Right, this book tries to do a lot. And it mostly does, and it does them pretty well, but there are a few points reading this where it felt like it might be trying to do too much. The problem was that some of the threads felt a bit distant from each other, and that maybe it would be better to follow those thoughts in different books instead of putting them into one single story. The fact that Hope managed to actually connect everything up in the end was impressive and left me feeling a bit daft for my earlier doubts, but come together they do and it really does all fit together very nicely in the end. Just run with it all and have confidence.

And all that tells you nothing other than the story makes sense, which is probably the minimum we hope for and not very informative at all. So here's an attempt at a little more. The story takes place on an estate of many acres with woods, lakes, a church, holiday cottages, a stately home, and obviously, a clapped out bus from the 60s left over from a very 60s/70s sounding music festival and all that may imply. The family are gathering to bury the man who owned it all until a short while prior to the story commencing and his daughter is fretting about whether the inheritance tax will hamper their rewilding project. I know, I make that sound very exciting don't I? But it's all background really. That's the framework that brings the three children together with squabbles and angst over their roles in the family and the lingering baggage of childhood and all the drama and chaos of family life. Which is well written and, given many families, may at times feel a little too familiar for many of us, if not directly then at least through our closest relationships.

And that really is the story - baggage. It looks at how pervasive cruelty can be, and how important kindness and acceptance can be when we find it. It never yanks harshly on these threads, but there are constant light tugs throughout. They weave the whole thing together. And that is what to remember. Because at times you see Frannie worrying about plating oaks for future generations, Milo wanting to microdose future world leaders, and Clara bucking the trend with her history PhD that looks a little too closely at how many landed white English gentlemen made their money in the glory days of the British Empire with its many colonies.

Yeah, I warned you it looks at a lot of different things. And that's why, as good as each angle was, I found myself wondering why they were all there at once. Even very close to the end I felt the connection was a little weak. And then it fell into place. The final pages brought those thoughts of the past, present, and future, all together. If there can be such aa thing as a happy ending in a book about a funeral I might even suggest this managed it. Maybe not a full blown, smiles on faces happy ever after conclusion, but definitely a sense that the characters have a future. Not always the one they hoped or planned for, and not one that will run completely smoothly, but a future that will be better than where they are right now.

Still with me? Want the mini version I could've said at the start? Here goes. It's a god story. A little quirky at times, but it works. It broaches a bunch of heavy topics but manages to keep things relatively light considering. It's a good read and likely one many people should pick up even though I don't see it becoming a buzzy cool read that everyone recommends to each other and you start seeing multiple copies on the train or bus each day. It's a slow burner, which feels right. It's a book that feels like it will endure, a book that will be relevant and contemporary for years to come and something future generations will be able to benefit from being written. Kind of like an oak planted in the grounds. It's all rather apt when you think about it.

Grace and Philip Brooke inherited the eighteenth century family home and thousand acre estate and brought up their three children in the countryside = though in reality Grace did most of the parenting as Philip, a philanderer, took himself off to the USA and settled down with another woman for numerous years. He finally returned to Sussex where he eventually dies, leaving the burden of the estate to his eldest daughter, Frannie. She is very conscious of climate change and wants to do her best to re-wild as much of the land as possible, and take on eco projects, but her siblings, Milo and Isa are sceptical and Milo, in particular, has other grand ideas.

As the day of Phiip’s funeral approaches Isa drops a bombshell and tells Frannie that she has located the girl that she thinks was born of her husband’s Americam relationship, and has invited her t attend the funeral. Will her arrival cause more family friction and further problems?

An amazing read, bringing past and present problems together.

Despite high expectations this book was a miss for me. It felt over-structured and just way too long. The characters were unconvincing (perhaps as a result?) and the overall tone and dialogue somehow off. However there are so many strong reviews that I would encourage everyone to read and make up their own mind. Special thank you to Penguin Random House UK for a no obligation digital advance review copy.

A Funeral. ... A Family Reunion .... Unresolved Issues. .... A Sussex Manor House ..... and a family secret yet to be revealed .

Albion by Anna Hope could have been a "routine" novel about regret, desires and animosities between siblings gathering for their father's funeral - but this is a novel that digs deeper and darker into a family that has lived under the shadow of the patriarchal and egoistical (damaged) Philip Brooke - inheritor of a family estate going back several generations and self confessed party man- as well as privileged background.

After abandoning his wife ( still living alone on the estate ) and children and going to America, the estate/land goes into disarray until Frannie- the eldest of the children returns home after a self imposed exile and begins the job of turning the land into "Albion " a place of rewilding- returning the land to nature. Philip finally returns home to spend his final years on the estate - a state of atonement for past actions and works alongside Frannie.

Frannie's brother Milo has visions of making a fortune by using part of the land for a millionaire's retreat while young sister Isa has her own personal reasons to return to the estate as she struggles in her marriage.

This is a book set over five days exploring the fallout of a father's death; acknowledging hidden truths ;the expectations of the privileged and the impact of an unexpected guest Clara.

Anna Hope has written a superb novel that explores wider issues within society- legacy being at the forefront - what we leave behind ( the environment /natural world- climate change) but also the unspoken factors of the past and the need for benefactors from past wealth to acknowledge the roots of their entitlement and good fortune.

The novel moves from the perspective and voice of each of the main characters- each damaged by the actions of Philip. The tensions, greed, aspirations between the characters are palpable. The voice of Rowan- Frannie's daughter - is the one that curiously shines through as she observes the actions of the adults.

Gripping, moving , thought-provoking.

A highly recommended read for 2025 .

Growing up in Sussex - much of the landscape resonated with me

Expectation by the same author is a book that I really enjoyed so I went into this book with high hopes.
The plot is intriguing and the twist was unexpected but the pace was a little too slow for me and the characters were all unlikeable.
A talented writer and a good story but I needed a bit more oomph.

This isn't my usual type of read. I'm more of a thriller/mystery reader but I really enjoyed this one. Excellent prose and a beautiful story

Bit outside my normal reading habits but thought give it a try. Sadly. couldn't get into the characters and the book did seem to drag. I am sure many will enjoy this, particularly as it looms as how the landed gentry could evolve in the near future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Albion!

The book follows the story of a family and their ancestral home in the wake of the patriarch's death. I enjoyed the cast of characters created by Anna Hope in this book - I think every reader will probably have their favourites, but I reckon they might be different for everyone. Each character felt distinctly human with plenty of flaws to keep the story alive. I loved the injection of wildlife and nature descriptions, and the personality of the daughter, Rowan, was perfect. I was worried that the book might rely too heavily on 'shock value' to develop its storyline, but was satisfied by how it evolved. My main criticism is that I saw the 'twist' coming from about 100 pages out, so it didn't feel as satisfying as the stories where it creeps up on you.

Having previously DNF'd 'Expectation' by the same author a couple of years ago, I was really pleased with the quality of this book - 4/5 and I'd recommend it to others!

I assumed this would be the usual novel about privilege and country houses but there were a few tangents. The family are meeting at the family home for the funeral of the father. Someone who had, until the last couple of years of his life, had let everyone down and each of the family had conflicting emotions. The eldest daughter, who was to inherit, has started the process of rewilding the estate. Other members of the family had their own plans too. The issues of legacy and colonialism are also addressed. I found it an interesting read although a little long.

Thank you very much to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

It is the end of an era for the family of Philip Brooke, as they prepare for his funeral. Inheritor of a large estate, which he has been slowly rewilding with the help and support of his oldest daughter, Frannie. He has had a profound impact on each character in the story. Each individual plays a vital role as the action develops and the truth of the situation reveals itself. There is a recognition that things really will have to change in the future, both to acknowledge the past lives that formed the estate and to recognise the change that it ahead of all of us as a result if climate change.

'We're all going to have to relinquish a hell of a lot if we're going to fit together into a future where we can thrive,' is a central message here. We have to recognise that what formed us is as much of a challenge as the future.

Beautifully written, as is to be expected from Anna Hope, with a marvellous sense of place and the environment of the estate. Well described, challenging yet sympathetic characters and an ultimate message of hope for the future.

A great piece of writing and a great read, which really helps the reader to recognise that there are no easy answers.

Thank you again for a wonderful story.

Albion by Anna Hope, published 2025

The Brookes are burying their patriarch, Phillip, a complicated figurehead who cheated on his wife and was absent for much of his three children’s childhoods - Frannie, Milo and Isa. Their large Sussex ancestral home and thousand acres of English countryside has passed to Frannie, who had reconciled with her father and was working with him to rewild much of the estate, living in a cottage on the land with her daughter Rowan. Milo wants a parcel of the land to establish a retreat for the super rich to take psychedelic drugs and reconnect with nature. Isa isn’t that wild about being home but jumps at the chance to reconnect with her first love, Jack, who works on the estate. And their mother Grace, defeated after fifty years with an absent spouse in a house she hates, is wondering whether fresh starts are possible late in life.

This is a proper English country house novel but for the modern age, grappling with modern problems. Climate change, colonial legacies and class & privilege all come up as the characters consider their place in the world, their legacy and the impacts of their actions and decisions.

This is character-led modern fiction, written by a historical fiction author, and it really shows in the setting which was stunning, really visceral. Despite being a slow burn, it builds to a compelling end, a real page turner. There was maybe a few too many characters, as Hope also explores a few of the residents of the estate, and the interloper Clara who shows up to attend Phillip’s funeral, but that’s a minor quibble.

I really enjoyed this novel - it was beautifully written and I keep thinking about it.

ALBION will be published in NZ on June 1, 2025 so if this sounds like you, pre-order or add it to your library list. In the meantime, if you love books about female friendship, check out Hope’s 2019 novel, EXPECTATION, which was a five star read for me. I haven’t read any of her historical fiction, but I will definitely be delving into her backlist.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

👏🏼 This book is for you if you: are into historical fiction but love a modern read too - this is a perfect blend.

🙅🏼‍♀️ This book is not for you if you: like a fast paced read. This is a slow burn.

This was an excellent and thought provoking book. It was not what I was expecting at all but the story was so interesting.
The characters were well drawn and a swayed a lot between loving and hating some of them.

I had high hopes for this novel as I really enjoyed Expectation - this was something completely different and ultimately perhaps a little less to my taste. A deep dive into one family's grief and history over the four days of their father's funeral weekend, I found the first half of the novel much stronger (the 'revelation' that comes about three quarters of the way through isn't much of a surprise and the novel feels a little underwritten from thereon out) but it was nonetheless an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Anna Hope does it again! While The White Rock is still my favorite of her books, Albion is a close second. She’s such a talented writer—each of her books feels distinct in style, voice, and subject matter.

Set over five days, Albion brings the Brooke family back to their Sussex estate for the funeral of their patriarch. With its rich history and secrets, the sprawling property feels like a character in its own right—a place that holds both beauty and the weight of the past.

The intergenerational trauma woven into this story is deeply felt—violence, loneliness, and complex family dynamics. Hope raises big questions: What does it mean to be free? And how do we reckon with the legacies we inherit?

I was especially moved by the themes of land stewardship and ecosystem regeneration. Frannie’s rewilding project feels especially timely as the world grapples with climate change and the urgent need to reconnect with and restore the natural world.

This book is layered, emotional, and atmospheric. If you enjoy character-driven stories that delve into the messy intersections of family, history, and identity, Albion is worth the read.

Thanks to FigTree and NetGalley for ARC.
Stately home, disparate heirs, patriarch's funeral - it's a common set up to what is an uncommon and beautifully wrought novel exploring privelege, climate, technology, reparation, and whether with great power really comes great responsibility.
Daughter Frannie has been helping the newly deceased Philip Brooke run their huge Sussex estate, rewildin the majority. Now that he is gone and she is named as his successor, will the rest of the family get what they need or want? How can Frannie reconcile the father she grew to know with the faithless husband and absent father she knew he was in earlier life? Why hasn't brother Milo inherited? Who is the mysterious Clara?

This is a very slow burn, but burn it does, and brightly. I thought about it for days afterwards.

4-5 stars

Absolutely at the epicentre of all that is revealed is the Sussex mansion, a two centuries old Greek revival showcased in a thousand acres of land. However, Philip Brooke and his daughter Francesca (known as Frannie) have far from ancient ideas for the land; their vision is the rewilding Albion project where the future harmonises with the past. Now Philip is dead and Frannie inherits but will she clash with her siblings Milo and Isa or maybe her mother Grace over the direction estate management will take? In addition, Clara is due to arrive from America with disturbing information that may change everything.

This is just my kind of book, an intense slow burner character driven plot that raises all kind of issues and makes me think. The characters are all well crafted though not necessarily likeable. Some are troubled such as Milo who has many demons, some are torn and uncertain such as Isa whilst Frannie is driven, focused and can be ruthless in pursuing the vision. The standout character for me is Frannie’s daughter curious Rowan who doesn’t necessarily think like a typical child of her age but in fact she is central to pulling the whole thing together.

As for the estate, it’s beautifully described and I feel as if I’ve walked it with various characters. I love the rewilding element and the passion Frannie feels for it and it makes so much sense. The story of how the estate comes about takes a deep dive into social and economic injustice of the past and is dealt with effectively. Through what is learned the already tense situation intensifies and you realise breaking point has been reached. The things they’ve suppressed for a variety of reasons bubble to the surface where they boil and pain is palpable. I really like how things end and it feels right in a multitude of ways.

Overall, this is a compelling and ambitious novel which delivers for me. I’ve not read Anna Hope before but she’s a must read from now on.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated epub in return for an honest review.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this - I loved this.

Readers follow the various people in a country estate over a long weekend due to
We follow the various inhabitants of a country estate over a long weekend as they prepare for the funeral of the head of the family Phillip.
There are guests and family members in this wonderful setting, then comes Clara who could be Phillips illegitimate daughter adding tension and an uncomfortable feeling.

Always interesting when there is inheritance, family, scandal and grief thrown into the mix.

A really good read. Due for publication 1st May 2025.

A well written novel with an intriguing premise but I found it a very slow road and I failed to connect with the characters from this somewhat privileged family. Getting together at the family estate for the funeral of Philip, husband, father and serial philanderer, cracks begin to appear between the siblings, Frannie, who has inherited the estate and wants to rewild it, Milo, somewhat adored son and wastrel, and Isa, who is looking for her childhood sweetheart. Only their mother, Grace, manages to stay calm but we learn she has also carried a huge burden through the long and loveless marriage.
With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK for an arc copy in return to for an honest review.

After their father dies, his widow and her adult children and their families gather at the grand ancestral home for his funeral. They are a very disfunctional family with skeletons in the cupboard which will be revealed in the course of the following days and which will change their lives. Frankie, the eldest of the adult children, had inherited the task of looking after the estate and wishes to rewild it; Milo, her brother, wants to build a treatment centre; and Isa wants nothing to do with any of it and is haunted by her past. All three go through a period of self-discovery prompted by the arrival of Clara, the daughter of their father’s lover.
The story is a bit of a slow burner but explodes near the end in a climax at the funeral. We learn a lot about the characters’ pasts and their feelings.
It’s well written with some beautiful passages but I felt it was a bit slow at times.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Penguin for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I like a country mansion novel, and this is an interesting kick on that idea. It takes a while to get started, I felt, but the setting and characterisation are well-crafted. If you can stick with it, it's definitely a worthwhile read, tackling some complex issues about the 'ruling class' and the way in which family deals with death. My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.