Set in 2 time periods, 1914 and 1997, this tale unravels a web of family history through the eyes of two women. Grace , in 1914, is living in a time when expectations for life were limited by the mores of the time. Barbara, in the last years of the century, is living in very different times but the discovery of a long forgotten trunk in the family home, reveals that their family history is not what they have always believed. Excellent story telling as always from this author.
*****

Not my favourite read by this author but I did like it. I preferred the historical narrative rather than the present day one. I just didn't like the characters in those chapters.

1914, war looms in Europe and a group of friends enjoy one last summer together. 1997, Barbara discovers a family secret which changes all she ever believed about her grandparents...
The House at River's Edge is a dual timeline historical novel set during WW1 and in the recent past.
Barbara is still grieving following the death of her husband and now her father. The family relocate to her mother's family home and they discover a photograph and trunk of documents that lead to significant surprises.
In the lead up to WW1, her grandmother Grace was spending the summer with her friends and twin brother William. Grace and William both find love but this is torn apart by war and changes the course of their family history forever, and shatters their friendships.
I really enjoyed this book and was equally attached to both timelines. Barbara is trying to heal her heart and think about the future but the past keeps holding her back. Now she finds out secrets that make her reassess her situation for the sake of her daughter and mother. Grace and William's timeline was more emotional and I read with dread as I anticipated the worst.
I thought that the author has researched the WW1 era thoroughly. This meant that the plot and characters felt authentic and easy to relate to. The writing style was perfectly paced and the dual timeline narrative carefully balanced.
The House at River's Edge was an emotional and engaging novel about love and loss.

Beautifully told, heartfelt and engaging – I guess that’s the short version of my review. However there is much more to say about The House at River’s Edge.

So what did I think (in a bit more detail)…

It was so easy to become fully immersed in this book. I really enjoyed my time with both the story and the characters. I guess it felt like it came at just the right time for me to pick up and read. This book was a real escape and one I needed.

Throughout the story there is a dual timeline and I have to say that the transitions worked really well. Sometimes in books with different timelines it can at times feel, maybe a little disjointed. However in The House at River’s Edge I just felt a curiosity to find out more regarding each time period. I think this was down to the fact that the characters were written in such an engaging way. That goes for the past in 1914 and the 1997 timeline. It’s safe to say I was equally invested in both as the secrets from the past were just waiting to be uncovered

The history aspect of this book alongside the secrets were perfect for me. I loved the research and delving into the past. Although I think it’s safe to say that you will often find more than you bargained for. That was certainly the case for Barbara. There is a definite heartfelt feel to the story and I have to admit there were tears for the characters, for their determination and for the way the war impacted everyone. The House at River’s Edge explored family, love and the past. All of it wonderfully written, even after finishing I was left thinking about the characters.

A beautiful story that had me from the first chapter. I enjoyed the time jumps and learning more about the characters. A great historical World War One story about loss, war and the different lives of the characters really had me gripped.

I was utterly captivated by the atmosphere of this novel. It presents two beautifully intertwined narratives: one, a poignant love story set against the backdrop of the First World War; the other, a contemporary tale centred around family, grief, self-discovery, and the courage to forge a new path.

Having read all of Rachel Burton’s previous works, I can confidently say that with each novel, her storytelling becomes more refined and emotionally resonant. In this particular book, not only did I feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys, but I could vividly envision the house, the landscape, and the quiet poignancy of each moment.

A thoroughly deserved 5 out of 5 – elegant, heartfelt, and unforgettable.

Grace Villiers is happy to have spent several summers at her friend's estate in Cambridge. In 1914, they fear it may be their last idyllic summer, as war breaks out in Europe. When, in 1997, her descendent, Barbara, finds a photo of her grandfather and another unknown man, she enlists her historian daughter's help in learning who the unknown man is. What they discover may change what they have always believed about their family.

This is a beautifully written family story, with chapters alternating between the mid 1910s and the late 1990s. Sometimes when an author uses this device, I get confused in the shuffle between time periods, but this was well done and I was able to keep up. Parts of the book were a little slow, but it is worth persevering to the satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved this story. The love and loss of the awful Great War. The hopes and dreams of the people then is a romantic yet tragic time. Loved it#TheHouseatRiversEdge #NetGalley

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and I love timeslips and this superbly written story did not disappoint.
To my mind, Rachel Burton has managed to convey how many might have felt during the Summer of 1914 - the world was certainly on the brink of change not to mention war; a time in history that has affected all of our lives. Through the dual narratives -Grace 1914 and Barbara 1997 - we become immersed in a beautifully poignant read.

Heartfelt thanks to both the publishers and NetGalley for an early read.

Stories exploring the impact of World War One on the soldiers and those they left behind are always poignant, and this one is that and so much more. It's a dual timeline story covering the immediate pre-ww1 period and the aftermath of the carnage. It moves from being a coming-of-age story to recovering from grief and loss, and moving on with your life. In the late 1990s, the second story focuses on three women: a grandmother, a mother and her daughter. As they recover from a recent bereavement, they move to the family home of the grandmother, which is in disrepair and unwittingly reveals secrets that are life-changing for the three women. The literary references ground the historical story and draw readers into the characters' world. The three related women in the 1990s have a believable relationship. Both stories take the reader on an emotional and often poignant journey of loss and love. I like the characterisation, the use of sensory imagery and the believable relationship dynamics that make the reader invest in the characters and their stories.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A deeply moving historical narrative, this book intertwines the lives of two generations—one navigating the idyllic yet shifting world of 1914, and another uncovering its secrets from the lens of 1997. Initially, I found the story a bit challenging to follow due to its large cast and shifting timelines, but once the threads began to weave together, I was completely immersed.

The past timeline, filled with the golden haze of a pre-war summer at Cambridge, captured the urgency and innocence of young adulthood before the Great War changed everything. I was especially drawn to Grace and Winn, whose determination to shape their own futures in a time of restrictive gender roles was inspiring. The present-day mystery—sparked by a house clearance, an old trunk, and a photo—was equally engaging, grounding the story in personal discovery and generational grief.

Burton handles the emotional resonance of war, loss, and legacy with sensitivity and grace, creating strong parallels between the past and present. As the layers peeled back and truths were revealed, I found myself as invested in Grace and Winn’s fate as I was in Barbara and Penny’s search. With beautiful writing, a compelling mystery, and powerful themes of remembrance and reconciliation, this book is a must-read for fans of historical fiction that lingers in the heart long after the final page.

A group of close friends spend the long summer of 1914 enjoying their last chance of freedom before the onset of WWI. This bittersweet time is especially poignant for Grace Villiers as she meets the charismatic Algernon Lake, a young poet, who will have such an effect on her life going forward.

In 1997, Barbara is facing a crossroads in her life, her father has recently died and she lives with her elderly mother in a house which requires much renovation. When Barbara discovers a photograph of two young WWI soldiers, and a trunk containing letters and other artefacts, she is determined to discover more about the past and her family’s connection to the two young men.

This is a lovely dual time story which flips back and forth so seamlessly that I found I enjoyed spending time with Grace, and her friends back in 1914, whilst at the same time uncovering hidden family secrets with Barbara in 1997. The story flows really well with neither time period outshining the other although I found the inevitable change brought about by Grace’s wartime experiences to be particularly poignant. I found the story quite moving, love and loss feature strongly in both time frames, and there is a quiet sense of ghosts from the past sharing their secrets which have been hidden away for so long. I loved how the story evolved, sharing its secrets so eloquently, I felt as if I were a quiet bystander watching as tragedy unfolded.

All the characters be they in 1914 or 1997 struck a chord with me and I felt a quiet satisfaction when the story came to an end, all the beautiful threads had been woven together in an emotional story which lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned.

In the summer of 1914, Grace Villiers, her brother William, his friend Bertie and his sister Winn come together at Egerton Hall to enjoy long sunny afternoons, play croquet, read and just generally enjoy the country life before they all go their separate ways. Grace and Winn are planning to continue at Girton College, despite the fact that women can't obtain a degree, with Winn keen to advance the suffragette cause. Bertie is looking for what he wants to do. He is the third son in an aristocratic family and is at a bit of a loss, as is William. Into this close knit group, comes Algernon Lake, a published poet with something of a reputation. To say Grace is unimpressed is an understatement.

Everything is not as it seems at Egerton. Everyone is concerned about the news coming out of Europe, and what that might mean for both the immediate and long term future of them all. Soon Grace is spending more time with Algie, especially when he offers to help her to overcome her biggest fear of all. He wants to teach her to swim. Can she trust herself with this man?

And then war is declared, and everything changes.

Fast forward to 1997 and Barbara is reeling after the loss of her father due to stroke. For her mother, she has not only lost her beloved but she also now needs to move out of her home, as it was provided by Cambridge College where he was the master. Now he is gone, a new master will be appointed and the prospective master's wives are circling to take a closer look at what might be their new home. Fortunately her mother had inherited a home called Oakdene which she has never lived in it as it has always had tenants. Barbara had been intending to make a move to an apartment by herself, but it seems her mother has other plans for them both to move into the big house.

It turns out that Oakdene is literally falling apart around them, so they need to clear everything out to make way for expensive and lengthy repairs. They find a photo of two young men which appears to have been taken during WWI. On the back is the inscription The best of friends. The best of summers. Whilst her mum knows that one of the men is her father, she has no idea who the other is. Then they find a large trunk filled with letters, poems and a violin.

Barbara's grandparents love story is legendary among the family. They met, fell in love and married quickly during the war, but now things aren't quite adding up, and the reasons behind a long family feud are being revealed along with many other secrets. Barbara's academic daughter Penny is struggling to find what her dissertation is going to be about, so the discovery of a long lost poems by a war poet could give her the direction she needs. However, that may mean publicly revealing many of the secrets that they are discovering as they follow the trail of history back to WWI. Is this something that the family is ready for?

Woven through both storylines are a love of the violin and of poetry. Barbara's husband was an influential rock violinist and she also played, but she hasn't picked up the violin since he died. Maybe the discovery of the violin in the trunk will help her, and she can start to move on? Her daughter certainly thinks it is time.

I really thought the author did a great job of building up the tension at various points in the book, especially the historical timeline. You could feel the underlying tensions whilst the group were enjoying that last summer before the war was declared, in the wait for news, and then in the difficulties faced once the war was over.

There are some really big themes covered in this book including what it was like to be gay in Britain in the 1910s, the changes to society in the aftermath of The Great War, shell-shock, grief and so much more. However, the author balanced this nicely in both parts of the story, so whilst it was emotional at times, it was never overwhelming. I hadn't read Rachel Burton before but based on this book, I will be keeping an eye out for her books.

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host here. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Rating 4/5

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a dual timeline novel. One narrative takes us to Cambridge in 1914, where we follow Grace, and the other follows Barbara in 1997. I found that I was able to connect with the two narratives in different ways.

The first narrative had a WWI setting, and I found it very interesting to read in a historical context. I was interested in Grace and the other characters, particularly her chemistry and connection with Algernon. I think Algernon was probably my favourite character.

In the second narrative, Barbara and her mother decided to move to Oakdene, following the death of Barbara's father. Initially, Barbara didn't seem too pleased about it, and I wondered if her feelings might change later on. I found that the second narrative made me feel nostalgic for the nineties, and I think that was something which helped me to connect with the characters in that timeline.

I became emotionally invested in both stories, and I wanted to know if there might be a connection between them, and the characters. I'm finding myself more and more drawn to timeslip novels like this one, and if you enjoy them as well, this is a lovely read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I love a dual time line narrative when it is well done, as it definitely has been in this book. The author has created two very distinct voices set in the present day and the period immediately before the First World War.

The book focuses on the effects of the First World War upon those away at war and those left behind. However, the book looks beyond then to the time following the war and the repercussions on the mental health of the soldiers.
In the present day, a trunk is discovered in the basement of a house which is being cleared. This discovery has a significant impact on them all and has huge impact upon the story.

It is a heartfelt and powerful story. It touches on themes of loss, mental health and love. It was a highly engaging story and I was keen to see how the two timelines connected.

I absolutely loved this book!! I really enjoyed the duel timeline and how beautifully tragic it was. I did have a hard time keeping the family tree straight, especially in the 1997 timeline. But overall, I thought it was wonderful!!

A slow burn character- driven dual timeline full of grief, loss, and also hope. This is an emotional one - Grace and Barbara have much in common but have never met. Their lives linked in more ways than they can imagine and impacted by those they’ve lost.
I enjoyed the way the two stories wove together to piece together the truth of the family’s history. The search for truth triggered by a photograph shows how important it is not to lose the stories and memories of the past no matter how sad or difficult.

The House at Rivers Edge is a historical fiction written by Rachel Burton. Wow! What an amazing story told by Rachel, in a way that drew me in and wouldn’t let me go. This story follows two timelines that overlap seamlessly of 1914-1919 to 1997-1998. The twists and turns that this story takes will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

Grace (1914-1919 timeline FMC) is such a well rounded character, showing complex emotion and decisions. She shows many sides that might not perfectly tie into a bow, but are the realities of love and loss. Barbara (1997-1998 timeline FMC) is equally complex and full of battling thoughts and ideas. Her daughter and mother help her rediscover herself after her own love and loss takes its toll on her.

Seeing these two timelines the way that Rachel has created them, I cannot imagine reading this novel any other way. Not every author can pull off multiple timelines and POVs seamlessly, but Rachel definitely can. The writing is beautiful, and I immediately want to pick up another Rachel Burton book.

The pace was great as was the setting creation—Egerton Hall sounds beautiful and I wish it existed in real life—and every character felt like it had a purpose. There’s a sprinkle of mystery built into this story with the mysterious trunk, and all the revealing things found inside. It opens up the story and allows readers to try and solve things right along side the characters.

This book pulled on all the right strings, keeping me entertained and excited to see what becomes of these two ladies and what they discover about themselves and their families. I was enthralled from start to finish, eager to learn more about the families and the secrets they kept hidden for many years. I highly recommend giving this book a read if you love historical fiction with a dash of mystery, love, loss and the fickle nature of grief, and family secrets.

There are some mentions of death and self harm (it is not described in detail) so please ensure that this is the right book for you!

Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author Rachel Burton for this ARC.

Terrific book! It comes out May 3rd and it's historical fiction involving WW1 and the complicated friendships between 5 young adults who just finished at Cambridge in 1914. There is also a second story line that takes place in present day as a family finds a trunk that connects the two.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy. I'm so glad I got to read this. I thought the writing was phenomenal. There was a real depth to the characters and I could feel Ms. Burton's passion for the story. I saw a lot of growth in the 1914 timeline as well as the present day one and I feel each timeline was done well.

I'm definitely looking forward to more from the author and I hope this becomes a movie.