A beautifully heart-wrenching story of falling in love, surviving loss, and appreciating all the steps of life in between. This is such a lovely tale, starting with Alice, a young girl left behind in her ancestral home with frigid grandparents, unfriendly family, but sweet companions in the maid and gardener as she misses for her mother Selina. But Selina has left a surprise for her beloved daughter: a scavenger hunt, which not only reveals clues to items but also to Selina's past and how Alice came to be. I found the beginning to be a bit slow but after a few chapters I was sucked in and by the halfway point I couldn't stop reading.

The prose is luscious and evocative, really taking the reader into the alcohol-filled party nights of post-WWI England. The format is really interesting as well as the story goes back and forth between the past (framed by two characters) and the present, which is led by Alice but also features sections from the points-of-view of Selina's husband, mother, sister, and many others. This is such an incredibly hard thing to do from a writing perspective but I felt connected to each new character introduced without losing touch with Selina and Alice.

This is the sort of story that leaves you with immense gratitude for life as it has the most breathtaking bittersweet ending of anything I've read this year. It's a story that teaches the reader that you have to brave enough to live life on your own terms, and what you can lose out on when you don't. But, in the end, the choices you make live on long after you. I wish I could say more without including a spoiler but I just can't. You'll have to read it for yourself.


Note: I received a free Kindle edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the author Iona Gray for the opportunity to do so.

Thank you to my friends at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sharing an ARC of The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This book will have mass appeal for those who love romantic historical fiction. Fans of Beatriz Williams and Kristin Hannah will find this book right in their wheelhouse. Told in two timelines, one early 1920’s Britain the other mid 1930’s English countryside. A story of lost love and family secrets and of course tragedy and heartbreak. I must admit, I found chunks of this book cliche and slow going. I loved the letters from Selina to her young daughter, as a way of advancing the story. The ending was quite emotional and saved this book from meh to yeah. I do think I was not in the truest mindset for a romantic read and I think that might have hindered parts of my enjoyment.
If you want a love story tinged with historical content pick this one up.

I absolutely loved Letter's to the Lost, Grey's first novel, so I was excited to read this one! Like Letters to the Lost, this one was a slow start for me. It also had two time frames (mid 1920's and mid 1930's) and I found myself a bit confused at first. However, there were characters in both story lines I really liked--Lawrence Weston from the 1920's story, and young Alice, Selina's daughter, from the 1930's story. The two storylines do come together in the end, in an emotional and heartbreaking way that I didn't see coming.

The writing is beautiful and eloquent. It's what I loved most about the book. I also haven't read many books set in this time period in England, so I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of the book. While it wasn't a 5 star read for me, I still encourage you to read it if you love a bittersweet historical romance!

I love historic fiction, it has always been my go-to read but I have to admit, this book took a bit longer to get into. Perhaps it’s the impending holiday season (as I write this it is Dec. 9th) or perhaps it’s my work-life interrupting my leisurely reading time - whatever it was it took me a little longer than usual to finish this book. With that being said (now that I’ve finished the book and have wiped away most of the tears) I think this book is amazing.
1925- A young and carefree Selina Lennox lives a life of glamour and parties. That is until an innocent treasure hunt game turns reckless and a stranger turns up to help. Since meeting the mysterious artist, Selina has thought of him not-stop. The problem is, they travel in different circles (Selina being a socialite and Lawrence a starving artist) so the chances of them meeting up again was nearly impossible. Unbeknownst to her, Lawrence manages to sneak into social functionals just to see Selina again. When they finally meet face to face their emotions are electric and they never wanted to part. Unfortunately, Selina’s life is not that easy, and her mother had other plans on who she should spend the rest of her life with and it is not with a penniless artist.
1936- Many years have moved on and Selina now has a daughter, Alice. Together they have an incredibly close bond. Selina and her husband have gone abroad for work leaving their daughter behind. It is during this time that Selina has planned an extensive treasure hunt game for her daughter while they are gone. Each clue tells a story of a special moment in Selina’s past, and by the time the final clue is uncovered, many of her secrets have been revealed.
There is no doubt about it, The Glittering Hour will have you balling your eyes out at the end. The last third of the book is a little tougher emotionally but it’s important for Alice to know where she comes from and understand how much her parents truly loved each other. I felt that I needed to savour the stolen moments that Selina and her love shared and understand the heart-ache when they were apart. If you love historic fiction and want to experience the butterflies of a love so amazing and beautiful, then this book is definitely for you.

This book far exceeded my expectations. If you love historical fiction that focuses on family dynamics, love, loss and hidden secrets then this book may be a good fit for you and even if you don’t it is still worth checking out! While I normally don’t love having two different timelines in books this one worked well and each story line was compelling enough that I didn’t find myself longing for the next part. Besides beautiful writing, what was done so well in this book was the characters. They really came to life for me and I feel they will stick with me for a while. I loved the way they developed too. The only reason I chose a 4 star for this read was that there were a couple parts that were slow and a few that were repetitive but overall it was a fabulous read that I definitely recommend.

This past fall I was invited to participate in the St. Martin’s Press/Thomas Dunne Books Blog Tour for the upcoming December release, The Glittering Hour. One of the wonderful things about reading advanced copies of books is that a lot of times I get to read books before they have been super hyped up, which means I go into it without a lot of expectations either way!

I went into this book not really knowing anything about the plotline or author’s previous writing (Letters to The Lost in 2015). I was immediately entranced by the vividly detailed characters and storyline and loved being immersed in the mid-1920s and 1930s.

Told in a dual storyline, we meet the main characters Selina, and her daughter Alice. I love getting the backstory to themes and storylines and so this back and forth really worked for me. I so enjoyed following along on this treasure hunt of secrets alongside Alice. This book was not only beautifully written but totally engaging from the very beginning.

The Glittering Hour has an “unlikely love story” that skews this one more towards the romance genre than just historical fiction and it was one of my favorite parts of this book. All the characters were well developed and multifaceted which made me feel like I was a part of this journey with them. I loved the themes of hidden secrets, family dynamics, love and loss that made this book and characters so memorable. The ending was emotional and super satisfying and I can’t wait to hear other people’s thoughts now that it is out in the world!

Rating: 5 emotion-packed stars

As I first started reading this book, I was not sure that I would be that impressed or affected by it. As a historical fiction aficionado, I’ve read a fair share of books set between WWI and WWII. This one started out over some familiar territory, but its characters soon pulled me into their world. I quickly grew to love little Alice. It took me longer to warm up to her mother Selina, but by the end, I was putty in their hands. I rarely cry actual real tears while reading a book. By the end of this book, I was full on blubbering. The author’s writing expertise shines in the skillful intersection of all the human relations.

This is a dual-timeline story. It switches back and forth between 1936, viewed through nine-year-old Alice’s eyes after she has been exiled at her grandparents’ musty estate, and 1925, viewed through her mother Selina’s eyes as she struggles to make some meaning of her life in London society.

In 1925, Selina is the younger daughter of the impoverished Lord and Lady Lennox. They are more concerned with keeping up appearances than showing warmth or caring to their offspring. The family lost their only son/brother in WWI. None of them has recovered from that loss. Selina is part of the “Bright Young Thing” crowd in London. It’s the crowd that does madcap stunts and parties most nights away in London. It’s a crowd that her parents and sister despises. On one of the nightly adventures, Selina meets a man who does not fit into that crowd. That meeting changes lives.

This story is really about love, and all the forms it comes in. It’s about choices and the long-term effects of those choices. It’s about romance. It’s really just a lovely story about the enduring strength of love. This is for all of us that are secretly romantics at heart. It’s a solid work of historical fiction. It’s also a lovely love story that has a VERY touching ending. I’m adding this as a gift under the Christmas tree for at least three of my closest reading friends.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press, Thomas Dunne Books; and the author, Ione Gray; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Love Story Infused with Sadness

It’s 1936, nine-year-old Alice has been sent to Blackwood, her grandparents estate, while her mother, Selina and her husband, Robert, are on a trip to Burma to see Rupert’s mines. Blackwood is a cold, deteriorating place. Alice is lonely. She misses her mother dreadfully. Then a wonderful thing happens. Polly, the maid who cares for her, gives her a letter from her mother that sets her on a treasure hunt to find out who she is.

In 1925, WWI was over and Selina was one of the bright young things. After the war, they couldn’t get enough of parties, booze, and silly treasure hunts through London. Selina’s mother wants her to marry and marry well. The Lennox family is struggling after the war, but Selina isn’t interested in pleasing her mother and marrying Robert Carew, the man her family has chosen for her.

On one of the treasure hunts, Selina meets Lawrence Weston. He wants to be a photographer, but to earn money he paints pictures of the war dead, sons, husbands, and fathers, to give the family a keepsake. Without meaning to, Selina and Lawrence fall madly in love. She thinks maybe she can make this work, but tragedy strikes and she settles for the safe option, marring Robert.

This is a story that will make you laugh and cry. The settings both London and Blackwood are well done and historically accurate. They make the time periods come alive. Selina’s story is tragic. She was almost able to achieve her heart’s desire, but lacked courage. I loved Alice. She is a sturdy little girl trying to cope with an atmosphere she doesn’t understand. Polly was a perfect companion for her. She cared for the child, but didn’t try to take the place of her mother.

This isn’t either a romance or an historical novel. It’s an emotional story of people faced with love and tragedy growing and changing. I highly recommend it.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

A beautifully written story that takes place in dual timelines. Such a beautiful view on love and everything it takes to get there.

I was asked to join the blog tour for this new release, and I’m so thankful I was chosen! This was a beautifully written book, flowing seamlessly between dual timelines.

This story follows the romance of Selina Lennox, a Bright Young Thing in the 1920s, post WWI, and Lawrence Weston, who is on a path to follow his dreams of photography. However, Selina is supposed to marry another man, who her family very much approves of. Does she follow her heart? Or does she do the right thing?

We meet Alice in the 1930s, who is Selina’s daughter. Alice doesn’t know much about her mother’s younger years, but when Alice’s parents leave on a long business, trip, she discovers her mother has left her on a scavenger hunt. She begins to find clues that reveal stories from Selina’s past.

Grey has written a deeply moving story, so powerful at times it will break your heart. This story has it all… well written characters, a mesmerizing historical background, and visual images so perfectly described you will feel like you are a part of it all.

It took me a while at first to get into the story, which is why I gave it a 4 star rating instead of 5 stars. But once I got into it, it was such an engrossing read I couldn’t put it down.

This one is out today and you definitely need to pick it up ASAP. Have your tissues handy!

This book is quite well written and really sucks you in to the characters and their stories. High society girl falls in love with an artist who she isn’t allowed to be with.

This was a difficult read for me. I struggled to get through it-the first part especially. It's very long and wordy and I didn't really connect to the characters. It's set in a dual timeline, eleven years apart. Selina's story is in 1925 and her daughter, Alice, is in 1936.
In 1936, Selina is away on a trip and Alice is staying at her grandmother's house. Alice is missing her mother and writes a letter to her. In return, Alice receives letters back with treasure hunts and details of Selina's younger years. Alice is nine years old and, if you think about it, it's a little inappropriate to tell your young daughter these things. Selina meets Lawrence Weston, a struggling artist, and she falls in love with him. But, it's not meant to be. She knows she must marry for money and not for love.
The ending was the most interesting part of this book for me. I liked that everything all came together and that missing pieces were filled in. I'm so sad, because I really wanted to like this one more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for an electronic arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

This book is definitely one of my favorites that I read this year. The story builds slowly between the years 1925 and 1936. In 1925, Selina is a Bright Young Thing trying to figure out what her next move in life is. I loved how this part of the story showed the internal conflict of doing what society expects and living how you want. The storyline with Lawrence made me so invested in the story. I could feel the passion in this relationship. There is also heartbreak that occurs because of societal standards and a tragedy. 

In 1936, we meet Alice, Selina's daughter. I love the aspect of this story that is told between letters and Alice figuring out what comes next. She doesn't understand everything that's going on, and it leaves the reader in the dark, too. I think this was perfect because part two of the book was unexpected, yet fit the storyline. 

I will add the last part of the book is best read with some Kleenx nearby. I enjoyed the slow build, the different timelines, and the setting of this book. I think that as I think about it more, I will only grow to appreciate the story that it told even better than I do now.

One of the most beautifully written historical fiction pieces I've had the pleasure of reading. I absolutely loved this book - Iona is a magical writer, and this book captured me from page one onward. I finished in less than 2 days - and it only took me THAT long because I had to work! I highly recommend this to my historical fiction lovers!

The Glittering Hour is a novel of unparalleled beauty, poignancy and grace. It fills you with breathtaking joy and gripping sadness-often on the same page. Told in dual time frames spanning ten years, at the heart of both decades is Selina-one of the "Bright Young People" (born to wealth and privilege-you can imagine one of them at Downton Abbey) notable to London during the roaring twenties. Selina is full of enthusiasm-for her friends, fabulous clothes and frivilous parties-until she meets Lawrence, a "starving artist" well below Selina's class. Their coupling is mezmerizing-what makes it so sensual is the lack of graphic detail. Even so, you'll feel their passion as intensely as they do. But Selina is used to the finer things in life and knows Lawrence can't provide them, so she enters into a loveless marriage to a man who will, with devastating repercussions. The writing is exquisite, with landscapes both lush and bleak, and characters brilliant in their failings-The Glittering Hour is everything a novel should be. Filled with "if only's and what if's" The Glittering Hour is the clash between what the heart wants and the head needs. A simply stunning book that you'll finish, but never forget.

Set in England in 1925 and 1936 it goes between these two periods of Selina's life as part of the Bright Young Things and Alice her daughter. This book is a mix of romance and historical fiction. Grey's writing is strong and beautiful that you are transported to these place and get a feel for life in the 20s and 30s for not only the upper wealthy of Selina's family but also the life of the artists of Lawrence's friends and place in society.

I loved the codes and hunt for Alice, along with the letters and Polly's devotion to not only Selina but Alice as well. You just feel so heart broken for Alice in that huge house and no one letting her be herself, so glad Petterson lets her enjoy the garden and dig!

The way the story is written is just perfect, you get Alice's side, Selina's side, Lawrence's side so you can get the full picture of not only each view but a better idea of the place- England at those time periods.
This story is complex not only with the timelines but the hidden secrets, the family drama, the need to be in their place in society, the love, the fun, and the sadness. I haven't read a book that pulled at my heart strings like this one in a long time! Have your tissues ready!

Note: Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press for the review copy for an honest review

I was excited to be asked to be a part of the blog tour for this book, as the synopsis sounded like it was right in my wheelhouse. However, what the synopsis did not prepare me for was the borderline ugly crying that I was doing at the end, but it was worth it, and here is why.

The book goes back and forth between 1925 when Selina is living it up in London, and 1936, when she is off on an extended trip to Burma. The 1925 timeline is from Selina's perspective, and the 1936 timeline is from her daughter Alice's perspective, who is about 9 years old and staying with Selina's mother while she is away. The author also uses letters to give the reader additional insights into the characters' thoughts, which was an interesting way of doing things. Towards the end of the book, we hear from other's perspectives for even further clarity.

I enjoyed the author's attention to detail describing the parties that Selina and the other Bright Young Things attended, as well as Selina's struggles with wanting to be an independent woman, but also realizing that was not acceptable during that time period. She struggled with doing the 'right' thing, marrying the 'right' man, and a key death in their family brought that even more to light with her decisions. She was more down to earth than others in that class, more likable, but knew that she could not just up and leave that world as she would be cut off from it and the resources that came with it. Further complicating this struggle is the fact that her one true love is someone she can never be with, and although she tries to do what she can to be with him, their worlds are just too different, and it is beyond heartbreaking to watch them love so hard, but know that it cannot work.

I also really enjoyed Alice's perspective, who seemed to have her mother's same struggles, but as a child she was even more helpless, and just held on to hope that her mother would be back for her soon. They wrote letters to each other, and those letters were some of my favorite moments, as the love for each other just came through. Alice is an old soul, and I just adored her.

I cannot say enough great things about this book. The writing is beautiful, the setting is in one of my favorite cities, and I really connected with the main characters. I highly recommend you add this to your list and read it straight away.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for the free book to review, all opinions above are my own.

This was a lovely story about romantic love, mother/daughter love with a hint of sadness throughout the story. The story slowly unravels as the reader, along with the daughter Alice, piece together her mother’s story. I don’t typically read much historical fiction but I really enjoyed the time period this was set in. The author did a great job at pulling me into that time period.

Lovely and completely unexpected. No spoilers people! This is the dual time line- 1925 and 1936- story of Selina, Rupert, Lawrence, and most of all Alice. Selina was one of the bright young things of post WWI London, although she was not as wealthy as the crowd she ran with (her father had to sell a painting and 75 acres to pay for her sister's wedding). An accident with a cat leads to the most important meeting of her life- with Lawrence, an artist. These two are fated but there's Rupert, her brother's friend and ruby mine owner and she marries him. In 1936, her daughter Alice is living with grand parents and being looked after by Polly (love love love Polly) while Selina and Rupert are traveling to Burma. She writes regularly to Alice but more importantly, Selina has arranged a treasure hunt in the house for her which opens Alice's eyes to her mother before she was born. There's secrets, there's lies, there's great sadness but oh, the ending! There are terrific characters (Flick for example and the description of Archie is wonderful) but the storytelling is better yet. This was a great read and thanks so much to the publisher for the ARC. Two thumbs up and highly recommend to readers looking for a romantic - not a romance - read filled with heart and soul.

I once again am stunned that this author has not written more books, as this is only her second novel to be released. Like her first release, this is a historical fiction that will move you. Nothing drives me crazier with historical fictions than not doing a bit of research to be historically accurate- with events, the scenery, the interactions, etc. Iona Grey does this flawlessly- the history is there but it blends in with the story, she doesn't overload facts. I personally enjoy the time spans and switching from past to present. It allows for a more saga type feel covering generations and the life span vs just a small snippet of their story.
I recommend this to anyone who is a historical fiction fan, especially those who enjoy ones based around World War times. Will be recommending to our customers and getting in stock for the store at release!