As always, Kingsolver creates convincing and deeply moving characters and plot. From the opening pages, I found myself totally absorbed by the tragedy that underpins this world and transfixed by the way that Kingsolver exposes the many manifestations of grief at the different stages of our lives. It may not earn the accolades of Poisonwood or Demon Copperhead, but for me this is her finest work.

my favourite read of 2026, thats for sure. I have a mixed relationship with the author - having still not been able to finish Poisonwood Bible, yet adored Demon Copperhead. But I think this tops Demon. It is shorter and doesn't have the midway lull that I thought Demon had.
Livia is a supremely talented pianist at university. But her life is derailed by a chance meeting with, of course, an impossibly handsome man.

Told in present day, and through the past lense we start to build the picture of a life lived in parts, the highs, the lows - just like the music score, the partita.

I was immersed in the world of music despite really having limited knowledge - it didn't matter. I loved Livia, and the supporting characters. I really loved how the conclusion was drawn, and I savoured the ending. I saved the last chapter to read rather than racing through, which is rare. A superb read.

What a comforting and rewarding novel this is!

The author takes you on a ride with a young woman growing up, spreading her wings, experiencing loss and then living with the ensuing pain.

The writing is fluid and expressive, the characters are well defined and easy to relate to. This is a book to make you cry and then feel at peace with it all.

This is the next book for you if you love listening to music and enjoy a very emotional read. Highly recommended!

Another fantastic book from Barbara Kingsolver - right up there with Demon Copperhead in the way that it draws you in to the characters and their lives. The depth of detail makes you feel as if you are in the room with Livia as she navigates loss. Absolutely riveting, I couldn't put it down. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC in return for an honest review.

A beautifully written and poignant story about pianist Livia Bohurz. We follow her life, love, hopes and regrets. Music is an integral part of the story - almost a character in itself. This is not a book for a fast-paced read but is a poetic, reflective experience that stayed with me long after the final page.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review

What a book! it is long, it is sad, but it is also life affirming and uplifting. A definite page turner. Barbara Kingsolver has done it again - giving us a story that makes us care, breaks our heart, and puts it back together again.
We spend years with Livia, an exceptionally talented pianist from a small farming community. She is beautifully written, and I think I will always remember her.
I know nothing about classical music 9shame on me) but this book had me on Spotify listening to everything mentioned. I'd highly recommend doing that to increase the enjoyment of this fabulous book.
An easy 5 stars from me.

Absolutely stunning. Barbara Kingsolver at her very best. Partita has everything I love about Kingsolver's writing. Characters who feel completely real, beautiful observations about ordinary life, and an extraordinary ability to explore enormous emotions without ever becoming sentimental.
Livia's story absolutely absorbed me. This is a novel about grief, love, longing, ambition and the choices that shape a life, but music runs through all of it. Even with very little knowledge of classical music, I found that element completely captivating. The structure and rhythm of the novel itself seem to echo the music at its heart.
Most of all, I loved the way Kingsolver allows us to see a life in all its complexity. The person we are when we're young, the decisions we make, the things we lose, and the way those choices can look completely different when viewed from later in life.
Beautiful, intelligent, poignant and deeply moving. I've loved Kingsolver's previous work, but this feels like her operating at the absolute height of her powers. One of those books you finish and immediately know will stay with you.