Sensual, breathless, and utterly absorbing. Deliciously erotic and breathtakingly romantic. This is a book that has stayed with me long after I turned the last page.

Huston is a great writer with a real knack for character development, a perfect summer read that i have recommended to many people

This was a love story with a difference. Compelling characters and an absorbing storyline. I loved the freedom that was evidenced in the story and that not everything has to have a conclusion in order for it to be real.

Say My Name is a beautifully written novel. It's sometimes poetic and sometimes a little 'steamy', but ultimately, it's a little slow for me. Despite the fact it's not my cup of tea, I have no doubt this will appeal to a lot of people - particularly those who are after a deep, sensitive novel written with beautiful prose.

Thanks to Net Galley &HQ for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
Eve is trundling along in her marriage to Larry, they have separate rooms and don't share much anymore together. Eve still cooks washes and keeps up the pretence of their marriage. Larry goes on a business trip for a week and doesn't return.
Eve has been out hunting through jumble for items for her friends shop when she makes a rare find of an old beautiful but sadly damaged musical instruments, she bargains for it. Feeling excited about her find Eve bumps into an old friend an has an instant connection with his son Micajah. Eve thinks about him constantly, he contacts her and she agrees to meet him, they become lovers, but Eve knows he will hurt her. He is a musician and hears and feels his music and encourages Eve to hear and feel the sounds, he writes a song for her.
It's a love story but even more the story of Eve who like the damaged instrument is in need of being restored.

This is one of the first books in while that described how I felt when I really fell in love - not crushes, or infatuation but the real deal.
The evocative prose and detailed descriptions felt real and honest.
The plot basically consists of the main protagonist Eve, who is a garden designer and antique buyer, whose life hits rock bottom after her husband from an unhappy marriage leaves her. Around the same time she finds a beautiful antique violin, beautiful but broken. The symbolism is obvious.
She then meets Micajah, 20 years younger than her, she feels a spark between them – a sexual spark she hasn't felt in a long time.As their love affair escalates, Micajah shows her how to embrace her sexuality and take charge of it. A musician, he also helps her repair the violin to be even more beautiful than she could have imagined.
Beautiful book that I would like to recommend for reading groups.
While I don't think the book in itself is life-changing, it definitely packs a punch and is one of the best romance stories I've read this year.

I received a copy of this book in return for my independent honest review. I was drawn to this as it features a middle age woman whose marriage is over and who has lost her confidence and independence. A fling with a younger man soon follows with sexual content so be warned if this isn't for you. Not overly steamy though.
The other main thread to this work features an old musical instrument which Eve finds in poor repair and needs major restoration.
Unfortunately for me the two themes weren't cohesive enough or engaging enough to keep me interested. It was well written, however extra development of the characters which have enabled me to give it a higher star rating.

Described as ‘an unforgettable story of one woman’s journey to self-empowerment’, Say My Name tells the story of Eve Armanton, a middle-aged woman who is faced with some life-changing choices.

Eve Armanton is a 48-year-old woman stuck in a floundering marriage. Her son Allan is currently working with a medical charity in Cambodia, during a gap year from college as a med student. Eve’ s husband Larry is going through some kind of emotional mid-life crisis and Eve is lost and alone.

A garden designer by trade, Eve spends her weekends trawling antique shops looking for items of interest for her friend Deborah’s shop.

‘The strange objects she finds ignite her imagination, conjuring up lives more exciting and more terrifying, than the low-intensity safety of her own.’

On one of these trips into the city of New York she discovers a beautiful but very damaged violin hidden amongst the cobwebs and dust in the darkness of a shop. The detailing of the patterns on the violin are exquisite but the back has been damaged in a most violent way, the wood shattered through anger or frustration. ‘She can almost feel remnants of the emotion stuck to the gash, like specks of dried blood.’

Before she is even fully aware of what she is doing, Eve purchases the violin and continues on her journey into a Manhattan library….the start of a journey that will change her life forever…
Micajah Burnett is the twenty-eight-year old son of an old school friend of Eve’s brother Bill. Eve, while heading toward the library, hears her name being called out and it is Micajah and his father Robert. Eve joins them for lunch and discovers that Micajah is a musician.

Eve feels a very strong connection to Micajah from the outset. His attitude to life, his general demeanor all awaken something in Eve.

‘This boy – he’s a boy, she insists to herself, though she knows he must be twenty-eight or twenty-nine-is throwing her off her axis…..When she dares to look back at Micajah, the green gaze is like a wave rushing across a space between them to drench her, sweep her up, carry her away. Stop! she thinks. But she does not want it to end.’

The relationship that soon develops between Eve and Micajah is fraught with sexual tension. Eve has to make some major decisions, as with each step closer to Micajah she takes, she moves a step further away from the life she is so familiar with.

Say My Name is a story about music and love. It is a story about a woman who has reached a point in her life when she has to face up to the reality of her existence. As opportunities arise that re-ignite long lost feelings, Eve is scared. How far is she prepared to go? Will she ever be the same again?

Say My Name is certainly a very different novel for me. There was something quite ethereal about the writing style used by Allegra Huston that I really liked. As a reader, you can feel the strength of Eve’s emotions as you join her on this voyage of self-discovery.. I felt a very strong parallel between the damaged violin and Eve as she tackles with her conscience.

Yet, overall I have very mixed feelings about the book. There are parts I found quite poetic and beautiful, yet other parts were just a little too orchestrated. For me there was just something missing, a connection I didn’t feel.

Say My Name is a book that will raise quite diverse opinions among many readers so you will just have to pick up a copy yourself to find out more….

I have never come across Allegra Huston before and initially I was exceedingly glad to find a book with an older lady getting a bit of the action especially in such a steamy manner. My joy soon turned to ennui however as I didn't find the characters at all engaging and having to continually remind myself how I should pronounce the young lover's name was extremely tedious, if the author had just changed that I feel the book might have been more acceptable.

An enjoyable read. Bit of a slow burner, some beautiful prose and descriptive language within.

I could not connect with this book at all. I expected something different and was disappointed with what I got. I would not have finished this book ordinarily. I only tried to read it to review it. Much as I tried I could not like or empathise with Eve. I am sorry this was clearly not my type of book.

The author uses language beautifully, which makes reading a pleasure. With searing honesty true love is described against the backdrop of a loveless marriage.

I thought this was really well done. I loved the story of the relationship between the two main characters and was very intrigued by what would happen with them as the novel progressed. The author's writing style was captivating and I look forward to reading more of their books in the future. Great read!

I don't like criticising a book but unfortunately this book didn't do much for me. While it wasn't a bad story I didn't connect with the characters, and didn't really care what happened to them.

This was an engaging and well written read, which follows the relationship journey between an older woman and a younger man. Eve and Micajah are interesting characters and the author paints them really well. Eve's passion about gardening and Micajah's musical life are written authentically. As their relationship develops, the writing is passionate and intense.

I particularly liked the way that the story of the antique instrument is carefully woven into the book.

This is the first book I have read by Allegra Huston, but I look forward to reading more. I would definitely recommend 'Say my name'.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how it end, it felt unique and I loved the twist. I also loved the emphasis on music.