A story of life, family and love across three generations. Never allow fear to get in the way of making decisions. Always give somebody a chance to explain, if they are brave enough. I imagined myself wandering around the old large house. Well written and very descriptive. Enjoyed.

I was looking forward to this, having read several of the Seven Sisters Books, and loved them
However, this was a disappointment.

Cardboard characters, all the women are beautiful, and hardworking, with maybe some tragedy, the men were either charming and handsome, or charming and bad.
Characters were introduced, and never developed (Tammy’s helper in the shop, the people Nick stayed with in London)
Everybody was “darling girl”, “darling child”, etc.
The storylines were predictable, and signposted, even the big secret, while being a surprise, was not plausible once one started to really analyse it.

I guess, if a reader like a very lightweight romance, this is for them.

It’s not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this book.

The Butterfly room is a great read, full of complex characters and twists and turns , some I absolutely didn’t see coming. . It’s a story of family , their foibles and the intrigue created , all centred around Posy whose life we follow from her 1940s childhood through to her 70th birthday , flipping easily between the 1940s & 50s and the 2000s . Lucinda Riley writes in such a way that it’s easy to visualise the people and places, Admiral House and The Hophouse in Suffolk, Granny’s house in Cornwall and all in between. It really is a wonderful book and one that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Posy Montague is almost 70. She is living in her family home with a sizeable garden. Perhaps now is the time to downsize? What of her children – the unsuccessful Sam whose is always starting a new scheme with the certainty of massive success just around the (never arriving) corner. His ever patient wife and children struggling to make ends meet. Her beloved younger son, Nick, is returning from Australia – will he settle with an old flame? What about Freddie, Posy’s old flame, will he drop a bombshell within Posy’s family?

I really enjoyed this. Although not an “action packed” book it did move along at a good pace with there always being something going on. There are two time periods – the here and now and Posy’s childhood. These are clearly marked and very easy to separate. This is an easy to read book. Yes, I admit that I suspected all would come right in the end but there are certainly some interesting twists on the way – not all of which I saw coming.

I am not a big fan of Lucinda Riley’s early books but have really loved her “Seven Sister’s” series. I feel that this book is certainly up to the standard of that series. Lucinda Riley is definitely an author whose books I actively seek out.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

Thank you to the Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for offering me an advance copy for review. This is my first standalone Lucinda Riley having read her seven sisters series this is something different.

Starting during WWII Posy adores her father and lives a comfortable sheltered life in a large house in Suffolk. Her  childhood twists and turns as tragedy strikes. Meanwhile in the present day Posy is juggling her large house alone,combined with her two sons who are polar opposites and the sudden reappearance of her first love.

There are a lot of plotlines going through this novel and it's a skillful hand that guides through the twists and turns. The relationship upheavals, affairs, secrets and lies all held my interest. I wanted to know why Posy's first love jilted her, what happened at her childhood home, will her son's ever be happy, why is her youngest son being so mysterious? All the threads weave together well.

Probably best known for her 'seven sisters' series, I was intrigued to read this new novel from Lucinda Riley.

Posy Montague is approaching her seventieth birthday. Still living in her beautiful family home, Admiral House, set in the glorious Suffolk countryside where she spent her own idyllic childhood catching butterflies with her beloved father, and raised her own children, Posy knows she must make an agonising decision. Despite the memories the house holds, and the exquisite garden she has spent twenty-five years creating, the house is crumbling around her, and Posy knows the time has come to sell it.

Then a face appears from the past - Freddie, her first love, who abandoned her and left her heartbroken fifty years ago. Already struggling to cope with her son Sam's inept business dealings, and the sudden reappearance of her younger son Nick after ten years in Australia, Posy is reluctant to trust in Freddie's renewed affection. And unbeknown to Posy, Freddie - and Admiral House - have a devastating secret to reveal . .

I found this to be a wonderful book with rich characters and a lovely tale to tell. Definitely recommended for all fans of the seven sisters books and of this author.

The Butterfly Room is certainly spellbinding and even after I'd turned my kindle off, I couldn't go to sleep until I had read a bit more!

I loved it. I could identify a bit with Posy, being a lady of a certain age myself. She was so interesting, kind to her family , always willing to help out and although she had lots of knock backs, she bounced back. I liked Amy and Tammy, they were young women who knew what they wanted although Amy had to struggle to achieve her happiness and they both had problems to solve along the way.

I've read a couple of Lucinda Riley 's book in the Sisters series and will read more as I like her style of writing and become quite engrossed with each story.

Thank you.

Lucinda Riley has done it again- she has achieved such a wonderful, beautiful book. A book full of secrets that as they are uncovered have a huge effect of people’s lives.
Recommended read
Thank you to both NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review

Lile another reviewer I found the jumping from ome period to another was a bit disconcerting, but so many books are like this at the moment so one needs to get used to it.
I did enjoy Posy, both as a child and as an adult, and would have so loved to know more of the beautiful garden that she had created over twenty five years. Her eldest son Sam, who needed a shake up rather than any more handouts, was an absolute pain, and I did feel that Posy had been a bit over-nurturing with him. Nick, just back from Australia finds that he has his own secrets and problems to solve.
And Freddie.......I found him a bit unbelievable, a bit over jolly perhaps. but his and Posy's lives are inextricably linked, and once things are sorted out there is a charming love story waiting in the wings.
It is a book that I enjoyed reading. and I always look forward to a book by this author.
Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.

My Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan publishers for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. I was excited to be reading this as I’ve become a great fan of Lucinda Riley. I’m afraid that I was in for a disappointment. I found that it was a slow start with too many disjointed elements and characters, although you trust that they will all come together eventually. It began with a flashback to 1943 in Suffolk where Posy, the main character, is playing with her Spitfire pilot father in the grounds of their large country house, Admiral House. Then it‘s on to the story proper in 2006 when Posy is nearly seventy, has been a widow for many years and has two grown-up sons, one married with two children. Posy has brought them up at Admiral House on her own, and run the small estate single handed too. There continue to be flashbacks into her earlier life so that we can see how they have affected the mature person that she now is.

I never thought that I‘d say this of one of Lucinda Riley‘s books but I found it shallow. It seemed to be all about who has loved who. Much more could have been made of the Suffolk countryside in which this tale is set. Their nearest town is the seaside resort of Southwold which features frequently. I‘ve been there but got no feeling of it from the book. There is just no spirit of place anywhere. Another case, I‘m afraid, that I was glad it was on Kindle or I would have been sorely tempted to use a red pen all over actual pages, a crime in my reasoning. I also found it unrealistic. Posy does a large garden that she has developed herself over years, all on her own. She cooks comforting cakes and other food for her family, has a part-time job in a local gallery, is nearly seventy, but there is no mention of her doing the basic cleaning for this huge pile. I could go on.

My feeling for most of this book was that it was rather obvious, predictable, superficial, chick lit. But I must admit that I did, in the last quarter of the book get interested in how the story resolved, unbelievable though it was. It certainly had a very emotional ending. Looking back on the book after finishing, it suddenly dawned on me that this was really a fairy tale for adults Like all the best fairy tales it had it‘s very dark moments and the “baddy“ got his comeuppance in the end and the “good” characters. had a brighter future. Looked at like this it made sense and probably shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

I love Lucinda Riley’s books and was eager to read this one. It did not disappoint, she is such a clever writer, with exceptional characterisation and brilliant plotting once again displayed in this story. The double story line of Posy as a young woman, and as a 70 year old grandmother is deftly done and equally intriguing. It does not irritate, as sometimes happens with this style of writing.
The mystery surrounding her son Nick and his unexpected behaviour I partly guessed quite early on. Added to this, the mysterious secret that Freddie, Posy’s former lover is carrying is deliciously intriguing, and is completely unexpected when it is finally revealed.
Posy’s family members, including her other son and his wife are very well drawn and believable characters. Their story adds an extra layer to this involved tale as their difficulties gradually emerge.
This was a book which I did not want to put down, then could not wait to get back to.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book. My thanks to Netgalley and to the publisher for my advance copy.

An intriguing family saga with hidden secrets which change lives. The strong women give the story it's heart and bring it to a happy conclusion.

I really rate Lucinda Riley as an Author and this book definitely did not disappoint at all. The characters were great, the story line flowed and I absolutely loved it.

This is a tale of family dysfunction and concealment. The central character is Posy who is approaching her 70th birthday in Admiral House, the fading mansion where she lived as a small child and then returned to as a widow with small children. Why was she sent to live with her grandmother after her beloved father's death? Why did
her mother never visit? Her two adult children are like chalk and cheese with secrets of their own. The plot of this story is very well crafted and becomes more compelling the further into the book you get.

A hugely satisfying read.

Firstly I am already a huge fan of Lucinda Riley - her work is fantastic.

Secondly I absolutely loved this book. I picked it up and finished it in two or three sittings. The pages slipped by and I loved every single one. The story was so engrossing in the story of Posy and her family. The book had a great plot, lovable characters and romance and mystery to book. The setting was also stunning and transported me to Devon, my favorite place. This was a brilliant book and i will definitely be recommending to family and friends.

Each new Lucinda Riley book is a revelation bringing new characters, situations, families and secrets.
I was only introduced to this author last year via netgalley and then at a Literature Festival so I still have several titles to look forward to reading, but the titles I have already read have been excellent.
The Butterfly Room takes us through the life of Posy Montague from her early life to her 70th birthday. With two grown up sons, grandchildren, a job and a passion for gardening, Posy has a full and active life. When old friends return to town long buried secrets surface with the potential to change her outlook forever. At the centre of her life is Admiral House where she was born and then returned to with her two young sons. Now needing restoration Posy needs to decide If she can leave her garden and sell Admiral House
Highly recommended if you enjoy family sagas with marvellous characters.

It seems natural for a child to revere and adore her father and this is exactly the picture Riley paints for us in the beautifully idyllic opening to this. Posy's positive image of her father is to mould her entire life and outlook until the truth unfolds.
The reader becomes involved in the entangled family story that Riley conjures up. At first this appears rosy and positive but then we are made aware of the web of emotions, seemingly insurmountable problems and deceit in life. The plot twists and strengthens as the story of Posy's life unfolds and the characters carry us forward with her from one event to another to the warm and generally happy ending.
An emotional family saga with love stories underlying it but a far from soppy read.
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. I picked it up and sped through the 624 pages which slipped by effortlessly as I became engrossed in the story of Posy and her family. It was everything that I love in a book ... great plot, characters that you feel you know, mystery and romance. Coupled with the wonderful settings of Southwold and Bodmin Moor, it was simply brilliant.. I wish I could award it more than five stars.

This book gripped me from it's first chapter. The main character was warm and likeable without being too saccharine. I enjoyed meeting the other characters and while I found some elements of the story a little predictable, I still enjoyed the way the pieces fit together.

One of my favourite aspects of The Butterfly Room was the way that it was a story of two parts. I loved the chapters where Posy was a young girl growing up and thought that they were beautifully written and described. I didn't always agree with some of the decisions the characters made, but this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story as a whole.

This book is a perfect example of a page turner- you won't want to put it down as you will be so interested in Posy and her family! The story is woven together so cleverly with shocking plot lines mixed in with a hectic but very normal family life. It is a relatable and warm book that I thoroughly enjoyed and devoured.

I had not read any of Lucinda Riley's previous books but I have now placed her works firmly in my To Be Read pile. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this book.

I love Lucinda Riley’s books and approach each one with enthusiasm but this one missed the mark for me and I gave up on it. Maybe I’ll c9me back to it again but I’m not sure. This one just wasn’t for me.