I wasn't sure that I would like this book, I didn't really take to Augusta to start with but as the book went on I began to love her. Augusta Hope is a twin, quite different to her sister Julie. She has a thing for words and decides that she like the sound of Burundi, so sets about to learn all she can of the country.

Thousands of miles in Burundi we have Parfait. The eldest of 9, he lives quite a different life to Augusta and plans to move to Spain to better himself and his family.

This is a tale of two very different people, and two story lines that end up connecting in the most satisfying way. It was a slow burner of a story for me, but one that was nice change of pace to my previous reads.

A lovely, lovely read. The characters of Augusta and Parfait are so well drawn (Augusta in particular, Parfait is slightly less 3 dimensional, though still a real person) and the way Joanna has drawn the threads of their very different lives together, weaving coincidence into a believable whole is beautifully done. The tragedy of her blinkered parents is sadly true to life as well, and I felt disgust and pity in equal measure for them.
So many sad things in this book, yet somehow it was uplifting. I read it in one day, staying up reading in bed last night until 2 am until I'd finished. Recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Was thrown at first, wondering why these two people, obviously continents apart, were telling their stories in parallel. As the story went on I became more intrigued.
I experienced many emotions in this story. Family and the ties that bind can be powerful but destructive also. Home can mean something very different to individual members of the same family. I was swept along, becoming part of both these characters lives.
The story is eventually woven to its conclusions and the revelations are painful but ultimately beautiful.
I particularly enjoyed the end of the tale. It has a poignancy all its own and perfectly completed the story.

Contrived, but beautifully-written, this novel brings together two very different, but similar stories.
Augusta herself has a strong and powerful voice and is a wonderfully-developed character. Her flaws and her quirks are all her own. It is so easy to be drawn into her story; of her closeness with her twin sister, of the painfully British characteristics of her parents and how she steadily grows into a woman, against a backdrop of tragedy - although we don't yet know what form this will take.

It is certainly a contrived story, however. Too many events are clearly constructed by the author, so the story itself doesn't feel as natural as it should. The counterpoint of Parfait and his experiences work well against those of Augusta, however they are so contrived I even thought they he might be someone Augusta was imaging for half of the book!

However, the novel is easy to read, to be drawn into, to identify with and to enjoy.

This novel was a slow burner but despite not being what I'd call a page turner, it is something rather unique.

The story is told from two points of view, each protagonist with a poignant tale to release to the world.

It is somehow uplifting yet heartbreaking all at the same time.

A book that makes you look at the decisions we make and how we choose to see the world!

A beautiful tale of family, of loss, of the awkward relationships we build with those we love the most...
...this is a beautiful story. It is wonderfully told and I was immediately drawn in by Augusta's distinct voice. She felt so real, and I adored the contrast between her and her twin. They were so different but they loved each other so much. The story is complex and beautiful and sad. A must-read. I am so, so glad I read this book.

The Other Half of Augusta Hope is a novel about fitting in, loss, and the people you really have connections with. Augusta loves words and the dictionary. She chooses her favourite country—Burundi—based on its sound and learns all about it. And she's different to her twin sister Julia. They grow up and when tragedy comes, Augusta realises that she really can't stay in her hometown with her parents. Alongside this narrative is the story is Parfait, a boy in Burundi who wants to go to Spain, and becomes a man in Spain dealing with what has happened to his siblings.

This is a character-focused novel that has a lot of emotional power. The split narrative that moves between Augusta and Parfait works well to show their parallels and connections, and the narrative in general is well-crafted to foreshadow events. From reading the blurb, the novel sounded less multi-faceted than it actually is, and it was a pleasant surprise to have Parfait's story as well. It sounded like it could just be a quirky novel similar to others with unusual character names in the title, but actually it covers topics like migrants in Europe and suicide as well as having main characters who don't fit in.

It is the kind of powerful novel that a lot of people will find resonates with them after they've finished it, but which has a hopeful ending to match Augusta's name.

Intriguing dual narrative tale of loss and grief, and of being different. I especially enjoyed how Augusta’s voice matured as she grew up, which isn’t always the case with some writers. The dual stories did not seem at first to match but eventually all came together. I enjoyed the second half immensely, the first perhaps took a while to get going.

This book is a split perspective novel, telling the stories of Augusta, a British woman who wants to travel the world to escape her home life and Parfait, a man from Burundi who decides to make a break for it to avoid the ongoing civil war.

Their lives are very different but at the same time there are huge similarities that lead to their lives being intertwined in unexpected ways, even if they don’t know it yet.

Augusta is a fascinating character – she’s not likable, exactly, she has a lot of feelings but she’s awful at expressing them and, paired with the fact that she wants ‘more’ from life than just settling down where she is, she’s always at odds with her family and struggles to find her place in the world. She’s the youngest twin and doesn’t measure up to the ideal that her parents have in Julia, the eldest. Be ready to grab the tissues though, this book has some incredibly sad moments in it. The writing is beautiful and keeps you invested in every single page.

I love the author’s writing style and can honestly say I loved both of the main characters equally. The story is thought-provoking on the topics of home, belonging and family love, it’s given me plenty to mull over before I choose my next read. Above all, this book gave me all sorts of feelings!

Fabulous book that will be enjoyed by all readers, a lovely storyline with evocative writing and settings. The characters are a joy and you feel for them all, very sad but also happy. I would recommend this book.

God what a book! I couldn’t put it down but didn’t want it to end. Amazing characters. I laughed cried and loved right along side them! Will be eagerly looking out for the next book by this author

Augusta Hope has always been different. Different from her Mum and Dad and different from her twin sister,her neighbours and friends. She enjoys words and Burundi and she doesn't like the small town she lives in finding it very parochial.
When her life changes forever she escapes to a new life in Spain which feels more like home. Her mother and father follow her to deliver her a present even though they are out of their comfort zone.

A great read which makes you think about the meaning of home.

I wasn't sure where this book would lead. Initially I wasn't sure if I would like Augusta Hope but in the end I lived her. The story of her life and Parfait's life so fluidly interlinking that the opposite direction of their lives could eventually flow one way was serenedipity. Both suffering and their pain bringing them together to leave you hopeful. The story made me laugh and cry in equal measure, and now it's finished I'm at a slight loss as what to read next. I read the book in one sitting and enjoyed every page. The description of Burundi and Parfait's brother with his rose garden gives the country beauty in its darkness. Spain showing the migrant problem and the plight of these people, gives the book a real element. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC it was a page turner from start to finish.

I loved this book from the very first line. It is really difficult to talk too much about the plot, but it follows the stories of August and Parfait in different parts of the world. The language of the novel is really beautiful, and I really fell in love with both of the main characters. This book is totally original, deeply moving and something really special. If this is Joanna Glen’s first book, I cannot wait to read what she comes up with next.

A quiet yet powerful book with twin narratives that loop and spiral around one another and end up connecting in the most satisfying way.

I loved this wonderful book beautifully written drew me right in and kept me turning the pages hated when it ended.I will be recommending this literary novel.#netgalley #harpercollinsuk

A 'giant labyrinth of intersecting crossroads" - life according to Gabriel Garcia Lorca, and the lives as lived by Augusta and Parfait, as they come together at last on the eve of a Spanish fiesta.

Augusta Hope is a twin, her sister Julia torn from her. The sadness that lingers forms Augusta's future, as she moves to Spain to escape the confines of her parents and their life on the suffocating Crescent.

Parfait is a migrant, and has made the long and dangerous journey to Spain from war-torn Burundi. Like Augusta, Parfait's life is deeply coloured by the tragedies of his past.

As Augusta and Parfait meet, the intersecting crossroads of their histories are revealed, and they start to form a new path together. Beautifully written, a sad yet heartening contemporary read with plenty of Spanish atmosphere.

In this beautifully written book I found unexpected similarities between my child self and Augusta: a twin happy to be alone sometimes, a misfit in her family, and a budding etymologist who devours dictionaries and books because words are her soul sustenance and lifeblood. These familiar characteristics helped endear me to her plight.

As August's story unfolds, it is joined by a parallel account of Parfait from Burundi, whose life is vastly different yet intersect with hers. Both of them are seeking a safe place to be their heart’s true home. Slowly, their stories converge and become significantly joined as one. A thread of personal struggle, tragedy, loss and unresolved grief weaves throughout their lives and connects them when they eventually meet one another.

While Augusta cannot unleash tears for the loss of her twin sister, Julia, Parfait cannot get too close to someone for fear of losing them. He has fears and blockages to overcome and so does she. These seem to pull them away from one another at first, but there is more that unites than divides them.

Augusta's love of words and her delving into their origins, plus her ability with languages, might have irritated her family, but they are distinct advantages in helping to bridge the gap between her and Parfait. Once a friendship has been established in fresh territory, they soon recognise one another as soul mates who truly understand one another, and are amazed at how interlinked their stories are.

I was engrossed and engaged with it all, rooting for a happy ending for them both. This intriguing novel, combining poetry, quotes and word descriptions, is a thoughtful and warm-hearted read, with a skillfully drawn conclusion. I loved it! With grateful thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.

4.5 stars.

From the first sentence, this book felt big, epic, a magnum opus.
The Other Half Of Augusta Hope reminded me of a whirlpool with two powerful stories chasing each other, getting ever closer. There is violence and destruction in the vortex but also beauty and hope.
It’s amazing to think this remarkable book is Joanna Glen’s debut.
The narrative switches between Augusta and Parfait who are both complex characters with wildly different upbringings but who, at the same time, seem to have things in common. Their eventual meeting seems inevitable but getting to that point is a vivid, emotional and sometimes dark rollercoaster ride.
It is cleverly written, full of literary references (which I loved) but not always easy to get along with – although that wasn't a negative for me. I liked the spikiness of it and felt it reflected Augusta's personality in a way.
At first I didn’t feel much of a connection to her, the same as most people around her, but she grew on me and in the end I found it very hard to put this book down.
Joanna studied Spanish at the University of London (and taught Spanish and English to all ages before becoming a school headteacher). It is clearly a passion and she makes good use of it in this book, particularly the way she explored duende (a "Spanish term for a heightened state of emotion, expression and authenticity, often connected with flamenco", according to the dictionary). Those sections of the book felt palpable, I felt transported into the pages as if I was experiencing it too.
The only minor quibble I had was with the ending. I can’t tell you what it is about it that didn’t sit well without dropping some huge spoilers (which I won’t do, don’t worry) but I will say it didn’t alter my enjoyment of the book as a whole.

An unusual book with 2 stories being told in alternate chapters until they inevitably meet, each with their own heartaches.