I had high expectations for this book, which is probably why I was left a little disappointed. I adored the Miniaturist, this book however is very different.
It’s a decent read, and the story is easy to follow, it does get a little boring in parts and I can see why some people said they struggled to finish .

The Confession is a novel about a woman looking for answers about her mother, and discovering not only secrets but ways for her own life to move forward. Rose Simmons is looking for her mother who disappeared not long after Rose's birthday. A gift from her father points her towards Constance Holden, a reclusive novelist who needs an assistant, for answers so Rose hatches a plan to escape her own life and find out about her mother. And three decades previously in 1980, Elise Morceau meets Constance Holden on Hampstead Heath and they fall in love, but when they end up in Hollywood where Constance's book is being adapted, things start to fall apart.

Burton uses a classic trope of telling both stories at once to unravel the stories of Rose, Elise, and Constance, drawing comparisons between characters and building up the emotional stakes. Unusually for this style of novel, both plot lines are engrossing in different ways, and feel a lot more focused on the emotions and characters involved than any revelations that are offered to either the reader or the characters. Particularly notable is the dynamic between Rose and Constance, which though built on Rose's initial lies becomes something that allows Rose to finally find a mother figure right when she needs some guidance. Elise feels less realised, but it starts to become apparent that this is part of the storytelling, in a book that is partly about an author writing or not writing elements of her life, and how people tell themselves stories to get through life.

The Confession is a surprising book that does more than expected, looking at being a mother, finding yourself, and how you tell the story of yours and others' lives.

I was extremely bored by this book. I only finished it because I wanted to find out what had happened to Elise. The main characters Connie, Elise, Rose and Matt were all selfish, thoughtless and sometimes cruel. Elise did not deserve her generous friend, Yolanda and Rose did not deserve her loyal friend, Kelly. There was no love in this book. The ending was, I suppose, inevitable but I found it frustrating and annoying. as none of the characters had really learned anything.

I should have waited until the release of this book to read it, I need a support group now! What did I just read?
The Confession is a dual timeline book that takes place in Hollywood in the 1980's and present day London but they are connected by the people. In the 1980's, lovers, Connie and Elise are heading to Hollywood to watch Connie's best selling book become a Hollywood blockbuster while in present day London Rose is heading back from a visit to her dad's in France where after 30 odd years of almost complete silence on where and who Rose's mums is, he opens up. Her mum knew best selling author Constance Holden, but “Connie was strong when her mum was weak” and Connie was the last person to see her before she abandoned her daughter and was never heard from again. Looking for answers, Rose searches for Connie which is easier said than done because Connie stopped writing in her prime and shunned the world.
Running through this book is what happens when relationships become toxic, when the romantic relationship version of Stockholm syndrome kicks in and you spend far too long in a relationship you know you shouldn't. Also the fall that happens when you dont have a purpose of your own, which leaves you with too much time on your hands leading you to over think everything. The characters are relatable, but I would not make the same decisions that they choose to make. They tend to care more about their own instant gratification rather than the duty of responsibilities they have to others. When they are faced with it, they would rather become victims or take the easy way out. I ended up respecting the characters I initially disliked while becoming angry with those I previously liked. Only Yoli ended up escaping this.

In conclusion I dont know how to feel about this book. Ultimately, it made me have strong feelings and that alone gives it a five star rating. Jessie Burton, has once again created a masterpiece and I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Pan Macmillan for this electronic advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.

Another cracking read from Jessie Burton. This has two timeframes and locations - Hollywood in the 1980s and present day London, and deals with the lives of three very different but all interesting women. Elise, Connie and Rose and all very believable and all very human and flawed in their own ways. The narratives intersect well and the two different settings are equally well-drawn.

Anyone who enjoys reading about women learning about their own identities would love this novel.