I thoroughly enjoyed this story because it had a bit of everything. While a thread of sadness ran through it's entirety, the story covered all other emotions too making me laugh, cry and hold my breath and it makes me wonder if there is always an alternate? Fabulous!

The House of Lost Whispers (aptly titled) by Jenni Keer is an amazing, creative and exciting display of historical fiction and magical realism. Set in the past and drawing upon the Titanic disaster and the First World War, this complex novel captured my imagination and heart— hook, line and sinker with its powerful delivery, fascinating plot and intriguing characters! Let’s not forget the haunting romance between Seth and Olivia that crosses time and universes! My emotions were riding high and sometimes I felt like a rudderless ship tossed about the waves with all the twists and turns as I watched their dilemmas unfold. But thankfully the author navigates us well and we eventually come to a peaceful hum when waters quiet in the wee hours of a seemingly endless night of trauma.

I love Jenni’s novels and coupled with my interest in the Titanic, I knew this was going to be a rollicking ride. In our current world, the ill-fated ship has met its end on its maiden journey, along with taking down countless lives of its passengers. Olivia Davenport’s parents were on that ship and did not survive. She was meant to be on that voyage as well but circumstances prevented it which ends up being a blessing as this means her life was spared. But she is a child when it happens and losing her parents is a tragic and terrifying experience. She is a creative, imaginative girl with qualities and gifts similar to her parents—particularly like her father who is a famous novelist. It is into this area of creativity she plunges for refuge and as a way of working out her emotions.

Initially when Olivia is orphaned, after the death of her parents on the Titanic, she is taken in by her guardians, the Fairchilds. They live in a Jacobean mansion called the Merriford Manor and Mrs Fairchild begins to think of her as a daughter among her four sons who all grow to love their ‘new’ sister. Despite the love and attention she receives from the entire family, she still feels alone, until one day she hears a voice coming from the other of side of the wall in her tower bedroom. At first she thinks it is her imagination— a way her mind tries to deal with her grief. But when she is older, in her twenties, and the war has come and claimed so many of the Fairchild men, she begins to realise there is something unusual happening in the tower. The voice of Seth becomes her lifeline, a great comfort as they share their hearts, disappointments and dreams. During this time of getting to know each other, much to her amazement, she learns he lives in a world where the Titanic has not sunk. This means there may be other people she loves still alive. As she tries to grapple with this new reality, the frustration mounts as how will she cross from her world into Seth’s?

This is a stunning novel that is my number one favourite now of Jenni Keer’s. I devoured this beautiful heart-crushing story. From the first page, I fell head first into this realistic magical realm and never once slowed down. The pacing is excellent as it continues to spin and weave plots that leave your head swirling! There are some magnificent surprises and a number of tragic ones, too. This is a magnificent, well- crafted complex story. I will shout it from the rooftops of how much I loved The House of Lost Whispers for I cannot praise it enough! Loved, loved, loved it immensely. Such a clever, creative and captivating read! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for a review copy.

First, Thank You NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

The House of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer is written so beautifully. The well-drawn characters and the exploration of loss, love, and Olivia's journey of self-discovery and the setting were all fabulous. And Olivia reminds me of Sara Crewe from the classic A Little Princess, in which i love and adore so much. Olivia's character is not hard to emphatise with and her character was actually lovable. This book was truly enjoyable and make me thinks of all the what ifs a lot but also anticipating to moving on.

Will definitely recommend this book. Especially to those who love Historical-Fiction genre, with a lot of emotional exploration with a hint of sorrow and mystery.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was truly enjoyable and the perfect blend of whimsy, mystery and heartache. Olivia is a genuinely loveable character, and I did find myself empathising with her throughout. Jenni Keer has perfectly captured the melancholy of what ifs, and the anticipation of moving on.

I will certainly be recommending this.

Generally I quite enjoyed "The House of Lost Whispers" by Jenni Keer and the thought that there was another world behind the wall of the tower where the Titanic hadn't sunk. It was interesting thinking how Seth and Olivia could be together and yet apart at the same time. This was a comment on them living in parallel worlds and at the same time a comment on society. There were some parts I thought unnecessary (the romance scenes didn't really do it for me). Overall, enjoyable.

Absolutely marvellous! Such a unique story with heartbreak, loss, heartwarming moments, parallel worlds and plenty of 'what ifs'. Olivia Davenport is orphaned at age 13 when her parents die in the sinking of the Titanic. She goes to live with her godparents at Merriford Manor. In her tower bedroom she starts to hear a voice at night and, over time, her and the voice come to realise they are in the same time and place but in parallel worlds, with the voice in a world in which the Titanic doesn't sink. From there the story takes many a twist and turn as Olivia grows up, the family deals with heartbreak and loss through World War I and deals with its aftermath. The story is exceptionally well written and at no point did I feel confused or lost by the storyline. Olivia is a great character, so full of life. Thoroughly enjoyable!
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Jenni Keer for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book reminded me how much a good read can make you feel something, and this book definitely caught me hard in my feelings. I loved the overall concept of it, as there is much mystery and tragedy surrounding the sinking of the Titanic, and felt that the storyline with its twists was executed brilliantly. The character of Olivia is one where all women can relate, as she was very far ahead of her time in a way that makes readers root for her happiness. Her life story is one of depth, and one that I greatly enjoyed getting to follow along with. The details the author included helps readers to feel as if they are right there with the characters, and each twist and turn keeps an audience very well engaged with the story as well. Overall, I very much enjoyed this take on a historical fiction and I would very highly recommend it to other readers!

Couldn’t put this book down. I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author and the publisher and NetGalley.

This is a historical novel with speculative elements. Our main character is sent to live with a wealthy family after her parents die on the Titanic. She’s experiencing intense grief and isn’t sure if she can trust her own mind when she starts hearing a voice through the wall in the tower in which she sleeps. We follow her through her teenage years, as her impulsive actions cause a gardener to lose his job, her clashes with the older brothers in the family she’s been adopted into, the way her energy changes the family, particularly the youngest son and the mother. We follow her through the tragedy of the First World War and her attempts to help, to heal.

This book explores how we are shaped by grief. How great loss can change our personalities and how we navigate the world. How we can find hope and opportunities in our darkest hours.

I don’t want to discuss the speculative elements too much to avoid spoilers but I absolutely loved this part of the book. The way this influenced the main characters, the direction it set her down was fascinating.

I found some of the dialogue a little stilted at time but that’s my only negative in a book that was superb. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Dual lives, intriguing interwoven storylines and a fairly fast paced story heading into escapism.

The story follows Miss Olivia Davenport, being made a wealthy orphan after the Titanic disaster, she's taken into her guardians ( the Fairchild's) home as one of their own.

At first things are tricky. She's no longer the sole focus of doting parents who indulged her imagination and loved her beyond measure. Now she was an odd 13 year girl seeking friendship and attention in a household of 4 rather snobbish boys, the parents Sir Hugo and Cynthia are detached and distracted when it comes to offspring - something Olivia struggles to come to terms with following the sudden and dramatic deaths of her beloved parents.

But as she grows up and 1912 rolls into 1914 and the Great War begins, and she realises the boys are not as bad as they first appeared to her. She is still misguided and naive, which leads to the removal of the undergardner Tanner (remember him, he's key later), but she's learning to cope with the fate been dealt to her.

Her two romances tell the stories of great love and equally great loss, although to different amd not necessarily predictable extents. Howard and Tanner/Seth are completely different but imperative to Olivia. Then the voice in the tower begins and the idea of dual worlds emerges, with different choices affecting different outcomes and the effects start to ripple outwards.

Without giving too much away, it's this voice that helps soothe Olivia in her darkest moments during the war. It's also this voice that leads to unravelling some of the mysteries that have gone before, and the sharing of their lives helps both these characters heal from certain events. The story is told carefully so as not confuse with the overlapping worlds, and it is engrossing. It's so well written, you can't help but ride the wave of emotions with Olivia, Tanner, Howard and Seth.

What I loved about this book is that I was never entirely sure how it was going to end, it never felt predictable. The story is one of love, loss, intrigue and hope, with its fair share of mystery and disappointments. But then to balance this, Keer's magic is the concept of hope beautifully woven throughout. You're reminded that life isn't always fair but that there is always sunshine - there is always something to love and be grateful for. Olivia's spirit turned round the lives of several characters in the book, despite being an arguably flawed character with her wild imagination and naivety, we see her grow from a childish spoilt only child and develop into an interesting and deeply caring young woman determined to help those who had given up on helping themselves.

I read this in 2 days and thoroughly enjoyed it, will definitely be reading more by this author. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys a bit of romance, mystery or generally looking for escapism. I couldn't wait to finish the book to see how it worked out and that's one of the things that most surprised me - the twists and turns the story took means you really don't know what to expect and I loved being taken on this journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers of The House of Lost Whispers for the ARC of this novel. I absolutely love everything Jenni Keer has written and this story did not disappoint.

Historical fiction, a unique romance (zero tropes thank you, Jenni), some fantasy with a splash of mystery made for a perfect story. The writing is clean and colorful and I couldn't wait to escape to the world Jenni Keer created in this book. I loved every page.

A fascinating mix of genres, historical fiction meets science fiction as two parallel worlds run alongside each other. An enjoyable story with some sad moments but also some funny moments too.. I became thoroughly engrossed in this story and was sad to say goodbye to the characters at the end of the book.

ARC from NetGalley
Thank you to the author and publisher.
Publish Date: April 27, 2025

Rating: 5/5

Outlander meets Jane Eyre?

Plot: The young, eccentric Olivia loses her parents with the sinking of the Titanic. She comes under the care of her guardians, and begins the process of getting to know her new family and home while she grieves. Her imagination is full of life and she uses this to adapt.

As she ingratiates herself with everyone, she decides to have her room in a tower on the property. One night she hears a voice behind her bedroom wall. At first, she thinks its a ghost or a prank. It ends up being a gardener living on the estate, who is in a parallel world. Although similar, Seth's world has different events from Olivia's.

Throughout their relationship they both navigate through the war, loss, and their love for each other. Can they find a way to be together?

Praise:
- Writing style reminded me of well known, classic authors such as Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen.
- Unique, hopeful story line.
- Connection with main/secondary characters and their emotions. You're rooting for their happiness and feeling their sadness.
- Integrates multiple genres like historical fiction, romance, magical realism and mystery.
- Story flows along nicely without areas of dullness.
- Great, unexpected ending that leaves just enough questions to wonder what is next for Olivia and Seth.

Critiques:
- There are insignificant problems with this book. Tiny details that I don't feel warrant mentioning.

Fav Quote:
“What if our voices were like the wet ink, the imprint of which can transfer across from one page to the other, leaving a mark, but we're the words themselves, written on the page?”

Would I recommend it to a friend?
Absolutely. This book was well written and has a great plot. It is an uplifting tale of perseverance and love.

In this story, readers enter an alternate history, timeline, where the Titanic never sank. The many changes that occur, the dramas, the romances and the tragedies that play out in this truly original plot, will keep readers engaged.

An utterly unforgettable reading group historical novel, that is part romance, part gripping mystery, and part completely heartbreaking. I don't wanna be dramatic, but this book was effing brilliant. Could not recommend it more! Have never read a book so fast!

The House of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer is a captivating and atmospheric novel that blends mystery, historical fiction, and a touch of magical realism.

The House of Lost Whispers transports you on a magical journey that is part romance and part mystery where two world's exist with very different outcomes.
A utterly spellbinding historical fiction that I couldn't put down, make sure to add this one to your reading lists!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

At the age of 13 Olivia Davenport is orphaned when her parents die on Titanic. She is sent to live with her father’s best friend and his family, the Fairchild’s at their home, Merriford Manor. Lord Hugh and Lady Cynthia have four children, all boys and although they welcome Olivia they are a cold family and all Olivia needs is a hug. Her escapism from her tragic loss is her imagination, a world where she is a princess, a world full of make believe.

Briefly, after her godparents allow her to move into the tower she continues to grieve although she is beginning to break through the cold exterior of some of the Fairchild’s. Then one night she hears a voice that seems to come from the other side of the wall. In time it becomes clear that the person she is speaking to lives in a parallel world to hers, one in which Titanic didn’t sink and her parents survived the ship hitting the iceberg. I don’t want to say more for fear of spoilers.

A historical drama, with a romantic element, and a timeslip fantasy all woven together. There is a mystery element around a missing girl and a dramatic family story for both the Davenport’s and Fairchild’s in both stories. The timeslip element is done well and I couldn’t make up my mind at all whether it was real or just Olivia‘s vivid imagination. Olivia is a wonderful character and I so wanted a happy ending for her. Did she get it? You will have to read the book to find out.

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book but Jennifer Keer did not disappoint. I must admit I didn’t initially like the idea of parallel worlds and elements of war but I was pleasantly surprised. There are a few characters in this book living different lives between the two worlds but at no point did this become confusing which I’m very glad about. I loved how all the characters got their lives wrapped up with proper endings and not forgotten or buried in unnecessary subplots. All round an enjoyable book with a different story line from most historical novels.

The House Of Lost Whispers by Jenni Keer is a compelling historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is a very unique novel. It opens as the Titanic sinks, but in another dimension – The Titanic survives! Parallel lives with subtle differences. Only two characters share this unique perspective, and for years, each believes the other to be a ghostly voice!
We see the devastation that World War I brings. A generation of young men, lost forever.
Those who returned home were scarred – physically or mentally or both. In August 1914 young men believed that war was glorious, an adventure. They were soon disillusioned. “There’s no glory in the waterlogged pits of death I walk through.”
The role of women was changing as they demanded the right to vote. Lives were opened up due to war, as the women stepped into the men’s roles. In fact, my own paternal Nanny said that the First World War gave her, her freedom as she worked in a munitions factory examining the shell cases.
After the war, women were still expected to make marriage alliances but they gradually broke out of this traditional mold.
All the characters were well drawn and believable. The leading two had some moments of tender dialogue. We see the lengths to which some will go in order to find their true love.
There are those who are harbouring secrets. Will they ever be brought to justice?
The House Of Lost Whispers was a very unique read, and one that entertained me as I read it in just one sitting.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.