The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce did not do it for me, but I can see her fans and other readers enjoying it. Famous artist Vic Kemp has spent his life pampered and adored by his four children, even though he was not the best father. When he announces a surprise marriage and disappears to their Italian island home, they do not know what to do. His sudden death creates chaos as they all descend on the home to await autopsy results and search for his missing masterpiece and will. Although Joyce creates some interesting characters and relationships, the book dragged and never actually went anywhere until the last 50 pages.

Thanks to Random House/The Dial Press for this ARC of 'The Homemade God' by Rachel Joyce.

Having read and loved 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' some years ago I was intrigued to read 'The Homemade God.'

A grown-up family of three sisters and a brother congregate in an idyllic Italian lake setting to deal with the seemingly mysterious death of their recently-married (to a woman 45 years his junior) Jack Vettriano-like artist father - a man reviled by the art establishment but loved by the hoi polloi. Figuring out how he died and what happened to his final masterpiece fills the book and through that lens we find out about them and their lives.

This is one seriously dysfunctional family who, on the surface, appear to be high-functioning and all-loving. The siblings seem to be nothing, in their own minds and beings, without the father for reference. Their whole lives are lived anchored to him and how he treats them (badly). I don't deny that realities like this could exist but, honestly, the farther into the novel I red, the more pathetic they became. In any case, the artifice collapses as they learn more and more about him (and each other) from his new wife and his old friends.

Overall this is an enjoyable read but would've benefitted from some tightening up - the pudding was continually overegged. There was an entire short part of the book that was essentially a summarization of the bulk of the rest of the book - presented from a different perspective, sure, but seemed unnecessary. I think we'd all worked out the truth of things by that point.

Decent beach read.

An investigation of tenuous familial bonds and how relying on others to define ourselves ultimately holds us back. I enjoyed how this book allowed characters to be multifaceted and flawed while still maintaining that they were also soft and yearning for love and acceptance.

Set on the Italian waterfront during a heatwave, The Homemade God is basically inviting you to pack it in your suitcase for your summer vacation.

This is a story that shines when picking apart at its characters flaws. Where it struggles most is its pacing and that the characters are unlikable and hard to root for. The book sets itself up almost as a literary mystery but doesn’t feel particularly strong in either the literary or mystery vein. I did find myself continuing to find out about the elusive Bella-Mae but found that most of the storylines besides hers were ultimately uninteresting.

Adult siblings Netta, Susan, Gustav, and Iris gather together in Italy because their father has died. His death comes shortly after marrying a much younger woman. Is she to blame? Could the siblings done more to help their father? An exploration of life in general, life as siblings, and living ones own life. The story is slow paced but, still interesting enough. There is definitely something relatable in the threads that are woven throughout the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the gifted copy!
The Homemade God is a gentle, reflective read with lyrical writing and emotional undertones. While some parts moved a bit slowly, the exploration of belief and personal transformation was thoughtful and heartfelt. Not too bad—a decent 3-star read for fans of quiet, character-driven stories.

This intriguing novel begins with four siblings—adult children of world-famous, self-taught artist Vic Kemp—gathering in anticipation of important news from their father. Their shock is palpable when the seventy-six-year-old announces that he’s getting married. His bride-to-be, Bella-Mae, is only twenty-seven. As the initial surprise settles, the siblings recognize their father’s happiness, though they remain hopeful this whirlwind romance is just a fleeting phase.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. She vividly captures the distinct personalities of the very different siblings, painting them with depth and nuance. The mysterious Bella-Mae remains an enigma for much of the story, adding to the suspense and intrigue. There’s a strong element of mystery throughout, and I especially appreciated the rich descriptions of Italian cuisine, which brought the setting to life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

I adored this multi-generatiinal sage. A father marries quickly or maybe much too quickly for his four children. A deep dive into family dynamics sibling rivalry, and what happens when we do the things impressed upon our heart. Not to be missed.

First read for me from this author. I loved her writing style. This book makes you remember how valuable family is- dysfunctional but aren't most families in one way or another? I love how the book was flipped at the end which really touched me.

3 Stars! Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Homemade God follows four siblings grappling with the death of their father and the sudden behavior changes that occurred prior to his death, like marrying a woman much younger than him. Throughout the sibling's lives they've held their father up on a pedestal, constantly seeking his approval, so his untimely demise comes as a complete shock. They convene in his Italian villa to meet the mysterious woman he married, look for his final masterpiece, and come to terms with the fact their father may have been a different man that they thought he was.

I really applaud the writing in this book. Rachel Joyce crafts beautifully written sentences that show the depths of the character's she's created. The story was very immersive and had extremely detailed descriptions. You really get a deep dive into the minds of each of the siblings as this story is told and learn about their flaws in great detail.

My only critique is that at times it felt really drawn out. There are points of the story that stick out in my mind that are very memorable, but there were times where I just wanted the story to progress at a faster pace. Overall though, I felt like a fly on the wall watching the drama surrounding this family's story unfold in real time.

If you enjoyed The Bee Sting or The Dutch House, I think you will enjoy this book!

Vic Kemp is many things. He's a wildly-successful artist, widower, and father to four grown children who are as different as the four seasons: Netta, Susan, Iris, and Goose.

And apparently, Vic Kemp is something else: newlywed to the (far) (too) young and mysterious Bella-Mae. By the time his children discover the engagement and swift wedding that followed, Vic Kemp is dead. Vanished from the world like smoke through your bare hands, leaving more questions than answers and the tragedy of a promised-but-unfinished final painting: his one great work.

"The Homemade God," simply put, is a gorgeous and slow-to-unravel family drama about picking up pieces to a life never fully understood. Rachel Joyce pens a story that, although quiet, contains not a wasted word through the entire thing: Vic's four children and young widow were nuanced, imperfect, and painfully human. The chapters ebb and flow back and forth between the present aftermath of Vic's untimely death and the pivotal moments in each sibling's life that shaped them. Set against the dazzling backdrop of Vic's Italian summer seaside villa and spanning several decades, "The Homemade God" is a profound and intelligent homage to the complexity of family and our identities within and outside of it. Bravo.

A wonderful family saga I was completely drawn in as I was with Rachel Joyce’s novel The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Joyce..The characters the fact that they were a dysfunctional family kept me involved as I turned the pages .#NetGalley # randomhouse

this book is a captivating family drama set against the backdrop of a European heatwave, where four siblings come together to unravel the mystery of their father’s final days. As tensions rise and old wounds resurface, their quest for answers about their father’s legacy and his final painting reveals deep-seated secrets that threaten to tear them apart. With rich, atmospheric writing, this novel beautifully explores the complexities of family, sibling relationships, and the impact of an elusive parental figure.

Art and money and habits and history intertwine in this novel. Beautiful descriptions evoke childhood memories and family life. The conversations weave in and out so you feel like you're sitting with the family at the noodle bar, the bar, and other gatherings.

What happens when a stranger joins an established family? When she takes over someone in the family and keeps him away? And when that person disappears and dies, how does a family cope?

I was really looking forward to this. It's a compelling story that's hard to put down - and hard to keep track of at times. I was not thrilled that an obligatory gay couple is thrown in. It felt contrived as though satisfying an obligation to current social norms. (Can any famous or ambitious author write only about heterosexual couples and families? Seems like never.)

I was asked to review “The Homemade God” by Rachel Joyce.

I have been to Italy three times and love to find novels set in my favorite country. Vic Kemp, a well-known artist, raised his four kids (Netta, Susan, Goose, and Iris), but he stuns them when he announces he’s marrying a very young, Bella-Mae who is the muse for his latest project. However, the shock turns to grief when they find out their father suddenly passed away. Hence, the siblings rush to Italy to retrieve their dad’s body and look for their dad’s final effort. Yet, soon their own secrets become unraveled.

I love stories that focus on family and though there are plenty of novels that deal with the aftermath after a patriarch’s death, Joyce approaches this topic with a fresh perspective. While I found each of the siblings were well-developed, I had trouble connecting with them. This was also a slower read than I expected though I assure you that there is a pay-off.

Three and a half out of five stars.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a chance to read and review this novel.

First read for me from this author. I loved her writing style. This book makes you remember how valuable family is. Sure they are dysfunctional but aren't most families in one way or another. My heart hurt for their fallout. Maybe I understood it more as had a brother fall out in the family at one time too. I love how the book was flipped at the end and the ending touched me

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.

2.5/5 Stars!!!
I'm not having good luck with books these days. This is my first Rachel Joyce book, and I've heard good things, but this latest will probably be my last.
What a giant cluster of words about four grown children, with a famous mainstream artist, taking place in London, and then on an island in Italy, where they spent much of their childhood in.
After the sudden death of their eccentric artist father Vic, they all gather around to mourn, and find out the mystery of his final piece of work, and why he would have run away to marry a woman 50 years younger than him.
The answer is fairly obvious as to why he would have married her, though instead of looking into it, they decide they don't need to, ignore his texts, and don't bother to look into his will. There's a lot of ridiculous choices being made by these siblings, who don't make the right ones, even before their father has passed.

The four kids on question: Goose (short for Gustav), Iris, Susan, and Netta, all love their father very much, share that special sibling bond, and quite frankly, are all broken and immature in their own way. I was hoping this would have been a deep story about siblinghood, and the beautiful landscapes of Italy, but there wasn't a single character I liked.
I didn't need to know that one of them was able to cut his hair short, he's an adult, why make a whole page about this decision. I also didn't need the entire book to be a a cluster of story that was mundane and boring in many parts.

By the end, I skimmed through the second half, only to know the word "turps" is used far too often and figuring out Vic's autopsy was not quite a mystery, nor did I care what happened.

So much anticipation for a giant mess of a book.

The Homemade God is Rachel Joyce's latest novel, which centers around one family. The patriarch, Vic, is an artist and father of four. He marries a much younger woman and soon dies. His family decamps to his home in Italy to get answers and find his missing final painting—a supposed masterpiece.

The novel examines the children's relationships with each other and with their father. It is part mystery, part dysfunctional family drama, and part reinvention.

Overall, I felt like this story would be better as a short story than an entire novel. It felt like ‘someone asks for the time, and someone tells them how to build a clock.’ Not bad, but a lot of exposition to get to the point.

Thank NetGalley and Dial Press Marketing for the ARC.

This is the story of four siblings and their widowed artist father, Vic. Vic marries a much younger woman and retreats from London to the family villa in Italy to paint his masterpiece--and then he is found drowned. How did Vic die? Did his new wife kill him? And where is the painting?

There was a lot of promise in the first half of the book but the plot really slowed in the second half. I liked the characters but never got a handle on Vic's new wife. The four siblings were somewhat stereotypicl and while well drawn were not really that sympathetic (except maybe Goose). The book is well written but not incredibly compelling.

I sought to read The Homemade God after being intrigued by the description of a family drama centered around four siblings gathering at their family lake house, seeking answers to questions around their artist father’s sudden death, his enigmatic young bride, and his final masterpiece. This novel seemed to promise depth, emotion, and intrigue.

The star element of this novel is really the setting. Rachel Joyce’s descriptions of the Italian lakeside are beautifully vivid. I could practically feel the heat of the summer and the mist off the water as I read. The setting is a character of its own, anchoring the story in a lush environment, heightening the tension and emotion of the family’s unraveling.

While the scenery was compelling, the characters and the dynamics between them unfortunately fell short for me. I struggled to find them likable or relatable and many of their interactions felt inconsistent and unresolved. Heated arguments would flare then dissipate without explanation - other times characters would be estranged without any real inciting incident. This made the emotional rhythm of the story feel disjointed and I was left unsure of what the book was truly trying to convey. The plot felt underdeveloped and lacking a cohesive direction.

Overall, while The Homemade God is beautifully written in parts, the story itself didn’t resonate with me.That said, readers who enjoy stories about complicated families and “rich people problems” might enjoy this book. There is plenty of drama and conflict among the characters, though with a lack of neat endings or clearly defined emotional arcs.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good family saga, and this one is excellent! I felt immersed in the Kemp family, and I thought Joyce revealed secrets at the perfect times. The descriptions of Italy are just gorgeous! And it has the most satisfying ending. I highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.