I have read most of Rachel Joyce's books and was happy to read her latest, The Homemade God. This is the story of a family. Vic is the 67 year old father, and his three daughter and a son are unusually close since their mother died, shortly after giving birth to the youngest daughter. The story revolves around the death of Vic, while he is at their summer home in Italy, on Lake Orta. He has recently married a twenty seven year old woman, Bella Mae, that none of the children have ever met. Vic was a well known artist that was supposedly in Italy to paint his final painting, and now he is dead. The children all flock to Lake Orta where they have vacationed since they were children, only to find out that their father, an ardent swimmer's cause of death is drowning. What ensues is a mystery with flashbacks from all the children's childhoods giving the reader an idea of the effect that Vic had on his 4 children, and their relationships with each other. This is a dysfunctional family at best, and I had to find out what had happened to each of them that formed their personalities, as well as what would happen to Bella Mae. I highly recommend this book to Rachel Joyce readers, as well as anyone that has an interest in family dynamics. I would like to thank Netgalley and Dial Press Marketing for giving me the opportunity to preview this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is beautifully written, and it's not for the faint of heart. There are twists and turns in terms of character development, and some things feel detailed to the point of exhaustion... but I kind of liked that part. I just liked that each character had wildly massive personalities and quirks and idiosyncrasies that made little sense but also made some sense. Joyce didn't care about making her characters likable, but they were so incredibly human. The exploration of what it means to be a sibling.. oh boy-- so fascinating.

I started this book and really wanted to like it. It’s very slow and I had to stop reading it. The characters are interesting but the plot moved way too slow for me to continue the book.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A father, an artist, an enigma of sorts meets a much younger woman and his children are suspicious of her motives.

5/5 Stars – A Masterpiece of Memory, Grief, and the Resilience of Love

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is nothing short of extraordinary. In this moving, beautifully layered novel, Joyce proves once again why she is a master of the human heart. Centered around the sudden death of renowned artist Vic Kemp and the emotional journey that his his four children go through, this story transports readers into a richly textured world of grief, sibling bonds, and the deep, tangled roots of family legacy.

Every character pulses with life and their own personal identity: Netta's fierce sense of responsibility, Susan's quiet devotion, Goose’s resigned dreams, and Iris’s youthful impulsivity. Through their voices, Joyce captures the messy, beautiful, heartbreaking experience of coming home—not just physically, but emotionally. The shadow of Bella-Mae, the widow but younger-than them individual, looms over the story, adding mystery and tension. You never quite figure out if it’s mind games she plays or an illusion of your own opinions as a reader.

The setting—an Italian summer on the shores of Lake Orta—adds a dreamy atmosphere that makes me want to transport there with the family. The story laced with grief and human emotion in a setting where nothing bad can exist only add an incredible element.

The Homemade God wasn’t only about loss - it speaks to readers about rediscovery and a new path of self no matter where that push comes from.

Absolutely mesmerizing. Unforgettable novel 👏🏻

Thank you for NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts, forever grateful!

Every bit as captivating as the Harold Fry books! A family with so many issues, so many clashes, so much to resolve. Impossible for the reader to fix or abandon. A great read!

3.5 Stars

Rachel Joyce has been a favorite author of mine since reading some of her past work like "Perfect" and "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry". In this offering, four adult siblings grapple with the death of their 70-ish father Vic- a renowned artist. In the last months of his life he was planning a phenomenal painting, and this widower of decades drops a bomb on his kids that he's marrying again- someone named Bella Mae who was in her twenties. Of course the kids were alarmed at this news, wondering if their father had lost his marbles or was being scammed by some gold digger after his money. When he dies soon after the marriage, the kids coalesce and descend upon Lake Orta in Italy, to their late father's ramshackle but idyllic lakefront home. The kids consist of Nella, the eldest- a driven lawyer; Susan, a wannabe chef; Goose, a former watercolor artist who now assists his father in the painting studio; and Iris, the youngest, most fragile- a woman who works at inconsequential jobs and buys clothes from thrift stores.

When I got about 20% into the book I seriously considered DNF-ing it at that point. I had trouble keeping track of the four siblings and their significant others, and thought a particular incident involving the son Goose in an art gallery was absurd. However, my admiration for this author made me give it another go and I managed to finish the book. I'm glad I did, because I just had to know about this mysterious Bella Mae character who was kept at bay for at least a third of the book where you wondered if you'd ever get to "meet" her. The characters fleshed out and enmeshed themselves in my mind, and I was able to keep track of them. The story was actually pretty interesting, with a good dose of mystery and suspense, romance, and delightful descriptions of Italian cooking.

Thank you to the publisher Random House / The Dial Press who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Immerse yourself in the heat of the sweltering summer, absorb the tension between family members, and allow the frozen-in-time magical setting to envelop you. Near the end of this book, one of the characters reflects to another about his “big bursting life,” and if I had to briefly sum up this story up, that’s exactly what it is. Siblings joined in a bond of intimacy, each uniquely their own person, linked to a larger-than-life father, and when the family experiences a fracture, the impact is so destructive, the devastation causes unexpected emotional turmoil.

Four close-knit adult siblings, three sisters and a brother, with distinct personalities, raised by their eccentric artist father, whom they worship, announces he’s about to embark on his masterpiece, a painting, which is big news. He’s also found himself a young girlfriend and he’s reluctant to introduce her to his children. All attempts to meet her go awry and when they find out he’s swooped her away to their family villa in Italy, they fear the worst. A tragedy ensues, their father has mysteriously died (this is not a spoiler) upon hearing the news, they rush to the place looking out over Lake Orta, that once held their fondest childhood memories, now dilapidated and tarnished by sorrow and mystery. In addition to their shock over his death, the woman, now his wife (also, not a spoiler), remains an enigma.

From here, things spiral as each of the siblings try to make sense of their father’s demise as well as discover where they stand in relation to each other and what role they played as their father’s child, and what now, that he is gone. Who are they without him and will the walls of their family dynamic start crumbling down just as their once dreamy villa appears to be decaying before their eyes.

This is a mystery wrapped up in grief, a family coming to terms with its collapsing foundation, siblings fraying at their once tight seams, oozing with atmosphere.

I loved what a different vibe this novel has from Rachel Joyce's other books, which I also like very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/The Dial Press for the chance to read this ARC.

This story is a real downer with lots and lots of holes in the plot. Now that I’ve finished it, I wish I’d read “Part 3” and skipped the previous boring, repetitive and depressing 300 pages. Part 3, basically, tells the whole story in a nutshell.

I hope Rachel Joyce will get back to the hope and joy that I found in the first two Harold Fry books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of Homemade God by an author I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in the past.

The Homemade God is an interesting story that reads somewhat like your typical British mystery novel. The children and heirs of a locally famous artist travel off from their homes in England to the family villa in Italy to investigate what they consider his mysterious death, as well as to put his affairs in order. The kink in this mystery is his new, much younger wife, Bella-Mae, whom comes off as the Yoko of this collection of characters. Having never previously met, they only have what their father has told them about her, as well as their imaginations. Adding to the mystery, was Vic's odd behavior and physical changes prior to his death. Of course, with this exotic Italian villa, the book also reads a tiny bit like a glamorous travel novel which adds a little spice to the story. Bella-Mae also has her cousin Lazlo with her who comes off as this tacky sleaze ball, but without a history for anyone to really know for certain whether or not to trust him. The three sisters and brothers all have their own identity and character traits that are quite different from each other which can make for a soupy mess at times. It also provides the reader with a more dynamic scenario so that things don't get too flat and boring.

By the time everything plays out, the last quarter of the story takes some odd turns. Though the story itself is fairly common and easy to read without being esoteric or complex, a more astute reader will find some interesting symbolism and psychological takes that play themselves out with all involved. Nothing too heavy, nor difficult to understand. It's all just there and help to meld everything together in regards to The Homemade God.

In her seventh novel, The Homemade God, Rachel Joyce returns with her signature blend of warmth, wit, and emotional insight, casting a sharp yet affectionate eye on the chaos of familial bonds. When 76-year-old Vic Kemp—once a tempestuous, wine-soaked painter—announces a startling new romance with a woman younger than his youngest daughter, his four adult children are thrown into disarray.

Bella-Mae, the enigmatic and much younger muse, is the catalyst for a slow unravelling of old dynamics. Vic’s children—legal-minded Netta, caretaker Susan, idealistic Iris, and loyal Goose—are each forced to confront their roles within the family and reckon with a new reality they neither chose nor trust. When Vic unexpectedly dies during a trip to the family’s Italian villa, suspicions turn to Bella-Mae. Grief gives way to suspicion, and long-buried rivalries resurface.

Joyce handles this volatile mix of love, grief, and inheritance with disarming elegance. The novel is both a mystery and a meditation: on art, on the ownership of legacy, and on how families mythologise their dead. Bella-Mae remains a compelling, ambiguous figure—is she an opportunist or simply misunderstood? Joyce lets the reader wade through the murk with skillful misdirection and wry humour.

Despite the novel’s occasional gothic undertones, its emotional core is tender and deeply human. The Homemade God is a rich, character-driven exploration of identity and reinvention, and perhaps Joyce’s most sophisticated novel to date.

This beautifully written book explores the deep love and severe dysfunction that can exist simultaneously in a family. Four siblings who are bonded by their love for each other and the artist father who raised them have always felt deeply together in their family identity, especially during their summers in their own private villa in Italy. When their father dies suddenly all of their family dysfunction surfaces and causes them to take a good look at what they really want out of their lives and where the truth of their stories lie.

I really liked Joyce's previous two novels but didn't care for this one much. Despite the lush descriptions of setting, I didn't like the characters -- any of them -- very much at all and I honestly just found myself bored. Not sure why this book was so different from the others, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not really fond of reading dysfunctional family drama.

I’d give The Homemade God three out of five stars. Rachel Joyce paints a gorgeous Italian lakeside villa and nails those weird, tense family moments—think passive-aggressive asides over breakfast and sudden bursts of laughter amid grief. Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris each bring something to the table, but not all of them fully click; Goose, in particular, feels a bit undercooked.

The “whodunit” hook around their dad’s unexpected death sparks interest, but it fizzles out as the book shifts into a slow-burn character study. If you’re here for a twisty mystery, you might find yourself checking your watch. On the flip side, if you enjoy lingering in the small, sharp exchanges and seeing buried resentments surface, there’s genuine emotional payoff—especially when Joyce zeroes in on those tiny gestures that said “family” long before words ever did.

By the time everything neatly ties up, you’ll appreciate the warm, sunlit atmosphere and glimpses of reconciliation, even if you wished for a bit more narrative drive. A solid read for slow-burn drama lovers, but don’t expect a racing pulse.

Such a raw and emotional story that follows what feels like real life characters with real life flaws and dynamics. Being immersed into this Italian setting while also feeling like a member of the Kemp family was quite a unique and beautiful experience. This is a slow moving yet intricate and intriguing book that will keep you invested and have you wishing the best for the various characters. Definitely a slower pace but beautifully written!

The Homemade God is unlike the titles we have love from Rachel Joyce - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. But it is equally as spectacular! The Homemade God is a story of a dysfunctional family, but it is rich with the personalities of both family members and friends of its patriarch, edgy artist Vic Kemp. This English novel mostly takes place at the family's aging villa on Lake Orta, after 76-year-old Vic's wedding to 27-year-old Bella-Mae whom his children suspect of all manner of nefarious deeds. As the story unfolds secrets are revealed, and we learn the truth in delicious droplets. I highly recommend The Homemade God to all lovers of fiction ready to be transported to an Italian summer holiday.

The Homemade God is a raw, life-like exploration of the invisible threads that bind families together — and the unspoken tensions that quietly unravel them. At its core, this novel is a study in family drama: the expectations we inherit, the roles we’re assigned, and the desperate, often misguided ways we try to hold onto what we love while always seeking parental approval.

The story begins in the wake of the family patriarch’s sudden death, an event that shatters old routines and forces long-buried emotions to the surface. As the narrative unfolds, the perspective shifts between his adult children, offering a layered, intimate look at how grief reshapes relationships and reveals long-hidden truths. What makes The Homemade God especially compelling is its reminder that things are rarely what they seem. Loyalties shift, secrets surface, and the characters — each flawed, tender, and fiercely human — come to terms with the fact that the myths we build around family often conceal more than they reveal.

This is a novel that sticks with you. Its life-like characters and unflinching honesty linger long after the last page. It’s a story about love, resentment, and the gods we create in our homes — and what happens when those gods fall silent. A moving, unforgettable book that reminds us how families both hold each other together and tear each other apart.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely obsessed with this one! The cover and storyline is adorable. I have been recommending this one to all my friends now that it is out.

This was a really great sad girl book! Definitely more character than plot-driven, but it gave me similar vibes to Blue Sisters which was my favorite book last year.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me this book!

I enjoyed the author's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and picked this up because of that. This novel was quite different from UPHF. Initially, I thought this was going to be a mystery (not much of a spoiler to say it's about siblings and their father dies early in the novel), and it was, sort of. It mostly focused on the siblings, but I didn't really feel particularly sympathetic toward those characters and this novel didn't have the oomph of UPHF for me.