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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
With a promising description, I was certain I would like this book! Between a rendition of the sinking of the Titanic, and a mystery, jumping between timeline, it seemed like it couldn't fail, but yet I was somehow wrong.
While the beginning was promising, an interesting set up with likeable characters and sprinkling mystery elements into the narrative, I was pulled into the story pretty quickly. It wasn't until getting about 30% in that the story started to fizzle out for me. I found myself feeling reluctant to pick up the book, and only reading a chapter a day for the final 2 weeks of working on it.
Somewhere in the middle the plot got a bit convoluted, and just when I would begin to feel interesting in a timeline the chapter would end and it would switch, making me lose interest all over again. The twists and turns also needed a bit of refining, so overall while I though I would give this at least a 3.5* upon further reflection I feel sorry to say this ended up being a 2* for me.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free copy for an honest review.
While the beginning was promising, an interesting set up with likeable characters and sprinkling mystery elements into the narrative, I was pulled into the story pretty quickly. It wasn't until getting about 30% in that the story started to fizzle out for me. I found myself feeling reluctant to pick up the book, and only reading a chapter a day for the final 2 weeks of working on it.
Somewhere in the middle the plot got a bit convoluted, and just when I would begin to feel interesting in a timeline the chapter would end and it would switch, making me lose interest all over again. The twists and turns also needed a bit of refining, so overall while I though I would give this at least a 3.5* upon further reflection I feel sorry to say this ended up being a 2* for me.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me a free copy for an honest review.
3/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this book for review for me. This in no way influences my thoughts or opinions
Well, this was unexpected.
This book does take a little bit to get into which kind of sucks because it is a shorter story. I love the blending of the past and the present as we unravel the mystery from both timelines.
Parts were to be expected and by that, I mean someone who isn't as inclined to correctly guess endings could probably pick up on some of the twists coming their way.
However, I could not fully account for how everything unfolded and it definitely drove the rating up for me and made the waiting game worth it.
I don't have any strong feelings for this book either way. It's a great story and I enjoyed myself. I will have to give a content warning for the Titanic sinking. The mass death really got to me and it is told from a survivor's point of view which makes it hard.
I will definitely keep an eye out for this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this book for review for me. This in no way influences my thoughts or opinions
Well, this was unexpected.
This book does take a little bit to get into which kind of sucks because it is a shorter story. I love the blending of the past and the present as we unravel the mystery from both timelines.
Parts were to be expected and by that, I mean someone who isn't as inclined to correctly guess endings could probably pick up on some of the twists coming their way.
However, I could not fully account for how everything unfolded and it definitely drove the rating up for me and made the waiting game worth it.
I don't have any strong feelings for this book either way. It's a great story and I enjoyed myself. I will have to give a content warning for the Titanic sinking. The mass death really got to me and it is told from a survivor's point of view which makes it hard.
I will definitely keep an eye out for this author in the future.
This book took my breath away. It wove together the story of a girl who doesn't know why she's been summoned to a manor and the story of a young woman on the Titanic, and their paths cross in the most inexplicable ways. As a reader, it felt like a mystery; some things I could figure out ahead of time and other I never quite puzzled out until the end of the book. There's an underlying urgency that's present throughout the book that weaves it's way into both the past and the book's present (speaking of which, those transitions were seamless).
As an avid fan of historical fiction, this book was perfect. There were so many nods to historical figures who were on the Titanic, and a good portion of Lady Ava's story was based on real historical evidence. The story was so intriguing that I genuinely hoped it was true. It was so easy to get lost in Cowles' writing that I could spend hours reading without realizing it.
There were so many profound messages in this book about the meaning of life and the lessons we learn from war, death, and tragedy. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone interested in the early 20th century, anyone who loves a good mystery, and any who likes to be invested in the books they read. This really was a fantastic story and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
As an avid fan of historical fiction, this book was perfect. There were so many nods to historical figures who were on the Titanic, and a good portion of Lady Ava's story was based on real historical evidence. The story was so intriguing that I genuinely hoped it was true. It was so easy to get lost in Cowles' writing that I could spend hours reading without realizing it.
There were so many profound messages in this book about the meaning of life and the lessons we learn from war, death, and tragedy. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone interested in the early 20th century, anyone who loves a good mystery, and any who likes to be invested in the books they read. This really was a fantastic story and I don't think I'll ever forget it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
When Taylor Romano arrives in Oxford for a summer program, she doesn't expect to be met by a Rolls Royce. The old woman she meets inside is a surprise as well, and Lady Mae, the woman, is ready and willing to tell Taylor a story about her deceased father. That is, until Mae unexpectedly dies, leaving behind a memoir from Ava Knight, a survivor of the Titanic. How can the mystery Ava finds aboard the Titanic link back to Taylor's father?
Here's my problem with this book. The Titanic descriptions are great, but it feels like every bit of it is pulled from the movie. The wording, the people highlighted, all of it. It was weak storytelling that relied far too heavily on actual events to move a story forward. Second, the Taylor chapters were just her reading this diary of Ava's and every once in a while having an "Ah-ha!" moment. It's less mystery than show and tell. I wanted to like it, but the pieces just never fully came together for me, and it became predictable very quickly.
When Taylor Romano arrives in Oxford for a summer program, she doesn't expect to be met by a Rolls Royce. The old woman she meets inside is a surprise as well, and Lady Mae, the woman, is ready and willing to tell Taylor a story about her deceased father. That is, until Mae unexpectedly dies, leaving behind a memoir from Ava Knight, a survivor of the Titanic. How can the mystery Ava finds aboard the Titanic link back to Taylor's father?
Here's my problem with this book. The Titanic descriptions are great, but it feels like every bit of it is pulled from the movie. The wording, the people highlighted, all of it. It was weak storytelling that relied far too heavily on actual events to move a story forward. Second, the Taylor chapters were just her reading this diary of Ava's and every once in a while having an "Ah-ha!" moment. It's less mystery than show and tell. I wanted to like it, but the pieces just never fully came together for me, and it became predictable very quickly.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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:
No
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and was immediately stricken by the beautiful cover and the captivating title.
The Poppy & the Rose is a short, quick, enjoyable read - I read it in a matter of days because I wanted to see how this story of the Titanic was different than what I already knew of the horrific tragedy. This is a YA/ historic fiction / Gothic mystery, so it’s got a lot going on, but honestly, I enjoyed the story and learned quite a bit!
We follow Taylor as she arrives in Oxford for a summer journalism program, but the real reason why she’s in England is to find out more about her late father and the secrets he kept. Before she’s had the time to unpack her suitcase, she is invited to tea with Lady Mae Knight, who claims to have the answers she seeks. However, when the old lady is found dead, Taylor is left with a single clue: the story of what really happened aboard the Titanic as told by Ava, a 17-year-old socialite.
The Poppy and the Rose is the first novel of Cowles that I have read and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Wow! This book blew me away. Cowles writes beautifully and is a world-class storyteller. I had so much fun reading about Lady Ava and her journey on the Titanic and about Taylor and her sleuthing adventures. The structure, historical accuracy, main character arcs, and secondary characters of the novel are developed, brilliant, and imaginative. I felt swept away as I read, staying up way past my bedtime to finish the book because I was so invested. Cowles delivers wisdom and teaches history without the reader’s full awareness because the story is that good. This would be a great read for learners of any age.
Frankly, I think The Poppy and the Rose occupies a space of perfectly average. It attempts to ask lofty questions about life, love, and the intertwined nature of fate and time, but it forgets to create characters worth investing in and presents a mediocre plot. As a light read for historical fiction fans that go in with the bar set low, maybe this will be worth the time. Going in with high expectations of any sort, however, will likely ruin the experience.
My biggest problem with the book was actually the historical, factual information. I like to think I know more than the average about Europe in the early twentieth century, and I still struggled to follow along. Didn’t deter me from the story per se, but I also just had to push through the information overload. I also thought some of the present-day events were a bit farfetched, but it’s a book and I tried to not think too much into it!
Thanks to Owl Hollow Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. This does not influence my thoughts and opinions.
The Poppy & the Rose is a short, quick, enjoyable read - I read it in a matter of days because I wanted to see how this story of the Titanic was different than what I already knew of the horrific tragedy. This is a YA/ historic fiction / Gothic mystery, so it’s got a lot going on, but honestly, I enjoyed the story and learned quite a bit!
We follow Taylor as she arrives in Oxford for a summer journalism program, but the real reason why she’s in England is to find out more about her late father and the secrets he kept. Before she’s had the time to unpack her suitcase, she is invited to tea with Lady Mae Knight, who claims to have the answers she seeks. However, when the old lady is found dead, Taylor is left with a single clue: the story of what really happened aboard the Titanic as told by Ava, a 17-year-old socialite.
The Poppy and the Rose is the first novel of Cowles that I have read and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Wow! This book blew me away. Cowles writes beautifully and is a world-class storyteller. I had so much fun reading about Lady Ava and her journey on the Titanic and about Taylor and her sleuthing adventures. The structure, historical accuracy, main character arcs, and secondary characters of the novel are developed, brilliant, and imaginative. I felt swept away as I read, staying up way past my bedtime to finish the book because I was so invested. Cowles delivers wisdom and teaches history without the reader’s full awareness because the story is that good. This would be a great read for learners of any age.
Frankly, I think The Poppy and the Rose occupies a space of perfectly average. It attempts to ask lofty questions about life, love, and the intertwined nature of fate and time, but it forgets to create characters worth investing in and presents a mediocre plot. As a light read for historical fiction fans that go in with the bar set low, maybe this will be worth the time. Going in with high expectations of any sort, however, will likely ruin the experience.
My biggest problem with the book was actually the historical, factual information. I like to think I know more than the average about Europe in the early twentieth century, and I still struggled to follow along. Didn’t deter me from the story per se, but I also just had to push through the information overload. I also thought some of the present-day events were a bit farfetched, but it’s a book and I tried to not think too much into it!
Thanks to Owl Hollow Press and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. This does not influence my thoughts and opinions.
I wanted to choose some young adult novel to read in October and this one strikes me at first sight. The synopsis was very interesting promising both mystery and historical fiction. Topics that aren’t your usual cup of tea.
The story is told by two points o f view: Ava Knight in 1912 and Taylor in 2010.
I loved Taylor point of view, the mystery about her father and the lovely and colorful characters that she met in Oxford. I’m such a big fan of OXFORD since I’ve read A discovery of witches pretty much I wanted to go there to study anything and this teen gets a summer Journalism program pretty much for free… you gotta love that books exists!
It was well paced and the two POV makes everything more exciting to read, letting the mistery unfold in the very last part of the novel.
Like the author saids in her review: I love Titanic and historical facts, I love intrigue, I love romance and I love mystery in the good old England that looks like Downtown Abbey so I’m going to rise my 3.5 Oxford stars up to four in goodreads, because this book deserves it.
The story is told by two points o f view: Ava Knight in 1912 and Taylor in 2010.
I loved Taylor point of view, the mystery about her father and the lovely and colorful characters that she met in Oxford. I’m such a big fan of OXFORD since I’ve read A discovery of witches pretty much I wanted to go there to study anything and this teen gets a summer Journalism program pretty much for free… you gotta love that books exists!
It was well paced and the two POV makes everything more exciting to read, letting the mistery unfold in the very last part of the novel.
Like the author saids in her review: I love Titanic and historical facts, I love intrigue, I love romance and I love mystery in the good old England that looks like Downtown Abbey so I’m going to rise my 3.5 Oxford stars up to four in goodreads, because this book deserves it.
I read this over the weekend and I really enjoyed it! It’s a dual timeline YA mystery novel that I was drawn to because I love pretty much any novel about the titanic (I have no idea why). I was drawn in very easily to the mystery. I loved how unique the mystery was and how the dual timelines came together in the end. I never would’ve guessed exactly how they related and I thought it was very clever. Plus the plot twist came out of NOWHERE!! I was seriously stunned.
The plotting of this novel was great, but I do wish there was a little more exploration of each of the main characters. I also wasn’t a fan of the present day timeline romance subplot at all. I didn’t really see any chemistry between the two involved, but I wouldn’t let this dissuade you from reading since it was a sub subplot (if that makes sense).
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a unique dual timeline mystery. It talks about the psychology movement of the early twentieth century and has a theme of family, both of which were very intriguing. Big thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the review copy!
The plotting of this novel was great, but I do wish there was a little more exploration of each of the main characters. I also wasn’t a fan of the present day timeline romance subplot at all. I didn’t really see any chemistry between the two involved, but I wouldn’t let this dissuade you from reading since it was a sub subplot (if that makes sense).
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to read a unique dual timeline mystery. It talks about the psychology movement of the early twentieth century and has a theme of family, both of which were very intriguing. Big thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for the review copy!
Initial Thoughts
I was bummed that I didn’t get to read this book before release day but, I’m so glad that my forever buddy reader @lianne_the_bibliophile and I decided to make this our next pick. I loved the idea of historical fiction mixed with a modern twist.
Some Things I Liked
Independent storylines. I really enjoyed that these main characters had their own stories with plenty of parallels. I liked the idea of each of them telling their own story and being so similar without feeling repetitive.
Cute and subtle romance plots. I also liked that the author managed to write two subtle but very believable romance plots into these stories. I loved both Caleb and Nathaniel and would read more about their adventures if given the chance.
A sprinkle of the supernatural. I loved that there was a very slight nod to historical fantasy / supernatural elements in this story. It was not the focal point of the plot but it made for an interesting addition.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The two main storylines did not converge in a meaningful way until very late in the book. As much as I loved each storyline individually, I felt that they were almost entirely independent for most of the story. It was hard to see both characters as part of a larger plot without that element. I wish we had seen them connect sooner than we did.
Series Value
This story feels very Lara Croft – Tomb Raider meets National Treasure in the investigative journalism sense. I can easily see Taylor going on more adventures and I’d like to think that Ava and Mae had more adventures that they documented and Taylor could relive. I would read more of their adventures if Ashlee Cowles wanted to write them.
Furthermore, I am interested to read more of Ashlee Cowles’s writing. I enjoyed the writing style here and the characters were very engaging.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and I loved the historical fiction mixed with modern contemporary elements.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok – if you enjoyed the idea of a historical fiction story with a sprinkle of the supernatural, try this series.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you liked the historical side of The Poppy and the Rose, try this standalone mystery.
I was bummed that I didn’t get to read this book before release day but, I’m so glad that my forever buddy reader @lianne_the_bibliophile and I decided to make this our next pick. I loved the idea of historical fiction mixed with a modern twist.
Some Things I Liked
Independent storylines. I really enjoyed that these main characters had their own stories with plenty of parallels. I liked the idea of each of them telling their own story and being so similar without feeling repetitive.
Cute and subtle romance plots. I also liked that the author managed to write two subtle but very believable romance plots into these stories. I loved both Caleb and Nathaniel and would read more about their adventures if given the chance.
A sprinkle of the supernatural. I loved that there was a very slight nod to historical fantasy / supernatural elements in this story. It was not the focal point of the plot but it made for an interesting addition.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The two main storylines did not converge in a meaningful way until very late in the book. As much as I loved each storyline individually, I felt that they were almost entirely independent for most of the story. It was hard to see both characters as part of a larger plot without that element. I wish we had seen them connect sooner than we did.
Series Value
This story feels very Lara Croft – Tomb Raider meets National Treasure in the investigative journalism sense. I can easily see Taylor going on more adventures and I’d like to think that Ava and Mae had more adventures that they documented and Taylor could relive. I would read more of their adventures if Ashlee Cowles wanted to write them.
Furthermore, I am interested to read more of Ashlee Cowles’s writing. I enjoyed the writing style here and the characters were very engaging.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast read and I loved the historical fiction mixed with modern contemporary elements.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok – if you enjoyed the idea of a historical fiction story with a sprinkle of the supernatural, try this series.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill – if you liked the historical side of The Poppy and the Rose, try this standalone mystery.
The Poppy & the Rose is a story told through dual perspective and timelines. In one timeline, we follow Ava as she boards the Titanic and is recruited to be a spy. In the other, we follow Taylor as she arrives in England nearly a decade later and is drawn into the mysterious world of Lady Mae Knight.
I didn't really care much for either of the main characters. I was much more invested in other characters, such as Mae, Taylor's father, Caleb and Nathaniel.
While the mystery aspect of the book was definitely intriguing and I found myself wanting to find out how the two characters are connected, I also often found myself quite bored with the story. It all happened so quickly that there wasn't time for the plot to properly develop, and parts of it felt weak. It reminded me of a children's book more than anything else.
I did love the settings. Reading about the people on the Titanic was very interesting, and I appreciate the fact that the author clearly did a lot of research. It was also a very atmospheric, almost spooky, read, which I enjoyed as well.
Overall, while it missed the mark for me in a few spots, I was intrigued enough to keep reading, and it wasn't a bad read at all.
(e-ARC provided by Owl Hollow Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
I didn't really care much for either of the main characters. I was much more invested in other characters, such as Mae, Taylor's father, Caleb and Nathaniel.
While the mystery aspect of the book was definitely intriguing and I found myself wanting to find out how the two characters are connected, I also often found myself quite bored with the story. It all happened so quickly that there wasn't time for the plot to properly develop, and parts of it felt weak. It reminded me of a children's book more than anything else.
I did love the settings. Reading about the people on the Titanic was very interesting, and I appreciate the fact that the author clearly did a lot of research. It was also a very atmospheric, almost spooky, read, which I enjoyed as well.
Overall, while it missed the mark for me in a few spots, I was intrigued enough to keep reading, and it wasn't a bad read at all.
(e-ARC provided by Owl Hollow Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)