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Product Description
Cathy Kelly
'A beautifully written and magical novel about life, love and family'
Chris Manby
'What a treat! I devoured it over the weekend. It's so very real and utterly unputdownable'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
68 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Dream House is a truly great read which had me chuckling one moment and crying the next. It's a book which, in the lightest and most enjoyable of ways, compares the predicaments faced by two women living a hundred years apart. One minute you are busy empathizing with the modern day dilemmas of Kate as she seeks to juggle being a successful career woman and a successful mother. The next, when Kate finds her dream house in the country, you are being whisked back in time to witness the Victorian predicaments once faced by its now elderly inhabitant Agnes. Agnes' story is both tragically gripping and fascinating in its detail - can you imagine watching the first traffic lights being put up on Oxford Street??! The two eras are cleverly linked in a story that is intricately woven and keeps you guessing to the very end. I really couldn't put it down.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm a fan of historical novels and family-sagas so this book was right up my street. I was a bit cautious when starting this novel as it was a gift from my mum and I've sometimes found some of her favourite books to be a bit flat and predictable. Thankfully, this book exceeded my expectations as I really found myself connecting with the protagonist and was completely immersed in the story.
Kate is eight years into her marriage to Simon when they decide to move to the country to rekindle their love and reconnect with their children. While Kate leaves her high-flying publishing job to become a stay-at-home mum, her husband commutes to London during the week. Eventually they begin to see less and less of each other, and although Kate and the kids are settled in Suffolk, making friends with their neighbours and creating a new life for themselves, Kate and Simon's marriage still seems to be on the rocks. I think that any woman would sympathise with Kate's situation, and it even made me - a nineteen year old, unmarried university student - realise how difficult "commuter marriages" are. Her life also struck a chord with me as I'd love to work in publishing, but know that ultimately, I'd want to stay at home when I have children. My long term boyfriend is also called Simon...spooky!
While exploring her new home area with her children, Kate discovers a beautiful old house - one that she thinks she's dreamed about - which belongs to a long lost relative. Whilst dealing with her new life and the difficulties with her husband, Kate also discovers a long-ago unsolved mystery surrounding her new-found Aunt Agnes that she is determined to solve. Here, the "narrative within a narrative" style of writing takes off as Kate discovers secrets about her Aunt Agnes, and her own family, in her old diaries. This style will be familiar to fans of Kate Morton's The House at Riverton or The Forgotten Garden, although this novel isn't so evenly split between the modern and past narratives. It was fascinating to dip into the 1920s and experience life through the eyes of Agnes. Although I didn't become so connected to her as I did to Kate, it was exciting to uncover the mysteries surrounding her and her family.
I'll admit that it did take me a while to get into the story, but in the end I really cared about the characters and wanted them to achieve happiness in their lives. This is a book with happy endings all round, so if you're looking for a serious novel with absolutely nothing predictable then this might not be for you. But if you like a splash of romance, a dabble of mystery and good dash of historical detail and family problems then I'd recommend this author. 4.5*
Kate is eight years into her marriage to Simon when they decide to move to the country to rekindle their love and reconnect with their children. While Kate leaves her high-flying publishing job to become a stay-at-home mum, her husband commutes to London during the week. Eventually they begin to see less and less of each other, and although Kate and the kids are settled in Suffolk, making friends with their neighbours and creating a new life for themselves, Kate and Simon's marriage still seems to be on the rocks. I think that any woman would sympathise with Kate's situation, and it even made me - a nineteen year old, unmarried university student - realise how difficult "commuter marriages" are. Her life also struck a chord with me as I'd love to work in publishing, but know that ultimately, I'd want to stay at home when I have children. My long term boyfriend is also called Simon...spooky!
While exploring her new home area with her children, Kate discovers a beautiful old house - one that she thinks she's dreamed about - which belongs to a long lost relative. Whilst dealing with her new life and the difficulties with her husband, Kate also discovers a long-ago unsolved mystery surrounding her new-found Aunt Agnes that she is determined to solve. Here, the "narrative within a narrative" style of writing takes off as Kate discovers secrets about her Aunt Agnes, and her own family, in her old diaries. This style will be familiar to fans of Kate Morton's The House at Riverton or The Forgotten Garden, although this novel isn't so evenly split between the modern and past narratives. It was fascinating to dip into the 1920s and experience life through the eyes of Agnes. Although I didn't become so connected to her as I did to Kate, it was exciting to uncover the mysteries surrounding her and her family.
I'll admit that it did take me a while to get into the story, but in the end I really cared about the characters and wanted them to achieve happiness in their lives. This is a book with happy endings all round, so if you're looking for a serious novel with absolutely nothing predictable then this might not be for you. But if you like a splash of romance, a dabble of mystery and good dash of historical detail and family problems then I'd recommend this author. 4.5*
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Dream House
This was an interesting easy read, but maybe there were too many disasters fitted in to be very realistic - dead babies, dead teenager, major bouts of depression, philandering husbands and wives, lost and found relatives
Add to that recurrent dreams of a house in days past, miraculously found in the present. It was sometimes very obvious what was going to happen - and who was going to end up with whom
Having said all that I did quite enjoy this, but I doubt I will re-read it
This was an interesting easy read, but maybe there were too many disasters fitted in to be very realistic - dead babies, dead teenager, major bouts of depression, philandering husbands and wives, lost and found relatives
Add to that recurrent dreams of a house in days past, miraculously found in the present. It was sometimes very obvious what was going to happen - and who was going to end up with whom
Having said all that I did quite enjoy this, but I doubt I will re-read it
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Dream House
A really good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Goes from past to present but not in a confusing way and you want to keep turning the pages.
Published 8 months ago by C. Keys
Good holiday reading
I have read several of Rachel Hore's books. They are ideal for taking on holiday as one can dip in and out of them. Not deep or serious.
Published 11 months ago by W. Bedford
Very Enjoyable
My first read of Rachel Hore and I don't think this will be my last. I enjoyed the story so much, especially the historical parts, and thought that the character of Agnes was... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Lincs Reader
Serendipidy in Suffolk......
Other reviewers have given a good summary of the plot, with very mixed responses, as you would expect. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Songbird
It's good... but not as good as the other ones
I liked this book... BUT.... It took quite for some time for the book to really start. I remember being around page 100 and wondering if I should just quit all together, or keep on... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Aleks
simply dreadful
This is poorly written, the plot is so well sign posted you can see every development a mile off. There is convenient coincidence and coincidence to move the plot forward and then... Read more
Published 16 months ago by flamingo
Doesn't live up to its early promise
Uncomfortable reading for someone like me who, unsatisfied with city living, is considering a move to the country. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mrs. Nicola Clements
'a dream read'
still in the process of reading this book but I am really enjoying this book and can't put it down - I take it everywhere with me.
Published 19 months ago by Mrs. S. A. Dodds
Cleverly written though ultimately unbelievable.
I had recently read Rachel Hore's The Place of Secrets and was enthralled by the blend of hsistorical fact and modern research allied to evocative descriptions of the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Lorna Bevan
A beautiful Story
I got this book after reading the Glass Painter's Daughter which I have to say was better, however I found this a good enjoyable read. Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. Bannister
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