A simple and moving story of a woman turning 60 and reminiscing about her life. Running a wooden doll shop and helping women who have lost a baby, this is a well written love story which I read in a couple of days with more than a couple of tears.

Having really loved "My Name is Leon" I was looking forward to reading what Kit De Waal came up with next, and "The Trick To Time" certainly doesn't disappoint. Centering around Mona, a dollmaker living in British seaside town, lovingly crafting handmade dolls that she sells to collectors around the world, and who does an amazing sideline in bereavement counseling for mothers who have suffered stillbirths, miscarriages and cot deaths. Working with the local carpenter, she creates perfectly weighted wooden babies, saying "Feel the weight" as they take them in their arms and their pent-up grief overflows.
Mona has her own past that she doesn't divulge to her visitors. A past love, William; a past life as an Irish immigrant in Birmingham during the years of the reign of terror of the IRA; a past peppered with her own losses, heartbreaks and secrets. However, the past rarely stays buried forever, and as Mona embarks on a new courtship with a neighbour, Karl, her feelings start bubbling up to the surface revealing the full story of the past.
Once again, De Waal creates a rich collection of vivid and believable characters, who will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride through their lives. The only reason I'm not giving this 5 stars was the denouement twist that left me a little baffled, but I won't reveal any plot spoilers.

The Trick To Time is a heartfelt novel about grief, imagination, and memory. It tells the story of Mona, who came over to Birmingham from Ireland in the 1970s, fell in love, and then found herself in tragic circumstances. Decades later by the sea, she runs a doll shop and seems too caught by the past to do much outside of her routine.

The narrative cuts between Mona in the present day and the story of her life from growing up in Ireland to meeting William in Birmingham and marrying him. In this way, it can focus on the past and memories whilst showing the reasons behind some of Mona’s modern day actions and choices. Her life in the present is at a kind of crossroads, with her shop assistant leaving for a new job, a big birthday happening, and a new neighbour interested in her. This is the kind of novel that is about falling into the world and emotion of the characters, and thinking about grief and imagination through its lenses.

The Trick To Time will appeal to those who enjoy novels about characters and about big themes like grief and love that take place over decades.

It’s a while since I devoured a book in a day. I just adored this!

I really loved My Name is Leon so was keen to read the new novel by Kit de Waal, and had seen some very positive early reviews. But this book has exceeded my expectations. I was nearly in tears by page 30 and the emotional punches do not let up, but with such a skilled captivating writing style, that I could have read more and more.

Plot wise this is completely and utterly different to Leon, it was like reading a debut in that respect. An author I will now want to read again and again. Truly wonderful