#Review #LibraryRead #LoveIsACurse

A single sentence was all it took to define Cammy’s life. They came as her beloved artist aunt was dying, a teenage Cammy standing by her bedside: ‘Did your mother ever tell you about the curse?’

Cammy is warned that the women in her family are destined always to lose the one they love. She thinks nothing of it – until the day when, in her late twenties, her new boyfriend is hit by a car. Convinced she is to blame, Cammy begins to investigate the one-hundred-and-fifty-year story of a family that is both ordinary and remarkable, tragic and beautiful.

But is the curse real, or is there an answer lurking in the letters, diaries and paintings of generations of women whose hearts were broken?

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My Review

My first encounter with this author was through this book, and what initially captivated me was its stunning cover! The story introduces us to Cammy, who is at her dying aunt’s bedside. Her aunt’s final words are a warning about a family curse that dooms the women in the family to lose their loved ones. Her aunt had always believed in this curse, and years later, when Cammy’s boyfriend Ben is seriously injured in a car accident, she begins to wonder if the curse might be real.

The book was an excellent read, quite unexpected in its content. It starts off slowly but gains momentum as the story progresses. Cammy is a compelling character, especially as she takes residence in an old church bequeathed to her by her aunt, where eerie occurrences begin to unfold. The relationship between her and Ben is touching, and his accident brings a tangible sense of empathy for them both. As Cammy delves deeper into the curse, the plot weaves through a tapestry of letters, diaries, conversations, and shared memories. Without revealing too much and avoiding spoilers, it’s fair to say that the story unfurls into a mysterious and almost gothic exploration of Cammy’s family history.

The book is well-crafted, showcasing the author’s thorough research. It’s a rich blend of love, mystery, and murder, with elements of the supernatural and paranormal, spanning over 150 years. The family’s saga was so engaging that it moved me to tears by the conclusion. I’m delighted that I chose to judge this book by its cover and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

The Author

Keith Stuart is a veteran journalist who has been covering video games and digital culture for over 20 years. In 2015 he wrote his first novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, which was selected for the Richard and Judy Book Club. It has sold over 200,000 copies and is translated into 24 languages. His second novel, Days of Wonder, is available in paperback, audio and ebook, and his third, The Frequency of Us, was selected for BBC2’s Between the Covers series and is available in hardback, ebook and audio.