WOW! There was so much intrigue in this book right from the very beginning. The reader senses an undercurrent of mystery about both Sophie and Martin but it isn't exactly clear what it is. Meissner does an incredible job of using the earthquake as the turning point for the story. The historical event doesn't drive the storyline but acts as an anecdote. Just like the city, the lives of Sophie, Belinda, and Kat all came crumbling down. As the pieces of Sophie and Martin's lives come to light, readers will be thrilled with the twists that the story takes. A remarkable tale and well worth the read. This was my first book by this author and it won't be the last!

This is an extraordinary work of historical fiction which held my attention from start to finish. It’s the story of Sophie, a mail order bride summoned to San Francisco in 1905 to marry the taciturn Martin Hocking. She has left a life of extreme privation in NYC after she emigrated from Ireland.

The home he provided was lovely and she quickly falls in love with his small daughter Kat. Sadly, Kat has been traumatized and refuses to speak. It quickly becomes clear that Martin has no kindness or affection for Sophie or his daughter, yet she remains satisfied with her life. All this changes one night when strange truths come to light. The next day, she awakens to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Sophie’s struggles and dedication become clear after that day, when she must rescue her child and get away from the ruins and devastation of the quake.

The story is told in a very interesting way, not as predictable as I feared. The writing is so vivid that I felt I was walking with Sophie. It’s amazing that I often have little patience with historical fiction yet I have read 2 wonderful novels about the earthquake recently, this book and VERA.

I highly recommend this novel for reading groups who will enjoy this and find it hard to put down.

Thank you Netgalley for this fascinating ARC.

I don’t usually enjoy books with a lot of suspense or turns in the story and I don’t enjoy when there are so many secrets kept from me. I find it hard to explain it. They just don’t work for me. BUT, BUT, I was totally taken with this novel, the characters and omg what an ending when all of the secrets are divulged and everything perfectly comes together ! I hope there’s a movie ! Despite these things that usually don’t appeal, there are so many things here that make for the kind of book that I’m drawn to. It’s a terrific work of historical fiction depicting San Francisco in 1906 when the well known earthquake hit. The writing is so good, I swear I felt the earth rumble and saw the devastation that it left. There are characters with so much heart. A heartless polygamist is the exception. It’s a gripping telling how his three wives come together as secrets are slowly divulged. The thread that holds them together - a shared violation of their lives, a developing friendship, decency, but most of all a little girl named Kat who simply wants to be home with the people she loves.

This is probably one of my shortest reviews because I find it hard to say more without giving away the secrets held here. You really need to find them out for yourself.


I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkeley through NetGalley.

What an absolute gift this book was. My pandemic reading has often been light, so I worry when I pick up a historical fiction book, but I shouldn't have. From page one I was engrossed in Sophie's story. Throughout the book, it is clear that there is information being withheld, but it doesn't hang over your head. Rather the story clips along, we grow to like Sophie and Kat, and we continue to root for them throughout the drama of the earthquake and the ensuing events. I haven't read Meissner's other books, but this was all I needed to encourage me to do so.

It’s 1906 and Sophie Whalen is desperate to get out of New York. So desperate that she answers an add in the paper for a wife/mother, travels to San Francisco, and marries Martin upon her arrival. While she quickly falls in love with her new daughter Kat, who rarely speaks, Martin remains a mystery. When a pregnant woman shows up at her door, Sophie realizes there is a lot more to Martin than she expected. After finding his secrets, a devastating earthquake happens, forcing them to flee.

This book was so good! I didn’t know that much about the San Francisco earthquake, but I really enjoyed learning about it. I loved Sophie and sweet little Kat, but from page one I needed to know more about what had happened to them and what was going to happen to them. The friendship between Belinda, Sophie, and Candace was one that just warmed my heart. I love seeing great female friendships come from horrible men. This was a wonderful historical fiction that I highly recommend!

I have read almost all of Susan Meissner's novels (except for As Bright As Heaven, which I may save until after the pandemic) and have enjoyed them all so far. However, The Nature of Fragile Things is her best one yet! I have been recommending this to family and friends to read as soon as it publishes in early February.

This was such an interesting and captivating story, full of surprises that I truly didn't see coming at all. Through Susan's use of detail and description, I could really visualize San Francisco during the earthquake. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and was rooting for everything to work out for Sophie.

I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, especially writers like Fiona Davis and Camille Di Maio. I also recommend it to anyone who wants a great novel. I added it the list of favorite books I read in 2020 over at my personal blog, as well.

Movie casting ideas:
Sophie: Saoirse Ronan (especially after seeing her in Brooklyn)
Martin: Tyler Hoechlin
Belinda: Ellie Bamber
Elliot: Charlie McDermott
Libby: Jessica Amlee

I am a Californian, and very well acquainted with the story of the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. I have also read quite a few of Ms. Meissner's works before and enjoyed them, having not forgotten her work on the 1918 Flu pandemic, "As Bright As Heaven", which was incredible & devastating too. As always, in "The Nature of Fragile Things", we feel the earth move & the buildings collapse here, and the terror that must have overtaken the great city, through the eyes of the characters, in this case, Sophie, an Irish mail-order bride & her new husband Martin. I loved the history and story equally and was very caught up in the events... Highly recommend. Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.

Meissner's newest historical fiction work takes place in 1906 at the time of the tragic San Francisco Earthquake. The Nature of Fragile Things is a study in loss, betrayal and hardship, but it's also a heartwarming tale of human kindness and decency, friendship, and a fierce, protective love of those we call our family.

Sophie Whalen, a young Irish immigrant, followed her older brother to New York after losing her beloved father and falling into an abusive relationship with a man she thought would love her. Now desperate to leave the terrible living situation at a crowded tenement, she answers an ad for a mail order bride to go to San Francisco and become a wife and mother of a widower and his daughter. Her new husband, Martin Hocking, is devastatingly handsome, though he shows no interest in her. Sophie feel lucky to have a nice home and pours all of her love and energy into Martin's 5 year old daughter, Kat, who has been silent ever since her mother passed away. She only hopes that Martin will eventually grow to care for her. An insurance salesman, Martin is often gone for days at a time, and Sophie is happy to get to know Kat better during their time together.

Then, on the morning of a record-breaking earthquake, while Martin is away, a very pregnant stranger shows up at Sophie's door looking for her husband, a man named James. As Sophie talks with the kind, but scared stranger, Belinda, it soon becomes apparent that her husband "James" is the same man as Sophie's husband, Martin. As the two women begin to piece together the stories they have been told by their shared husband, they realize that he is not the man he claims to be. Then Martin arrives home, Belinda's water breaks, and the earthquake begins wreaking total havoc on the city. Meissner writes of the earthquake, "It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fire to burn."

What happens next will change the lives of three women, at first strangers, but woven together by the deceit and betrayal of a man they thought they could trust. Meissner writes, "maybe that should make us enemies. But in truth, it has bound us together like family. Like kindred souls." Another beautiful way the author describes their relationship is the following passage. "When people are thrown into an abyss and together find their way out of it, they are not the same people. They are bound to each other ever after, linked together at the core of who they are because it was together that they escaped a terrible fate."

As you can see from the passages, Meissner's writing is vivid, capturing the raw emotions of women caught up in a web of lies and false promises from a very good-looking and deceitful man. The plot is gripping and intriguing, unfolding during a time of tragic disaster and the aftermath. The story is well-researched. Perhaps my favorite part are the three strong female characters who choose happiness and work hard to make a better life for the children in their care. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Quinn, and Melanie Benjamin will adore this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Uplit Reads for providing me with an early review copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

"The Nature of Fragile Things" is that they break. This book is women's fiction set in 1906 in San Francisco. The main character was Sophie, who already had survived a hard past and so didn't question too carefully what her new husband was up to when things didn't quite add up. After all, he's given her a pleasant home, he doesn't abuse her, and she loves his young child. But, on the eve of the massive earthquake, she's forced to face that her husband has wronged many people and that her comfortable life must change.

The characters were likable, complex, well-developed, and reacted realistically to events. The historical details about the time period and about the earthquake were woven into the story and brought events alive in my imagination. The point of the story seemed to be that evil people don't know how to love but good people do know how to love and are willing to do the right thing even when it's hard. The story was morally murky in that Sophie committed a crime, but she's not held accountable for it because it's done to stop someone who's evil.

There was married sex, but the scenes were very brief and only vaguely described. There were a couple uses of bad language. While the story was well written, interesting, and I always understood why the characters were doing what they were doing, the story felt rather bleak and not really uplifting. I prefer stories that are more hopeful and redemptive.

Irish immigrant Sophie Whalen is desperate to leave her New York tenement, and so she answers an ad to be a mail-order bride to a widower with a young daughter in San Francisco. Martin Hocking, Sophie's new husband, is not what she expected, and his increasingly odd behavior leaves her feeling unsettled; but Sophie learns to love his daughter Kat as her own. On the morning of April 18, 1906, when a huge earthquake shakes San Francisco and sets off fires throughout the city, Sophie finds herself fleeing with a young pregnant stranger who has a secret that threatens to upend Sophie's life as she knows it.

This book is incredible. Rarely does historical fiction suck me in and totally consume me, but I could not put it down.

Sophie, Kat, Belinda, and Candace are all compelling characters - strong women in their own way who have to overcome unimaginable obstacles erected by the men in their lives. This is the story of women who find love and sisterhood despite difficult circumstances and who fight tooth and nail for their own happiness. The book moved me to tears and left me feeling totally inspired by the courage of these women.

I love Susan Meissner’s books and The Nature of Fragile Things did not disappoint! This is a unforgettable historical fiction novel full of twists and secrets.

Young Irish immigrant Sophie Whalen is desperate to escape NYC tenement life when she answers a mail order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. Her new husband, Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof and he is handsome. Sophie finds herself quickly developing a deep affection for Kat, Martin’s five year old daughter, even if Martin’s behavior leaves her feeling uneasy.

Then one evening a stranger shows up at her door— challenging Sophie and Kat’s new existence completely. What are Martin’s secrets?

Much of the action is set during the devastating and horrific 1906 San Francisco earthquake. I found myself completely engrossed by the story of the earthquake and heartbroken for everything Sophie, Kat and the rest of San Fransisco experienced.

This book was easy to read, had a great plot, wonderful characters and a few twists and turns that kept me entertained. I highly recommend it anyone who enjoys historical fiction! Five stars!

Thank you to @uplitreads & @soozmeissner for a digital ARC. It was my pleasure to read and review this book!

#gifted #TheNatureofFragileThings #SusanMeissner

Thank you Susan Meissner, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
I absolutely adore the writing style of Susan Meissner and how she uses real life events. The mix of fact and fiction weaves into a phenomenal story. I read The Nature of Fragile Things in a day and a half. I could not put this novel down. The characters will pull at your heart and the story immerses you into a world of havoc and fragile things.

In my childhood, I have a strong memory of my great-grandmother telling me stories of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, She was sixteen years old. She told me of her and her family standing on a hill and watching the city, and their home, burn. They then fled on a boat to Oakland, California to rebuild their lives. So every time I hear of a book with the earthquake as it's backdrop, I can't help but be drawn to it. Add one of my favorite authors, Susan Meissner, as the writer, and I was eager to read this book. I wasn't disappointed. This book had load of historical details of San Francisco at that time, characters I loved, and a story with many twists and turns. I loved this book.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

I loved all the details of San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century. From the wonders of San Francisco's new cable car systems, to the prosperity of the shops and neighborhoods, this time period came alive to me, the reader.

And as someone who has lived in the Bay Area for over twenty years, I can attest to all the details of the in San Francisco. From the massive hills, to the chilly fog, and the sprawling nature of Golden Gate Park, all the physical details were completely accurate.

Details of the 1906 Earthquake:

As scary as it was, I appreciated all the details of the quake itself. The author goes to great lengths to show how the quake felt (one small jolt, followed by an almost minute-long shaking). The aftermath is what is truly interesting. Most of the displaced people gathered in Golden Gate Park, spending that first night cold, hungry, and terrified, as aftershocks rocked their nerves raw. When daylight broke, the U.S. Army took over and organized tents, food, and other logistics that brought order to the chaos.

Characters:

Sophie was a character I could root for. An immigrant from Ireland, Sophie knew hardship and yearned for security and comfort. When she agrees to be a mail order bride and stepmother to a widower and his young child, it makes perfect sense. I loved how Sophie bonded with the little girl, Kat, and did whatever she could to protect her. I also liked that she doesn't instantly fall in love with her husband, Martin. Part of this was because she was naturally cautious. But she also had suspicions about Martin. He seemed very aloof towards his daughter, and leaves mysteriously for days at a time. What was he up to? I would say more, but I don't want to spoil any of the plot.

There were several other female characters who show how easily it was, in the days of limited communication, to be duped by others. But, even though they were victims, they also were survivors. These characters were not undone by being taken advantage others. Instead, they grew stronger. I really admired that.

Story:

The story of a con man and how he dupes women takes many twists and turns, all with the backdrop of the great earthquake of 1906. This could have been a story set in almost any time period. But having it happen at that time, adds a layer of significance. Sophie finds a colossal secret about her husband that changes her life, just as the earthquake hits. The symbolism is obvious, and it works. As her world shifts, so does San Francisco. As the Bay Area rebuilds, so does Sophie find a way to rebuild her life. The earthquake is the perfect metaphor.

Wow! This vividly told historical novel will take readers back to San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake. Sophie, a Irish immigrant, has a marriage of convenience but dearly loves Kat, her new step daughter. But why is Kat so quiet and what does her new husband really do for a living? Everything will change for Sophie when she answers her door to a stranger on the day of the earthquake. Many secrets are revealed throughout this intriguing story. Highly recommended!

Wow! Just finished this book, and can truthfully say it was easily the most riveting read of 2020 among the 40 plus books I’ve read!

It was very well-researched and written. I believe it’s the first book I’ve read describing the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and I could imagine myself there with the characters as they had to navigate through a city no longer navigable and deal with loss of property and people.

The treachery of one of the main characters was difficult to read about, much less understand. The resulting trauma to others was very well described and believable.

The ending? I think the author did it justice.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great! It kept me wanting to know what would happen next. All of the characters were great! The setting went so well with the story. I can't believe the husband and how he was married to multiple women and how devious and evil he was. I knew he didn't die at first. Everything about this book was great! I would definitely recommend it to anyone!

My favorite quote from this book:
Perhaps it was the only kind thing it could do. Perhaps all during the catastrophe that began at dawn on the eighteenth of April, this was the only kind thing it could do. The earth can't help its nature to shift from time to time as it settles itself back into its proper place. The earth did not build the city here, nor pipe it with gas, nor construct its bowels with water mains that couldn't withstand the natural movement of the planet. People did that. It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fire to burn.

This book is the best book yet by Susan Meissner. It's got all the feels that you would expect from one of her books. It will make you laugh in a few parts and shed big fat ugly tears in others. It is written in a way that you will not want to put it down. I only did to sleep. I put it down near the end so I could get my eyes adjusted after all the tears. Tears of joy and sadness are in this book. It's just pure greatness. I've read a lot of books this year and this one is my very favorite.

This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The ups and downs and twists and turns don't stop. From the first page to the dramatic ending you will not want to miss a thing. It has it all. This book is told from Sophie's point of view. From Ireland to New York to California you will take a trip with her to places you may not like but you will enjoy anyway. Things that happen will make you wonder why. Or how. Or did it really. Who are these people. Who is this woman and why did she marry this man. She wanted a family and was offered one. Was it the best thing for her or did she make a grave mistake?

There is a lot of emotion in this book. Some will surely grab you and not let go. How things play out will leave you breathless. It's such a story. From the earthquakes in 1905 to the finale in 1926 you will not let go. This story was so well researched. So well told. It is like you are there. Like you can feel everything that Sophie feels. Everything. You will love her. You will treasure her for the things she does and goes through. The way she is with young Kat. With Belinda and Candace. These names will become familiar to you along this ride. You will learn to truly dislike Martin Hocking. He's not a very likable man.

As Sophie travels through this story you will learn so much about her life. How she got here. Why she came here. What happened to her along the way and what happened after she married Martin. What she does is to me nothing short of heroic. To me she is one strong and lovely woman. To me she deserves the best in life.

Susan Meissner has done such a good job with this book. She leaves nothing undone. It has all the feels. All the action. All the descriptions. And that ending. It's the best ending ever. No stone is left unturned. You will learn everything you need to. This story begins and it ends without you wondering. It truly is her best book ever.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Berkleypublisher, #SusanMeissner for this ARC. This is my own review as I see it.

5/5 huge stars and the highest recommendation every!! Read this book!

My full review will be posted everywhere on February 2, 2021...

An Irish immigrant by way of Manhattan, a mail order bride, and an earthquake? What calamity will happen next? In this gripping “look back” on the epic San Francisco earthquake of 1906, Sophie Hocking recounts “for the record,” the story of how she and five-year-old Kat survived when 3,000 others did not-and the shocking discovery about her handsome, new husband, Martin Hocking. Like peeling the layers of an onion, Sophie slowly uncovers the mysterious lives of “Martin,” the man to whom she thought she was married.

Readers will experience the frightening moments of an earthquake, the fury of women scorned, and the love created between strangers; induced by fear and trauma. The blossoming love of a mother and daughter also adds immensely to the ‘unromantic” relationship that Sophie endures in order to restore lives destroyed-not only by earthquakes, but by human shortcomings. For lovers of historical/mystery The Nature of Fragile Things is five stars on the “Reading Richter Scale!”

I enjoy Susan Meissner's books because I always learn about a historical event (in this case, the San Francisco earthquake of 1906) but her books are never dry or boring. Susan's books are always full of love. The power of love, resiliency, and the belief that love wins. This is a beautiful little book. It's about many things. Deceit, a sociopath, abuse, consumption-- but above all it's about LOVE. Such a beautiful familial love story.

I really like Susan Meissner's books usually. I thought this was going to be more a bout the earthquake and its aftereffects and less about the mail order bride and the sketchy male character.