Tried to read it a few time, just couldn't get into it and did not made it past the first 30 pages, I think it was simply not the book for me. I was struggling a bit with the writing and the characters

Thanks to NetGalley and Books Go Social for the opportunity to read this ARC. I just could not continue this book. The characters weren’t going anywhere and I found it hard to like them. I may attempt it again, but not now.

really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great and suspenseful mystery novel. The twists in this book were so well done and I enjoyed it when it happened.

An excellent read with a surprise ending. I’m not sure how to describe this book. It’s mostly a story about Dan, brought up by his single mother in England, after his father had died in Vietnam before he was born. There’s a few time jumps and the story is so well plotted that when the twist arrives, it truly is a surprise but it works! Interesting characters for the most part although I did find Quinn, the charismatic leader of the ‘People of the Sun’ protest group more like a cult leader than anything else.

Here we have the story of Faith, a pregnant, single mother, going to England and leaving her home in the USA. She leaves in search of a new beginning, after her husband was drafted for the Vietnam war.

Years later we follow what happens to her son, Dan, what he does with his life, and all that happens after a man finds him and claims to be Jacob, his long lost father. But is Jacob who he claims to be?

As Dan gets to know Jacob, he has more and more unanswered questions about his and his mother’s life. And he has a glimpse of what his actions could mean to him and the people around him.

I thought the book was slow paced, but interesting. It was nice to see what happened to the main characters’ lives and their relationships, and I also liked the parts about the past. But as I got to the end of the book I started going back at times because I thought I’d missed something, it was really confusing for me 😅 An ok reading for me 😬
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A fun read and definite change of pace book. With its plot twist in the last part of the book it leads in a rather different direction that makes it a challenge to categorize. Is this fantasy or sci fi or drama or maybe even a sort of romance? Certainly opens up issues of identity and how we relate to each other. Fast moving, highly readable. A good investment of your time.

The Heart Ladder is a beautifully crafted and well-written novel that really makes you feel the emotion of what is taking place so much so you do not expect the ending.

I had read multiple posts on social media about National Vietnam War Veterans Day and that evening I discovered this novel. I realized I had never read a novel related to the time period of the Vietnam War which hastened my selection of this title. [March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day with the 1st designation by President Nixon in 1974, and annually some states recognize this day on March 30.]

I became immediately absorbed learning Faith Anderson was leaving the United States to move to a newly inherited cottage in a small town in England as it sounded like quite an adventure but leaving all she knows when in the last months of pregnancy was spine-tingling. I became even more immersed as son Daniel now grown, living and working independently has important decisions to make. With the turn of every page, each character seems to have their own secret and as a reader I’m not only experiencing the reveal but also wondering if the secrets will all interact as well as being exposed to the different sides of the Vietnam War through the personal view of multiple characters. When reading this riveting a novel as a reader I’m invested in the lives as living through that time period in history I can easily remember individual names that had served in Vietnam, the family waiting at home, and the aftermath of that war.

This novel is artfully written as it exposes heartfelt emotions and private thoughts and transitions between the past and present seamlessly so the reader can know another piece of the character’s backstory or life experience which has led her/him to this moment. On some pages I didn’t know whether to read slower or faster not wanting to miss a crucial element but still with a burning desire to know each juncture. As a debut this novel is most impressive for the complexities, details, and twists. I look forward to reading more of Sibby Spencer’s writing.

My sincere thanks to Sibby Spencer, and BooksGoSocial for my complimentary digital copy of this title, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

#TheHeartLadder #NetGalley

My thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy.

The story is slow to start and initially has too much unnecessary ‘padding’ added. It is not until the reader is halfway through that the storyline has developed. It’s an interesting read, with unconventional characters, none of which are truly honest with themselves. The futuristic episodes of Daniel seemed a bit strange when taken in context with the timeline as are the scenes captured in Vietnam. I struggle to appreciate the title of the book, ‘The Heart Ladder’ as I find this misleading, although I accept that it is termed a psychological thriller.

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the eARC.
What a wonderful book this is! I didn't know what to expect, but was delighted to have had the chance to read it.
In 1970 Faith, pregnant in NYC, leaves for the cottage in England her aunt left her. The father of her baby is in Vietnam, MIA.
30 years later, her son Dan is a bit of a slacker, working in a struggling book shop with his assistant Fiona. The two get along really well...Fiona is a great character who is adrift in a world of loneliness, booze and choosing all the wrong men. Dan is not happy with his life and has a tendency to be a bit negative.
When a man shows up claiming to be his lost father, Dan isn't sure what to think, he's a bit suspicious, but the two meet regularly anyway.
There are some interesting chapters set in Vietnam and the horrific events that lead to the disappearance of Dan's father.
Beautifully written with a surprising ending, I highly recommend this read, it is great!