This is a worthy follow up from Hannah Rothschild. The characters are perfect: flawed, empathetic, human and appealing. I loved the fact that there were lots of unresolved issues and feel this way her characters can live on in various ways in my imagination.
She writes with wit, style and conspiratorial insight-brilliant!

Ever wondered what might have happened to Downton Abbey once it collided with the trials and tribulations of the 21st Century? Look no further – The House of Trelawney tells the epic tale of a grand stately home (imagine a cross between Daphne du Maurier’s ‘Manderley’ and the real life Castle Howard) and the dysfunctional aristocratic family who are cursed with managing its downfall at the end of a glittering 800 year history.

I was totally immersed in this book all the way through. It is amusing, romantic and extremely classy. I was genuinely sorry when I reached the end and had to leave the characters behind and have immediately moved on to Ms Rothchild’s previous novel, ‘The Improbability of Love’.

Just Fabulous – many thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing, Ms Rothchild and to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this marvellous book.

The Trelawney’s have lived in the castle for over 800 years, once owning 500,000 acres and a room for each day of the year. It is now 2008 and the fabulous fortune of the Trelawney’s is gone, the glory days are well and truly over. The 24th earl and the dowager countess still stubbornly dress for dinner, that they eat off of a tray, made and served by their daughter in law, they happily pretend nothing has changed.
The castle is falling down, the roof is collapsing and there is no money for hot water, heating ,or even decent food. The 25th earl, Kitto and his wife Jane, the viscountess are one million pounds in debt and are emotionally as well as financially drained.
Financial rescue for Trelawney comes via Lady Blaze Scott, Sister of Kitto, and Oxford chum of Jane. She is a very successful hedge fund manager and has a plan of survival for the castle - but remember, this is 2008 just before the housing and banking collapse. Tension becomes unbearable, will the market affect the funds? I’ll not say, just jump in and enjoy the ride.
I really enjoyed this book. It was laugh out loud funny, and also enlightening. The characters and the castle really got into my head, and I found the book very hard to put down. Even though they were of the privileged few, I really liked the characters, except of course Clarissa and Ambrose, and I cared about their futures.
That’s why I was a bit disappointed when it ended abruptly. I hope this isn’t the last of the Trelawney’s.
Thank you to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an advance copy. I enjoyed this book very much.

A charming tale, written with sympathy and style. A feel-good read that makes you think about the nature of forgiveness, and about seizing the day.