A cleverly written story which is like two books united together. The twists and turns whilst gripping are a challenge to follow at times. Olivias childhood ends with the sinking of the Titanic. She is offered a home with her godparents and enjoys being part of a family. But what if the Titanic didn’t sink? Is it her imagination or is there a parallel world that runs alongside? This book will keep you guessing until the end.

I was really looking forward to this book partly because of the promised mystical dual world element and also its links with the Titanic. The Titanic unfortunately only appears briefly to introduce the split in time. However the author appears to have had other ideas ready to include in this book. There is definitely a Downton Abbey theme going on and the dual world element is there. Not so much initially but more so in the second half of the book. I really enjoyed the feisty character of Olivia. She just came alive whatever was thrown at her. I also enjoyed the way the book was brought to a close (no spoilers). Very intricate, but clever and satisfying. This storyline could have gone badly wrong but on the whole it works and is a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 |

Thanks @netgalley for the advanced copy!

This book sounded so utterly intriguing - part sweeping romance, part thrilling mystery and part heartbreaking WW1 drama.

When Olivia's parents both pass away on the Titanic, she's shipped off to live with her Godfather and his family at a country manor house. But with war in Europe imminent and the threat of their four sons being drafted, they have more to worry about.

Friendless, Olivia takes solace in the mysterious voice from behind the wall in her tower room. She believes Seth to be a product of her grieving imagination and thinks nothing of it. However, they soon discover that they are both very much alive, living in alternate worlds that run parallel to eachother.

Honestly, this book was so beautifully written. There's so much in it to unpack and so many overlapping genres that it will make the perfect book club read!

I've been in a bit of a slump lately and this one was just what I needed 🖤

The House of Lost Whispers is released on 27th April!

Another enchanting tale of historical fantasy by Jenni Keer with absolutely adorable characters and a gripping plot. This one explores what might happen if there were two versions of reality, and the impact on history if certain major events didn’t happen. It’s an intriguing premise - who hasn’t wondered how their life might have turned out if something significant hadn’t occurred? - how much are we fated to be with a certain person, and how much is down to random chance?
The book covers the events immediately preceding, during and after the First World War. Often moving and thought-provoking, I was touched by the story of the Fairchild family who took in the orphaned Olivia Davenport after her parents were lost at sea. Olivia is a wonderful heroine: plucky and optimistic, despite her life being overshadowed by grief. She is an imaginative, quirky ray of sunshine. I loved that she sometimes had to maintain her spirits through sheer force of will because her life is often very hard, and that this resilient courage had a positive effect on everyone she encountered.
Then there is the man behind the wall. I loved this character, too. Much of the humour in the novel comes through him, and the witty dialogue between him and Olivia really sparkles.
There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns through the story, which occasionally mashes genres, and towards the end I started to wonder if there would ever be a HEA. But ultimately I’m happy to report finishing this book with a highly satisfied smile.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

How to summarize this book? Olivia Davenport, after losing her parents in the sinking of the Titanic, moves into her godparents house and has a childish crush on a gardener there. Olivia also begins to speak to a parallel version of him in which the sinking of the Titanic never happened. Then follows a long non-fantastical section of the book on a separate WW1 romance and tragedy involving Olivia before a solving of a cold case murder and a return to her once childish crush.

(A note on content warnings: the *adult* gardener reacts appropriately to her crush on him and is not interested thank god. But you will read about a minor having unreciprocated feelings for him.)

As you can tell, this book has SO MUCH PLOT in it. My summary even leaves out many side plots like a sanitarium, a gay son, disfigurement, the importance of physical touch in parenting, and a matchmaker trope. All of this is both a strength and a weakness. I found both a very quick page-turner and some genre-bending that sometimes felt very abrupt from one to another. Did I just read a fantasy? A mystery? A romance? Adult? YA? Middle grade? No idea.

Despite all of this, Kerr’s writing is very cozy to me and I greatly appreciate this unique premise. The House of Lost Whispers would be ideal for a book club or for a romance reader dipping their toe into historical fantasy.

Thank you, Boldwood Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Based on the blurb, I thought this book was going to be more of a mystery, something even science fiction-y maybe. Find a way through the wall to this other world where the Titanic didn’t sink.
I found out, a bit slowly, that this is not that book. And to be honest, it could’ve been any number of larger than normal but not world ending tragedies, I do wonder: why the Titanic?
That being said WOW, this book had me in a chokehold. So many twists and turns, so much loss, yet so much imagination and unwavering optimism. I thought this story might be simple, but it wove all these threads through time and space together so beautifully. I read 50% of it in one afternoon, I could NOT put it down.
Olivia was such a delight. Her positivity is overbearing, but everyone around her NEEDS it. Did you see all those sad people in Seth’s timeline? Nah, they desperately needed Olivia’s unfailing spirit and hope. She faced an unthinkable tragedy, and sure the war is a much larger scale and cause for more depression and desensitization, but it’s the same grief.
In a time where I’m feeling quite hopeless about the state of our world and looking at Olivia and her privilege with skepticism and “what abouts,” the escapism DID make me feel better. I found the story moving and thoughtful. It’s so difficult to be optimistic in the world, but if more people had the guts Olivia has, maybe we’d scrape by.
I really, really loved this.

"The House of Lost Whispers" by Jenni Keer is a captivating historical novel that intertwines elements of romance, mystery, and the supernatural. Set in early 20th-century England, the story follows Olivia Davenport, who, after losing her parents in the Titanic disaster, is sent to live with the Fairchild family at Merriford Manor. Amidst the looming shadows of World War I, Olivia discovers a mysterious voice behind her bedroom wall belonging to Seth, a man from a parallel universe where the Titanic never sank. Their connection evolves into a profound bond that challenges the boundaries of time and reality.​

Keer's storytelling intricately weaves themes of love, loss, and resilience, set against richly detailed historical backdrops. The novel delves into the emotional depths of its characters, particularly Olivia, whose journey from grief to self-discovery is both poignant and inspiring. The introduction of a parallel universe adds a unique twist, prompting readers to ponder the "what ifs" of history.​

While the narrative is compelling, certain sections dive deeply into descriptive prose, slowed the progression of the plot. However, "The House of Lost Whispers" offers a thought-provoking exploration of alternate realities and the enduring human spirit, and is a great read for those who appreciate historical fiction infused with a touch of the fantastical.

Jenni Keer delivers a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism in The House of Lost Whispers. Set against the backdrop of the Titanic tragedy and WWI, this beautifully layered novel follows orphaned Olivia Davenport, whose life takes a surreal turn when she begins hearing a voice—Seth’s—through the walls of her tower room at Merriford Manor.

Their haunting, time-bending romance unfolds across parallel worlds—one where the Titanic sank, and one where it didn’t—leading Olivia to question everything she knows. Rich with emotion, mystery, and imagination, the story is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

With strong pacing, captivating twists, and deeply emotional themes, this is a standout read—Keer’s best yet. A beautifully crafted, unforgettable tale.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

3.5 Stars

I received this book as an Arc from NetGalley and Boldwood books and my thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked up this book because it mentioned one of my favorite subjects, the Titanic. I thought this story was really cute and it kept my attention through most of it. I was expecting the titanic to play a bigger role in the story than it did. I also expected there to be more with the alternate world. Halfway through the story there was a mystery to solve and some romantic interest.

I thought that it was a cute, quick read and I would recommend reading it.

After thirteen year old Olivia's parents die on the fated Titanic voyage, she is sent to love with her godparents and their sons. However, when she hears a voice on the other side of her wall, it insists the Titanic did not sink, and her parents are alive and well. Who is the owner of the voice and how is Olivia hearing them?

The story also covers the period of World War One, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the disruption is caused in both existences, with different outcomes as to who survived and who did not. I did however find the story a little odd in places, almost as if the author didn't quite know what to do with her ideas. I enjoyed the writing style, and I found the ways the characters differed across the two existences to be interesting, but it felt perhaps as if the story needed a little further editing. 3 and a half stars, rounded to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in return for an honest review.

I will preface this by saying that I read and enjoyed The Ravenswood Witch, so was quite looking forward to this. The general writing style is quite similar. A sort of... slightly repressed Downton Abbey vibe. I think my problem with this book is that the author had two different ideas, and didn't make them gel well. If she'd written the "human story" that took up the first half of the book then that would be fine. But the book's description had already spoilered that this wasn't going to work out. And then the actual selling point of the book (what if the Titanic didn't go down) was just very strangely handled. I definitely got the feeling that she got part way in and then wasn't really sure how to resolve it, and I wasn't a fan of the way that she did.

Having said that, there were some lovely moments (and I did enjoy the twists that came in the latter quarter).

Jenni Keer....the Queen of historical fiction with a magical twist!!
I've come to love her writing and know to expect that little bit more, but even so, I was beautifully drawn in to Olivia's world and everyone around her, and this exceeded my expectations.

Spread over a few years, we meet Olivia as a young 13 year old who tragically loses both her parents aboard the Titanic, and follow her as she adjusts to a new life without them, whilst also living the fear and sadness of WW1.

Of course the blurb tells us it's also a story of a second reality of overlapping worlds- as ever this was done both cleverly and wonderfully! I can't recommend this enough.

“The House of Whispers” is a stunning & heart wrenching historical romance novel. I loved reading about the tale of 13 year old Olivia, orphaned by the tragic sinking of the Titanic and how fate, time & parallel worlds collided to bring peace to her through her darkest moments.

Olivia, is sent to live with her Godfather and his family, the Fairchilds, and asks to move to the tower room, where she can have alone time like a Princess hidden from all around her. In that lofty room one night she hears a voice, a boy who thinks she is a ghost! Each night they chat and spar fighting over which one of them is real and which a ghost. Slowly Olivia’s happiness returns, her friend restoring her faith in life, her sunny disposition and loving nature. The voice eventually stops. The lad had kept her going through her darkest times but had finally gone, possibly he was a product of her grief and vivid imagination?

Then War descends bringing with it unmeasurable grief and losses. Once again Olivia seeks solace in her own company in her tower room. The voice returns. His name is Seth and he claims to be the gardener on the estate. There was a Seth, he used to sleep in her tower room before she moved in. Between them, they realise they live in some kind of parallel world. In his World the Titanic didn’t sink, her parents lived, she didn’t suffer their tragic loss nor live with the Fairchilds. They continue to speak every night which restores the joy and lighr they both need after the ravages of war but despite the strength of their bonds they can not meet in real life nor tell anyone about it.

Even without the science fiction aspect, Olivia’s story is a compelling one of triumph over adversity, grief, loss and the power of true friendship. With the addition of the magical, romantic aspect I found “The House of Whispers” even more compelling as I read on longing for a fairy tale ending.

Oh my gosh!! What a wonderful story of WWI and the Titanic disaster. I was wrapped up in it right away. The mystery of it kept me reading late into the night.

wow Jenni Keer you are a wizard of the author world. this book cast me under its spell and made magic! sorry but i could not have loved this book more. i read, i read and i read some more. i need to keep reading more than i had time to keep reading. then i wanted to know more about the stories and wanted to know more about the characters. then when i got towards the end i didnt want it to end! that is the sign of a beautiful book and a wonderful read.
i dont want to say much more beyond the blurb as all the aha moments need to come fresh. i think they will be so much better if like me you had them fresh. i want you to learn the characters as new and then want to know more about them like i did. and the reveals and story moments are going to be soooo much better if revealed by your own eyes first.
but if you liked the blurb you will love this book so much more than you thought possible. and if you didnt like the blurb i still think youll be proved wrong and love the book! and that is saying something.
please read this book. you will not regret it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This is my first book by Jenni Keer and it definitely will not be the last one I pick up!
If you’re a fan of historical fiction with a twist, look no further, because this book HAS IT ALL. Multiple historical themes, romance, love and loss, class division (Upstairs Downstairs meets Downton Abbey), Sci-Fi/supernatural themes, murder mystery and jaw dropping plot twists and revelations.
It has been a while since I came across a book that I simply couldn’t put down, and I look forward to reading more from Jenni Keer. I highly recommend this novel.
This review has also been posted on Goodreads and Fable.

Olivia is sent to live with her guardians after her parents lose their life on the Titanic. she hears a voice from the other side of the wall and believes it is a ghost, but is it?

Titanic sank in April 1912 - or did it? What if there’s a parallel world where it didn’t sink? Olivia should have been on board but was too ill to go. She’s now orphaned and sent to live with relatives. She heard a voice in the tower where she sleeps and finds out in that world it didn’t sink. It’s wonderful how it all comes together. A true love stories!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC of #TheHouseofLostWhispers. I have just finished this amazing book and I loved everything about it! The author gives a fresh take on historical fiction that makes it less boring to me! Her character development was wonderful and I loved Olivia! I can’t wait to read another book by this author.

The moment I saw this book up for review, I jumped at the chance because I have enjoyed every one of Jenni Keer's novels, and I love the way historical aspects are woven into her fantastic fiction.
The House of Lost Whispers is no different. I think it is one of my favourite Jenni Keer books!
There is a dual timeline, with a difference. Olivia Davenport, the FMC and daughter of a famous author, is grieving after losing her parents tragically as passengers on the ill-fated Titanic.
Olivia is taken to the village of Merriford Lode to live with her legal guardian and her father's best friend, Sir Hugo, in his large manor house. Olivia loses herself in the fantasy world created in her mind until she is reintroduced to four sons of the family, one younger, one a similar age, and two much older.
She finds herself drawn to a particular wing of the house and requests that she be allowed to stay there, displacing a young gardener.
The dual timeline bit comes here, where Olivia finds someone else here, not a ghost, but someone who appears to live in the same place, but in a different dimension.
He's the same gardener she displaced, Seth Tanner, and as they go through time, they build an unlikely friendship that sees them through personal ups and downs and the First World War. They never see each other but are strangely able to hear one another.
Like the movie The Butterfly Effect, one difference in their lives at a key moment garners different effects to their lives.
You have a bit of history, along with fiction, a bit of a murder mystery and a little paranormal romance thrown in.
I was hooked from the beginning and loved it.
I'm sure I won't be the only one hoping and wishing for a secret portal to open up, allowing these two very different individuals to meet...
I'm not saying anything else. Don't want to ruin the story for anyone, but it was pure magic!
Can't wait for whatever comes next, Jenni!
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC