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Member Reviews

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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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