What do you think?
Rate this book
Tangled in Ivy
From the bestselling author of Sweet Tea Tuesdays comes a story of true love that spans decades.
Lillian Alexander's father is dying of cancer. When he rambles on in a morphine-delirium, Lillian can't ignore the feeling he's trying to tell her something. At his funeral days later, she encounters ghosts from her past who stir long-suppressed memories from the day her mother died twenty-seven years ago. Why, if her mother's death was an accident, does Lillian harbor guilt, as though she were somehow to blame?
When Lillian and her twin sister, Layla, learn the Stoney family fortune is gone, Lillian fights to save her ancestral home on Charleston's prestigious East Battery. Desperate to resolve her money problems and get answers to her questions about the past, she tears her father's study apart in search of clues. She discovers a thumb drive in a hollowed-out hardback copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls. The thumb drive, marked For Lillian in his handwriting, contains her father's memoir. Secluded in the family's cottage on Wadmalaw Island, she immerses herself in her father's account of his stormy relationship with her mother. What she learns sets her on a journey of self-discovery.
Tangled in Ivy is a tale of tortured souls and southern family dysfunction.
Lillian Alexander's father is dying of cancer. When he rambles on in a morphine-delirium, Lillian can't ignore the feeling he's trying to tell her something. At his funeral days later, she encounters ghosts from her past who stir long-suppressed memories from the day her mother died twenty-seven years ago. Why, if her mother's death was an accident, does Lillian harbor guilt, as though she were somehow to blame?
When Lillian and her twin sister, Layla, learn the Stoney family fortune is gone, Lillian fights to save her ancestral home on Charleston's prestigious East Battery. Desperate to resolve her money problems and get answers to her questions about the past, she tears her father's study apart in search of clues. She discovers a thumb drive in a hollowed-out hardback copy of For Whom the Bell Tolls. The thumb drive, marked For Lillian in his handwriting, contains her father's memoir. Secluded in the family's cottage on Wadmalaw Island, she immerses herself in her father's account of his stormy relationship with her mother. What she learns sets her on a journey of self-discovery.
Tangled in Ivy is a tale of tortured souls and southern family dysfunction.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2020
About the author
Ashley Farley
40 books2,228 followers⭐️USA Today Bestseller⭐️
Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.
Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 25 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com
Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...
Ashley Farley writes books about women for women. Her characters are mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives facing real-life issues. Her bestselling Sweeney Sisters series has touched the lives of many.
Ashley is a wife and mother of two young adult children. While she's lived in Richmond, Virginia for the past 25 years, a piece of her heart remains in the salty marshes of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where she still calls home. Through the eyes of her characters, she captures the moss-draped trees, delectable cuisine, and kindhearted folk with lazy drawls that make the area so unique. For more information, visit www.ashleyfarley.com
Ashley loves to hear from her readers.
Visit her website @ http://www.ashleyfarley.com
Sign up for her newsletter @ https://ashleyfarley.com/newsletter-s...
Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyFarley...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
June 21, 2020
4.5 stars
Family drama, secrets, enduring love—this one’s got it all!!
Lillian is there when her beloved father passes away. She is devastated by his loss and wonders how she’ll carry on. But just before he died, he told her to “look to Hemingway for answers.” What could that mean?
When their father’s will is read, Lillian and her estranged twin sister, Layla, learn that the Stoney family fortune has dwindled nearly to nothing. This sets up a war between the two sisters, familiar territory for the both of them.
Escaping to the family cottage, Lillian finds a thumb drive and a letter marked “for Lillian” inside a hollowed-out book by Ernest Hemingway. The thumb drive contains her father’s memoir of sorts, and it recounts the story of his relationship with the twins’ mercurial mother, Ivy. As Lillian reads the document, she finally begins to understand the root of her strained relationship with Layla.
But more importantly, the document sheds light on the events that occurred the night Ivy died, when the twins were six. Lillian has always blocked out the events of that night, and always has borne some guilt for what happened, even though she doesn’t know why.
This is the second book of Farley’s I’ve read and I’m blown away at how completely she hooks you into her story almost immediately. I’m a sucker for family drama and melodrama, but this book also has rich character development and gorgeous imagery. (God, I love Charleston and the South Carolina coast.)
There might not be a lot of surprises, but I literally read this in one sitting. So addictive!
Excited to be on the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours, Ashley Farley, and Leisure Time Books provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes 6/9.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Family drama, secrets, enduring love—this one’s got it all!!
Lillian is there when her beloved father passes away. She is devastated by his loss and wonders how she’ll carry on. But just before he died, he told her to “look to Hemingway for answers.” What could that mean?
When their father’s will is read, Lillian and her estranged twin sister, Layla, learn that the Stoney family fortune has dwindled nearly to nothing. This sets up a war between the two sisters, familiar territory for the both of them.
Escaping to the family cottage, Lillian finds a thumb drive and a letter marked “for Lillian” inside a hollowed-out book by Ernest Hemingway. The thumb drive contains her father’s memoir of sorts, and it recounts the story of his relationship with the twins’ mercurial mother, Ivy. As Lillian reads the document, she finally begins to understand the root of her strained relationship with Layla.
But more importantly, the document sheds light on the events that occurred the night Ivy died, when the twins were six. Lillian has always blocked out the events of that night, and always has borne some guilt for what happened, even though she doesn’t know why.
This is the second book of Farley’s I’ve read and I’m blown away at how completely she hooks you into her story almost immediately. I’m a sucker for family drama and melodrama, but this book also has rich character development and gorgeous imagery. (God, I love Charleston and the South Carolina coast.)
There might not be a lot of surprises, but I literally read this in one sitting. So addictive!
Excited to be on the blog tour for this book. Kate Rock Book Tours, Ashley Farley, and Leisure Time Books provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!
The book publishes 6/9.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 31, 2020
TANGLED IN IVY by Ashley Farley is riveting, compelling Southern women's fiction filled with intrigue, family drama and gorgeous descriptions. This beautifully written emotional story about a dysfunctional family has secrets, lies, mystery, tragedies, shocking and surprising truths, and tangled twists and turns.
As usual, Ashley Farley's characters are lifelike and relatable. They practically "walk off the pages." My favourite characters were Trudy, the loving and loyal housekeeper for over forty years; Edward, Ivy's father; Graham, university professor, and father of Lillian and Layla; Lillian, sweet, thoughtful, artist and caregiver of her father when he was dying of cancer; and Marcus, athletic junior lawyer in a prestigious law firm.
I disliked the way Layla bullied Lillian, her twin sister, selfishly only thought of herself, was rude, and always wanted to be the centre of attention.
This story grabbed my attention on page one, had me glued to the book and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next.
I was surprised to read details of Graham's sexual thoughts and feelings that he wrote in his memoir, as I felt that they were too explicit for a father to write for his daughter. Graham and Lillian were very close, but not in 'that' way.
Ashley Farley is one of my favourite authors, and I have enjoyed every book written by her that I have read. She is very talented at blending families, drama, mystery and romance. TANGLED IN IVY is most definitely a 'can't put it down until the very last word is read' kind of book! I highly recommend it.
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
***Thanks to Leisure Time Books and NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading a digital advance reading copy of this fabulous book. All opinions are my own.
#TangledinIvy
#NetGalley
Posted on GoodReads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader, Twitter
As usual, Ashley Farley's characters are lifelike and relatable. They practically "walk off the pages." My favourite characters were Trudy, the loving and loyal housekeeper for over forty years; Edward, Ivy's father; Graham, university professor, and father of Lillian and Layla; Lillian, sweet, thoughtful, artist and caregiver of her father when he was dying of cancer; and Marcus, athletic junior lawyer in a prestigious law firm.
I disliked the way Layla bullied Lillian, her twin sister, selfishly only thought of herself, was rude, and always wanted to be the centre of attention.
This story grabbed my attention on page one, had me glued to the book and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could to find out what would happen next.
I was surprised to read details of Graham's sexual thoughts and feelings that he wrote in his memoir, as I felt that they were too explicit for a father to write for his daughter. Graham and Lillian were very close, but not in 'that' way.
Ashley Farley is one of my favourite authors, and I have enjoyed every book written by her that I have read. She is very talented at blending families, drama, mystery and romance. TANGLED IN IVY is most definitely a 'can't put it down until the very last word is read' kind of book! I highly recommend it.
5 stars ⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️⭐️️
***Thanks to Leisure Time Books and NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading a digital advance reading copy of this fabulous book. All opinions are my own.
#TangledinIvy
#NetGalley
Posted on GoodReads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader, Twitter
June 20, 2020
Ok so I'm fairly new to southern fiction, but the few that I have read were so good. I love stories about family, drama, and secrets and "Tangled In Ivy" by Ashley Farley was literally awesome.
This is my first book by Ashley and now I want to read her backlist!! The writing and plot was excellent and just pulled me right in and I flew through it and stayed up way too late to finish!! This story is told through a few POV and different time periods!! The setting takes place in Charleston, which I really loved, the descriptions made it sound so amazing! It was like a character in itself! Lillian and Layla are twin sisters who are are not very close like you would expect twins to be. Their mother,Ivy, died years ago and their father, Graham, has just died of cancer! While he was dying, he told his daughter Lillian she will find the answers to her questions in Hemingway. The sisters are fighting over the family house, and deciding what should be done with it! Lillian then comes across her father's hidden memoir inside a hollowed out book.while searching the house for clues about her mother's death. She discovers secrets from the past that tell about the families disfunction throughout Ivy and Graham's life!
This was so captivating!! If you love books about dysfunctional families, deep hidden secrets, and renewed love, you will want to add this to your list, or pre-order it, because this is not to be missed!! SO GOOD!!
Thank you Kate rock book tours, the author and publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own!!
This is my first book by Ashley and now I want to read her backlist!! The writing and plot was excellent and just pulled me right in and I flew through it and stayed up way too late to finish!! This story is told through a few POV and different time periods!! The setting takes place in Charleston, which I really loved, the descriptions made it sound so amazing! It was like a character in itself! Lillian and Layla are twin sisters who are are not very close like you would expect twins to be. Their mother,Ivy, died years ago and their father, Graham, has just died of cancer! While he was dying, he told his daughter Lillian she will find the answers to her questions in Hemingway. The sisters are fighting over the family house, and deciding what should be done with it! Lillian then comes across her father's hidden memoir inside a hollowed out book.while searching the house for clues about her mother's death. She discovers secrets from the past that tell about the families disfunction throughout Ivy and Graham's life!
This was so captivating!! If you love books about dysfunctional families, deep hidden secrets, and renewed love, you will want to add this to your list, or pre-order it, because this is not to be missed!! SO GOOD!!
Thank you Kate rock book tours, the author and publisher for my copy. All opinions are my own!!
June 13, 2020
So I stayed up way too late so I could finish this book!
A beautiful Southern women’s fiction novel full of family drama and mystery. I loved everything this book had to offer- the secrets, lies, dysfunction and tragedy.
All the characters are so real, they felt like friends.
Thanks to Netgalley for my ebook copy.
A beautiful Southern women’s fiction novel full of family drama and mystery. I loved everything this book had to offer- the secrets, lies, dysfunction and tragedy.
All the characters are so real, they felt like friends.
Thanks to Netgalley for my ebook copy.
June 7, 2020
Tangled in Ivy is a pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea, sit on the porch type of book! Ashley Farley has written a page turning story of family drama and mystery. Block off an afternoon and pick up this book!
June 15, 2020
I have to start by saying that what first attracted me to this book was the cover. I had absolutely no idea that behind the beautiful cover would lie one of my favorite books.
This is about Lillian and when her father dies of cancer, her and her sister must deal with troubles of the past in order to move forward. There's a dual timeline aspect when Lillian discovers her father's memoir.
The first thing I realized that I adored about this book was the writing. I could just tell that Ashley Farley was an experienced author, her writing is effortless, so easy to read and very immersive. The way that she was able to turn her characters into real people in my mind was incredible, and we need to talk about the characters RIGHT NOW. Lillian grew so much on me as the book progressed, her growth was remarkable. But Graham, Trudy and Melanie: I wanted them to be part of MY family.
I could not guess any of the plot twists in this book, they were very well concealed under my eyes, and they were revealed with maestry.
I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone, but specially for adult fiction and mystery readers out there. It brings something new to the table, and I'm so glad I got this ARC.
This is about Lillian and when her father dies of cancer, her and her sister must deal with troubles of the past in order to move forward. There's a dual timeline aspect when Lillian discovers her father's memoir.
The first thing I realized that I adored about this book was the writing. I could just tell that Ashley Farley was an experienced author, her writing is effortless, so easy to read and very immersive. The way that she was able to turn her characters into real people in my mind was incredible, and we need to talk about the characters RIGHT NOW. Lillian grew so much on me as the book progressed, her growth was remarkable. But Graham, Trudy and Melanie: I wanted them to be part of MY family.
I could not guess any of the plot twists in this book, they were very well concealed under my eyes, and they were revealed with maestry.
I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone, but specially for adult fiction and mystery readers out there. It brings something new to the table, and I'm so glad I got this ARC.
June 25, 2020
Thank you Kate Rock Book Tours and the author for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Tangled In Ivy
By: Ashley Farley
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
I read Tangled In Ivy as part of a book tour. Unfortunately, life just got crazy, and I missed posting. I'm catching up now, though, and this book is too good not to acknowledge. In the South Carolina lowcountry, Lillian has just lost her father to cancer, but in his final days, he tried to relay something important, but Lillian didn't understand what. Now, the funeral and the estranged family and the division of inheritance will happen. This type of thing tends to bring out the worst in people, and when you don't get along in the first place, well, it can get ugly. Lillian has a twin sister, Layla, and they are not close. They disagree on what to do with their father's estate. Then, Lillian finds a memoir written by her father for her to read. This finding is a game changer to say the least. I very much enjoyed this story for its immersive atmosphere and impactful story line. I could envision everything in my mind from the lovely descriptions. The characters were authentic with real relatable problems and family baggage. I felt sympathy for basically everyone because I understand the situation. Billed as southern fiction, Tangled In Ivy is definitely that and more with charm, warmth, struggles, hope, love and family. Ashley Farley is a prolific writer, and I am excited to see what is next.
Tangled In Ivy
By: Ashley Farley
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
I read Tangled In Ivy as part of a book tour. Unfortunately, life just got crazy, and I missed posting. I'm catching up now, though, and this book is too good not to acknowledge. In the South Carolina lowcountry, Lillian has just lost her father to cancer, but in his final days, he tried to relay something important, but Lillian didn't understand what. Now, the funeral and the estranged family and the division of inheritance will happen. This type of thing tends to bring out the worst in people, and when you don't get along in the first place, well, it can get ugly. Lillian has a twin sister, Layla, and they are not close. They disagree on what to do with their father's estate. Then, Lillian finds a memoir written by her father for her to read. This finding is a game changer to say the least. I very much enjoyed this story for its immersive atmosphere and impactful story line. I could envision everything in my mind from the lovely descriptions. The characters were authentic with real relatable problems and family baggage. I felt sympathy for basically everyone because I understand the situation. Billed as southern fiction, Tangled In Ivy is definitely that and more with charm, warmth, struggles, hope, love and family. Ashley Farley is a prolific writer, and I am excited to see what is next.
May 31, 2020
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Mystery • Fiction • Release date: June, 9th, 2020 • 304 pages
This story takes place in Charleston, SC. A father dies and his estranged twin daughters have to work together to take care of the family estate. These twins hate each other and it’s exasperated by many secrets being revealed after their parents death.
The pace was brisk and the story was vividly rendered. It involved a series of setbacks, challenges and misfortunes. It weaves between past and present. But at 70% I began to feel a disconnect.
I wanted “more”. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot going on in this story and it was good, but left me lacking.
I also want to mention on a side note that I really didn’t like the cover.
This was a NETGALLEY gift from the publisher and all opinions are my own.
Genre: Mystery • Fiction • Release date: June, 9th, 2020 • 304 pages
This story takes place in Charleston, SC. A father dies and his estranged twin daughters have to work together to take care of the family estate. These twins hate each other and it’s exasperated by many secrets being revealed after their parents death.
The pace was brisk and the story was vividly rendered. It involved a series of setbacks, challenges and misfortunes. It weaves between past and present. But at 70% I began to feel a disconnect.
I wanted “more”. Don’t get me wrong, there was a lot going on in this story and it was good, but left me lacking.
I also want to mention on a side note that I really didn’t like the cover.
This was a NETGALLEY gift from the publisher and all opinions are my own.
May 2, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book because I absolutely loved the cover. Green is my favorite color so that in itself is beautiful but there is something about this woman that I wanted to get to know. I am happy to say that this time, I DID choose well. I was not in any way disappointed in that I chose this book based on it's cover. I loved the characters, well most of them, and I loved the storyline. The book is full of secrets, family drama, and Southern pride. It takes place in Charleston, which is a place I have never been but because of the descriptions in this book, I now highly WANT to go. If this house is based on a real house, I would love to see it and I definitely want to go explore the parts of the city they were talking about. I was constantly setting the tablet down so I could look something up on Instagram. There are basically two storylines in the book. We start with Lillian who loses her beloved father in the beginning...and then she begins to read his journals so we also have his story to read that takes place back in the 80s. We learn how he met Lillian's mother and we learn what happened to her mother. What caused her death and why Lillian has no memories of the day. Her twin sister is visiting for the funeral and they have never gotten along and soon we learn why. There are so many twists and turns in this book and so many heartfelt emotions that I almost want to turn around and read it again. :) I have never read anything by this author but I can tell you right now that as soon as I finish writing this review, I am going to go add some of her stuff to my Goodreads list.
I requested this book because I absolutely loved the cover. Green is my favorite color so that in itself is beautiful but there is something about this woman that I wanted to get to know. I am happy to say that this time, I DID choose well. I was not in any way disappointed in that I chose this book based on it's cover. I loved the characters, well most of them, and I loved the storyline. The book is full of secrets, family drama, and Southern pride. It takes place in Charleston, which is a place I have never been but because of the descriptions in this book, I now highly WANT to go. If this house is based on a real house, I would love to see it and I definitely want to go explore the parts of the city they were talking about. I was constantly setting the tablet down so I could look something up on Instagram. There are basically two storylines in the book. We start with Lillian who loses her beloved father in the beginning...and then she begins to read his journals so we also have his story to read that takes place back in the 80s. We learn how he met Lillian's mother and we learn what happened to her mother. What caused her death and why Lillian has no memories of the day. Her twin sister is visiting for the funeral and they have never gotten along and soon we learn why. There are so many twists and turns in this book and so many heartfelt emotions that I almost want to turn around and read it again. :) I have never read anything by this author but I can tell you right now that as soon as I finish writing this review, I am going to go add some of her stuff to my Goodreads list.
June 30, 2020
I have always been a fan of Ashley Farley for her great writing, exceptional characters you will enjoy reading about that will stick with you, the lovely pacing, and just her brilliance in writing a great Southern Fiction overall.
When I had a chance to get an early review copy of this book Tangled in Ivy, I knew this was a must read for me. I tried not too read the synopsis as I wanted to slowly uncover the story of Ashley's words through the pages. And my goodness, did I love this book!
Set in Charleston, twin sisters Lillian and Lyla reeling from their father’s death just cannot get along. Lillian a struggling artist uncovers family secrets left behind by her father hidden tucked inside a Hemingway book. The story is full of twists that lead to a satisfying ending I really enjoyed.
This is Southern Fiction at its finest! Loved it!
When I had a chance to get an early review copy of this book Tangled in Ivy, I knew this was a must read for me. I tried not too read the synopsis as I wanted to slowly uncover the story of Ashley's words through the pages. And my goodness, did I love this book!
Set in Charleston, twin sisters Lillian and Lyla reeling from their father’s death just cannot get along. Lillian a struggling artist uncovers family secrets left behind by her father hidden tucked inside a Hemingway book. The story is full of twists that lead to a satisfying ending I really enjoyed.
This is Southern Fiction at its finest! Loved it!
May 4, 2020
I simply love everything I ready by Ashley Farley and this story is no exception. There is something about her southern stories of women that are strong yet vulnerable and the families that surround them that draw in the reader and perhaps even have them relating to the various characters.
In this story we meet Lillian and Layla, twin sisters that don't seem to have that close bond most twins, even sisters, might have together. They are as different as can be and the truth about their mother's life and her death can either tear them apart even more or bring them together.
I enjoyed the story told from several viewpoints and different time periods. Learning more about Graham and Ivy's life together was intriguing and explained so much of the family dysfunction. Sadly, Lillian and Layla learn all of this after his death, and had they known some of it before he died, perhaps they could have cleared the air of so much. The sisters might have even come to a better understanding of who they were and why there was such animosity between them that didn't need to be there. It takes time to heal the rift, but even with that journey, there were many bumps in the road that added more drama to the story.
I think I stayed up way too late finishing this book but it was so worth it and while this book isn't due to be published until June, grab it as soon as you can or go ahead and pre-order the book, you will be glad you did.
We give this book 5 paws up!
In this story we meet Lillian and Layla, twin sisters that don't seem to have that close bond most twins, even sisters, might have together. They are as different as can be and the truth about their mother's life and her death can either tear them apart even more or bring them together.
I enjoyed the story told from several viewpoints and different time periods. Learning more about Graham and Ivy's life together was intriguing and explained so much of the family dysfunction. Sadly, Lillian and Layla learn all of this after his death, and had they known some of it before he died, perhaps they could have cleared the air of so much. The sisters might have even come to a better understanding of who they were and why there was such animosity between them that didn't need to be there. It takes time to heal the rift, but even with that journey, there were many bumps in the road that added more drama to the story.
I think I stayed up way too late finishing this book but it was so worth it and while this book isn't due to be published until June, grab it as soon as you can or go ahead and pre-order the book, you will be glad you did.
We give this book 5 paws up!
April 13, 2020
I love Southern fiction and I love books about sisters. The new novel Tangled in Ivy meets these two criteria and even more. There are secrets, dysfunction, a house that has been in the family for decades and a perfect setting in Charleston. I have read all of Ashley Farley's novels and this in my new favorite.
This book is told in two timelines. The first begins in 1984 when Graham meets Ivy and they fall in love and get married. The second time line begins in 2019 when Graham dies and it is told by his daughter Lillian.
The novel centers around Ivy's death. Lillian has long repressed her memories of the day her mother died and no one will tell her the truth of what happened that day. Layla thinks that her sister really does remember and is using the amnesia to get attention. As the two sisters struggle to decide what to do about the house, Lillian is searching the house to find information about what really happened to their mother. Her search leads her to some startling truths about her parents and about she and her twin sister.
This is a fantastic book that kept me reading long past my bedtime. There are twists and turns and several truths uncovered that were shocking and I never saw coming. It's a book about family, love, secrets and sisters. This is a southern fiction novel that you don't want to miss. Ashley Farley cements her credentials as a first rate author in this genre.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This book is told in two timelines. The first begins in 1984 when Graham meets Ivy and they fall in love and get married. The second time line begins in 2019 when Graham dies and it is told by his daughter Lillian.
The novel centers around Ivy's death. Lillian has long repressed her memories of the day her mother died and no one will tell her the truth of what happened that day. Layla thinks that her sister really does remember and is using the amnesia to get attention. As the two sisters struggle to decide what to do about the house, Lillian is searching the house to find information about what really happened to their mother. Her search leads her to some startling truths about her parents and about she and her twin sister.
This is a fantastic book that kept me reading long past my bedtime. There are twists and turns and several truths uncovered that were shocking and I never saw coming. It's a book about family, love, secrets and sisters. This is a southern fiction novel that you don't want to miss. Ashley Farley cements her credentials as a first rate author in this genre.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2020
2.5/5 stars
I tried at first back in May to get into this story and it wasn't capturing my full attention. Reading it and finishing it now for a future reading vlog, I liked it but did not love it. I found it was still hard for me to feel invested, there is a charm to this story with self discovery and timeless love that wasn't enough for me. I found the characters were okay, the beginning took me a while to get into, and the ending was okay. Also certain twists were predictable for me.
*Was sent an eARC from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I tried at first back in May to get into this story and it wasn't capturing my full attention. Reading it and finishing it now for a future reading vlog, I liked it but did not love it. I found it was still hard for me to feel invested, there is a charm to this story with self discovery and timeless love that wasn't enough for me. I found the characters were okay, the beginning took me a while to get into, and the ending was okay. Also certain twists were predictable for me.
*Was sent an eARC from the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
March 23, 2020
TANGLED IN IVY by Ashley Farley is a beautifully-written and compelling work of Southern fiction with lots of family drama, intrigue and twists I never saw coming. I could not put this book down! Since she was a child, Lillian Alexander has suppressed all memories of the day her mother died in a terrible accident. Twenty-seven years later, as Lillian’s beloved father Graham lays dying, he is desperate to tell her something important, but she can’t make sense of it. Days later at his funeral, several people she meets spark her recall of bits of her childhood, leaving her questioning what she believes about her past. Lillian also wonders why her relationship with her twin sister, Layla, has always been so adversarial. While sorting her father’s belongings, Lillian discovers a memoir written by her father in which he relays the story of his life with his wife, her troubled mother, Ivy. The story unfolds into two interwoven timelines, the present, where the two sisters are at odds once again over the fate of their ancestral home and the past, now revealed in shocking detail in Graham’s memoir. Generations of family secrets come to light that threaten to drive the sisters even further apart. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping story of family, love and loss and I highly recommend it. I am grateful to the author and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.
March 30, 2020
A story so great that I didn't want it to end. Deep secrets, emotions and personality conflicts fill each page. The drama is strong and heartfelt. Author Ashley Farley takes the reader inside the minds of the main characters and makes us feel like we are part of the story. I could feel myself standing on the sidelines watching as each scene unfolded. Each detail in the story allowed me to feel the air, sights and sounds of the Lowcountry of South Carolina. An exceptional story. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
March 17, 2020
Lillian and Layla are twins who share a less than cordial relationship, seemingly at odds with each other from the start. Graham is a poor boy who had landed a dream job as a professor at a university meets Edward and his charismatic daughter Ivy with whom he falls in love with. These two threads of storylines are woven together in two timelines at the start of the novel that unravels into two different periods of history as the book progresses. Set in Charleston, which at times feels as if it is another character, we see the sisters in conflict after the death of their father and dealing with the fallout of the revelations of secrets that Graham discloses in his memoir left to his daughters at his death.
The reader is invited to create a positive relationship with both Lillian and Graham who are the storytellers and is left to wonder at the behaviour of Layla and Ivy, although neither of the later characters is horrible outright, but rather tortured by their personal lives and their inability to form strong connections with people around them. Well-paced, the story covers a period both of years and a lifetime. Its exploration of family dysfunction is gripping, the characters are well-drawn and the setting real. It manages to balance intrigue and revelations in a manner that is fulfilling and ultimately satisfying.
Entertaining reading.
The reader is invited to create a positive relationship with both Lillian and Graham who are the storytellers and is left to wonder at the behaviour of Layla and Ivy, although neither of the later characters is horrible outright, but rather tortured by their personal lives and their inability to form strong connections with people around them. Well-paced, the story covers a period both of years and a lifetime. Its exploration of family dysfunction is gripping, the characters are well-drawn and the setting real. It manages to balance intrigue and revelations in a manner that is fulfilling and ultimately satisfying.
Entertaining reading.
April 9, 2020
The best in Southern Women's Fiction. Every time I read an Ashley Farley book I say it's my favorite, and I'm saying it again!
"Tangled in Ivy is a tale of tortured souls and southern family dysfunction." It sure is and I loved it from page 1 and through all the many twists to the FABULOUS ending. Farley has the key to writing about sisters, mothers and family in a way that is relatable no matter how dysfunctional it is!
You'll find yourself up very late, flipping pages, engrossed in the story not wanting to put it down. Tangled in Ivy is 5 star fabulous! Southern fiction finery in every way. I loved it!
"Tangled in Ivy is a tale of tortured souls and southern family dysfunction." It sure is and I loved it from page 1 and through all the many twists to the FABULOUS ending. Farley has the key to writing about sisters, mothers and family in a way that is relatable no matter how dysfunctional it is!
You'll find yourself up very late, flipping pages, engrossed in the story not wanting to put it down. Tangled in Ivy is 5 star fabulous! Southern fiction finery in every way. I loved it!
June 10, 2020
4.5 STARS
I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser and author for letting me take part in this tour and thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a very different book than what I'm used to but I ended up enjoying it very much. We follow Lilian and Graham, simultaneously in the past and in the present through two different plots, timelines, narratives and points of view, as they both describe their lives with Ivy (mother and wife), but also, as Lilian tries to come to terms with her childhood and some long-hidden secrets that she is determined to uncover and find out the truth quickly in order to deal with her life and that of her twin sister when her father dies.
Lilian and Layla, twins, lost their mother Ivy when they were 6 years old and Lilian has felt guilty and partly responsible for her death for the past 27 years. When her father dies and her sister turns up minutes after he is gone, Lilian feels like she needs to go on a personal quest to find out the truth. I found Lilian to be really relatable and I identified with her really easily, she is shy and bookish and much like her father Graham, her narrative felt very personal to me, even though I felt that the story was lacking an emotional side.
This book has a lot of quite complicated and sensitive topics, such as death, self-harm, depression, repressive memories, bullying, family secrets, sibling quarrels and adultery, among more. I found this book to be quite heavy, but nonetheless read it in one single sitting and just couldn't help but turn the pages to work out what exactly had happened. Equally, I felt like I had worked everything out quite soon on in the story, but I actually just let all my theories go and kept on reading because I was very interested and enjoyed it a lot.
I was definitely surprised by this book, pleasantly so and I think that a lot of people will really like it. My one problem with it was that I felt it was lacking an emotional level throughout and I thought that it would have made it perfect otherwise. I really liked a lot of the characters, although I hated Layla the whole way through. I thought that Ivy, even though we don't get an insight into her intentions and feelings because, even though in my opinion she was the main character, we meet her and see her evolve and live through her husband's eyes mainly, I found her to be a really unreliable character and I thought that the author did a really good job of portraying her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I gave it 4.5 stars because I felt that there was quite a lack of emotions despite quite tense themes, but otherwise, it was very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend to mystery and thriller fans, it does have that more familial side to it and it was more of a mystery type story than a thriller for me personally.
I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser and author for letting me take part in this tour and thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a very different book than what I'm used to but I ended up enjoying it very much. We follow Lilian and Graham, simultaneously in the past and in the present through two different plots, timelines, narratives and points of view, as they both describe their lives with Ivy (mother and wife), but also, as Lilian tries to come to terms with her childhood and some long-hidden secrets that she is determined to uncover and find out the truth quickly in order to deal with her life and that of her twin sister when her father dies.
Lilian and Layla, twins, lost their mother Ivy when they were 6 years old and Lilian has felt guilty and partly responsible for her death for the past 27 years. When her father dies and her sister turns up minutes after he is gone, Lilian feels like she needs to go on a personal quest to find out the truth. I found Lilian to be really relatable and I identified with her really easily, she is shy and bookish and much like her father Graham, her narrative felt very personal to me, even though I felt that the story was lacking an emotional side.
This book has a lot of quite complicated and sensitive topics, such as death, self-harm, depression, repressive memories, bullying, family secrets, sibling quarrels and adultery, among more. I found this book to be quite heavy, but nonetheless read it in one single sitting and just couldn't help but turn the pages to work out what exactly had happened. Equally, I felt like I had worked everything out quite soon on in the story, but I actually just let all my theories go and kept on reading because I was very interested and enjoyed it a lot.
I was definitely surprised by this book, pleasantly so and I think that a lot of people will really like it. My one problem with it was that I felt it was lacking an emotional level throughout and I thought that it would have made it perfect otherwise. I really liked a lot of the characters, although I hated Layla the whole way through. I thought that Ivy, even though we don't get an insight into her intentions and feelings because, even though in my opinion she was the main character, we meet her and see her evolve and live through her husband's eyes mainly, I found her to be a really unreliable character and I thought that the author did a really good job of portraying her.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I gave it 4.5 stars because I felt that there was quite a lack of emotions despite quite tense themes, but otherwise, it was very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend to mystery and thriller fans, it does have that more familial side to it and it was more of a mystery type story than a thriller for me personally.
June 10, 2020
Tangled in Ivy by Ashley Farley is captivating as you read the story of two twin sisters. Their lives are about to change forever and it will depend on how they choose to react as to whether they will survive as friends. Lillian is the kinder sister and Layla seems to be selfish and unfeeling toward others. The sisters have a long history of conflict since their mother died when they were young girls.
Their father has died and left the family estate in financial trouble. Lillian and Layla inherit together but problems arise when Lillian wants to keep the mansion and Layla wants to sell. Lillian was with her father before he died and he was struggling to tell her something about Hemmingway knowing his life secrets.
Lillian decides to go to their lake house where her father would stay and write. She searches through his books by Hemmingway and finds a letter from her father and a USB drive with his memoir written for her to read. As Lillian reads her father's book, old secrets are uncovered which will turn her world upside-down!
I won't post spoilers but the story has layers of secrets that affect both girls and causes many heartaches in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Their father has died and left the family estate in financial trouble. Lillian and Layla inherit together but problems arise when Lillian wants to keep the mansion and Layla wants to sell. Lillian was with her father before he died and he was struggling to tell her something about Hemmingway knowing his life secrets.
Lillian decides to go to their lake house where her father would stay and write. She searches through his books by Hemmingway and finds a letter from her father and a USB drive with his memoir written for her to read. As Lillian reads her father's book, old secrets are uncovered which will turn her world upside-down!
I won't post spoilers but the story has layers of secrets that affect both girls and causes many heartaches in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 3, 2021
Not my usual read or genre but I really enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more books by Ashley Farley.
June 3, 2020
First of all, before I get to my thoughts about this book, I have to gush about this cover. Isn't it just simply stunning? So beautiful! And then the words inside this gorgeous cover—just a beautiful!
Tangled in Ivy could be Ashley's best book yet. And I have absolutely loved all of her previous books, mind you. This is one that will stay with me for a long time. I fell in love with Lillian and hurt for her as she struggled with the death of her beloved father, felt angry and frustrated as she had to deal with her estranged and selfish sister, and shocked as she learned the truths of the past. So many emotions, so many family secrets!
This is an amazing, heartfelt story that will keep you totally engrossed as you take this journey of discovery with Lillian and Layla. Is the bond of family enough to keep these sisters from being torn apart?
I highly recommend Tangled in Ivy, as I have all of Ashley's other books. You will not be disappointed when you pick up this beautiful book!
Tangled in Ivy could be Ashley's best book yet. And I have absolutely loved all of her previous books, mind you. This is one that will stay with me for a long time. I fell in love with Lillian and hurt for her as she struggled with the death of her beloved father, felt angry and frustrated as she had to deal with her estranged and selfish sister, and shocked as she learned the truths of the past. So many emotions, so many family secrets!
This is an amazing, heartfelt story that will keep you totally engrossed as you take this journey of discovery with Lillian and Layla. Is the bond of family enough to keep these sisters from being torn apart?
I highly recommend Tangled in Ivy, as I have all of Ashley's other books. You will not be disappointed when you pick up this beautiful book!
March 24, 2020
INTRIGUING!
Ashley Farley continues to solidify her place as a top Women’s Contemporary Fiction author with her latest release TANGLED IN IVY. Farley’s writing is compelling and her plot is so intriguing that that you will want to read this book in one sitting (I did!). Her characters are so vivid that you feel as though you are watching their drama on display across the room. The setting of Charleston’s East Battery adds its own elements of charm, beauty, mystique, aristocracy, old money and greed. These components plus Farley’s ability to grasp the depth and intensity of family dysfunction add up to a very intriguing storyline. TANGLED IN IVY will grab your attention, keep you reading page after page and even if you solve things in your own mind, you want to know more. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Ashley Farley continues to solidify her place as a top Women’s Contemporary Fiction author with her latest release TANGLED IN IVY. Farley’s writing is compelling and her plot is so intriguing that that you will want to read this book in one sitting (I did!). Her characters are so vivid that you feel as though you are watching their drama on display across the room. The setting of Charleston’s East Battery adds its own elements of charm, beauty, mystique, aristocracy, old money and greed. These components plus Farley’s ability to grasp the depth and intensity of family dysfunction add up to a very intriguing storyline. TANGLED IN IVY will grab your attention, keep you reading page after page and even if you solve things in your own mind, you want to know more. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the author and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
March 29, 2020
We look at a beautiful old house, in a historic area, that obviously has been handed down through an affluent family, and think their life is perfect and carefree. This book shows that is not the case. Having wealth and esteem does not mean that your life will be easy.
Ashley Farley is one of my favorite authors and this book is a great example of why I feel so strongly about her writing. She has a way of telling a story that draws a reader in and they are compelled to continue and experience the highs and lows of her character's lives. The people and situations she creates are so life-like and by the end of the book, the reader know these people and cares deeply about them.
I will not write about the book's plot since you can find that easily in the summary. What I want to say is that you should not pass up the opportunity to treat yourself to this wonderful, emotional story full of Southern charm.
I want to thank Leisure Time Books and NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy of this fantastic book. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
Ashley Farley is one of my favorite authors and this book is a great example of why I feel so strongly about her writing. She has a way of telling a story that draws a reader in and they are compelled to continue and experience the highs and lows of her character's lives. The people and situations she creates are so life-like and by the end of the book, the reader know these people and cares deeply about them.
I will not write about the book's plot since you can find that easily in the summary. What I want to say is that you should not pass up the opportunity to treat yourself to this wonderful, emotional story full of Southern charm.
I want to thank Leisure Time Books and NetGalley for allowing me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy of this fantastic book. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
April 13, 2020
I got completely tangled up in this book and couldn't put it down! The story of two sisters, twins. Their parents. Their loves and losses. Of discovery and self discovery, remembering, and forgiving. Set in the charming south, Ashley once again creates beautiful word pictures that stream through my mind like a movie as I am reading. This books has a few "plot twists", I was proud that I figured out one that was coming only to be taken completely by surprise by the next one! Well played Ashley, well played ;) This was my favorite Ashley Farley book (and I have loved them all!), her writing and story telling just keeps getting better and better!
January 11, 2021
Excellent read
I’ve read every one of the author’s books. I believe this is my favorite! I love a story where I can’t predict what’s going to happen!
I’ve read every one of the author’s books. I believe this is my favorite! I love a story where I can’t predict what’s going to happen!
July 1, 2020
Tangled in Ivy is a FIVE STAR read with a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance and a whole lot of family drama. I highly recommend Tangled in Ivy.
Tangled in Ivy is a woman’s fiction. It is a compelling read about a young woman who sets out to discover her past after her father dies. The perspective changes between Lillian and her father, which was unique for me. Lillian’s father leaves her his memoir to help her remember her past so she can move on from it and be happy. Tangled in Ivy was well written and emotional. I personally completed this novel in one sitting because I needed to learn what happened to Lillian when she was a child. This was my first time reading this author but I will definitely be checking out her other books.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Ashley Farley (author) for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Tangled in Ivy was released on June 9, 2020 by Leisure Time Books.
Tangled in Ivy is a woman’s fiction. It is a compelling read about a young woman who sets out to discover her past after her father dies. The perspective changes between Lillian and her father, which was unique for me. Lillian’s father leaves her his memoir to help her remember her past so she can move on from it and be happy. Tangled in Ivy was well written and emotional. I personally completed this novel in one sitting because I needed to learn what happened to Lillian when she was a child. This was my first time reading this author but I will definitely be checking out her other books.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Ashley Farley (author) for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Tangled in Ivy was released on June 9, 2020 by Leisure Time Books.
March 28, 2020
If you love Southern literature that includes mystery, family drama, and the perfect setting (a historic house on the Battery of Charleston,SC) then you must read this book. The book description gives enough detail and storyline that I will not repeat it here. I almost don't feel I can give enough justice to the book in a review because I wouldn't want to give any spoilers with descriptions of the variety of personalities, their roles, or events but you will relate to them as you peruse these pages. The characters are very realistic and you will feel you are watching first hand the tangles of Ivy as they are unwound. Read and enjoy! I received this book as a advanced complimentary copy in a contest and under no obligation to review. Thanks to the author and her team for allowing me to read and review via NetGalley et.al. Definitely a 5+ star. I really hope there will be sequels to this family saga.
March 15, 2020
This is one of the most heartfelt, and Intriguing books I have ever read. It is beautifully written, and the characters are portrayed in a way they feel real. The book starts out with Lillian saying a final goodbye to her beloved father as he takes his last breath. She has been faithfully at his side for the past months, caring for him along with a hospice nurse. Within about 20 minutes of his death, Layla arrives, but too late to say a final goodbye.. Lillian and Layla are twins, although Lillian has stayed in Charleston where they were raised ,and Layla now lives in Atlanta. Ivy, the mother of the girls died when they were 6 years old so were raised by their dad, a nanny,and Trudy, a trusted and loved long-time employee of the family. Lillian and Layla grew up mostly at odds with one another. Lillian being the more quiet sister, and Layla the more domineering one. Together the sisters are now the owner of their ancestral home which creates new issues. Their father, Graham, was an English Professor at the College of Charleston.. When he was a new member of the faculty, at a reception hosted by the college, Graham met Edward Stoney, an alumni, and his adult daughter, Ivy. Edward took an interest in young Graham and invited him to go sailing. Graham accepted, hoping he'd see Ivy again. Eventually Edward encouraged the marriage between Graham and Ivy. Upon Graham's death, Lillian found a manuscript her dad had written about his life with Ivy. From this point on, the book goes from the story of Graham's and Ivy's life together as told my Graham, to the present time .and the challenges that are facing Lillian and Layla. The title of this book is absolutely perfect as what a tangled mess can be created in lives when there are secrets. This book should be read when there are no other time commitments as it's a difficult book to put down. I kept turning the pages to the end. because I didn't want to wait to find out what happens next. Ashley Farley has another big winner here!
July 13, 2020
Ashley Farley's newest novel, Tangled in Ivy, is by far her best work yet. It is a riveting, compelling work of fiction that is filled with intrigue and family drama. It's not Ms. Farley's usual Southern fiction as it adds layers of a thriller to it's story line. I could not put my kindle down because I was so involved in the plot. Give yourself a treat and read Tangled in Ivy! Thank you Ashley Farley and NetGalley for the ARC!
March 24, 2020
Excellent. I loved this book. Ashley Farley's best so far. This was the epitome of good Southern literature. Had all the necessities; family drama, secrets, tragedy, and of course mental health issues. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews