoints are a particular bete noir of mine. Entertaining book, just not to my taste.

The Trelawney's and Trelawney Castle have been part of the British aristocratic scene for over 800 years, but their fortunes have been in a decline for many years. This is the story of a divided family with secrets, stuck in outdated traditions trying to hang on to a Castle and life that they can't afford.
The financial crash of 2008 brings everything to a head for the family and the arrival of Ayesha and Thomlinson Sleet in their lives opens old wounds & secrets.
The characters Hannah Rothschild creates are all flawed in some way or other but it is the women of Trelawney who bring most to the story, each in their own individual way.
However, the story leaves many unanswered questions at the end.
I was given a copy of House of Trelawney by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

The Truth And The Trelawneys....
The Trelawneys - an aristocratic family of long history. Their home - the magnificent Trelawney Castle. The truth- the family have fallen on hard times brought about by excessive spending and high living and generally doing little else. This is their story. A hugely engrossing and entertaining read combining family drama, social satire, a wealth of well drawn and thoroughly engaging characters and much lightheartedness. Rather perfect.

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘House Trelawney’ by Hannah Rothschild in exchange for an honest review.

“A dazzling comedy of manners about old money, new money and no money ..”

I adored Hannah Rothschild’s debut novel, ‘The Improbability of Love’. It was my favourite read of 2016. So I was delighted to discover that she had written a second novel. Like its predecessor ‘House Trelawney’ is a charming novel that could be seen as fluff but quickly reveals its depths. 

It was published on 6 February and knowing how much I had appreciated her first novel, I elected to buy its audiobook edition, narrated by Elaine Claxton, to listen alongside reading the eARC. 

Trelawney Castle, overlooking the South Cornish sea, has been the home of the Earls of Trelawney since their ennoblement in 1179. Through the centuries they have used their wealth and stealth to stay on the winning side of history. 

Yet now in the summer of 2008, the castle is crumbling around the family’s ears and is in need of millions of pounds of renovations. Its lands are diminished, furniture and paintings sold off, and staff let go. 

Jane, the downtrodden daughter-in-law of the elderly 24th Earl, is reduced to trying to feed her children and in-laws on next to nothing. The Earl and Countess are seeing out their days acting as if they were still living in splendour, calling for non existent servants, and dressing for dinner in inappropriate formal wear. 

Jane’s feckless husband, Kitto, is heir to the Earldom and Chairman of Acorn Bank, a small West Country institution. Ten years ago his father had handed over the running of the Trelawney estate to Kitto, who discovered there was no money and few assets. He is hoping to restore the family fortunes through a series of risky investments. 

His estranged sister, Blaze, works in finance and is considered a leading stock picker in the City. Yet for the past year she’s been seeing worrying trends and her intuition is that an international crises is imminent. Yet her warnings are falling on deaf ears. 

Jane and Blaze were close friends while at Oxford university and Jane went on to marry Kitto. In the opening pages the third member of their tight circle, Anastasia, contacts Jane after twenty years absence with news that she is dying. She begs Jane to provide a home to her daughter, Ayesha, as after her husband, a Maharajah, died his heir had banished his stepmother and Ayesha from the palace. Anastasia had been a great beauty who had left many broken hearts in her wake before her move to India.

The eventual arrival of 19-year old Ayesha proves to be a catalyst for all kinds of change as does the events of October 2008 as Blaze’s worse fears come true. 

So yes, ‘House Trelawney’ is a gentle satire about the fortunes of a family of downtrodden aristocrats but I felt that it also effectively explores the devastation created by the global financial crises as well as the bonds of family and friendship and, of course, of historic and contemporary privilege.

There are many fantastic one-liners and a large cast of eccentric characters. I quickly became very fond of workaholic Blaze as well as Aunt Tuffy, who quietly gets on with her research into the effects of climate change on insects in her tumbledown cottage on the Trelawney estate. Of all though, the Dowager Countess, Clarissa, was a comic creation to rival any that I have encountered.

There is also a villain in the form of ruthless American multibillionaire Thomlinson Sleet, another Oxford alumni and rejected suitor of Anastasia, with a long held grudge against House Trelawney for a perceived slight while at university.  

Overall, I loved this novel from start to finish. It was very entertaining as well as heartwarming. When reviewing ‘Improbabilty’ I described it as Dickensian, whereas I found ‘House Trelawney’ was a comedy of manners in the tradition of Jane Austen. I will be recommending it widely and enthusiastically.

I'm afraid I gave up on this book at 15%. When I saw the words 'comedy of manners' I was expecting either something almost Blandings-esque - an amusing story of bumbling aristocrats getting into scrapes - or something akin to Diary of a Provincial Lady or the TV show The Durrells - a wry but sympathetic look at a family making the best of a hard time. What I got instead was an attempt at a humorous tone that felt sarcastic, nasty, and condescending. Perhaps the story will develop so that it isn't populated by such awful characters, but when there's so much sexism, ageism, and general misery already voiced by the characters, all given in this didactic, patronising tone, I don't really want to stick around to find out.