In brief: The Garnett girls are adults, but each is tied to their larger than life mother and crumbling house on the Isle of Wight. Will they muster the courage to say what they really want?
The good: A lot going on with each character.
The not-so-good: Some parts I felt needed a bit more or bit less page time.
Why I chose it: Sounded like good fun. Thanks to Harlequin for the copy.
Year: 2023
Pages: 325 (ARC)
Publisher: HQ
Setting: Isle of Wight and London
Rating: 8 out of 10
The Garnett Girls is a solid debut that only grows stronger as the story continues. There’s a lot to unpack in this story of sisters, secrets and an overbearing mother.
The Garnett girls and their mother Margo are well known on the Isle of Wight. Margo is famous for her parties, character and journalism but the people remember when it wasn’t so free spirited. Margo left many years earlier for the love of her life Richard, but their marriage didn’t last as he loved drinking more. Rachel, the eldest, grew up quickly to look after her younger sisters. Now a lawyer and living in the family home, Sandcove, she feels trapped in a life that isn’t hers. Middle sister Imogen is a playwright with her first play drawing some big names. But she feels trapped by her mother’s pressure to get married despite not really loving her fiancé. As the youngest, Sasha is the wildest but seems to be controlled by her overbearing husband. Not remembering Richard at all means that she is the most desperate to find out what happened. But she isn’t prepared for the truth. The secrets spill out, some quietly and others in huge confrontations as the Garnett girls discover what they do and don’t want.
I really enjoyed the opening chapters about Imogen and her time in Venice. It was a wonderful combination of fun and awkwardness. I wasn’t quite prepared next for the whirlwind that is Margo – she’s completely extra from the parties, to the men, to the drinking. At first she wasn’t that likeable, but as the novel progressed and the reader had insight into her fears, I felt for her. There were some events that I would have liked to have had more page time with – Sasha and Imogen’s breakups, Rachel’s suspicions about her husband and a client and when one of the girls goes missing as a child. I felt that these were all dealt with a bit too quickly and neatly. I wanted some more mess, particularly as Georgina Moore writes messy confrontations and fallout so well. She knows how to break her darlings, and piece them (almost) back together so that their past experiences influence their choices and actions for the future.
Once I got used to Margo and had some time to get stuck into reading, I really enjoyed The Garnett Girls. There is a lot (but not too much) in this debut novel which shows a great insight into the intricacies of family relationships and how they affect friendship and love. The setting was just gorgeous, from the beaches to the crumbly old house. Moore is a skilled writer and I’d love to see her write a long, involved saga. She’s got the talent to pull it off spectacularly.
Sam Still Reading 
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