Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third of Jenni’s books I’ve read and just as good as the others. Our MC this time is Olivia who’s parents were amongst the lost souls on the Titanic, she then goes to live with her fathers oldest friend and his family. He has 4 sons who mostly view her as a bit odd and fantastical. This isn’t helped by her reenacting pirate battles and expeditions in the grounds.

She moves into the tower of the house, and within weeks a strange voice is heard through the walls. Over time she finds out this is Seth, who lives in another world the same but different to ours in so many small ways - the Titanic never sank, her parents still alive!

There are 3 stages to this book, before during and after the Great War and things move at an alarming rate through years of turmoil and loss. Seth keeps her sane after and she wants to desperately to meet him, but this seems impossible.

I really enjoyed this novel, so different in ways I’ve never come across before but such a gripping read. I’ve another of Jenni’s to read and can’t wait as I know it’ll be just as good. If you like a bit of imagination and unfulfilled dreams, this is for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Jenni Keer for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The House of Lost Whispers coming out April 27, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I’m obsessed with learning more about the Titanic. I’ve read several books about it. So I was definitely interested in checking out this book with an alternate universe. I think I got a little lost in the story. I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. I think I was expecting something different. I would check out other books by this author though.

Thanks to Boldwood Books for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

Wow. What a wonderful book. I wasn't sure going into it if I would like it or not, and now, it's definitely one of my favourite books of the year.
The creation of mirror worlds gave me Doctor Who vibes, which hooked me early on because I am a big DW fan, but the character development of Olivia kept me engaged. That girl has been through A LOT but she remains optimistic, idealistic, a daydreamer. She finds her way through grief, tragedy, love, disappointment, and a myriad of other emotions with a zest for and a commitment to life.

There were a few scenes in which I fully cried - something I don't do often in books - in large part because just as we thought Olivia would get her HEA, it was ripped away from her, but also just the broader societal losses and impacts from the Great War... just devastating.

The magical realism element was so intriguing and wonderful and the way Olivia and Seth fell in love through the wall dividing their mirror worlds was lovely and bittersweet.

A fantastic book.

The House of Lost Whispers is a delightful and romantic story, with an intriguing parallel universe twist.
We've all wondered what would happen if life took a different route and in this case, if the Titanic tragedy wasn't quite as bad... Even though it's set in a tragic time in history, with the Titanic and the First World War, Jenni Keer keeps the tone warm and feelgood . The likeable characters always make you think you're reading about friends. And in a story imbued with hope as well as romance it's a perfect Spring read.

A really good historical read, This is the first book I've read read by this author and it was a fabulous story . When Olivia is orphaned after her parents die on the fateful Titanic she goes to live with her guardians but as she's grieving she hears a voice in her tower bedroom and it's a man called Seth but is this all in her imagination or could it be a reality where the tragedy never happened at all. Such a cleverly written book, beautifully written with fabulous characters and itscso unique that it will keep you hooked from the beginning. I really enjoyed itb

This was an interesting historical fantasy with a unique plot that kept me engaged. The storyline was the strongest part of the book, though I didn't connect with the characters. Overall, it was a good read, and I enjoyed it, though it might not be for everyone.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the e-Arc.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

Olivia, At the age of 13 loses her parents who were aboard the Titanic. We follow her story as she gets used to living differently to what she used to and would be if her parents were still with her.

The way the past and the present coincide was beautifully done. I was pulled into the world of Olivia and all those that were with her.

It was very well written and kept me hooked, turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a strange tale. Firstly it is a historical story centered around a girl, Olivia, who becomes an orphan when her parents die in the sinking of the Titanic. Secondly it is a fantasy story when Olivia hears voices coming from inside the wall of her bedroom.. Interesting story.

I was unsure at first how this book would go, but then got swept away with the romance of it.
The differences between the worlds makes your heart ache for each character, finding a family then losing them due to the war, refinding love but through a wall and then finding him in this lifetime.

—A unique story where a young teen is orphaned when her parents die on the Titanic, and the young man she befriends through a sort of time slip.

While odd at times, I did enjoy this story. The ending was also a bit rushed but the premise was enough to keep me intrigued. Check this out next week when it’s released if you’re a fan of WW1 era, magical realism and romance. Thanks NetGalley!

Olivia Davenport was supposed to set sail on the Titanic with her parents, but came down with measles at the last minute, so she was forced to stay behind.. When news of the sinking of the Titanic and the loss of both of her parents reaches Olivia, she is whisked away to her godfather's mansion. The Fairchild's are nothing like her parents - they are very distant and have no idea how to comfort a grieving young lady. Olivia feels alone and friendless - until the day he hears a voice from behind the wall in her tower bedroom, that is. A voice from a man called Seth. It's not until after the heartbreak of war that Olivia discovers that he exists in an overlapping world,- a world where the Titanic never sank, where everything since has been just slightly… different. All Olivia wants is to find a way into his reality. And not just to see the faces of her beloved parents once again. But also to meet Seth. Who might just be the love of her life…

This book was so good. It wasn't an alternate reality story, but rather gave two versions - one of how things really were, and then the version of how things could have been, had the Titanic not met that fate. Then, seeiing all of the choices at different points in time, and where each timeline ended up. It was captvating, heartbreaking at times, and definitely something that I think you will thoroughly enjoy just like I did.

This one was a bit of a disappointment, if I'm honest. It was billed as a time slip novel, and it is, but the first half is more a fairly run-of-the-mill, predictable war story. This does set the scene, but it takes up a lot of the book and I didn't find it terribly enjoyable. The characters are interesting and likeable, but I really wanted to read about the time slip. That does become the focus of the second half, and things pick up, but it's also a bit frustrating and I didn't really get on with some of the choices the characters made. I also found the ending a bit of a let down despite it probably being the only way things could end. I think overall, it's a good historical fiction, but I wanted more time slip and I felt too long was spent setting the scene. If you go in prepared for it to be told in almost two separate parts, then I think you would enjoy it more.

I had an advance copy of this, so thank you to the publishers and Netgalley. My review is entirely voluntary.

The author’s, “ No 23 Burlington Square” was one of my favourite books of last year so I knew I’d enjoy this, and I did!
I think I’d describe it as an Historical, coming of age, feel-good melodrama with a fantasy twist?
The story follows Olivia, a young girl orphaned by the Titanic disaster and sent to live with her godparents & their four sons in a huge landed estate. She grows up amidst the horrors or WW1, dealing with huge amounts of grief. I thought these parts were excellent-the details, the atmosphere of looming war and then the horror of it during and after. Her childhood section of the story gave me Secret Garden vibes.
The fantasy twist comes in when she starts talking to another person on the other side of the wall and they slowly discover that they are from parallel worlds-one where the Titanic disaster never happened but most other aspects of their lives are the same.
I really enjoyed the mystery aspects of the story, especially the gasp out loud twists and thought Olivia was an excellent character full of zest & life. The central love story was lovely and heartwarming and I loved the resolution-for both Olivias and Seths.

Really enjoyed and would recommend. The author has a real gift for dealing with very difficult human emotions in a heartfelt way.

A cleverly written story which is like two books united together. The twists and turns whilst gripping are a challenge to follow at times. Olivias childhood ends with the sinking of the Titanic. She is offered a home with her godparents and enjoys being part of a family. But what if the Titanic didn’t sink? Is it her imagination or is there a parallel world that runs alongside? This book will keep you guessing until the end.

I was really looking forward to this book partly because of the promised mystical dual world element and also its links with the Titanic. The Titanic unfortunately only appears briefly to introduce the split in time. However the author appears to have had other ideas ready to include in this book. There is definitely a Downton Abbey theme going on and the dual world element is there. Not so much initially but more so in the second half of the book. I really enjoyed the feisty character of Olivia. She just came alive whatever was thrown at her. I also enjoyed the way the book was brought to a close (no spoilers). Very intricate, but clever and satisfying. This storyline could have gone badly wrong but on the whole it works and is a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 |

Thanks @netgalley for the advanced copy!

This book sounded so utterly intriguing - part sweeping romance, part thrilling mystery and part heartbreaking WW1 drama.

When Olivia's parents both pass away on the Titanic, she's shipped off to live with her Godfather and his family at a country manor house. But with war in Europe imminent and the threat of their four sons being drafted, they have more to worry about.

Friendless, Olivia takes solace in the mysterious voice from behind the wall in her tower room. She believes Seth to be a product of her grieving imagination and thinks nothing of it. However, they soon discover that they are both very much alive, living in alternate worlds that run parallel to eachother.

Honestly, this book was so beautifully written. There's so much in it to unpack and so many overlapping genres that it will make the perfect book club read!

I've been in a bit of a slump lately and this one was just what I needed 🖤

The House of Lost Whispers is released on 27th April!

Another enchanting tale of historical fantasy by Jenni Keer with absolutely adorable characters and a gripping plot. This one explores what might happen if there were two versions of reality, and the impact on history if certain major events didn’t happen. It’s an intriguing premise - who hasn’t wondered how their life might have turned out if something significant hadn’t occurred? - how much are we fated to be with a certain person, and how much is down to random chance?
The book covers the events immediately preceding, during and after the First World War. Often moving and thought-provoking, I was touched by the story of the Fairchild family who took in the orphaned Olivia Davenport after her parents were lost at sea. Olivia is a wonderful heroine: plucky and optimistic, despite her life being overshadowed by grief. She is an imaginative, quirky ray of sunshine. I loved that she sometimes had to maintain her spirits through sheer force of will because her life is often very hard, and that this resilient courage had a positive effect on everyone she encountered.
Then there is the man behind the wall. I loved this character, too. Much of the humour in the novel comes through him, and the witty dialogue between him and Olivia really sparkles.
There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns through the story, which occasionally mashes genres, and towards the end I started to wonder if there would ever be a HEA. But ultimately I’m happy to report finishing this book with a highly satisfied smile.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

How to summarize this book? Olivia Davenport, after losing her parents in the sinking of the Titanic, moves into her godparents house and has a childish crush on a gardener there. Olivia also begins to speak to a parallel version of him in which the sinking of the Titanic never happened. Then follows a long non-fantastical section of the book on a separate WW1 romance and tragedy involving Olivia before a solving of a cold case murder and a return to her once childish crush.

(A note on content warnings: the *adult* gardener reacts appropriately to her crush on him and is not interested thank god. But you will read about a minor having unreciprocated feelings for him.)

As you can tell, this book has SO MUCH PLOT in it. My summary even leaves out many side plots like a sanitarium, a gay son, disfigurement, the importance of physical touch in parenting, and a matchmaker trope. All of this is both a strength and a weakness. I found both a very quick page-turner and some genre-bending that sometimes felt very abrupt from one to another. Did I just read a fantasy? A mystery? A romance? Adult? YA? Middle grade? No idea.

Despite all of this, Kerr’s writing is very cozy to me and I greatly appreciate this unique premise. The House of Lost Whispers would be ideal for a book club or for a romance reader dipping their toe into historical fantasy.

Thank you, Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Based on the blurb, I thought this book was going to be more of a mystery, something even science fiction-y maybe. Find a way through the wall to this other world where the Titanic didn’t sink.
I found out, a bit slowly, that this is not that book. And to be honest, it could’ve been any number of larger than normal but not world ending tragedies, I do wonder: why the Titanic?
That being said WOW, this book had me in a chokehold. So many twists and turns, so much loss, yet so much imagination and unwavering optimism. I thought this story might be simple, but it wove all these threads through time and space together so beautifully. I read 50% of it in one afternoon, I could NOT put it down.
Olivia was such a delight. Her positivity is overbearing, but everyone around her NEEDS it. Did you see all those sad people in Seth’s timeline? Nah, they desperately needed Olivia’s unfailing spirit and hope. She faced an unthinkable tragedy, and sure the war is a much larger scale and cause for more depression and desensitization, but it’s the same grief.
In a time where I’m feeling quite hopeless about the state of our world and looking at Olivia and her privilege with skepticism and “what abouts,” the escapism DID make me feel better. I found the story moving and thoughtful. It’s so difficult to be optimistic in the world, but if more people had the guts Olivia has, maybe we’d scrape by.
I really, really loved this.

"The House of Lost Whispers" by Jenni Keer is a captivating historical novel that intertwines elements of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. Set in early 20th-century England, the story follows Olivia Davenport, who, after losing her parents in the Titanic disaster, is sent to live with the Fairchild family at Merriford Manor. Amidst the looming shadows of World War I, Olivia discovers a mysterious voice behind her bedroom wall belonging to Seth, a man from a parallel universe where the Titanic never sank. Their connection evolves into a profound bond that challenges the boundaries of time and reality.​

Keer's storytelling intricately weaves themes of love, loss, and resilience, set against richly detailed historical backdrops. The novel delves into the emotional depths of its characters, particularly Olivia, whose journey from grief to self-discovery is both poignant and inspiring. The introduction of a parallel universe adds a unique twist, prompting readers to ponder the "what ifs" of history.​

While the narrative is compelling, certain sections dive deeply into descriptive prose, slowed the progression of the plot. However, "The House of Lost Whispers" offers a thought-provoking exploration of alternate realities and the enduring human spirit, and is a great read for those who appreciate historical fiction infused with a touch of the fantastical.