Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of Once Upon a River, the first book I’ve read by Diane Setterfield, and one I was thrilled to read because of all the fabulous reviews for The Thirteenth Tale! I’ll already add here, I plan to read TTT asap!
My Thoughts:
I have read nothing like Once Upon a River. A more modern fairy tale? Quite a bit of suspense and mystery…and wonder…and charm…
Once Upon a River takes place in a historic ancient inn on the River Thames in England. This inn is famous for its storytelling and its storytellers, and in fact, when a mysterious stranger with obvious physical injuries incoherently bursts into the inn with a commotion, stories are in the midst of being told. The stranger eventually passes out, but not before the body of a dead young girl is removed from his arms.
But she’s not dead. She comes back to life. Was she ever dead? Questioning miracles, science in the age of Darwin, and magical powers; which one caused the girl to be alive again?
I felt like Diane Setterfield was sitting by the fire in an ancient English inn telling me a story. I’ve never heard her voice, but I’ve imagined it. She followed me on Twitter, which has me majorly star struck, I must say, especially when she tells stories this way. Ahhh!
Sitting by that roaring fire, I snuggled right up into this book. There was something warm about it, a touch dark, romantic, tense, mystical, and every one of those things added up to a book I quite simply adored.
This is another one of those novels that requires patience on the part of the reader. While it reads smoothly, it’s a chunk of a book, and it’s one you will savor. So much imagination and inventiveness went into this gem, and it’s worth every extra minute of investment to get to the heart of the full story. In other words: I give this one my highest recommendation. If you can be patient, that is. ♥️
Thanks to Atria Books for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child.
Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.
Is it a miracle?
Is it magic?
Or can it be explained by science?
Replete with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as richly atmospheric as Setterfield’s bestseller The Thirteenth Tale.
Have you read Once Upon a River, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
ohh I can’t wait to read this! I have the proof and you made me so curious 🙂 Great review Jennifer!
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Thank you, Umut! I’m so excited for your thoughts on this. I’ll be watching! ♥️
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Thanks Jennifer 😊
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I have this on my TBR and I’m going to be reading it for publication day, I can’t wait to get stuck in
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I can’t wait to see what you think, Kim! It’s a good one! ♥️
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I think publication Day is next month, so not too long to wait!
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This one published in the US this week, but it always feels like everything publishes in the UK first! 😂 ♥️
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So this time it’s you that gets it first 😉 here it’s on the 17th Jan xx
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I read her last book and it was wonderful, hope to read this one soon ❤
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I hope you absolutely love it, Annie! 💗
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I don’t know what to make of this one, I must admit. Your review has me intrigued though,.
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Thank you, Verushka! It was an intriguing read, brilliant storytelling. It just whisks you away.
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Wow great review.. I was wondering if I should get this book… Thanks for review
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Thank you, Shalini! I think it’s a winner and a stand-out of a read. It’s one to get completely lost in. ♥️
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I can’t wait! I keep seeing this book everywhere and it sounds like one I’ll love. Amazing review, Jen! 💚❤💚
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Thanks, favorite M! I predict you will love this one, and I think your mom would, too. It’s just plain brilliant! I hope you can fit it in. Happy Friday Eve! 💗 xoxo
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Sounds intriguing.
Beautifully crafted review
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Thank you so much, Ashi. You are always so kind. ♥️ It’s a mesmerizing story.
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Great review! I’m a big fan and yes it’s a take your time kind of book! It won’t be rushed.
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Thank you, Jaymi! That’s absolutely right. You have to let all the words sink in. ♥️
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I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this after not really loving The Thirteenth Tale but I love what you said about the setting and that there’s suspense and mystery. I also love books set along the Thames which until your review I didn’t know this one was…definitely reading this now, thanks for your great review!
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Thanks so much, Renee! I’m hearing this one is different from The Thirteenth Tale, so hopefully with these elements present, it’ll be a memorable book for you, too. There’s something old world about it, and then it’s uniquely itself. I’ll be looking forward to your thoughts if you end up trying it out.
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I keep reading awesome reviews of this book, I’ll have to try to get to it one of these days. I’m intrigued by how atmospheric this sounds, and it sounds like the author does a fantastic job with it!
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Tammy, it really is something special. There’s an old world charm to it, like a classic fairytale for adults. I hope you get a chance to try it out.
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I am super thrilled you liked this one. I had a feeling you would.
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It was so good, Marialyce! So special!
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Aw, geez, I already added this to my shelf and now you’re trying to get me to bump it up on my list. Your review put me there my that fire listening to this story (you know I’m now holding out for the audio). Excellent, excellent, excellent Jennifer! It’s no wonder the author is now following you.
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Thanks, Jonetta! So sweet! I cannot wait to hear about the audio. I’m certain it will add to the ambience of the story! I’m blushing and not worthy, but thank you. ♥️
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Great review Jennifer! Sounds like a good one.
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Thank you so much, Darinda!
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! I plan to read this one. Happy Thursday! 🌺📚💕
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Thanks so much, Virginia! It was a lovely read! 💕 🌹
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This book sounds so beautiful! I have seen nothing but good reviews for it.
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It is a stunning read, Angela! I’m so happy it’s getting lots of love!
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I have The hardback on preorder 😁
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It’s going to be so pretty on your shelf, Yvonne! I think I want a hardcopy too! ♥️
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Yes, I absolutely loved Once Upon A River. Great Review Jennifer
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Thanks so much, Caryl! I’m happy you loved it, too!
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Awesome review Jen! Your flowers are so beautiful too! I think I have some of Diane’s older books to read. 🤗 Happy Thursday my friend!!😊🤟💕
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Thank you, Sus! I’ve had this book for so long, I took this pic in the summer! Oh, the sunshine! I hope you enjoy her backlist. I want to check them out, too. Hope you had a great Thursday! 💗 All the bread and milk is gone from the shelves! We are battening down the hatches! 😂 ♥️
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Good luck with the storm Jen and stay safe and warm. Lots of reading time if nothing else right? 😁💕☃️☃️
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Yes, I am getting all the Kindles charged up! They are now saying 8 to 12 inches of snow with sleet and freezing rain at the end of the storm, so this could shut us down for a while. Thanks, Sus! 💗 xoxo
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I have this on my kindle to read next year lovely review x
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Thanks so much, Zoe! I hope you enjoy it, too!
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Everyone loves this… I really liked your mental image of the author telling the story by the fireside! I’d requested the book on Netgalley because the author followed me on Twitter and I’m glad I’ve read it. Her tactics definitely worked 🙂
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Yay, so you’ve read and enjoyed it, too? And yay to the follow on Twitter! I imagined her just like any of the storytellers she wrote about. She could definitely be a descendant. ♥️
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Great review! I wasn’t so keen on her last book, but loads of people told me her first book, The Thirteenth Tale, was great, so it’s on my wishlist. I decided to see how I got along with it before I considered this one. But so many trusted reviewers are telling me this one is so good… tempters!
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Thanks, FF! We all want you to add to that TBR, especially after your progress this week! This is a GOOD one. I’d definitely be interested in your thoughts on it.
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Haha – I know! You’re all very cruel to me… 😉
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Fabulous review! I’m reading this at the moment and am deliberately reading it slowly as I just don’t want it to end. You have a treat in store when you read The Thirteenth Tale – I read it when it was first published but it’s stayed with me all this time. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, I hope as much as I did. 🙂
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Thanks, Hayley! I’m already super excited for your review of this one, and I’m happy to hear you are savoring it, too. Yay, I can’t wait to read TTT! I hope I enjoy it just as much, too. ♥️
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Oh this looks so magical! Another book I will want to pick up audio! Thank you for your beautiful beautiful review!💕💕😘
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Thanks so much, Berit! For some reason I thought we both got this one? I bet the audio will be absolutely magical! ♥️
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So os happy to know you love the book too!! Love how you described her telling the story by the fireside 🙂 and she followed me on Twitter too!! I’m also planning to read TTT!
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Yay! Isn’t she the best! She’s made all of our days by doing that! Thank you, Jee! I hope we both love TTT! ♥️ xoxo
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I hope so too! I know we will! ❤️
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I keep debating whether I want to read this one…initially I thought no, but I think that I definitely need to after reading your review! We have such similar tastes in books that I think it would be a mistake to skip it! Adding it to my TBR right now, lol!! xoxo ♥
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Yeah, I think you’d enjoy this, Steph. I really can’t imagine it ending up any other way. 😂 ♥️ Especially because I know you are a patient reader and like to savor books, too. I hope you can find a way to fit it in. Happy Friday Eve! Are you prepping for the snow? We are looking to get buried?! ☃️ ❄️ ♥️
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I’m sure I would! I am…I’m now focused on The Goldfinch and that’s one you have to give all your time on! I’ll read it sometime…maybe next summer when I have more time. It’s on the Christmas list, which my hubby told me today was boring because it only had books on it!! 🙄🤔 He’s crazy! I went to the store Wed, but now they’re calling for 1 to 3 inches for us instead of 8 like they originally said! ❄ I guess we’re on the in between line of the storm, so it’s anyone’s guess how much we’ll get! I saw they are calling for you to get up to 12 in, right?? ❄⛄❄ You’ll be buried for a while! Be safe! ❤😘
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Yes, I’m in the bad area! 😂 I feel like I should be doing a lot to prepare but I’m exhausted from my work week. Hope I have time tomorrow! Thank you and I hope you stay safe too. Even 3 inches can be a mess over there! All those cars stuck on hills during rush hour traffic – eek!
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I hope you’re safe and warm at home! How much did you end up getting? We ended up with 7 inches in the Cary/Morrisville area, so more than they predicted! We’re supposed to get freezing ice tonight, so yuck! Oh, yeah 3 inches will shut the town down for days. I’m fine with that since I have never learned to drive in snow even though we got a lot more in East TN than we do here. Crazy that so many people are out trying to drive in this when they are saying keep off the roads. I hope you haven’t lost power; thankfully, we haven’t but my dad and stepmom have been without since early morning. They have a generator but still. Stay curled up with a book!! xoxo ♥
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We have about a foot of snow and the freezing rain is glazing it over, the tree limbs are hanging low, and everything is glistening! I’m not sure when we’ll be back to normal here! This will take some time! Glad you are safe and warm and hope your dad’s power is restored soon! Xoxo
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That’s a lot of snow for us! I don’t think I’ve seen that much snow since 2000 or 2001. Oh definitely, it will take some time to get cleared away. I’m sooo glad that I’m homeschooling or she’d miss a ton of school and Friday is her last day before I have her starting holiday break. I feel bad for all the school they’ve already missed for the hurricane and now the snow. I used to love snow days but in hindsight the make-up days were awful lol. Dad’s power came back on last night, so thank God! They are way out in Zebulon and apparently it got hit hard with power outages. Thanks!! I’m glad we are too and hope you are as well!! I hope this isn’t a sign of a crazy winter to come…I am not a snow fan! It’s gorgeous but my Lupus and fibro hates the cold and damp since it worsens my pain levels. Oh well…xoxo ♥
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They said we haven’t had this much snow in December in 88 years! No wonder we are all so shocked! I am worried about the winter ahead, too! ♥️
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That’s crazy! Of course I didn’t live here then. They said Raleigh got it’s entire winter snowfall average in one day and it’s even winter yet,so that’s a bit scary! I think we do have to worry about what’s coming this winter. 🌨❄ ❤
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I saw she retreated your excellent review! Congrats 🙂
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Thank you, Gemma! I am still in awe of that! 💕
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I absolutely love this review, Jennifer. You perfectly express how Setterfield tells this story— it’s like she’s weaving the tale directly to the reader. Totally engrossing and a world I didn’t want to leave, and your review brought me back there just for a second.
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Thank you so much, Christopher! I was in awe of Setterfield’s storytelling, and I’m so happy that shined through. I wasn’t ready to leave the story either! Happy Friday! I hope you have a lovely holiday read in your stack!
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Happy Friday to you as well! I still have a few more before the season is over, thank goodness! 😊
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I love love love this review!!! It felt a bit mystical magical reading it! I think I’d love this book 💕
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Thanks so much, Mack! I really think you would, too. Pick it up for a pleasure read some time. It’s so, so good. 💗
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This sounds like such an intriguing book, Jennifer. A wonderful review.
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Thank you, Chrissi! It was an amazing story!
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I have not read this book but I like that it has folklore in it. I’ll have to put it on the TBR.
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Oh, yes, I think you’ll enjoy the folklore aspects! It has an old world charm to it. Can’t wait to hear what you think if you end up reading it. ♥️
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As you enjoyed this book, I think that you might also like The Clockmaker’s Daughter.
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Thank you, Joyce. I absolutely loved Clockmaker’s Daughter so you were right on the money. Please send recs over any time. ♥️
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Okay, so I think that I am about to purchase Once Upon a River.
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I really hope you enjoy it if you end up picking it up!
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I will let you know!
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Lovely review! I have an ARC of this one but mood reading struck and I wasn’t able to get to it before publication. I am excited to read it though!
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Thank you, Kaleen! I totally understand mood reading, and you definitely need to read this one at the right time. It’s so good, and I cannot wait to hear what you think. I hope it’s memorable for you too.
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I’m so glad that you enjoyed this one, Jennifer! I’ve heard such excellent things about it that I’m really looking forward to reading it now. Beautiful photo too ❤
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Thank you so much, Darina! I absolutely loved this book! So special! I hope you enjoy it just as much and find it memorable, too. 💕
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Sounds wonderful ❤ I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale, so this is defo going on my list.
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Thanks, Norrie! I have a feeling you will love this, too. Such a good, solid story, and you’ll love the mystery involved too. 💕
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Fantastic review Jenni! Ooh you’ve made me really eager to read this one. I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale! 😍
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Thanks, Beth! I have a good feeling about you and this book! I think you are in for a treat! ♥️ xoxo
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This book seems so interesting – I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it before! Good to know ahead of time that this book requires some patience, since I can definitely get impatient reading sometimes!
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Yes, it’s really in a league of its own, LP. I don’t think I could compare it to anything else I’ve read off the top of my head. It’s a stand-out in a really positive way.
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I loved The Thirteenth Tale and missed out on this one on Netgalley. Wonderful review Jennifer. I will put my name on the list at the library for this one. It sounds really good.
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Thank you, Carla. I hope you’ll find this as enchanting as I did. Pick it up when you are really in the mood to escape to a different time and place.
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This sounds like such a beautifully told story- I really want to check it out. Fantastic review!
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Thank you! It was exceptional, and there are so many elements in this I think you’d enjoy, too. The storytelling, most of all.
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Wonderful review and I agree with everything you said, especially about being patient as you wait for the story to unfold. It’s definitely not a story to rush through.
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Thank you, Suzanne! Yes, and that patience pays off in a grand way. I’m so happy you found this one memorable, too. I’ll never forget the experience of reading it.
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I think I had similar thoughts about this book, I’m normally a sort of impatient reader but I liked it enough that I just mentally accepted that it was going to proceed at its own pace and I think it was worth it 🙂
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Yes, the pay-off was really worth it in the end, wasn’t it? I’m happy you enjoyed it, too, Jenn! I’m reading a slower read now- Homegoing, and I am completely absorbed in this one!
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Your review is SPOT. ON. Jennifer. I love how we both used fire analogies. 😀 And oh my gosh, she followed you on Twitter?! AHHH that’s exciting! I’m always thrilled when authors follow me back, but a part of me is always going, “oh no, now I have to tweet more responsibly.” 😛
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Thanks, Kathy! I loved that, too, and meant to mention it about it the fire! Yes, she followed me first and even before I read her book. I love that phrase- “tweet more responsibly.” 😂 ♥️ So happy you loved this one too!
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