Really wanted to fall in love with this book but after a few attempts at starting it I couldn't get more than a few chapters in before being distracted by something else. I will persevere and hopefully can get a bit further. The characters just aren't gripping enough for me

A little bit disappointed in this book, I found it difficult to enjoy in the beginning and it took me a long time to read, over a few months! I usually enjoy books that switch between time periods, but I found this book quite tedious and I happily put it down, which is not my style
I thought that the ending was obvious from more or less the beginning, but I had hoped that something exciting would happen on the way. It didn't in my opinion, I am pleased that I have finished it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Tracey Rees and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I really loved Tracy Rees book Amy Snow.
Then I read, or more like tried to read, Florence Grace and just couldn't get into it so I did not finish it.
And then I really wanted to give the author another chance with this book.
For me it was just as bad als Florence Grace.
I could not get into the story, I really did not care for the characters and had to force myself to get back to this book. So I decided to stop reading it, instead of forcing myself, as I really did not want to get into a reading slump because of me forcing myself to read a book I just really didn't like and didn't care about.

This is a lovely long family saga, to read and enjoy for many hours. Nora is forty and single, she works and lives in London. She has been suffering from anxiety recently and now dreams of a beach that she visited long ago. So she gives up her mundane job, leases out her flat and moves to beautiful Tenby. Our other storyline which starts in the 1950's is about Jasmine, previously known as Chloe, who is Nora's mother. She visits Tenby every year from ten years old until dramatic events change everything for her when she is eighteen. The past catches up to the present in a great story.! Read on!

Wonderful book. Everything I hoped it would be. Great to read. The setting sounded gorgeous. Made me want to set up home there. I love the authors writing style. Wonderful characters great plot top book

Fabulous book, a read that I really enjoyed. Would recommend to others. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book

In 2014 Norah is unhappy with her life - she has split up with her partner and is working in a job that she doesn't enjoy - so when she keeps getting visions of a beach town in Wales - Tenby - event though she has only been there once before she decides to pack up and go there.

In 1950 Chloe goes to Tenby to stay with her aunt and uncle for the summer, she has a best friend Llew there and she always looks forward to getting involved in the town life especially spending her summers on the beach.

As the two stories progress we see Norah build up her confidence and start to enjoy life without the constant anxiety and Chloe is a typical young girl enjoying a summer break at the beach......until she meets an older boy.
Can the secrets of the town be healed?

A great story - I love this author's writing - really good characters and you get invested in the lives of both timelines equally whereas so often in these sorts of books you get drawn far more into one that the other - definitely a book I would recommend for the summer

Do you like contemporary fiction and historical fiction? Well if so, you are in for a treat with The Hourglass by Tracy Rees, as it mixes both together flawlessly.

Balancing the books is a quick fire review where I list the assets and liabilities of a book (as I see them) and leave you decide if you think this book is worth investing in.

THE ASSETS OF THE HOURGLASS BY TRACY REES:

2 Fascinating Points of View : Chloe, a teenager in the 1950s who lives for her summer holidays in Wales every year. And Nora, who turned 40 in 2014, and is realising that she hates her life and is ready to change everything up. I loved both voices equally and happily flip-flopped between their story arcs.

1950s Wales setting: OMG, this setting was fabulous. Think innocent times, days spent exploring, beach day after beach day, picnics, the excitement of your first teenage dance, freedom and ice cream. I wanted to time-travel and be Chloe!

The symbolism: I loved the hourglass symbolism. Both Chloe and Nora are at turning points in their lives and the image of an hourglass captured that so well. It’s also important for other reasons, and I appreciated how well that all fitted together.

Warmth: The book radiates warmth. The characters are lively, and I loved the friendships and romances.

Emotional Plot: Such a poignant plot, it made my heart beat faster with all the feels. I 100% fell in love with all the characters and feels were spilling over.

THE LIABILITIES OF THE HOURGLASS BY TRACY REES:

I’m racking my brain, because I like to nit-pick! But I can’t find anything I hated. It takes a little bit of time to fit everything together, but that’s part of the charm of the read. So nothing!

INVESTMENT POTENTIAL OF THE HOURGLASS BY TRACY REES:
If you like the sound of a contemporary/recent historical fiction mash-up and a heartfelt plot, then yes definitely you should read this. If you are a fan of authors like Kate Morton, or Julia Crouch, then you might also like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

I love Tracy Rees’ writing style- she creates such wonderful characters and draws the settings so well that you can imagine yourself there. I love reading books set in places I know well- and this was a lovely trip back to holidays in my youth. Tenby is such a beautiful place that it was lovely to revisit it within the pages of this book.
This is a timeslip novel set in almost present day and the 50’s and both stories are easy to get absorbed in. It really does recreate the magic of the Welsh coast. The 50’s is a fascinating era to visit and you feel as though you know the characters so well by the end of the book.
I have Tracy Rees other books on my kindle and I just know I am going to love every page. It is great to find new favourite authors to add to your list to watch for the new releases. They have such beautiful covers that you are instantly drawn to them visually.

Thanks Netgalley. This should be 4 1/2 stars what a wonderful book. Thoroughly recommend

Thanks Quercus Books and netGALLEY for this ARC.

The Hourglass was a great way to spend a afternoon relaxing with a book.