Book Review: The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 18, 2025

Publisher: Atria

Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: The Secret Book of Flora Lea,

and Surviving Savannah

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.

In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, disappears off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her departure leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more her beautiful mother.

By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother’s vanishing, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London’s most deadly natural disasters—the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.

Told in Patti Callahan Henry’s lyrical, enchanting prose, The Story She Left Behind is a captivating novel of mystery and family legacy that captures the profound longing for a mother and the evergreen allure of secrets.

 

 

Bronwyn Newcastle Fordman was a precocious child and wrote a bestselling novel at twelve years old.  She even invented her own language. Years later at thirty years old, she writes the sequel to her novel, but disappears from her South Carolina home before it could be published. This leaves her family questioning what happened as it appears she disappeared without a trace. Many years later in 1952, Clara, her daughter is an illustrator and working at a school. She is a single mother to Wynnie and living a very normal life. She gets a call from London from a man named Charles who, while going through his father's library, finds a stack of letters that appears to belong to Bronywn and there is even a letter addressed to Clara. Clara then takes a trip to London with her daughter to get some answers, but while there the Great Smog invades London, making it difficult for her asthmatic daughter. Charles invites them to escape the smog and stay in his Lake District home. While there, Clara starts to find a connection to the landscape and her mother's story. She figures out the Lake District holds more answers regarding their mother's disappearance than she thought. Patti Callahan Henry's The Story She Left Behind is a historical mystery that's perfect for fans of stories with a literary twist.

The literary mystery in The Story She Left Behind starts off pretty compelling in that readers are curious as to what happened to Bronwyn. Slowly Henry gives us details surrounding Bronwyn's life and what led up to her disappearance. The story then jumps to 1952 and Clara's life as a teacher and acclaimed illustrator. Once she travels to England and tries to unravel the mystery, the story picks up further. Clara comes across a dictionary that she hopes will help translate her mother's sequel which is written in her mother's invented language. She also hopes that while spending time at the Lake District she will come to further understand her mother and maybe get some clues as to what happened. While there, sparks fly between her and Charles, so there is a small romantic subplot as well.

My favorite aspect of The Story She Left Behind was undoubtedly the literary mystery, but I also loved the setting of the Lake District. Henry did an excellent job of bringing this landscape to life, and his descriptions made me long to visit. While I am a fan of Henry's novels, I felt that The Story She Left Behind had some shortcomings. The plot seemed to meander off course, taking a long time to reach its destination, which at times made the pacing feel a bit slow. Despite this, I enjoyed the literary mystery, which was filled with linguistic puzzles and historical details, such as the Great Smog of London.

Are you a fan of Patti Callahan Henry? Is The Story She Left Behind on your TBR list? Let them know your thoughts in the comments below.

 

Blog Tour: Swept Away

I've come to really enjoy Beth O'Leary's romantic comedies over the years, and I’m excited to highlight her latest novel, Swept Away, which was just released this week. With spring break approaching, this seems like the perfect read since it involves two strangers lost at sea. Romance readers won't want to miss this one. I just started it this week, and I’m thoroughly enjoying it.

Learn More About the Novel:

Swept Away by Beth O'Leary

Pub. Date: April 1, 2025

Goodreads says, "What if you were lost at sea…with your one-night stand?

Zeke and Lexi thought it would just be a night of fun. They had no intentions of seeing each other again. Zeke is only in town for the weekend to buy back his late father’s houseboat. Lexi has no time for dating when she needs to help take care of her best friend's daughter.

Going back home with a stranger seems like a perfect escape from their problems. But a miscommunication in the dark, foggy night means no one tied the houseboat to the dock. The next morning, Zeke and Lexi realize all they can see is miles and miles of water.

With just a few provisions on the idle boat, Zeke and Lexi must figure out how to get back home. But aside from their survival, they’re facing another challenge. Because when you’re stuck together for days on end, it gives you a lot of time to get to know someone—and to fall in love with them.

 

You can purchase your own copy of Swept Away at Bookshop, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books A Million. Also, you can learn more about Beth O'Leary by visiting her website and connecting with her on Instagram, and Facebook.

Let me know in the comments if you are a fan of Beth O'Leary and if you plan on reading Swept Away this spring. 

 

10 Books to Read in April

 

Spring has officially arrived! We’ve made it through a long, cold winter, which means it’s almost time to enjoy those beach reads. This month, several fantastic novels are being released by beloved authors like Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez. Some of these books are perfect picks for spring break. I can’t wait to dive in!

1. The Griffin Sisters' Greatest Hits by Jennifer Weiner (4/8)

I'll always read whatever Weiner writes and this one sounds like a lot of fun as it's a story set in the world of pop music. It's also a BOTM pick for April.

2. Insignificant Others by Sarah Jio (4/1)

This timeslip novel involves a young woman stuck in a "time loop" of one-day relationships with romantic partners from her past.

 

3. Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (4/1)

I really enjoyed the first quirky Vera novel, and can't wait to continue her story. I especially like this series on audio.

 

4. Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (4/1)

Jimenez is an auto-buy author for me. I adore her rom-coms and this one sounds like a hit. Also, how cute is this cover?

5. Swept Away by Beth O'Leary (4/1)

This love story involves two strangers stranded at sea by the bestselling author The Flatshare. This looks like the perfect spring break read!

 

6. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (4/22)

This much anticipated novel is about two writers who "compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman."

 

7. The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner (4/29)

I enjoyed The Lost Apothecary, so I am looking forward to this novel which is about powerful witchcraft, a hunt for sunken treasure, and forbidden love on the high seas."

 

 

8. The Sirens by Emilia Hart (4/1)

Weyward was one of my favorite novels that I read last year, so I am looking forward to checking out her latest which involves a "story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine."

 

9.  Summer Light on Nantucket by Nancy Thayer (4/22)

It feels like beach read season is starting when Nancy Thayer has a new Nantucket novel coming out!

 

 

10. The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (4/22)

This book is getting a lot of buzz. It's being described as "one family. Four generations. A secret son. A devastating addiction. A Texas family is met with losses and surprises of inheritance, but they’re unable to shake the pull back toward each other in this big-hearted family saga

."

 

What books are you looking forwad to reading this month? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

Blog Tour: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)

One of the most enjoyable audiobooks I listened to in 2023 was Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto. It was a delightful experience! The story felt like a cozy mystery, and Vera's quirky antics had me laughing out loud. 

I was excited to learn that another book featuring Vera Wong is being added to this entertaining series. Today, I’m participating in Berkley's blog tour for Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man), which is being released today.

Learn More About the Book:

Goodreads says, "Vera Wong is back and as meddling as ever in this follow-up to the hit Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.…

Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.

Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.

Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.

Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law."

 

You can purchase your own copy of Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) at Bookshop, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Also, you can learn more about Jesse Q. Sutanto by visting her website and connecting with her on Instagram and Twitter/X.  

Is Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) on your spring TBR list? Are you a fan of the Vera Wong series? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. 

 

 

Mini Book Reviews: Historical Fiction

You all know I love a good historical tale and today I'm sharing my thoughts on two novels that were recently published that will surely immerse readers in a different time period in American history.

The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 11, 2025

Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

Source: Publisher for review

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "Virginia, 1864—Libby Steadman’s husband has been away for so long that she can barely conjure his voice in her dreams. While she longs for him in the night, fearing him dead in a Union prison camp, her days are spent running a gristmill with her teenage niece, a hired hand, and his wife, all the grain they can produce requisitioned by the Confederate Army. It’s an uneasy life in the Shenandoah Valley, the territory frequently changing hands, control swinging back and forth like a pendulum between North and South, and Libby awakens every morning expecting to see her land a battlefield. 
    And then she finds a gravely injured Union officer left for dead in a neighbor’s house, the bones of his hand and leg shattered. Captain Jonathan Weybridge of the Vermont Brigade is her enemy – but he’s also a human being, and Libby must make a terrible Does she leave him to die alone? Or does she risk treason and try to nurse him back to health? And if she succeeds, does she try to secretly bring him across Union lines, where she might negotiate a trade for news of her own husband? 
    A vivid and sweeping story of two people navigating the boundaries of love and humanity in a landscape of brutal violence, The Jackal’s Mistress is a heart-stopping new novel, based on a largely unknown piece of American history, from one of our greatest storytellers.

Libby Steadman lives in the Shenandoah Valley and helps to operate her husband's mill. Her husband, Peter, is a Confederate soldier. He is being held captive by the Union army in a prison and his fate is uncertain. Libby lives and operates the mill with Joseph, who was formally enslaved by her husband's family. Joseph has helped her in so many close calls as the fighting is coming closer to their land. Joseph's wife encounters an injured Union soldier and Libby decides to help him despite the dangers. He has been left for dead, with his leg partially amputated and he is in dire straits. The parallel storyline is from this soldier's point of view, Captain Jonathan Weybridge. He is a Union soldier and professor from Vermont. While fighting nearby, he got hit by a canon and he has been left behind. Both Libby and Jonathan long for their spouses and have much more in common despite being on conflicting sides of the war. As time progresses, a fast friendship ensues, but rumors are going around that a Union officer is on the loose and this puts Libby in a dangerous situation if she is caught harboring Jonathan. To make matters worse, Jonathan needs medicine in order to survive and the only place that has what they need is at Harpers Ferry, twenty miles away. Chris Bohjalian's The Jackal's Mistress is an adventurous romp that will transport readers to the Civil War and highlight a challenging time in our nation's history.

Bohjalian writes a compelling Civil War tale that is actually based on real-life people; however, it is to be noted that he took some historical liberties in The Jackal's Mistress. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story that felt more adventurous than romantic despite the title. Bohjalian builds suspense throughout the novel and it kept me flipping the pages. In addition to this, Civil War fans will especially relish all the historical details and the author paints a vivid picture of the time.

 

 

The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig

Pages: 352

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction

Pub. Date: March 4, 2025

Publisher: Harper Collins
Source: Publisher for review

Other Books By Author: Band of Sisters, The English Wife,

The Ashford Affair, The Other Daughter, and

The Passion of the Purple Plumeria

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Goodreads says, "At the start of a new century, a shocking murder transfixes Manhattan, forcing bitter rivals Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr to work together to save a man from the gallows. 

Just before Christmas 1799, Elma Sands slips out of her Quaker cousin’s boarding house—and doesn’t come home. Has she eloped? Run away? No one knows—until her body appears in the Manhattan Well.

Her family insists they know who killed her. Handbills circulate around the city accusing a carpenter named Levi Weeks of seducing and murdering Elma. But privately, quietly, Levi’s wealthy brother calls in a special favor….

Aaron Burr’s legal practice can’t finance both his expensive tastes and his ambition to win the 1800 New York elections. To defend Levi Weeks is a double a hefty fee plus a chance to grab headlines.

Alexander Hamilton has his own political aspirations; he isn’t going to let Burr monopolize the public’s attention. If Burr is defending Levi Weeks, then Hamilton will too. As the trial and the election draw near, Burr and Hamilton race against time to save a man’s life—and destroy each other.

Part murder mystery, part thriller, part true crime, The Girl From Greenwich Street revisits a dark corner of history—with a surprising twist ending that reveals the true story of the woman at the center of the tale."

Elma Sands is living at her cousin's boardinghouse in New York City. One night in December, she leaves and doesn't return. Her cousins know she had a relationship with a fellow boarder, Levi Weeks, and they thought they had plans to be married. However, Levi doesn't know where Elma is and once her body shows up in the Manhattan well weeks later, all fingers point to Levi. Levi's brother, Ezra, is wealthy and hires an excellent attorney to defend his brother. Enter stage left: Aaron Burr. Due to politics and the sensation around this case (perhaps some jealousy, too?) Alexander Hamilton insists he helps with the defense of Levi as well. This trial became a sensation in New York City with a lot of attention as this was the first US murder trial. Fans of true crime, historical mysteries, and Alexander Hamilton will savor The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig.

What makes The Girl from Greenwich Street so compelling is the fact that this book is based on the first US murder trial that has a transcript of the court case. Willig's story is based heavily on this and truly brings these real people to life. I really enjoy true crime stories and the fact that this one included such famous names as Burr and Hamilton only added to my enjoyment. Willig, a lawyer herself, was able to capture the courtroom expertly. Lastly, I was really captivated by the whole case and thoroughly enjoyed Willig's author's note at the end of the novel. The note demonstrates how much research she put into this and fills in any gaps. So, if you are a fan of historical mysteries, look no further!

 

 

Have you read The Jackal's Mistress or The Girl from Greenwich Street? Are either book on your spring TBR list? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.