
Member Reviews

Families are complicated. Sibling relationships are especially so, especially when parental relationships affect them. The Homemade God encapsulates that theme by creating such dynamic characters with such large flaws, but also sympathetic at the same time. The Italian setting is the perfect place to explore this in the shadow to a tragic death and bit...of a mystery surrounding it. I have to admit I thought it would be more of a murder mystery/thriller, but I really appreciated the direction it took.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the ARC.

I’ve read several of Rachel Joyce’s previous novels and was excited to get the opportunity to read her most recent, The Homemade God. The author always writes distinctive characters and this latest novel includes several. Four siblings who essentially raised themselves and who have always been very close, are shocked to learn that their artist father is involved with a much younger woman. Eventually, the siblings end up at the family villa in Italy, where much of the novel unfolds.
Each sibling has a unique personality and while at first their relationships seem straightforward, we eventually see how complicated each is, similar to the messiness of real life. I found Goose, the only brother, to have the purest of hearts and was happy that the last section of the novel focused on him. Each sibling has their own struggles and insecurities and sometimes make pretty bad choices, but it all contributes to a solid novel of family relationships. If you’ve enjoyed the author’s prior work and/or enjoy character-driven, family sagas, you should give this a go!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Dial Press for the chance to read and review this digital ARC.

I wanted to like this book but ultimately did not . The father, Vic, was narcissistic, neglectful father and a very unlikelable character. When he unexpectedly drowned, his kids were grief stricken. It was hard to believe the grief given what a horrible father he had been. I found the book to be slow.

Real Rating: 3.5* of five
My very unloved father remarried (I liked my stepmother, big loud lady she was) shortly after my equally unloved mother left him. The central problem for these spoiled, neglected twits is they're afraid they won't get revenge on the old man by having all his worldly goods. The role of Cordelia in this remake of King Lear is played by Goose, the brother, denied the life he wanted for being not what his father demanded.
Big, noisy drama ensues, the young widow gets a real working-over by these bratty twits. I finished it because I love some sudsy silliness. I'm not sure I'll remember much about it tomorrow, but it did its job by distracting me from the world for six hours.
The Dial Press will lighten your wallet by $13.99 for an ebook. Libraries are, for now, still free.

I have a fondness for nearly all novels about dysfunctional families, and this one was exceptional. Joyce offers a great perspective on how children transition into adulthood, illustrating how their experiences are profoundly influenced by their parents during both childhood and later life.

I had high hopes for The Homemade God—the premise sounded original and full of potential. Unfortunately, the book didn’t live up to it. The pacing was slow, the writing felt flat, and I found the characters difficult to connect with. They were so very unlikable, which made it hard to care about their journeys. What could have been a gripping or thought-provoking story ended up feeling dull and drawn-out. Disappointing overall.

The Homemade God is an epic family saga about 4 siblings who travel to their family's Italian lake house to figure out why their father died suddenly. They are suspicious because he just married a woman younger than they are. But there are a lot of secrets and tensions between family members and everything is about to unravel before their eyes. I love character based stories and family sagas but this one was a little hard to follow. It did all come together eventually and have a beautiful ending though.

Rating: 4 stars
The Homemade God is a beautifully layered family drama set at a lakeside villa in Italy, where four estranged siblings reunite after the sudden death of their father—a famous but deeply flawed artist. What begins with hints of a mystery involving his young widow, Bella-Mae, quickly becomes a nuanced exploration of grief, legacy, and the complicated bonds between siblings.
Rachel Joyce’s strength lies in her ability to capture the quiet tensions of family life. Each sibling is vividly drawn, and their unresolved childhood wounds come to the surface as they confront both the past and each other. The novel’s slow burn pays off in the second half, where long-buried truths emerge and emotional facades begin to crack.
Joyce’s prose is tender and observant, painting the characters and their memories with care. While it’s not a traditional mystery, this is a rewarding and quietly powerful story about identity, forgiveness, and the illusions families create—and eventually must face.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't enjoy reading "The Homemade God." I endured it. That's a shame, too, because I've liked previous books by Rachel Joyce and anticipated enjoying this one, too.
Unfortunately, I didn't like any of our characters much, and the story dragged on and on and on. I thought I finally had reached the end of this story only for it to continue . . . again and again.
Four messed-up adult children of a drunken lout "artist" go to the family island to retrieve his dead body. They were temporarily estranged from their father because he married a woman who was younger than his children. A month after the wedding, he is dead. Suspicious much? His kids think so.
Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind for this book. I've seen other reviews from readers who just loved it. It just didn't do it for me.

Thank you to publisher, Random House|Dial Press for providing with E-ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review*
3.5⭐️
This was my first book by Rachel Joyce</b>, so I had no idea what to expect from the story. When I read the book's summary, it caught my curiosity enough to make me want to read it and find out what happens. Yet, The Homemade God wasn't what I had expected the story to be about; I thought it would be more mystery, but it mostly consisted of family drama. Even though I enjoy reading about family drama and have read a few books on the subject, I felt there was too much drama in this book. I understood why the siblings couldn’t seem to agree on some things, but it felt that all they did was argue. However, following the death of their father, they did come together and try to figure out what happened. I do think that siblings love each other, even if they don’t show it.
I enjoyed how vivid some of the writing was, particularly while they were in Italy. I enjoy books that take place in Italy. I liked that the story had a bit of mystery in it, even if it wasn't the type of mystery I was expecting. From the beginning, I felt curious about Bella Mae; sometimes I questioned if she was real, given how he appeared to keep her hidden. I couldn’t help but wonder what Bella Mae’s story was. I felt for her; I couldn’t imagine that it was easy to lose her husband so fast. In the beginning, I had trouble keeping up with all the siblings because some of the transitions were a bit confusing. However, as the book progressed, it go easier to keep up with them. I enjoyed the premise of the story, but I found myself unable to connect with half of the characters. I felt that some of the characters were more developed than the others.
I loved the end; it was one of my favorite parts of the novel. I liked how the author emphasized the complex connection between the four siblings. In overall, there were a few exciting events that kept me turning the pages, eager to see how everything would end. I'm thankful I had the chance to read this book.

This is a difficult book to review as sometimes family dynamic books hit close to home, especially for those of us who had terrible fathers. Vic, the father of 4 children who he ostensibly raised as a single father, is a relatively well known artist who psychologically abused all his children, especially his son, Goose.
The children were very close, because they only had themselves to lean on. Eventually there is a very emotional confrontation and this is where the book finally comes alive. The family goes back to a summer home in Italy where they spent happier times and that is where their world falls apart.
As we follow the family into the future Goose takes over the narration and I couldn't put the book down as tears flowed down my cheeks.
I have enjoyed most of Joyce's books, although I was an outlier on Miss Bensen's Beetles. For readers who enjoy family dynamics and learning about the art world, this will be an interesting book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. I am sure this book will be very popular. This review is my honest opinion.

FAMILY DRAMA…. And so much of it. A group of siblings are figuring out who they are in the shadow of their father, who is a famous artist. The sibling’s relationship isn’t always strong and steady. The relationship is strained even more when their father unexpectedly marries a much younger woman and decamps to the family’s lake house, where he drowns.
This is my first Rachel Joyce book. It is a mix of mystery, family drama, and coming of age, and I fully enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an advance review copy of this novel. #TheHomemadeGod #NetGalley

I have to admit I picked up this book because of the author - I like her books. Also, the title made me curious. How do you have a "homemade God"?
Description:
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?
My Thoughts:
I found the siblings relationship with their father strange and dysfunctional. They were just obsessive - all of them. The island setting seemed beautiful, and I loved the desciptions of the island. The siblings all had major baggage from growing up without their mother and their sometimes negligent artist father. Their father, to them, was a very famous, talented artist and when he died they wanted nothing more than to showcase his art. But that very young woman he had married was secretive and suspicious. The siblings were sure she would take everything. The revelations were surprising and profound. The siblings learned much about themselves over the summer, even thought it drove them apart. This book was slow at times, but definitely worth reading.
Thanks to Random House | The Dial Press through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Author Rachel Joyce has written wonderful books that revolve around quintessential characters making life changing decisions in the face of unusual circumstances. She is so very good at creating real, believable characters that exist somewhere just outside of our circle of friends. In THE HOMEMADE GOD she has created an entire family, with attributes that seem entirely recognizable. A group of siblings essentially raise themselves after the early death of their mother and the subsequent fame and fortune that surround their artist-father. Left to their own devices, they view their father as amazing and unattainable. That he might be completely unworthy of this adulation only occurs to them after his death, as they strive to come to turn with their losses. This close-knit group of sibs has only ever existing at counterpoint to their father and they quickly fall apart and at each other’s throats upon his absence. This is an excellent tale that kept me glued to every twist and turn as I thought about the various characters and their issues. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

At first I was underwhelmed by the story, but the more I read, the more I got involved in the characters. The four siblings who arrive at their late father's estate in northern Italy had miserable childhoods, due to their artist father's lack of attention or desire to parent. The siblings are shocked to discover that their father met a woman at least 50 years younger than he was.
Anyway, the approximately 30-to-40-year-old age range of the siblings, Netta, Susan, Goose (born Gustav) and Iris all have adult emotional issues related to their upbringings. They obviously are wary of their late father's hasty marriage to Bella-Mae (interesting name) and suspicious death, and demand an autopsy. The story reveals Vic's (the father) background in flashbacks. I don't want to give anything away, but this is definitely more of a character study than a murder mystery/thriller, and that is fine. I got to enjoy the quirkiness of the siblings and appreciated that each got a lot of "screen time," so to speak. My favorite chapter (17) described how, in preparing to sell the estate, they have to clear out Vic's possessions. Netta, the overbearing eldest child, hands out color-coded stickers to the others, instructing them to put stickers on the items they would like to claim. More than that, they have to rank each item from most desired to least desired in case of conflicts. The whole scenario is quite comical, and a break from the gloom of other sections of the story.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, and I will definitely check out Ms. Joyce's other books. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House/The Dial Press for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I read the arc for The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce. If I had a playlist for this book, it would consist of No Body, No Crime. The artist, Vic Kemp, announces to his four adult children, Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris that he is getting married! His late wife and the mother of the children, Martha, died when the kids were young. This led to a very chaotic childhood as their dad was a drunk. He could be fun but he was mercurial. An artist, but not recognized as great - certainly galleries and museums did not carry his art. The kids really were on their own and raised themselves and each other. Poor Iris as the baby really got the short end of that stick - she did not often attend school and her dyslexia was never diagnosed. Dad's fiance, Bella-Mae, whom they've never met is 27. Vic is 76. His youngest child, Iris, is six years older than Bella-Mae. Vic never introduces them and the kids begin to worry about what kind of gold digger she is, then Vic tells them they are married and he is going to Italy. Vic bought a lake house in Italy when he first became successful as an artist and kids spent summers there growing up. The house is on an island in the lake. Vic wants them to all come for the summer. The kids, at the urging of eldest daughter, Netta, are ignoring him. Then they get the phone call that Vic has died. It's two weeks after the wedding. Yeah. I think she did but I just can't prove it - thinks Netta. This is not really a whodunnit. It is a story of family and the dynamic of siblings and our assigned roles within our families and how all of that shifts with the loss of a parent, or the loss of your last parent. This is a well written if slightly depressing tale. This book is out today, July 8, 2025. Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group |The Dial Press for my e-arc.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance review copy of this novel.
Rachel Joyce has produced a list of much-applauded novels that probe the dynamics of family, relationships, aging and grief. This one, in my view, is her very best to date.
Though much of it is told through flashbacks to their childhood and youth, the story begins with the Kemp family in adulthood. The four siblings are Netta, a highly driven and hard bitten lawyer and very much the dominant force; sweet Susan, born not long after Netta, still idolizing her older sister despite always ranking lower at school, in activities, in their parents’ esteem and even where men are concerned; Gustav, called Goose, only son, gay but afraid of relationships; and Ellie, the seemingly vacuous baby sister who is still infantilized by her family. The sibling dynamic is dysfunctional on multiple levels, but there is a loving interdependence explained by their mother’s passing when they were very young. Ellie was an infant and has no memory of her.
Basically the Kemp children raised themselves while also taking care of their father, an alcoholic, womanizer, textbook narcissist and megalomaniac. But Victor Kemp, who has made a fortune as an untrained erstwhile artist of contemporary romance, is idealized in his children’s eyes. He makes stupid and selfish choices while persuading them that they’re all the happier for it. He is genuinely a con man whose best con is persuading even his own offspring that he always has only their interests in mind. Joyce remarkably keeps them oblivious to his hoaxes right to the end. When they finally open their eyes to what he has been all along, they are liberated from the emotionally heavy mythos that has surrounded him. But it is not simple or easy and it takes a toll on their self-identities and their relationships, especially with each other.
When the story begins, he has summoned his children to meet him at an unusual (for him) restaurant. He is visibly thinner, drinks only tea, and fiddles with his cellphone constantly. He has a new health regimen, a new girlfriend, and a new burst of creativity after a long period of producing no new art. They are immediately suspicious. Not long after, he texts a photo of his marriage to Bella-Mae, a much younger woman about whom he seems to know little. The couple are at the cherished family summer villa on Lake Orta in Italy. Not six weeks later, they learn that their father died by drowning.
The rest of the story unfolds at Lake Orta where they converge to find out what has happened. How did Vic, a strong swimmer, drown? Why was he swimming in a heavy mist when he had always insisted that it was dangerous? Where is his will? Of course they believe that Bella-Mae, whom they finally meet, and her strange cousin Laszlo, are behind everything.
This could be the classic tale of a besotted old man being taken by an evil young woman, and his children’s attempts at retribution. While their views about their mysterious stepmother and how to expose her take up much of the story after Vic’s death, that’s not really what it’s about. Each of them comes to terms with memories, real and false, about their father. This disrupts what they believe about themselves, and each other. Most of all, their father’s god-like facade cracks. There is heartbreak, distance and loneliness. He was, in fact, their very own ´homemade god.’ And like the gods of myth, he could make and break mere humans, even his own offspring.
Joyce writes exquisitely on the human condition, with a blend of cynicism and optimism. She is at times outright funny in its depiction, and ultimately shows that love is often truly powerful, perhaps especially in its distortions.

'The Homemade God' by Rachel Joyce is a family drama, following a group of siblings trying to forge their identities in the shadow of their famous artist father. Each has responded to their father differently over the years and this comes into stark light when they are faced with him marrying a young, mysterious artist.
Part mystery, part coming of age, part family drama, Joyce creates a cast of flawed, but somehow likable siblings, but some of the other characters feel like caricatures, or less developed. I found the book slow to start, but picked up for me once everyone was on the island. The lake home and island setting were a character in and of themselves in this this book, which I found enjoyable and it made me want to pack up and head for Italian lake country.
Thank you to Rachel Joyce and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of 'The Homemade God' in exchange for an honest review.

Having an eccentric, world-famous artist as a father means these adult siblings have already lived through some wild times. But when he suddenly loses a ton of weight, goes radio silent, and dies under suspicious circumstances, right after marrying a mysterious woman, their world turns upside down. As the story unfolds, so do the secrets of their individual lives, and while they finally get the answers they’ve been searching for, none of them come out unchanged.
The plot had enough twists and mystery to keep me interested, but the characters didn’t quite land for me. Maybe it was the narrative voice, but overall, this one just wasn’t a favorite of mine.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an advanced reader copy of The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce, the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Miss Benson’s Beetle, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This novel is less of a mystery than I initially expected and more of a complex family drama. It focuses on the four adult children of Vic Kemp, an infamous artist. Netta, Susan, Gustav and Iris come together at their summer villa on Lake Orta, Italy after their father is found dead. Six weeks before his death, 76-year old Vic secretly married an enigmatic 27-year old woman, Bella-Mae, who the siblings have never met. The siblings attempt to figure out what happened to their father while they process their grief.
The four siblings and their father are tragically, and occasionally comically, flawed. It was difficult to identify with any of them, especially Vic, who is so consumed with himself and his art that, as children, the siblings are forced to raise themselves and jockey for his attention. This harms their adult relationships and causes so much hurt that their sibling relationships are tenuous. So it comes as no surprise when secrets, past jealousy and resentment rise up in Italy, and the family is left broken.
There is a lot to enjoy about this novel. I enjoyed the atmospheric scene building in Italy. The characters, with all of their flaws, are carefully crafted. The overall pacing, however, is quite slow and the story felt drawn out at times. Overall this book would be a good choice for readers who appreciate intricate family dynamics and in-depth character exploration. 3.5/5⭐️