I always enjoy these stories where someone has fictionalised a story that is based on the life of a great literary figure. In this case, it’s CS Lewis and his wife Joy Davidson. They were penpals and wrote letters to each other before she emigrated from the USA and moved to Oxford to be with him.

She brings with her two sons and she’s looking for happiness after everything she’s been through. She is a strict Christian and seeks answers she can’t find elsewhere. She finds something in CS Lewis, and he, in her.
This is the story of their lives and the obstacles they both face along the way. There’s some very emotional scenes here so be aware! It’s fascinating to see behind the scenes of such a famous author and his wife. The man who brought so much joy to readers and still does: you want him to have been happy and settled himself. The man behind Narnia! There is some magic in his life, but a lot of sadness and seen through the eyes of Joy, this story allows you to see a lot of what you might not see if this story had been written by Lewis himself.
Very interesting and a great way of mixing fact and fiction!

I really enjoyed this book. Bit of a slow burner love story but definitely of the period. I loved all the references to the Narnia Chronicles and Aslan in particular.
The intenseness of the relationship was palpable and the two main characters were so strong but so different. So different from modern "celebrity" affairs, makes you realise how times have changed

After a slow start I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the fictional story of CS Lewis meeting and falling in love with his wife Joy Davidman, an American writer. I have never read any of Lewis's work but feel I need to remedy that.

Sympathetic treatment of historical data and a glimpse into the world of C.S. Lewis and his wife.

Brought together by a conversion to a strong faith they existed in separate worlds until a chance reading of an article by Lewis.

Those who share their faith will find it enlightening and helpful I’m sure

For me, the history was important and I enjoyed the dramatisation

I saw this title on NetGalley and was interested as I'm one of the many who grew up on the Narnia books, progressed to C.S. Lewis's adult books and later enjoyed the film Shadowlands, about his marriage to the poet and author Joyce Davidman.

What I hadn't realised when I requested the book was that this is a fictionalised version of that story, though it makes much use of letters between the two from their first correspondence - Davidman wrote to Lewis because his description of his religious conversion struck an immediate chord with her. He replied, and a lengthy and intimate exchange grew up between them. In many ways, fictionalisation is a good choice for biography - it serves to remind us that any account of another's life is necessarily a fiction, even when we have their writing to base it on (come to that, it's the case even when they've written it themselves). Initially though, it gave me some problems, because I found it rather overwritten - later, I told myself that Davidman (events are told in the first person, from her point of view) was, as a poet, given to wielding words dramatically, so a degree of self-dramatisation was appropriate.

I think the book's author, Patti Callahan, admired both Davidman and Lewis fairly uncritically, so I found myself reading between the lines quite a bit. Not with the sort of vilification that met Davidman when she had the "effrontery", as many saw it, to marry Lewis - they seem to me to have been a very successful couple, despite his qualms about her divorced state, their relationship being a genuine marriage of two minds - but I found Callahan's version of Joy quite hard to like, and I think that might well hold true for the real person. But then, I find Lewis quite hard to like too, if I'm honest - though the Inklings fascinate me and I find them eminently readable, I don't think I would actually like any of them.

I suppose my biggest problem was with the account of Davidman's first marriage, to fellow author William Gresham. He certainly comes across as a pretty loathsome person, but I suspect that during the time they spent together they would both have seemed, to me at least, self-centred and histrionic, probably bringing out the worst in each other. After her conversion to Christianity (she was Jewish, non-practising, and had flirted with communism – a much greater sin in the US than here in the UK), Davidman left her husband and two some for an extended research and writing trip to to the UK, during which she planned to meet Lewis in person. I can understand that she felt her writing was suffering at home, and that she needed to write to earn, but still found it hard to reconcile the length of time she was away from her children, particularly since there were already signs – according to Callahan’s account, at least – that at least one of the children feared their father, who had an explosive temper and was possibly a suicide risk.

Readers who share the Lewises' religion will almost certainly enjoy this retelling of their relationship, while those who, like me, are interested in the Inklings will find much of interest, albeit secondhand. I imagine for many it will provide an impetus to go back to Lewis's own non-fiction and some may be inspired to further explore Davidman's poetry, which is oft-quoted, which didn't appeal to me. I did, however, find a previously unread author amongst Davidman's Oxford friends (unfortunately, long out-of-print and therefore almost unobtainable). I found myself sympathising again with C.S. Lewis's brother Warnie who, although much troubled, seems to have been a gentle individual, and enjoyed an American's impressions of the shabby shambles in which the Lewis brothers lived in peculiarly English fashion. At one point I had wondered whether to give up on the book altogether. I’m glad that I didn’t, because I did end up enjoying this rather poignant story. Thanks go to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

I struggled at the beginning to really get in to this story. It was somewhere between a third and half way I think that it started to pick up and I got a little more interested. I knew nothing about the life of C.S Lewis or Joy Davidman so this was all new to me and I wondered how much of it was true and how much was a little creative on the Author's part! It inspired me to do a little research after and I always love when a book spikes my interest enough to look more in to something.

Overall I enjoyed the story and the writing style - I'd happily read another book by Patti Callahan again.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is the intriguing story that details how Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis, initially separated by the ocean, fall in love. It's written as historical fiction, with the natural disclaimer at the beginning which states that it is "entirely a work of fiction" (and more humorously, that "any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental"), yet author Patti Callahan admits that she was inspired by the "ten-year transformational journey" that changed Davidman's life.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. The Chronicles of Narnia is one of my favourite book series and I know there have been films made about the blossoming relationship between Lewis and Davidman, but I personally knew nothing of the tale. As a result, I found it gripping.

The story begins with Davidman trapped in a marriage with a temperamental, manipulative and abusive man and details how Davidman is led to first contact Lewis. Their friendship develops, firstly via letters and then in person after a trip to the UK. The writing at the beginning, which features the letters that were exchanged, can be a bit jarring, but you eventually ease into the story.

Joy Davidman is a wonderful character. Callahan states that she considers her to be "fascinating, fiery and brave" and that is the person we are treated to in this book. Although a fictional account, I felt I got to know Lewis (or "Jack" as he was known by) in a deeper way.

In the epilogue, still written from Davidman's perspective, Davidman admits that many scholars and theologians have spent time dissecting the writing and stories of this famous couple and states that "no one would ever get all of it fully right - who could?" It was almost as if Callahan is admitting that she falls into this bracket and I liked that a lot. Overall, it really is an elegant attempt at bringing this relationship to life. This book is well worth reading.

I leave this novel inspired to read more of the works of C.S. Lewis and, more importantly, more of the writings of Joy Davidman.

This is a fictional account of Joys real life story - how she met and became the wife of C.S Lewis. This story captures love, heartbreak and how the hard times can be something that can make you grow and learn.
It took me a while to get into the book, its not the sort of thing I would usually read but one I was in I was hooked.

I've always has an interest in the story of Joy Davidson and C.S. Lewis, having read several of Lewis's books including a biography, as well as Douglas, Joy's son's biography and Shadowlands. Although written as a book of fiction it reads very much as a biography which I read in just a few days.

I absolutely loved this book. I wanted to explore the woods and the area near the Kilns and wanted to delve deep into the background of the characters. I really hope this was based on fact.

Oxford is such a special city and this summed up its flavour and nooks and crannies.

Thanks for putting background into the Narnian Chronicles.

Well this was a wonderful surprise as in not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't what it was. I chose this because of the C.S.Lewis connection and it was the story of Joy Davidman and how she met the great man and their friendship blossomed and their lives connected.

Joy from New York two sons and a alcoholic husband called Bill (you may well want to call him something else) and the cousin that her mum wanted her to resemble called Renée. Joy from a Jewish family and even post war America and Europe the 1950's this still held a stigma that she felt. So she became a committed atheist and then she became a communist another group not very popular in America, signing up becoming a member of the Communist party itself this all before she found God and became a Christian. This was the link with Mr Lewis both from atheism to Christianity.

If you don't know the story and I didn't till I read the book so I will let you enjoy the discoveries for yourself and I think you will enjoy and cringe or is that more discover frustration that will make you want to read more.

What I really found that I enjoyed so much was the stories that went between the two and the effect they had on each other's writing and how much of each other was in everything that they both wrote as well as the story of their belief. The story of love involving older people as opposed to the youngsters of the twenty something are written so much about because it's a true story there is so much that can happen that we would probably Mock if it was a work of fiction.

The ending brings much joy and sadness which isn't giving anything away but I don't think anyone could describe. Joy's life as simple and joyful but that's what probably gave her such a creative mind drew her to connect to one of the Inklings from Oxford and be loved by some of the group and not so loved by others. Don't worry she wasn't too become a Inkling that was a all male group. The Lewis brothers and joy have a story to tell and top of all their great writing, I hope you get this book and enjoy it as much as I did. When it's a true story like this and as such there's an investment from the writer's that somehow I feel like I give more to the book/author the time I'm reading it I feel like I'm part of the story that' may sound strange but then I have never claimed to be anything else. I know that is true of some works of fiction and I like to feel part of their work and I do with some. Guess I'm referring to the personnel part of them laid bare for us to enter in and see.

This is quite different from the kind of books I usually read but it was recommended by a friend and I'm glad I tried something new! I was only vaguely familiar with the story of CS Lewis and Joy Davidman before reading but I was quickly caught up into Joy's story. It is a very well-written book with memorable characters and vivid descriptions and I also found it very thought-provoking. It goes much deeper than just a love story touching on complex topics such as domestic abuse, addiction, relationships and faith, and I enjoyed the style of the writing.

It is with heavy heart that I ever add a book to my unfinished pile, but after trudging through fifty percent of Becoming Mrs Lewis I found myself unwilling to continue. It isn't that I am disinterested in the story or the characters because I certainly am quite. I just think that I don't get on with this writing style, and the constant shoe horning in of unnecessary trivia. So much of it as well are things that anyone could dig up with a simple Google search at times I felt like I was reading Wikipedia, or perhaps an essay with a word count requirement. Being an American who relocated to London I can attest that my every conversation isn't pulled from the Lonely Planet travel guide. It wouldn't be pleasant to listen to and it's just not very pleasant to read.

I wanted so much to learn about this relationship, having no previous idea about the woman that such an eminent man fell in love with. Instead I wondered if the author truly had not much material to use as she waffled on about the Whispering Gallery and exactly how many steps it takes to get there.

Having just been treated to tickets to see Shadowlands later this year I was intrigued to see the story from Joy’s point of view.
The book read very well and like the best CS Lewis stories mixed the religious aspects with the story in a readable way.
I like this genre of fleshing out true life into speculative fiction and this is a good addition to it.

I found this book difficult to get me interested but I did persevere. I found it kept my interest. I wanted to know more and find out what happened. I would recommend it to be read but you have to keep reading and not give up as I nearly did.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A wonderious tale a highly enjoyable experience
Can recommend to friends and family

Becoming Mrs Lewis is the fictional retelling of Joy Davidson, who married C.S Lewis. The novel begins with Joy, an American, in an unhappy marriage trying to bring up her two sons, write and work out what her faith means to her. She begins a letter correspondence with C.S. Lewis and eventually meets him in person during a visit to England. As her own marriage ends, illness repeatedly threatens and she relocates to the UK this story follows her life, love and work.

I think there is always a large amount of courage needed by an author to tackle a real life story and create a fictional account of it, especially of someone whose life is well documented as is the case here. However Callahan stuck well to fact and in the introduction mentions she has been in contact with Joy Davidson’s second son, so this help to place my concerns to one side. I did struggle a little bit with the narrative and writing style of this book to begin with however somewhere between one third to half way through I fell into the story and Callahan had me hooked until the last page. While I felt it lacked a certain spark, it was nevertheless charming and interesting and has encouraged me to do a bit more research into the lives of Lewis, Tolkien and Davidson.

Thank you to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.