Another audio book I have finished. I loved the story of this and it was an interesting storyline. A beautiful poignant story.

Another fantastic read. I love Crosby’s story and I was hooked from the first page. The narration is excellent too.

I really tried to get into this one but ultimately it wasn't for me, the light-hearted, whimsical opening of the novel turns into something quite dark and I just don't think I was in the right place for it.

I thought we were getting a fictionalisation of Christopher Robert experience. We don't get that. Instead its people becoming obsessed with finding something hidden in a children's book. The summary does address that but Romily being in the book is not the main part. We do age though with Romily but she is completely isolated and has stunted development. The novel ends just as Romily is becoming an adult.

I do like depressing books but this all there is to this book. This about a child being neglected and no one noticing. The isolating is interesting, especially as someone who has people paying the wrong sort of attention to her.

The mental illness depiction is questionable. Romilly's mother has issues and so does Romily, neither are explored in real terms. It’s not realistic or portrayed well. I don't know if it’s meaning to be fabulism, therefore should get a past as a way for the author having the character being able to explore things, while constantly being isolated.

Romily does explore her sexuality a little bit. I guess she queer, but unhealthy all the time. It's fine.

The writing style of the book is good and I did enjoy reading it. The narrator, Rosie Jones is also very good meaning it is a good book to listen to while unwinding. There is a plot element that I didn't like in reflection after having finished the book but I think the plot stands okay if don't write a review about the book and therefore have to think about what I've read for a length of time.

Overall, I give 3/5 stars for Vinegar Tasting. There's one part I find really questionable but besides that, I think any dislike is just personal taste. If you want a book that's slightly whimsical with a treasure hunt where they don't have to leave the house to solve, then this might be the book for you.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting and unique idea behind the story with plenty to get your teeth into. The writing was good and extremely compelling, making the reader unable to stop reading. The writing was over simplistic at times, contrasting sharply with the darker events in the story. The plot develops quickly, showing the rapid deterioration of the relationship.
Overall a good read.

I adored this book and couldn't believe it was Polly Crosby's first work. A fantastic story and it came across brilliantly as an audiobook. I'm desperate for more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance digital copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I guess 3.5. It is not that it is bad- it is not. Plus there is this thing that makes me wanna keep reading (or listening in this case). But something was missing. Something I can not quite grasp, somehow I found it complicated. It is very hard to explain, honestly, I normally have no such problems. I guess I gave it 3.5 because after reading it once I have no intention of going back. It did make me think about parenthood and the challenges of raising a child on your own but overall I could not understand how these two even survived. With the girl being wild and, well, being a curious child simply and the father being an artist with his head in the clouds...
Overall, a difficult read but not bad.

The blurb of this book really caught my eye but I struggled with this book. It had many different layers and aspects to it but I struggled to feel any connection with the story line or characters. I struggled with the child like way the story was told and then things started to get weird with imaginary characters. It's not one that I would recommend..

This was very different to my normal reads - however i found it both enjoyable and entertaining. The narration was very good.

This was a really heartbreaking and beautifully written story. Romily and her dad move to a house in a small village, where her dad writes and illustrates children's books where Romily is the main character. Romily grows up quite famous, because people think her dad's books have clues to a hidden treasure.

After many years, Romily learns that there is in fact a hidden treasure, but not the kind of treasure everyone expects. Instead her father has left her clues to her past, when he can no longer share her life with her.

Honestly, this story was not quite what I expected. I started this book expecting something a little more magical and about treasure and unexpected twists and a fantastical childhood. Instead, the story was extremely heartbreaking, yet beautiful nonetheless.

A wonderful coming of age story that looks deep into the heart of a father-daughter relationship. Romilly moves to a ramshackle house with her eccentric artist father and her cat, Monty. Little is known about her past, but through the beautiful narrative, it becomes very clear that Romilly and her father are a dynamic duo. That is until he writes his hit series of children's books staring Romilly as the main character and their family secrets start to come to the surface.

The Romilly in her father's books never ages, but Romilly in the real world is growing up, and she is slowly uncovering the secrets hidden in her father's books, which are darker and more devastating than she could ever imagine.

Well, this was a MUCH darker read than I expected, featuring themes including grief, loss, mental ill health and neglect. It's a tale of family, friendship and love. The plotlines concerning Romilly's father's book (and the ensuing treasure hunt) help to propel the story along but overall the book is about so much more. An ambitious debut from Polly Crosby who conceals complex themes within the narrative. Having said that, it's a bit of a Marmite book and I didn't love it (though I can see why other readers do). I felt the midsection dragged for too long and my attention wandered. Overall an interesting genre bender of a novel and a very difficult one to rate or review without spoilers.

Rosie Jones' audiobook narration fell a bit flat for me.

Beautifully written - evocative and spellbinding. Loved the way it starts low and slowly builds to a crescendo of emotion. Romilly is the wild child, the one who lives in her own mind and in her own world. It's hard to describe. It's an incredible debut novel and superbly narrated. I listened to a pre-release audio version from NetGalley and enjoyed it, especially as I was in a lockdown at the time.

But while this is a magical story and well told, there are some downsides -- it's slow, and in places it lost me. BUt would I recommend it? Absolutely, if only because it's an extraordinary first novel and quite inexpected.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy of the audiobook edition, via NetGalley of ‘The Illustrated Child’ by Polly Crosby in exchange for an honest review. It is narrated by Rosie Jones and has a running time of 12 hours, 16 minutes at 1x running speed.

This was a breathtaking novel that moved me deeply. I was a little surprised when its themes became darker though these were appropriate to the narrative. I don’t want to stray into spoiler territory, so will only touch on its plot details.

At the novel’s opening in the late 1980s, eight-year old Romilly is living in an ancient farmhouse with her eccentric artist father and Monty, a Siamese kitten. Her father has the idea of creating a series of illustrated children’s books featuring Romilly as the main character.

‘Romilly and the Kitten’ is an instant success and other books follow. While Romilly grows up, her fictional counterpart remains fixed in childhood. Yet along with fame and financial benefits comes unwelcome attention from the press. Then a rumour starts that the books contain a series of cryptic clues to a treasure. Strangers begin to turn up at their door seeking autographs, though some also come with metal detectors and spades!

As time passes, Romilly’s father becomes increasingly suspicious of everything and everyone around him. He withdraws from the world leaving Romilly more and more isolated. She wonders if indeed there is a secret hidden in the books and seeks to investigate aided by her free-spirited friend, Stacey.

Romilly proved an appealing narrator and I quickly became invested in her journey. As noted above this novel enters darker territory than initially expected. I felt that Polly Crosby was sensitive in dealing with the complex relationships portrayed as well as exploring themes of loneliness, mental health, loss and grief.

I felt it worked especially well on audio. Rosie Jones is a well known actor and has narrated a wide variety of audiobooks. Her voice is rich yet light in tone. As such, I thought that she was an excellent choice to bring Romilly’s story to life as she vividly expresses the times of innocence and wonder, of loneliness, fear, heartbreak and hope.

Overall, an atmospheric, dreamlike coming-of-age story that is rich in description and addressed universal themes. I found Polly Crosby’s writing exquisite. She is a gifted storyteller and this was an impressive debut.

This book was dark, infinitely sad story but was written so beautifully. With such a young narrator you’re not sure who to believe which makes the twists more impactful. This was a very intense book and is definitely a TW for child neglect and animal abuse. It’s not as ‘pretty’ as the title makes it seem and is actually quite dark with hints of magic

'The Illustrated Child' follows Romily Kemp through her childhood, dealing with her difficult familial relationships and her experience of fame as the subject of her father's acclaimed picture books. The tone of the book is hauntingly beautiful, with a surreal element that almost makes it feel like a modern-day, ethereal fairy-tale. The narration is refreshing and childlike as we grow up with Romily, and enables us to see things as she does, with innocence and ignorance.
The bulk of the story, following the publications of Tobias Kemp's stories and the passionate fans that come searching for the treasure they believe is hidden somewhere in the books, is intriguing, in equal parts familiar and unusual. Certain elements such as the circus and the panther add another layer of magic and joyfulness to this story. And yet, as we follow Romily's journey to discovery of the true treasure we feel both bonded to and separate from her as she falls further and further into her complete loneliness and isolation.
The strained and vibrant relationships Romily has with important people in her life such as her parents, her grandmother, Stacey and even her cat Monty are presented exquisitely, with heartbreak and love. The final revelation of her relationship with Stacey (trying to avoid spoilers!) is beautiful and hinted at throughout the novel, although I would have liked the actual moment when Romily realises to have slightly more emotion.
The only negative I would have to say about this book is the ending - I believe that a sad ending is not something to fear, and to me it felt like a happy ending was shoehorned in so as not to disappoint. The ending that is hinted at, with Romily on the frozen lake (again, no spoilers!) would have been a beautifully poignant ending that befits such a novel, acting as the full and final manifestation of Romily's descent into madness and isolation. The final chapter, with its sudden u-turn in an entirely different direction is a slight blemish to an otherwise hauntingly stunning novel.

I think I should begin by telling you that this was not the uplifting tale I was expecting it to be. If you are looking for a light and fluffy story, dear reader, this is not going to be it.

Still here...? Ok, we shall begin.

This is the story of Romilly, the Illustrated Child herself, who lives in a dilapidated country house with her eccentric father, and becomes somewhat of celebrity after he writes a series of intricately decorated books with her as the central character.

On the surface, her childhood may seem free and rather romantic as she wanders the countryside in the company of her one enigma of a friend, Stacey, having adventures that would make the Famous Five proud, and living in a moated "castle" filled with echoes of its previous inhabitants. Her life is filled with nature, and the love and magical tales of her larger than life father. But appearances can be deceptive, as we find out all too well.

For Romilly's past is filled with goings on that she does not understand, and only has vague memories of. There are secrets in her past and her father does not seem keen to tell her what they are. Where is her mother, and why does she not live with them? Why is her father so distracted and reticent about why they are living the way they are? Why is he compelled to portray her as a Peter Pan character that never grows up? And all this is only complicated by the fame and intrusive attention that comes their way as a result of the books - because the public are convinced that they hold clues to the whereabouts of treasure and Romilly has become their own public property.

As Romilly grows up, she begins to realise that things are not quite right. What did happen when she was four years old that changed their lives so much? It is down to her to follow the clues laid down in her father's books and see if she can find out the truth, and the truth when it comes is terribly sad - and I did not see it coming, which I take my hat off to Polly Crosby for! Superb story writing!

Polly Crosby's decision to tell this story through the eyes of Romilly is rather clever, as everything becomes coloured by her pervading sense of bewilderment versus dawning understanding that is appropriate to her age at each stage of the book - and we are with her every step of the heart breaking voyage through time, which makes it all the more emotional.

The narration by Rosie Jones is absolutely spot on as Romilly, and she conveys her feelings perfectly at every stage, which is very impressive for a book that spans such formative years and shocking events.

This book takes us to some dark and distressing places. It is the kind of story that does not simply tug on the heart strings - instead it grips your heart like a vice and rips it from your body, leaving you broken and bleeding on the ground.

There are some very heavy subjects explored here: love, lies, secrets, abandonment, grief, loss, guilt, neglect, anger, sexuality, dementia and the fragility of mental health. It is fair to say that I found much of this very upsetting and difficult to listen to, but it is compelling - beware if you are of a sensitive nature!

Polly Crosby's story telling is outstanding and she handles the smorgasbord of difficult subjects beautifully, with both compassion and sensitivity. Interestingly, she makes no judgement on the adults in this tale, even though Romilly bears the brunt of their compulsion to work through their own problems at her expense, but I did struggle with this, as the effect of their behaviour on an innocent child is no less shocking for being able to understand the reasons why they have acted in this way. Is it enough to love your child, however fiercely, if you are complicit in hurting them through your own actions, errors and omissions? I leave you to make up your own minds on this one.

As a debut, this is mighty impressive work. Our author has managed to combine elements of a kitchen sink drama; a dark, haunting fairy tale; a supernatural ghost story; a mystery; and a coming of age story into one heart rending novel. It's one that does leave you with questions and the need to talk about the experience you have just gone through -I promise you, there is plenty to talk about in this novel, if you are bold enough to make the journey.

The Illustrated Child, is an usual tale that pulls you in and draws you deep into the heart of your imagination. It begins when nine year old Romilly Kemp and her father Tobias move with into a large, ramshackle house in the country. At first it seems that she lives a perfect childhood, rambling in the countryside, playing with her kitten and being home schooled while her father writes and creates illustrated children's books featuring Romilly and her kitten. But then it turns into something strange and disturbing as the story unfolds. Romilly's mother is absent and we begin to understand why as her father becomes more withdrawn with Romilly and the world. What seems like Romilly's perfect childhood slowly grows more disjointed, shows neglect and in fact how lonely she really is, She only has one friend a strange girl from the village who comes and goes.

Tobias' series of the illustrated books featuring Romilly become very popular with their charming stories and beautiful illustrations. With objects and words hidden in the pictures, it becomes unofficial with his readers that there are clues to a hidden treasure buried in the book and treasure hunters soon encroach upon their home life and everyday existence. However, as the years pass and birthdays come and go and Romilly grows into a young adult, she realises the hidden messages are in fact clues to to a dark secret within her family and she sets out to find the hidden message.

The novel is sadder than you might expect from the title. It is beautifully written and deals sensitively with some difficult topics such as child bereavement, dementia, divorced family life.
Romilly is a wonderful character and it's difficult not to feel for all that she has lost during her childhood. A provoking read, not always easy at times but Polly Crosby writes so subtly the emotions that you don't realise your grieving until you are.

A beautiful narrated audio book which pulls on your emotions.

The Illustrated child focuses on a young girl, Romilly growing up in the countryside with her artistic father. When her father releases a book with her as the main character, Romilly's life becomes even more confusing as she attempts to balance reality and fiction and her father slowly changing.
This book is completely different to what I expected, but I still enjoyed the journey. I felt more increasingly sorry for Romilly as the book progressed due to her naivety to all the neglect she faced and what she deemed normal. There was elements of animal abuse, child neglect and abuse that I was not prepared for. I did find Romilly a very loveable character and I did enjoy reading about her adventures at the start but the books tone does change drastically to a more somber tone. I do believe Polly Crosby handled the themes of mental illness and dementia well, especially from a child's point of view.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Rosie Jones. The narrator's voice did fit Romilly's character and brought life to her character. The narration did push me to finish this book, as there were very slow sections that did not relate to the plot or build up the characters. The flow of the audiobook did allow me to see the world from Romilly's point of view that I don't think I could of without. However, it was rarely clear when a new chapter was starting and this did confuse me on the timeline of the book. I do recommend listening to the audio book rather than any other format.

Not for me sadly - I DNF'd it at 20%

A huge thanks to HarperCollins Audio UK & NetGalley for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

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