Megan Hunter’s debut novel “The End We Start From” was a ruthlessly pared back and fragmentary novella/prose poem which was a mythological and religious text infused oblique meditation on new motherhood and climate change set in a future dystopian submerged London.

Her second novel (again really more a novella) “The Harpy” was a razor sharp examination of infidelity, parenthood and female revenge which draws very heavily on the legend of the Harpy.

This is her third novel – due out later in 2025 – and, particularly early on seems very different to her earlier writing with languid, reflective and almost mannered prose which contrasts to the jaggedness of her first two novels. Motherhood is present but less so than before and while mythical/religious elements are central they are more explicitly Christian/spiritual here (particularly as the novel progresses – although an opening epigraph from John 1:5 sets both the religious and thematic tone: “And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness comprehended it not”.

And some of this also I think reflects the temporal setting – this book actually steps forwards in time over many decades, but unlike her near future first novel or contemporary second, this is all in the past – taking place from the 1930s to the 1990s – the Guardian’s Alex Preston in his fiction preview of 2025 describing it (not entirely inaccurately) as “One Day written by (and starring) Virginia Woolf”.

The novel opens in Easter Sunday 1938 – at Cressingdon, a large house in the Sussex Countryside where a bohemian family group of artists and writers gather: Ivy the novel’s main protagonist; her older brother Joseph (back from his Oxford college); his girlfriend Frances (who the family will meet for the first time but whose arrival is delayed); mother Marina (an artist) and her lover (and better known/more successful artist) Angus; father Gilbert (who lives away from the family home with the latest in a series of female partners) and Bear (the family’s nickname for their old family friend Rupert), Marina’s sister and brother in law (a novelist and occasional playwright respectively).

Much of the initial section can feel very old fashioned and over wrought reflecting both Ivy’s uncertainty on the verge of adulthood and her mother’s artistic temperament and pretentions “for Marina, food and art were incompatible in some way, just as religion and art where, and even politics and art to a certain degree. The borders of art needed to be policed, it seemed, kept safe from intruders of body or mind” – with increasingly ominous world events at best a background.

The culmination of the chapter and the episode around which Ivy’s life (and the novel) then revolves is when she and Frances go for a traditional first swim in the river that runs through the grounds – only for Ivy to be overcome by an unworldly light while Joseph disappears (assumed drowned).

From there we move to Joseph’s funeral and an impulsive relationship Frances forms with Bear – and then we start to move forward a decade or so at a time (but longer at the end):

April 1944 and Ivy now marrieds to Bear and settled into motherhood (of two young daughters) but a lightning storm, a rooftop vigil watching for bombs and then a fire at Cressingdon throw Ivy and Francis unexpectedly but thrillingly together.

April 1956 and the newly widowed Ivy, at a loss when Frances decides to put domestic life first, finds herself in church for a Maundy Thursday service which proves a transformative experience.

April 1965 and Ivy is in a convent but with her mother dying re-encounters Frances.

And then Easter Sunday 1999 as Ivy approaches the end of her own life.

All through though she is drawn back to that first fateful Easter, seeing to understand what the light she encounters was, what it tells her of this world and of God – drawn back both to her own memory of her beloved brother and her relationship with his erstwhile lover (and now hers), to understand her own mother and children. Images of the past recur as does in particular the titular idea of light and also that of love.

Overall, an intriguing novel and not one I was really expecting: I was perhaps most reminded of the writing of Francis Spufford and his “Light Perpetual” than I was of the author’s earlier works and I will be interested nearer the time of publication to understand more of the drivers behind her writing and conception of the novel.

Days of Light by Megan Hunter is a poignant exploration of a life shaped by both love and loss, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. The story begins on Easter Sunday, 1938, when Ivy, a nineteen-year-old at the cusp of adulthood, eagerly awaits the arrival of a longed-for guest. Her bohemian family gathers in the idyllic Sussex countryside, and while Britain teeters on the brink of war, the day feels suspended in a timeless moment of possibility.

The day takes a tragic turn, setting the course for Ivy’s future and propelling the reader through six pivotal days spread across six decades. Each day marks a significant moment in Ivy's journey, offering a glimpse into the various stages of her life. Hunter's writing beautifully captures these moments, weaving through Ivy's experiences of love, self-discovery, and the search for answers to life’s deeper questions.

The narrative has a unique structure, beginning in the pre-war era, where Ivy’s family, with its unconventional dynamics, is as much an artistic and intellectual collective as it is a family. With an air of fluid sexuality and artistic expression, Ivy’s mother, Marina, lives in a bubble of work-focused isolation, oblivious to the lives unfolding around her. The family housekeeper, Anne, brings a sense of control and order to the household, yet her presence contrasts the swirling chaos within the family.

The tone of the book is delicate, almost timeless, with Hunter's lyrical prose creating a sense of an “old-fashioned” sensibility. The exploration of love, loss, and family dynamics is both intimate and sweeping. While the narrative may be considered contemporary, there’s an undeniable sense of nostalgia that permeates the book, evoking a world that feels far removed from the present.

Ivy’s journey is both deeply personal and universally relatable as she navigates the complexities of relationships, self-worth, and the inexorable passage of time. Days of Light is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant tale that will stay with you long after the final page, offering a meditation on life’s fleeting moments and the enduring search for meaning in a world on the verge of great change. Highly recommended for those who enjoy reflective, character-driven stories set against the ebb and flow of history.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Megan Hunter writes so beautifully. Days of Light is the first novel I have read of hers and I was captivated by the quality of the writing. We spend six days in Ivy’s life, over a period of years, and we experience grief, love and a searching for something - grace? Light? Spiritual joy? In the end it feels very much a book about love.

This is a rather strange story; one in which nothing much happens, but everything happens. All reviewed from the perspective of a single day at different times in Ivy’s life. It starts with a very upper class setting; a family gathering at the country estate in 1938. Ivy is 19 and on the cusp of adulthood and looking forward to this Easter weekend gathering, unaware how events will shape her. I felt I started to knowIvy as a person; her character, aspirations etc and warmed to her. The family was an odd bunch, but it’s rich in detail and I was soon involved in her and their interests.

Using a single point of reference on five further occasions in Ivy’s life is an unusual narrative tool and by and large it works, It’s interesting to reflect on those threads that bind us and Megan Hunter has selected an eclectic mix of influences throughout Ivy’s life over some sixty decades. Her writing is effortless. It flows beautifully and it’s a story to devour with ease. That takes a real skill and there wasn’t a moment where I was irritated by clunkiness or contrivance. Absolutely 5* for such exceptional writing. I thought the best part was the Easter 1938 gathering which reminded me of Elizabeth Jane Howard and the Cazalet chronicles. I think Howard is outstanding in this genre, but Megan Hunter’s writing is better. I haven’t read her earlier books and on the basis of this read will be looking these out.

What at first, seemed a captivating read featuring fictional "also rans" of a Bloomsbury type set, seemed, to me, very quickly to run out of momentum. Our protagonist Ivy who we follow from her late teens to her 80s through six specfic days on which (it is assumed) she felt her life turned is a great idea.

For me, the first section - 1938, foreshadowed in parallel with the time period. Whilst the story landed in different periods of the twentieth century, none had the same resonance, combining time/place and actions. I accept that certain periods of life/time are indistinct as we travel through them but this largely all hinged on one day despite the introduction of a variety of paths of self-discovery. No other "stopping point" seemed to carry the same gravitas of the first.

This may have been a deliberate writing choice to look at early moments of our life that end up defining both ourselves and our place in the world but there were some huge choices made or stumbled upon that I felt could have been written so that they added to our understanding of Ivy and changing times.

The writing is lovely and I did enjoy inhabiting Ivy's world but my gut feeling was that it needed significant pruning to the straggly areas and significant embellishment in others.

With thanks to #NetGalley and #PanMacmillan #Picador for allowing me the opportunity to read and review

The reader accompanies Ivy on six important days in her life. A extraordinary, ordinary life with its hardships, with its joys. Far from heteronormative stereotypes, a gentle book, a rare and curious gem.

Starting in 1938, we follow six important days in Ivy’s life.
The novel deals with grief, love and self-realisation.
Ivy’s family life was diverse and interesting.
I found the writing mostly beautiful, but uneven at the page and sometimes, chapter level.
The classic novel setting and mood was intriguing.
3.5 stars.
I look forward to the writer’s next book.

Days of Light is a curious read- hard to classify as contemporary fiction in some senses as there is a gentle 'old -fashioned' /timeless feel to the book.

This is the story of Ivy told over six April days across her life.

Beginning in 1938, Ivy and her family await the arrival of brother Joseph's first girlfriend (Frances) to come to the family home( Cressingham) in Sussex.

Ivy and Joseph's parents- Angus and Marina- have separated and live with new partners- sexuality is fluid and there is a feel of the Bloomsbury group as art figures largely in the lives of all. Mother- Marina - exists for her work and lives in a bubble that appears to be oblivious to those around her Life is controlled by housekeeper Anne.

Events on this first Easter Sunday begin with a joyful anticipation and end in tragedy - impacting upon Joy and her future life.

There is a written style that evokes the work of Elizabeth Jane Howard - middle class privilege but Megan Hunter digs deep to tell the story of a woman searching for meaning and light in her life following a very personal deep misfortune - trying to discover her true self (childhood isolation and in the shadow of her brother ) whilst attempting to find understanding in faith.

A longer novel exploring more about the other characters within the book could have been good as the impact of events upon them was not always developed but focussing on six days over the following decades in the life of Ivy did not leave gaps in the narrative.

Ultimately, a clear message prevails- love will conquer all- which is never a bad thing

This is an account of six days in the life of a woman from a bohemian Sussex family who have echoes of the Bloomsbury Group. The book starts with a tragedy and this haunts the protagonist through coming decades.
The writing is beautiful and elegant with strong characterisation. The cast of surrounding people felt vivid and well realised.
I did find the story to be a little slow in parts but enjoyed the evocation of the historical periods shown which seemed well researched.

I was looking forward to reading this after being capitivated by the slow burn of Hunter's The End We Start From. Days of Light is quite a different story from that, it being set across six days across the decades in Ivy's life, starting in 1938 rather than the slightly apocolyptic near-future of the TEWSF.

Unfortunately, the slow burn of the previous book didn't quite translate into this one. There are 'events' (a death, a fire, a love affair, a spiritual awakening) but it feels like nothing really seems to happen. I was surprised to see I was over half way through the book at one point; the story hadn't really picked up any pace.

There are some lovely turns of phrase, but I felt the characters were not that well developed. There were hints of intrigue between characters and certain storylines (such as the "lights), but nothing really came of those. Overall, it was a little slow for me. I did enjoy reading it though.

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to review this book.

I loved both The End We Start From and The Harpy making me keen to read Megan Hunter’s new novel which tells the story of Ivy, the daughter of a bohemian family, through six pivotal days in her life beginning with Easter Sunday in 1938 which ends in tragedy.
Nineteen-year-old Ivy wakes to what she expects to be a special day. Her beloved brother Joseph has invited the woman with whom he’s in love to stay and Ivy is eager to meet her. At a funeral, two weeks later she finds solace with a man much older than herself which will lead to marriage and children. Towards the end of the war, a friendship ripens into a love that might fulfil her longing for meaning, hopes dashed ten years later on a day in which she experiences an epiphany pointing her to another way of life. On the sixth day, Ivy remembers the many Easters she has lived through and the course her life has taken, understanding that her quest for meaning has been fulfilled.
Ivy’s story is unfolded from her own perspective although not in her own voice which suits this woman cast as an observer on the edges of a colourful family caught up in their own lives, unsure of her own place in the world. Hunter’s writing is luminously beautiful at times and there’s an elegiac quality to the early part of the novel which lends it a gentle melancholy. Throughout it all, Ivy remains haunted by the tragedy of 1938, unsure to the end if she might have played a part in it. Looking at other reviews, I see that some readers found Hunter’s novel unsatisfying, but I loved it, partly its structure suited it well but mostly for its quietly gorgeous writing.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an early read of this book, which will be published in April 2025.

This was an unusual read and an interesting slant on a story covering much of a character's life, but by concentrating on six individual days, each a decade apart. It felt much like a stream of consciousness, almost a diary entry with some speech, however, this wasn't traditionally written with speech marks but in italics, but I got used to the style very quickly.

The book is written entirely from Ivy's perspective, as though the other characters were extras in her story, which I suppose they were. This allowed me to get inside Ivy's thoughts as she tries to make sense of herself, which she finds difficult in a family of creatives who have always known their place in the world.

A rather rambling read, but not unpleasantly and almost certainly intentionally, as Ivy struggles to discover who she is.

Originally told through six days in Ivy’s life, this book takes the reader on a journey of life and loss. Initially the writing style was a little difficult for me to comprehend but as the book carried on it became easier to lose myself in the beauty and lightness of the writing. Ivy’s life takes on many twists on turns, from pre WWII to just before the 2000s. We follow her as she grieved, finds love, loses love and finds herself. I really enjoyed this form of storytelling that put focus on these six days in her life. By the end of the book I felt attached to Ivy, I had been following her life since she was 19 and I almost didn’t want to leave her. This was emotionally charged and full of gorgeous quotes and relationships, a real reflection of life and all of its complications.

4+ ⭐

I was a bit misty eyed by the end of this.
Six days with Ivy, and yet I felt I knew her so well.
Admittedly, six very important days.
We start with a fairly ordinary family Easter, lunch and from there I was hooked.
Pulled on my heart strings a fair few times.

Six days of Ivys young life at the start of the War is intense as much as it's tragic.

Ivy is spending time with her family, who are rather free and easy about life when tragedy strikes and wordls and lives are changed forever.

This book is a great read. it is a slow burn but oh how I loved it.

The author is a good storyteller and I felt all emotions and gasped at times at what happened next.

Not what i expected at all but I like when a book surprises me..

I’m not really sure what to say about this book. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. I think the premise ended up being much better than the execution. The book presents six days in the life of Ivy, a young woman who is 19 on the eve of World War II. The first chapter, which recounts the tragic events of Easter 1938, is very strong, and I hoped it would set the tone for the rest. Unfortunately, as the story progressed, I felt that this intensity faded.
The idea of depicting long-term grief through a few random days in the protagonist’s life sounds intriguing, but it resulted in a situation where most significant events were told rather than shown. I also didn't feel a sense of continuity, especially regarding the protagonist's emotions and her relationships. Although Ivy is constantly grappling with her loss from 1938, she also builds her life with others; however, these relationships lacked emotional depth for me because we know almost nothing about them beyond descriptions of six moments in her life.
Sadly, particularly in the second half, the book became dull at times. I don’t deny that the author had an interesting idea, and the book does hold some value in discussions about grief and love as factors driving life choices. However, I wish these themes had been more strongly emphasized.

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into this book I tired a couple of times but didn’t make past chapter five really sorry to report this but it was DNF for me