This is the story of four siblings dealing with the death of their father. There’s really not much of a plot. It’s more a rendering of each character’s reaction in terms of both their relationship with their father and with each other. To be honest, I had a difficult time keeping interested. The story meandered with repetitious self-thoughts among the siblings. There was some resolution at the end that almost saved the book for me.

I dislike being negative because I know how much time and effort go into an author’s attempt to tell a story. My opinions are my own, and there are many other reviewers who enjoyed this book. To each his own as the old saying goes.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this offering.

I love Rachel Joyce. I love her rich and three-dimensional characters. I love her immersive stories. I love how when you finish her novel, you are left with a feeling of being full after a delicious meal. The Homemade God is full of adult children whose lives are stunted because they have continually revolved around their father.

Their father who marries a very young woman that none of them have met and dies soon after. Now they travel to Italy to figure out what happened, who this woman is, and how their father died. And they each come undone one by one. The time on the island changes each of them in irrevocable ways. This is a story about family, and the roles we can slip into and stay stuck in for a long, long time. The hold our parents can have on us. The pieces of ourself that we give up along the way, never to realize how much of it we've sacrificed.

It's a beautiful story, beautifully told. That I grew to love each of those unlikable characters serves as a testament to the powerful storytelling and character building talent of Joyce.

with gratitude to netgalley and The Dial Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 ⭐️
Expected publication date - June 24, 2025

WHAT I LOVED - The ending. I thought everything wrapped up nicely, with no unaswered questions. The wedding made me very happy, more specifically, who got married.

WHAT I LIKED - The relationships between the siblings. I am the oldest of 4, also 3 sisters and a brother, so I am always fascinated and comparing the strange dynamics between my real life and fictional, but similar ones.

WHAT I DISLIKED - The story was a little slow, with some very long chapters, but it definitely held my interest.

WOULD I RECOMMEND? Yes. If you like a good family saga, this was pretty good. I am currently waiting for my daughter to go into labor, and this story was a nice read that did not add to my already very anxious mind.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, for this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I've loved everything Rachel Joyce has written, and while some have said that THE HOMEMADE GOD is her best yet, this novel fell flat for me. In Joyce's other stories, I've developed a great affection for the characters she has created. In THE HOMEMADE GOD, Vic Kemp's four children (Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris) and his new wife (Bella-Mae) and not particularly likeable. They are complex people, but for readers like me who prefer to connect emotionally with characters, this book may be a struggle. Added to that, for the first two-thirds of the book, there is no central character, but instead, the novel focuses on the complex relationships among the siblings, their father, and his new wife. It's only in Part III that Goose (Gustav) becomes the focus of the tale.

The plot of the book explores the mystery of Vic Kemp's death and his last painting. This moves the the story along, but I didn't find it compelling. If Joyce hadn't written this book, I may not have finished it.

There are finely crafted details, to be sure -- such as the metaphor and meaning of the novel's title -- but this novel seems a significant departure from Joyce's previous books.

This is a captivating story that will most likely turn heads as readers think about what's inside their own family drama.

Vic was recognized as a famous artist with signed prints, posters and cards everywhere. He was also the proud father of four: Netta, Susan, Gustave and Iris. Sadly, his wife, Martha, died when the kids were young. It was all about how he developed the closeness and love within the family. Yet, the kinship changed when they were on their own and he revealed some interesting news.

If you think your family has sibling rivalry and tension, read this book. You may be able to relate on some level. It contains a number of emotional layers: competition, manipulation, conflicts, secrets and yes there still is love.

The handful of characters are well developed and it’s easy to imagine what they may look like in your mind. You may not like everyone but you certainly won’t forget them -- at least for a while. It’s well written and articulated.

My thanks to The Dial Press and NetGalley with the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of June 24, 2025.

Since I had read a number of Rachel Joyce’s books previously I was happy to be able to read The Homemade God thru NetGalley. It’s a totally different experience from the Harold Fry books but just as enthralling. The novel centers on a family of 4 siblings and their famous artist father who is larger than life! After his death cracks appear in their relationships and the drama is well written. I enjoyed the focus on the different female characters but especially like reading the ending thru the viewpoint of the only son.

I am a fan of this author. When I was offered a free arc of this book, I jumped at the chance. What follows is my own unbiased opinion.
I found the opening a bit slow going. We must get to know five major characters, four adult children and an overbearing father, before anything can happen, which is a tall order.
The father, wealthy and in his seventies, announces that he plans to marry a much younger woman. The woman isn’t present, but it seems she is controlling and probably a gold digger. Each sibling handles this news in a different manner.
As the novel goes on and the prospective wife doesn’t show, the novel speeds up considerably. Who is this woman, why is she hiding, and how evil is she? Also the book becomes quite atmospheric with stunning descriptions of an Italian villa and its surrounding lake. I enjoyed the setting and got quite hooked into the mystery.
Wow, things certainly do twist though! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like this novel.
I personally liked Miss Benson’s Beetle more, even though I would say this story goes much deeper and is more complex. I would lie to give it 4 1/2 stars due to the slow start, but, since I can’t, I’ll say it is closer to a 5 than a 4.
This author’s books are always worthwhile.

It's a good story with a lot happening that I was immediately hooked by. It's funny, it's sad, there's a bit of a mystery but not really. The characters feel true to life and life real people. Overall, I liked it.

When the widowed, semi-renowned, semi-pornogrpahic artist Vic Kemp drowns in the lake outside his Italian villa, his four loser-ish, semi-estranged adult children go retrieve his body. Also, Vic had suddenly married an inappropriately young artist none of them had met in the weeks preceding his death. Bella-Mae. This complicates things for the grieving siblings. Obviously, they're suspicious to varying degrees but unexpected events take place over the course of the summer that changes each of the siblings' lives for good.

What I like about this story was the time all the characters spent together at the Italian villa. With a heatwave in the background and the lingering question about who exactly Bella-Mae is, the siblings once solid roles in their family unit start to come apart. How each of them deals with grief is different. How they evolve or possibly devolve is interesting.

What I don't like is the structure. I'm so sick of every novel having to hop around in time. Can stories not be told in a linear fashion anymore? Something interesting happens at the end of the chapter, start the next chapter and we're reading about someone's memories from 20 years ago. At a certain point, it's like please just get on with it. Of course, all this time weaving is done with great skill in this book so it's not as painful as usual.

I felt neutral about Bella-Mae. Bella-Mae was weird and the chapter dedicated towards her point of view towards the ending was overly generous. For someone who didn't care about possessions, she sure took her part of the estate of a man she knew for a few months.

I thought the ending fell short and felt rushed. It's nice everyone gets a happy ending but I think it could have been stronger if it just ended with the brother leaving the island, implying he goes on to be an artist. There is no room for ambiguity anymore so I guess everything must be explained.

Overall it's a very good read that kept my attention. It'll probably be a good TV show.

Round up to 3.5. The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is a family drama that focuses on the bond between siblings. The novel follows the four adult children of a well-known artist who are left reeling after his sudden wedding and then his subsequent suspicious death in Italy. As they gather at his Italian home to sort out his affairs, they must also find a way to deal with their father’s much younger wife. They must also navigate their complicated relationships with each other and with themselves.
The mysteries surrounding their father’s death and his missing final masterpiece are intended to add suspense but ultimately they fall flat. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters and the slowly unfolding plot line made the book feel longer than necessary. Granted, it took longer than normal to read this book so maybe my focus just wasn’t there. While the Homemade God has its merits, I found it a little too slow moving for my liking. However, fans of character-driven stories will likely appreciate the author’s thought-provoking writing. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC Advance Reader Copy of this novel for review purposes.

A surprisingly heavy novel from Joyce, the Homemade God tells the story of four adult children and their relationship with their artist father. Looking at themes like love, art and death, the story seamlessly moves from person to person, showing how their lives are both individual and intertwined. Joyce’s writing is impeccable and while finishing list book left me more confused than when I started it, I truly enjoy her perspective on the world.

I'm a big Rachel Joyce fan and was exciting to receive a copy of her latest book on NetGalley.

The book's premise is that even with close-knit families, there are dark undercurrents. The plot revolves around four siblings whose father has suddenly died. They convene to determine what happened and to grieve. The plot is quite suspenseful and keeps you wondering what will happen next.

However, I was unable to really connect with any of the characters and found myself skimming through the pages because of so many details. The subplot after the story ended just seemed to be forced. The actual ending at the very end was perfect.

I found this to be a sad tale of siblings who were once close and dependent on each other, who let their father's death tear them apart. I puzzled about the title; it is only referenced in the last sentence on the book. Maybe I missed the author's message, but it seemed unrelated to the tale.

Famous painter, Vic Kemp, surprises his four adult children with the news he is remarrying a much younger woman. Vic and Bella-Mae then travel to his Italian villa so he can paint his latest enormous masterpiece. When the children get the news Vic has died mysteriously, they all travel to the villa to find out what happened - and to search for Vic's will and his masterpiece. This is a character-driven novel, but luckily there isn't much navel-gazing. We learn the history of the family through their actions and memories, but we never learn much about Bella-Mae or her so-called cousin, Lazslo. That leads the children - and the reader - to be suspicious of them and their motives. I enjoyed the way the author pulled all their stories together in the end, including Bella-Mae's. Thank-you to Ms. Joyce, Dial Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

Those of you who like character-driven novels (vs. plot-driven) will enjoy this family drama of three sisters and one brother who reunite at their artist father's home in Italy after his sudden death. At first it seems like this might be a murder mystery as the siblings try to understand what really happened to their father -- ands I think I might have enjoyed it more myself if that was true. But the novel goes in a different direction and the story is less about what happened to their father (and whether his 27-year old widow is responsible for his death or not) and more about the unraveling the mystery of what damage that the father Vic had caused to each of his children during his life. The build up of the novel was a little slow for me, particularly because I didn't love any of the characters and didn't feel like I was rooting for any one of them, but about 60% in, it kicked up and I started liking it a lot more. Again, if you love character-driven novels -- definitely pick this up. If like me, you prefer plot-driven, then I might take a pass on this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. I've enjoyed other titles from this author and was excited to read another by Rachel Joyce.

It has taken me a bit to write a review as I let this book sit with me for a while after reading. This book is about siblings who have always been close that become torn about by the relationship of their elderly famous artist father, Vic, who becomes involved with a much younger woman, Bella-Mae.
As you begin to understand the dynamics of Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris, the children of Vic, you learn that they are held together in their own dysfunctional worlds by each other. They learn of their father's relationship with much younger Bella-Mae that Vic plans on marrying. They can't comprehend the influence that this mysterious Bella-Mae, who they have not yet met and seems to elude them at every chance, has on their father. You as the reader are also suspect of Bella-Mae's intentions.

Vic, leaves England and takes refuge to the family's villa on an Italian isle to create his final masterpiece and marry Bella-Mae.
The children are called to the island after the mysterious death of Vic. The finally meet the elusive new bride. They are all thrown together under the same roof, awaiting an autopsy report on the cause of Vic's death and things begin to unravel. Netta, an alcoholic lawyer, succumbs to drink certain that Bella-Mae has hidden Vic's final masterpiece for herself and likely killed their father. Susan, in a loveless marriage, whose lifelong aspirations to become a chef, falls for Bella-Mae's Italian cousin. Iris, in a hidden relationship with much older Harry, Vic's manager, opens up to Bella-Mae. Goose, the true artist of the family, learns about himself and realizes that his father, a horrible artist, was in fact envious of his son's talent. There is a pivotal moment in the book at a memorial dinner when everything blows apart. Too much drink is had, words are spoken that can not be unspoken, Vic's true talent is revealed, and their relationship with one another dissolves. They all retreat back to their lives.

Years go by and Goose sums it up beautifully in the end. Bella-Mae was a catalyst for them to come into their own. Netta gives up her drink, Susan leaves for France to go to culinary school and eventually open up a restaurant. Goose meets the love of his life and becomes the artist of the family. Iris, finds true love. They all come back together at Goose's marriage. Goose thinks all the good that came to be because of Bella-Mae.

The book captured me from the start. There were times when I did not like some of the characters, but having siblings, it makes you realize we are all not perfect, we are all dysfunctional to a point, and your family will always be your family and there for you.
I liked the setting of Italy and some of the conversational Italian in the book.
This book was enjoyable.

The Homemade God, by Rachel Joyce, is a character driven deep-dive into love, grief, siblings and what happens to a family when the larger-than-life patriarch unexpectedly dies. Without a will. And with a new, much younger, wife. Strength, perseverance and familial bonds are at the center of this beautifully written novel. Lives change, relationships are tested, but after a long hot summer together trying to rebuild the family, love truly prevails.

Vic Kemp is an eccentric and larger-than-life father to four adult children. Losing his wife when his children were young, Vic spent more time on his artistic career (such as it was) instead of focusing on the raising of his son and three daughters. Although his talent was lacking, Vic pursued his artistic passion and found his niche of buyers who eventually made him a wealthy man.

Vic's children are shocked when he tells them that he plans to marry a 27-year-old woman whom they have never met and who is 49 years his junior. Vic and his fiancé, Bella-Mae, become more elusive, eventually traveling to the Vic's lake home in Italy to be married and where Vic plans to paint what he believes to be his masterpiece. It is in Italy, where Vic is found dead in the lake with no will and no masterpiece to be found. It is also in Italy where the four children travel to unravel what happened to their father and to hopefully meet their young stepmother in order to find answers to their father's death.

While the premise is intriguing, I felt that most of the book was so character driven (with little in the way of plot), that it was a hard to keep my focus. It was only toward the end of the book, where the action starts to pick up, that I found it to be a satisfying read. I understand now why Rachel Joyce chose to develop her characters in detail since it created a more meaningful ending.

A slow pace for most of the book, but an ending that showcases the complicated bonds of family and what it takes to understand one's own worth.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #RandomHouse|DialPress for this electronic ARC of #TheHomemadeGod.

Rachel Joyce once again delivers a poignant, layered family drama in The Homemade God, following four siblings brought together after their eccentric father’s sudden death. As they confront his mysterious young widow and the absence of a promised final painting, long-buried secrets unravel. Joyce always imbues her books with warmth, wit, and compassion, this novel explores how family shapes us—and how truth is often more complicated than we’re ready to admit.

This one was a letdown for me it was all character driven with not much plot and it was just boring
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

Rachel Joyce is one of my go-to authors and this new novel, about a world-famous artist and his four grown children, is a worthy addition to her collection. When 76-year-old Vic Kemp asks his children to gather for an announcement, they are sure it is in regard to the masterpiece that he is reportedly working on. Instead, he announces his upcoming marriage…to 27-year-old (!) Bella Mae. When little can be found out about their step-mother-to-be – she avoids meeting with the siblings and their father becomes more and more secretive – suspicion grows as to her intent. (mild spoiler) When Vic is found dead by an apparent accident at his lake home in Italy, his children come together to confront Bella Mae and find out what exactly happened.

This book is written in an unusual style. Chapters end on apparent cliff-hangers but resolve within a paragraph or two in the next chapter. At times, I was convinced I was reading a thriller, only for the prose to settle back time and again to literary fiction. The characters were well-written and the relationships between them well drawn out. The setting – a somewhat crumbling house on Lake Orta in Italy – was immersive and added character to the story. I flew through the pages, anxious to see how things would be resolved. It was a satisfying trip, and the book is recommended to Joyce fans and all other readers of literary fiction. (NetGalley labels the book Women’s Fiction, but I feel its appeal is broader than that.)