Amanda by H.S. Cross is a richly layered, emotionally resonant novel that masterfully explores the complexities of adolescence, identity, and desire within the rigid confines of an English boarding school. Cross’s prose is elegant and precise, immersing the reader in a world of quiet tensions and deeply felt transformations. It's a poignant, beautifully observed story that rewards close attention.

A great WWI story of a woman trying to escape her lover while he is still looking for her. The author writes with such real feeling in her characters. Loved it!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Love the setting this takes place in post WWII England. A very strong cast of characters made this book very captivating for me. Marion and Jamie’s forbidden love really drew me in. The chemistry between them is palpable in the pages of this book. The themes of love and trauma (to name a few) went very well together and I felt my heart racing throughout this story. If you enjoy historical fiction this book will draw you in and keep you gasping till the last page.

Gifted a digital ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for this honest review.

I wanted to love this book. The time frame, the characters, the plot line, the magical painting on the cover. The importance of an honest portrayal of the challenges of trying to handle mental illness, and the fallout that results from that endeavor. All of these things should have come together to make a very readable and memorable book.

And they did. And I did care very much for this book.

Cross's writing is at times humorous, at times haunting. Her ear for dialogue translates marvelously to the page, and positively clutches the reader's attention.

Why four stars instead of five? I just didn't love it. It's definitely one for the shelf, after having read it, and it's clearly worth a revisit. I'd particularly like to give it another spin after I get a chance to read this novel's predecessor 'Wilberforce'. There's probably no connection, but it's difficult to shake that the protagonist of that novel is not somehow related to the character of the same name in this one. How many Wilberforces does one encounter in the span of one's life?

This is a very good and highly recommended read.

What struck me most was how HS Cross seemed to create a panoramic picture of post-World War I Britain. The Oxford of this novel is not the ideal academic city but a haven for damaged souls, where “unsettling energy” permeates every cobblestone street and dark pub. "Amanda" promises to be a work where love is not rationalized but portrayed as a real force, powerful but also dangerous, able to save but also able to destroy. This is what makes great love stories so appealing.

This book covers important topics about mental health in all its gravity. The historical part is also well researched.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very serious historical fiction novel that not only deals with the country recovery of the great war but also deals with the themes of mental illness. I wilk admit that this novel is slightly dark but it comes with an important message. I for one think that this novel is a very good teaching method on just how serious the mental health crisis was after the war or just in general everyday life. This book really opened my eyes.
We are introduced to Marion who has arrived from Oxford after the failed elopement to a violent man. Early on we discover that she is prone to making impulsive descions and can hear voices. She ends up meeting who is recovering from his own demons caused from the war. The two seem to really take to each other and understand their feelinga. However, when Marion acts on her impulses and runs away leaving Jamie in a haze.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.