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The House of Broken Bricks
Every marriage has its seasons...It’s autumn when we meet Tess, but her relationship with Richard is in a deep, cold winter. A winter so harsh, their union may never see the bright light of spring.
Tess is a Londoner whose relationship with Richard transports her from a Jamaican diaspora in the city to the English countryside, where predatory birds hover over fields, buses run twice a day, neighbors barter honey for cider, and no one looks like her.
As Tess and Richard settle in, the dramatic arrival of their fraternal twins—one who presents as black and the other as white—recasts the family dynamic, stirring up complicated feelings and questions of belonging. Tess yearns for the comforting chaos of life as it once was, instead of Max and Sonny tracking dirt through the kitchen where cooking Caribbean food becomes her sole comfort. And Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted rather than deal with the conversation he cannot bear to have.
In Fiona Williams� quartet of unforgettable, alternating perspectives, secrets and vines clamber over the house’s broken red bricks, and although its inhabitants seem to be withering, Sonny knows that something is stirring. . . . As the seasons change and the cracks let in more light, the family might just be able to start to heal.
Tess is a Londoner whose relationship with Richard transports her from a Jamaican diaspora in the city to the English countryside, where predatory birds hover over fields, buses run twice a day, neighbors barter honey for cider, and no one looks like her.
As Tess and Richard settle in, the dramatic arrival of their fraternal twins—one who presents as black and the other as white—recasts the family dynamic, stirring up complicated feelings and questions of belonging. Tess yearns for the comforting chaos of life as it once was, instead of Max and Sonny tracking dirt through the kitchen where cooking Caribbean food becomes her sole comfort. And Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted rather than deal with the conversation he cannot bear to have.
In Fiona Williams� quartet of unforgettable, alternating perspectives, secrets and vines clamber over the house’s broken red bricks, and although its inhabitants seem to be withering, Sonny knows that something is stirring. . . . As the seasons change and the cracks let in more light, the family might just be able to start to heal.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 18, 2024
174 people are currently reading
11.6k people want to read
About the author
Fiona Williams
21books87followersFiona Williams holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Westminster and an MA with Distinction in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. Originally from South-East London, she now lives with her family on the Somerset Levels, and much of her work focuses on rural diversity and the relationships between identity and place.
The House of Broken Bricks is her debut novel.
The House of Broken Bricks is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
March 16, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Literary Fiction
This is my first book by Fiona Williams. The story revolves around a family of four members over the course of a year during all four seasons. Tessa, the London-born daughter of Jamaican parents, is a person of color who is married to Richard, a white farmer. The two have twins, Sonny and Max. The two twins are not identical. One is colored, and the other one is white.
The family moves to live in the countryside, but Tess, being the city girl she is, finds it difficult to adapt to living in this small Somerset village, especially since she is the only person of color there. The twins also find it too difficult to convince people there that they are twins.
The book is divided into four parts, each representing one of the seasons. The story is narrated from the perspective of the four characters. However, the author has used two types of narration styles for the characters, with Richard using a third-person narration style, while the other three are narrated in the first-person style.
This is mainly a character-driven story, as the tale delves into the lives of the members of this family. As a reader, you will be able to connect to what they go through, be it their struggles, grief, or all the other emotions. Themes like race, acceptance, healing, and family dynamics are the focus of the story.
The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and the author’s setting descriptions are vivid and breathtaking. There is an unexpected twist in the book that shakes things up for you as a reader. At least, it was adequate for me and clarified the characters' perspectives. I’m not a fan of multiple points of view, but this book was an exception, as the author organized everything very well.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Literary Fiction
This is my first book by Fiona Williams. The story revolves around a family of four members over the course of a year during all four seasons. Tessa, the London-born daughter of Jamaican parents, is a person of color who is married to Richard, a white farmer. The two have twins, Sonny and Max. The two twins are not identical. One is colored, and the other one is white.
The family moves to live in the countryside, but Tess, being the city girl she is, finds it difficult to adapt to living in this small Somerset village, especially since she is the only person of color there. The twins also find it too difficult to convince people there that they are twins.
The book is divided into four parts, each representing one of the seasons. The story is narrated from the perspective of the four characters. However, the author has used two types of narration styles for the characters, with Richard using a third-person narration style, while the other three are narrated in the first-person style.
This is mainly a character-driven story, as the tale delves into the lives of the members of this family. As a reader, you will be able to connect to what they go through, be it their struggles, grief, or all the other emotions. Themes like race, acceptance, healing, and family dynamics are the focus of the story.
The writing is lyrical and beautiful, and the author’s setting descriptions are vivid and breathtaking. There is an unexpected twist in the book that shakes things up for you as a reader. At least, it was adequate for me and clarified the characters' perspectives. I’m not a fan of multiple points of view, but this book was an exception, as the author organized everything very well.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
May 5, 2024
Suggested Book that’s about Family Dynamics. What’s not to be invested in here? I’ve never heard of the author, the book, and can’t cave in due to the cover, so this is really a blind shot in the dark.
So: I am so glad I picked this book. Fiona Williams is an extremely talented writer and this is her debut novel. This is about a Family that is struggling. There is Tess and Richard, who are married and live in the English Countyside. Tess had lived in London and has a Jamaican Heritage, while Richard is from England. They have twins, Max and Sonny. They are called The Rainbow Twins since Max looks White and Sonny looks black. The book is done from the perspectives of each character, so you get how each person is experiencing what is happening. It covers a year in their life. Tess struggles with being away from London and her Jamaican Family. Richard is a Professional Gardener and has to constantly work to get things done, yet he is drinking at the Pub much more. So, you know something is wrong in their marriage and the kids describe this as well. You are not certain what is bringing so much heartache, yet I did care about this family.
The beauty of the book is its lush descriptions and emotions. When the countryside is described, you feel all the beauty around, the garden growing fresh vegetables, the rich soil, foliage and the animals. I almost felt I was there with them. Scenes where Tess goes back to London and her Mom is cooking authentic Jamaican Food felt such a family bond. The book creates such an emotional attachment to the land, nature, and the characters that was unique to this author. She does a wonderful job. Loved so many descriptions and felt the longing for hope and light in a dark time in their lives.
Since each person has a chapter, sometimes I did wish they were a bit longer. I was a bit confused since the chapter felt incomplete and then jump to another seen with a new person. That would be my only critique.
When I finished this book, I went back and read passages again. There was a reason to do this. It made me realize again how poignant, lyrical, and magical Fiona Williams words are. I do recommend this book. It is wonderful, unique, and done differently, but it will make you want to go back and read it again. I think I would love listening to this on Audio as well.
Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Williams, and Henry Holt & Company for providing me a copy of this book. I always write reviews of books I read.
So: I am so glad I picked this book. Fiona Williams is an extremely talented writer and this is her debut novel. This is about a Family that is struggling. There is Tess and Richard, who are married and live in the English Countyside. Tess had lived in London and has a Jamaican Heritage, while Richard is from England. They have twins, Max and Sonny. They are called The Rainbow Twins since Max looks White and Sonny looks black. The book is done from the perspectives of each character, so you get how each person is experiencing what is happening. It covers a year in their life. Tess struggles with being away from London and her Jamaican Family. Richard is a Professional Gardener and has to constantly work to get things done, yet he is drinking at the Pub much more. So, you know something is wrong in their marriage and the kids describe this as well. You are not certain what is bringing so much heartache, yet I did care about this family.
The beauty of the book is its lush descriptions and emotions. When the countryside is described, you feel all the beauty around, the garden growing fresh vegetables, the rich soil, foliage and the animals. I almost felt I was there with them. Scenes where Tess goes back to London and her Mom is cooking authentic Jamaican Food felt such a family bond. The book creates such an emotional attachment to the land, nature, and the characters that was unique to this author. She does a wonderful job. Loved so many descriptions and felt the longing for hope and light in a dark time in their lives.
Since each person has a chapter, sometimes I did wish they were a bit longer. I was a bit confused since the chapter felt incomplete and then jump to another seen with a new person. That would be my only critique.
When I finished this book, I went back and read passages again. There was a reason to do this. It made me realize again how poignant, lyrical, and magical Fiona Williams words are. I do recommend this book. It is wonderful, unique, and done differently, but it will make you want to go back and read it again. I think I would love listening to this on Audio as well.
Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Williams, and Henry Holt & Company for providing me a copy of this book. I always write reviews of books I read.
January 26, 2024
Tess is a Londoner who is married to Richard, a farmer. He transports her to the English countryside where birds hover over the fields, buses only run twice a day, neighbors barter, and no one looks like her or her children.
As time goes on, Tess years for the comforts of the city, and Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted instead of dealing with conversations he doesn’t bear to have.
As the seasons change, can the family start to heal?
This was an interesting story, a window into this family. Not much happens necessarily over the course of the book, it is more of a character study over anything else. We dive into the complex trauma of the parents, each of which we get from their point of view. We also get the point of view of their two children. I always find it interesting to get the points of view of children in books, and in this case, I found the children to be written older than they were stated as being. I do think that there was just something lacking from each one, just something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it held me back from fully connecting to the characters. This book was beautifully written, and the descriptions were wonderful, it was just that little extra, however, I did enjoy this story. I found the “twist� to be a bit of a let down and I kind of felt that it was a cop out in a way, or an old cliché ringing true. I enjoyed how the book was laid out by seasons, it helped break the book apart for me in a meaningful way.
If you are looking for a beautifully written character study with some beautiful descriptions, then check this one out.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company, @Henryholtbooks and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
As time goes on, Tess years for the comforts of the city, and Richard obsesses over getting his crops planted instead of dealing with conversations he doesn’t bear to have.
As the seasons change, can the family start to heal?
This was an interesting story, a window into this family. Not much happens necessarily over the course of the book, it is more of a character study over anything else. We dive into the complex trauma of the parents, each of which we get from their point of view. We also get the point of view of their two children. I always find it interesting to get the points of view of children in books, and in this case, I found the children to be written older than they were stated as being. I do think that there was just something lacking from each one, just something I can’t quite put my finger on, but it held me back from fully connecting to the characters. This book was beautifully written, and the descriptions were wonderful, it was just that little extra, however, I did enjoy this story. I found the “twist� to be a bit of a let down and I kind of felt that it was a cop out in a way, or an old cliché ringing true. I enjoyed how the book was laid out by seasons, it helped break the book apart for me in a meaningful way.
If you are looking for a beautifully written character study with some beautiful descriptions, then check this one out.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company, @Henryholtbooks and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2024
4.5/5 stars
Tough Jamaican roots grow deep in English soil in this beautifully written fiction debut about a multicultural family reconnecting after a joined grief threatens to split them apart.
Meet the Hembry’s; a patchwork family of four, that may not seem to like they belong together upon first glance, but clearly had a tight and loving bond before tragedy struck. There’s Tess, of Jamaican heritage, struggling to find her footing in the cold English countryside. Yet she’s never been more unmoored than by the grief she’s suffered recently. There’s Richard; an Englishman of few words, who withdraws from the family to avoid painful memories. Then there’s the “rainbow twins�: who no-one believes to be actual twins due to their different appearance and skintone. Max, who takes after his father, and now often gets himself into trouble at school for running off with Sonny too much. And “golden-boy� Sonny; dreaming and ethereal, with his head in the clouds (or in his case: the nature around their house).
Although we don’t know the nature of the loss that befell the family, we feel its effects from page one. Through their four perspectives, we learn not only what happened in the past, but also how a broken family strives to become whole again.
There are books you read for their story, and there are books you read for the way that story is told. The House of Broken Bricks firmly falls into the latter category. Fiona Williams� stunning nature-writing and poetic prose, turns a relatively simple story into a hauntingly beautiful experience, that actually managed to tuck on my heartstrings a bit.
First of all, the language on display is often just a joy to read by itself, although it might be a bit too much on the purple prose side, depending on your personal preferences. The book is populated by lush nature-imagery and gorgeously crafted sentences like:
“In the mellow heat, I feel myself expand so grief sinks into my marrow to become hard, as close to the underside of my skin as bone, yet soft, deep melding like the sinews that support my pelvis, which ease and stretch as I move about the house.�
In the wrong context, this can distract from the story and feel “overwritten�, but in this case it’s woven into the story so naturally, that it only enhances it.
Secondly, structurally, this book was really well crafted. It’s divided by fours in more ways than one. Each quarter of the book follows one of the four seasons in the English country-side, and each of these seasons reflects “a season� of the family’s journey.
Another way the story is split into fours is by its narrators: Tess, Richard, Sonny and Max all taking turns and revealing their part of the story. One of the hardest things to do for an author, is write multiple distinct narrative voices for their protagonists, but Williams nails that here. Without even reading the title-headers, I was able to easily decern who was talking, just by the language used, and how it fit the character.
Tess (who clearly suffers from a form of depression after what happened), fills her parts with a feeling of longing an melancholy. Sonny’s are almost dreamlike and filled with wonder about the world that surrounds him. Max’s are observant and matter-of-fact, whereas Richard’s (the only narrative told in 3rd person) feels distant, reflecting his literal withdrawal from the rest of the family.
Third and lastly; the reveal of the story feels inevitable in the best way possible. There are no cheap “twists�; that wouldn’t fit the story. Instead Williams slowly reveals what has already happened in a way that’s deeply bittersweet and memorable.
Fans of literary fiction with themes of family, grief and multicultural interest, who don’t mind their prose on the lyrical side, will devour this novel. I absolutely did.
Many thanks to Faber & Faber for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Tough Jamaican roots grow deep in English soil in this beautifully written fiction debut about a multicultural family reconnecting after a joined grief threatens to split them apart.
Meet the Hembry’s; a patchwork family of four, that may not seem to like they belong together upon first glance, but clearly had a tight and loving bond before tragedy struck. There’s Tess, of Jamaican heritage, struggling to find her footing in the cold English countryside. Yet she’s never been more unmoored than by the grief she’s suffered recently. There’s Richard; an Englishman of few words, who withdraws from the family to avoid painful memories. Then there’s the “rainbow twins�: who no-one believes to be actual twins due to their different appearance and skintone. Max, who takes after his father, and now often gets himself into trouble at school for running off with Sonny too much. And “golden-boy� Sonny; dreaming and ethereal, with his head in the clouds (or in his case: the nature around their house).
Although we don’t know the nature of the loss that befell the family, we feel its effects from page one. Through their four perspectives, we learn not only what happened in the past, but also how a broken family strives to become whole again.
There are books you read for their story, and there are books you read for the way that story is told. The House of Broken Bricks firmly falls into the latter category. Fiona Williams� stunning nature-writing and poetic prose, turns a relatively simple story into a hauntingly beautiful experience, that actually managed to tuck on my heartstrings a bit.
First of all, the language on display is often just a joy to read by itself, although it might be a bit too much on the purple prose side, depending on your personal preferences. The book is populated by lush nature-imagery and gorgeously crafted sentences like:
“In the mellow heat, I feel myself expand so grief sinks into my marrow to become hard, as close to the underside of my skin as bone, yet soft, deep melding like the sinews that support my pelvis, which ease and stretch as I move about the house.�
In the wrong context, this can distract from the story and feel “overwritten�, but in this case it’s woven into the story so naturally, that it only enhances it.
Secondly, structurally, this book was really well crafted. It’s divided by fours in more ways than one. Each quarter of the book follows one of the four seasons in the English country-side, and each of these seasons reflects “a season� of the family’s journey.
Another way the story is split into fours is by its narrators: Tess, Richard, Sonny and Max all taking turns and revealing their part of the story. One of the hardest things to do for an author, is write multiple distinct narrative voices for their protagonists, but Williams nails that here. Without even reading the title-headers, I was able to easily decern who was talking, just by the language used, and how it fit the character.
Tess (who clearly suffers from a form of depression after what happened), fills her parts with a feeling of longing an melancholy. Sonny’s are almost dreamlike and filled with wonder about the world that surrounds him. Max’s are observant and matter-of-fact, whereas Richard’s (the only narrative told in 3rd person) feels distant, reflecting his literal withdrawal from the rest of the family.
Third and lastly; the reveal of the story feels inevitable in the best way possible. There are no cheap “twists�; that wouldn’t fit the story. Instead Williams slowly reveals what has already happened in a way that’s deeply bittersweet and memorable.
Fans of literary fiction with themes of family, grief and multicultural interest, who don’t mind their prose on the lyrical side, will devour this novel. I absolutely did.
Many thanks to Faber & Faber for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 5, 2024
I’m on this trend of reading books I don’t realize are about grief and then it’s a surprise grief novel and oops I’m sobbing. This book was gorgeous from beginning to end. The four perspectives were unique and well crafted, and in no way did this feel like a debut. I understand that this book might not be for everyone but literary fiction lovers please pick this up you won’t regret it. I cried a lot. In a good way. This is a very warm and welcoming story for such sad and heartbreaking topics and I loved every second of it
August 18, 2023
"Ain't nothing wrong with being broken. Nothing at all. You hear? You're like these houses, not a whole brick in 'em and look how strong they are. Been 'ere hundreds of years and nothing's destroyed them, not floods, not war, not people, nothing."
Goodness this novel pulled at my heartstrings. Each chapter is perfectly concise (and descriptive) and given through the perspective of each member of the family as they each deal with heartbreaking grief. Without giving too much away there is a point in the book where you realize what has happened and it makes you want to go back and re-read everything leading up to that point. The descriptions throughout the book of the English countryside are delicious and lush, I felt like I weathered the four seasons with this family in more ways than one. The ending of the book was a delightful surprise which ties in nicely to the cover design. I am incredibly grateful for Fiona Williams for constructing this masterpiece and for NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with an ARC ebook. I look forward to the hardcover release in April 2024 and to discuss this book with others.
Goodness this novel pulled at my heartstrings. Each chapter is perfectly concise (and descriptive) and given through the perspective of each member of the family as they each deal with heartbreaking grief. Without giving too much away there is a point in the book where you realize what has happened and it makes you want to go back and re-read everything leading up to that point. The descriptions throughout the book of the English countryside are delicious and lush, I felt like I weathered the four seasons with this family in more ways than one. The ending of the book was a delightful surprise which ties in nicely to the cover design. I am incredibly grateful for Fiona Williams for constructing this masterpiece and for NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for providing me with an ARC ebook. I look forward to the hardcover release in April 2024 and to discuss this book with others.
May 19, 2024
The House of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams
Thank you so much Henry Holt and Co., Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the free ARC and audiobook.
Blurb:
This is the story of a broken family, what they see, and what they cannot say, laid bare in their overlapping perspectives.
✨My thoughts:
Do you want to cry? This is the one you want to read or listen to. I read part of it and listened to the other part, and enjoyed them equally because both were fantastic. The audiobook narrators did an amazing job with this story. The novel was beautifully, will tug at your heart strings, and make you feel all the things. This is my first Fiona Williams book and I’ll definitely be reading more. Plus that cover really is something! The House of Broken Bricks is out now!
Happy reading 📖
Thank you so much Henry Holt and Co., Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the free ARC and audiobook.
Blurb:
This is the story of a broken family, what they see, and what they cannot say, laid bare in their overlapping perspectives.
✨My thoughts:
Do you want to cry? This is the one you want to read or listen to. I read part of it and listened to the other part, and enjoyed them equally because both were fantastic. The audiobook narrators did an amazing job with this story. The novel was beautifully, will tug at your heart strings, and make you feel all the things. This is my first Fiona Williams book and I’ll definitely be reading more. Plus that cover really is something! The House of Broken Bricks is out now!
Happy reading 📖
January 21, 2024
This is a beautifully written debut.
The Hembrys are a bi-racial family who live in an old English farmhouse on the Somerset Levels. Damp and mould permeate every crevice of the home. The father of the family has roots in the area that go back several generations and he loves the place. The mother, on the other hand, is a city girl, brought up in London, and of Jamaican descent. They have ten year old twins, two boys, Max, white like his father, and Sonny, black like his mother.
Tensions are running high in the home. Tess, the mother, despises life in the country. She is resentful of how she stands out as being different. Used to more acceptance in multi-cultural London, she also hates how her boys are treated due to their differences. Richard, the father, grows vegetables which he sells to surrounding stores and local people. He works every hour he can to make ends meet. Tess, too, works very hard, yet they seem to resent each other... the boys pick up on the tension in the home. It seems as though their family is now as broken as the bricks that make up their house. Max is having night terrors.
At around the forty percent mark in the novel, the author throws her readers a curve ball which turns everything on its head. This answers some questions, yet serves to create many, many more...
The pace is unhurried, the atmosphere bleak, yet the writing keeps you reading on. Will this broken, dysfunctional family survive?
Told via the perspectives of all four members of the family, the reader is made privy to the thoughts, hopes, worries, and emotions of each. Nature permeates the narrative, with the changing seasons and the repercussions of each.
A poignant story that deals with love, loss, heartbreak, and being different. A remarkable literary debut that I can easily recommend.
The Hembrys are a bi-racial family who live in an old English farmhouse on the Somerset Levels. Damp and mould permeate every crevice of the home. The father of the family has roots in the area that go back several generations and he loves the place. The mother, on the other hand, is a city girl, brought up in London, and of Jamaican descent. They have ten year old twins, two boys, Max, white like his father, and Sonny, black like his mother.
Tensions are running high in the home. Tess, the mother, despises life in the country. She is resentful of how she stands out as being different. Used to more acceptance in multi-cultural London, she also hates how her boys are treated due to their differences. Richard, the father, grows vegetables which he sells to surrounding stores and local people. He works every hour he can to make ends meet. Tess, too, works very hard, yet they seem to resent each other... the boys pick up on the tension in the home. It seems as though their family is now as broken as the bricks that make up their house. Max is having night terrors.
At around the forty percent mark in the novel, the author throws her readers a curve ball which turns everything on its head. This answers some questions, yet serves to create many, many more...
The pace is unhurried, the atmosphere bleak, yet the writing keeps you reading on. Will this broken, dysfunctional family survive?
Told via the perspectives of all four members of the family, the reader is made privy to the thoughts, hopes, worries, and emotions of each. Nature permeates the narrative, with the changing seasons and the repercussions of each.
A poignant story that deals with love, loss, heartbreak, and being different. A remarkable literary debut that I can easily recommend.
April 5, 2024
While I had high hopes for this book, I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout. The constant shifts in perspective, combined with the overly detailed writing and short chapters, left me feeling disconnected from the story. It seemed like there were too many words thrown in just to fill space, rather than adding depth to the plot.
What really didn't work for me was the writing style itself. It felt choppy and disjointed, making it hard to get lost in the narrative. Looking back, I think the story could have been much more effective if it were condensed into a shorter format, like a novella.
Overall, I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
Thanks for sending a free advanced reader copy for review.
What really didn't work for me was the writing style itself. It felt choppy and disjointed, making it hard to get lost in the narrative. Looking back, I think the story could have been much more effective if it were condensed into a shorter format, like a novella.
Overall, I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
Thanks for sending a free advanced reader copy for review.
April 10, 2024
The story deals with a broken family living together, dealing with the cracks of their own relationships and the lemons that society throws at them in silence. The story is narrated from multiple PoV capturing each person's perspective to navigate through the events of their lives. The book did address the disparities of colour discrimination in a prominent way.
The lack of communication amongst the two adults in the book however was making me clench my fists tight. Unfortunately, the multiple PoV was also not working for me as most of the conversations were happening inside their head. I am all in for in-depth conversations but, the severity of the situation just did not reflect the same actions of many members of the house.
I felt the narrative cast did their best with what they were given and tried to puncture emotions into a very numb storyline. The book did turn out very different from my expectations.
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media for the Audio ARC
Genre: #literaryfiction #multicultural
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
The lack of communication amongst the two adults in the book however was making me clench my fists tight. Unfortunately, the multiple PoV was also not working for me as most of the conversations were happening inside their head. I am all in for in-depth conversations but, the severity of the situation just did not reflect the same actions of many members of the house.
I felt the narrative cast did their best with what they were given and tried to puncture emotions into a very numb storyline. The book did turn out very different from my expectations.
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media for the Audio ARC
Genre: #literaryfiction #multicultural
Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
May 1, 2024
I love a book with short chapters and multiple narrators, so when I saw that this book had both, it looked promising.
Unfortunately, this book is laden down with excessive descriptions and practically no plot line. It isn’t until about 100 pages in that there is any change to the plot at all. It is a little bit of a curveball and definitely not what I was expecting. This is the only reason I was motivated enough to keep reading and the main reason I was able to give the book a 2-star rating.
The book overall was a bit disappointing and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I would have rather had some of the descriptive text shortened and more of a plot line.
Unfortunately, this book is laden down with excessive descriptions and practically no plot line. It isn’t until about 100 pages in that there is any change to the plot at all. It is a little bit of a curveball and definitely not what I was expecting. This is the only reason I was motivated enough to keep reading and the main reason I was able to give the book a 2-star rating.
The book overall was a bit disappointing and the ending seemed a bit rushed. I would have rather had some of the descriptive text shortened and more of a plot line.
April 12, 2024
First off, a moment of silence for this cover because🌹🐝 🫐 GORGEOUS.
Okay, literary fiction lovers add this one to your TBRs! This is a story of a family: Tess, a Black woman, her husband, Richard (a white man) and their twins. This is a story of a family dealing with grief. They live in a small English village, but this village is a far cry from the Jamaican family and bigger city Tess left to marry Richard. Sonny and Max, the twin boys are the best of friends but dynamics and relationships are affected as one presents as white and the other Black. This is a window into the story of their lives.
There is nature writing, lush description, lyrical prose and tough topics all intertwined in the branches of this story. This book made me unexpectedly emotional and if I were a book crier, I absolutely would’ve shed a tear in this one.
Thank you, Henry Holt for this gifted ARC! Pub date: out now!
Okay, literary fiction lovers add this one to your TBRs! This is a story of a family: Tess, a Black woman, her husband, Richard (a white man) and their twins. This is a story of a family dealing with grief. They live in a small English village, but this village is a far cry from the Jamaican family and bigger city Tess left to marry Richard. Sonny and Max, the twin boys are the best of friends but dynamics and relationships are affected as one presents as white and the other Black. This is a window into the story of their lives.
There is nature writing, lush description, lyrical prose and tough topics all intertwined in the branches of this story. This book made me unexpectedly emotional and if I were a book crier, I absolutely would’ve shed a tear in this one.
Thank you, Henry Holt for this gifted ARC! Pub date: out now!
September 17, 2024
beautiful flowery language - but that doesn’t make up for the frustratingly slow story. no one in this book communicates!!!!
January 29, 2024
The writing was exquisite and probably one of my favourite parts of the story. It was so poetic and really brought the story to life. It provided light among the grief and heartache. I think that's why I enjoyed Sonny's pov the most. He found joy and beauty in nature and the word and the descriptions used were stunningly lyrical.
The themes within the story were thought-provoking and insightful and created a well of emotion within me. Everything this family had to deal with, they were exhausted and surviving in an impossible world.
While this book is about loss and grief, it's also filled with hope and healing.
Such a beautiful book inside and out 💜💚
The themes within the story were thought-provoking and insightful and created a well of emotion within me. Everything this family had to deal with, they were exhausted and surviving in an impossible world.
While this book is about loss and grief, it's also filled with hope and healing.
Such a beautiful book inside and out 💜💚
January 19, 2024
This is a lyrical book telling the story of the most difficult year in the life of a family alongside the changing seasons of their home next to a river. The interior heartbreak in each family member draws them steadily away from each other until we see slowly healing revealed in each individual and in the family as a whole. This novel examines themes of loss, nature, and community. It's slightly overwritten, but is tender and evocative and there is a good blend of beauty amongst the sadness.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.
April 25, 2024
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW-ISH
Thank you #partner Dreamscape Media for my gifted ALC.
LITERARY FICTION
The House of Broken Bricks
By Fiona Williams
Read by Ben Allen, Lee Braithewaite, & Jessica Hayles
📖 This story follows a family of four, a Black mother and white father, and their two sons, one born Black and the other white passing. Told over the course of one year, across four seasons, Williams lays bare the broken bricks of this family.
Read if you like:
•domestic dramas
•character driven novels
•books about multiracial families
•multigenerational perspectives
•full cast audiobooks
Thank you #partner Dreamscape Media for my gifted ALC.
LITERARY FICTION
The House of Broken Bricks
By Fiona Williams
Read by Ben Allen, Lee Braithewaite, & Jessica Hayles
📖 This story follows a family of four, a Black mother and white father, and their two sons, one born Black and the other white passing. Told over the course of one year, across four seasons, Williams lays bare the broken bricks of this family.
Read if you like:
•domestic dramas
•character driven novels
•books about multiracial families
•multigenerational perspectives
•full cast audiobooks
April 25, 2024
I'm having a hard time deciding how I feel about this book. It had the potential to be really great, but it just never got there for me. The writing was all over the place and distracted from the heart of the story. One of the things that bugged me early on was that there's a really old-time feel to the setting, so I had to keep reminding myself it was a contemporary setting. While I enjoyed the narration of the four perspectives, it bothered me that three of characters were written in first-person while the father's chapters were written in third-person. I found the writing style was too wordy and overly descriptive. The most frustrating thing for me, though, was that the author kept throwing in more and more topics for the characters to grapple with, but none of them was ever resolved or thoroughly explored. This book just felt incomplete to me; even the ending felt like it wasn't finished.
I'm giving this one 2.75 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I'm giving this one 2.75 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 7, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Company, and Fiona Williams, for this advanced reader copy. This is the first book I’ve read by this author.. The first couple chapters kind of reminded me of a poem for a poetic piece of work. The words were strong, the details, heavy, yet the story for each character, detailed how they were living. This, undoubtedly is a story of healing. Everything around the house of bricks was crumbling yet the family was trying to figure a way to make it through. The different viewpoints of each family member keep you wondering what is happening and how each are handling it.. Give this book a chance and maybe you are can uncover and understand why the house had broken bricks.
January 23, 2024
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'll definitely be seeking more of her work in the future.
The writing was beautiful, and it was really descriptive, almost poetic. The words were powerful enough to evoke true feelings within. It soon became apparent that this story was a journey of heartbreak, despair, feeling lost but also of hope, love, family, and most of all of healing.
The book starts as the family appear to be falling apart, but through the multiple POV's, it's clear they were loving and united before tragedy struck. It was sad to see them breaking apart at the seams, but the perseverance to stay together was endearing.
Initially, we don't know what the loss is that this family has faced. However, we soon learn of the heartbreak each character has faced. The reveal is slow and delicate, and there isn't any sudden plot twist it stays within the stunning narrative.
I highly recommend this story not only to battle the seasons alongside this family but also to appreciate the writing within.
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective, Fiona Williams, and Faber Books for the gifted book and the readalong opportunity.
The writing was beautiful, and it was really descriptive, almost poetic. The words were powerful enough to evoke true feelings within. It soon became apparent that this story was a journey of heartbreak, despair, feeling lost but also of hope, love, family, and most of all of healing.
The book starts as the family appear to be falling apart, but through the multiple POV's, it's clear they were loving and united before tragedy struck. It was sad to see them breaking apart at the seams, but the perseverance to stay together was endearing.
Initially, we don't know what the loss is that this family has faced. However, we soon learn of the heartbreak each character has faced. The reveal is slow and delicate, and there isn't any sudden plot twist it stays within the stunning narrative.
I highly recommend this story not only to battle the seasons alongside this family but also to appreciate the writing within.
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective, Fiona Williams, and Faber Books for the gifted book and the readalong opportunity.
January 31, 2024
What are the chances? Tess and Richard have moved to the suburbs of London with their twins - a white and black boy. Richard is a born and bred Londoner but wants to grow vegetables and bring the family peace. Tess is from Jamaica via London, she missed the buzz of the city immediately. . They and their children present us with 4 different point of view in this new town. All four members have suffered loss and Williams slowly brings us through each story - layer by layer, piece by piece.
This story was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed spending all four season with the Hembry family and with I could stay with them longer!
#henryholt #thehouseofbrokenbricks
This story was absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed spending all four season with the Hembry family and with I could stay with them longer!
#henryholt #thehouseofbrokenbricks
April 1, 2024
A moving debut about a British interracial couple and their twin sons. Touching and heartfelt, this story is told in alternating POVs as we get to know each member of the family and their various problems living in a small town and two of them being among the only BIPOC people of the community.
This was good on audio but at times I got confused about the timeline of the story as certain points seem to reference a loss in the family while that person is also still giving voice and it is never explicitly mentioned (that I could tell) what actually happens to them.
A great look at the complicated dynamics between a married couple struggling to communicate and connect, unexpected surprises, family relationships and loss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
This was good on audio but at times I got confused about the timeline of the story as certain points seem to reference a loss in the family while that person is also still giving voice and it is never explicitly mentioned (that I could tell) what actually happens to them.
A great look at the complicated dynamics between a married couple struggling to communicate and connect, unexpected surprises, family relationships and loss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
May 14, 2024
There are books you read for their story, and there are books you read for the way the story is told. The House of Broken Bricks is one that you read for the way the story is told. I adored this beautiful story about identity, belonging, race, grief and family dynamics; and most importantly, love. Fiona Williams has a true talent for storytelling.
I loved how the family’s story was told from each of the four family members� perspectives. I liked how Williams structured her novel by giving each family member the chance to narrate the story, which moved through the calendar year, starting with autumn. She used first-person narration for everyone except Richard, whose story was told in the third person. I relished in following the bi-racial family and how each of the individual members and the familial unit as a whole suffered from an identity crisis. They were separated, not only by their ethnicity, but by their individual outlook on the world. Instead of weaving in unbelievable twists, Williams slowly revealed what had already happened in a way that was deeply bittersweet and memorable.
Altogether, The House of Broken Bricks was a beautiful literary debut novel. Fiona Williams storytelling was incredibly tense and poignant. The content she exposed was so brave, yet subtle.(Audio)
Favorite Quote:
“Ain’t nothing wrong with being broken. Nothin� at all, you hear. You’re like these houses, the whole brick in them, and look how strong they are.�
I loved how the family’s story was told from each of the four family members� perspectives. I liked how Williams structured her novel by giving each family member the chance to narrate the story, which moved through the calendar year, starting with autumn. She used first-person narration for everyone except Richard, whose story was told in the third person. I relished in following the bi-racial family and how each of the individual members and the familial unit as a whole suffered from an identity crisis. They were separated, not only by their ethnicity, but by their individual outlook on the world. Instead of weaving in unbelievable twists, Williams slowly revealed what had already happened in a way that was deeply bittersweet and memorable.
Altogether, The House of Broken Bricks was a beautiful literary debut novel. Fiona Williams storytelling was incredibly tense and poignant. The content she exposed was so brave, yet subtle.(Audio)
Favorite Quote:
“Ain’t nothing wrong with being broken. Nothin� at all, you hear. You’re like these houses, the whole brick in them, and look how strong they are.�
July 8, 2024
A slow burn story about a family. There are 4 POV and each painted a very bleak future. It was hard to read, at times, but I did like the ending. It's an interesting family study and I liked the bi-racial themes. It was just a tough read.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 26, 2024
Although it is not my usual genre, I was very hopeful for this book as it came highly recommended. Sadly, I was very disappointed. I really struggled to stay engaged and couldn’t wait for it to be finished.
April 9, 2024
A family drama from all four members POV, the writing is a true ode to nature and place, I could have read the descriptions of the landscapes and food and feelings over and over.
As a mother I appreciated the kind of sadness and existential crisis that Tess is facing in her life and how her sons and husband are all orbiting this shift and grappling with it in their own way. It felt melancholy and the feelings often reflected the turning of the weather, the garden, the town, this deep sense of connected intricacies. It was poetic and the rich prose gave such a sense of surrounding.
With each season this family cycles through their pain and something anew is shifting them, I really loved the idea of how sometimes even families go through seasons of respite or healing, beginnings and endings. Williams did a beautiful job at showing how resilient the human spirit is and how family alters and protects us.
Thank you to the people @henryholt for sending me this ARC, all opinions are my own and you can find this lovely book out in the world today.
As a mother I appreciated the kind of sadness and existential crisis that Tess is facing in her life and how her sons and husband are all orbiting this shift and grappling with it in their own way. It felt melancholy and the feelings often reflected the turning of the weather, the garden, the town, this deep sense of connected intricacies. It was poetic and the rich prose gave such a sense of surrounding.
With each season this family cycles through their pain and something anew is shifting them, I really loved the idea of how sometimes even families go through seasons of respite or healing, beginnings and endings. Williams did a beautiful job at showing how resilient the human spirit is and how family alters and protects us.
Thank you to the people @henryholt for sending me this ARC, all opinions are my own and you can find this lovely book out in the world today.
March 2, 2024
I loved this book. The beautiful house is made of broken bricks -Discarded by the canal men in favour of cider many moons ago.
The beautiful family is broken by grief. Their lost Son is in every wind wash, in the bird song, the dance of the bees and in every swaying petal in the garden.
Mum, Tess, has tough Jamaican routes -born in London- a strong, beautiful lady, struggling to feel at home in the rural English countryside. Dad, Richard, is working hard, struggling to make ends meet. Son, Max is struggling with the profound impact of losing his twin.
They struggle to communicate through their grief, but they have built strong foundations in the house of broken bricks.
The beautiful family is broken by grief. Their lost Son is in every wind wash, in the bird song, the dance of the bees and in every swaying petal in the garden.
Mum, Tess, has tough Jamaican routes -born in London- a strong, beautiful lady, struggling to feel at home in the rural English countryside. Dad, Richard, is working hard, struggling to make ends meet. Son, Max is struggling with the profound impact of losing his twin.
They struggle to communicate through their grief, but they have built strong foundations in the house of broken bricks.
November 17, 2023
Quiet, sad, healing, nature-soaked and incredibly moving.
Family
Belonging
Race
Grief and loss
Home
Connection to plants and food
5/5
#182
Family
Belonging
Race
Grief and loss
Home
Connection to plants and food
5/5
#182
May 10, 2024
Trost ist etwas was jeder alleine findet um zusammen zukommen.
-Rezensionsexemplar-
.
Genre: Ein Roman, eine Geschichte, dramatisch, tragisch & doch unglaublich tröstlich. So berührend, mitnehmend & aufwühlend.
.
Setting: Tess, ihr Mann Richard und ihre Zwillinge Sonny und Max leben auf dem britischen Land. Klingt idyllisch, aber so ganz stimmt es nicht. Distanz, Naturgewalt und ein Suchen nach Zuhause. Mehr mag ich gar nicht verraten.
.
Das Buch hinterlässt Spuren, zumindest bei mir.
Daher schnapp dir einen Kaffee & lass dich mitnehmen.
-Rezensionsexemplar-
.
Genre: Ein Roman, eine Geschichte, dramatisch, tragisch & doch unglaublich tröstlich. So berührend, mitnehmend & aufwühlend.
.
Setting: Tess, ihr Mann Richard und ihre Zwillinge Sonny und Max leben auf dem britischen Land. Klingt idyllisch, aber so ganz stimmt es nicht. Distanz, Naturgewalt und ein Suchen nach Zuhause. Mehr mag ich gar nicht verraten.
.
Das Buch hinterlässt Spuren, zumindest bei mir.
Daher schnapp dir einen Kaffee & lass dich mitnehmen.
January 28, 2025
This novel was such a beautiful and emotional read. The words are so lovely and visceral you can almost taste and smell them. It’s a book that makes you slow down and appreciate small things. Deals with grief and family.
March 3, 2024
Tess, a black Jamaican-Londoner, falls in love with Richard, a white country farmer. Against the protests of Tess' family they move to the country where there are no other black or mixed families. With their fraternal twins, one white, one black, the family struggles to find a balance in their lifestyle. Additionally, there is more to the family, causing more and more space between Tess and Richard. The story flips from point of view of the sons and Tess and Richard. As the story progresses, you gain a better understanding of the difficulties that family faces in all their endeavors.
Overall, this was an interesting novel, and certainly one that has an element of uniqueness. The writing with poetic and beautiful, but I struggled to keep "investment" while reading. The story itself was heart-breaking and frustrating. Additionally, there is an aspect to the novel that became clear to me almost immediately, but in reading other reviews it is absent, so I assume it was not supposed to be that obvious from the start? Overall, for lover's of literary fiction and beautiful writing this one could be for you. However, for myself the story lacked a dimension that kept me fully engaged.
Overall, this was an interesting novel, and certainly one that has an element of uniqueness. The writing with poetic and beautiful, but I struggled to keep "investment" while reading. The story itself was heart-breaking and frustrating. Additionally, there is an aspect to the novel that became clear to me almost immediately, but in reading other reviews it is absent, so I assume it was not supposed to be that obvious from the start? Overall, for lover's of literary fiction and beautiful writing this one could be for you. However, for myself the story lacked a dimension that kept me fully engaged.
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