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knomnomnom's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
mycahu's review against another edition
3.0
The ending was everything. I loved it. I loved all the sweet relationships between the characters. It dragged in the middle for me a little bit. But overall it was a wonderful story and it was told beautifully.
crawfordalaina's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
angelancoffin's review against another edition
4.0
I was grasped by the language immediately, then the story seemed to stall until Harry made a larger presence. But then the middle sort of dragged on as well. The plot was great, as was the writing. I enjoyed the characters, but with the dragging on that occurred for me, I cannot give this a full 5 stars. I’m not sure what the disconnect was, because I loved so much of this book and it’s beautiful ode to stories and fairytales, but I just didn’t love it like everyone else seemed to.
acs463's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
allaboutfrodo's review against another edition
2.0
This was mostly fine. (Until it wasn't.) The dual timeline worked well, and I didn’t come close to guessing what happened to Flora. The cover is beautiful. It involves valuable books and a bookshop.
However, the story is way too long, and it reads like a book set in England but written by an American. Hazel was fairly annoying, and I HATED the ending. Hated. Knocked a full star off my review. Not the mystery of Flora, but Hazel's romantic decisions. I seriously would not recommend this book to anyone based on that alone.
I love Oxford and found the Oxford location of interest. Points for mentioning Tolkien and Alice.
However, the story is way too long, and it reads like a book set in England but written by an American. Hazel was fairly annoying, and I HATED the ending. Hated. Knocked a full star off my review. Not the mystery of Flora, but Hazel's romantic decisions.
Spoiler
Hazel and Harry were children, OMG. I could not believe the author had Hazel choose Harry over Barnaby and I did not for one minute believe they would live happily ever after. I could hardly finish the book after that. The choice of a child, not a healthy adult woman.I love Oxford and found the Oxford location of interest. Points for mentioning Tolkien and Alice.
rellimylrac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
libbilouworrelli's review against another edition
5.0
Hazel and her younger sister, Flora, are sent away from their mother and home in war-torn London, shortly after their father is killed during the war, to billet with a woman named Bridie and her teenage son, Harry. Hazel invents stories to comfort her sister that only they share, including a story from not very long ago and not very far away... a land called Whisperwood. Flora soon vanishes when Hazel takes her eyes off of her only long enough to kiss Harry.
Twenty years later, Hazel has a lovely job she will soon be leaving for a bigger and seemingly better one. On her last day, Hazel unpacks a book with the title “Whisperwood and the River of Stars.” This sends Hazel on a journey to find the lost sister she never gave up on, but whose loss she continued to blame on herself. After reconnecting with Bridie and Harry, Hazel finds her sister in the most unexpected place. The journalist who has been begging to interview Hazel about her family’s lost sister turns out to be the sister whom they lost.
Twenty years later, Hazel has a lovely job she will soon be leaving for a bigger and seemingly better one. On her last day, Hazel unpacks a book with the title “Whisperwood and the River of Stars.” This sends Hazel on a journey to find the lost sister she never gave up on, but whose loss she continued to blame on herself. After reconnecting with Bridie and Harry, Hazel finds her sister in the most unexpected place. The journalist who has been begging to interview Hazel about her family’s lost sister turns out to be the sister whom they lost.
marcycopp's review against another edition
4.0
During war time, London children were sent away without their parents to keep them safe from potential bombings. Hazel was 15 and her sister Flora was 5 when they were taken in by Bridie and her son Harry. To keep her sister from worry and being scared, Hazel would take them to an imaginary magical land called Whisperwood… a secret land only for them. After about a year, within a couple of minutes, their lives change tragically and then 20 years later a book named Whisperwood comes to Hazel at her job. Can this unfold the mystery? It was a fantastic book that kept me captivated. Highly recommended!
ciebmo's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the premise of this book but the overall story fell flat for me. As others have mentioned, Harry is rather a convenient character with no dimension to him, so his interactions with Hazel throughout the book lacked depth for me.
The author did convey the power of stories and that's what resonated for me. One particular quote from the character, Bridie, stood out. She says to Hazel, "The best stories are soul-making. But stories we tell about ourselves, and even the harrowing ones told by others about us, can also be soul-destroying. We have to choose what is good and true, not what will destroy."
The author did convey the power of stories and that's what resonated for me. One particular quote from the character, Bridie, stood out. She says to Hazel, "The best stories are soul-making. But stories we tell about ourselves, and even the harrowing ones told by others about us, can also be soul-destroying. We have to choose what is good and true, not what will destroy."