Apologies I have not read this little gem sooner.

Two stories years apart intertwine as secrets are revealed: during the war and present day.

My only criticism is that ot feels that it wasn't really apund the receipes that were handed down more a sprinkling of them.

Still an enjoyable read.

Such a compelling read. I love the idea of passing down something through the generations and this was all about that. The flashbacks were informative and once I got used to them, not so bad.
There is grief and it is covered well. There is joy and that is also covered well.
I loved the characters a especially Kanga and Ivy and I’ve always wondered what I would do if faced with the same situation as Laura… sometimes it’s finding a way through, not out, that matters.

Lovely book and I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks NetGalley for the eARC. Here are my honest thoughts.

I have really enjoyed Veronica Henry’s books in the past but this felt like a step up from anything she has written in the past. It was an amazingly good read full of warmth, feeling, love, laughter and tears across two timelines. Lark Hill in Bath with the character Laura is front and centre with this story. Laura is suffering empty nest syndrome when her youngest daughter Willow leaves for University. With her elder daughter already at Uni she finds herself struggling to find her place. Laura’s grandmother Kanga (AKA Jilly) lives on the grounds in the smaller house having given up her house for Laura and her husband Dom to raise their family. In addition to seeing Laura and Dom’s life in current time, we also see Jilly living through the Blitz in the 1940’s.

Both storylines were totally engaging and full of emotion to the point that I really didn’t want to put the book down. Its a real story of overcoming adversity and in the case of Jilly and Laura their love of food and family recipes is one of the key things that they are both drawn to. I don’t need to share any more of the storyline because it will just ruin the book so please take my advice, pick this one up I really don’t think you will regret it!

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

What a joy of a book to read. It follows three generations of the same family from the great grandma who lost her parents in the blitz to the current occupiers Laura and her husband Dom and their two children who are about to leave for university
Laura thinks this will be the time for her and her hubby to enjoy some time together instead a huge bombshell is dropped on her before they even get home
Can she cope? She feels lost what will she so?

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

I loved this book from beginning to end, an author who always makes you want to just keep going back to keep reading.

A superb book that I have recommended many times!!

This was a fun read and I enjoyed it. The characters were good and the situation made the book an easy read.
I would recommend it as an easy read.

This was so good. I was hooked by the end of the first page, lovely storyline, beautiful setting, believable characters. .A thoroughly enjoyable read. Totally recommend.

Everything about this book just worked for me. I've read it twice and could happily read it again, Great.

I really liked the sound of this book, however, I was left feeling somewhat disappointed and wondering what the point of it all was? This book didn't seem to be able to make it's mind up about what it wanted to be - Was it the tale of Kanga and Ivy and their struggles during World War 2? Was it a more contemporary tale about empty-nester Laura? 

Sadly not my cup of tea

This style of book isn’t my usual fare, but I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the fact that both stories revolves around the same family living in one house in Bath - one in modern day, and one during the Blitz. I particularly enjoyed the 1940s timeline, with Jilly’s attempts to deal with the cards life dealt her.
I didn’t find the modern day characters too interesting if I’m honest. Laura seemed a bit of a wet blanket and there were times that I just wanted to shake her. That said, she too dealt with the cards life dealt her in her own way, and I enjoyed the themes of one woman living in the house and doing their own thing which ran through both timelines.
The author clearly knows Bath well as I enjoyed the descriptions of the city, and it wasn’t overdone (I usually get bored with too much description of places, but I never suffered that with this book).
Incidentally, modern day Jilly is supportive and open-minded yet independent and with incredible inner strength - exactly the sort of old lady I want to become!

This was a delightful story of family dynamics through three generations. I often have problems with stories that keep jumping forwards and backwards in time but this one worked. A occurrence in the present triggers a memory from the past, This is how it should work because it makes sense and you know who you are reading about. Lovely characters who were easy to identify with and a compelling storyline. Great ead,

A house is much more than the bricks and mortar and 11 Lark Hill, owned by the same family, has witnessed much through the ages.

During WWII, the story takes us back to Kanga (Laura’s grandmother) and her heartbreaking experiences during the time Bath was blitzed. I had much admiration for Kanga and best friend Ivy. Veronica Henry has captured the fear and strength alongside those indomitable spirits so very well. Kanga still shows that strength of spirit in present day even though aged 93, fighting behind the scenes to protect her own.

When Laura returns from dropping daughter Willow at university in September 2017 I had a shiver down my spine at the energy 11 Lark Hill was giving out. It might sound a bit ‘woo woo’ but I bet you’ve been in a room or a place that has made you feel differently (and not because of the people who are there). The silence and emptiness felt heavy and portentous… Laura’s determination was an inspiration. When one connection became clear I wondered which way the story would go. Would it happen? What would that mean? I loved the market! and the fact that the family recipes connected 4 generations of women. That really is something special.

The move between between WWII and present day was seamless. I didn’t have a favourite timeline which is unusual for me. I was invested emotionally in both Kanga and Laura, identifying with them both. Their lives caught me up emotionally for different reasons. It made a refreshing change to experience a WWII setting that was outside of the major cities with a window into what life was like for those who lost close ones and their homes.

The ending completed the beginning – not what I was expecting at all! and gave me another emotional punch. Perfect.

A Family Recipe is a feel-good read with characters you will identify with and take to heart. Recommended for romance and saga readers. One for your wishlists.

A nice easy read. I liked the main character of Laura and her Mum was great. I was not sure about the ending though

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were believable, the setting in Bath came to life and the storyline moved backwards and forwards through time exploring the dynamic between multiple generations of women in the same family. My thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable read. Adore books based around family and this is no exception. Getting to know the characters and cheering and sympathising with each in equal measure enable you to immerse yourself in their highs and lows. Delightful.

Time was that I read every single one of Veronica Henry's novels; I especially loved her early Honeycote series. She felt fresh, with new takes on storylines and I continued to look forward to each publication date and savoured the time spent immersed in her world. For some reason however, a few years back, I stopped picking up her books. I’m not completely sure why - the plotlines didn't seem to interest me as much and the descriptions and ages of the central characters were a lot older than those featured in the early years. As a late 20 something, I didn't feel that I could relate to them or engage in their narrative. I'm always willing to give an author another go though, and especially one whose books I had enjoyed in the past, so was keen to give "A Family Recipe" a read when offered.

This story has a split narrative; one following Jilly and Ivy during world war two and the second following present day Laura Griffin. Laura is a stay-at-home mum, preparing for her younger daughter to go off to university leaving an “empty nest”. She is tentatively looking forward to spending some time on herself and with her husband but a secret is exposed which changes everything and alters the route she had so carefully planned out. Picking herself back up, she finds comfort in her baking and cooking, following the much loved wartime recipes that were her grandmother Kanga’s. Learning to stand on her own two feet, we see Laura grow more independent and find a renewed purpose in her life.

3/5 - Whilst I enjoyed the book, I could not warm to Laura – I found her character to be slightly twee and unrealistic in this day and age. I did enjoy the wartime story lines with Jilly and Ivy however, and would have loved to see more of these interwoven as in parts it felt like two separate books within one. It’s a very light-hearted, quick read, perfect for the summer holidays lazing in the garden or by the beach but do not expect to be challenged as there is no great surprise to the plot nor the ending. “A Family Recipe” has not put me off reading another book by Henry but I’m not completely sure that they would be the first choice from my “to-read” pile. I would recommend this novel for readers who have enjoyed her later books or those by Jill Mansell, Rachel Johnson and Judy Astley.

Thank-you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Readers e-proof copy from publishers Orion. All opinions are my own and are impartial and free from bias.

Wow what a fascinating and enthralling story, I was hooked from the beginning, and given chapter 1 was set during WW2 and I'm not a history fan, that is saying something.

In fact I was very interested in the occasional wartime chapter which was telling the story of Jilly and Ivy as young women.

The present day storyline featured Laura, her husband Dom, grown up children Willow and Jas and her grandma Kanga.

At the heart of both past and present stories is the house, its garden and the family recipes that have passed through the generations.

The book has fabulous writing, interesting storytelling, and a knack for transporting you between the pages so that you forget your real life exists.

Even when I wasn't reading this my mind was still on the story, it really got under my skin, and with the various perspectives gave a good look at all the key characters and their motivations.

A top notch read from an always talented and one of my favourite authors, Veronica Henry,

Thank you to Orion and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

From the first page of this book I was hooked. I wasn't expecting the dual storylines across the generations and completely fell in love with Jilly's warm heart and fighting spirit in 1942. Any book set against the background of the blitz is hugely appealing to me, but this one in particular really captured the essence of the time period and I wanted to stay eavesdropping in Jilly's warm kitchen forever.

The modern day story was equally as wonderful. Although fraught with affairs, money and work stresses and death the whole book gave me such a warm feeling. I think Veronica Henry is a master at writing stories which aren't fluffy and unrealistic, but which face the terrible things that can happen in life and remind you that as long as you have your family around you everything will work itself out.

I've never read a book which made me feel cosier than this one and I think I will return to it often when I'm in need of a comfort read.