I’m really delighted today to be helping launch the blog tour for The Daughter-in-Law, the latest book from Fanny Blake, and to share my review – published today (16th February) by Simon & Schuster, it’s now available in paperback, as an e-book on all major platforms, and as an audiobook. My thanks to Sara-Jade Virtue at @TeamBATC for the invitation – she just knew I’d love this one! Thank you too for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley), and the finished paperback that now looks so gorgeous on my bookshelves.
It’s far, far too long since I read one of Fanny’s lovely books – with some horror (and it’s not her, it’s all me…) I’ve just seen that it was 2018 when I read and so enjoyed An Italian Summer (you’ll find my review here). As well as being one of my favourite companions at bookish events, Fanny unfailingly writes the kind of books I enjoy – with characters (often a little older) that I can identify with, particularly authentic relationships, and all wrapped around the most engaging stories, beautifully told. And I loved the look of this one as soon as I saw it…
When Hope’s only son Paul met and married Edie, Hope was delighted that he had found love and was settling down to make his own family. Hope has loved bringing up her own child, and is happy to step in and help out now and again – but is always worried about overstepping the line between grandmother and mother.
Edie was hoping that having children with Paul would fulfil her as much as her busy job as a barrister has. But the reality is far from her dream. And with her mother-in-law Hope constantly poking her nose in where it’s not wanted, she finds herself frustrated and alone.
Both women could be each other’s greatest ally, but both have secrets that could ruin their relationship. Secrets neither wants Paul to uncover…
I’m endlessly fascinated by the complexities of family relationships – add to that a few layers of long-standing and well-guarded secrets, coupled with the strongest writing and a fine touch with the emotional content, and this book was one I thoroughly enjoyed.
The difficult relationship between Edie and her mother-in-law Hope is evident from the book’s opening pages – a family holiday where tensions soon escalate following a minor accident and when it becomes clear that they have very different expectations. Hope has a close relationship with her son Paul, and loves being grandmother to their two children – but her relationship with Edie is always an edgy one, when every conversation has her treading carefully to avoid giving offence, and there seems little she can do to repair it. And perhaps it suits Edie to keep her at arm’s length – she’s hardly a hands-on mother, can’t wait to return to the freedom of her high-flying career as a barrister… Hope might be useful as an occasional babysitter, but Edie often finds fault there too. And we soon learn that Edie has secrets of her own, and difficult choices to make – and it perhaps becomes rather difficult to see her as a particularly sympathetic character.
Hope herself has a full life – she’s divorced and lives alone (with a comfortable relationship – at a distance – with her ex-husband), is a private chef and runs a busy catering business called Booking the Cooks with her close friend Vita, enjoys the challenge of cold water swimming, and has a real warmth of personality that makes her difficult relationship with Edie all the more incomprehensible. But that’s where the book’s secrets come into play – Hope’s suspicions grow that Edie may be hiding something that could tear her marriage and their young family apart. But Edie’s not the only one – an unexpected letter means that Hope has to confront her past, to share her own hidden secrets, with repercussions that might be even more far-reaching.
The relationship issues in this book are deliciously complicated – and while more inclined to sympathise more with one of the women than the other, I really liked the way the author handled the fall-out. I became particularly invested in their dilemmas and the paths they negotiated – and found the emotional twists and turns particularly authentic and engaging. It’s one of those books where you constantly ask yourself “what would I do?” – while being thankful that you don’t have the same degree of messiness to handle.
While Hope and Edie always draw the eye, and are central to the story, I also very much enjoyed the supporting cast. Hope’s son Paul, blissfully unaware much of the time of the impending tsunami, is particularly down-to-earth and likeable – and I enjoyed the women’s friendships, single go-getter Ana perhaps not being the best sounding board for Edie, Hope’s with Vita rather firmer and warmer but perhaps still not quite close enough to be party to her every secret. All the characters – yes, even Edie – are relatable and very real, and throughout the book the reader is drawn into the heart of its various relationships, feeling what the characters feel and sharing their often painful decision-making.
I really loved this book – a family drama with a real difference, emotionally engaging, a compelling story so well told, and very highly recommended.
About the author
Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing both fiction and non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written various non-fiction titles, acted as ghost writer for a number of celebrities, and is a former books editor of Woman & Home magazine. She has been a judge of a number of literary prizes, including the Costa First Novel award, the Desmond Elliott Award, the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award and the British Book Awards. She is also the commissioning editor for Quick Reads and a book reviewer.
