Well written and well plotted, though I would have a tough time saying I “liked” this.

Howes is a lovely writer and this is an interesting meditation on familial duty and the repercussions of madness, but it’s hard to get away from the fact that it’s a deeply depressing story populated by characters who are difficult to like.

It’s easy to feel some sympathy for the girls, sure, but I don’t think I would call them likable. And they aren’t especially interesting either aside from their dealings with the family’s strain of mental illness, which is mostly sadder than it is intriguing.

I thought the setting and sense of place were a bit of a bright spot (particularly in a book where the descriptive content—generally speaking—wasn’t great). I was intrigued by Howes’ evocations of each place the family lived, particularly Bath.

The story could have used stronger links to Gainsborough’s work, particularly since I’d imagine that’s what will draw most readers to the book in the first place. Without the art to being a sense of beauty and historical significance to the story, it mostly just feels like a swampy, tragic period piece. Great if that’s what you’re into, but if you were looking for greater insight into the great painter himself and what his life was like, look elsewhere.

I really enjoy historical fiction and this book fell in the sweatspot of the types of books I like. I was impressed with how well the author drew Margaret’s character and how powerfully she conveyed Margaret’s devotion and feeling of responsibility for her sister. Her desperation, as a child, to control the uncontrollable (her sister’s illness, her father’s philandering) to the point of eating disorder and constant, anxious vigilance was poignant and heartbreaking. My one gripe with this book is that it all felt largely on one level. The relationship that Margaret and Molly have as young children is largely the same as they have as adults. There is a brief moment of escalation when Molly marries Fisher but then returns to the same status quo. I understand that this is largely biographical but nonetheless, I wished there was more evolution to the relationship.

I’m sorry this one was not for me. Dnf just so dark and dreary. I probably expected a lighter read, so it’s not the books fault, just not for me. I do appreciate the opportunity and wish the author much success.

The Painter's Daughters is a beautifully written story about the bond between two sisters, Molly and Peggy Gainsborough. There are aspects of historical fiction, mystery, the art world dominated by their father, Thomas Gainsborough. Readers who enjoy Hilary Mantel and Maggie O'Farrell ought to give this one a read.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.

DNF at 15% *

This writing style was not for me. It had a lot of vivid imagery, which I know some people like, but I needed more from the characters. They didn’t feel like they had an internal life and were just reacting to whatever happened around them. Peggy explained that she loved her sister, but we didn’t get to see the connection between them, just her worry and confusion about her sister’s condition. I wasn’t sure why Peggy felt that she had to hide what was going on - especially from her father, who she seemed close to.

Audiobook:
Having the two POVs named Peggy & Meg made it hard to differentiate when listening to the audiobook. I was really confused when the second POV was introduced and thought I’d missed a time jump.

The narrator had excellent vocal characterizations for all of the characters.

*I think it’s important to read a solid portion of the book before writing a review. If I get only this far into the book and am having trouble connecting to the main character, I check other reviews to see if it’s just a slow start, but other reviewers who finished the book agreed with the issues I had.

When I started this book, I did not know it would be so hauntingly beautiful. I believe it will stay with me for a long time. I hope to get my hands on a physical copy soonish to annotate and highlight.

This story starts with the young lives of the often thought wild and reckless girls of Thomas Gainsborough and what sisterhood means to both. We see small moments into the lives of the girls and start noticing small health issues in Molly. This story has taken me in quite the ride, leaving with warmth and tears.

Please, please check for those CW and TW. This book has quite a few I think worth checking out too, also some of the language while today would not be okay is very accurate for the times and should be viewed as such. No poo pooing this beautiful book because it decided to not sanitize itself

An informative historical novel. Well written sad account of two sisters, their famous painter dad and mental health in the 1700’s. The descriptions and situations that the author wrote about were quite well done. I really liked the way the second story line was brought in and explained at the end of the book. However, overall, it was an emotionally wrenching read. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

A fictionalized account of the lives of Thomas Gainsborough's daughters. This book may be fiction but the era portrayed is detailed in it's accuracy. Emily Howes does an excellent job of recreating the period's many expectations and restrictions that a young woman faced. The sisters were inseperable, partly to allow Peg to take care of her older sister, Molly. People with Molly's handicaps were often committed to an asylum where their lives were harsh and shortened. When the family moved to a more populous area, Molly's mental stability threatens Peg's future. The story gave me the same feeling as Forsyth Saga and others of the same genre. Lovers of this period will love this book.

I knew of Gainsborough's works, but nothing of his life, so this was an easy choice to pick up. There was nothing out of the ordinary about him, but his daughters were very intriguing. Their dynamic was loving while being resentful and combative against the spectre of the older sister's mental illness and the threat it constantly made against the family's desire for a quiet and genteel life. At times I forgot that Molly was the older sister with the way that Peggy looked after her and took care to hide any suspicious actions. From a very young age she knew something was wrong and made it her life's work to constantly protect Molly from herself and the unforgiving world outside of their home. But she was still very young, and making that decision came with costs to her own life and prospects that unsurprisingly made her resentful at times. Their story is interspersed with the tale of Meg, an innkeeper's daughter who has her own challenges to face. The two stories took awhile to dovetail, which made for confusing reading for a long time, but in the end all is explained, or at least theorized, and everything comes together. An enjoyable read.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

DNF at 44%

The Painter's Daughters is beautifully written. I'm not DNFing this book because I didn't think the writing was good. I'm choosing not to finish this book because the pacing is painfully slow and the points being made are fairly repetitive. There is a conflict promised in the blurb that still hasn't come and I don't care enough to continue on and find out how it resolves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Historical fiction about the two daughters of painter Thomas Gainsborough in the 1700s, England. While there is some documentation about Peggy and Molly, the author has woven a story of their family life. During his lifetime, Gainsborough was not as famous and wealthyas his wife wanted him to be so there was always the stress of trying to keep up and provide well for the future for the girls, who were very different than the paintings.

The novel “The Painter’s Daughters” by Emily Howes immediately sparked my interest. It is the story of Thomas Gainsborough’s daughters, who were often featured in his paintings. I found that I couldn’t really get into the story. The writing left a lot to be desired for me and it was a little bland. I didn’t particularly like either of the daughters, either. It was an interesting read, but not my favorite.

A debut historical fiction about the lives of Peggy and Molly Gainsborough. I was hoping to learn more about their father, Thomas Gainsborough, a painter whose works I admire. But Thomas is a side character and often absent father. Molly has an affliction and at a young age Peggy feels responsible to protect her sister and cover for her. She doesn’t want her sister sent away and her protection continues into adulthood. The family moves from the countryside to Bath where Gainsborough finds further success. But the role for women is much more limited and there is little to no understanding of mental illness. Most of the story is focused on Peggy’s POV who begins out devoted to her sister and eventually resenting her as an obstacle to finding her own love and happiness. There is a lot of drama in their lives and the tone of the book is often melancholy. There is an alternate plot happening about Meg, an innkeeper's daughter, who gets involved with the Prince of Wales. That storyline eventually merges, but for a long time I wondered what was the point of her story. With historical fiction I always appreciate authors' notes at the end where they share their research and areas where they take liberties with facts or timelines to fit the story.

"The Painter's Daughters" by Emily Howes is a work of historical fiction that follows the lives of Molly and Peggy, the daughters of Thomas Gainsborough, one of the most renowned portrait artists of 1700s England. Though I was completely captivated by the story of the sisters, this is not a light, easy read. At times it was difficult to read of the challenges women faced in those times, though the love shared by the sisters was heartwarming and inspirational. Interwoven throughout Molly's and Peggy's story are chapters about a seemingly unconnected, but also thoroughly interesting, woman named Meg, adding a layer of mystery to the tale. All becomes clear at the end of the novel as it comes to a satisfying conclusion.

The writing is very good and immersed me completely in the time period and setting. I enjoyed how the women in the novel were the strong characters and the males the weak ones. It is a very strong debut and I look forward to more from this author. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

The story of Peggy and Molly Gainsborough is a tragic one. Their mother's ambitions for them, based on an undocumented aristocratic heritage, and their father's intense focus on his painting create a tension filled home. The two sisters become more and more isolated as Molly's mental illness and Peggy's need to protect and hide her sister's strangeness, become more acute.

The historical setting is well fleshed out, both in Gainsborough's time and in the time of the back story of Meg Gray.

While I read, I enjoyed looking up online pictures of Gainsborough's work, and becoming more familiar with hims and his artistic style.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The painter Thomas Gainsborough's two daughters are the focus of this historical fiction novel. In their early youth, the sisters are rather free to roam the countryside and live an idyllic, unconstrained life. Their father is depicted as loving, but often pre-occupied and their mother as strict, demanding and not particularly demonstrative. But, as with many families, they have their secrets. The elder daughter, Molly, has some increasingly serious issues and the 18th century is not known for being able to effectively manage such challenges. The book was well-written but I just did not find it particularly engaging. I kept waiting for more depth, more character development, more of a story. I was tempted not to finish it but I did persevere. I was disappointed that Thomas Gainsborough and his art weren't more central to the story. I did enjoy the author's portrayal of the social scene in Bath and its incorporated into the book. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Thomas Gainsborough, an English portrait and landscape painter, studied the works of Van Dyck. Thomas painted daughters.Thomas was considered a technical painter. “The Blue Boy” is one of his most famous pieces.
Margaret mother illegitimate daughter of Duke of Beaufort. Unfortunately, Molly suffered from mental illness and Peggy cared for her sister. During the age, mental health was not recognized, and medical help was not offered. Her care was shouldered on the family, mostly Peg.
I enjoyed reading this book, but I did find it difficult to read. I’m not always where I am. The story did not have much of a plot. I’m a character driven reader and I especially liked the girls.
I’m interested in art, so I was curious to read that Thomas was a significant artist in the 18th century
Emily Howers, Simon and Schister, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This captivating novel unfolds against the backdrop of 18th-century England, where renowned portrait painter Thomas Gainsborough's artistic genius is mirrored by the tender bond shared between his daughters, Molly and Peggy. As the narrative delves into the complexities of sisterly devotion, it navigates the challenges of Molly's mysterious affliction and Peggy's unwavering determination to protect her. Howes masterfully intertwines historical intrigue with themes of sisterly love, sacrifice, and resilience, as the reader is taken on a poignant journey through the intricacies of familial bonds and the power of unconditional loyalty. Moreover, the novel also weaves in a narrative involving Thomas’ wife Meg and her secret ancestry, adding mystery to the family saga.
Gainsborough was known to include his daughters in his paintings, so I was intrigued with Howe’s imagining of what life could’ve been like for his daughters. At a young age, Peggy developed strategies to help hide Molly’s strange spells of confusion, the type of behavior that could send her away to an institution. Peggy makes a promise that she would protect her and keep her secret, which followed throughout their adult years, creating a greater challenge when Peggy falls for a friend of her father. This plot created a new dynamic for the sisters, with Peggy having feelings of resentment. I really admired this story of familial loyalty and devotion. The Gainsborough’s endured a lot of drama, but I never felt overwhelmed with too many plot lines going on. One notable aspect is the somewhat limited exploration of Molly’s character, with the narrative predominantly focused on Peggy’s perspective. While this choice allows for a deeper understanding of Peggy’s emotions, it leaves Molly’s character less developed. I loved how the author merged the story of Meg into the main story line, it seemed to unfold effortlessly with a satisfying conclusion. Even though this novel didn’t leave me feeling completely mesmerized, it is well-written and high praise for the research into this famous painter.

Thank you, Simon Books @simonbooks, for this book.

The Painter's Daughters by Emily Howes is a historical fiction that throws a light on the lives of Mary and Margaret Gainsborough, daughters of the famous painter, Thomas Gainsborough. The story also involves an unknown woman, Meg. Who is she, and what part does she play in their lives.

Molly and Peggy have a wonderful life in Ipswich. Roaming around the fields and living out of society's eyes gives them a certain freedom. Being a painter's daughters, though, bring limitations in their lives, and they move to Bath. Living in the wellness town of England is not as straightforward as it seems because the family has to hide a secret that could put one of their family members in danger.

Some day, when I am ready, I want to dissect this story from a trauma perspective. There is so much in this book about the stigma attached to mental illness and the lack of awareness. Molly and Peggy's sisterly bond is beautiful but also painful to read about because Peggy becomes a sort of caretaker for her. The author has done an amazing job of writing a story based on one line that she found in a book. Lovers of historical fiction and readers who love to read about how trauma has affected generations will love this book (definitely me!) This is not a light read, so go into it with that information.

CW: Codependency, Enmeshment, mental illness, infidelity, abandonment, blood, physical abuse.

The Painter's Daughters By Emily Howes is the story of love, madness, sisterly devotion, and control, about the two beloved daughters of renowned 1700s English painter Thomas Gainsborough, who struggle to live up to the perfect image the world so admired in their portraits.

Peggy and Molly Gainsborough—the daughters of one of England’s most famous portrait artists of the 1700s and the frequent subject of his work—are best friends. They spy on their father as he paints, rankle their mother as she manages the household, and run barefoot through the muddy fields that surround their home. But there is another reason they are inseparable: from a young age, Molly periodically experiences bouts of mental confusion, even forgetting who she is, and Peggy instinctively knows she must help cover up her sister’s condition.

The Painter's Daughter was a delightful read. It beautifully portrayed the bond between sisters and the devastating effects of betrayal. I enjoyed it to some degree.

If you like Historical fiction set in 1700 in England, pick this one up.