The Carriage House, Louisa Hall

The Carriage House opening line: From the time that his daughters could lift their rackets, William had loved nothing more than to watch them play tennis.

My blurb:

The book is about the Adair family and two would be lovers. William who asked Adelia to marry him ends up marrying Margeaux and they have three children. Adelia never grows up and at 50 holds on to the same childhood hopes echoed by Isabelle, the youngest of William’s 3 children. Just like Adelia Diana turns down a proposal and then lives her life in limbo waiting for Arthur to ask again. Elizabeth is the adult, a divorced mother of 2 whose children hold out the only possibility of William see his dream of success on a tennis court live on.

The Carriage House

Elizabeth, Diana and Izzy, three sisters who have lived a privileged life in suburban America are the pride and joy of their father William. All three were tennis prodigies as children, popular, and successful at school: they seemed destined for greatness.

But the idyllic façade masks a family who is in turmoil – their mother is suffering with early onset Alzheimer’s which is making Izzy spiral out of control, Diana is failing her career, Elizabeth feels trapped by her domesticity and their father is still in love with his old sweetheart, Adelia.

When William is suddenly taken ill, he reveals that he has lost faith in the things he had once held closest to his heart: the promise of his gifted daughters and his grandfather’s beautiful carriage house, now lost to the family.

Devastated by his disappointment in them and desperate to make their father proud, the sisters band together to restore his beloved carriage house which is now dilapidated, unloved and under threat of demolition by the neighbourhood association, and to re-build a family in disarray.

Touching, intelligent and compassionate, The Carriage House is a drama about family, relationships and forgiveness – and, most importantly, that it is never too late to make amends.

My verdict:

I read this book in a matter of days. It is light reading and very well written. As a first novel I can add Louisa Hall onto my list of writers to look out for.

Publishing information:

What I blogged:

• one year ago – Taste of Christmas Give Away
• two years ago – Chilli Crumpets
• three years ago – Blueberry Chocolate Cake

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