The Garnett Girls
As seen:
By Georgina Moore
avg rating
10 reviews
’What a gem of a book!… Such an accomplished first novel’ Erica James
‘The perfect holiday read and a slice of pure escapism… Characters that I’d love to party with in real life’ Harriet Tyce Tangled relationships, family secrets and the unbreakable bond between sisters Meet the Garnett Girls… Three sisters living in the shadow of their parents’ glorious failed marriage. Rachel, desperate to return to London, but tied to the beautiful crumbling house they grew up in on the Isle of Wight. Imogen, with a devoted fiancé and a fledgling writing career, feeling a powerful connection to a beautiful stranger. And wild, passionate Sasha, trapped between her sisters and her husband, hiding a secret that could shake their family to the core… Readers love The Garnett Girls… ‘A glorious family saga which swept me along … I felt like I was sitting around a table with friends’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Rivalry and passion, secrets and regrets … a beautifully crafted tale and a touching and compelling read’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant, often moving, constantly relatable tale of family, relationships and heartbreak’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was completely immersed in the Garnett girls’ world. I still find myself thinking of each of them even after finishing the book… Loved it!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Praise for The Garnett Girls: ’A rare and wonderful delight’ Lucy Foley ‘I adored it’ Bryony Gordon ‘A delicious read’ Rachel Joyce ‘Richly drawn’ Patrick Gale ‘A smashing debut exploring the secrets every family keeps’ Daisy Goodwin ‘Beautifully written’ Jill Mansell ‘A wonderfully woven tale of love, friendship and family’ Catherine Alliott TweetReviews
Burtonwood Library Reading Group
Julie: I liked the Isle of Wight setting & the characters and the fact it wasn't a typical happy ending. I enjoyed the relationships between the family and friends. My favourite character was Imogen because I always feel for the middle child in a family & how she tried to escape from the shadows cast by her parents. A very emotional ending.
Burtonwood Library Reading Group
Denise: This book had a fascinating story about family dynamics and secrets. Margo's three daughters couldn't get on with their lives because of her refusal to tell them why their father had left when they were young.
Marilyn: I loved this book especially the gorgeous Isle of Wight setting. It had well drawn characters & a mystery at the heart of it. Loved the parties the family had in the old house Sandcove and on the beach.
Patty: Set on the Isle of Wight this family story was complex with the theme of whether children can escape from what has happened in the past. Each of the sisters Rachel Imogen and Sasha were all interesting characters all with their own secrets. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from Georgina Moore.
Maria: I found this book a page turner with lots of great characters. The family's matriarch Margo has a secret about why her husband and the 3 girl’s father left them. The daughters are all still trying to work out why. Loved it and couldn't turn the pages quick enough!
Burtonwood Library Reading Group
Janette: I really enjoyed the theme of whether the daughters can escape the family secret which has cast a long shadow on them. My favourite character was Margo although she wasn't the most endearing you knew why she had to do what she did. A very good holiday read.
Leanne: This story felt nostalgic especially the descriptions of the Isle of Wight and the old family house Sandcove. I loved the relationships between the family members and the tensions that exist. Rachel was my favourite character because she'd had to become an adult at an early age and was desperate to have her own stable family.
I enjoyed the book. I think the author captured the different family relationships well. The eldest high achieving child, the youngest wild child, the middle child following own path and trying to please everyone. The relationships between the siblings and mother too were very believable. Very much characteristic of my own family, extended family and in-laws.
However, I found myself not having a lot of sympathy for any of them to be honest. The mother who took to her bed for a year due to a relationship breakup with the subsequent ever lasting affect on the children. However, the girls continued to harp on about their damaged childhood. I thought this was a little indulgent on their parts. They were all successful and high achieving so I felt they really needed to concentrate on the here and down rather than looking back. Also the way they were turned against their father - granted he was a waste of space and a poor excuse for a father - but I don't think parents should do this though I appreciate this is what happens in lots of separated families.
I found the response to Sasha finally admitting seeing her father quite shocking. Everyone is an individual and have different needs. They all had very complex connections with their childhood and had all been affected in different ways. However, if she needed to see her father and rebuild her relationship she should not have been made to feel guilty about that and even felt the need to apologise. Hence my reason for disliking them, I don't think they were very sensitive or understanding. Quite overbearing of each other really, self-indulgent and self-centred.
Having said all of that I did enjoy the book, it captured family life, broken families and ongoing sibling relationships very well. And let's face it, we can all be a little self-indulgent and self-centred!
Wellbeing Book Group
Marie - The book is based around Margo and her three daughters Rachel, Imogen and Sasha's lives after their father Richard walks out on them. I enjoyed following the life events of each daughter as they coped with a dysfunctional mother and an absent father. A well written, passionate story by Georgina Moore. I look forward to more titles from this author.
My members were undecided about this book as they didn't feel they could empathise with the characters as they were so far removed from our lifestyles. We are a group of mainly retired females who have a working class background.
St Mary's Book Group
Burtonwood Library Reading Group:
Julie: I liked the Isle of Wight setting & the characters and the fact it wasn't a typical happy ending. I enjoyed the relationships between the family and friends. My favourite character was Imogen because I always feel for the middle child in a family & how she tried to escape from the shadows cast by her parents. very emotional ending.
A book about family and its ups and downs. Margo is the dysfunctional mother and her three grown up girls are Rachel, Imogen and Sasha.
The life choices of the sisters are compared and how they coped with their parents separation in their own way and how it effected those around them.
An enjoyable read with well written characters.
St Regulas book club
It’s been a long time since I read a book in a single day! It was a real treat. It centres on the Garnett family members and their complex relationships in life and with each other. The writing has a brooding quality and it was a really immersive read. I look forward to reading this author’s future books!
