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Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel
Sophie Green, Top Ten bestselling author of The Bellbird River Country Choir and Weekends with the Sunshine Gardening Society, returns with a warm-hearted new novel about friendships, fresh starts and finding yourself.
Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrilyis feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay.
With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives.
When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms.
Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrilyis feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay.
With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives.
When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms.
395 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2024
67 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Sophie Green
25 books233 followersSophie Green is an author and publisher who lives in Sydney. In her spare time she writes about country music on her website, Sunburnt Country Music.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
Sophie's debut novel, THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE FAIRVALE LADIES BOOK CLUB, was a Top Ten bestseller and was shortlisted for the Australian Book Industry Awards for General Fiction Book of the Year 2018, and longlisted for both the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year 2018 and the Indie Book Award for Debut Fiction 2018.
Sophie Green is internationally published and THE SHELLY BAY LADIES SWIMMING CIRCLE, THURSDAYS AT ORANGE BLOSSOM HOUSE, THE BELLBIRD RIVER COUNTRY CHOIR and WEEKENDS WITH THE SUNSHINE GARDENING SOCIETY were also Top Ten bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
August 2, 2024
Joan hung up the phone after her husband of thirty five years had called. She had had enough. Packing a suitcase, she jumped into her car and headed down the highway away from Sydney, away from the life and person she'd been for so long. Joan felt smothered, the passions she'd had decades ago had been buried. As she headed to Victoria, and the Mornington Peninsula, she looked forward to seeing the Duchess Hotel again. The Duchess held special memories for Joan, and she was certain she could find herself again if she gave it time.
Joan felt safe - no one knew where she was. When she met the elderly Frances, they immediately became friends. Frances lived locally and came to the Duchess most days, just for the company and friendships - as well as denying the fact she was getting old. Shane at the bar, had a deep affection for Frances and made sure she was always okay. When Frances took Joan to buy paints, canvas, sketch pads, oils, Joan was ecstatic. She was doing what she done in the past, where she loved creating art and others appreciated it. Alison, Frances' daughter, became involved as did Kirrily, a member of the staff; Joan started an art class - one hour on Friday afternoons. It gave everyone hope, peace and calmness. Would Joan ever go back to Sydney? Or was the Duchess her home now?
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel is another inspiring novel by Aussie author Sophie Green which I loved! The different generations of women portrayed; the courage of not just Joan; the determination to be strong, happy and contented, of not being just a crutch for others to lean on, was outstanding. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every book Sophie Green has written and this one is no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read.
Joan felt safe - no one knew where she was. When she met the elderly Frances, they immediately became friends. Frances lived locally and came to the Duchess most days, just for the company and friendships - as well as denying the fact she was getting old. Shane at the bar, had a deep affection for Frances and made sure she was always okay. When Frances took Joan to buy paints, canvas, sketch pads, oils, Joan was ecstatic. She was doing what she done in the past, where she loved creating art and others appreciated it. Alison, Frances' daughter, became involved as did Kirrily, a member of the staff; Joan started an art class - one hour on Friday afternoons. It gave everyone hope, peace and calmness. Would Joan ever go back to Sydney? Or was the Duchess her home now?
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel is another inspiring novel by Aussie author Sophie Green which I loved! The different generations of women portrayed; the courage of not just Joan; the determination to be strong, happy and contented, of not being just a crutch for others to lean on, was outstanding. I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every book Sophie Green has written and this one is no exception. Highly recommended.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read.
July 1, 2025
EXCERPT: The thing she wants most in this world is to pick up a paintbrush again. But there's no space for that in this life she's allowed to be built around her.
That's unfair: she has let it happen in that she hasn't resisted it. She lives in a house with art on the walls and none of it's hers. She has a life in which everyone tells her what they want, and she makes it happen for them but she does not, ever, open her mouth and say what she wants. Because she's not meant to want anything, is she, other than the happiness of her nearest and dearest.
Except she does. Oh, she wants things. She wants that hum in her veins that used to happen when a painting flowed out of her. She wants the stillness she would feel in the air around her when she was sitting in nature, looking at nature, trying to capture nature on a canvas in front of her. That feeling was like a drug, and she was gleefully hooked on it. It is almost impossible to understand now why she ever gave it up, no matter how much she rationalises it to herself and how she knows it came only in the wake of the greatest shock of her life, when she was so shaken she didn't trust herself to make anything other than tears. So many years ago now, too many to let it stop her from painting again.
And now she feels guilty that she has this glittering existence in this perfect house, and she doesn't care for it. For any of it. Because it seems empty.
ABOUT 'ART HOUR AT THE DUCHESS HOTEL': Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrily is feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay.
With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives.
When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms.
MY THOUGHTS: Age catches a person unawares.
It's a wonderful experience watching these women find their own place in life. I liked that the plot was unpredictable and that several things I didn't think would happen did, and things I expected to happen didn't.
Each of the women, Joan, Frances, Kirrily, Alison and Wendy are facing challenges in their lives. Although they may be surrounded by other people, these women feel isolated and alone, unseen and, at the same time, burdened by the expectations of others. Joan to the extent that she runs away to a childhood haunt, the Duchess Hotel, where she has made a lot of beautiful memories in the past.
As she meets and forms somewhat reluctant relationships with these other women, friendships slowly develop and with them, an understanding and easing of their various burdens.
I love Sophie Green's characters. Realistically flawed and facing common problems, they could be me, you, our neighbors, our families. Both characters and plot are easy to relate to and encompass situations we have all seen play out in real life. Green writes with understanding and empathy in a down-to-earth manner that flows easily.
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel is a delightful read. It's been a while since I have read anything by this author so there are a few back titles for me to enjoy while I wait for her next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#ArtHourattheDuchessHotel @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR - SOPHIE GREEN: Hi - I'm Sophie! I’m an author and publisher living in Sydney, Australia. I’ve written several novels, and I love exploring the art of storytelling in all its forms.
When I’m not writing novels, I’m often writing about Australian country music—a genre I adore. I also love practising yoga, exploring creativity in its many forms, and losing myself in music that tells a great story. (Source: sophiegreenauthor.com - abridged)
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
That's unfair: she has let it happen in that she hasn't resisted it. She lives in a house with art on the walls and none of it's hers. She has a life in which everyone tells her what they want, and she makes it happen for them but she does not, ever, open her mouth and say what she wants. Because she's not meant to want anything, is she, other than the happiness of her nearest and dearest.
Except she does. Oh, she wants things. She wants that hum in her veins that used to happen when a painting flowed out of her. She wants the stillness she would feel in the air around her when she was sitting in nature, looking at nature, trying to capture nature on a canvas in front of her. That feeling was like a drug, and she was gleefully hooked on it. It is almost impossible to understand now why she ever gave it up, no matter how much she rationalises it to herself and how she knows it came only in the wake of the greatest shock of her life, when she was so shaken she didn't trust herself to make anything other than tears. So many years ago now, too many to let it stop her from painting again.
And now she feels guilty that she has this glittering existence in this perfect house, and she doesn't care for it. For any of it. Because it seems empty.
ABOUT 'ART HOUR AT THE DUCHESS HOTEL': Mornington Peninsula, 1999. Wife and now grandmother Joan has checked into the grand old Duchess Hotel to find herself again after thirty-five years of being who her husband and family have wanted her to be. Peninsula local and soon-to-be octogenarian Frances is distracting herself from getting old, and avoiding her self-interested son by escaping to the warmth of the Duchess where the hotel staff treat her like the person she still is. Meanwhile Frances's daughter, Alison, is trying to manage significant disruptions at home while hoping to finally prove to her mother that she's just as worthy of love as her brother. New to the Duchess, hotel maid Kirrily is feeling the weight of a lifetime of responsibility, struggling to balance bills and work and family, and keeping thoughts of how there must be more to life at bay.
With its old-world glamour, sprawling seaside grounds and air of possibility, the Duchess Hotel might just be the place to help the women rediscover who they are and bring some spark back to their lives.
When Joan decides to pick up a brush and start painting for the first time in decades, she inspires Frances and Kirrily - and, eventually, Alison - to join her. Over canvas, conversation and creativity they will learn that you should always hold onto your dreams and that new friends can give you the courage to live life on your own terms.
MY THOUGHTS: Age catches a person unawares.
It's a wonderful experience watching these women find their own place in life. I liked that the plot was unpredictable and that several things I didn't think would happen did, and things I expected to happen didn't.
Each of the women, Joan, Frances, Kirrily, Alison and Wendy are facing challenges in their lives. Although they may be surrounded by other people, these women feel isolated and alone, unseen and, at the same time, burdened by the expectations of others. Joan to the extent that she runs away to a childhood haunt, the Duchess Hotel, where she has made a lot of beautiful memories in the past.
As she meets and forms somewhat reluctant relationships with these other women, friendships slowly develop and with them, an understanding and easing of their various burdens.
I love Sophie Green's characters. Realistically flawed and facing common problems, they could be me, you, our neighbors, our families. Both characters and plot are easy to relate to and encompass situations we have all seen play out in real life. Green writes with understanding and empathy in a down-to-earth manner that flows easily.
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel is a delightful read. It's been a while since I have read anything by this author so there are a few back titles for me to enjoy while I wait for her next book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
#ArtHourattheDuchessHotel @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR - SOPHIE GREEN: Hi - I'm Sophie! I’m an author and publisher living in Sydney, Australia. I’ve written several novels, and I love exploring the art of storytelling in all its forms.
When I’m not writing novels, I’m often writing about Australian country music—a genre I adore. I also love practising yoga, exploring creativity in its many forms, and losing myself in music that tells a great story. (Source: sophiegreenauthor.com - abridged)
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 16, 2024
WOW what a beautiful story, I am not sure where to start, I absolutely loved this one from start to finish, Sophie Green has never disappointed me and this one is I think her best yet, I loved the woman in this story, getting to know them and feeling all of the emotions, this one is about friendship, love, marriage and life and in my opinion is a must read, come along back to 1999 and get to know Joan, Frances, Kirrily and Alison.
Joan is middle age married mother and grandmother, after a phone call from her husband Isaac one day she decides that it is time that she thought about herself instead of everyone else, it has been too long since she has picked up a paint brush, thirty five years of being there for them it is now time for herself and she packs her things and takes off to Victoria to the Duchess Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula to the place that holds many memories from her childhood, will this trip see her find herself?
Frances, is seventy five and is doing her best to avoid getting older she lives very close to the Duchess Hotel and visits every day, here she feels real and alive, she has made friends with many of the staff mainly the barman Shane, she has a son Keith and daughter Alison.
Alison is married with two children her home has been turned upside down with the arrival of her husband’s first son and she is spending as much time with her mother, Frances looking for love that she feels always went to her terrible brother.
Kirrily, is married to Connor with two young children one who needs constant medical attention, life is hard, she works at the Duchess Hotel and is struggling with life at the moment will there be something that turns her life around?
Joan is soon becoming close friends with Frances and is soon painting and drawing again her life is opening up and when soon she seems to be holding art classes that bring these woman together, life is opening for them all, life is not easy but together can they help each other? Will Joan stay or will she move back to Sydney?
These woman of different generations open up to each other the drawing and painting help them express their feelings and the friendships grow and soon Art Hour at the Duchess hotel is what they all look forward to each week, come along and meet them I am sure you will love them and this story as much as I did.
I do highly recommend this one, it was one that was hard to put down.
Joan is middle age married mother and grandmother, after a phone call from her husband Isaac one day she decides that it is time that she thought about herself instead of everyone else, it has been too long since she has picked up a paint brush, thirty five years of being there for them it is now time for herself and she packs her things and takes off to Victoria to the Duchess Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula to the place that holds many memories from her childhood, will this trip see her find herself?
Frances, is seventy five and is doing her best to avoid getting older she lives very close to the Duchess Hotel and visits every day, here she feels real and alive, she has made friends with many of the staff mainly the barman Shane, she has a son Keith and daughter Alison.
Alison is married with two children her home has been turned upside down with the arrival of her husband’s first son and she is spending as much time with her mother, Frances looking for love that she feels always went to her terrible brother.
Kirrily, is married to Connor with two young children one who needs constant medical attention, life is hard, she works at the Duchess Hotel and is struggling with life at the moment will there be something that turns her life around?
Joan is soon becoming close friends with Frances and is soon painting and drawing again her life is opening up and when soon she seems to be holding art classes that bring these woman together, life is opening for them all, life is not easy but together can they help each other? Will Joan stay or will she move back to Sydney?
These woman of different generations open up to each other the drawing and painting help them express their feelings and the friendships grow and soon Art Hour at the Duchess hotel is what they all look forward to each week, come along and meet them I am sure you will love them and this story as much as I did.
I do highly recommend this one, it was one that was hard to put down.
April 19, 2025
Four women all at different stages in their lives, all struggling with family issues, meet at the Duchess Hotel. Together they share their problems and their dreams encouraged by their weekly art class.
I really enjoyed reading about all of the woman especially some highlights such as when Joan decides to take her stand at the beginning of the book. Even better is the scene where Frances chooses to speak up on her daughter's behalf. On the other hand I felt that Shane deserved much better and I was a little disappointed for him by the way the book ended.
An enjoyable read with pleasant characters and an excellent setting.
I really enjoyed reading about all of the woman especially some highlights such as when Joan decides to take her stand at the beginning of the book. Even better is the scene where Frances chooses to speak up on her daughter's behalf. On the other hand I felt that Shane deserved much better and I was a little disappointed for him by the way the book ended.
An enjoyable read with pleasant characters and an excellent setting.
February 26, 2025
Set in 1999, this book covers the lives of four women: Joan, Frances, Kirrily and Alison. Joan has just escaped her life after realising she's unhappy and runs to the Duchess Hotel, a beloved hotel from her childhood. Frances is an elderly woman who visits the hotel constantly. Kirrily works at the hotel while also managing a young family. Alison is Frances' daughter who struggles to connect with her mother. The four women become closely linked while Joan stays at the hotel and inadvertently starts an art class. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of the women and their personal circumstances. The respective storylines strongly focus on marriage, motherhood, friendship, family relationships but perhaps most importantly, self journey and discovery.
This is a great read that I would happily recommend.
This is a great read that I would happily recommend.
July 31, 2024
Art Hour At The Duchess Hotel is the sixth novel by best-selling Australian publisher and author, Sophie Green. Located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, the Duchess Hotel, old-fashioned and opulent, is many different things to different people.
To Joan Irving, wife of a high-powered Sydney lawyer and mother of two adult children, in her childhood it was an annual family treat; now it has become an escape from being taken for granted, and a chance to return to a pleasurable, revitalising pursuit she has denied herself for decades.
For seventy-five-year-old widow, Frances, it’s a daily refuge from her small, cheap home, a place where she’s treated, not like a potential source of funds, or an old woman who can’t look after herself, but like a real person.
Kirrily, wife of Connor and mother of two young children, works at the Duchess to save for future medical bills, but also, somewhat guiltily, sees it as a break from the pressures of her family.
For Alison Bosko, wife, mother, and step-mother, it’s where she can be sure to find Frances, the mother she can’t help worrying about since her half-brother squandered her father’s legacy and left Frances almost destitute.
It’s also the place where manager William makes sure everything runs like clockwork, where kindly barman Shane makes guests feel genuinely welcome, where local resident Wendy tries to pick up attractive unaccompanied males, and where Hopeless Harry manages to avoid working very hard.
Once Joan has been at the Duchess for a while, taking in the surrounds and allowing her mind to create the pictures she would paint, it’s Frances who urges her to obtain the art supplies she needs. Soon after, the paint and paper and canvas are being put to good use in the breathtaking surrounds.
On a break, Kirrily comes across Joan and her easel, and asks to partake: Joan reluctantly agrees. Before long, more staff, and visitors are doing what she instructs, although she maintains she’s NOT a teacher. William even suggests they formalise the Friday afternoon sessions to include interested guests…
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: already carrying the guilt of her son’s burns, Kirrily finds herself drawn to an attractive guest who pays her compliments; Joan faces pressure from her husband, children and friends to return to her marriage; Alison’s delinquent teenaged stepson is disrupting her happy family; and Frances faces a constant battle to maintain her independence and avoid being put into care.
Alison joins the art group, partly to spend more time with Frances, but everyone who participates in art hour at the Duchess Hotel finds it beneficial: a way of expressing feelings or a distraction from what is causing stress, worries, anxiety or guilt. The common ground of creating art leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Green has a talent for crafting characters who appeal for all their little faults and failings, integral to their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes.
Green’s characters have wise words and insightful observations; they get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. Yet another thoroughly enjoyable read from Sophie Green.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
To Joan Irving, wife of a high-powered Sydney lawyer and mother of two adult children, in her childhood it was an annual family treat; now it has become an escape from being taken for granted, and a chance to return to a pleasurable, revitalising pursuit she has denied herself for decades.
For seventy-five-year-old widow, Frances, it’s a daily refuge from her small, cheap home, a place where she’s treated, not like a potential source of funds, or an old woman who can’t look after herself, but like a real person.
Kirrily, wife of Connor and mother of two young children, works at the Duchess to save for future medical bills, but also, somewhat guiltily, sees it as a break from the pressures of her family.
For Alison Bosko, wife, mother, and step-mother, it’s where she can be sure to find Frances, the mother she can’t help worrying about since her half-brother squandered her father’s legacy and left Frances almost destitute.
It’s also the place where manager William makes sure everything runs like clockwork, where kindly barman Shane makes guests feel genuinely welcome, where local resident Wendy tries to pick up attractive unaccompanied males, and where Hopeless Harry manages to avoid working very hard.
Once Joan has been at the Duchess for a while, taking in the surrounds and allowing her mind to create the pictures she would paint, it’s Frances who urges her to obtain the art supplies she needs. Soon after, the paint and paper and canvas are being put to good use in the breathtaking surrounds.
On a break, Kirrily comes across Joan and her easel, and asks to partake: Joan reluctantly agrees. Before long, more staff, and visitors are doing what she instructs, although she maintains she’s NOT a teacher. William even suggests they formalise the Friday afternoon sessions to include interested guests…
Each of the women faces challenges of varying proportions: already carrying the guilt of her son’s burns, Kirrily finds herself drawn to an attractive guest who pays her compliments; Joan faces pressure from her husband, children and friends to return to her marriage; Alison’s delinquent teenaged stepson is disrupting her happy family; and Frances faces a constant battle to maintain her independence and avoid being put into care.
Alison joins the art group, partly to spend more time with Frances, but everyone who participates in art hour at the Duchess Hotel finds it beneficial: a way of expressing feelings or a distraction from what is causing stress, worries, anxiety or guilt. The common ground of creating art leads to friendship, understanding, sound advice and support. They gain confidence, strength and sometimes, a new perspective.
Green has a talent for crafting characters who appeal for all their little faults and failings, integral to their generosity and loyalty, who face realistic problems to which there aren’t instant solutions. The final pages don’t present resolutions neatly tied with a bow, but possibilities and hopes.
Green’s characters have wise words and insightful observations; they get right into your heart, and each time you have to put it down, this is a novel you really look forward to picking up again. Yet another thoroughly enjoyable read from Sophie Green.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Hachette Australia.
August 11, 2024
⭐️5 Stars⭐️
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel by Sophie Green is a book I loved, it portrays four women of different generations and is set in the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria in the late 1990’s. It’s a book about forming new friendships, new beginnings and wanting time for yourself.
Each of the four women face different challenges in their everyday lives and I was invested in them all. The characters in this book get under your skin, they feel so realistic and engaging.
Joan has escaped from her marriage and family in Sydney’s northern suburbs and returned to a charming place she used to visit when she was younger on holidays with her family, The Duchess Hotel. Here she becomes aquatinted with seventy-five year old Frances who lives a short walk away and comes to the hotel everyday, she’s practically the Hotel’s mascot.
Alison is Frances’ daughter and wants more of a connection with her mother, their mother-daughter relationship is quite strained and she’s always resented that her brother has been the favourite growing up. However an unwanted guest at her home is proving to be an ample disruption for her immediate family.
Kirrily works at the hotel as a maid and feels more comfort here than at her own home. She is struggling financially and feeling life has lost it’s spark.
Shane works as the Bartender and has a caring connection with these women.
Art is a strong theme in the book and it’s inspired me to want to learn to paint one day.
I think many women will relate to the themes in the story. This was a book that was a joy to read, just gorgeous and would be a great book club choice my friends.
Publication Day 31 July 2024
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Benson Publicity & Hachette Australia for the opportunity to join the online book tour and for a copy of the book
Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel by Sophie Green is a book I loved, it portrays four women of different generations and is set in the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria in the late 1990’s. It’s a book about forming new friendships, new beginnings and wanting time for yourself.
Each of the four women face different challenges in their everyday lives and I was invested in them all. The characters in this book get under your skin, they feel so realistic and engaging.
Joan has escaped from her marriage and family in Sydney’s northern suburbs and returned to a charming place she used to visit when she was younger on holidays with her family, The Duchess Hotel. Here she becomes aquatinted with seventy-five year old Frances who lives a short walk away and comes to the hotel everyday, she’s practically the Hotel’s mascot.
Alison is Frances’ daughter and wants more of a connection with her mother, their mother-daughter relationship is quite strained and she’s always resented that her brother has been the favourite growing up. However an unwanted guest at her home is proving to be an ample disruption for her immediate family.
Kirrily works at the hotel as a maid and feels more comfort here than at her own home. She is struggling financially and feeling life has lost it’s spark.
Shane works as the Bartender and has a caring connection with these women.
Art is a strong theme in the book and it’s inspired me to want to learn to paint one day.
I think many women will relate to the themes in the story. This was a book that was a joy to read, just gorgeous and would be a great book club choice my friends.
Publication Day 31 July 2024
Publisher Hachette Australia
Thank you so much Benson Publicity & Hachette Australia for the opportunity to join the online book tour and for a copy of the book
August 20, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🎨I’m pretty transparent when it comes to Sophie Green’s work, I’ve loved each and every book this wonderfully talented author has published. It’s always a cause for celebration when another Sophie Green book comes out in the wild, even more so when it comes to her exquisite covers. This latest release is another darling of the book cover world and I have to say I had just a bit too much fun styling Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel.
🎨Sophie Green is an expert when it comes to conveying what it means to be an Australian woman, irrespective of age or position in modern times. Her novels capture the spirit of friendship and are a wonderful tribute to the complexities of female roles, responsibilities, expectations, and the search for autonomy in a changing society. The time around, we meet a gaggle of women who converge on a central meeting place, a majestic hotel situated in the Mornington Peninsula area. I loved getting acquainted with Joan, an aspiring painter, retiree Frances and her daughter along with hotel maid Frances. The company are a genuine joy to follow as we walk the halls of the Duchess Hotel, stopping for a stroll in the gardens or taking part in a creative art class. Every moment was filled with activity! I didn’t want to check out!
🎨Featuring a fantastic and realistic trip to the time period of 1999, a time I look back on fondly, I loved the sense of nostalgia and fun memories this era evoked via the pop culture references Green included in the narrative. Bonus points for this aspect and the satisfying wrap up.
🎨I’m pretty transparent when it comes to Sophie Green’s work, I’ve loved each and every book this wonderfully talented author has published. It’s always a cause for celebration when another Sophie Green book comes out in the wild, even more so when it comes to her exquisite covers. This latest release is another darling of the book cover world and I have to say I had just a bit too much fun styling Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel.
🎨Sophie Green is an expert when it comes to conveying what it means to be an Australian woman, irrespective of age or position in modern times. Her novels capture the spirit of friendship and are a wonderful tribute to the complexities of female roles, responsibilities, expectations, and the search for autonomy in a changing society. The time around, we meet a gaggle of women who converge on a central meeting place, a majestic hotel situated in the Mornington Peninsula area. I loved getting acquainted with Joan, an aspiring painter, retiree Frances and her daughter along with hotel maid Frances. The company are a genuine joy to follow as we walk the halls of the Duchess Hotel, stopping for a stroll in the gardens or taking part in a creative art class. Every moment was filled with activity! I didn’t want to check out!
🎨Featuring a fantastic and realistic trip to the time period of 1999, a time I look back on fondly, I loved the sense of nostalgia and fun memories this era evoked via the pop culture references Green included in the narrative. Bonus points for this aspect and the satisfying wrap up.
February 12, 2025
Welcome to the grand old Duchess Hotel, nestled away on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. This charming home away from home is the perfect escape for all, perhaps more than most.
For Joan, it's where she turns to after realising that she needs time away to rediscover herself. There's Frances, a local senior citizen, who uses the Hotel to socalise and get away from her interfering daughter. Maid Kirrily uses her work time to forget all her worries waiting at home.
As it's a Sophie Green title, these women will form friendships with one another because of a common hobby. On Fridays, it's art hour at the Duchess Hotel.
What began as a form of therapy for these three women, the group gradually grows for those who are seeking a bit of solitude. From sketching to painting, there's no right or wrong medium, and everyone is welcome. That includes Alison, Frances daughter, who's dealing with her own life phase.
There's no Sophie Green title that I haven't enjoyed. Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel reminds us that it's okay to step back from our responsibilities and reflect on yourself. We are much more than what our parents, children, spouses, and society view us.
High praise to Sophie for touching on men's mental health awareness here as well. Just wait until you meet barman Shane, a war veteran and an all-around good guy.
Another great contemporary novel by Ms. Green. I wonder which hobby will be the next focal point in her ever growing catalogue.
4.5 🌟
For Joan, it's where she turns to after realising that she needs time away to rediscover herself. There's Frances, a local senior citizen, who uses the Hotel to socalise and get away from her interfering daughter. Maid Kirrily uses her work time to forget all her worries waiting at home.
As it's a Sophie Green title, these women will form friendships with one another because of a common hobby. On Fridays, it's art hour at the Duchess Hotel.
What began as a form of therapy for these three women, the group gradually grows for those who are seeking a bit of solitude. From sketching to painting, there's no right or wrong medium, and everyone is welcome. That includes Alison, Frances daughter, who's dealing with her own life phase.
There's no Sophie Green title that I haven't enjoyed. Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel reminds us that it's okay to step back from our responsibilities and reflect on yourself. We are much more than what our parents, children, spouses, and society view us.
High praise to Sophie for touching on men's mental health awareness here as well. Just wait until you meet barman Shane, a war veteran and an all-around good guy.
Another great contemporary novel by Ms. Green. I wonder which hobby will be the next focal point in her ever growing catalogue.
4.5 🌟
July 29, 2024
If Sophie Green puts pen to paper, I shall read. Any novel that celebrates friendships, fresh starts and finding yourself will always find it’s way onto my bookshelf.
Read my full review on my website
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
Read my full review on my website
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
August 14, 2024
Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
The Duchess Hotel majestically sits by the ocean in a timeless warp whilst its guests and staff determine their futures, sort family issues and develop bonds that are as sturdy as the hotel.
A place that brings people together.
Joan has everything anyone could want in a material and social sense.
The realisation that an integral part of herself has been neglected inspires a decision to up and leave.
Arriving at the grand old hotel in the Mornington Peninsula she begins a journey of self discovery and indulges in her old passion of painting.
Frances is a local that has become one of the fixtures at the Duchess.
A place where she feels at home and escapes her realities.
She connects immediately with Joan.
Family landscapes and dynamics uniting them.
Introducing art classes unleashes not only creativity but an outlet for a growing number of guests and staff.
Joan finds herself and has some big decisions to make about her future.
Everyone is on a journey through life and those you surround yourself with can be both a saviour or detriment.
The two leading ladies in this are endearing, frank and are delightful.
They come from polar opposite worlds but form a beautiful relationship.
The hotel setting is perfect, the issues relevant and topical and a mix of prickly characters give a rounded social perspective.
A beautifully written story.
The Duchess Hotel majestically sits by the ocean in a timeless warp whilst its guests and staff determine their futures, sort family issues and develop bonds that are as sturdy as the hotel.
A place that brings people together.
Joan has everything anyone could want in a material and social sense.
The realisation that an integral part of herself has been neglected inspires a decision to up and leave.
Arriving at the grand old hotel in the Mornington Peninsula she begins a journey of self discovery and indulges in her old passion of painting.
Frances is a local that has become one of the fixtures at the Duchess.
A place where she feels at home and escapes her realities.
She connects immediately with Joan.
Family landscapes and dynamics uniting them.
Introducing art classes unleashes not only creativity but an outlet for a growing number of guests and staff.
Joan finds herself and has some big decisions to make about her future.
Everyone is on a journey through life and those you surround yourself with can be both a saviour or detriment.
The two leading ladies in this are endearing, frank and are delightful.
They come from polar opposite worlds but form a beautiful relationship.
The hotel setting is perfect, the issues relevant and topical and a mix of prickly characters give a rounded social perspective.
A beautifully written story.
September 17, 2024
This latest release from Sophie Green is an indulgent dive into small town Aussie charm at a grand hotel.
There’s a large cast of characters - a mix of hotel guests, employees and staff, which was very enjoyable - but the book mainly follows four women, hotel guest Joan, local Frances, Frances’s daughter Alison and hotel employee, Kirrily, as they each come to a crossroad in their lives.
As the group gather for art classes, the themes of friendship and finding yourself are explored and it’ll make you want to reignite some forgotten passions of your own!
Of the four protagonists, I particularly enjoyed the family drama in Alison’s life & the exploration of how it impacted individual members of the family. I was cheering Frances on when she decided to get involved in her daughter’s behalf!
For a warm-hearted, feel-good tale of intertwining lives and rediscovering yourself, check out ART HOUR AT THE DUCHESS HOTEL.
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
There’s a large cast of characters - a mix of hotel guests, employees and staff, which was very enjoyable - but the book mainly follows four women, hotel guest Joan, local Frances, Frances’s daughter Alison and hotel employee, Kirrily, as they each come to a crossroad in their lives.
As the group gather for art classes, the themes of friendship and finding yourself are explored and it’ll make you want to reignite some forgotten passions of your own!
Of the four protagonists, I particularly enjoyed the family drama in Alison’s life & the exploration of how it impacted individual members of the family. I was cheering Frances on when she decided to get involved in her daughter’s behalf!
For a warm-hearted, feel-good tale of intertwining lives and rediscovering yourself, check out ART HOUR AT THE DUCHESS HOTEL.
I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher.
August 22, 2024
Set on the Mornington Peninsula in 1999, the story is told from the POV’s of four women; Frances, Joan, Kirrily and Alison. Each of these characters is facing challenges with their family relationships and feeling as if they have lost themselves and their dreams somewhere along life’s road. All four find themselves at the glorious Duchess Hotel, a home away from home where they can forget about their troubles and focus on themselves. When Joan decides to paint for the first time in years it inspires these other women to join her and so is born an Art Hour.
Art Hour At the Duchess Hotel is a rich and poetic story which perfectly captures the joy and pain of relationships of all shapes and sizes. It also shines a spotlight on the invisibility that many women feel once they are past their child rearing years, as if once their children are grown, they are no longer relevant. Each of these women want something more for themselves and I loved watching the different journeys they took to achieve this.
The friendships that blossom in this unique hotel environment were so inspiring and moving with little judgement and a lot of support. The creativity and emotion really spoke to me and provided a lot of food for thought as these characters began to focus on their own needs. The following line really jumped out at me: “We are not just vessels for what other people want us to be.”
Having read all of Sophie’s books, I can honestly say that Art Hour At the Duchess Hotel is her best one yet. It’s both profound and uplifting and full of all the emotion and female friendship that this fabulous author is known for. Whether you’re a long time fan, or are new to Sophie Green’s books then I recommend picking this one up and prepare to be absorbed into the world of the beautiful Duchess Hotel.
Art Hour At the Duchess Hotel is a rich and poetic story which perfectly captures the joy and pain of relationships of all shapes and sizes. It also shines a spotlight on the invisibility that many women feel once they are past their child rearing years, as if once their children are grown, they are no longer relevant. Each of these women want something more for themselves and I loved watching the different journeys they took to achieve this.
The friendships that blossom in this unique hotel environment were so inspiring and moving with little judgement and a lot of support. The creativity and emotion really spoke to me and provided a lot of food for thought as these characters began to focus on their own needs. The following line really jumped out at me: “We are not just vessels for what other people want us to be.”
Having read all of Sophie’s books, I can honestly say that Art Hour At the Duchess Hotel is her best one yet. It’s both profound and uplifting and full of all the emotion and female friendship that this fabulous author is known for. Whether you’re a long time fan, or are new to Sophie Green’s books then I recommend picking this one up and prepare to be absorbed into the world of the beautiful Duchess Hotel.
August 5, 2024
I love a Sophie Green novel, I love the way it’s not how clever or lucky or rich you are..companionship and connection can be just around the corner. I love that it is through incidental that friendship can be found. I love that it is not dependent on age or even common experiences..and I especially loved seeing it in Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel! In this novel we see friendships being formed over drawings and it was such a beautiful read. I loved getting to know Joan, Frances, Alison and Kirrily. I loved the discussion of regrets and identity, wifedom and motherhood that I found within these pages. I so loved seeing the relationship of siblings explored. I loved the Duchess Hotel and seeing the people working in it as well as the guests staying in it..I loved everything about this novel!
September 29, 2024
I'm unsure if I can read another Sophie Green novel (even though I have another one, bought from a charity shop, waiting in my 'to-read' pile.) I love the familiarity of the setting - the Mornington Peninsula, even the hotel, which was the old Peppers in Portsea (now Delgany) where I stayed for a memorable anniversary weekend. But boy, nothing happens! How anyone can write so much about so little is beyond me. It is certainly a character-driven novel because there is no plot at all! I have decided I like more action in my books. I skimmed the last forty pages, and don't know what happened to Kirrily and her flirtation with Derek/Dirk, but I didn't really care either. I also don't think Violet Town is in the "High Country". Lazy research meant no definitive town was identified and was continually called the High Country. No town, no chance of describing it. No plot, no setting! Another aspect that really annoyed me was when Joan was reminiscing about her old life in Sydney, wondering what her friends, no acquaintances, were doing- "lunches, groups or classes." Maybe that's what SHE could have been doing classes- Art classes, in fact!
August 25, 2024
This was a lovely read to settle into, spanning four months and following the lives of a small group of people all connected through the Duchess Hotel and the creation of art as an outlet.
Set on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula in a grand old hotel, this story is very much a character driven one. Themes of motherhood, friendship, marriage, and family dynamics abound throughout, but the overall message of selfcare and retaining autonomy over your own life was ever present.
Art Hour At The Duchess Hotel was a delightfully warm and thought-provoking read with a cast of likeable and relatable characters. Recommended reading for book clubs and holidays, when you're after a good chunky immersive, yet light read.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy.
Set on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula in a grand old hotel, this story is very much a character driven one. Themes of motherhood, friendship, marriage, and family dynamics abound throughout, but the overall message of selfcare and retaining autonomy over your own life was ever present.
Art Hour At The Duchess Hotel was a delightfully warm and thought-provoking read with a cast of likeable and relatable characters. Recommended reading for book clubs and holidays, when you're after a good chunky immersive, yet light read.
Thanks to Hachette Australia for the review copy.
October 9, 2024
The Duchess Hotel becomes a home away from home for a group of women, who at any other time or place would probably not talk to each other, while the art hour was a part of the story in the book, it wasn’t the main plot of the story. It was about female friendships, mother-dauther relationship, refinding ourselves at any age, and looking at things in front of us with a fresh perspective.
I loved getting to know them all, seeing their relationship with the hotel, how they met and more about their family and lives. Whilst all four had very different issues, it wasn’t just art they had in common. Just loved Frances she was the one who was always there to support, show love and kindness to everyone.
This was quite an enjoyable read - I really loved the vibe of the Duchess Hotel.
I loved getting to know them all, seeing their relationship with the hotel, how they met and more about their family and lives. Whilst all four had very different issues, it wasn’t just art they had in common. Just loved Frances she was the one who was always there to support, show love and kindness to everyone.
This was quite an enjoyable read - I really loved the vibe of the Duchess Hotel.
October 4, 2024
I skimmed through the last 50 pages of this book. Not many likeable characters, in particular the main character Joan. If you had nothing else to read on a long haul flight, it’d do the job but overall a bit boring.
April 6, 2025
If you could take a break from your life, where would you go?
Sophie Green’s books📚 always make me smirk with laughter out loud. I can totally relate to the characters and see myself and my friends in their descriptions.
Ive just finished listening to ‘Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel’ on Audible. It’s a fun audiobook about a fictional historic hotel on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula. The story follows Joan, Frances, Kirrily, and Alison as they go on a journey of self-discovery and rekindle their dreams. 🎨🖌️
🏨 The hotel is beautiful, and Joan starts painting again, which inspires her friends to pursue their own passions. 🌈✨
Together they learn the importance of holding onto their dreams, even through motherhood, marriage, and family. They discover the courage to live life on their own terms, supported by new friendships. With the focus on the importance to prioritise self-care and maintain your independence as person through it all.
Here’s a thought-provoking quote from the book: “We are not just vessels for what other people want us to be.” 💪
Book 12 in 2025
Title: Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel
Author: Sophie Green
🎧 Available on Audible - 14hrs 4 mins, narrated by Fiona Macleod
🔍 Genre: fiction, friendship, heartfelt, small town & rural.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I gave it 4 1/2 stars. A fantastic read that I’m sure you’ll love too!
#arthourattheduchesshotel #sophiegreen #booklovers #audiobookrecommendation #friendshipgoals #selfdiscovery #inspiration #bookstagram #booksofinstagram📚 #soniasreads2025
Sophie Green’s books📚 always make me smirk with laughter out loud. I can totally relate to the characters and see myself and my friends in their descriptions.
Ive just finished listening to ‘Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel’ on Audible. It’s a fun audiobook about a fictional historic hotel on the Victorian Mornington Peninsula. The story follows Joan, Frances, Kirrily, and Alison as they go on a journey of self-discovery and rekindle their dreams. 🎨🖌️
🏨 The hotel is beautiful, and Joan starts painting again, which inspires her friends to pursue their own passions. 🌈✨
Together they learn the importance of holding onto their dreams, even through motherhood, marriage, and family. They discover the courage to live life on their own terms, supported by new friendships. With the focus on the importance to prioritise self-care and maintain your independence as person through it all.
Here’s a thought-provoking quote from the book: “We are not just vessels for what other people want us to be.” 💪
Book 12 in 2025
Title: Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel
Author: Sophie Green
🎧 Available on Audible - 14hrs 4 mins, narrated by Fiona Macleod
🔍 Genre: fiction, friendship, heartfelt, small town & rural.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I gave it 4 1/2 stars. A fantastic read that I’m sure you’ll love too!
#arthourattheduchesshotel #sophiegreen #booklovers #audiobookrecommendation #friendshipgoals #selfdiscovery #inspiration #bookstagram #booksofinstagram📚 #soniasreads2025
August 23, 2024
What a heart-warming story about finding yourself Art Hour at the Duchess Hotel is. It’s a beautiful novel both inside and out 💕
Told from the point of view of four women and set in 1999 at the Duchess Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, we are taken on a journey of friendship and self discovery.
Joan, Frances, Alison and Kirrily all have different personal challenges, but a common feeling of losing themselves somewhere along the marriage and motherhood journey. Each has a connection to the Duchess Hotel so when Joan starts painting in the hotel gardens, she soon finds herself inspiring the others to join her for Art Hour.
Each of the women are at different stages of motherhood where they feel lost and taken for granted. Bonding over a shared love of painting, drawing and creating they learn that new friends can make you brave enough to stay true to yourself. I really enjoyed reading the journey they each took to achieve something for themselves to feel a little less invisible to their families.
If you are a mother you will resonate with one or more of the characters just as I did. Their inner monologues felt like a window into my mind at times.
I also really liked Shane (the bar tender at the hotel) and his relationship with them all, but Frances especially. The two had a beautiful friendship that you could tell Frances cherished.
This is my first Sophie Green book and it most certainly won’t be my last. Green writes in such a way that you can’t help but feel you are there in the grand old Duchess Hotel right alongside the characters.
Told from the point of view of four women and set in 1999 at the Duchess Hotel on the Mornington Peninsula, we are taken on a journey of friendship and self discovery.
Joan, Frances, Alison and Kirrily all have different personal challenges, but a common feeling of losing themselves somewhere along the marriage and motherhood journey. Each has a connection to the Duchess Hotel so when Joan starts painting in the hotel gardens, she soon finds herself inspiring the others to join her for Art Hour.
Each of the women are at different stages of motherhood where they feel lost and taken for granted. Bonding over a shared love of painting, drawing and creating they learn that new friends can make you brave enough to stay true to yourself. I really enjoyed reading the journey they each took to achieve something for themselves to feel a little less invisible to their families.
If you are a mother you will resonate with one or more of the characters just as I did. Their inner monologues felt like a window into my mind at times.
I also really liked Shane (the bar tender at the hotel) and his relationship with them all, but Frances especially. The two had a beautiful friendship that you could tell Frances cherished.
This is my first Sophie Green book and it most certainly won’t be my last. Green writes in such a way that you can’t help but feel you are there in the grand old Duchess Hotel right alongside the characters.
August 27, 2024
3.5 .. it is a sweet story and Joan typifies the stage of life many women feel when it hits them that they have spent decades serving the needs of family to then ‘wake up’ to the realisation they’ve lost their own identity .. the other characters also bring feelings of searching for purpose or meaningfulness ; the context of the Duchess Hotel Mornington peninsula and to a lesser extent rich Sydney are also quite well drawn; but I felt the stories were a bit muffled, lacking a bit of grit at times . .. overall an easy read and some interesting themes
June 24, 2025
Absolutely obsessed with this book!! It had me crying, laughing, gasping and shaking my head. The ending felt super rushed and unfinished!! The author really drew me in with the different storyline’s and then it felt like the ending was just a massive cliffhanger - which is why I gave 4 stars otherwise it would’ve been a 5!! Big shoutout to Colin the corgi
September 7, 2024
Terrific read.
May 13, 2025
so much beauty, pain and imperfection in these characters. Inspiring, comforting and beautifully written.
May 20, 2025
Good, but it took way longer than it needed to.
August 13, 2024
Sophie Green has given us another wonderful story of unconventional female friendships with Art Hour At The Duchess Hotel.
The Duchess Hotel becomes a home away from home for a group of women, who at any other time or place would probably not talk to each other, but their visits and stays at the Hotel bring them together to find themselves, to grieve, to just talk judgement free, and they form bonds that will last them their lifetimes.
I felt like I was staying at the Hotel with them. Like I was sitting in the bar having a drink. Like I was out in the gardens joining art hour.
I felt all their new beginnings, their hurts, their confusions, their revelations.
There is great secondary characters that help cement these new friendships.
Ms Green writes with such clarity and imagery that you can imagine yourself looking out over the Mornington Peninsula with the group.
I enjoyed this book, and look forward to what she brings us next.
Thank you Hachette Australia for my review copy
The Duchess Hotel becomes a home away from home for a group of women, who at any other time or place would probably not talk to each other, but their visits and stays at the Hotel bring them together to find themselves, to grieve, to just talk judgement free, and they form bonds that will last them their lifetimes.
I felt like I was staying at the Hotel with them. Like I was sitting in the bar having a drink. Like I was out in the gardens joining art hour.
I felt all their new beginnings, their hurts, their confusions, their revelations.
There is great secondary characters that help cement these new friendships.
Ms Green writes with such clarity and imagery that you can imagine yourself looking out over the Mornington Peninsula with the group.
I enjoyed this book, and look forward to what she brings us next.
Thank you Hachette Australia for my review copy
February 24, 2025
I love Sophie Green’s books but unfortunately this one just didn’t grab me. I struggled to finish it but I did because I was wanting to find out what happened and really nothing much did. I did like the characters and I understood that the story was all about unlikely friendships (male and female) and how they developed. I really think the book dragged out too much and could have been much shorter as it became very repetitive. Looking forward to reading Sophie’s next book though, when it’s released. She’s a great author
December 30, 2024
At 400 pages very little happened.
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