A look at the Bronte family, combining historical fact with a fictional account of Emily's life. The West Yorkshire countryside is well-described, and we feel the damp and chill of the Bronte home. Papa Bronte ruled the roost as most men of that time did. The children were to obey and not question any of his decisions, even when the daughters knew they were not wise decisions.

We learn a good deal about Branwell, and his inability to hold any kind of job or further himself in any way. Anne died young, as did Emily. Charlotte holds the family together as best she can.
Emily, out walking on the moors, meets a man who lives in the stone cottage. The reader never knows for sure if he and his cottage are real, or if they are figments of Emily's imagination. Some do believe this man might be the model for Heathcliff, and her adventures on the moors may have played a part in her writing of Wuthering Heights. Charlotte only discovers Emily's secret life after Emily's death.

When reading historical fiction, I expect the plot and characters to stray from the fact to a certain degree; it is fiction, after all. But when they don't just stray but careen in an opposite direction, I wonder why the writer bothered tethering their story to the actual people and situations in the first place. Why not drop the facade and go all-out fictional?

For me, "The Man in the Stone Cottage" is a case in point. If author Stephanie Cowell's version of Emily Brontë is going to fall in love with a mystery man and exhibit cringe-worthy, only-on-romance-novels behavior at odds with what we know about the real Emily Brontë, why not just invent a young, isolated Yorkshire woman wholesale?

That's not the only reason I disliked this novel. Charlotte Brontë's obsessive nature was paid lip service but not really shown, Anne Brontë might as well have not existed for all the import she's given, and when Emily comes across as more histrionic than their brother, Branwell, you know you're in Bizarro World. All of which is a shame because there are some lovely descriptive passages here.

Thank you, NetGalley and Regal House Publishing, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is wonderful! It took me on an emotional roller coaster. Cowell flawlessly combined history and fiction to create a story that allowed a peek into the lives of the Brontë family.

Emily is the focal point for most of the book. She's a quirky person who loves to walk the moors. She is devoted to her family. She hides her writing because to her it's a part of her that she doesn't want to part with. Anne is sweet and loving. Charlotte is dutiful. She longs for love. The man in the stone cottage aka Jonathan is an enigma. He seems a figment of Emily's imagination but what a lovely image he paints. A handsome, lonely shepherd who walks the moors and lives in a crumbling cottage.

It always amazes me when I read that almost all of the Brontë family died at a young age. Their legacy lives on through their books and books like these.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Regal House Publishing via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I hardly knew anything going in about the Brontë family (apart from rereading Jane Eyre last year and reading Wuthering Heights year and years ago) but I became so immersed into their history and story, I felt connected to them, and it was hard to leave the sisters at the end!

Narrated between Emily and Charlotte, we follow the Brontës starting in the early 20s and follow them through their losses, headaches, loves, and writing their masterpieces. There’s a mix of fact and fiction, in particular the mystery surrounding Emily is creatively explored. One part I loved was the relationships between the sisters.

The writing style took a minute to get used to, but there are so many beautiful passages throughout by the author, and excerpts of Charlotte and Emily’s writings.

-Recommended for anyone who loves historical fiction and fans of any Brontë!

*Thank you NetGalley and Regal House Publishing for the ebook ARC!*

A sad novel about the lives of the Bronte sisters. The sisters had hard lives and died much to young.
The setting is atmospheric and lets itself well to this sad tale. If you like the work of the Brontes, you'll likely enjoy this novel.

I did find the pacing a little bit slow, but overall a well written and haunting novel.

This story of the Bronte sisters started out slowly but when it did pick up I enjoyed it. The story was well written, giving us a glimpse into 19th century life on the moors of rural England and the hardships the Bronte family endured as they struggled with their somewhat difficult family dynamics and financial worries. Charlotte and Emily are the main characters, each with her own chapters and we are introduced to the supporting cast through their eyes. The man in the stone cottage is a minor character and while the story overall appears to be based on historical records, he is apparently a figment of the author’s imagination. I’m not sure what role he played in the book except perhaps for the reader to ask in the end, was he real? Or was he a creation of Emily’s overactive imagination? 3.5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cowell takes the reader to 1840s Yorkshire, home of the Brontë family, and blends fact with fiction to create an atmospheric and original read. The siblings are in their twenties when the novel begins, living with their widowed father. Desperate for funds, the sister begin to write under male pseudonyms, hoping for publication. While out walking one day, Emily meets the man who lives in the stone cottage who will go on to inspire the enigmatic Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. She tells no one of his existence but he becomes central to her life and dreams.

You don't have to be a Bronte fan to enjoy it, but if you happen to be a fan you'll love this tiny peek into the lives that ended tragically too soon. Cowell did a wonderful job with character study, and I highly recommend you grab this. Make yourself a cup of tea and curl up on a rainy night (preferably with a cat in your lap) to enjoy it to its fullest!

This was an ARC from NetGalley. This was an interesting look into the possible lives of the Brontë sisters. It expressed the love the sisters had for each other and their family and gave the reader insight into the death and sadness of their lives. While I am sure it had some historical facts, I am sure much was fiction. Unfortunately, it seemed to drag on and was a struggle to finish..

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

This was a beautiful love letter to the Brontë sisters. The writing, character development, and plot were fantastic! Such a lovely, lovely book!

I read Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights a very long time ago, but this book has me eager to reread them! That is a sign of good historical fiction!!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7758748743 - posted 7/26/2025
Storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/271a67dd-12fa-4554-ae70-f0b32e4ace7e?redirect=true - posted 7/26/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/07/review-man-in-stone-cottage-earcebook.html- posted 7/26/2025

I really enjoyed this imagining of the life and desperation that led to some great literature. I forgot how young they all were and what a loss it was.

I wanted to love this. I should have loved this. But, every time I read this I dozed off and fell asleep while reading. So despite my best efforts, over days, I could not finish this book.

Wow, what a great book. It took a little bit of time to really get going but once it did, I was hooked. The title and description really don't do it justice. Only a very small part of the book is really about the man in the stone cottage and Charlotte's search for him. I was under the impression that Emily would die fairly early in the novel and a huge percentage of the book would be Charlotte tracing Emily's steps, trying to figure out if this man actually existed or was one of the Gothic figures that make all Brontë books so creepy. However, Emily is one of the main characters and doesn't die until about 3/4 of the way through the book. Even Branwell has a much bigger part than the man in the stone cottage.

More than anything, this book explores the lives of the Brontës, but it thankfully omits their childhoods and starts when they're all in their mid or late twenties. The characters all were beautifully drawn and felt incredibly real to me. Charlotte was a bit of a sourpuss, too serious for her own good at times. And Emily was strange and wild and lovable and infuriating. Anne was sweet and down-to-earth and reliable. Branwell was a bit of a nutter who squandered every opportunity to fall into the ditch right in front of him that he somehow couldn't see. Even their father, Papa Brontë, felt completely realized and behaved in ways that always felt accurately to me.

Anyone with any interest in the Brontës will find something to love about this book. You don't have to have read every book by them to enjoy it (I have only read some of their novels) but having a broad knowledge of their books will come in handy. Knowing at least a bit about how Heathcliff is portrayed and the main plot of Jane Eyre will likely make this book more enjoyable.

I really was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, and the main reason was because of the characters. It's been a long time since I read a book with such believable, unique characters, when I could tell who was narrating even if it didn't say since their voices were so different. I think I'm going to go check out other books by this author. If they're anywhere near as good as this book, I'm sure I'll be a fan.

The titles and cover caught my attention; Stephanie Cowell's writing had me hooked!
The Bronte sisters wrote in different styles, but each captured the imagination of their readers. This work of fiction puts the reader in their lives as they could have lived. By using the known facts about the sisters and the times in which the lived this book wraps in wind of the moor, drafts of the parsonage and heartbreak of love lost.
Do yourself a favor and get lost in the pages of "The Man in the Stone Cottage".

The Man in the Stone Cottage, by Stephanie Cowell, is a glimpse into the lives of the Brontë sisters.  The book is historical fiction, and Cowell did a good job weaving history and fiction to make the book both informative and enjoyable. The insight into their too-short lives will leave you a bit sad. I appreciate NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC ebook that I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

A very, very odd book. Kind of depressing, but that's what I expected going into it. The Brontë sisters lived hard lives and died too young.

The book is very slow paced. It follows Charlotte and Emily (obviously we see Anne, as they interact with her, as well as the useless drunken brother Branwell) as they write poetry and novels and try to find some financial security. The premise of this book is Emily falls in love with a shepherd on the moors. As far as we know, this was an invention of the author, though it would be nice for Emily if it were true!

Overall, it's historically accurate, so the ending is quite sad. If you're an ardent Brontë fan, I'd recommend it, but it you don't love their work, it might be a tough read.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Regal House Publishing, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles. All opinions are my own, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Book Club Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Family Drama, Books About Books, Books About Authors, Women's Fiction, Literary Fiction
Spice Level: An affair is mentioned along with longing for men
Language: I just finished the novel, and I don't remember one swear word

THE MAN IN THE STONE COTTAGE, a stunning novel that kept me mesmerized and questioning what was real and what was delusion.

This is seriously one of my favorite books of the year. It's a slim novel but so dense with rich content. The writing is very approachable and it's easy to read. But the themes! The questions it made me ask! And of course, the Brontës and their desolate lives are the key to all of the other questions I asked of myself.

Emily—taciturn and isolates herself
Anne—quiet and attached to Emily
Charlotte—yearns for more
Bramwell—troubled and depressed
Patrick (the father)—stubborn and grieving

Do I need to know the Brontës' novels before reading this book? No, but it will enrich your experience, especially with the gothic elements

Is this novel historically accurate? The author did extensive research and includes real people and overall, real situations, but the author had to take artistic liberty. I felt like it was accurate enough that I was absorbed in the world.

Is the man in the stone cottage real or imaginary? I could make an argument either way. At one point I was convinced he was a delusion, but at another, I was sure he was real. This is one of those novels with an ambiguous ending and up for personal interpretation. I finished it today, and I am not sure which way I would vote.

- For anyone who love any of the Brontës' books, this is a must read.

- If you enjoy historical novels, especially set during the Victorian era, run out and buy this book.

- For book clubs, this book will give you an opportunity for debating and sharing your questions—it's the perfect book club fiction.

- If you dream of the moors, this book is for you.

It is truly fascinating, and I think everyone should read it.

Yes, I highly recommend this book if you hadn't caught on to how I feel about it! It would get more than 5 stars if that was an option.

Happy reading!

Stephanie Cowell's novel, The Man in the Stone Cottage, is a captivating historical account of the 19th-century Brontë family. Cowell masterfully crafts a narrative that transports readers into the lives of this remarkable family, offering a glimpse into their daily struggles and literary beginnings. With meticulous attention to detail, Cowell skillfully develops each character, allowing readers to form vivid mental images of the Brontë siblings. The novel focuses on the complex relationships between Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and their brother Branwell, who reside with their father, a local pastor, following their mother's untimely passing. As the story unfolds, Anne and Branwell depart for a nearby town to assume positions as live-in tutors for a wealthy family, leaving Charlotte to bear the responsibility of managing the household. This weighty obligation significantly influences Charlotte's life and writing. Meanwhile, Emily's more carefree nature affords her greater freedom during this period. Cowell's engaging narrative is both well-crafted and concise, rendering the book an effortless and enjoyable read. However, readers may find themselves reluctant to bid farewell to the characters they have grown to cherish. This book undoubtedly merits a 5-star rating.

It’s 1846 in Yorkshire, England, and the only members that are left of the Brontë family are Charlotte, Anne, Emily and their father and brother. Their mom and two sisters are already in the tomb. The little family is close as always, especially the sisters, who share everything. The girls try to get published in order to support their family, while their brother just adds to his bar tab and their aging father is going blind. As they struggle and face rejections, Charlotte is suffering from being spurned by the man she loves, while Emily wanders off. Is it to see a lover? No one has ever seen him, and Emily is given to fancy. Years later, after Emily has died, Charlotte wonders if the mystery man was real or a figment of her sister’s imagination.

This is an enjoyable attempt by the author to imagine the secret lives of the Brontë sisters. It was fun to learn possible motivations behind the writing of "Jane Eyre” and “Wuthering Heights”. The scenic descriptions are vivid and the character development is great! Told from varying viewpoints, we learn about the characters' motivations and feelings.

The Man in the Stone Cottage is a quietly compelling read with a fresh and original premise. The pacing is steady and assured, gradually drawing the reader into a world shaped by long-held secrets and shifting loyalties. As a long-time fan of the Brontë canon, I particularly enjoyed the reimagining of the Brontë family dynamic — it added a thoughtful, emotionally layered dimension that felt both familiar and newly imagined.

While the writing felt a little uneven in places, the strength of the concept and the clarity of the narrative drive kept me engaged. It’s a novel that leans more on atmosphere and character than high drama, and its quiet momentum builds toward a satisfying close.

A reflective, slightly offbeat take on literary legacy and family tensions, ideal for readers who enjoy a twist of history with their suspense!

This is a story that revolves around the lives of the Brontë sisters, a fictionalized version of the lives of the family, with the majority of the story focuses on Charlotte, Anne, and Emily, but there is more to the stories of their family and the differences in their lives, as well. There is a son who seems to have chosen a different kind of life, a somewhat darker and disturbing life, which often affects their family, as well..

This is occasionally somewhat focused on the differences that seem to seep into their lives, especially the strange tendency to be somewhat reclusive, as well as wanting to be known.

Overall, an interesting glimpse into the lives of the Brontë sisters.


Pub Date: 16 Sep 2025

Many thanks for the opportunity to read Stephanie Cowell's fictional story of the Brontë sisters lives