This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I love Jenny Oliver books but I found this one very slow. I got over half way before I got interested in the story and the characters. After that I couldn’t put it down. I found Gus to be my favourite character who entertained and intrigued me.

A man walks out, he goes missing and yet none of his family seem that bothered, he left a note so it was definitely voluntary. His wife doesn't seem to bothered, his children are a bit more worried, but even so there is a lack of urgency about finding him, even though no one has heard from him at all.

This is the story of the Whitethorn's family who I feel are a lot better for Graham walking away than they had been before.

As the book progresses we see all sorts of secrets come out, huge amounts of character development, especially for Stella and Amy, We also discover just what sort of a man Graham is, as well as discovering every last thing about this family.

They are complex, they are real, you probably know people like some of them. It is a very good story about how a family reacts when something unexpected happens.

When I was able to read for a while uninterrupted I was utterly gripped, and was eager to see what happened, but yet the book wasn't calling me back to it when I wasn't reading. Which is a shame, but could just be me, as I can't really fault anything about the story itself.

A really enjoyable story and I feel awful that I left it languishing on my kindle unread for as long as I did, given how much I tend to enjoy this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I have nothing but praise for Jenny Oliver. She is a recently new author discovery of mine and so I was excited to read this book and I am so glad I did as it was brilliant. A perfect way to escape.
Full review to follow.

Badged as a feel-good story, this made me feel rather melancholy. Now I know that’s the point, but I can usually rely on Jenny Oliver to provide me with seaside escapism rather than the gritty reality of an absent father/grandfather.

The story starts out slowly, with teenage Sonny being ‘dumped’ at his grandparents whilst his mum Stella and dad Jack don’t quite know how to handle him. He also has a cute little sister.

Stella clearly has her issues with her parents and they unfold once her father disappears and her sister Amy plus one-night boyfriend Gus turn up. Add to that their mother Moira who delivers some cracking one-liners later in the book.

Once they are all assembled there’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing but eventually the family take action to find their missing dad/grandfather ...

From there onwards, it becomes more like the Jenny Oliver books I love but I almost gave up as it is notably deeper and less frothy than her previous books.

However, she is a talented writer so I stuck with it and enjoyed the various outcomes. 3.5*...

I love Jenny Olivers writing style and love her books.
In this one when a father walks away from the family home, his daughters return home to their mum. Their mum seems to have a close friendship that they are unaware of and feels free rather than worried about his disappearance.
Amy brings a new partner whom she seems to dislike. The characters are so well drawn that you feel that you are there along with them.
It draws you in and keeps you turning the pages

This novel is 400 pages long and yet I read it in less than two days because I was completely addicted. First of all, I loved the characters. They are engaging, realistic, and very very likable. There is Stella, who left Cornwall and the family home at eighteen after a fallout with her father and, since then, she has been back just for quick visits. Now she is a journalist with her own successful column about motherhood, even though she can’t seem to understand her teenage son, Sonny, who is a tech genius and seemingly very wise for his age. Her husband Jack does everything she asks and their younger daughter Rosie is adorable in her own innocence. Her younger sister Amy has always been the baby of the family with everyone taking care of her. Now, she is living in London on her own, trying to prove to her family that she can do it on her own, especially now that she is pregnant after a one-night stand. When their father suddenly leaves the family home without an explanation, both women travel to Cornwall to figure out what is going on, Amy followed by Gus, the father of her baby, and my favourite character with his wittiness and charm. Their mother Moira doesn’t seem too concerned by the disappearance of her husband. She finally feels free from being the wife of a man who demanded all her attention and, for once, she is thinking just about herself.

I really liked the author’s writing. This is my first Jenny Oliver’s novel (I really need to catch up) and I found her writing clear and distinct. The narration flows easily with the right amount of descriptions and dialogues, with hilarity, emotional moments, and a few twists. Each character has their own stories and a few secrets that entertain and kept me glued to the page because, just like the characters, they are realistic and engaging.

THE HOUSE WE CALLED HOME is a story about family, about forgiveness, and about growing up and I loved everything about it, from the first to the last page. It’s a compulsive and refreshing read and I’d like to thank HQ and Lily Capewell for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this immersive summer read.

Loved it!
Here is a family with secrets, complications, undercurrents, shifting dynamics, a complex, imperfect family. Like we all have! Grandparents who seem to want to impress the village....recalcitrant teens, new partners, grief, loss, secrets and lies this book has it all
The story moves between the gorgeous Cornish coast to Portugal and the family move with it. There are moments of warmth and humour, moments of sadness and moments of enlightenment. It’s just brilliant.

Well 'The House We Called Home' has been a truly wonderful and interesting read throughout. The story is based around a family, Gus and Mitch, all of whom I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and loved finding out how each of them plays a part within story itself.

It was an addictive read as I wanted to know what would happen with certain characters and to discover where Stella's Dad was & why he was missing, plus why is Moira acting so strange and who is this Mitch character. Well let me tell you it was certainly entertaining reading so as to discover those answers.

So final words, having read a couple of Jenny's books previously, I am happy to report that she is a wonderful author, has such a amazing way with words that just keeps you wanting more and the way she writes her characters and how they develop throughout a book, really makes them come alive.

If you haven't read a Jenny Oliver book yet, then all I can say is don't delay any further, as I can highly recommend her books as truly heart-warming, entertaining and delightful reads.

A family saga although not an everyday family l mean a journalist ex model and champion swimmer all returning home to a stunning Cornish house with fantastic views a bit too “perfect” for me lm afraid but my Mother in Law read the same book and absolutely loved it so perhaps I’m too cynical- maybe a perfect pool side read

Stella’s dad has disappeared but thats not all that seems odd, Stella’s mum seems taken with her dog walker friend and Stella’s sister Amy has appeared with a mystery man.

I’ve read many books by this author and enjoyed them all, this one was no different but cut in a different groove. A compelling read each chapter peeling back the different layers. A book of family discovery and growth. I found it hard to put it down

I have read most, if not all, of Jenny Oliver's books, and I think The House We Called Home marks a slight change in style. This book is less romantic I think. There is a lot of love evident, only it's explored within family dynamics. I liked all of the characters bar the missing father/grandfather, and I really enjoyed the group scenes. It's a good read.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading a lot of dark thrillers and police procedural books this book was like a breath of fresh air. I loved this story of family life and all it's going ons. Brilliantly told with a bit of humour thrown in as well.