This engaging and nuanced family drama by Marshall Fine offered an absorbing and emotionally resonant reading experience. I was immediately drawn into its central premise, which explores how a weekend reunion can bring a lifetime of carefully concealed secrets to the surface.

The narrative focuses on Nora, a young woman returning to her family's home in 1967 for a long weekend. As I read, I felt the palpable tension stemming from her difficult relationship with her explosive mother, Lillian. The author expertly builds an atmosphere of simmering resentment and unspoken truths, revealing Nora's secret plan for her life—a plan her father knows nothing about, but which her trusted housekeeper, Clara, has been helping her orchestrate.

The book maintains a steady, character-driven pace, with layers of family history and personal desires being peeled away over the course of four days. The suspense comes not from a traditional mystery, but from the psychological pressure and the uncertainty of what will happen when Nora's secret is finally revealed. I appreciated how the story explores the complex bonds that tie a family together and the courage it takes to break free from them.

I found the author's ability to craft a compelling story that is both a reflection of its time and a timeless tale of finding one's own path truly impressive. It's a solid choice for those who enjoy character-focused dramas that explore the search for personal freedom within the confines of family obligation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

This was a bit of a random pick for me, something about the blurb drew me into reading this book and I am so glad I did. I enjoyed it immensely. Set in the summer of 1960's, it is all about the Levitsky family and how the whole family is brought together for a long weekend. Each family member has something going on in their life and it was interesting to piece together what would happen. Secrets, lies, betrayals all happen between this family. It was an interesting concept to a story and one that really worked. I loved it and the ending was so good.

Hemlock Lane is a quietly powerful story of fractured families, long-held secrets, and the ways we carry the weight of the past. With its multi-generational cast and layered character work, this novel draws you into the heart of a family that feels as real as your own.

The premise is deceptively simple—Nora returns to her childhood home for a brief four-day visit, intending to share news that will change her future. But what begins as a seemingly routine trip quickly unravels into a reckoning with old wounds and buried truths. Nora’s relationship with Clara, the housekeeper who became a surrogate mother, adds emotional depth, grounding the story in a bond that feels more genuine than any blood tie.

The structure of the novel is one of its greatest strengths. Multiple narrators give us windows into different eras, different choices, and different regrets. It’s fascinating to see how each person’s decisions ripple through time, affecting others in ways they could never have predicted. The way the story moves between perspectives feels natural and adds richness to the narrative without ever becoming disorienting.

Marshall Fine’s writing captures the emotional quietness of domestic tension—the unspoken looks, the silences, the conversations you don’t have but can still feel humming in the background. While the prose at times leans a bit formal or stilted, especially in the beginning, it quickly settles into a rhythm that suits the tone of the story.

If anything, I wished the ending had lingered just a bit longer. After so much build-up, the final pages arrive quickly and could have benefited from a little more space to breathe. Still, the resolution is satisfying, and the emotional beats land well.

For readers who like:
-Quiet revelations
-Multi-generational family dramas
-Emotional journeys

Final Verdict
Hemlock Lane is the kind of novel that sneaks up on you—it begins quietly but slowly pulls you in until you’re completely absorbed. Perfect for fans of introspective, relationship-focused fiction and a fantastic pick for book club discussions. The story may be short, but its impact lingers.

Grateful to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Marshall Fine for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Hemlock Lane caught me and drew me in from the start. Initially, I thought we'd focus on Nora, the younger daughter looking to make her life her own...not the life her mother wants her to live.

What was surprising is that we had multiple narrators, of different generations, and we learn how they might have come to the decisions they've made along the way.

The characters are richly developed, each carrying their own burdens and histories, and the characters give us a story that you will want to dive into.

Initially, I thought I wasn't sure about the ending...but now, the next day, I feel it was exactly right.

#HemlockLane #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing #MarshallFine
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Hemlock Lane is a beautifully written exploration of memory, family, and the often unspoken truths that shape us. Set during a seemingly idyllic summer weekend in 1967, it subtly peels back the layers of a family held together by carefully crafted façades. Nora’s return home isn’t just a visit—it’s a reckoning. Her relationship with her mother, the deeply moving bond with Clara, and the tension running through the Levitsky household are rendered with emotional precision.

Marshall Fine’s prose is gentle yet incisive, and the pacing allows each character—and secret—to unfold with care. I especially appreciated the way the novel captured the quiet heroism of everyday people, and how the most courageous choices are often the hardest, and most personal.

A perfect read for those who enjoy introspective fiction, intergenerational dynamics, and stories that embrace emotional complexity with grace.

Thank you to Marshall Fine, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

The Levitsky family—two parents, two daughters, and their indispensable housekeeper, Clara—live on quiet Hemlock Lane. Clara is much more than staff; she’s the emotional glue holding this unraveling household together, especially for the daughters, who view her as their “secret mother.”
Nora, the youngest, returns home for the weekend after earning her PhD. Her parents, particularly her controlling mother, Lillian, expect Nora to move back permanently. But Nora is harboring secrets: a boyfriend her family doesn’t know about, and a new job in Chicago. Throughout her life, she has sidestepped her mother's unpredictable temperament, often leaning on Clara for comfort and maternal advice.
This compelling novel follows the Levitsky family as they navigate the tensions and buried truths of family life. Twists, emotional upheaval, and long-hidden revelations keep the narrative engaging. Most characters are sympathetic—except for Lillian, whose relentless need to dominate those around her makes her particularly difficult to endure.
I found myself completely absorbed, eagerly turning pages to discover what might unfold next. However, the story’s ending felt sudden and unresolved, leaving me wanting just a bit more closure.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

A quick read about a dysfunctional family. Nora retunrs to her childhood home to reveal her plans for the future to her family and to the housekeeper that she saw as her substitute mother. Family secrets are revealed in this not to put down book. I did find the ending a little abrupt, but I feel like it would be a good bood to discuss at a book club.

Hemlock Lane portrays one weekend in the house of the Levitsky family in the summer of 1967. Each character brings their own set of memories, anxieties, hopes, and dreams in this work that explores the bonds we form and break with those we love.

This story did several things well. Particularly, Lillian's character showing the complex nature of motherhood and mental health, especially in that time period, really endeared me to the story. Though being a deeply flawed character, her inner monologue revealed how our own insecurities impact others. In turn, this book also explored how motherhood is more nuanced than just who birthed you. Clara's reckoning with who she was and who she was in the lives of Nora and Amelia was very interesting to discover in the work. Sol was also a character who I really enjoyed reading, especially in his feelings about his daughters and the secrets he kept. The constant push and pull of his character and his sense of what was right in his household provided such interesting context to the other characters' thoughts.

However, a few parts of this story were difficult for me. I desired much more dialogue about Nora's collegiate studies and the difficulties she would have faced achieving the level of education she had. Though she personally did not prescribe to society's expectations of her, I find it a bit difficult to believe that her pursuit of a doctorate level degree in marketing with a concentration on gender disparity was so easily accepted by faculty. Additionally, I felt as though this book lacked atmosphere in regards to the setting beyond just Nora. The struggles presented in this work are characteristic of many decades in the United States including modern day. While this does make the themes relevant, it gives some parts of the book an untethered grip on the setting of 1967. The prose worked well for this style, but the phrase "from a young age" was a bit overused in the narration of several characters.

Overall, this book accomplished its goal of illustrating complex family dynamics. I enjoyed getting to know these characters through the intimate looks inside their inner monologues and the Levitsky home throughout their memories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I loved this book so much mostly because it’s so relatable in that it revolves around a “normal” family aka one that can be messy and not picture perfect. Nora was an amazing main character and the book gives a great look at the past so the reader can make sense of the present. Lies can bind a family but are hard to accept over time and the bond she has with her housekeeper Clara is so beautifully put into writing. But as things start to bubble at the surface Nora has to be so brave and it got me emotional as I read. The plot of this book is so addicting and will captivate the reader while making you feel a big range of emotions.

Hemlock Lane by Marshall Fine published by Lake Union Publishing is a stand alone. The author's previous book is The Autumn Truth of Ruth Winters.
Nora is back home only for 4 days after a long time away. She's had a difficult childhood, bonding only with the housekeeper Clara.
All of them carry secrets, and Nora learns the truth might free them all.
A feel good book, charming, engrossing.
The language was a wee bit stilted and it took me a minute, but all in all a great book, 4,5 stars.