This book was okay. The description seemed more exciting than the book actually was. The writing was stunning and vivid, the author did a wonderful job telling a story. I enjoyed reading about the three generations of women in this family and I liked all the characters.

I love coming of age stories and reading Wren and Slyvie’s experiences as little girls starting to get a taste of the real world kept me engaged.

I kept expecting something big to happen because of how the beginning was written. What happens to Wren at the end is kind of up to the reader to interpret and I think it left me more unsatisfied than wanting to use my imagination. I wish there was more development on the main characters part and the timeline jumped would at times get confusing.

I liked this book but I neither loved it nor disliked it.

3.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for proving me a copy.

This book was an absolute delight to listen to. Starting off with Sylvie our FMC and narrator of the story of 5 Oaks located on a lake in Arkansas, a family vacation home for the family stone that spans over 3 generations. Sylvie our FMC tells the story of her grandmother, Georgia, her mother Margaret and her sister Wren. The book touches on the stories of 3 generations of women and how they came to be in the world. Starting off in Texas 1942 with the story of Georgia, how her love for Byron spans a war, how she experiences heartbreak and loss when he goes away to war. How Georgia’s fragmented relationship with her mother leads her to keep a devasting secret. In tandem we follow Margaret in Vermont the early 1970’s in college where she endures a heartbreaking trauma that shapes the rest of her life but she keeps it a secret too. Georgia is Margret’s mother and Wren and Sylvie are Margaret’s daughters. Wren’s story is told in the present day of the year 1988 and is told by Sylvie who goes through her own trials that one year they visit their grandparents at 5 Oaks. The Generational trauma in this book is told with such subtility that I had to concentrate on nothing else but the story whilst listening to these crucial parts. Julie Hensley sure knows how to keep the reader guessing at whether they are on the right track with conclusions. Wren’s story is eerily similar to that of her mother Margaret except the sign of the times is evident even just 15 years into the future. Kids were getting more daring with what they get up to when their parents aren’t looking. The confusing parts were in Wren’s story as I didn’t quite understand what actually occurred. The ending does explain it from Sylvie’s perspective having been present that summer at 5 Oaks and not even she had a grasp on what occurred. All in all, the book does go through some heavy themes and some mild trigger warnings might be needed for this book. I’d give a solid 3.75 stars out of 5. I would have loved to read a copy rather than listen, but for an audio book consumer, the narrator did a good job of getting the accent right for the part of the US, Kansas and Kentucky, that the book talks about. Fantastic read of lovers of subtle story-telling, incredible descriptions of scenery as well as the feelings evoked within the characters of the book. Job well done Julie Hensley.

Thank to NetGalley for the ARC. This is a coming of age story that follows two sisters and the life they lead growing up in a rural town. From young love, teen mistakes, and decisions from their past.
This story goes back and forth from their childhood times to current.
The narration was well done. The narrator was able to tell the story using the voices of all the characters, and it allowed me to feel as though they were in the same room with me, telling this story.
I did enjoy this book and look forward to others by this author.
Clara B

2⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy of Five Oaks.

Sylvie and her older sister Wren are spending the summer with their grandparents. This tells the stories of three generations of women.

This had such potential but it fell flat in the execution. The book really drug on and was very overly descriptive. Then the ending was very sudden and abrupt. There was a lot of unanswered questions.

Three generations of women and their coming of age stories. Amazing writing! The descriptions of the people, places and events are so well done I feel as if I just watched a movie. I love the setting and the character development. Simply wonderful all around, just excellent!

Southern historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, especially ones set in Appalachia, but this one missed the mark. It's a multi-generational story about three generations of women. Teenager Wren and her little sister Sylvie go to their Grandma's house, Five Oaks, in the Appalachian Mountains. This is a tale about coming of age and, of course, first love.

What didn't work for me was the pacing; it was so slow, especially at the beginning, and I had a hard time getting into the book at first. The story itself was interesting enough, and the book is very descriptive, sometimes overly so. The character depth of the sisters was very well done. I loved Wren and Sylvie's relationship. My sister is older than I am, and I could see us in these girls. Julie Hensley is a wonderful writer, but this got bogged down in all the little details. It's a very character-driven story with many issues and topical matters that were dealt with appropriately. But the ending was unsatisfying and felt unresolved.

Overall, this book will suit those who enjoy literary fiction with a strong sense of time and place. Some readers will appreciate the beautiful prose that I found too wordy. I do commend the author for her ability to capture Appalachian life in such a realistic way. I was missing a dramatic plot and emotional drama, I thought the book would entail, but it deserves recognition for its portrayal of the Appalachian Mountains and its people.

This coming of age novel focusses on the events of one critical summer when two young sisters go to visit their grandparents at their lake house in Arkansas.

Teenage Wren is testing her boundaries while the younger sister Sylvie is the onlooker who keeps Wren's secrets - including the most problematic ones (perhaps especially the most problematic ones).

Except when Wren goes missing, it becomes clear just how high the price of secrecy is...

This one was not for me. Rambling and inconclusive, it may appeal to readers who like intergenerational sagas without clear resolution.

This moves back and forth in time between 1988, the 1970s, and the 1940s to tell the coming of age stories of three generations of women. It's meant to be dreamy and atmospheric but I never quite fell into it. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Over to others.

This book was not good. I would not recommend this book to anyone I know, simply because it dragged out, was confusing, and just plain boring.

a beautiful story that felt really immersive and contemplative. i found myself wrapped up in these characters stories. there were parts that i felt dragged a little too much but over all a really gorgeous novel that i will be recommending.

a beautiful story that felt really immersive and contemplative. i found myself wrapped up in these characters stories. there were parts that i felt dragged a little too much but over all a really gorgeous novel that i will be recommending.

DNF. This was not my cup of tea. I tried and got 47% the way through thr book and had to stop. The ever changing points of view from different time periods is confusing. Maybe I should have written down everyone's names to keep them straight but sometimes I couldn't figure out which character was being referred to and whose point of view it was.

I did not enjoy this story for the confusing nature and it was difficult to get even slightly interested in the characters.

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. Thank you for the opportunity and your consideration.

I was very very hopeful for this novel, and was immediately drawn into the story that focuses on multi-generations and a coming of age story. I am usually such a fan of these stories however this one did not click for me. I could not really find myself drawn into the characters stories. I wanted to love this novel and did love the setting and concept of the story but something was missing for me. I know that a lot of people will not feel the same way though, and I know that this book will find its intended audience!

i really loved this, and i wouldnt have picked it up otherwise!! i am so thankful i was able to read this story, and the audiobook was amazing!!

2.5 stars for me. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the story and honestly I’m not really sure how I feel about it. A generational story told in multiple timelines thru 3 woman’s journeys thru life. How secrets and relationships can shape the way life results. I found there was a lot of details in the story but you don’t really get to know each character in depth. It’s not really a story that will stick me unfortunately. I don’t really feel it was my type of book

Five Oaks was somewhat difficult to get into. Though I have no complaints about the writing, I'm not always a fan of stories with multiple timelines and I think that might be the case here. It's not a bad book, just not one I feel strongly about.

As with other readers, I found the flipping back and forth somewhat confusing and found myself getting a little lost. It is a beautifully written book and should be savoured.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Couldn't finish this book, skipped the middle and read the end and I still couldn't put any pieces together. I couldn't make any of it make sense to me - what info was there to gain from the mother and grandmother stories? I know that not everyone book should have the information be so on the nose, but I never want to read a book and finish it and still be wondering what the hell I was supposed to be guessing happened. Not my kind of book, not my kind of storytelling. Too much to guess at, and too much not said.

This book had a very slow start and made it hard to get into. It was not the right time for me to read this.