I was so thrilled to see that Rachel Joyce had a new book coming out. She is a skilled writer in that her subject, settings, and characters are so varied from book to book. The common thread is that they all have a depth that pulls me in as a reader every time.

This book was no exception. I love a family drama with lots of siblings, and this one struck a chord. My family of origin has three girls and a boy, and this family had the same. The similarities ended here, as this family is very different from mine. I had a hard time finding any common ground with any of the main characters, but I was still intrigued.

The book starts very strong with a bit of a mystery. Vic Kemp is a 76-year-old, famous artist and the father of these four siblings. The mother passed many years ago, and Vic is dating and then marries a mysterious 27-year-old woman, Bella-Mae. Vic takes off to Italy with Bella-Mae, they get married, and soon after, Vic drowns. Is it an accident, or was there foul play at work?

The four siblings all congregate in Italy and their lake house to figure out what to do and how to live without their father. The grief, sibling dynamics, and relationship with Bella-Mae make for a compelling read. The unraveling of the siblings that caused a rift surprised me.

Joyce always delights me with her endings, and I loved this one as well!

A huge thank you to Random House/The Dial Press for providing me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review via NetGalley.

The Homemade God is a poignant and layered exploration of grief, family dynamics, and the complicated legacy of a larger-than-life parent. Rachel Joyce masterfully captures the emotional landscape of four adult siblings grappling with the sudden death of their famous, difficult father and the unsettling presence of his much-younger new wife. Set against the idyllic backdrop of Lake Orta, the novel unfolds with both wit and tenderness as the siblings wrestle with old rivalries, childhood wounds, and the truth behind their father’s final days. The mystery of the missing will and unfinished painting adds intrigue, but it's the emotional unraveling—and reconnection—of the family that truly captivates.
Awarded four stars, The Homemade God is a beautifully written meditation on the power of memory, the weight of familial expectations, and the struggle to redefine oneself in the wake of loss. While some plot points feel a bit familiar in the genre of literary family drama, the novel stands out for its nuanced character work and moments of unexpected humor and grace. Joyce brings warmth and insight to a story that ultimately reminds us that healing is rarely linear—and love, in all its imperfect forms, is worth fighting for.

I found The Homemade God extremely sad. Full of family drama, alcoholism and dysfunction, it follows 3 adult children on a journey of self awareness.

I had to DNF this book at 40%. I couldn't get engaged. I tried, but the emotionally stunted, almost cartoon characters of the siblings had me simultaneously yawning and rolling my eyes. Sadly the "mystery" of Bella-Mae and the demise of Vic was not enough to keep me reading. Combine the character development with the repetition and bloated descriptions of things and...I just couldn't anymore.

3 dysfunctional family stars

I have really enjoyed some of this author’s previous books, so I didn’t hesitate when picking this one. Unfortunately, these characters didn’t resonate with me as much as some of her earlier characters.

Vic Kemp is a famous artist with four children. Sadly, his wife died when the children were young. I couldn’t help but think about how different all their lives would have been had she lived.

The oldest, Netta, is an attorney and was forced into a parental role early. Susan enjoys cooking and cleaning for her family. Goose (Gustav) is an artist forced to internalize his art, and Iris is the youngest and most devoted to her father.

Vic has a huge personality, drinking too much and supporting many of his children in a not completely healthy way. When Vic shares big news with his children that he’s met someone and plans to remarry, it doesn’t go well. He hasn’t known Bella-Mae that long, and she’s quite a bit younger than he is on top of it. It’s no wonder his children have questions.

Vic escapes to the family villa in Italy and informs his kids that he’s married Bella-Mae. He’s lost a lot of weight and stopped drinking. The kids worry that Bella-Mae is harming him. Before the kids can do anything, Vic is found dead in the lake.

They all head out for Lake Orta, determined to find the last painting their father was working on and to claim their inheritance. We finally meet Bella-Mae, and she’s interesting! There’s a bit of a mystery swirling around everything.

The book explores how each person copes with grief and seeks someone to blame for their loss. Is it all Bella-Mae’s fault? How will each of them move on after the death of their father? Will they ever find his will and last painting?

This book did not capture my attention easily, and it never really drew me into the story. It was a slow story that went on and on and never really engaged me. The characters were not that interesting - I kept wanting to know more about Bella-Mae, but since she was a mystery to the siblings, we, as the readers, also did not get to know her. This made it difficult for me to see why the dad would be so interested in her, unless she was just leading him on, which she really wasn't, so that part of the story fell a bit flat for me. The story was too drawn out and did not have enough plot and action to keep me focused, and the descriptions and language were not powerful enough to make the book good despite the lack of plot and action. I thank NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc, but I would not highly recommend this book.

A story of family, of love, loss, and the bonds that hold this family together.

This was a very different story from this author. It is a bit darker than her other stories that I've read, but I enjoyed how much this evolved over time.


Pub Date: Jul 08 2025

Many thanks for the opportunity to read Rachel Joyce's latest!

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is a solid, character-driven family drama set against the lush backdrop of the Italian lakes, following four siblings as they reunite after their eccentric artist father’s sudden death and the mysterious arrival of his much younger new wife. While I appreciated the vivid setting and Joyce’s skill in portraying realistic, flawed family dynamics, I found the pacing a bit slow at times and didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters as I’d hoped. The novel’s strength lies in its nuanced exploration of sibling rivalry, grief, and the search for identity, but the understated ending left me wanting a bit more impact. Overall, it’s a thoughtful read with beautiful prose and a quietly immersive atmosphere—worth picking up if you enjoy reflective literary fiction about complicated families. Thanks to NetGalley for the ebook.

This is my first Rachel Joyce read and let me tell you, it will not be my last.

This story is about family and everything that comes along with that six letter word! I mean you get raw messy emotions, you get growth.

The idea of the tortured artist is nothing new. We've seen it time and time again throughout history. But what Rachel Joyce does in The Homemade God feels different. The artist in question isn’t even the main character. In fact, he’s already gone by the time the novel begins. What we’re left with are his four adult children, gathering at their family’s summer home on Lake Orta in Italy, trying to make sense of everything he left behind—including what led to his death.

There’s definitely a mystery threaded through the story. In the months leading up to his death in London, their father’s behavior changed. A much younger woman entered his life. His kids were concerned. And then he was gone. What follows is an intricate exploration of family dynamics—how memory can shift, how we hold onto stories, and how easily we can drift apart or come back together. It's not so much about the artist himself, but about the emotional mess left in his wake, and the people trying to make sense of it.

This isn’t your standard mystery, so don’t go in expecting a thriller. But if you’re drawn to messy family relationships, unresolved childhood pain, and the weight of grief, The Homemade God might be one to add to your list. The subject matter gets intense at times, but the writing is thoughtful, the characters feel real, and the Italian lake setting adds a quiet beauty that fits perfectly with a summer read.

Thank you Netgally for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. Vic told his four kids that he found the love of his life, a woman younger than his youngest child. Vic and Bella-Mae run off to his Italian villa and get married seemingly overnight. Now their father is dead and they are on the mission to find out if it was murder, where the will is and also Vic's final masterpiece he told his kids he was painting.

This book didn't turn out at all what I thought it would. I was expecting a thriller and not a novel on broken family dynamics. For someone that reads for the easy story, this book was ok. For someone looking for beautiful writing, this would be in your wheelhouse. #TheHomemadeGod #RachelJoyce #RandomHouse #July2025

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is a story about a family that breaks apart after the death of their father. Vic Kemp, an artist, raised 4 children alone after the death of his wife. Now his children, Netta,, Susan, Goose and Iris, are grown. He is 76 years old, and decides to marry a 27 year old that the children have never met. Vic and Belle-Mae go to his Island home in Italy and get married. Vic hopes to finish a new painting, taking his art into a new direction. He drowns and his children are called to the island to deal with his death. They finally meet his new wife and that does not go well. They cannot find a will, all his paintings are gone and his new one is no where to be found. Everyone gets on each others nerves, Netta accuses Belle-Mae of killing him, and their family relationships fall apart.

The story was very dragged out in a number of sections. There was great detail given about the children and their dealings, but with no relevance to the story. I felt that I really didn’t care. They all seemed to be very fractured after their mother’s death and never recovered, especially since she was dead for a good many years. I had never read any of Rachel Joyce’s books and after this one, I have no desire to seek any out.

I would like to thank Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. Joyce captures readers in the first few pages and keeps you engaged as you travel the world. The characters have depth and leave you feeling their emotions after the last page. Looking forward to Joyce's next novel!

"With sparkling wit and insight, this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry reminds us that family is everything, even when it falls apart.

There is a heatwave across Europe, and four siblings have gathered at their family's lake house to seek answers about their father, a famous artist, who recently remarried a much younger woman and decamped to Italy to finish his long-awaited masterpiece.

Now he is dead. And there is no sign of his final painting.

As the siblings try to piece together what happened, they spend the summer in a state of lawlessness: living under the same roof for the first time in decades, forced to confront the buried wounds they incurred as his children, and waiting for answers. Though they have always been close, the things they learn that summer - about themselves - and their father - will drive them apart before they can truly understand his legacy. Meanwhile, their stepmother's enigmatic presence looms over the house. Is she the force that will finally destroy the family for good?

Wonderfully atmospheric, at heart this is a novel about the bonds of siblinghood - what happens when they splinter, and what it might take to reconnect them."

If you can't spend the summer in Italy feuding with family, this can transport you there!

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

While Rachel Joyce’s other books were very charming, this one absolutely fell flat for me. It was very disappointing. I did not like any of the characters, though I never felt I got to know them. The story was long and drawn out while the adult children pined over this very selfish man called their father.

I honestly skimmed a lot of it just to get through. Two stars for me and here’s hoping Rachel Joyce regroups to write some more of the fun books I know her for.

The Homemade God is a rich and captivating read that draws you in from the first to the last page.

It is the story of the four Kemp siblings who reunite after the sudden death of their father.

Their father would never win Dad of the Year.

The family dynamics are complicated and their childhood memories are not the best and each sibling has their own take and memory of their childhood.

Underlying all this is the mystery of their Dad's suspicious death.

I was intrigued by it all and found it hard to put the book down.

Rachel Joyce writes beautifully and the atmosphere is so scenic I felt I was right there.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this compelling story The Homemade God.

The Homemade God was just okay. There were parts I was engrossed in and then parts where I really didn’t care to keep reading and wasn’t really sure where the story was going. I typically enjoy Rachel Joyce books, but this one fell a little flat. Not bad, just not great.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

Beautifully heartbreaking portrayal of grief and love. I love messy family dynamics and this one does it well. The mystery kept me invested with the slow unravel. It’s slow to start but glad I stuck with it.

Larger than life artist, Vic, shocks his four adult children by telling them he’s marrying Bella Mae, a woman half his age, and dying days later. The family descends on their once idyllic Italian villa in to confront the truth of who Bella Mae really is and what happened to their father and along the way deal with the deep seeded trauma of their unconventional childhood.

This is a novel of family drama, stunted adult children, and strained family relations. While I was engaged by elements of the mystery surrounded Bella Mae and Vic’s death, I found most of the characters so unlikable it was hard to become too invested. I loved Joyce’s previous novel The Likely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye but this didn’t come together for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this advanced reader copy.

4 stars

By chance, this was my second book in a row featuring sibling dynamics - a favorite topic - and this one really hit the mark.

Four siblings - Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris - are raised by their wild father, Vic, who is an artist, an alcohol enthusiast, and a single parent after his wife (the children's mother) dies young. Vic is a challenging character whose selfishness pervades his actions and the ways in which he raises his young children and treats them as adults (when readers get to know them). Vic dies quite unexpectedly, and the children attempt to make sense of the circumstances, especially since there is a new young wife in the picture whom none of them have even met. The situation is so difficult and unbelievable that they're not even sure if they're dealing with an accidental death or a homicide.

As is so often the case with an impactful death, this event absolutely disrupts and changes the kind of relationship the siblings have with each other and their understandings of how their father impacted their lives. The young widow becomes a fascinating character who offers little of herself but really becomes a vehicle through which readers learn more about each of the siblings.

Though I experienced some inconsistent pacing with this read, I remained fully engaged and interested in each character's outcomes. I found the ending satisfying, which made me appreciate the journey even more.

I recommend this one for a great sense of place, sibling dynamics, and an intriguing study on how a dirtbag parent can impact their kids in more than just the expected ways.