Reviews

The Forgotten Room by Lauren Willig, Karen White, Beatriz Williams

kristenlees's review

3.0

I can normally handle multiple POVs, even different timelines, but I could barely keep this book straight. There are 3 different women, 3 different eras and stories. They are all connected though, so there is a lot of the same names and places, or 'my mother' 'my father' and many times I was confused about which POV I was reading. To be honest, I'm not sure I understood absolutely everything in the end, but I got the main gist of it. It's hard to explain what this book is even really about... 3 women, 'what ifs', love, loss, head or heart. Overall, it made my love-loving heart happy but also sad.

ARC received from netgalley in exchange for honest review

sophieemitchell's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

theavidreaderandbibliophile's review

5.0

The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. It is a novel about three women from three different eras, but their stories are all connected (sounds confusing and it is at first). Olive Van Allen Is working as a maid in the Pratt mansion in 1892 to find information that will help clear her father’s name (and get a little revenge). Lucy Young is working as a secretary in a law office in 1920 and trying to find out about her birth father. Lucy found out recently that the father who raised her is not her biological father. Kate Schuyler is a doctor in 1942. Captain Cooper Ravenel is brought in with a bad leg. Kate saves his leg and nurses him back to health. Cooper (delirious when he arrives) calls her Victorine and that he has been drawing her face his whole life. Captain Ravenel has a small miniature portrait that resembles Kate. How is this possible? How are these women connected and what are their stories?

I do not want to say too much and give away the novel. The Forgotten Room drew me in right away. I enjoyed the story. You would not know that the book was written by three different writers. The book is very well-written, engaging, and a delight to read. I just kept reading until the book ended. I love how all the storylines tied together into one beautiful story. The first 31% of the book is a wee bit confusing, but then it will all click. The Forgotten Room is a pleasure to read. The story has romance and mystery that are beautifully woven together. I give The Forgotten Room 5 out of 5 stars. I hope you will give The Forgotten Room a try (you will not regret it).

I received a complimentary copy of The Forgotten Room from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Check out my blog for additional details: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-forgotten-room.html

halynah's review

5.0

Such an emotional and beautifully written book!!! I love everything I've read by Karen White and though I don't know the other two authors, their collaboration produced a real gem. Highly recommended!!!

kimvalentine's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

alidottie's review

4.0

4 and a half.
I thought this book was really fun to read. I enjoyed figuring out how the three women of different time periods were going to connect.

melzreads's review

5.0

I loved it. All three authors have written historicals that go back and forth in time. I loved that they used a family name from Williams' other novels. It felt very familiar yet different. I can't get enough of these types of books.

teah_stern's review

hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

aimeejane's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.75

jenpurlteach's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I enjoyed this as an audio book! I always love it when the parts of a book come together in the end and all the puzzling parts finally make sense. It was fun to see the mansion change through the decades and see the different young women’s choices in their eras.