This is an enchanting novel that seamlessly blends elements of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. Set in an English village, the story follows the protagonist, Stella, as she grapples with her ability to communicate with spirits. Cohen masterfully crafts a narrative filled with intrigue and emotion, drawing readers into Stella's world as she navigates the complexities of her gift while unraveling long-buried secrets. Spirited is a captivating read, Cohen's writing is both poignant and evocative.

Spirited by Julie Cohen is an absolute must read for anyone interested in historical fiction. Cohen draws the reader into a world of secret women and deep relationships in Victorian England. Viola's journey of searching for meaning in her grief brings a level of humanity and understanding to the characters as well as an unpredictable adventure that captures the true power of friendship. As Viola and Henriette explore the strange phenomena around them, the intricate story surrounding each woman reveals the complexities of love and courage. The tension builds as we reach the breathtaking conclusion that reveals the strength of faith in spite of risk. Truly captivating and brilliantly written, Spirited is a beautifully-crafted novel of loyalty and courage that will have you holding your breath until the very last page.

Julie Cohen is easily one of my favourite authors, and Spirited has become one of my favourite books, I fell for the main characters Viola and Jonah - and their stories, I cried and laughed and hoped they would both find happiness. I loved the raw emotion and realness and felt it being set in Victorian times and in India added to depth of the story and felt totally relevant. The spiritualism was very well written and I loved the twist at the end.

Beautiful writing, unique concept, and a book that normally I would adore, but unfortunately something about it didn’t quite work for me. I can’t put my finger on what it was, but I just couldn’t seem to make myself interested enough in what was happening to really enjoy it. I think perhaps it was partly because I wanted more of the spiritualism aspects of the book, whereas instead the focus was very much on the relationships between characters. It’s very much a slow burn, and unfortunately for me it was just too slow to hold my interest. However I do feel it would likely work well translated into screen, perhaps as a tv series.

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to be provided with an advance reading copy of this book by NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way, and all opinions are my own.

Please see LoveReading.co.uk for the full review. The hardback of Spirited was chosen as a LoveReading Book of the Month.

I am quite the fan of Historical fiction, so this books description really called out to me, and I am happy to say it went above and beyond all of my expectations!.

The story is unique and engaging, and truly captivates you from the start. It is clear that the author has done her research as she portrays the scene perfectly and really brings it to life in the readers mind. The detail to society and the impacts of societies attitudes was extraordinary and added a whole new depth to an already wonderful book.
The story is told in a dual timeline, following Violet and Jonah's lives and trials they both faced whilst following their passions. I was intrigued to find out how the characters stories would conclude, and also how their individual stories would then merge them together.

The book did start a little slowly, but after the first chapter of so, the pace quickens and the story really pulls you in. A definite must read for all lovers of historical fiction!.

Julie has long since been a favourite author of mine. Since Dear Thing, Julie has been an author I have followed and admired. I was pretty sure that she couldn't better her previous Louis and Louise in my eyes, but Spirited is a book that grips you from the first page and holds you hostage.
The sexuality is handled with beautiful care and compassion, a love story that feels real and far from contrived. The settings and historical aspects prove that Julie is not only a master of writing but of research. It's a simply beautiful book and one that will remain in my heart for many years to come. Not a single criticism comes to mind, except that she seems to write too slowly for my liking. I am already waiting with bated breath to see what themes she tackles next.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this 4 stars or 8/10.

I have read and enjoyed books in the past by Julie Cohen and when I saw that this one was available to read on NetGalley, I was 'spirited' away with happiness. See what I did there, to say I was excited that Julie Cohen had another book available was an understatement.

This was a joy to read, it takes you on a journey between the sexes and also between races and nationalities too. In true Julie Cohen style the story features same sex relationships that are always handled well and enhance the story, without any sensationalism at all. None of us can help who we are attracted to or who we fall in love with. Life is and always should be full of diversity and stories should mirror this as well in my opinion. After all none of us are the same and we're all individuals.

This is a historical read set in the Victorian era that among other things deals with the bigotry of the time, it's sad that there is still bigotry in this day and age too. It tells the story of Henriette and Viola, how their chance meeting sparks a connection and friendship. Running alongside this story is another story on another continent about another young woman, the two stories are linked by threads in more ways than one.

Why not grab a copy and immerse yourself in this historical story that is not Julia Cohen's typical genre to write, but it's one that she has written well. I look forward to seeing what she writes next, as she may just have found a new feather to her quill.

This is a little different from the authors previous book however still a very good read. I found it a little slow in places but overall an enjoyable and interesting story. The story has depth and good characters. The cover is pretty and eye catching.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to preview this book.

I was interested in reading Spirited initially because I was drawn to the female led, Victorian age plot. The story opens promisingly, with a young woman on her wedding day but dressed in black, as she is grieving. Her new life takes her to Dorset for her husband to dig for fossils and paint, while she figures out what to do with her life.
At the same time, we meet a woman who is a famous psychic, touring the world and wealthy women's parlours with her spirit guide.

I read about half of this before losing interest, I'm afraid. Flitting about in time and place was distracting, and one of my pet peeves in books is a Big Event that happened Long Ago but is constantly alluded to before being revealed in the last chapter. This has that, and a few more.

There's nothing wrong with the plot, or the characters, it was just too slow for me to read the rest. After about 125 pages, it wasn't holding my interest and I realised I wasn't invested enough in the characters. I might read the rest of it one day.

I’m a big fan of historical fiction especially if it involves photography or spirituality so this book instantly appealed to me. Once again the author has written a truly wonderful, engaging read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly the author has obviously done her research as she really brings the 1800s to life in this book. I loved all of the fantastic historical detail about what society was like back then along with societies attitudes toward certain things. It was really interesting to see them all come into play throughout the story and to see how the characters dealt with them. The history of photography was also very fascinating and I liked learning more about the spiritual beliefs back then which seemed to contrast with the strict religious beliefs of the time.

The story is told in two timelines one following Violet as she follows her passion for photography the other following Jonah and what happened during his time in India. I must admit to liking Violets story a little more due to the subject matter but Jonah’s story of life in India was still very interesting. I liked following the two stories to see what would happen to the characters and how the two storylines would merge.

Although initially a bit of a slow burner I did have an inkling l would like this book from the first few pages, as I instantly warmed to Violet. The pace in the book slowly increases and I soon found myself completely absorbed into the story and the characters lives. I was sorry to finish the book and leave everything behind.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Leanne from Orion for my copy of this book. If you like Sarah Waters I think you’ll like this book as I felt they were similar.

Spirited is a new departure for this talented author who is better known for her works of contemporary fiction which she writes with an astute eye for what's happening in the modern world. I was surprised to find that her latest novel is historical fiction set during the Victorian age when spirit mediums seemed to flourish with alacrity.

The story focuses on three main characters - Viola Goodwin, who is newly married to Jonah Worth, is, not only having to get used to the idea of marriage to a man who seems overshadowed by an immense burden, but she is also having to come coming to terms with the death of her father, and uses the medium of photography, a skill passed onto her by her late father, to give her some respite from her troubled life. When Viola seemingly captures a ghostly spirit on film, it brings her into contact with celebrated spirit medium, Henriette Blackthorn, who is older, wiser and far more canny than Julia. Meanwhile Jonah has his own dark secrets which, although half a world away, in India, continue to threaten his peace of mind.

I found Henriette Blackthorn such a fascinating character, she's totally flawed, as is often the way with great narrators, but it's this inscrutability which makes her progression through the novel all the more interesting. Viola is a such a sensitive soul, starved of affection, craving attention, which makes her sensitive connection with Henriette all the more poignant. Jonah's back story is quite fascinating and I enjoyed going back to a darker time in Indian history and learning about the troubles which seem to burden Jonah's memory with such dark thoughts.

This interesting departure into historical fiction has certainly whetted my appetite for more of the same from this talented writer. Spirited brings to life the other worldly qualities of Victorian England and blends the mystical and supernatural with feelings of grief and loss, capturing secrets which have the power to change everything.

This was a slow burner for me and I did wonder if I would want to finish it but I did and I'm glad that I did, really enjoyed the love story and of course the spiritualism aspect in the story and would recommend it.

Spirited is a novel that starts very quietly, but as the layers of intrigue begin to build it evolves into a rich story indeed. Viola’s complicated relationships with both her husband, Jonah, and a psychic medium push the novel along. Meanwhile Jonah has secrets lurking in his own past that haunt their marriage. Often we are left considering the point where concepts intersect; love and duty, science and religion, grief and spirituality. This is very much a novel of dualities driven by complex characters with motives that feel incredibly real.

Oh my goodness this book will go into my top 10 reads of 2020. I just adored it and was sorry to finish it. Whilst it is a slow read it actually suits this book. I adored the characters and it was such an atmospheric read. Just brilliant,

Beautiful and atmospheric, Spirited takes the reader back to the Victorian era: a time where your class defined who and what you were, females were less than inferior beings, and if you made one minor mistake, you were done for.

Viola is the daughter of a clergyman, and after the death of her beloved father, she marries Jonah, her childhood friend. It was always assumed they would marry and so they did. However, they’re no longer children and after not having seen each other for quite some time, with Jonah having been in India, it’s quickly evident that they’ve both undergone huge changes in their lives, and somehow can’t recapture the easy relationship that they used to have. It’s impossible for them to move from the easy sibling relationship they had, to living as husband and wife.

Growing more distant from each other, with Viola becoming increasingly unhappy, Jonah tries to encourage her to find pursuits that she will enjoy in their new hometown. She does her best, but cannot understand why her husband won’t talk to her about the trauma he underwent in Delhi. When spirit medium Henriette arrives in their small Dorset town, things start to spiral off into an unimaginable direction for the young couple.

Whether you believe or not in life after death, the possibility of contact from the spirit world, spirits being able to show themselves to us on ‘this side of the veil’ … there will always be questions, possibilities and a myriad of answers. Where does your faith lie, and how far are you willing to follow it? If you’re grieving, how vulnerable are you to those who might want to take advantage of that? If you’re determined to prove that this other world and ours are just a diaphanous curtain away from each other, what lengths will you go to, to expose where that opening exists? What do you want to believe?

The story winds its way backwards and forwards between England and India as the author tantalizingly reveals the intricate details of the lives of each of the main characters. And they’re fabulous! They don’t quite fit into the boxes they’re meant to for the era they’re living in and this is so movingly and emotively portrayed throughout.

This is a truly outstanding 5-star read. The research is thorough, which added to my fascination with the subject matter.

I have read and enjoyed a few Julie Cohen books and because I like her writing style I requested this book via Netgalley.

This is a well written and well researched compelling story about Jonah and Viola Worth. It is a historical fiction set in the mid 1800's England and Delhi, India.

When Viola's father dies Jonah returns to England to marry her and they move to the South coast where they meet Henriette Blackthorne a spirit medium who touches both their lives in different ways.

It is a unique and tender story of love and loss and I highly recommend it.

I loved the author's book Louis & Louise so I was excited to read this one. Spooky Victorian historical fiction that's focused around the connection between two women - one a celebrated spirit medium, the other an accidental 'spirit photographer.' The story also switches between Weymouth in the UK and the lead up to the 19th century Siege of Delhi in India. It's one of those enjoyable stories that would probably translate better on the screen. Could easily see this as a miniseries.

It is impossible to do this book justice on here, and to convey how purely magical and beautifully written this book is. However, I will try...
I loved this book. It is difficult to convey just how many themes and ideas and emotions this book throws in the air. It is the type of book that has you blinking in the dark when you turn off the light, thinking about what you have just read. It is the type of book that you think about whilst making coffee or taking a shower or walking the dog.
It is a book that makes you think.
It is historical fiction at its best. It is a love story, so beautifully drawn, I could cry just thinking about it.
The way Julie Cohen weaves in Victorian photography techniques, and the divide between the grand house and the servants life below stairs, is utterly brilliant. This book takes you to India, asks you to explore Spiritualism and British Rule in India, and gives you opinions and facts on things that blow you away. This book takes you to beautiful Dorset, the contrast of Dorset and India so poignant and beautifully drawn.
I could go back and read this book again and again and never get bored.
I loved Viola - she's my type of girl. And, I understood Jonah, who is battling his own demons and is struggling to connect with Viola. So imagine my delight when they move to the Dorset coast and meet spirit medium, Henriette Blackthorne, who touches both their lives so profoundly they will never be the same again. The introduction of Henriette shows us how people are sometimes not what they seem and that may not necessarily be a bad thing for self discovery..

This is a story of loss and grief and faith and love. This is a story of hope. It is a story of how we react to life's tests. It looks at sexism in the Victorian society and the limits that were placed on women and their quality of life. It explores how a lack of personal property can be so stifling and how the pressure of societal expectation can weigh heavy on ones shoulders. This is a story that explores how men can be equally trapped, by honour and duty and tradition and sacrifice. And what this book explores so well, is what happens when people test or break these boundaries. It gives us a chance to glimpse their freedom as well as hold them accountable for the consequences of their actions.

This book is a masterclass in writing. It is so impressive. This is like a good piece of classical music, It starts slowly, with allure and description and preciseness . And then it builds and it takes us on a journey of self discovery and questions that burn to be answered, compelling us to listen on and listen to the rhythm and the beat of these beautifully crafted words and messages. And when the music stops, we are left with a sense of admiration for the amount of work and time and expertise it would take to craft such a piece. And in the silence that follows, you listen to your heart beating out the words and the pose and the characters that the writer has created and wrapped around your heart and you secretly hope they will stay there for quite some time.

A tender love story that will make you cry.
A historical piece that will surprise you and make you question the motives of the characters.
An exploration of relationships and love and longing and right and wrong and prejudice. And in this environment that we are currently enduring, a chance to go to Dorset and India and feel as if you are actually there.

Julie Cohen, you are a genius. Your book has touched my heart.
And for that I thank you.

This is one of those book reviews that you dread starting to write, because I just know I am not going to be able to do this wonderful book justice, or truly convey its magic and just why I loved it so much.

A really ambitious book, the story tackles so many different issues that my head is still reeling from trying to sort through all the ideas and feelings and images with which the novel has peppered my mind. In addition, the book is rich with period detail, visually evocative, and explores fascinating subjects including Victorian photography techniques, life below stairs in a grand house, Spiritualism and British Rule in India, so huge amounts to absorb and enjoy. I know this is one of those books I will return to again and again and still find new details to appreciate.

The story revolves around Viola, who has recently lost her father, the mainstay of her life, and she is floating, lost and disoriented. The only thing anchoring her is her childhood friend and recent husband, Jonah, and she clings to him like a lifebelt. But Jonah is recently returned from India, where he has experienced something which has fundamentally changed him, and he and Viola have lost their connection, their marriage getting off to a rocky start. They move to the Dorset coast, where they meet spirit medium, Henriette Blackthorne, who touches both their lives profoundly in different ways. But she may not be all she seems.

This is a story about loss and grief and faith and love, and the different ways they can manifest themselves, what happens when they are tested, and how they endure if they are true. It explores the way that women were limited and trapped in Victorian society, by limits on opportunity, lack of personal property and societal expectation. But equally how men can be trapped too, by similar expectation, by public standing and by honour and duty. It looks at what it costs people to break these bounds and be true to themselves, and where flying in the face of convention can lead.

This book is an impressive feat of writing. Whilst slow-burning, it aroused in me such fascination and passion for the topics the author is exploring that I simply could not put it down. I was completely immersed in this world she has built, and did not want to leave it and break the spell that the narrative wove around my mind and my heart. At the same time, the analytical and logical part of me took a step back and admired the sheer amount of work that it took to craft this book. The detail in the research that was needed to imbue the story with all the texture, colour and intricate imagery that it contains is just staggering. This book was clearly a labour of love, and that shows in every sentence. It would be a fairly hard-hearted soul that failed to be touched by the devotion that oozes from this novel.

This book is, at its heart, a very tender love story. Between the childhood friends who have to navigate their way to a new relationship once they realise their incompatibility as husband and wife. Between Viola and her father, her faith and what her relationship with Henriette brings out in her, partly against her will. Between Jonah and India and the things he discovers about himself there. Between the author and her characters. Between me and this novel. I just adored it.

What more can I say. Brava, Julie Cohen.