“The Homemade God” was my introduction to Rachel Joyce, and it was a great introduction. This novel has been one of the most anticipated reads of the year for many, and it’s easy to see why. If you haven’t picked it up yet, I highly recommend that you do.

This is a story that belongs in the “messy family dynamics” folder, and I say that as a compliment. It dives deep into the emotional currents that bind families together and the tensions that can so easily pull them apart. It explores what it means to live in someone else’s shadow, to idolize, to question, to doubt, and, ultimately, to find oneself.

Set during a scorching summer in Italy, the novel follows four siblings who reunite at their late father's villa by a lake. Each comes carrying questions, each searching for answers. As the heat rises, so do old tensions, resurfaced memories, and long-buried emotions.

Joyce is masterful at peeling back the layers of her characters. Through their recollections and shared history, we begin to understand not only what shaped them but also what keeps them distant, and what still holds them together. She gives each sibling space to feel real, flawed, and deeply human.

The novel is atmospheric, you can almost feel the summer heat, the scent of the lake, the heaviness of grief lingering in the air. The prose is fluid and accessible, yet layered with emotional depth. Joyce evokes empathy with ease, making us care about every character, even when their choices are questionable.

There’s a strong undercurrent of grief, love, and the ache of unresolved pasts, all handled with quiet intensity. I couldn’t help but think how beautifully this would translate to film, it has that rich, slow-burn quality that lingers.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Delighted to include this title in the July edition of Novel Encounters, my column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national lifestyle and culture magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

3.5/3.75

This is my first Rachel Joyce novel and it was a nice introduction to her as an author. This is a delightfully atmospheric story about family, art and sibling bonds. I read this at the same time as I read The Blue Sisters and I think I prefer this take on multiple sibling perspectives better.

The setting is beautiful and immersive. I felt like I was also in a European heatwave, solving a mystery with my estranged siblings.

The novel is very character-driven, and to be honest, not as much as I was expecting to happen, happened, especially considering the premise. But nevertheless, this was a great summer read!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

A big thank you to Penguin Random House Canada (Adult) | Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was so hopeful for this one.
I dove in the minute I got the ARC, and then I was at 20%, 40%, 60% and kept asking myself why I was reading this story.
It felt, unfinished? Every character wasn't quite as fleshed out as I wanted them to be, they're thoughts were not quite as fleshed out as I expected and the storyline kept going back and forth in different directions and felt so redundant. And then I got to part 3 and literally rolled my eyes because the story wasn't done.
I guess I was just not attached to the characters? It's not that it's a bad book, it just wasn't it for me I guess.

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce throws four siblings into a steamy Italian villa after their famous artist father’s sudden death—and his surprise marriage to a much younger woman. Old resentments bubble up as they try to make sense of their father’s choices and their own messy relationships.

Joyce’s writing is sharp and honest, diving deep into the complicated ways families love and hurt each other. The story is quiet and slow, more about feelings than big events, but the characters feel real and the setting is vivid. Some readers might wish for more action or insight into the mysterious new wife, but if you like thoughtful, emotional stories, this one delivers.
Rating: 4/5

I was so excited to read Rachel Joyce's new book, The Homemade God, especially since her novel Miss Benson's Beetle is one of my favourite books!

The Homemade God centered on four siblings dealing with the aftermath of their father's death and was a rich, character-driven novel. However, I had a hard time connecting with any of the siblings (and kept waiting for the story to take a turn it never did). That said, Joyce’s descriptions of Lake Orta were vivid and the setting was one of the book’s highlights. I do enjoy her writing and look forward to reading what she writes next, but this one didn’t resonate with me.

A big thanks to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book didn’t just tell a story—it built a world of characters I didn’t want to leave.
I closed the last page and wished I could start it all over again.