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⭐️

"Family is everything, even when it falls apart.

After the sudden death of a renowned artist, his four adult children travel to Italy to sort out his affairs with his much-younger wife, in this moving novel" from bestselling author Rachel Joyce.

This novel is a true work of art where Joyce is the artist, and this is her masterpiece. The four adult Kemp children and their father are intricately layered throughout the novel, stirring emotions in you to the point where you feel what they are feeling. The prose is lyrical, evocative, and hauntingly beautiful. Time and place are fully immersive, and I felt as if I was stepping off the page and into a watercolor masterpiece where every sentence was an essential brushstroke. It transported me to Lake Orta and the Villa Carlotta.

After Vic Kemp's death and finding his mysterious young new wife, the siblings are left reeling, and themes of identity, grief, and family are explored. The fracturing of sibling relationships that had been so close for decades is beautifully examined. The novel is reflective, thought-provoking, and leaves the reader with a sense that family relationships can fracture and mend and that unexpected challenges can be the road map to a beautiful future. Fans of literary fiction and family sagas do not want to miss this one. These characters and masterful storytelling will stay with me for a long time. This will be one of my favorite books for 2025.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - The Dial Press, and Rachel Joyce for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This is the first Rachel Joyce book I've read and overall I enjoyed it. I loved how vividly she portrayed the fraying bond between the four siblings, as well as the father character (a narcissistic artist) and his much-younger new wife. It did feel a bit like a few different books at once. The beginning had a bit of a domestic suspense vibe, making the reader wonder if the younger wife had a hand in the father's sudden death. The middle of the book answers the question definitively (she didn't) and from there the novel turns back into a more straightforward family drama. I think fans of Blue Sisters might like this one.

A dysfunctional family is always entertaining to read about and this is a good one. Four adult children, one dead dad, a.very young step-mother that the kids have never met, and her cousin/friend are all the players. Much time is spent dissecting the kids’ childhood and dad’s role in their psychological issues/birth order. Add in the surprise step-mom, the beautiful romantic Italian setting, and the questionable death/questionable inheritance that was expected and there is enough accusations and anger for everyone.

I really liked how each character had a unique personality and life issue. Also good was the driving question of the guilt or innocence of the step-mom. The whole novel was probably a bit longer than it needed to be. The conclusion was satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dial Press for the ARC to read and review.

I was pleased to be reading this novel, and even though there are some flaws for me, overall, it was a good read. I thought the characters were well drawn, with the exception of Goose. He never really gelled for me. I couldn’t understand his reactions at times and felt that the author was distanced from him in comparison to her other characters. Which was too bad because I found him interesting and would have liked a more insightful exploration of his character.

The denouement was a bit clunky but the ending tremendous. Also exceptional was the author’s portrayal of how each character reacted to the father’s alcoholism. It explained much of their behaviour, and showed the “perfect family syndrome” that is often the result of the feeling of abandonment and unpredictability of living with an alcoholic parent. 3.5 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the Harold Fry series, and while I liked the writing in this, I feel like it drug on and on and on. I didn't love the siblings, and the dad sucked (which is part of the point). Love the Italy setting.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - book publishes 7/8

This book is 99.99% character driven. The plot, what there is of it, moves at the pace of paint drying. There was too much character development, more than needed, to the detriment of the story itself. Sadly, with all the time spent on the characters, I never felt a connection or affection for any of them. Instead, I was annoyed at the incredible dependence on the father, thus the title. I was even disappointed in the young bride Belle Mae, who should have stirred things up. Perhaps I am too much a fan of thrillers for a book like this?

Good story, felt like I got to know the characters. Really enjoyed the European lake setting and family tension.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Homemade God features the strange siblings, three daughters and a son, of a famous London artist who falls in love with a woman younger than his children. When their father dies, the siblings investigate his drowning at his lakeside Italian villa where he married Bella-Mae. The book wanders through ten years as it sends toward happy endings. It’s a light summer read.

Once famous artist, Vic Kemp, has left his four adult children flummoxed.

After the death of his wife when his children were babies, he has always relied on them to take care of him and each other.

There’s Netta, the oldest - an attorney who relishes in power she’s assumed, becoming a substitute mother. Susan, jealous of her older sister and unhappily married -having given up on all of her dreams for little payoff. Goose, the only son and a failed artist - he repents his perceived failures by working in his father’s studio. And Iris, whose life revolves around the needs of her father because of the guilt she harbors over her mother’s death.

They’re a mess, but their love for one another is everything.

When Vic calls his children, encouraging and then begging them to come to his wedding, they refuse. They cannot accept his impending marriage to a woman, Bella-Mae who is over 50 years younger than him, and decide the best way forward is to ignore him.

But then the kids receive a phone call from Bella-Mae, after several months: Vic has died. Come to Lake Orta.

No will. No final painting. No answers. Only question after question piling up, driving a wedge between the siblings as Bella-Mae and her smarmy cousin, Lazlo, sit back and watch their demise.

As they spend the summer on the lake where they grew up, old grudges creep in and the bond they’ve taken for granted falters.

Can they find away forward or will Vic’s death be the end of their family?
__
If messy family drama is your jam, don’t miss out on this one.

In an atmospheric European setting, you have a front row seat as a group of siblings revert to their familial childhood roles and fall apart.

It’s funny and irreverent, emotional and maddening. This isn’t a book with a wow moment; it unfolds like real life - quietly then loudly, without pretense then aggravatingly slow.

It’s a book about finding your way through the relationships that defined you before your cerebral cortex was fully developed - the people who love you most but refuse to let you grow and change.

Vibe check: Blue Sisters and Fun for the Whole Family

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ARC. This one comes out July 8, 2025.

Art is the ultimate illusion. The artist paints an image using colour, texture, layers and different techniques and it’s up to the viewer to interpret it. That’s what this book is.

For me, using art as a plot device is very clever because in this story, Goose, Netta, Susan and Iris must determine why their father, Vic, suddenly marries a woman less than half his age and why he just as suddenly dies in a lake at the family home in Italy. Convinced of something sinister, the siblings begin to peel away the paint, the colours and layers to reveal hard truths and the result is an explosive mess. I mean this in the best possible way. That’s what made this so compelling.

The most clever character is that of Bella-Mae, the young woman Vic marries. She challenges assumptions just by existing. The siblings each have their own interpretations about her intentions and motivations, but the interesting part is what she exposes in each of them. Trust me when I say, it’s not what you think.

This book brought out all of the emotions. It’s about art, legacy, and grief. It’s about the myths families build to keep themselves from falling apart. It’s one of the best family sagas I’ve read recently.

Also, Italy is one of my favourite settings for books. I just love the atmosphere. In this case, the Italian weather is another plot device and it mirrors the mood of the story as things progress.

If I seem to be struggling with this review it’s because I’m trying not to give anything away. But this is one of those stories you will sit with because what really matters isn’t explicitly given to us on a platter. 4.25 stars

Thank you to Penguin Random House/The Dial Press for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Rachel Joyce is a beautiful writer and I loved the 4 siblings in this book, but the story itself was so slow and definitely not a mystery/thriller like the synopsis suggests. I feel like this book needed another edit, and 75-100 pages could have been cut to make it a tighter, more propulsive read.

Vic, a renowned artist in his seventies marries Bella-Mae, a young woman in her twenties whom Vic's children have never met. Just a few weeks later, Vic is dead, and the final painting he was supposed to be working on is missing. As the four siblings gather together for the first time in decades, they are forced to confront buried wounds. The answers they receive will drive them apart before they can truly understand his legacy..

I have enjoyed all of this author's previous books that I have read, but this one - not so much. It was a slow burn for the entire book, and all of the characters felt one-dimensional. No one was particularly likeable either, which is a dealbreaker for me. Overall i give it a 2.5 rounded up to a 3.

The cynical side of me thought I knew what was going to happen next in this story, but I was completely wrong. Instead of a story that I thought was about a few grifters and greed, became a story about the lies of a father and how his lies enforced belief in his children that messed with their heads and made them feel inadequate. I found Susan, Iris and Nella somewhat child like in their belief in themselves and what they thought they were capable of and put all their trust in a man that didn't own up to that belief. I loved Goose from the beginning of the story, he felt vulnerable but also more aware of the world around him and he lets life reveal itself to him., and it unfortunate that his father's jealousies made Goose feel so betrayed and inadequate to do what his heart said he must to. What can I say about Bella-Mae, but catalyst for change. Even though her interactions with Susan, Iris, Nella and Goose seemed disrupted she was the fuel that allow all of them to look into themselves and make the changes in their lives that they've been thinking about for years, she was a breath of fresh air, even though at the beginning I thought she was the bad guy.
This is story has an eerie feel to it but I think it's there to throw off what's happening in the story, which is how does a family move on after finding out something about a person that is a total lie.

I want to thank Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of a story about how to put back the pieces of a family after the truth is revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Rachel Joyce for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Susan, Netta, Iris, and Goose have a good childhood with typical sibling rivalries, especially the rivalry for their father’s attention and approval, which often gets in the way of their friendships with each other. When Dad marries 27 year old Bella Mae, moves to an Italian villa to find his fame as a painter and mysteriously dies, the siblings figure they better get along and get to Italy to discover what happened to their dad and his paintings. The siblings discover past secrets about themselves and others, which, hopefully, will help them discover the importance of family.