Rounding up from a 2.5. This was a bit of a miss for me sadly. I think it will find its audience, but it wasn't me. It is definitely more of a family drama than a mystery or thriller. In past reviews, I've been critical of people who say "nothing happens," but literally you will be a good 60% in before you learn anything that isn't in the blurb. And that can still be great if you are completely engaged in the characters and the relationship nuances that are unearthed--I love a great family drama--but unfortunately I wasn't. I didn't connect with any of them. When I don't like any of the characters, I need it to be in more of a Mean Moms kind of way--satirical and deliciously fun. Maybe I need to be comfortable rooting against someone, and I wasn't comfortable with that, either. It seemed like the biggest developments weren't as much shocking revelations as things people sort of knew and didn't want to really know? Nearing the end, there is a big shift with the character to sympathize with and root for, but maybe because it was so late and after the climax, I was already checked out and thought the ending went on for a long time. But if you like gorgeous settings and exotic locales and can hang on for the character payoff, this might be for you. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy and the opportunity to share my review.

An elderly, British, successful, “pop art” portrait painter marries a much younger woman he’s only known for about two months. He and his new wife move to his Italian villa so he can get ready to paint a large canvas, his masterpiece, but he dies suddenly. His four grown children converge on the villa to find his last painting and his will. They also want to find the answers to some questions they have about their father’s death and sudden remarriage. What they learn about their father, his painting, and his new wife and ultimately themselves comes as a big surprise.

This is a good read with well-developed, interesting characters and plenty of plot twists.

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is a very highly recommended, insightful domestic drama following a dysfunctional family and a potential murder.

Artist Vic Kemp, 76, invites his four children out to lunch to inform them that he is in love with Bella-Mae, 27, and plans to marry her. He is also going to plan to start painting his final masterpiece. He has given up drinking, drinks the special tea Bella-Mae makes, and has lost a lot of weight. He wants them to all meet at the family's summer retreat, an Italian villa on Lake Orta. Vic is a man who was a erratic parent who also has had an unhealthy hold on his children who all want his attention.

His children range from 40 to 33 years old and they are unusually close after their mother die at a young age. Basically the oldest, Netta raised them. Netta is now a lawyer who drinks too much. Susan married an older man with twin sons. she had wanted to be a chef. Goose (Gusta) is a failed artist who had a breakdown. He is his father's studio assistant. The youngest, Iris, is the most fragile. She gets entry level jobs and wears thrift store clothes.

When their father marries Bella-Mae in Italy and later dies, the family rushes to the villa. Netta is looking for the will and evidence that Vic was murdered. The others are all grieving, confronting their childhood roles and emotional scars, as well as years of things left unsaid.

This is a beautifully written, atmospheric, character driven novel that closely examines a family on the verge of collapsing when their father dies. Admittedly, it feels like a slow start, but much of that is establishing the status quo between the family members and the significance Vic plays in all of their lives as well as their individual roles in the family dynamics. Once the plot and the mystery take off, the tension and drama increase dramatically. This novel gets better with each turn of the page.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized, complex individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. Bella-Mae is the exception as her character development doesn't receive the same attention until the very end of the novel. The four siblings have spent years donning their expected role while never honestly sharing their real thoughts or the damage done to them by Vic. During their time on the island after their father's death they are all finally heading toward facing the truth.

The Homemade God is an excellent novel that would provide a book club with lively discussions. Thanks to Random House/Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

4 siblings, 3 sisters and a brother, depend on each other deeply, since they had to stick together while being raised by their unstable, widowed father. Their personalities are inherently impacted by their birth order and the attention they receive, not always positively, from their sole parent. He is an unpredictable artist who has an overwhelming influence on their lives.

But in the wake of his brief marriage to a mysterious much younger woman and his sudden death, the siblings individually fall apart, while their close familial ties are severed.

It takes time, personal growth, and awakening to restore their relationships and discover who they are without their parents.

Set in European cities and the lush escape of the family lake house in Northern Italy, it is immersive in descriptions of the food, vibrantly colored art, ambiance and culture of their environment.

The Homemade God is a powerful story of 4 siblings searching to understand the circumstances of their father’s death.

This novel was incredibly descriptive, creating a large and immersive world in the lives of these characters. The writing was atmospheric and really gave the sense that you are simultaneously seeing the bigger picture in everything, while also getting the smallest details straight from characters’ heads.

The Homemade God explores complicated sibling dynamics, father issues, alcoholism, jealousy, marriage, and art. Everything was well-connected and wrapped up at the end.

However, I did have issue with the pacing. The beginning was quite slow and the detailed descriptions were a bit hard to read - it was something I appreciated more once I was further in. The middle moved very quick and then it slowed down significantly at the end. I’m ultimately happy with where we ended up at the conclusion, however there was part of me that was still holding my breath for a little more meat to the mystery.

3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

I loved Joyce's previous book Miss Benson's Beetle and so I was excited to read her new book! It started off strong with a quick wedding for the siblings father to an unknown and much younger woman. Things quickly go awry and as the reader we are watching through the children's eyes, full of worry, concern, and many questions surrounding their father's untimely death.

I felt like I kept waiting for the story to start, once we finally got in good, I kept waiting for it to pick up and for something to happen. Let's just say this was very much a slow burn, family drama. I really wished it had a faster pace. I found my interest waning simply because not a lot was happening, yet there was plenty to be concerned about regarding the story. Overall, it was okay, but too slow.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the gifted e-ARC of this book.

This is a novel about a famous and wealthy artist, his four kids who adore him, and the cracks in the happy veneer that continue to spread. When the idolized Vic Kemp announces to his adult children that he is getting married to an unknown younger woman, they are immediately suspicious and threatened, especially when he completely shuts them out of his relationship and plans. As the story continues we see the family's dysfunction tear them apart, and our curiosity grows about the reasons for the secrecy and the eventual outcome. Perhaps because each of the characters was damaged and pretty unlikable, the novel was not engaging to me.

Could not get into this book at all. DNF at 22% complete. Not engaging for me and I typically like a thriller but I think it was not what I expected.

Family conflicted and flawed characters set against a summery Italian backdrop center Rachel Joyce's latest novel, as we watch the Kemp siblings come to terms with their artist father struggling with a creative block and suddenly falling for a much younger woman.

Joyce has become a must-read author for me, mainly because of her loveable characters that you root for and really carry you through the story. Which, sadly for me, were lacking in The Homemade God. There was no character I felt drawn to or could enough about. They were either nasty, jealous, or passive about their lives. I did, and always do, love a good read set around family relationships, their messiness, and their ever-changing nature, but I couldn't click with these siblings enough to care. It was the thriller-like unknown aspect regarding Bella-Mae that kept me reading and the Italian setting was lush and perfect for the summer.

This book was slightly confusing in knowing where the story would lead to. It kept me curious in the beginning of the book. But near the end I began to lose interest. Overall it was a decent book.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is the story of 4 siblings, 3 sisters and their brother. Their father is a noted painter. After their mother dies ( before the story begins), the siblings learn to take care of themselves , and their father. Years later, their father tells them he is going to remarry. Soon after, he dies. The siblings go to their villa in Italy to deal with their grief, confront his wife, and each other. It is a messy family dynamic and doesn't get any better once they meet the wife, now widow. The whole book is the messy breakdown of the family, going both back in time and forward. The writing was good, but the story was not. I got annoyed with all of the characters pretty quickly. Sorry, just not for me.

Rachel Joyce has written another great novel, centering on flawed characters and their relationships.

Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris are the four grown up children of renowned artist Vic Kemp. The siblings are very close, since their mother died when they were young, and their father was missing a lot, either physically or emotionally while he was consumed by his painting.

When their father announces he is both dating a much younger woman, Bella-Mae, and is working on a new masterpiece, set to be the capstone of his career, the siblings are curious, intrigued but yet suspicious of the new woman. Vic announces he is off to spend the summer at their villa in Italy, when they fail to seem delighted at his news.

Six weeks later, he has married Bella-Mae and then is found dead in the lake.

The novel explores the relationships between the siblings as they try to come to grips with his death, their grief and why he died. There is no sign of a will, meaning they split his estate with Bella-Mae, and no sign of the latest masterpiece. Deeply suspicious of Bella-Mae, they investigate her, her cousin and search everywhere for a will - unable to believe he did not provide for them. Old hurt feelings come to the surface and the siblings explode apart, remaining estranged for years.

The setting of much of the action was a crumbling Italian villa, during a sweltering summer. Very atmospheric. The flawed characters were so well written, and the novel shows what it may take to bring them back together.

World famous artist Vic Kemp has relied upon his four children to run his life and in turn, they rely upon him for financial support from his paintings. Ever since their mother died, they have been together as a family. But now, he announces he will remarry. Vic is in his seventies and his bride is fifty years his junior. Weeks after his wedding, he is found dead in the lake near his home. When Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris gather at the lake house by Lake Orta in Piedmont, Italy, they begin to piece together what happened and a mystery unfolds. Who is the bride, Bella-Mae and were they really in love or was this a ruse? And where is their fathers final painting, the one he couldn't stop talking about weeks before his death?

While this was contemporary fiction, it certainly had elements of mystery. I was immersed in the setting and the complex family relationships and friendships in this story. The art aspect really drew me in, as this is not something that features in many of my novels. It was obscure in places but in the best way, as it just added to the mystery and intrigue. I always enjoy a story that ends in a more hopeful way but I also appreciated the author didn't need to wrap things up in a tidy bow, as life is messy. Such an enjoyable novel. 4.5*

How can the unexpected death of a father impact his children and alter the family dynamic? Rachel Joyce gives the reader a view of just how this can occur in her new novel "The Homemade God". The adult children of Vic Kemp, a well known artist, are all so deeply and emotionally connected to their father and to one another that the slightest change could alter the relationships forever. When Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris learn of his recent marriage to Bella-Mae, a much younger woman, they begin to be concerned that Vic is under her influence. Vic and Bella-Mae travel to the family villa on Lake Orta so he can work on his art however Vic will unexpectedly die. The siblings will travel to the villa to begin the process of bringing their father home. Bella-Mae has other plans for Vic and it is here that we see the siblings bonds begin to fray as years of insecurities come to play. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing group for the opportunity to read the advanced e-book.

Another winner from prolific and talented writer Rachel Joyce. The Home Made God details the unraveling of the Kemp siblings Goose (Gustav) the unstable potential artist - Susan who lives in the shadow of the eldest sister Netta (Antoinetta) tyrannical and alcoholic. And finally Iris shy and withdrawn - living in the shadow of her other sisters - yet her fathers favorite - chosen to be subject of a borderline inappropriate portrait by her father Vic - the ersatz Homemade God - renowned artist and potential fraud. The story takes off when he runs to their summer home on an idyllic island in the middle of Lake Orta in Italy. A veritable garden of Eden from where all are eventually ejected. Vic is the catalyst of the tale when he fails head over heels in love with Bella Mae - the enigmatic figure who lives with her “cousin” Laszlo - and decides to marry her to the horror of the family. Who descend on the island when he is found drowned in Lake Orta with no will - and the sisters are not used to sharing their father. Slow at first - the story is a slow burn that picks up speed as more and more pieces of the puzzle are revealed. And the story ends in a flurry of family feelings - somehow Bella Mae turns out to be the catalyst for everyone’s - painful at times - growth into the people they are meant to be. A touching family saga of death - rebirth - regeneration- and life ultimately. Each character is superbly drawn - and the book is beautifully crafted. Rachel Joyce is a helluva writer and she knows where the story is going - and there is no dry eyes in the house by the end. Thanks to Net Galley and Random House and Dial Press For a free review copy !#thehomemadegod #netgalley #dialpress #ramdomhouse

This story and its characters are very compelling. The final chapters made me realize how invested I was in each of their stories. It did take me about 100 pages for the story to get off the ground, but once I reached the lake I could not put it down. Reflecting on the writing, I think most of the foreshadowing was unnecessary - the plot would have stood on its own without it Recommended for anyone looking for a family drama centered summer read.

A larger than life artist father. A mother who died when the children were very young. Four adult siblings who remain stunted by their unusual and chaotic upbringing. A very young new and mysterious new wife for the father. And then a calamity - death, missing paintings, a mysterious cousin,all taking placing in a crumbling Italian villa during a heatwave. Joyce takes all these pieces and weaves them into a mostly sad, sometimes surprising, occasionally infuriating story about the summer when it all falls apart. Perfect for fans of family melodrama, particularly with misbehaving siblings who do more damage to themselves and each other than one could think possible. Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC.

Rachel Joyce has done it again, and by 'it,' I mean created a fascinating world, stocked it with memorable characters, and then let them play out their drama in surprising ways. The Homemade God is a family story, but not what those words immediately call to mind. There's nothing sentimental about this family, The Kemps are kept together by the gravitational pull of the narcissist at the family's center: Vic, a well-known artist, although the quality of his art is more than subjective. Three daughters and one son revolve around him and that is exactly the way Vic needs it. But when he announces -- early on in the book -- that he's getting married after decades of dalliances, the status quo goes off like a bomb.

Just as with Miss Benson's Beetle, The Homemade God is hard to put down. And it's not just that it's an engrossing read. Joyce doesn't hand you all the answers immediately, which is what elevates this novel.

Recommend.

When I saw this new book by Rachel Joyce I was eager to read it as I loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye; The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey ; Maureen and the Music Shop and are in the middle of reading Miss Benson's Beetle by this author. It was not what I expected, but found myself engrossed in the family dynamic of the Kemp family. Their father was a famous painter. He meets the love of his life online in his golden years. Of course the children are concerned as they have never met the lady and all they really know is she is much younger than him. There is a mystery to solve, but the main focus is on the family. The characters are well written and you feel you really understand and sympathize with them as the story unfolds. I did enjoy this book and I also recommend the Harold Frye series. Thank you to NetGalley and Dial Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'll start my review by sending out a big thank you to the author, Rachel Joyce, Random House (Dial Press), and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release. Even though this was a tougher read as far as emotional turmoil, it brought a lot of reflection on family, grief, love to the surface, which was powerful to read and experience from the perspective of the characters.

The sibling group of Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris are re-uiniting the wake of the death of their father, an enigmatic and renowned artist who had been living in Italy with his much younger bride, Bella-Mae. To further add to the mystery of his death, his final masterpiece is missing. The siblings are grappling with what could've happened to him at the same time as figuring out how to communicate with each other when there are simmering tensions and resentments surfacing. The characters are played off of each other so well throughout the story, and each has their own individual voice. I was wondering whose motivations would rise to the top in the end, and even though the pacing was a tad slow in the beginning, the last half brought the strings together in a way that felt really well-planned. The tension between the siblings' bond, how it was tested and strengthened, felt so relatable.

If you like epic family dramas, character-centered stories, or generational mysteries, you'll likely enjoy! I'd recommend this book to fans of Ann Patchett and Kristin Hannah's books. I was very easily able to see this one made into a film with roles full of potential to be explored by talented actors. Considering the more emotional content and the mature themes of infidelity/family dysfunction, I think it's most appropriate for readers aged 18 and up.

Major Tropes & Themes:

- family/sibling story
- grief, parent loss
- mystery/suspense
- identity
- isolation/reunion
- art

3.4 out of 5 stars