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The Glittering Hour
An unforgettable historical novel about true love found and lost and the secrets we keep from one another from an award-winning author.
Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying on just the right side of scandal, all while running from the life her parents would choose for her.
Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go even while knowing someone of her stature could never end up with someone of his. Except Selina falls hard for Lawrence, envisioning a life of true happiness. But when tragedy strikes, Selina finds herself choosing what's safe over what's right.
Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an epic novel of passion, heartache and loss.
Selina Lennox is a Bright Young Thing. Her life is a whirl of parties and drinking, pursued by the press and staying on just the right side of scandal, all while running from the life her parents would choose for her.
Lawrence Weston is a penniless painter who stumbles into Selina's orbit one night and can never let her go even while knowing someone of her stature could never end up with someone of his. Except Selina falls hard for Lawrence, envisioning a life of true happiness. But when tragedy strikes, Selina finds herself choosing what's safe over what's right.
Spanning two decades and a seismic shift in British history as World War II approaches, Iona Grey's The Glittering Hour is an epic novel of passion, heartache and loss.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2019
About the author
Iona Grey
6 books769 followersIona Grey has a degree in English Literature and Language from Manchester University, an obsession with history and an enduring fascination with the lives of women in the twentieth century. She has three grown up daughters and lives in the rural North West of England with her husband and two cats. She is the award-winning author of Letters to the Lost and The Glittering Hour. Her third novel will be coming out in the US in August 2024. You can find on instagram as @ionagrey and at www.ionagrey.co.uk.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,509 reviews
December 12, 2019
Any book that can make me cry like that is deserving of a solid 5 stars!
I will start by saying that the synopsis of this novel didn’t attract or stand out to me. However, when I received this book in the mail from the publisher, I simply had a good feeling about it and when my Traveling Sister Brenda suggested starting it right away, I dove right in. Wow - these characters really got to me! In fact, I have to admit, I have a huge “book crush” on Lawrence - one of the main characters. He had me melting throughout this entire novel.
The dual narrative, a decade apart, was brilliantly executed! I loved how the story flowed and unraveled. One of my most favourite parts of this novel were the letters from Mama to nine-year-old Alice. They perfectly captured the most tender and touching aspects of a mother-daughter relationship. My heart felt full when reading those letters.
There were parts of the plot that I had figured out early on, yet this didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. The writing is exquisite and kept me hanging on every word. The eloquent prose reminded me of Kate Morton’s novels, but not quite as descriptive. I was consumed and enamoured by this story - part mystery, part love story. I am not a romance reader, but the love story within these pages engrossed me completely. It is not a gripping or addictive book, but more of a slow burn, luxurious, comforting story that will touch your heart.
A big thank you to St Martins Press for surprising me with this copy! I truly loved it!
I will start by saying that the synopsis of this novel didn’t attract or stand out to me. However, when I received this book in the mail from the publisher, I simply had a good feeling about it and when my Traveling Sister Brenda suggested starting it right away, I dove right in. Wow - these characters really got to me! In fact, I have to admit, I have a huge “book crush” on Lawrence - one of the main characters. He had me melting throughout this entire novel.
The dual narrative, a decade apart, was brilliantly executed! I loved how the story flowed and unraveled. One of my most favourite parts of this novel were the letters from Mama to nine-year-old Alice. They perfectly captured the most tender and touching aspects of a mother-daughter relationship. My heart felt full when reading those letters.
There were parts of the plot that I had figured out early on, yet this didn’t detract from my enjoyment at all. The writing is exquisite and kept me hanging on every word. The eloquent prose reminded me of Kate Morton’s novels, but not quite as descriptive. I was consumed and enamoured by this story - part mystery, part love story. I am not a romance reader, but the love story within these pages engrossed me completely. It is not a gripping or addictive book, but more of a slow burn, luxurious, comforting story that will touch your heart.
A big thank you to St Martins Press for surprising me with this copy! I truly loved it!
December 17, 2019
3.5 stars
He had no place in her world, amongst her people, and no more did she belong in his.
Love, Secrets, Tragedy, Choices, Love Lost, Longing...
Selina Lennox grew up in luxury. She was at the hottest parties and events. Staying out late, partying and enjoying her life. Lawrence Weston was a poor photographer and painter who has a chance meeting with Selina. That chance meeting was all it took to change their lives forever.
The beginning was an extremely slow burn for me. If it weren't for the letters between Selina and Alice and the moments between Selina and Lawrence, this might have been a DNF for me. Time dragged for me for the first part of this book. Around the sixty percent mark, this book really picked up for me and I found it hard to put down. In fact, at that point, it became a page-turner for me. This is where the book grabbed me. The last part of the book was captivating and gut-wrenching. It saved the book for me and I came away happy that I had read it but it was work in the beginning. At the end, I decided that the slow burn was worth it, so my advice for those who are struggling, in the beginning, is to stick with this book as it does deliver in the end.
So, if you enjoy slow-burn, historical books, this one might be the book for you. I really enjoyed her other book Letters to the Lost and highly recommend that one.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
He had no place in her world, amongst her people, and no more did she belong in his.
Love, Secrets, Tragedy, Choices, Love Lost, Longing...
Selina Lennox grew up in luxury. She was at the hottest parties and events. Staying out late, partying and enjoying her life. Lawrence Weston was a poor photographer and painter who has a chance meeting with Selina. That chance meeting was all it took to change their lives forever.
The beginning was an extremely slow burn for me. If it weren't for the letters between Selina and Alice and the moments between Selina and Lawrence, this might have been a DNF for me. Time dragged for me for the first part of this book. Around the sixty percent mark, this book really picked up for me and I found it hard to put down. In fact, at that point, it became a page-turner for me. This is where the book grabbed me. The last part of the book was captivating and gut-wrenching. It saved the book for me and I came away happy that I had read it but it was work in the beginning. At the end, I decided that the slow burn was worth it, so my advice for those who are struggling, in the beginning, is to stick with this book as it does deliver in the end.
So, if you enjoy slow-burn, historical books, this one might be the book for you. I really enjoyed her other book Letters to the Lost and highly recommend that one.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 11, 2019
Oh my goodness! This book! Don’t you love it when a book with that kind of cover comes into your life, one you have been anticipating reading for months now, and it lives up to your every expectation? The Glittering Hour was just that kind of read for me.
The Glittering Hour is set in England during the 1920s and 30s, in the time leading up to WWII. Immediately, I was excited about this time period as a nice change from all the traditional WWII fiction I read.
Selina Lennox is a “Bright Young Thing.” She is roaring into the 20s like all the young people her age, drinking and partying. Her wealthy parents have plans for her, but she wants no part.
Lawrence Weston is a painter, rather common, and the two fall in love even though they known it’s unlikely they can stay together because they live in such different worlds. They still dream of being together when tragedy strikes.
Selena and Lawrence’s story is one of forbidden love. I was lost in the writing and mesmerized with the power of their bond. I had tissues nearby as this one brought out all my emotions. I never expected to be so enthralled with these two characters.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is an enchanting story that makes you believe in love again. Oh, and don’t miss that ending!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
The Glittering Hour is set in England during the 1920s and 30s, in the time leading up to WWII. Immediately, I was excited about this time period as a nice change from all the traditional WWII fiction I read.
Selina Lennox is a “Bright Young Thing.” She is roaring into the 20s like all the young people her age, drinking and partying. Her wealthy parents have plans for her, but she wants no part.
Lawrence Weston is a painter, rather common, and the two fall in love even though they known it’s unlikely they can stay together because they live in such different worlds. They still dream of being together when tragedy strikes.
Selena and Lawrence’s story is one of forbidden love. I was lost in the writing and mesmerized with the power of their bond. I had tissues nearby as this one brought out all my emotions. I never expected to be so enthralled with these two characters.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is an enchanting story that makes you believe in love again. Oh, and don’t miss that ending!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
December 10, 2019
3.5 stars
With my wine glass in hand, I started my own glitter hour and was swept away into the glitter and secrets of our endearing characters.
Glittering Hour is a slow-burning dramatic, flamboyantly written story that explores lost love and family secrets. It's a bit wordy and I found myself lost in the words and losing focus for the story at times. I loved both timelines and enjoyed the world of the "Bright Young People" who are famed for their "extravagant parties and lavish lifestyle." Endearing as the characters are, at times, they felt stereotyped, but with the title like Bright Young People, I can see why.
Iona Grey does a great job creating some irresistible characters and one in particular who Lindsay would say is book crush material and I agree. She is so cute. lol
The ending wraps up well and some tissue might be required!
I received a surprise gifted copy in a beautiful glittering punch from St Martins Press
With my wine glass in hand, I started my own glitter hour and was swept away into the glitter and secrets of our endearing characters.
Glittering Hour is a slow-burning dramatic, flamboyantly written story that explores lost love and family secrets. It's a bit wordy and I found myself lost in the words and losing focus for the story at times. I loved both timelines and enjoyed the world of the "Bright Young People" who are famed for their "extravagant parties and lavish lifestyle." Endearing as the characters are, at times, they felt stereotyped, but with the title like Bright Young People, I can see why.
Iona Grey does a great job creating some irresistible characters and one in particular who Lindsay would say is book crush material and I agree. She is so cute. lol
The ending wraps up well and some tissue might be required!
I received a surprise gifted copy in a beautiful glittering punch from St Martins Press
November 4, 2019
3.5*
A lovely book tinged with sadness. A story about a big love and secrets told in two parts. I especially enjoyed the time period and tone of the book.
The story is about Selina Lennox, who was a young socialite in England. She marries in 1926 to a man that her family deems to be acceptable and gives birth to a daughter, Alice. The story begins in 1936 as Selina accompanies her husband on a business trip to Burma. She has to leave her daughter in the care of her up-to-do family. As she knows it will be hard for her daughter to be away from her and stay with her family that has always been a little distant she starts a little game with her. She begins to write letters to Alice and tells her she will reveal to her about how she "became to be." Essentially the story of Alice. With the letters are clues to a treasure hunt that will lead Alice to discover things about her life. The story here goes back and forth from 1926 to 1936.
I thought the premise of the book was pretty clever. Although the story was engaging I did find part one to somewhat lag. I would have also preferred for the big love story to be drawn out a little bit more. I found that part lacked some depth for me initially although it made up for it in part two. Part two of the book was very touching (albeit sad.)
I read, Iona Grey's first novel, "Letters to the Lost" and loved that one a lot. I didn't find myself as captivated by this one but nevertheless I still enjoyed it. I think she is an up and coming and talented author who I will for sure keep my eyes out for any upcoming releases.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy.
A lovely book tinged with sadness. A story about a big love and secrets told in two parts. I especially enjoyed the time period and tone of the book.
The story is about Selina Lennox, who was a young socialite in England. She marries in 1926 to a man that her family deems to be acceptable and gives birth to a daughter, Alice. The story begins in 1936 as Selina accompanies her husband on a business trip to Burma. She has to leave her daughter in the care of her up-to-do family. As she knows it will be hard for her daughter to be away from her and stay with her family that has always been a little distant she starts a little game with her. She begins to write letters to Alice and tells her she will reveal to her about how she "became to be." Essentially the story of Alice. With the letters are clues to a treasure hunt that will lead Alice to discover things about her life. The story here goes back and forth from 1926 to 1936.
I thought the premise of the book was pretty clever. Although the story was engaging I did find part one to somewhat lag. I would have also preferred for the big love story to be drawn out a little bit more. I found that part lacked some depth for me initially although it made up for it in part two. Part two of the book was very touching (albeit sad.)
I read, Iona Grey's first novel, "Letters to the Lost" and loved that one a lot. I didn't find myself as captivated by this one but nevertheless I still enjoyed it. I think she is an up and coming and talented author who I will for sure keep my eyes out for any upcoming releases.
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy.
January 23, 2020
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I received an ARC of this and decided to read it on a whim because something about the idea of reading a book set in the roaring twenties while in the 2020s felt like achieving parity. I wasn't really sure what to expect of THE GLITTERING HOUR, but reading it was a lot like reading one of those bloated, sensationalist historical epics that were so popular in the 1970s. Honestly, if we're getting a resurgence of those, I will be so glad, as they are so devastatingly, emotionally engaging, and this book was really no exception to the example set by its forebears.
The timeline of this book is a bit difficult to follow at first because there are so many POVs and it skips around a lot. In the past, set in the 1920s, we meet a young Selina who is at the peak of her life, has a zest for trying all kinds of new and exciting experiences, and falling in love for the first time. Unfortunately for her, it's a classic case of "My boyfriend is out of my social caste-- and mummy and daddy will cut me off without a red cent!" in the vein of Titanic. He's even an artist, for God's sake.
In the "present," which in this case, is the mid-1930s, a young girl named Alice is fretting because she's left with her icy grandparents and mean governess while her parents are off in Burma overseeing her father's ruby mines. To entertain her, her mother has been sending her scavenger hunt clues via her sympathetic nursemaid, Polly, while also weaving in bits and pieces of her own past. I'm not always fond of children narrators but Alice is a sympathetic one, and I feel like the author did a good job authentically representing the mindset and thoughts of a young, fanciful child.
Also in the present, we catch little glimpses of Selina, now a fully grown woman and bogged down with sorrow and regret. We don't know what's happened to make her feel so upset or why, but she seems like a woman without much hope. We also see other people from her past as well, also now in the future, and also living with the fruits of their choices.
In the second part of the book, all of these narrative strands weave together to form a portrait of love, loss, tragedy, regret, life, hope, and courage. If this book has a message, I think it's that you need to learn how to live for yourself-- and not for others-- or you may end up at the end of your life looking back on all of your choices and realizing that you ended up walling yourself into a brick house of misery without any doors or windows. It's a sad message, but a powerful one, too.
THE GLITTERING HOUR is gorgeously written and the characterization is really well done. You know you're reading a good book when the characters are driving you crazy with their poor choices and you're screaming at them "don't! don't!" even though you totally get why they're making those fool decisions because you've made similar ones in the past yourself. There's a difference between bad choices done because of bad writing and bad choices done for character development, and this is definitely the latter. I loved the epic scope of the book and how it brought the period of the 1920s and 1930s to life. I would definitely read more from this author in the future-- but not without Kleenex.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
4 to 4.5 stars
November 14, 2019
I normally compose my reviews right after finishing a book but after finishing The Glittering Hour I had to wait – I had to compose myself first. So with tears still in my eyes, I would like to share how deeply this book moved me. First of all, it completely transports the reader to both timelines - in 1925 when we meet free-spirited Selina and then in 1936 when we meet her daughter Alice. Both timelines are equally interesting and engaging. The life of Selina and her fellow Bright Young Things is well captured. The world of young Alice is also so well described that you can perfectly visualize her grandparents' decaying estate. Each character was just perfect as was the whole book – right to the last page. I want to thank NetGalley, Thomas Dunne Books / St. Martin’s Press and Ms. Grey for an advance copy of this wonderful book.
December 2, 2019
4.5 stars
When I was first asked to join the blog tour for Iona Grey’s latest novel The Glittering Hour , I was a little apprehensive at first, as I had never heard of this author before and of course hadn’t read her debut novel Letters to the Lost , which came out back in 2015. After reading the summary for the book though and seeing that it fell into one of my favorite genres (historical fiction), I decided to take a chance with this one and see where it would take me. Looking back now after having finished the book, I am tremendously glad that I did so, as this turned out to be an excellent read – one in which not only the story continues to stay with me, but also the characters, almost all of whom I can’t stop thinking about. This was one of those books where the beautiful writing drew me in from the first page and I found it difficult to stop reading once I had started.
With a duel timeline alternating between 1925 and 1936, the crux of the story centers around an unlikely romance between Selina Lennox -- a wealthy, privileged young woman from a noble family who spends majority of her time drinking, partying, creating scandal – and Lawrence Weston, a penniless but hardworking painter whose real talent lies in photography and capturing life’s most candid moments. Despite being from two completely opposite worlds, Selina and Lawrence fall hard for each other and, for a brief period of time, it appeared that true love and happiness were within their reach. But then tragedy strikes and Selina decides to forego her relationship with Lawrence in favor of the “safe” option of Rupert Carew — her deceased brother’s friend and also a match approved by her parents. A decade later, in 1936, nine-year-old Alice Carew is left in the care of her grandparents and a beloved maid at Blackwood, the estate where her mother Selina grew up, while her parents are on a business trip to Burma for a few months. Alice is a sensitive soul and not being able to stand the separation and secluded loneliness of Blackwood, she yearns for her mother and whiles away the time thinking about their many moments together. Through her maid Polly, Selina sends her daughter letters in which she scatters clues about her past, sending Alice on a treasure hunt of sorts to discover one of her most prized secrets. The two threads of the story — Selina’s past from 1926 and Alice’s current reality in 1936 —eventually come together in a surprising, emotional ending that is almost guaranteed to have the reader in tears.
My first thought after finishing this book is how beautifully written this story was. Even though the story leans more toward romance than historical fiction, the historical elements were still done extremely well, to the point that I truly felt transported to the time and place depicted (England in the 1920s and 1930s). For those who may be concerned about the romance piece — yes, the love story IS the core around which the rest of the story revolves, however don’t worry, as the narrative is well-balanced enough that the romance piece doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. With an epic story such as this one, maintaining such a balance along with a nearly flawless execution is no easy feat and Grey absolutely delivers here. Structure-wise, within the alternating timeline, each of the main characters also got the chance to contribute their piece to the story without diluting the main narrative that revolved around Selina and Alice. I appreciate this structure, as it allowed me to get better perspective on each of the characters and see another side to them that I wouldn’t otherwise have known.
Given how much I enjoyed this one, it was very close to being a 5 star read for me, however there were a few things that put it more in the 4.5 range for me. I felt that part 1 of the story dragged a little in a few places, plus a few scenes seemed repetitive and perhaps not entirely necessary...with that said though, part 2 was wonderfully written, with its emotional impact nearly making up for the minor flaws in the first part.
Without a doubt, I would definitely recommend this moving story of love, loss, passion, betrayal, family dynamics, hidden secrets, and the complexities of pursuing the truth. If you decide to read this though, definitely have some tissues ready.
Received ARC from Thomas Dunne Books via NetGalley.
When I was first asked to join the blog tour for Iona Grey’s latest novel The Glittering Hour , I was a little apprehensive at first, as I had never heard of this author before and of course hadn’t read her debut novel Letters to the Lost , which came out back in 2015. After reading the summary for the book though and seeing that it fell into one of my favorite genres (historical fiction), I decided to take a chance with this one and see where it would take me. Looking back now after having finished the book, I am tremendously glad that I did so, as this turned out to be an excellent read – one in which not only the story continues to stay with me, but also the characters, almost all of whom I can’t stop thinking about. This was one of those books where the beautiful writing drew me in from the first page and I found it difficult to stop reading once I had started.
With a duel timeline alternating between 1925 and 1936, the crux of the story centers around an unlikely romance between Selina Lennox -- a wealthy, privileged young woman from a noble family who spends majority of her time drinking, partying, creating scandal – and Lawrence Weston, a penniless but hardworking painter whose real talent lies in photography and capturing life’s most candid moments. Despite being from two completely opposite worlds, Selina and Lawrence fall hard for each other and, for a brief period of time, it appeared that true love and happiness were within their reach. But then tragedy strikes and Selina decides to forego her relationship with Lawrence in favor of the “safe” option of Rupert Carew — her deceased brother’s friend and also a match approved by her parents. A decade later, in 1936, nine-year-old Alice Carew is left in the care of her grandparents and a beloved maid at Blackwood, the estate where her mother Selina grew up, while her parents are on a business trip to Burma for a few months. Alice is a sensitive soul and not being able to stand the separation and secluded loneliness of Blackwood, she yearns for her mother and whiles away the time thinking about their many moments together. Through her maid Polly, Selina sends her daughter letters in which she scatters clues about her past, sending Alice on a treasure hunt of sorts to discover one of her most prized secrets. The two threads of the story — Selina’s past from 1926 and Alice’s current reality in 1936 —eventually come together in a surprising, emotional ending that is almost guaranteed to have the reader in tears.
My first thought after finishing this book is how beautifully written this story was. Even though the story leans more toward romance than historical fiction, the historical elements were still done extremely well, to the point that I truly felt transported to the time and place depicted (England in the 1920s and 1930s). For those who may be concerned about the romance piece — yes, the love story IS the core around which the rest of the story revolves, however don’t worry, as the narrative is well-balanced enough that the romance piece doesn’t overwhelm the rest of the story. With an epic story such as this one, maintaining such a balance along with a nearly flawless execution is no easy feat and Grey absolutely delivers here. Structure-wise, within the alternating timeline, each of the main characters also got the chance to contribute their piece to the story without diluting the main narrative that revolved around Selina and Alice. I appreciate this structure, as it allowed me to get better perspective on each of the characters and see another side to them that I wouldn’t otherwise have known.
Given how much I enjoyed this one, it was very close to being a 5 star read for me, however there were a few things that put it more in the 4.5 range for me. I felt that part 1 of the story dragged a little in a few places, plus a few scenes seemed repetitive and perhaps not entirely necessary...with that said though, part 2 was wonderfully written, with its emotional impact nearly making up for the minor flaws in the first part.
Without a doubt, I would definitely recommend this moving story of love, loss, passion, betrayal, family dynamics, hidden secrets, and the complexities of pursuing the truth. If you decide to read this though, definitely have some tissues ready.
Received ARC from Thomas Dunne Books via NetGalley.
December 3, 2019
I was excited for The Glittering Hour because it was a historical fiction novel not set in the WWII era. As much as I love that time period (honestly, it's my favorite), it has become overdone in novels recently. We need variety as readers and this book seemed to give us that reprieve.
The Glittering Hour is set in dual time periods, in 1925 with The Bright Young People, a frivolous set of British society's youth and 11 years later in 1936 with a young girl stuck in her grandparents' home while her mother and father are away on business. In between these chapters are often letters from mother to young daughter, as the mother describes the details of her trip and sets up a treasure hunt around the grounds of the girl's grandparents' gigantic estate. I loved the concept of the treasure hunt, as it revealed details about the mother's past to her young daughter. This plot point made me very interested in the story from the beginning. Unfortunately, the story never really piqued my interest from that point forward. I had to take a break around 30% because it was no longer holding my interest. The promise of the great reviews on Goodreads mentioning what was ahead kept me hanging on.
My main issue with this book is the terribly slow writing. The bottom line is that it's infinitely too wordy for my taste. I would find my mind wandering in each paragraph and eventually had to begin skimming to get through the story. I wasn't interested in the adventures of The Bright Young People because their exploits were shallow and vain. The only people in the story who sparked feeling from me were Lawrence and Alice, and their parts in the story were far too short, and still somehow still drawn out and too descriptive.
The plot of the story as a whole was incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. It seemed like exactly the type of book I would love and honestly would have loved if not for the writing style used. I needed a quicker plot and fewer words to make this feel less like a tome I was slogging through for a grade in school. I desperately wish I could have connected to the story, the bones of an epic plot were there, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Please don't just take my word for it. This is likely to be a popular read, being a Book of the Month selection for December. It already has numerous five-star recommendations from excellent reviewers and will surely hit the right notes for many readers.
The Glittering Hour is set in dual time periods, in 1925 with The Bright Young People, a frivolous set of British society's youth and 11 years later in 1936 with a young girl stuck in her grandparents' home while her mother and father are away on business. In between these chapters are often letters from mother to young daughter, as the mother describes the details of her trip and sets up a treasure hunt around the grounds of the girl's grandparents' gigantic estate. I loved the concept of the treasure hunt, as it revealed details about the mother's past to her young daughter. This plot point made me very interested in the story from the beginning. Unfortunately, the story never really piqued my interest from that point forward. I had to take a break around 30% because it was no longer holding my interest. The promise of the great reviews on Goodreads mentioning what was ahead kept me hanging on.
My main issue with this book is the terribly slow writing. The bottom line is that it's infinitely too wordy for my taste. I would find my mind wandering in each paragraph and eventually had to begin skimming to get through the story. I wasn't interested in the adventures of The Bright Young People because their exploits were shallow and vain. The only people in the story who sparked feeling from me were Lawrence and Alice, and their parts in the story were far too short, and still somehow still drawn out and too descriptive.
The plot of the story as a whole was incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. It seemed like exactly the type of book I would love and honestly would have loved if not for the writing style used. I needed a quicker plot and fewer words to make this feel less like a tome I was slogging through for a grade in school. I desperately wish I could have connected to the story, the bones of an epic plot were there, but unfortunately, it wasn't for me.
Please don't just take my word for it. This is likely to be a popular read, being a Book of the Month selection for December. It already has numerous five-star recommendations from excellent reviewers and will surely hit the right notes for many readers.
December 15, 2019
Favorite Quotes:
Blackwood Park was full of ghosts. Its empty corridors echoed with the whispers of lost voices and snatches of old laughter. It was a house where the past felt more vivid than the present, which was nothing more than a stretch of endless days fading into uniform blankness.
… there was a bowl of paperwhite daffodils on the table by her armchair. Their delicate perfume was fresh in a room that smelled of stopped clocks and old paper.
I resented the rules and restrictions and the rigidness … The hypocrisy and control… Their favourite punishment was to withhold food, and I resented being sent to bed hungry while downstairs seven courses were being served in the dining room and people were only picking at each of them. And the more resentful I was the naughtier I became and the more I was punished… I spent my childhood feeling permanently ravenous.
Don’t you be shy about ringing the bell or going down to find her if it doesn’t appear –she’s got a head like a sieve, that one. Not that I imagine she’ll have much time for daydreaming today. Miss Lovelock’s had her up and down like a fiddler’s elbow already this morning, fetching tea and toast and hot water cans and whatnot.
‘Someone once told me that a woman’s body is like a piano. It’s up to the man whether he chooses to pick out a nursery rhyme with one finger, or learn how to play a symphony. I suppose that was the first movement’… ‘I’m terribly ignorant about culture,’ she whispered. ‘Remind me – how many movements are there in a symphony?’
Secrets and half-truths seemed to swirl through the corridors on icy currents of air.
My Review:
This was a feast of a book. The Glittering Hour was thoughtfully written and cunningly insightful as well as shrewdly observant. It was a slowly evolving and highly emotive story that was skillfully crafted and elegantly told, and I absorbed it as if it were being injected straight into my gray matter while vivid imagery flickered behind my eyes. There were four-hundred-eighty beautifully written pages and I read them ever so slowly as I wanted to savor each perfectly chosen word, even though the storylines turned me inside out, stung my eyes, pinched my heart, and put hot rocks in my throat. Iona Grey is found treasure and a new addition at the very top of my list of favorite authors.
Blackwood Park was full of ghosts. Its empty corridors echoed with the whispers of lost voices and snatches of old laughter. It was a house where the past felt more vivid than the present, which was nothing more than a stretch of endless days fading into uniform blankness.
… there was a bowl of paperwhite daffodils on the table by her armchair. Their delicate perfume was fresh in a room that smelled of stopped clocks and old paper.
I resented the rules and restrictions and the rigidness … The hypocrisy and control… Their favourite punishment was to withhold food, and I resented being sent to bed hungry while downstairs seven courses were being served in the dining room and people were only picking at each of them. And the more resentful I was the naughtier I became and the more I was punished… I spent my childhood feeling permanently ravenous.
Don’t you be shy about ringing the bell or going down to find her if it doesn’t appear –she’s got a head like a sieve, that one. Not that I imagine she’ll have much time for daydreaming today. Miss Lovelock’s had her up and down like a fiddler’s elbow already this morning, fetching tea and toast and hot water cans and whatnot.
‘Someone once told me that a woman’s body is like a piano. It’s up to the man whether he chooses to pick out a nursery rhyme with one finger, or learn how to play a symphony. I suppose that was the first movement’… ‘I’m terribly ignorant about culture,’ she whispered. ‘Remind me – how many movements are there in a symphony?’
Secrets and half-truths seemed to swirl through the corridors on icy currents of air.
My Review:
This was a feast of a book. The Glittering Hour was thoughtfully written and cunningly insightful as well as shrewdly observant. It was a slowly evolving and highly emotive story that was skillfully crafted and elegantly told, and I absorbed it as if it were being injected straight into my gray matter while vivid imagery flickered behind my eyes. There were four-hundred-eighty beautifully written pages and I read them ever so slowly as I wanted to savor each perfectly chosen word, even though the storylines turned me inside out, stung my eyes, pinched my heart, and put hot rocks in my throat. Iona Grey is found treasure and a new addition at the very top of my list of favorite authors.
October 13, 2023
3.5 stars
In the famous word of ex-president Donald J. Trump: "Sad!"
In the famous word of ex-president Donald J. Trump: "Sad!"
March 2, 2020
Sniff....
Sniff, sniff....
Sniff....
This is a good one to read when you want to lose yourself in another place and time. It might feel a bit too slow at times, but when you get deeper into the book, you may find yourself with damp cheeks and a lump in your throat and an ache in your chest. Then you'll see what the author was doing when the story felt like it was dragging. Gently, ever so gradually, she was showing you why you should love these characters. You might not notice how much you've come to care about them until you find yourself reaching for a tissue.
It has been two days since I finished this book, and I'm still thinking about the characters.
I loved little Alice, with her strong will and adventuresome spirit.
I loved the interloper Lawrence, with his dark artistic temperament, living in a garret and dreaming of a woman far above his social class.
I loved the sprightly, irreverent party girl Flick.
And I especially loved the spirited Selina, who reminded me of myself when I was young and rowdy and determined to squeeze every last drop of fun out of my youth.
Even the "unlovable" characters make you feel compassion when you understand what made them the way they are. World War I took such a huge toll on British families, and it hollowed out an entire generation of British young men. Some people just couldn't recover from their losses, or from the horrors they experienced in the trenches.
4.5 stars
Sniff, sniff....
Sniff....
This is a good one to read when you want to lose yourself in another place and time. It might feel a bit too slow at times, but when you get deeper into the book, you may find yourself with damp cheeks and a lump in your throat and an ache in your chest. Then you'll see what the author was doing when the story felt like it was dragging. Gently, ever so gradually, she was showing you why you should love these characters. You might not notice how much you've come to care about them until you find yourself reaching for a tissue.
It has been two days since I finished this book, and I'm still thinking about the characters.
I loved little Alice, with her strong will and adventuresome spirit.
I loved the interloper Lawrence, with his dark artistic temperament, living in a garret and dreaming of a woman far above his social class.
I loved the sprightly, irreverent party girl Flick.
And I especially loved the spirited Selina, who reminded me of myself when I was young and rowdy and determined to squeeze every last drop of fun out of my youth.
Even the "unlovable" characters make you feel compassion when you understand what made them the way they are. World War I took such a huge toll on British families, and it hollowed out an entire generation of British young men. Some people just couldn't recover from their losses, or from the horrors they experienced in the trenches.
4.5 stars
May 8, 2020
The Glittering Hour, is a story with a dual timeline, it flows seamlessly between 1925 and 1936.
In 1925 the war is over, Selina is a member of the "Bright Young People" she spends her time going to parties, staying up late, drinking way too much, going on silly treasure hunts with her friends and she's footloose and fancy free. Really, Selina is very insecure due to her strict upbringing, her mother is a stern, cold, distant woman and she finds her youngest daughter rather flighty. Selina misses her brother Howard terribly he died fighting in WW I, she's partying and living life for both of them.
One night while driving around with her friends on a treasure hunt, they run over a cat, Selina gets out of the car, her friends drive off and leave her behind with the injured cat. Lawrence Weston comes to her aide, he's a complete stranger, and together they bury the poor unfortunate cat. Lawrence is a struggling artist, he paints portraits of young men who died fighting in WW I, he uses photos given to him by their families and he provides them with a lasting memento of their lost sons. He really wants to be a photographer, he needs the money and painting is a way for him to support himself!
In 1936, nine year old Alice is staying at Blackwood Hall with her grandparents, they have employed a governess, Miss Vera Lovelock to look after her and see to her education. Selina is away with her husband on a business trip to Burma, she sends her lonely daughter letters and her maid Polly passes them on to Alice. To help Alice discover secrets from her mothers past, she sends her daughter on a treasure hunt, with clues hidden in the letters and she's looking for items scattered around the families crumbling property. Here Alice meets the families old gardener Mr Patterson, they become friends, she begins helping him in the garden and she's not as lonely.
Blackwood is an old family estate, the Lennox Family is struggling to maintain the house and the once beautiful gardens are over grown. Many upper class families struggled to manage their homes after WW I, times had changed and they no longer had the money or the staff to do so!
At the time, women of Selina's class are expected to marry well, it's a way of topping up the families finances, keeping the expensive estates a float and especially for families who had lost, sons and husbands in the war.
Selina is under pressure to do the right thing, marry her brothers best friend Rupert Carew and make her mother happy for once. She feels an instant connection with Lawrence Weston, will she throw caution to the wind, follow her her heart and let her family down?
Iona Grey has written a story about, hidden secrets, family honor, discovering the truth and the pain of lost love. Get out the tissues, you will need them and I gave The Glittering Hour five big stars. I have shared my review on Australian Amazon, Goodreads, Edelweiss, Kobo, and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
In 1925 the war is over, Selina is a member of the "Bright Young People" she spends her time going to parties, staying up late, drinking way too much, going on silly treasure hunts with her friends and she's footloose and fancy free. Really, Selina is very insecure due to her strict upbringing, her mother is a stern, cold, distant woman and she finds her youngest daughter rather flighty. Selina misses her brother Howard terribly he died fighting in WW I, she's partying and living life for both of them.
One night while driving around with her friends on a treasure hunt, they run over a cat, Selina gets out of the car, her friends drive off and leave her behind with the injured cat. Lawrence Weston comes to her aide, he's a complete stranger, and together they bury the poor unfortunate cat. Lawrence is a struggling artist, he paints portraits of young men who died fighting in WW I, he uses photos given to him by their families and he provides them with a lasting memento of their lost sons. He really wants to be a photographer, he needs the money and painting is a way for him to support himself!
In 1936, nine year old Alice is staying at Blackwood Hall with her grandparents, they have employed a governess, Miss Vera Lovelock to look after her and see to her education. Selina is away with her husband on a business trip to Burma, she sends her lonely daughter letters and her maid Polly passes them on to Alice. To help Alice discover secrets from her mothers past, she sends her daughter on a treasure hunt, with clues hidden in the letters and she's looking for items scattered around the families crumbling property. Here Alice meets the families old gardener Mr Patterson, they become friends, she begins helping him in the garden and she's not as lonely.
Blackwood is an old family estate, the Lennox Family is struggling to maintain the house and the once beautiful gardens are over grown. Many upper class families struggled to manage their homes after WW I, times had changed and they no longer had the money or the staff to do so!
At the time, women of Selina's class are expected to marry well, it's a way of topping up the families finances, keeping the expensive estates a float and especially for families who had lost, sons and husbands in the war.
Selina is under pressure to do the right thing, marry her brothers best friend Rupert Carew and make her mother happy for once. She feels an instant connection with Lawrence Weston, will she throw caution to the wind, follow her her heart and let her family down?
Iona Grey has written a story about, hidden secrets, family honor, discovering the truth and the pain of lost love. Get out the tissues, you will need them and I gave The Glittering Hour five big stars. I have shared my review on Australian Amazon, Goodreads, Edelweiss, Kobo, and my blog.
https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
March 9, 2020
This was my first book to read of the year and was also a 5 star read, and a SOLID 5 start read at that!
I loved this book, and I can't really gush enough. Iona Grey has done an amazing job, and we are blessed for that. We have made sure to stock this book in our family's bookstore, Books 'n' Bears and I have been recommending it left and right. My customers that have read it have only had positive things to say about it.
After reading this book, I had to give myself some time before I wrote this review. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more and cried even more, so much that I could not see the words on the page. Recovery time was a must.
With all my gushing aside, I don't want to repeat the synopses of the book which the publisher has already done a very good job doing. So, I will instead talk about what I loved about the style of the book.
Young Alice is dropped off at her Grandmother's house who she does not know very well. Her grandmother is distant, and the author begins to unfold clues of why this is by way of a scavenger hunt from letters from Alice's mother while she is away.
The entire story is told in a dual narrative, it flows seamlessly between 1925 and 1936, with Selina's letters added in giving it an epistolary flair. The author jumps back and forth across the decade from young Salina to 10 years later when she is traveling with her rich husband abroad on a business trip.
The writing is beautiful, and the books is a gorgeous work of art. I found myself stopping here and there and rereading a sentence or a paragraph that was so well done. Iona Grey is a very talented author and I look forward to reading anything that she comes out with in the future.
I want to thank Edelweiss, Macmillian and Ms. Grey for an outstanding read, and for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book, and I can't really gush enough. Iona Grey has done an amazing job, and we are blessed for that. We have made sure to stock this book in our family's bookstore, Books 'n' Bears and I have been recommending it left and right. My customers that have read it have only had positive things to say about it.
After reading this book, I had to give myself some time before I wrote this review. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more and cried even more, so much that I could not see the words on the page. Recovery time was a must.
With all my gushing aside, I don't want to repeat the synopses of the book which the publisher has already done a very good job doing. So, I will instead talk about what I loved about the style of the book.
Young Alice is dropped off at her Grandmother's house who she does not know very well. Her grandmother is distant, and the author begins to unfold clues of why this is by way of a scavenger hunt from letters from Alice's mother while she is away.
The entire story is told in a dual narrative, it flows seamlessly between 1925 and 1936, with Selina's letters added in giving it an epistolary flair. The author jumps back and forth across the decade from young Salina to 10 years later when she is traveling with her rich husband abroad on a business trip.
The writing is beautiful, and the books is a gorgeous work of art. I found myself stopping here and there and rereading a sentence or a paragraph that was so well done. Iona Grey is a very talented author and I look forward to reading anything that she comes out with in the future.
I want to thank Edelweiss, Macmillian and Ms. Grey for an outstanding read, and for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2019
Pass the tissues, please.......
The Glittering Hour is immersed in the fraility and in the strength of human nature. Once you start turning pages here, you are going to be caught up in life plans that are dashed and life plans that follow their timeless fate.
Iona Grey introduces us to Selina Lennox who is wrapped in the party life of the 1920's where silver trays of champagne and filmy female costumes float across the well-carpeted floors of upscale homes. Selina's life is taken over by one social commitment to the next.
In contrast, Lawrence Weston values his world of art as a lowly painter rather than following the lights of the ballroom. One would never put these two together, but fate always has a far different roadmap in mind. Selina's head is turned in Lawrence's direction and there's no turning back.
The Glittering Hour is filled with the impact of British history during World War II and its heavy consequences on both the rich and the poor and everyone in between. Iona Grey has a special talent when it comes to her characters. They are complicated and deeply entrenched in the receiving end of life. They drive the storyline from the very beginning to the very end. If you spot this book cover staring at you from a bookstore or library shelf, better reach for it. It's that good.
I received a copy of The Glittering Hour through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Iona Grey for the opportunity.
The Glittering Hour is immersed in the fraility and in the strength of human nature. Once you start turning pages here, you are going to be caught up in life plans that are dashed and life plans that follow their timeless fate.
Iona Grey introduces us to Selina Lennox who is wrapped in the party life of the 1920's where silver trays of champagne and filmy female costumes float across the well-carpeted floors of upscale homes. Selina's life is taken over by one social commitment to the next.
In contrast, Lawrence Weston values his world of art as a lowly painter rather than following the lights of the ballroom. One would never put these two together, but fate always has a far different roadmap in mind. Selina's head is turned in Lawrence's direction and there's no turning back.
The Glittering Hour is filled with the impact of British history during World War II and its heavy consequences on both the rich and the poor and everyone in between. Iona Grey has a special talent when it comes to her characters. They are complicated and deeply entrenched in the receiving end of life. They drive the storyline from the very beginning to the very end. If you spot this book cover staring at you from a bookstore or library shelf, better reach for it. It's that good.
I received a copy of The Glittering Hour through Goodreads Giveaways. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to Iona Grey for the opportunity.
Read
December 11, 2019Why I love it
by Evie Dunmore
"You're so scared of death that you're meeting it halfway.”
How much I love a book is directly proportional to how hard it can wrench my heart. As such, The Glittering Hour dazzles on my 2019 favorites list—I solidly sobbed my way through the last third of it. I hadn’t seen it coming; the book builds gradually, and the quiet poignancies and understated elegance of the prose snuck up on me, then pounced at the twist.
Selina Lennox is young, aristocratic, beautiful, and living it up in 1920s London. Most of all, she is afraid. When a dead cat makes her cross paths with Lawrence Weston, a talented but impoverished photographer, their connection is instant. Lawrence's keen eye looks past the glitter, and during their stolen hours, attraction grows into the kind of love you can never fully shake again. But while the position of the upper classes is crumbling in step with the walls of their damp mansions, the old etiquette persists, and eventually, Selina has to choose between her heart and her head.
The Glittering Hour feels drenched in longing: for loved ones who are gone, for now fading pre-war glory, for permanency amid the fragility we must navigate every day. It forms the backdrop for one of my favorite conundrums: how to square a rare, raw passion with the ever-present desire for safety—including the safety of your heart. Iona Grey asks and answers with delicate and evocative lines sure to pull you in, too.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/all-books/...
by Evie Dunmore
"You're so scared of death that you're meeting it halfway.”
How much I love a book is directly proportional to how hard it can wrench my heart. As such, The Glittering Hour dazzles on my 2019 favorites list—I solidly sobbed my way through the last third of it. I hadn’t seen it coming; the book builds gradually, and the quiet poignancies and understated elegance of the prose snuck up on me, then pounced at the twist.
Selina Lennox is young, aristocratic, beautiful, and living it up in 1920s London. Most of all, she is afraid. When a dead cat makes her cross paths with Lawrence Weston, a talented but impoverished photographer, their connection is instant. Lawrence's keen eye looks past the glitter, and during their stolen hours, attraction grows into the kind of love you can never fully shake again. But while the position of the upper classes is crumbling in step with the walls of their damp mansions, the old etiquette persists, and eventually, Selina has to choose between her heart and her head.
The Glittering Hour feels drenched in longing: for loved ones who are gone, for now fading pre-war glory, for permanency amid the fragility we must navigate every day. It forms the backdrop for one of my favorite conundrums: how to square a rare, raw passion with the ever-present desire for safety—including the safety of your heart. Iona Grey asks and answers with delicate and evocative lines sure to pull you in, too.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/all-books/...
December 8, 2019
Mesmerizing, enthralling, and incredibly moving!
The Glittering Hour is set in London and the English countryside during 1925, as well as 1936, and is told from two different perspectives. Selina, a young woman in her prime who often finds herself and her friends gracing the pages of the gossip rags for their outrageous behaviour and antics, and Alice Carew, Selina's nine-year-old daughter who after being relegated to her grandparents country home while her parents are abroad embarks on a treasure hunt to discover all her mother's secrets.
The prose is eloquent and vivid. The characters are creative, intelligent, and rebellious. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine into a sweeping saga of life, loss, family, expectations, sacrifice, self-discovery, friendship, heartbreak, romance, forbidden love, and the special bonds shared between a mother and daughter.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is a bittersweet, beautifully expressive, exceptionally affecting story by Grey that illuminates the enduring passion and power of unconditional love and reminds us that life should always be lived to the fullest. It's immersive, vibrant, and utterly heartwrenching in spots, and is without a doubt one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Glittering Hour is set in London and the English countryside during 1925, as well as 1936, and is told from two different perspectives. Selina, a young woman in her prime who often finds herself and her friends gracing the pages of the gossip rags for their outrageous behaviour and antics, and Alice Carew, Selina's nine-year-old daughter who after being relegated to her grandparents country home while her parents are abroad embarks on a treasure hunt to discover all her mother's secrets.
The prose is eloquent and vivid. The characters are creative, intelligent, and rebellious. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine into a sweeping saga of life, loss, family, expectations, sacrifice, self-discovery, friendship, heartbreak, romance, forbidden love, and the special bonds shared between a mother and daughter.
Overall, The Glittering Hour is a bittersweet, beautifully expressive, exceptionally affecting story by Grey that illuminates the enduring passion and power of unconditional love and reminds us that life should always be lived to the fullest. It's immersive, vibrant, and utterly heartwrenching in spots, and is without a doubt one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2019
Rating: 5 emotion-packed stars
As I first started reading this book, I was not sure that I would be that impressed or affected by it. As a historical fiction aficionado, I’ve read a fair share of books set between WWI and WWII. This one started out over some familiar territory, but its characters soon pulled me into their world. I quickly grew to love little Alice. It took me longer to warm up to her mother Selina, but by the end, I was putty in their hands. I rarely cry actual real tears while reading a book. By the end of this book, I was full on blubbering. The author’s writing expertise shines in the skillful intersection of all the human relations.
This is a dual-timeline story. It switches back and forth between 1936, viewed through nine-year-old Alice’s eyes after she has been exiled at her grandparents’ musty estate, and 1925, viewed through her mother Selina’s eyes as she struggles to make some meaning of her life in London society.
In 1925, Selina is the younger daughter of the impoverished Lord and Lady Lennox. They are more concerned with keeping up appearances than showing warmth or caring to their offspring. The family lost their only son/brother in WWI. None of them has recovered from that loss. Selina is part of the “Bright Young Thing” crowd in London. It’s the crowd that does madcap stunts and parties most nights away in London. It’s a crowd that her parents and sister despises. On one of the nightly adventures, Selina meets a man who does not fit into that crowd. That meeting changes lives.
This story is really about love, and all the forms it comes in. It’s about choices and the long-term effects of those choices. It’s about romance. It’s really just a lovely story about the enduring strength of love. This is for all of us that are secretly romantics at heart. It’s a solid work of historical fiction. It’s also a lovely love story that has a VERY touching ending. I’m adding this as a gift under the Christmas tree for at least three of my closest reading friends.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press, Thomas Dunne Books; and the author, Ione Gray; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I first started reading this book, I was not sure that I would be that impressed or affected by it. As a historical fiction aficionado, I’ve read a fair share of books set between WWI and WWII. This one started out over some familiar territory, but its characters soon pulled me into their world. I quickly grew to love little Alice. It took me longer to warm up to her mother Selina, but by the end, I was putty in their hands. I rarely cry actual real tears while reading a book. By the end of this book, I was full on blubbering. The author’s writing expertise shines in the skillful intersection of all the human relations.
This is a dual-timeline story. It switches back and forth between 1936, viewed through nine-year-old Alice’s eyes after she has been exiled at her grandparents’ musty estate, and 1925, viewed through her mother Selina’s eyes as she struggles to make some meaning of her life in London society.
In 1925, Selina is the younger daughter of the impoverished Lord and Lady Lennox. They are more concerned with keeping up appearances than showing warmth or caring to their offspring. The family lost their only son/brother in WWI. None of them has recovered from that loss. Selina is part of the “Bright Young Thing” crowd in London. It’s the crowd that does madcap stunts and parties most nights away in London. It’s a crowd that her parents and sister despises. On one of the nightly adventures, Selina meets a man who does not fit into that crowd. That meeting changes lives.
This story is really about love, and all the forms it comes in. It’s about choices and the long-term effects of those choices. It’s about romance. It’s really just a lovely story about the enduring strength of love. This is for all of us that are secretly romantics at heart. It’s a solid work of historical fiction. It’s also a lovely love story that has a VERY touching ending. I’m adding this as a gift under the Christmas tree for at least three of my closest reading friends.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, St Martin’s Press, Thomas Dunne Books; and the author, Ione Gray; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2019
The Glittering Hour is a beautifully written, tragic love story set in England in 1920-30s. Selina Lennox comes from a privileged, noble family, she spends her days and nights partying with her wealthy friends. Lawrence Weston is a struggling photographer, who supplements his income by painting portraits. Their lives are vastly different, they move in different circles, but one night their paths unexpectedly collide and change both Selina and Lawrence forever. What follows is a story of a star-crossed and forbidden affair between Selina and Lawrence, that will reverberate through their existence for the next decade.
The Glittering Hour is a tear-jerker, the book that will move you and stay with you long after you finish reading it. I recommend it to any reader with a romantic soul and a weakness for star-crossed love stories.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
The Glittering Hour is a tear-jerker, the book that will move you and stay with you long after you finish reading it. I recommend it to any reader with a romantic soul and a weakness for star-crossed love stories.
*ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss
December 12, 2019
Book of the Month asked me to read & review The Glittering Hour, and I'm so glad they did - one of my 2019 favourites:
"You're so scared of death that you're meeting it halfway.”
How much I love a book is directly proportional to how hard it can wrench my heart. As such, The Glittering Hour dazzles on my 2019 favorites list—I solidly sobbed my way through the last third of it. I hadn’t seen it coming; the book builds gradually, and the quiet poignancies and understated elegance of the prose snuck up on me, then pounced at the twist.
Selina Lennox is young, aristocratic, beautiful, and living it up in 1920s London. Most of all, she is afraid. When a dead cat makes her cross paths with Lawrence Weston, a talented but impoverished photographer, their connection is instant. Lawrence's keen eye looks past the glitter, and during their stolen hours, attraction grows into the kind of love you can never fully shake again. But while the position of the upper classes is crumbling in step with the walls of their damp mansions, the old etiquette persists, and eventually, Selina has to choose between her heart and her head.
The Glittering Hour feels drenched in longing: for loved ones who are gone, for now fading pre-war glory, for permanency amid the fragility we must navigate every day. It forms the backdrop for one of my favorite conundrums: how to square a rare, raw passion with the ever-present desire for safety—including the safety of your heart. Iona Grey asks and answers with delicate and evocative lines sure to pull you in, too.
"You're so scared of death that you're meeting it halfway.”
How much I love a book is directly proportional to how hard it can wrench my heart. As such, The Glittering Hour dazzles on my 2019 favorites list—I solidly sobbed my way through the last third of it. I hadn’t seen it coming; the book builds gradually, and the quiet poignancies and understated elegance of the prose snuck up on me, then pounced at the twist.
Selina Lennox is young, aristocratic, beautiful, and living it up in 1920s London. Most of all, she is afraid. When a dead cat makes her cross paths with Lawrence Weston, a talented but impoverished photographer, their connection is instant. Lawrence's keen eye looks past the glitter, and during their stolen hours, attraction grows into the kind of love you can never fully shake again. But while the position of the upper classes is crumbling in step with the walls of their damp mansions, the old etiquette persists, and eventually, Selina has to choose between her heart and her head.
The Glittering Hour feels drenched in longing: for loved ones who are gone, for now fading pre-war glory, for permanency amid the fragility we must navigate every day. It forms the backdrop for one of my favorite conundrums: how to square a rare, raw passion with the ever-present desire for safety—including the safety of your heart. Iona Grey asks and answers with delicate and evocative lines sure to pull you in, too.
April 11, 2024
Beautiful novel...
June 17, 2019
I cannot even begin to tell you how achingly beautiful this book is.
Iona Grey has broken my heart all over again.
I know my words will never, in a million years, do this book the justice it deserves. You need to read it for yourself to understand. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I absolutely adored Iona Grey's previous novel, Letters To The Lost. I talk about it, a lot! I have been patiently waiting (for four years) for her next book and I can tell you that The Glittering Hour has most certainly been worth the wait, although I truly hope I won't have to wait another four years for another book by this amazing author.
I practically squealed with excitement when the publisher sent me an invite to view The Glittering Hour on Netgalley, but unfortunately due to previous commitments I was unable to dive in immediately, although resisting it was hard work I can tell you! Anyway, it didn't download to my Paperwhite, for some reason, and by the time I had realised it had already been archived, but never mind because I bought it anyway and I have the paperback on pre-order. I will be adding the audible narration also.
In 1925 Selina Lennox is well known as one of the 'Bright Young Things'. Her life consists of enjoying parties with her friends, drinking and sometimes slightly risky activities which often result in their pictures appearing in the newspapers and fashionable magazines. She knows she will be expected to settle down one day and she is determined to enjoy her youth in the meantime. Then the untimely death of a cat brings her face to face with Lawrence Weston and her life changes forever.
Lawrence is a struggling artist with a passion for photography and is the most endearing of characters. I pictured him as extremely good looking. Tall, dark and handsome, in a bit of a rough and ready kind of a way. I totally understood how Selina fell for him so easily, but I do believe, looks aside, that everyone has a soul mate and these two are most definitely each other's. They reminded me so much of my husband and I except I cannot begin to imagine how I would ever give that up, especially to satisfy the expectations of family and society as a whole. Having said that, I could, sort of, understand Selina's fears. Not so much her fear of what others might think, but her fear of loving so deeply and of being so emotionally overwhelmed. My heart broke for her, but especially for Lawrence. This story is just so full of raw emotion and I know it will be another one which will stay with me for a very long time to come.
When we meet Alice, Selina's daughter, almost a decade later she is residing with her Grandparents as her parents are away on a business trip. Alice is 9 years old and the love between her and her mother is palpable. They keep in touch via letter, but obviously miss each other dearly and my heart went out to them both. Even more so as the story progresses and we learn that not all is as it seems. When I thought this story could not be any more heart-breaking it shattered my heart all over again as the chapters revealed the truth behind Selina's absence. I sobbed so much I could barely read the words. It's just so sad, but also hopeful in the end. I'd love to hear about how life pans out for these lovely characters after the closing chapter of this book. I have to hope that they find happiness and peace.
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Iona Grey has broken my heart all over again.
I know my words will never, in a million years, do this book the justice it deserves. You need to read it for yourself to understand. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
I absolutely adored Iona Grey's previous novel, Letters To The Lost. I talk about it, a lot! I have been patiently waiting (for four years) for her next book and I can tell you that The Glittering Hour has most certainly been worth the wait, although I truly hope I won't have to wait another four years for another book by this amazing author.
I practically squealed with excitement when the publisher sent me an invite to view The Glittering Hour on Netgalley, but unfortunately due to previous commitments I was unable to dive in immediately, although resisting it was hard work I can tell you! Anyway, it didn't download to my Paperwhite, for some reason, and by the time I had realised it had already been archived, but never mind because I bought it anyway and I have the paperback on pre-order. I will be adding the audible narration also.
In 1925 Selina Lennox is well known as one of the 'Bright Young Things'. Her life consists of enjoying parties with her friends, drinking and sometimes slightly risky activities which often result in their pictures appearing in the newspapers and fashionable magazines. She knows she will be expected to settle down one day and she is determined to enjoy her youth in the meantime. Then the untimely death of a cat brings her face to face with Lawrence Weston and her life changes forever.
Lawrence is a struggling artist with a passion for photography and is the most endearing of characters. I pictured him as extremely good looking. Tall, dark and handsome, in a bit of a rough and ready kind of a way. I totally understood how Selina fell for him so easily, but I do believe, looks aside, that everyone has a soul mate and these two are most definitely each other's. They reminded me so much of my husband and I except I cannot begin to imagine how I would ever give that up, especially to satisfy the expectations of family and society as a whole. Having said that, I could, sort of, understand Selina's fears. Not so much her fear of what others might think, but her fear of loving so deeply and of being so emotionally overwhelmed. My heart broke for her, but especially for Lawrence. This story is just so full of raw emotion and I know it will be another one which will stay with me for a very long time to come.
When we meet Alice, Selina's daughter, almost a decade later she is residing with her Grandparents as her parents are away on a business trip. Alice is 9 years old and the love between her and her mother is palpable. They keep in touch via letter, but obviously miss each other dearly and my heart went out to them both. Even more so as the story progresses and we learn that not all is as it seems. When I thought this story could not be any more heart-breaking it shattered my heart all over again as the chapters revealed the truth behind Selina's absence. I sobbed so much I could barely read the words. It's just so sad, but also hopeful in the end. I'd love to hear about how life pans out for these lovely characters after the closing chapter of this book. I have to hope that they find happiness and peace.
https://chataboutbooks.wordpress.com/...
June 5, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
Sometimes there comes a novel that moves you so much that you have to write your review just to get your emotions out. A book that moves you so much that you have to stop blubbering long enough so you can write your thoughts down. A love story so exquisitely drawn that you finish the book and start to feel like you’ve been in it with them and now feel bereft that they’ve gone.
The Glittering Hour, as its name suggests, sparkles, and it’s not just the love story. There’s drama, family secrets, letters, a young girl and her governess in a manor house,a treasure hunt, a group of artists…and secrets spilling out over time.
What a stunning, magical, heartwarming, heartbreaking, utterly emotional read.
I have loved Iona Grey’s writing for some time now but this takes it to another level. I am all out of tears, my heart hurts and I am surrounded by wet, shredded tissues.
Iona has captured so much in this novel. A time and place (London 1920s, 1930s and Wiltshire) and a relationship between two people of very different class backgrounds and wrung so many conflicting emotions that I don’t know what to do with myself.
Blackwood House in Wiltshire where much of this novel takes place might not be real, but it feels real as it’s so stunningly brought to life via the sounds of the garden, the aroma of the flowers, the sun flickering on its walls, and the friendly gardener. Then there’s the lovely maid, the young Alice and a secret which comes through time via letters sent to Alice from her mother.
This is a novel to discover for yourself but I can only say it’s one of the most moving love stories I have read for some time. Please say this man is real Iona! Your characters breathed life and I got to know and love them so well that I am sad now that I’ve finished the novel! I felt every look, every flutter of a heartbeat and every delicious drip of anticipation with them.
There’s so much I want to say about this novel but it’s the discovery of it that is your very own glittering hour. Utterly delightful and captivating in equal measure. Is there a Glittering Hour help group Iona? I need one.
January 31, 2020
So convincing is Selina Lennox, heroine of The Glittering Hour, that I googled her after reading, even though this is a period I know quite a lot about. In fact, Selina is a composite of the hard-living British socialites in 1920s London who were nicknamed the Bright Young Things. Figures such as Brenda Dean Paul, Elizabeth Ponsonby and Olivia Plunket Greene took part in elaborate treasure hunts across town, went to great lengths to design imaginative costumes for fancy-dress parties, drank heavily and – in some cases – took drugs. Iona Grey perfectly captures the post-war mood of disillusion and decadence. Everyone had lost someone in the war – Selina has lost her brother – and it left their circle drinking to blur the edges of their grief and tempting fate in their reckless escapades.
There are two narratives: Selina’s story in 1925, and that of her daughter Alice in 1936, desperately lonely and sad after being told that her mother and father have sailed for Burma to look after his business interests. Alice is sustained by letters from her mother in which there is a treasure hunt that gives clues to the past, and explains the way Alice came into being.
The writing is sure, the research is worn lightly, and the locations are so beautifully evoked that I can picture them as clearly as if I had been there. But it is the characters that make this such an extraordinarily moving read. You will cry, even if you’re not normally the crying sort.
Iona Grey must have felt under huge pressure to follow the success of Letters to the Lost, her debut. She admits in the acknowledgements to The Glittering Hour that she started and abandoned three other novels before finishing this one. Her perfectionism has definitely paid off; personally, I love this even more, and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
There are two narratives: Selina’s story in 1925, and that of her daughter Alice in 1936, desperately lonely and sad after being told that her mother and father have sailed for Burma to look after his business interests. Alice is sustained by letters from her mother in which there is a treasure hunt that gives clues to the past, and explains the way Alice came into being.
The writing is sure, the research is worn lightly, and the locations are so beautifully evoked that I can picture them as clearly as if I had been there. But it is the characters that make this such an extraordinarily moving read. You will cry, even if you’re not normally the crying sort.
Iona Grey must have felt under huge pressure to follow the success of Letters to the Lost, her debut. She admits in the acknowledgements to The Glittering Hour that she started and abandoned three other novels before finishing this one. Her perfectionism has definitely paid off; personally, I love this even more, and can’t wait to see what she writes next.
June 14, 2020
this novel was a slow burner and told ages to get going in the end. the latter part of the novel was better when every thing fitted together but could of been shorter though.
April 25, 2021
Velika preporuka za sve ljubitelje emotivnih, dirljivih priča koje pogađaju pravo u srce, ali istovremeno i slome to isto srce, zato ako to ne želite onda zaobiđite!
March 11, 2020
Song/s the book brought to mind: My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
For me, The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey can be perfectly described in one word: beautiful. I loved the story and I'm so sad it had to come to an end.
The story of Selina and Lawrence broke my heart, but I loved it all the same and I especially enjoyed the dual timelines. The mid-1920s timeline is told mostly from Selina's perspective, and the mid-1930s timeline is mostly told from her nine-year-old daughter Alice's. I don't always love reading from a child's perspective, but I enjoyed it in this book, and it doesn't actually spend too much time from her POV. I wasn't sure about the synopsis of the book, but the cover drew me in and I'm so glad it did. The Glittering Hour is an amazing and moving story that is for sure to make you tear up, if not bawl.
I loved the flow of The Glittering Hour and it is a beautifully written novel. I think you can kind of figure out where the plot is going but that didn't take away from the book for me at all. I do think this is best read as opposed to doing the audio which is something I mostly never say. I loved the narrator, Imogen Church, but that was really the extent of what I liked. I don't know if it had to do with where it was recorded or what, but the audio wasn't consistent at all. It would be loud and then quiet, and the entire time I listened to it I had to almost have it on max volume to hear what was being said. It was also a little confusing with the different narrators without always having a chapter break, so I think reading the physical copy is the way to go with this one.
The Glittering Hour has both forbidden love and loss at the center of the story, and it will rip your heart right out. This is a slow-burn and a book that I would love to savor if I were reading it again for the first time. It would be best to take your time with and really enjoy if you can! Some of the things that the men say made me angry, and this book will definitely give you all the feels. I don't know why I haven't read anything by Grey before, but I definitely will be reading everything I can get my hands on now.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
For me, The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey can be perfectly described in one word: beautiful. I loved the story and I'm so sad it had to come to an end.
The story of Selina and Lawrence broke my heart, but I loved it all the same and I especially enjoyed the dual timelines. The mid-1920s timeline is told mostly from Selina's perspective, and the mid-1930s timeline is mostly told from her nine-year-old daughter Alice's. I don't always love reading from a child's perspective, but I enjoyed it in this book, and it doesn't actually spend too much time from her POV. I wasn't sure about the synopsis of the book, but the cover drew me in and I'm so glad it did. The Glittering Hour is an amazing and moving story that is for sure to make you tear up, if not bawl.
I loved the flow of The Glittering Hour and it is a beautifully written novel. I think you can kind of figure out where the plot is going but that didn't take away from the book for me at all. I do think this is best read as opposed to doing the audio which is something I mostly never say. I loved the narrator, Imogen Church, but that was really the extent of what I liked. I don't know if it had to do with where it was recorded or what, but the audio wasn't consistent at all. It would be loud and then quiet, and the entire time I listened to it I had to almost have it on max volume to hear what was being said. It was also a little confusing with the different narrators without always having a chapter break, so I think reading the physical copy is the way to go with this one.
The Glittering Hour has both forbidden love and loss at the center of the story, and it will rip your heart right out. This is a slow-burn and a book that I would love to savor if I were reading it again for the first time. It would be best to take your time with and really enjoy if you can! Some of the things that the men say made me angry, and this book will definitely give you all the feels. I don't know why I haven't read anything by Grey before, but I definitely will be reading everything I can get my hands on now.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.
November 25, 2019
I loved this book! Nine year old Alice is staying with her grandparents at Blackwood, the old family estate, while her mother and father travel. To help pass the time, and to teach Alice about her mother's secrets, her mother Selina and her maid Polly devise a "treasure hunt" consisting of clues about Selina's past. Told in dual timelines, I was thoroughly engrossed with both the stories of Alice and Selina. Though this was a lengthy novel, I read it fairly quickly because I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Iona Grey's descriptive writing painted a vivid picture and her well-developed characters drew me in, not letting go until I devoured each and every page and keeping me guessing the entire book. This book has it all; a mysterious old house, a love story, family secrets, an entertaining story line with an interesting historical backdrop, strong women characters, and the pain of loss. Five solid stars. This was my firsts book by Iona Grey, but it absolutely will not be my last.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Iona Grey, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this fabulous book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Iona Grey, and the publisher for the privilege of reading an advanced digital copy of this fabulous book.
October 19, 2019
Although the title of the book is The Glittering Hour, it’s the glittering few hours I spent reading this book that is uppermost in my mind at the moment.
Events unfold over the course of a decade with the story alternating between 1936, as nine year old Alice embarks on a treasure hunt of a kind to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past, and 1925 in which Selina recalls her heady days as one of the ‘Bright Young People’ and the chance meeting that changed everything for her. Interspersed are insights from other characters, such as Selina’s faithful maid, Polly, and Alice’s governess, Miss Lovelock.
The main characters are so sensitively and vividly drawn it feels as though they could step right off the page. However, I also fell in love with some of the minor characters, such as Patterson the gardener at Blackwood Hall. I admired the way the author conjured up with equal ease 1920s London and the excesses of the ‘Bright Young People – extravagant parties, a never-ending stream of cocktails and champagne, wild late night treasure hunts – and the faded grandeur of Blackwood Hall in the 1930s with its overgrown gardens, chilly rooms and echoing corridors.
The legacy of war, in this case the First World War, is another theme explored in the book: the traumatic memories and survivors guilt of those who came back, and the ghostly presence of those who didn’t such as Selina’s brother Howard. The latter is cleverly connected with the art of photography through Lawrence Weston’s current occupation painting portraits of young men lost in the war based on photographs of them provided by their grieving families. Photographs – what they say and don’t say, the capturing of a likeness or of a moment in time – will play an important part in the book.
There are many more things I could say in praise of this book but I’ll confine myself to merely recommending that you read it for yourself. Be prepared for The Glittering Hour to take you on an intense but spellbinding emotional journey, some elements of which you may find confound your expectations. And definitely have a box of tissues handy.
Events unfold over the course of a decade with the story alternating between 1936, as nine year old Alice embarks on a treasure hunt of a kind to uncover the secrets of her mother’s past, and 1925 in which Selina recalls her heady days as one of the ‘Bright Young People’ and the chance meeting that changed everything for her. Interspersed are insights from other characters, such as Selina’s faithful maid, Polly, and Alice’s governess, Miss Lovelock.
The main characters are so sensitively and vividly drawn it feels as though they could step right off the page. However, I also fell in love with some of the minor characters, such as Patterson the gardener at Blackwood Hall. I admired the way the author conjured up with equal ease 1920s London and the excesses of the ‘Bright Young People – extravagant parties, a never-ending stream of cocktails and champagne, wild late night treasure hunts – and the faded grandeur of Blackwood Hall in the 1930s with its overgrown gardens, chilly rooms and echoing corridors.
The legacy of war, in this case the First World War, is another theme explored in the book: the traumatic memories and survivors guilt of those who came back, and the ghostly presence of those who didn’t such as Selina’s brother Howard. The latter is cleverly connected with the art of photography through Lawrence Weston’s current occupation painting portraits of young men lost in the war based on photographs of them provided by their grieving families. Photographs – what they say and don’t say, the capturing of a likeness or of a moment in time – will play an important part in the book.
There are many more things I could say in praise of this book but I’ll confine myself to merely recommending that you read it for yourself. Be prepared for The Glittering Hour to take you on an intense but spellbinding emotional journey, some elements of which you may find confound your expectations. And definitely have a box of tissues handy.
January 17, 2020
Reading the blurb, I thought I would enjoy this book, but it ended up being a bit boring. The pacing was slow, and I had a hard time caring about Selina, a rich, entitled "Bright Young Thing" who falls for a starving artist in the 1920s. The last 25% was more engaging, but it took a long time to get there. Borrowed from the library.
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