A wonderful escapist novel that alternates between two different women from the same family - generations apart, but both of the path to find true love. Everything you want from a summer read!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion.

This was a wonderful book. I was completely entranced with the story of Sophie and of her grandmother, Rachael. What a great tale, it transported me across the oceans with them. I liked all of the characters and although I guessed what was happening a few times, I didn’t care, I loved reading it. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

The Photograph by Debbie Rix
A wonderful story! A woven tapestry of family, present and past, within a heart warming yet gripping love story and the challenges that must be met due to uncontrollable circumstances. The choices made, and those not, bind this family, their history and it's destiny...... The writing style is fluid and the descriptions used as you travel too some of the most glorious settings throughout this historical fiction genre along with it's contemporary twist will have you hooked. The characters are believable and strong. The research seems to have been done very well . My only complaint is there were many instances of missing text, most likely due to its e-reader version.....but only one word was missing at a time; easy to figure out, but an annoyance non the less. The Photograph by Debbie Rix is an enchanting, beautifully written story and one in which you'll want to see continue.......
ARC
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The Photograph is such a good book. Well written, good plot and great characterization. New author to me and I enjoyed her writing and will be reading more of her work. I highly recommend.

As I mention above, The Photograph tells two stories, separated by time and space and yet connected by the characters. Often in books like these, I prefer one story line quite a bit over the other, but in The Photograph, I actually liked them equally. I should also mention one of my favorite parts of this novel, the settings. I am usually such a character and plot driven person when I choose my books, I often forget about setting, but here it almost plays a character in itself! It takes place in the English countryside and in Italy and both places were described so vividly, it really transported me as a reader.

Sophie in 2017 England has a wonderful life, but longs for a baby. She thinks of her grandmother Rachael and find a bracelet in her old writing desk. This sets her on a path to learn more about Rachael and her past and by that token, Sophie's own.

I connected to both characters and enjoyed reading their story, especially when the element of mystery was introduced. I don't want to give anything away, but the ending was also very satisfying to me. There were parts I thought were a tiny bit predictable, but it didn't really bother me or detract from my enjoyment of the story. The whole book is about relationships, dealing with obstacles and tragedy, finding love and friendship and I sped through it. Debbie Rix has earned herself another fan!

I was delighted to see that with her new book The Photograph Debbie Rix has moved away from the stories she had set in much earlier centuries and moved forward to 1950's Italy. I have loved all her previous books but this one proved to be my most favourite of all. All the elements that I adored that were apparent in her earlier books are still here and the dual timeline aspect of the plot has still been retained and this makes for an excellent although at times heartbreaking read. The book opens with a quote from Franz Kafka which I think very much sets the overall tone and was the key message to this story. ' I belong to you, there is really no other way of expressing it, and that is not strong enough'.

Belonging, connecting, expressing and experiencing different forms of love are all strong themes in this book with forbidden love being the most evident. Debbie Rix has woven a wonderful story between the past and the present and this is historical fiction at its very best. The story was inspired by a reference the author came across during research of a material called sea silk. She delved even deeper and soon a story featuring the Jewish Queen Berenice and her lover Emperor Titus began to emerge. This led the author to develop the story which then went on to form the backdrop to feature Sophie in present day London and Rachael in the late 1950's in Budapest and later Italy.
Throughout the story historical fact is mixed with fiction and this makes for an engaging, intriguing read which will hold you in its grip until the very last sentence.

Each chapter alternates between Sophie and Rachael and the reader soon settles into a relaxing rhythm of moving between the past and present. Sophie lives in London and is married to Hamish, an anaesthetist in a hospital. Hamish seemed very standoffish and very non-committal, like he was never fully present in the moment as if something else was always on his mind. He works long hours and although the couple love each other, there are layers of unspoken resentments simmering away. Things left unsaid that need to be out in the open, most notable of all the deep longing Sophie has for a child. Things are just not working out on that front and as feelings and opinions slowly fester away, Sophie wonders will a baby make things better? Is a child worth fighting for? Will a new arrival fill in the ever widening cracks as she feels her marriage is not something to be abandoned?

Sophie works as an anthropologist and is studying for her PHD in Roman burials, this is the link to her own past and also it emerges that Sophie is the granddaughter of Rachael. I liked Sophie as a character, life wasn't easy for her. You could feel the desire she has for a child and her willingness to do anything that could make her dreams a reality but at the same time there was a sense of desperation pervading her storyline but also a feeling of inadequacy. I enjoyed how the story didn't solely focus on Sophie delving into the past, the connections emerged more or less towards the end. They naturally evolved with the photograph of the title being combined with a dream Sophie has being the key components to realigning/resolving the past with the present.

Ever so slightly edging it out for me was Rachael's story, I felt totally transported back in time and when we first meet her she is living in Budapest with her father George and husband Jozsef. Times are difficult in Hungary with people very nervous never knowing who was listening and watching their every move, never trusting what might be said to the authorities. The communist government is in full effect with food shortages and rations common place. But George and Jozsef stand up for what they believe in but this only leads to tragedy and soon Rachael and George find themselves fleeing the regime and are forced to live in a refugee camp in Austria. Debbie Rix wrote so vividly and passionately of the turbulent times experienced by Rachael and her father and it is sad in a way that situations like this still exist today. I did think their struggles would be the main element of the story but as they arrive in England the story took a whole new turn and as Rachael finds herself facing motherhood alone how can they carry on? I loved the scenes set in the boarding house run by Mrs. Roper, she became the mother figure that Rachael had lost and was just the person she needed at the time.

George continues his work lecturing in archaeology in London and as a brilliant chance appears, the family soon find themselves on a small island off the coast of Sardina where George can begin to excavate a newly discovered Roman burial site. I was glad the story moved away from England to a different foreign clime as I thought the scenes set in Hungary were brilliantly written but if the story had continued in England it would have become monotonous. Moving everything to Sardinia allowed the sense of mystery to develop even further and here is where the heartbreaking, romantic angle developed which was so beautifully written. It was a rural, peaceful island with an overhauling sense of calmness. Where one could throw caution to the wind and listen to what your heart was telling you. I could picture myself so clearly on the island with Rachael as she adapts to yet another move but I did admire her loyalty to her father. I could feel the heat as she wandered through the village buying her daily essentials. The house where they are staying with its secluded cove seemed other worldly and as her father works away uncovering the burial site and hopefully some secrets, Rachael too develops some secrets of her own.

Love begins to blossom but for various reasons it cannot come to fruition but the gutsy woman she was she did not let this stop her. An unbreakable bond is formed and the inclusion of the sea silk added even more depth and levels to the story. I had a feeling things would go one way but then fate had other plans in store for Rachael. I did want her to follow her heart but I suppose she had to do what was best for her family given another situation she found herself in. She was brave and held her love so close to her chest. I wanted her to fight that little bit more because the way everything was written it felt so real and genuine. But the author had plenty more testing times in store and I loved how many different angles kept emerging the further we got into the story.

Neither Sophie or Rachael had an easy time of things. Each suffer heartbreak and devastation in different ways but it is how they respond and cope with it that makes for a fascinating and intriguing read. I did feel for Sophie with what she discovers but both women proved to be resilient. I felt towards the end the book really did come full circle even if it was bittersweet. Some aspects found a resolution of sorts even if it mightn't have been what the reader would have wanted. Other strands to the story were left more open ended with the reader given the freedom to ponder their own ending or meaning. Both women go through transformations but in doing so the reader experiences a myriad of emotions. In a way I felt I was on a life journey with Sophie and Rachael which had many peaks and troughs some so exquisitely beautiful others just hard to read and witness but overall The Photograph was an excellent read which will captivate all who pick it up. It's honest, intense and emotional with such elegant writing that transports you back and forth in time. Debbie Rix has really stepped up a gear with this book and long may it continue.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bookouture for the change to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
This is a great love story! It is told from two viewpoints-Rachel (whose story starts in 1958) and her granddaughter Sophie (2017). Sophie is struggling with infertility-in fact, it has become the central focus of her life. Rachel has had to make several very difficult choices in her life and has lost several family members to tragedies. A found photograph links these two women and a great story begins. I thought this was a great story and I can't wait to read more by this author. Highly recommend!

4 Compelling Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

I am not always a huge fan when it comes to historical fiction, but I do love when it is blended with the contemporary... perhaps I am tricking my brain into thinking I am not reading historical fiction??? The irony of this is I usually find the historical part of these books so compelling and interesting, and then that begs the question why don’t I read more historical fiction? And the answer is I have no idea! This book was no exception I found Rachel’s story so riveting and I learned about a time and place I had no knowledge of before... that is part of the beauty of books exposure to things you would not otherwise be exposed to.... I have learned so much from being an avid reader and most of it by accident....

This is the story of two incredibly strong women... Sophie in 2017... and her grandmother Rachel in the 1950s.... I found both stories equally compelling and they both tugged at my heart strings... Sophie’s struggle and desire to have a baby, and having to deal with a less than supportive husband was very relatable to me.... Rachel’s needing to flee the only place she knew a place she loved was so heart wrenching... these two stories were woven together so seamlessly with a silk bracelet....

Just the perfect blend of the past and the present, with a fair dose of mystery that kept me turning the pages quickly..... this book Will appeal to so many... strongly encourage you to give this one a try whether you are a fan of historical fiction or not!

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this most interesting book ***

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this story that slips easily from Rachaels story to Sophies story in modern day. Racheal is Sophie's grandmother and she enjoys finding out more about her life after she escaped from Hungary in the 50's with her own father.
They spent a thrilling summer in Italy where you could feel the sights and smells and the wonderful cottage by the sea. Rachael's senses are totally caught up in the wonderful setting with the hint of romance with a delicious Italian.
I also enjoyed reading about Sophies story and her seemingly perfect life hiding some painful secrets.
I loved the way the two stories are connected and that each story makes us fall more in love witht he characters and the settings.
It was so beautifully written that I could have gone on reading forever. I really could imagine the Italian village.and the cover just invites you to pick up the book and start reading.

I absolutely adore historical fiction, but reading 'The Photograph'? Well, this is a book that was in a league of its own. Set in Italy in 1958 and England in 2017, 'The Photograph' tells a story about mother and widow, Rachael, and Sophie who would do anything to have her very own child, regardless of how much it will cost financially, and emotionally.

Rachael spends years trying to find a place where she and her young child can finally call home. Rachael has had to endure so much heartache in such a short space of time, making the parts of the storyline that are set in Italy in 1958, such heartbreaking yet beautiful sections to read. Sophie is only beginning to understand the meaning of heartbreak and how strong you have to be to get through it, yet is determined to take her mind off her sad times by getting on with her work and finding out pieces of information that would stay with her for a very long time.

I have read many split timeline style novels in my time, yet it isn't often that I find a book in a similar format which, after reading the first part of the novel that was set in a different time, I found myself getting excited, wondering where the next setting and year would have in common with the previous. How were the characters linked? What heartache had Rachael endured? And, once the answers to those questions (and more) were found out, my excitement grew because I ended up in a position where I knew something that other characters didn't. I knew what Sophie could end up facing, yet I was still in shock when the truth came to light.

Every chapter and every word regarding 'The Photograph,' screamed enchanting, majestic, and utterly enthralling. I honestly haven't read a book of this calibre before, allowing myself to succumb to the magical undertone of the entire novel, and allowing the vibe of the storyline to get under my skin. Debbie Rix believed her characters lives, and she believed in the beauty and love behind the words her characters spoke - if she didn't, 'The Photograph' wouldn't have come across as beautiful as it did. And because of the way the author wrote this book, I ended up believing everything as well. I became so invested in Rachael and Sophie's lives, that when it was time to go as the book had ended, I was utterly bereft, wishing that I could have stayed with the characters much longer.

'The Photograph' is a simply stunning read, which projects beauty in all directions due to the authors flawless and phenomenal story telling. I wish I could convey just how much this book warmed my heart and touched my soul, but there are not enough words that would ever do this book justice. The only thing that will convey it better than anything else, is the book itself.

Such a wonderful, wonderful read that I will be holding in my heart forever. It's book like this which make me feel privileged to be a reader.

The Photograph has two things that I love in a book. The first is a dual timeline story and the other is an Italian setting. So I was sold, as they say.

In the 1950s Rachael flees her home in Hungary with her father. They end up in a camp in Austria before moving to London where her father takes an archaeology post. His work then takes them to Sardinia, a beautiful Italian island, where Rachael falls in love with a local man.

Then in 2017, Rachael's granddaughter, Sophie, has all that she could wish for except for one thing: a child. As is often the case, her intense desire for a baby causes fissures to appear in other aspects of her life. But she's an anthropologist and she starts to take comfort in looking into her great-grandfather's work.

I found Rachael's story much stronger than Sophie's. I often tend to prefer the more current story in books such as this as I like the way that secrets of the past can be uncovered, but Sophie's story, for me, didn't get going until quite a long way into the book when she starts to find out more about her great-grandfather's work and discovers the photograph in the title. Rachael's story, however, was quite tragic, really moving and she really went through the mill. I liked her character a lot, as well as her father, George. If I'm honest, I would have liked the two strands to be more closely woven together, but I still enjoyed reading both women's stories and found their experiences interesting.

I loved the author's descriptions of Sardinia. I want to go there now! It really captured my imagination and sounded idyllic. The time that Rachael and George spent there was probably my favourite part of the book.

Towards the end I was really moved by a couple of events and a tear came to my eye. The Photograph is a bittersweet story of love and loss which will most definitely appeal to the romantics amongst us.

I really enjoyed this lovely book, with Sophie and her grandmother Rachael as the central characters. The story is set during the present day for Sophie, and the late 1950's/early 1960's for Rachael, which made it very interesting to me.

Rachael has had a very tumultuous life, having to leave Hungary in a hurry with not much more than the clothes on her back. Luckily, both her and her father were able to leave unharmed and they settled in London.

Decades later, Sophie is trying to make her life as a young woman as fulfilling as possible but she has a major issue that she just can't seem to overcome, as hard as she tries.

How these two women are connected, through the decades, is the heart of this book, and it is beautiful. There is a lot of love on these pages: love of family, love of a partner, love of one's country. The whole book is enchanting, it really is.

I give this one a 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I read the synopsis for this book and it sounded just my kind of read and oh boy ‘The Photograph’ was certainly one hell of a read. I absolutely loved reading it but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the main characters of Rachel and Sophie. Rachel had to flee her home country (Hungary) with her father, because their lives were in danger due to their support for the opposition. My heart ached for Rachel because she ends up having to leave her surroundings and everything she is familiar with, she can’t take many possessions and above all she has to leave her dead husband, who was the love of her life. I can’t even begin to try to comprehend the emotional trauma that Rachel goes through. She is certainly one tough cookie because she has had to be and she has her father to look after. It’s almost as if the roles have reversed and Rachel is now the parent and her father is now the child. Rachel ends up travelling from Hungary to Austria and then on to England, where she and her father put down roots. Rachel really is an inspiration to her subsequent descendants. It’s fair to say that Rachel’s life has been anything but boring. Rachel is much missed by her granddaughter Sophie, although Sophie doesn’t have that many memories of her grandmother. Sophie is also a strong woman. She is married to a man, who takes her for granted, he is selfish, ignorant and arrogant. Sophie is a PHD student and she absolutely loves the subject that she is studying. Sophie is also desperate to have a child but her husband doesn’t seem all that interested in having a child. There have been issues regarding having children but her husband doesn’t want to go down the route of IVF and at times he is reluctant to even discuss the matter. Her husband gets a promotion but it would mean that she will have to uproot herself from her surroundings and all that she is familiar with. Her husband assumes that Sophie will go with him even if that means she has to stop her PHD. He dangles the carrot of he will go for IVF if she goes with him, which of course she does. Rachel and Sophie are similar in one respect as both have had to leave their homes to travel to somewhere they know nothing about.
Oh my this is one seriously beautifully written and heart breaking tale. In fact I felt that emotional reading this book, that I had to have a box of tissues on standby just in case the tears started. The tears didn’t start but I felt myself welling up on more than one occasion. From the moment I picked the book up, I became captivated by the story. If I closed my eyes I could imagine that I had been transported back in time to the 1950s and travelling through Hungary and Austria with Rachel and her father. The book is written from two different points of view and two different timelines. One timeline deals with Sophie and we see what is happening in her life and the other timeline deals with Rachel and details everything that happens to her from the moment we first meet her. The author has clearly carried out a lot of historical research for her book. I am a history geek and I loved reading about what conditions were like in Hungary, the turmoil of that time and the ways in which the people fled for asylum in other countries. I was so ‘into’ the book that I became addicted to reading it. I just had to read on and on and on to see how things turned out for Rachel and Sophie ,what fate had in store for them and if they got the happy ever after that they both so deserved. Time just seemed to fly by and before I realised what was happening a couple of hours had passed and I had cleared about 40% of the book. I was so captivated by the story that I genuinely didn’t realise how quickly or how much I had read. I certainly felt as though I had been through the emotional wringer after I had finished reading. There were times where I felt very emotional, happy, sad, hopeful, disappointed and well you get the picture.
In conclusion I have to say that ‘The Photograph’ has to be one of my favourite books of the year so far. It is beautifully and sensitively written and a joy to read. I wholeheartedly recommend this book and this author to other readers. I can’t wait to read more from Debbie Rix and here’s hoping we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Rix weaves an enchanting tale of the timelessness of love. The Photograph is a beautifully told story of the lives and loves of a grandmother (Rachel) and her granddaughter (Sophia) and all that happens in between! Expert character development and encompasses historical time periods with accuracy. ~ A Bibliophile ❤️📚

The Photograph is a dual timeline narrative, set partially in 1950s and also in modern day.

Rachel's timeline focuses on her escape from Hungary, with her father, in the mid-1950s. She accompanies her father to an archeological dig in Sardinia, where she learns about the local "sea silk" makers. Her timeline included stops in NYC in the early 60s back to London.

Sophie, who we later discover is Rachel's granddaughter, has the modern timeline. She's struggling to have a child as well as finishing her doctorate in archeology, like her famous great-grandfather. Her storyline includes IVF, miscarriage, and infidelity.

I really enjoyed Rachel's storyline as well as the archeological threads. I would have liked to read more about the tomb in Sardinia as there were mysteries about it that were not fully addressed. I was not as crazy about Sophie as a character or as interested in her story. I found myself impatient to read Rachel's tale again.

The infertility storyline was well-researched and presented but could be triggering for some. Rachel also visits a back-alley abortionist (though she ultimately doesn't go through with it). Trigger warnings for abortion, miscarriage, IVF, and infertility.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Photograph, by Debbie Rix, starts in Hungary during the 1950s and ends in modern day England. It follows three generations of women as they cope with, and overcome, the everyday challenges of their time and place. Rix gives a realistic image of her settings from the Hungarian Revolution, to refugee camps, British boarding houses, New England in winter, sunny days on an Italian island, English villages and even, New York living. Her characters are as vivid as her settings and confront their challenges head on. Reading this novel takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, cycling between joy, despair, hope and back to joy again. My ideal book has to have a happy ending so no complaints here. While not great literature this is definitely an enjoyable light, read.

This books just wasn't for me. I found it quite choppy, lacking depth and didn't care about events in the present day. I think the potential lay in Rachael's storyline but even that needed just that little bit more. Some things were glossed over when they would have been a big impact on the characters' life, others were predictable and the ending felt incredibly rushed.

This is a beautifully written story rich in details. I loved the characters and I enjoyed both Rachel and Sophie’s stories. I was fascinated with the byssus “sea-silk” process. “The Photograph” is not mentioned until almost halfway through the book. That was a little odd—I kept wondering when it would enter the story.
Advanced reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.

Lovely thoughtful dual time line novel telling the story of a woman and her grandmother. It's not quite historical fiction (1950 isn't that long ago!) but it does show the differences between then and now. Sophie finds a letter and a bracelet that set her off to understand the story of her grandmother, Rachel, who, as a widow, moved to a small island in Italy. There's sadness in Sophie's life (as there was in Rachel's) but the two have more in common than Sophie could have imagined. While it's somewhat predictable, that doesn't make this any less entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is nicely written and a relaxing read where you will feel and root for both women.