This is a lovely book about a woman who recovers from a painful affair with a married man with the help of a troubled teenage girl and a lonely elderly man.It's about the power of music to heal and the importance of friendship to make life better.
The main character makes stringed instruments and it was fascinating to learn about the process.
I really enjoyed the book and read it very quickly .It would be a good holiday read.By the end I was cheering Grace and her friends ,and was delighted with the way things turned outI.t's a real feel good read that will,leave you smiling.

Absolutely loved this book. A story of doomed romance, but so much more. The author words describing Grace's violin shop were so descriptive I felt I was there. The explanations of violin making were captivating, as were her references to music. The author had really done her homework.
The friendship that blossomed between the three characters as the story developed was very pleasing.
This book is different to Eleanor Oliphant in many ways but it gives the reader the same kind of satisfaction.

My thanks to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for giving me the opportunity to read The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton.
After a life-changing incident in her youth, Grace shuts herself away with her cello, to practice constantly, convinced she is capable of finding the sweet-spot of sound she knows the cello can achieve. In her adult life, she is a solitary woman with few friends, but after a chance meeting at a party, begins a relationship with David who becomes the love of her life. Unfortunately, David is married, although has an arrangement with his wife that even though they agree their marriage is over they will remain friends for the sake of their children. Grace's story shows just how easy it is to be bowled over by someone who is a pathological liar and who believes his own lies. Grace comes across as a lovely caring person, but rather naive, and willing to take things on face value David flits in and out of her life like a moth, only inviting her to Paris when the time is right for him. She clearly adores him and believes that one day they will be together. But things with David are not as he would have her believe. The characters in this amazing story are so well drawn I could see them. Nadia and Maurice Williams are a complete joy, and the ending is extremely satisfying. I couldn't put this one down.

Unfortunately this book just was not for me. I was looking forward to something similar to 'a man named Ove' or "eleanor oliphant' but this was nothing like either of these. I'm not sure if I thought it would be because of a description, or something I read and got it wrong but it was definitely an incorrect impression! The book focuses on the life of Grace Atherton, which could be really interesting - however, so much of the book is given to descriptions of cellos that I soon became extremely bored. For anyone who is interested in Cellos, they would probably enjoy it - but I am not, and I feel like I have read a general knowledge about cellos book instead - I have certainly learned about cellos, or violincellos to give them their proper name, but I didn't particularly want to!

Than you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to download this book. What a wonderful read, I was hooked from the first page. Anstey Harris tells a story that we can all belive is true, its about love, betrayal and true friendship. I was engrossed and moved by the writing in this book, even when reading brutal passages about Grace's life, the writing was calm, beautiful and uplifting. To be rescued from your way of life by an old man and a young girl and thrown back into living life to the full was a heartwarming read. I also learned a lot about string instruments but in an interesting informative fashion. i would recommend this book wholeheartedly.

The publisher’s comparison to Eleanor Oliphant is unfortunate, for although Grace is damaged in her own way, she’s not so socially out there as Eleanor. Eleanor is uniquely Eleanor, and I felt it did a disservice to her and to Grace to compare the two.

A novel I will reread, for I read it too fast to follow the plot. I didn’t like the few long descriptions about the technical aspects of music, but warmed to Grace and her life as a loner with a passion for music. Her descriptions of the love she and David share are sweet but poignant, for the reader can see all the compromises she makes as the mistress to a married man. How she eventually finds herself makes for an enjoyable read.

I raced through this absolutely beautiful book and highly recommend it. A story of relationships not only between people but also with music, I loved the writing and characterisation and didn't want this book to end. Following Grace as she negotiates her complex love life and powerful relationship with music, the book skips in time to show us Grace's teenage years at music college and the difficulties she faced there that have followed her throughout her life. Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read this wonderful book.

This book is great! The character of Grace really draws you in and makes you feel warmly and empathetically towards her. It's not a typical girl romantic 'happy ending' but that possibly makes it more enjoyable, you feel Grace is surrounded by the people that she deserves to be. There are also strong lessons in female friendship and valuing other women as well as looking after and believing in ourselves.

This is a truly beautifully crafted book. The writing is evocative, sympathetic and yet not in any way mawkish. The characters gradually build up as the story unfolds.
Grace is one of those people who exists in a vacuum, focussed on working hard at her luthier business, assisted by the lovely Nadia with whom we empathise, finding her way through a difficult life at age 17.
Nicola's lover David, a married man, comes across as self centred and egotistic, but charming nevertheless. As indeed does the sweet elderly gentleman , Mr Williams, who plays a much bigger part in the story than we first expect.
The story has many twists and turns, dwelling on relationships ,forgiveness and new beginnings.. The writing is super. I didn't want the book to end,
Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy.

The blurb about this novel compared it to ‘Eleanor oliphant is completely fine.’ While both are tales of new lives and redemption, this is less quirky and profound, and more like chick lit.
Having said that, I enjoyed it in the final analysis. Much of the novel feels quite ‘girl meets (married) boy, girl loses boy etc, but the plot does come together and the last third is much more interesting, pacey and touching. I also found all the musical parts interesting (Grace plays and makes cellos).
I’m not sure I ever loved or believed in the the characters (as I did Eleanor Oliphant) but it’s a diverting read and well-written.

This novel provides an insight in to the world of musicians and their instruments, particularly those of the string family. It was of special interest for me as I have a nephew who plays the cello. The book is also about people growing and getting stronger, adapting to changes of circumstance, particularly the main character Grace. At first I found her a bit soft and easily led, but gradually she sorted herself out and found her own voice. In many ways this a heartening and heart-warming tale. Recommended.

This book was a grower for me. I found it uncomfortable reading in the beginning. It starts with Grace who is in a relationship with a married man, David, who for 8 years assures her that he will leave his wife once his children are grown. Her life revolves around him, seeing him when he can fit her into his schedule, whilst trying to run a business as a luthier, building and repairing string instruments. One event, which inadvertently leads to David saving someone's life and making him a viral hero, blows everything apart in Grace's life.

Grace has a catastrophic reaction to her situation, and the story develops as she rebuilds her life with the assistance of a troubled teenager Nadia, and a wonderful old man called Mr Williams.

This book was a poetic symphony, with the rise and fall of the story reaching a crescendo at the end in a way that I did not anticipate at the beginning.

I grew to love this book the further I got into it, and I am so happy I received the opportunity to read it via Netgalley and courtesy of Simon & Schuster UK in exchange for an honest review.

This is just a lovely book where you get to know Grace and her struggles in life and throughout the book she hits a low (very low) only to overcome them in a satisfying way. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and completed it in two sittings. Just wonderful.

I did enjoy this book but I found it to slightly drag in the middle, and some of the technical terms for the instruments and music etc washed over me. However, I did enjoy reading Grace's story and I loved the ending of the book, as everything was wrapped up beautifully. I thought the characters were very well drawn, too.

I loved this book. Graces story is so beautifully written and the beautiful places the story is set in add to it. I loved the theme of music and musical instruments throughout. This is a story about love, friendship and friends. It is also about living life to the full and realising your own self worth. It is a wonderful book that I would definitely recommend and will remember.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is a wonderful music filled book. Gracie is passionately in love with David but her life as a musical instrument maker and repairer is turned upside down when a good deed by David thrusts him into an unwanted public spotlight. Gracie is knocked sideways by the truth revealed about David. She is lucky to be supported by an old friend and a young employee. We are lucky to be on this journey with Gracie. I loved the music part of it even though I am not a classical music fan. It's a lovely story.

What an inspiring book, Grace Atherton is about to find the people she can rely on. A great read about pulling yourself up from rock bottom and putting yourself back together again . A fascinating insight into the art of creating musical instruments and music, family and hope.

A well written and hypnotic book showcasing a story that is captivating, powerful and one that reveals the real and ugly nature of life and love. This story doesn't leap out from the pages but instead sees you quietly observe Grace's journey in a hauntingly raw manner as you witness the layers of her character peel away revealing an honest and broken soul in desperate need of repair. Only on the edge of losing everything can a person begin to heal and repair producing a story of courage and brutal honesty that leaves you championing Grace on from the sidelines.

I particularly enjoyed the unlikely friendship between Grace, Nadia and Mr Williams creating an odd dynamic to the book that is both unexpected and enjoyable. There's a steady rhythm to the flow of this book that glides like the bow across a cello creating a piece of work that feels artistic in merit and execution. Grace as a character, in all her flawed glory, has stayed with me since finishing this book which I feel is a testament to the power of the writing and I am very much looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is a heartbreakingly, beautiful tale about relationships, the resilience of love, and the acceptance of loss all set to the backdrop of romantic cities and the arts.

Grace, a former musician with a traumatic musical schooling experience, enjoys a quiet life repairing instruments in a small English town. After a chance meeting a man named David, Grace and David are mad for each other and enjoy a long-distance relationship. One casual day while waiting for the Paris Metro, David performs a heroic act that catapults him to social media hero status which then turns the spotlight on his life. This turn of events showcased to Grace that things are other than what they seem. Leaning on unlikely acquaintances who become close friends, Grace attempts to unravel the truth while also attempting to live her life the best she can.

I enjoyed reading The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton. It was very well-written with well-developed characters. It wasn’t a typical love story but instead lent itself more to love, joy and happiness being partaken in many different forms. I’d really like to see what Grace does next; crossing my fingers that there will be a book two.

I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Grace is worthy of the time you will spend with her and such a great character!

Harris takes us on a gentle but complex and uplifting emotional ride. Her descriptions were beautiful, without being too twee.

The narrative is pleasing and enjoyable, a great feel-good read.

Love this one!