Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for the ARC!!! this book was a whirlwind adventure, and I enjoyed reading it! The characters were solid, the plot driven by their actions and the follow through of those actions. The characters were intriguing and each person flourished. I enjoyed this one!

What a lovely reading experience! I loved the intrigue that ran throughout, but this was really a character study of all of the siblings. I loved getting to know this family and all of their foibles.

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.

The was a stunning read. Well plotted, the evocation of the setting made it feel like I was there. It was quirky, funny and heartbreaking.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was able to read an e-arc from Net Galley of this book, and I really enjoyed the character development and introduction of the various siblings within the family. The complex personalities of each of the siblings was interesting to follow throughout the book. I really enjoyed the questions that needed to be answered throughout the story, and how these questions have an impact on each of the siblings. Enjoyed the book!

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
This was a fascinating story of a very dysfunctional, and complicated family. Three sisters and one brother, who are all trying to figure out who they are and where do they fit within this family.
After there mother died, when they were fairly young, each of them took certain rolls in the family.
Their father a painter, was absorbed in his work, leaving the children to assume the roles they thought they should take within the family, but not without resentments at times.
The father falls in love with a young woman, decades younger than him, younger than all of his children, and this sets off an alarm. Is she a gold digger, is she doing something to make him stay with her.
They all finally meet up in Italy at a Lake house his father owned, and a lot of the craziness begins.
If you are a lover of character driven stories, like me.
This is the one for you.
Another story I loved of hers was Miss Benson's Beetle

I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for a copy of this story.

*The Homemade God* by Rachel Joyce was such a tender, beautifully written story! It’s heartfelt, wise, and full of those quiet moments that really make you stop and feel. I loved the gentle, reflective tone and the way the characters came to life with so much warmth and humanity. It’s one of those books that stays with you and makes you think about what really matters. Absolutely lovely — I adored it!

After Vic Kemp's death his four grown children travel to Italy to sort things out. There they meet his much younger wife for the first time. He had no will so things get awkward. The siblings are each very different but each have a very defined family role. The first part of this book was a little slow and it seemed like everyone was talking at once. Sometimes it was hard for me to figure out who was talking. I had to leave this book and then come back to finish it. I must say, the last third held my interest better and I ended up enjoying it. I guess it's just not my favorite style of writing. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This was an incredibly written story about family, grief, and generational trauma. It really explored the ways in which grief can make someone desperate and angry, and it showed how generational trauma can be dangerous, but can still be broken. This was beautifully written and I loved it. This book will stick with me.

When their father drowns at the family estate on an island in Lake Garda, his four children come together to find his will and get to know his new wife (now widow) and to find the masterpiece that he was working on.
The slow pace of this book made it difficult for me to appreciate the family drama as the siblings were broadly drawn and determined to find out what really happened to their father. This family drama centered around the mystery of Vic Kemps drowning in the lake that he knew well and loved to swim. He was a self-centered alcoholic, who neglected the children after his wife died when they were young. The personalities of the 4 adult siblings were each unique with Netta, an attorney insisting on an autopsy; Susan having an affair with the widow's cousin, Goose feeling like a failure -anxious to see his father's masterpiece, and Iris just wanting to be left alone. Bella Mae, the 27 yr old widow (Vic was 76) soon becomes a suspect in Vic's death although they don't know why -was he poisoned, did he have a heart attack. did he commit suicide??? And her cousin Lazlo -where did he fit into the scheme of things?
The author described the Italian lakes area beautifully, and she created the mysterious atmosphere surrounding Vic's death. I liked the way that she developed the characters for the most part. However, the ending was confusing and the final scene didn't really resolve the issues that this family had.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher and the opinions expressed are my own. I really wanted to like this book but just didn't find it cohesive enough to resolve all the family issues that the author presented.

I felt like I was watching a season of White Lotus. It was atmospheric and unsettling. There was always a sense of anticipation - a nagging dread-like feeling that normally I wouldn’t like but the writing and characters were so good I wanted to see how it played out.

Vic Kemp, a larger than life artist, dies unexpectedly at his lake house in Italy one summer. Not only are his four adult children in shock about his death but are still reeling from his recent marriage to mysterious 27 year old woman they have never met. Could she have had something to do with it?

They all descend upon the lake house to search for Vic’s will, his last masterpiece, and make arrangements for his body. But sharing the lake house with the woman and piecing together what really happened to their father may just shatter their own bonds beyond repair.

I’ve read many of Joyce’s other works and, for me, this is a departure. Four adult siblings, each with their own trouble/demon, are dedicated and worshipful of their widowed artist father. After an unorthodox childhood devoted to their father, the four are left behind as their father marries a much younger and mysterious woman that they haven’t met. Soon the four, begin to ignore his text pleas to communicate with him in an effort to ultimately have him realize what is more important - his new wife or his family. The father dies while at his Italian villa and the four rush to him. The storyline is convoluted and I wish the character development was more succinct. I kept wishing for more of Goose (Gustav) with an inkling that he becomes the cornerstone character, eventually he does. I disliked the father character throughout and while he may be the “homemade god,” he is petulant, childish, and uses his children badly - in someways never letting them come into their own and diminishing them.

Traditional format 📕 (digital)

I have read many of Rachel Joyce’s books and enjoyed them so I knew her new release would be on my list.

I felt that this book was quite different from her other books in my opinion. The book seemed like it was going to be a murder mystery but was in fact a slow burn character driven family drama.

Character development in this book was amazing. I enjoyed the main setting (a lake house in Italy) and the little bit of mystery surrounding the death of the main character drew me in.

I did find it a little draggy in the middle of the book and I at some points I just wanted a little something more to the story.

Over all I did enjoy this book but not as much as Joyce’s works. I was debating on a 3.5 or 4 rating bit the last chapter and paragraph had me rounding this up to a 4/5.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Random House | The Dial Press for a digital ARC copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

This novel is a beautifully layered exploration of identity, family, friendship, and the quiet complexities of human connection. The author’s prose is lyrical and evocative, capturing emotions and memories with a tenderness that feels both nostalgic and deeply personal. It reads like a timeless melody, rich, warm, and full of heart.

There’s a meditative quality to the storytelling that invites reflection. Whether it’s unpacking the nuances of relationships or tracing personal growth, the narrative offers something meaningful for every reader. It’s the kind of book best enjoyed slowly—with a glass of wine, a bit of jazz in the background, and an open heart. A thoughtful, rewarding experience—highly recommended.

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
Publication Date: July 15, 2025

This is a poignant and complicated family saga centred on four siblings who lose their mother at a young age and are left in the care of a father who is entirely unsuited for the role. Vic, a gregarious, self absorbed alcoholic and an artist of some acclaim, becomes an enigmatic figure in their lives; adored, idolized and resented. The children each in their own way, grow up orbiting his emotional absence, hungry for the scraps of his attention and affection.

Netta, the eldest, assumes to role of adult and decision maker far too early. Susan becomes the caregiver and idolizes her big sister. Goose, the only son, dreams of being an artist like his father. Iris, the baby, feels forgotten and purposeless, except for the fact that she is the only one Vic ever painted.

Now in his 70’s, Vic shocks the family by announcing his pending wedding to 27 year old Bella Mae, and the intention to relocate to their Italian villa to finish his masterpiece. Just days after the wedding, Vic drowns in a swimming accident, setting off a cascade of grief, regret, suspicion and a frantic search for his final work. As the siblings converge in Italy, they’re forced to confront not just the mystery of their father’s death, but also the fractured reality of their idolized patriarch.

Joyce crafts a deeply emotional narrative exploring sibling bonds and roles that are formed out of trauma, the lasting scars of a painful childhood, and the complex legacy of a dysfunctional parent. Bella Mae is a mysterious presence, enigmatic and disruptive; as she stirs up long buried resentments and painful memories.

The novel excels in portraying the intricate dynamics between siblings: the tug of war between love and rivalry, guilt and longing, closeness and estrangement, intimacy and secrets. The emotional realism is striking, with moments that feel almost uncomfortably relatable ( I am too much like Netta).

The novel ultimately asks profound questions: What do you do when your idol falls? Does a family need to splinter so that the members can grow? With rich characters and piercing insight this is a compelling read.

If you like complicated family drama, this book is for you!
This story follows the gathering of the four adult children of famous artist Vic Kemp following his sudden marriage to a mysterious younger woman AND his sudden, mysterious death.
What I loved most about this story was the setting and the beautiful descriptions of Lake Orta in Italy. It’s a very atmospheric novel.
I enjoyed all four siblings, though they were deeply flawed characters - Goose was my favorite and was pleased with his redemptive ending. This book is a slow burn as we discover everyone’s secrets and the truth about Bella-Mae and Vic. The truth was a bit of a let down for me and the writing a little repetitive at times, but overall this was a really enjoyable summer read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Will Lyman at The Dial Press for the advanced copy. The Homemade God hits shelves 7/8/25!

A richly complex and authentic look at sibling relationships and the ties that bind. This is especially true for this group of 4 siblings who are confronted with their father's unexpected death and new marriage to someone much younger. As the drama unfolds we start to see cracks in what initially appeared to be an unbreakable sibling bond.

As the story progresses each sibling has to discover who they are without being interdependent on the other 3 and ultimately find their way as the secretes begin to seep out. Beautifully flawed and relatable characters are at the heart of this novel, which at the beginning feels like it's going to be a murder mystery be really ends up focusing on the characters which I ended up enjoying.

Perfect book club pick to drive a really interesting discussion.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Dial Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.25 stars

Readers, this is a Rachel Joyce book of a different color. And I loved it. Since the Harold Fry series of books, which I LOVED, I have not had great success with her other books. They weren't failures for me, but they were missing something. Not this one.
This is a slow burn family drama, bringing the 4 children of Vic Kemp together after he dies unexpectedly at his villa in Italy following a quick marriage to a much younger woman who none of the children have met. Vic was a single father, larger than life, an alcoholic, and most importantly and devastatingly, the most important factor in who all four children think they are. Over the next few days, as the children and enigmatic Bella-Mae, Vic's widow, are all together in Italy awaiting the results of his death investigation, tensions flare and Bella-Mae becomes the accelerant that lights a fire that ravages- or cleanses?- the family with consequences that last years. This is also a bit of a mystery as we are left truly not knowing how Vic died and what happened to his final work of art- and what, if anything, Bella Mae had to do with either. The larger mystery lies in the children trying figure out who they are without their father, or who they may have been all along.

This starts off slowly, and gets better as it goes. The last 1/3 in particular really picks up and the ending was absolutely wonderful. This book had some kind of edge I haven't seen in Joyce's other books, although it still has the grace with which she handles her characters, which is what I really love about her.

The bonds of family are binding and fragile and Rachel Joyce understands this intimately. This book is a family saga which outlines the complexities of being in a family - the grief, the secrets, the regrets and the rewards. I really enjoy Joyce's Harold Fry and this book didn't quite live up to expectations. I struggled with the slow moving middle that felt depressing at times - which was probably the point - the legacy of a parent. I was happy to read the ending and felt like the hope and love for this family returned. Many thanks Random House Publishing, the fabulous Rachel Joyce and NetGalley ARC in exchange for a review. Rounded up to 3.5 stars!

The Homemade God is a family drama that centers around 4 siblings (Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris) after the sudden and untimely death of their father (Vic). To add to the drama, Vic married a young woman, Bella Mae, days before his death that none of the siblings have met. What begins as the siblings searching for answers about their father's death turns into a journey of self discovery for each of them.
As with all family dramas, secrets are revealed as the siblings struggle to come to terms with who they are as adults and individuals outside of the family unit. Old familiar roles emerge, but each sibling eventually find their own voice and learns who they truly are.
The characters are expertly drawn and very relatable. The story takes place in a lake house in Orta Italy, and the descriptions of the island and the lake are breathtaking and beautiful. The setting is a character in itself.
The reader is left with empathy and hope for each sibling, as well as the desire to visit Lake Orta. That paired with the satisfying ending make it a very good read.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

This is a fascinating fable-like family drama set against the backdrop of an enchanting old villa by Lake Orta in Italy.
We learn in the prolog that four English grown-up siblings are there to deal with the death of their father. Then we go back to the year before that, interspersed with events from the more distant past.

Vic Kemp, 76-years-old and a very successful commercial artist, was widowed when all four children were 7 years old or younger. When their father was “inspired” by his work, he ignored the children, who banded together for love and protection. Now Netta, the oldest, is 40, Susan is 39, Goose (Gustav) is 36, and Iris is 33. Only Netta has a profession (high-powered litigator), only Susan is married, to a much older man, and none of them has children. Instead, their lives seem to revolve around each other and their father, a charismatic, charming, womanizing, narcissistic, controlling alcoholic.

Suddenly, Vic meets his soul mate, the mysterious Bella-Mae, 27 years old, and wants to marry her. None of his children have met her, and all are suspicious of her motives. Further, Vic, whose many financially successful small paintings have featured individuals and couples in soft porn images, now has a vision of a large canvas that will show the world he truly is an artist.

Vic and Bella-Mae leave London for the island in Italy, where they marry. Because he had not included them in his wedding, his children ignore his subsequent requests/demands for their attention. Two weeks later, Vic is dead. With his sudden death, by drowning, all four go to the villa, to search for his will and the last painting, and to finally meet Bella-Mae, who even in person remains mysterious and somehow powerful.

Their weeks at the villa lead to a total breakdown of the siblings’ bonds to each other, and as they each go their separate ways, they gradually – and painfully – develop their own strengths, stepping outside their father’s shadow and their own interdependence and insecurities.

Rachel Joyce uses her own large canvas of sibling entanglement, filial devotion and delusion, to paint vivid pictures of each character. She can illuminate a person with a few words, with fraught emotions and sly humor. She certainly shows that she is a master of imagination and verbal artistry. This beguiling novel offers a thought-provoking immersion in its own unique world of love, loss, and growing up.

The Homemade God is a family drama that tells the story of four siblings, Netta, Susan, Goose (Gustav) and Iris, and their loving but turbulent, relationship with their father, Vic, a widower. Vic is a self-centered but insecure artist who is mostly an absentee parent resulting in the siblings developing a close, mutually supportive relationship together. Then their father meets twenty-seven year old Bella-Mae and marries her without telling them until after the fact. Unfortunately, he dies six weeks later, causing the siblings to close ranks and to blame Bella-Mae. They go to their summer home in Italy to confront Bella-Mae. When she meets Vic’s adult children, she sees how close they are but also realizes that they are beginning to fracture. She decides to add a little salt to their wounds, resulting in their mutual resentment and in each of them going their separate ways, losing the closeness they have had since childhood. Goose becomes the one person each of his sisters stays in touch with.

I’ve read and enjoyed many of Rachel Joyce’s novels so I was looking forward to reading The Homemade God. While it is a fascinating look into the dynamics of this family, I was not as emotionally invested in these characters. I recommend this novel, but I must admit that it does not compare to how much I enjoyed the Harold Fry trilogy.