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This Place of Wonder
In the wake of a personal tragedy, four women face the past, their futures, and each other in a novel of broken ties and healing by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.
When famed chef Augustus Beauvais dies, he leaves behind a celebrated reputation―and four women grappling with loss, anger, pain, and the question of how the world will turn without him…
Meadow, the ex-wife with whom Augustus built an empire―and a family―still holds a place for him in her heart, even as she continues to struggle with his infidelities, which ended their twenty-year marriage. More unforgiving is Maya, his estranged daughter, who’s recently out of rehab but finally ready to reclaim her life. Norah, his latest girlfriend, sidelined her own career for unexpected love and a life of luxury, both of which are now gone with Augustus. And then there’s Rory, Meadow’s daughter, the voice of calm and reason in a chorus of discontent.
As Meadow, Maya, Norah, and Rory are flung together by tragedy, grief, and secrets yet to be revealed, they must accept―or turn away from―the legacy of great intentions and bad decisions Augustus left them. And when the circumstances around his death are called into question, their conflicted feelings become even more complicated. But moving forward is the only choice they have, and to do so, they’ll need to rely on family, friendship, and inner strength.
Set on the stunning, rugged California coastline, This Place of Wonder is an emotional, lush, and empowering story of four women finding their way in a changed world―and what a wondrous journey it will be.
When famed chef Augustus Beauvais dies, he leaves behind a celebrated reputation―and four women grappling with loss, anger, pain, and the question of how the world will turn without him…
Meadow, the ex-wife with whom Augustus built an empire―and a family―still holds a place for him in her heart, even as she continues to struggle with his infidelities, which ended their twenty-year marriage. More unforgiving is Maya, his estranged daughter, who’s recently out of rehab but finally ready to reclaim her life. Norah, his latest girlfriend, sidelined her own career for unexpected love and a life of luxury, both of which are now gone with Augustus. And then there’s Rory, Meadow’s daughter, the voice of calm and reason in a chorus of discontent.
As Meadow, Maya, Norah, and Rory are flung together by tragedy, grief, and secrets yet to be revealed, they must accept―or turn away from―the legacy of great intentions and bad decisions Augustus left them. And when the circumstances around his death are called into question, their conflicted feelings become even more complicated. But moving forward is the only choice they have, and to do so, they’ll need to rely on family, friendship, and inner strength.
Set on the stunning, rugged California coastline, This Place of Wonder is an emotional, lush, and empowering story of four women finding their way in a changed world―and what a wondrous journey it will be.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2022
9204 people are currently reading
26927 people want to read
About the author
Barbara O'Neal
28 books4,403 followersBarbara O'Neal is the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling writer of women's fiction. She lives in Colorado with her partner, a British endurance athlete.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,616 reviews
September 5, 2022
I asked for the opportunity to read This Place of Wonder by Barbara O’Neal in spite of the fact that women’s fiction is not one of my favorite genres. And I can’t say that I enjoyed this family relationship story. It begins with the sudden death of Augustus, a famous chef. We soon learn that his ex-wife Meadow, herself a famous foodie, is trying to be everything to everyone. Augustus’ daughter, Maya, in rehab at the time, returns home. His flavour-of-the-month, Norah, is shattered and Meadow’s daughter Rory tries to comfort all. So we have these four women, who remain devoted to this adulterous, selfish man who obviously was so adorable and could do any wrong. I was disappointed because I expected this to lead to strong women getting on with a difficult situation. Each chapter is narrated by one of three of the four women, not sure why one was left out. Poor deceased Augustus is one of the main characters, emphasizing what an unappetizing human he was. This Place of Wonder had a lot of potential but it gets mired in too much drama and unrealistic situations. This is only my own opinion and I’m sure this novel will suit many. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2022
Every time I pick up a Barbara O'Neal book, it's like taking a masterclass in creating unique, fully rounded characters. This book is no exception, and like with her other work, her prose will sweep the reader away into a rich world of color, scent, and food. The story revolves around four women (but only three POVs) involved with the deceased Augustus (two daughters, one ex, and one lover). The thread about addiction is frank and honest, and I believe many readers who are recovering addicts or have dealt with a close friend or family member with addiction issues, will relate and find wisdom here. The pace is gentle, which is good given the heavy subject matter, and there is a bit of a mystery involved in both the front and back stories. I rooted for and became frustrated with each character pretty evenly, so the ending was satisfying and believable. I'm not one often moved to tears, but there is a letter in this book that took me there, so that's something special, too. Highly recommend.
July 5, 2022
When famous chef Augustus Beauvais suddenly dies, he leaves behind four devastated women, and they can’t believe the man with the big personality is gone.
Meadow was married to Augustus for twenty years, their now divorced, she runs her own organic farm, and has a small share in his restaurant. Maya is Augustus’s daughter from his first marriage, her relationship ended badly with her long-term partner, it tipped her over the edge, and she’s due to be released from rehab. Rory is Meadow’s daughter, she’s happily married, and has two young daughters. Norah is Augustus's current girlfriend, she is much younger than him, and she doesn’t know what she will do without him?
Augustus died from a suspected heart attack, and the authorities have to conduct an autopsy before he can be cremated. Augustus owns a restaurant called Peaches & Pork, a mansion on the California coast, and everyone assumes he's well off financially. They uncover his business isn't doing well, Augustus didn’t want to change with the times, and now there’s some doubts about the cause of his death?
Four women with ties to one man, lays the foundations for an interesting and dramatic plot! Meadow, Maya, Rory, and Norah are linked together, it’s not easy with so many different personalities and individuals issues, they have to try to get along, and cope with the loss of Augustus.
I received a copy of This Place of Wonder by Barbara O’Neal from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about people making mistakes, finding forgiveness and closure, being able to move forward, and form unlikely alliances. If you like drama filled stories, characters with flaws and secrets, I highly recommend this book, and four stars from me.
Meadow was married to Augustus for twenty years, their now divorced, she runs her own organic farm, and has a small share in his restaurant. Maya is Augustus’s daughter from his first marriage, her relationship ended badly with her long-term partner, it tipped her over the edge, and she’s due to be released from rehab. Rory is Meadow’s daughter, she’s happily married, and has two young daughters. Norah is Augustus's current girlfriend, she is much younger than him, and she doesn’t know what she will do without him?
Augustus died from a suspected heart attack, and the authorities have to conduct an autopsy before he can be cremated. Augustus owns a restaurant called Peaches & Pork, a mansion on the California coast, and everyone assumes he's well off financially. They uncover his business isn't doing well, Augustus didn’t want to change with the times, and now there’s some doubts about the cause of his death?
Four women with ties to one man, lays the foundations for an interesting and dramatic plot! Meadow, Maya, Rory, and Norah are linked together, it’s not easy with so many different personalities and individuals issues, they have to try to get along, and cope with the loss of Augustus.
I received a copy of This Place of Wonder by Barbara O’Neal from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about people making mistakes, finding forgiveness and closure, being able to move forward, and form unlikely alliances. If you like drama filled stories, characters with flaws and secrets, I highly recommend this book, and four stars from me.
July 16, 2022
I haven’t seen other reviews that include this information — had I known, I wouldn’t have picked this one up — so I hope it’s informative to make the best decision for you.
This book includes physical abuse, rape, child neglect, multiple descriptive remembrances of sex with the deceased, and 300 pages of women adoring a man who treated them poorly. Augustus, though deceased, is just as much a character in this book.
The story is told from three perspectives — leaving Rory on the periphery, unlike the book description — varying between Meadow, Maya, and Norah. Every single “mystery” of ‘how did this happen?’ or ‘how will this work out?’ is obvious, figured out long in advance of the various “reveals.” I stuck it out in hopes that at least one character would be able to see beyond the blinders they’ve put up, but ultimately Augustus can do no wrong because in their eyes, he just can’t help himself. I imagine most of the readers will be women, drawn in from the cover and description as I was, believing it to be a book about friendship and coming together after loss. Unfortunately, they’ll read of a man who got a thousand free passes to hurt, cheat, lie, neglect whenever it suited him (etc) and the women who adore him.
2 stars. 1 for the cover and 1 for the relationship between Rory and Maya.
This book includes physical abuse, rape, child neglect, multiple descriptive remembrances of sex with the deceased, and 300 pages of women adoring a man who treated them poorly. Augustus, though deceased, is just as much a character in this book.
The story is told from three perspectives — leaving Rory on the periphery, unlike the book description — varying between Meadow, Maya, and Norah. Every single “mystery” of ‘how did this happen?’ or ‘how will this work out?’ is obvious, figured out long in advance of the various “reveals.” I stuck it out in hopes that at least one character would be able to see beyond the blinders they’ve put up, but ultimately Augustus can do no wrong because in their eyes, he just can’t help himself. I imagine most of the readers will be women, drawn in from the cover and description as I was, believing it to be a book about friendship and coming together after loss. Unfortunately, they’ll read of a man who got a thousand free passes to hurt, cheat, lie, neglect whenever it suited him (etc) and the women who adore him.
2 stars. 1 for the cover and 1 for the relationship between Rory and Maya.
May 2, 2022
THIS PLACE OF WONDER by Barbara O'Neal
I really enjoyed Barbara O'Neal's previous book, WHEN WE BELIEVED IN MERMAIDS, and was very excited to have the opportunity to read her new novel. O'Neal is a master of atmospheric settings - once again we are taken to a house on the rugged Californian coast that makes for a fantastic backdrop. Famous chef Augustus Beauvais has died suddenly, leaving behind Meadow, his ex-wife, his daughter Maya, stepdaughter Rory and mistress Norah. As each of these women have to come to terms with their grief, their relationships are slowly being unveiled, revealing complex histories rooted in tragedy and pain.
Told through the POVs of three of the women, we slowly get to explore how each of them related to Augustus, as well as the man himself, seen from many different angles. O'Neal does a great job in exploring how one and the same person can be perceived so differently, depending on the viewer. Whilst Meadow, who has known Augustus the longest, still considers him her soul mate, despite his infidelities and their messy split, his daughter Maya has never forgiven him. For Norah, Augustus is a generous saviour from a lonely and sad childhood in multiple foster homes, and Rory adores him as a lovable and generous grandfather to her children. O'Neal tries to introduce an element of mystery into the story when Augustus' death is being questioned by police, though I never really felt this aspect convincing enough to keep me yearning for answers.
Whilst I particularly enjoyed exploring the sister relationship between Rory and Maya, I admit that the story ended up dragging a little bit for me. Even though Maya's struggle with addiction was portrayed in an insightful manner, the constant references to AA and her relationship with alcohol bogged the story down for me. I didn't warm to any of the characters, especially Augustus, who came across as selfish and ruthless rather than the enigmatic character he was portrayed to be. Also, I would have loved to hear from the POV of Rory, the only character who doesn't get a voice.
THIS PLACE OF WONDER will appeal to readers who like a slow burning, character driven story exploring topics such as relationships, addiction, infidelity and grief. Personally, I found it a little slow and thought that in this case the multiple POVs were a bit repetitive, though it certainly prompted reflection and kept me interested until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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I really enjoyed Barbara O'Neal's previous book, WHEN WE BELIEVED IN MERMAIDS, and was very excited to have the opportunity to read her new novel. O'Neal is a master of atmospheric settings - once again we are taken to a house on the rugged Californian coast that makes for a fantastic backdrop. Famous chef Augustus Beauvais has died suddenly, leaving behind Meadow, his ex-wife, his daughter Maya, stepdaughter Rory and mistress Norah. As each of these women have to come to terms with their grief, their relationships are slowly being unveiled, revealing complex histories rooted in tragedy and pain.
Told through the POVs of three of the women, we slowly get to explore how each of them related to Augustus, as well as the man himself, seen from many different angles. O'Neal does a great job in exploring how one and the same person can be perceived so differently, depending on the viewer. Whilst Meadow, who has known Augustus the longest, still considers him her soul mate, despite his infidelities and their messy split, his daughter Maya has never forgiven him. For Norah, Augustus is a generous saviour from a lonely and sad childhood in multiple foster homes, and Rory adores him as a lovable and generous grandfather to her children. O'Neal tries to introduce an element of mystery into the story when Augustus' death is being questioned by police, though I never really felt this aspect convincing enough to keep me yearning for answers.
Whilst I particularly enjoyed exploring the sister relationship between Rory and Maya, I admit that the story ended up dragging a little bit for me. Even though Maya's struggle with addiction was portrayed in an insightful manner, the constant references to AA and her relationship with alcohol bogged the story down for me. I didn't warm to any of the characters, especially Augustus, who came across as selfish and ruthless rather than the enigmatic character he was portrayed to be. Also, I would have loved to hear from the POV of Rory, the only character who doesn't get a voice.
THIS PLACE OF WONDER will appeal to readers who like a slow burning, character driven story exploring topics such as relationships, addiction, infidelity and grief. Personally, I found it a little slow and thought that in this case the multiple POVs were a bit repetitive, though it certainly prompted reflection and kept me interested until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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January 11, 2024
Augustus Beauvais is dead. The charismatic, bigger than life Adonis has died and left four amazing women (his ex-wife, daughter, stepdaughter, and his new, very young girlfriend) to mourn his loss, sort through their complicated histories, and find a way forward. There's also glorious food, romance, and a bit of mystery.
I loved everything about This Place of Wonder. I loved each of the fully developed characters and the coastal setting. I loved the story and I loved the writing. This is my first Barbara O'Neal read and lucky for me I have four more of her novels sitting on my shelf.
4 1/2 stars. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary drc via Netgalley.
I loved everything about This Place of Wonder. I loved each of the fully developed characters and the coastal setting. I loved the story and I loved the writing. This is my first Barbara O'Neal read and lucky for me I have four more of her novels sitting on my shelf.
4 1/2 stars. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary drc via Netgalley.
June 7, 2022
Barbara O'Neal's book This Place of Wonder is the story of a blended family suffering a tragedy. O'Neal takes a deep dive into the inter-personal dynamic of each character in her poignant writing.
Synopsis:
Renowned chef Augustus Beauvais passes away suddenly leaving behind his ex-wife Meadow, his two daughters Maya and Rory, and his girlfriend Norah. As the four women struggle with their grief they discover that Augustus left behind secrets they must face. To move forward they must learn to rely on inner strength, forgiveness and love.
In This Place of Wonder, Barbara O'Neal uses the natural tension of familial relationships to guide the story. Readers are held captive by juicy conflict and dysfunction throughout the plot. Intriguing situations and interesting dialogue abound in the engaging novel. (3.75 ⭐⭐⭐)
This Place of Wonder by best-selling author Barbara O'Neal is available on July 19th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for allowing me to review this beautiful book. I appreciate your kindness.
Synopsis:
Renowned chef Augustus Beauvais passes away suddenly leaving behind his ex-wife Meadow, his two daughters Maya and Rory, and his girlfriend Norah. As the four women struggle with their grief they discover that Augustus left behind secrets they must face. To move forward they must learn to rely on inner strength, forgiveness and love.
In This Place of Wonder, Barbara O'Neal uses the natural tension of familial relationships to guide the story. Readers are held captive by juicy conflict and dysfunction throughout the plot. Intriguing situations and interesting dialogue abound in the engaging novel. (3.75 ⭐⭐⭐)
This Place of Wonder by best-selling author Barbara O'Neal is available on July 19th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for allowing me to review this beautiful book. I appreciate your kindness.
June 8, 2022
Augustus is a well know restaurant owner and wine maker, he is also a womaniser.
When he dies he leaves behind an ex wife two daughters and a mistress.
This is a slow moving tale from the point of view of these women.
A book about secrets and lies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
When he dies he leaves behind an ex wife two daughters and a mistress.
This is a slow moving tale from the point of view of these women.
A book about secrets and lies.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2022
A book to make one think...
September 8, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
This Place of Wonder is a highly personal and emotional portrait of three very different women. I don't always do well with character-driven narratives, but I did enjoy this one.
Augustus played a lot of complicated roles in the lives of those around him. His death brings not only the expected grief but a journey of self-discovery as they come to terms with a world without him. Far from a perfect person, many loose ends are left unresolved, and everyone, including the police, is trying to figure out what happened and what it means now.
I liked the messy quality of the narrative - no one is perfect, and even if they know what they should do, it doesn't always work out that way. As with most character-driven stories, This Place of Wonder doesn't really go anywhere, we mostly sit in the events and the emotions immediately following Augustus' death. There are some flashbacks and some plans made, but this is all about the feelings and reactions to the loss of this man. It definitely leaves you in a contemplative mood.
"Bookstores can solve any problem, at least for a little while. It was humid and too warm inside, the lights bright against the gray day, and it all smelled of paper and glue and dust and humans and damp wool and coffee brewing somewhere. Only this place of wonders could soothe me."
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
This Place of Wonder is a highly personal and emotional portrait of three very different women. I don't always do well with character-driven narratives, but I did enjoy this one.
Augustus played a lot of complicated roles in the lives of those around him. His death brings not only the expected grief but a journey of self-discovery as they come to terms with a world without him. Far from a perfect person, many loose ends are left unresolved, and everyone, including the police, is trying to figure out what happened and what it means now.
I liked the messy quality of the narrative - no one is perfect, and even if they know what they should do, it doesn't always work out that way. As with most character-driven stories, This Place of Wonder doesn't really go anywhere, we mostly sit in the events and the emotions immediately following Augustus' death. There are some flashbacks and some plans made, but this is all about the feelings and reactions to the loss of this man. It definitely leaves you in a contemplative mood.
"Bookstores can solve any problem, at least for a little while. It was humid and too warm inside, the lights bright against the gray day, and it all smelled of paper and glue and dust and humans and damp wool and coffee brewing somewhere. Only this place of wonders could soothe me."
Review originally posted here on Britt's Book Blurbs.
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April 3, 2022
I really enjoyed O'Neal's When We Believed in Mermaids, so I went into this book with a lot of high hopes. Sadly, this story just wasn't for me. After a gripping prologue, the book's only focus was on the moping of 4 women for a narcissistic man who has just died.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.
July 28, 2022
When a famous chef dies suddenly, four women are left to pick up the pieces and reflect on their pasts and their futures as they come to terms with the death of Augustus. The four women being his ex wife, his two daughters and his current girlfriend.
Well I absolutely loved this one. The characters are engrained on my brain. Meadow(his ex wife) and Maya(daughter) take centre stage really throughout and are two brilliant written characters. Maya especially I felt great empathy with as she battled addiction and trying to come to terms with her fathers abandonment of her when she was a little child.
I really cant think of anything negative to say about this book. I really devoured it and didnt want it to end. I was totally drawn into their world.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Well I absolutely loved this one. The characters are engrained on my brain. Meadow(his ex wife) and Maya(daughter) take centre stage really throughout and are two brilliant written characters. Maya especially I felt great empathy with as she battled addiction and trying to come to terms with her fathers abandonment of her when she was a little child.
I really cant think of anything negative to say about this book. I really devoured it and didnt want it to end. I was totally drawn into their world.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
April 10, 2023
Mediocre on all accounts. I did not understand the point of this story. Nothing happened. There was no place of wonder. There was nothing to wonder about or at… did not get it. Not my thing.
May 19, 2022
I absolutely loved When We Believed in Mermaids a couple of years ago and I was excited to see a new book out by Barbara O’Neal. This one was a little too slow-going for me. When Augustus apparently dies of a sudden heart attack, everyone is in shock. 4 women go back and forth with their back stories and frankly I just didn’t care how this was going to end. This will not deter me from reading other books by her because she’s an excellent author. This one just fell flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
May 27, 2023
I had previously read ‘When We Believed In Mermaids’ and remembered thinking that the author’s writing style was wonderful. When this book was recommended to me in a quaint store in Alaska, I took a chance.
This was a family drama and relationship book that I struggled to read despite fantastic writing and three POVs. I was expecting a bit more of the foodie/restaurant scene, but instead, there was a lot of focus on the adulterous celebrity and the four women who’ve put him on a pedestal. I’d have loved this book to have taken a different direction and focus; however, the characterization, examination of family dynamics, and investigation of the mother/daughter relationship were really good. Overall, it was a satisfactory women’s fiction story about forgiveness, love, and moving on.
This was a family drama and relationship book that I struggled to read despite fantastic writing and three POVs. I was expecting a bit more of the foodie/restaurant scene, but instead, there was a lot of focus on the adulterous celebrity and the four women who’ve put him on a pedestal. I’d have loved this book to have taken a different direction and focus; however, the characterization, examination of family dynamics, and investigation of the mother/daughter relationship were really good. Overall, it was a satisfactory women’s fiction story about forgiveness, love, and moving on.
August 5, 2022
I became a fan of Barbara O'Neal after reading her last two books: When we Believed in Mermaids and Write my Name Across the Sky. She's an author you can always depend on to give you unputdownable books with great story lines and unforgettable characters that you'll think about long after the last page of the book. She writes about families in the midst of major life changes. Her stories are full of conflict, family love and forgiveness and finding happiness. This Place of Wonder is a fantastic book and has added her to my list of authors of books that I'll buy without knowing anything about the book.
When Augustus, a well known chef died, he left behind four women to deal with his death:
-Meadow is his ex-wife who helped him build his fame at the same time that she was getting national recognition for her farm to table cooking. She is still in love with him but couldn't handle his infidelities.
-Maya is his estranged daughter who is fresh out of rehab. She has mixed feelings toward her father and even though she still loves him, she hasn't spoken to him since he and Meadow split up. She's surprised when his will left his home and restaurant to her.
-Rory is Meadow's daughter who was raised by Augustus. She is married and has a family. Her grief over his passing is the least complicated - she misses him completely. She is the voice of calm among the four women.
-Norah was his current live in girlfriend. She is much younger and had arrived at his restaurant the year before to find out how to reach Meadow for an article she was writing but as soon as she met Augustus, the sparks flew and she ended up moving in with him. She is distraught over his death and has nowhere to go once Maya inherits the home.
This novel is told by three of the four women who are grieving Augustus's death. Chapters are told by all of them except Rory. As these four women are held together by their grief, there are secrets being kept that disrupt their lives. They have to decide whether they will accept Augustus's legacy or try to work together in the future. As a mystery evolves about the cause of his death, the thoughts of all the women become more complicated. Can they learn to rely on each other to find their inner strength and be able to move forward or will they stay stuck in their past with resentments toward Augustus and each other? This book gives the readers an excellent look at four women in transition after a dramatic change in their lives.
When Augustus, a well known chef died, he left behind four women to deal with his death:
-Meadow is his ex-wife who helped him build his fame at the same time that she was getting national recognition for her farm to table cooking. She is still in love with him but couldn't handle his infidelities.
-Maya is his estranged daughter who is fresh out of rehab. She has mixed feelings toward her father and even though she still loves him, she hasn't spoken to him since he and Meadow split up. She's surprised when his will left his home and restaurant to her.
-Rory is Meadow's daughter who was raised by Augustus. She is married and has a family. Her grief over his passing is the least complicated - she misses him completely. She is the voice of calm among the four women.
-Norah was his current live in girlfriend. She is much younger and had arrived at his restaurant the year before to find out how to reach Meadow for an article she was writing but as soon as she met Augustus, the sparks flew and she ended up moving in with him. She is distraught over his death and has nowhere to go once Maya inherits the home.
This novel is told by three of the four women who are grieving Augustus's death. Chapters are told by all of them except Rory. As these four women are held together by their grief, there are secrets being kept that disrupt their lives. They have to decide whether they will accept Augustus's legacy or try to work together in the future. As a mystery evolves about the cause of his death, the thoughts of all the women become more complicated. Can they learn to rely on each other to find their inner strength and be able to move forward or will they stay stuck in their past with resentments toward Augustus and each other? This book gives the readers an excellent look at four women in transition after a dramatic change in their lives.
April 7, 2022
Are you reading a Barbara O’Neal book if your heart isn’t broken and then put back together throughout the course of the story? I have been a longtime fan of Barbara O’Neal’s books. Her writing is always so evocative, her settings fully drawn out, and all of the reader’s senses are touched upon. Her writer’s voice is like no other that I’ve been able to discover.
One of the greatest attributes of her writing are her beautifully flawed and broken characters and This Place of Wonder is no exception. This story focuses on the points of view of three women of different ages and stages in life: Meadow, Maya, and Norah. Each are grieving and coming to terms with the loss of Augustus, a man each woman loved and who held a special role and relationship in their lives. The tale braids these voices and views together in a story that explores the brokenness that lurks in all societies, how people cope with the life that they are given, and finally the offer of hope and healing.
This is a story of grief, betrayals, and being at life’s bottom. This is also a story of love, family, perseverance, and the strength of believing in oneself. All of life’s messy beauty and grimness is captured and suspended for the reader in this latest offering by Barbara O’Neal. As a reader, you will root for these characters, you will smile, and you will cry. You don’t want to miss it. Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
One of the greatest attributes of her writing are her beautifully flawed and broken characters and This Place of Wonder is no exception. This story focuses on the points of view of three women of different ages and stages in life: Meadow, Maya, and Norah. Each are grieving and coming to terms with the loss of Augustus, a man each woman loved and who held a special role and relationship in their lives. The tale braids these voices and views together in a story that explores the brokenness that lurks in all societies, how people cope with the life that they are given, and finally the offer of hope and healing.
This is a story of grief, betrayals, and being at life’s bottom. This is also a story of love, family, perseverance, and the strength of believing in oneself. All of life’s messy beauty and grimness is captured and suspended for the reader in this latest offering by Barbara O’Neal. As a reader, you will root for these characters, you will smile, and you will cry. You don’t want to miss it. Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2023
Most of us know someone like Augustus, a man whose charismatic personality is bigger than life, much like his love, empathy, and mystery. In this story, we read how his life (and death) deeply affects four women. His daughters, Maya and Rory, his ex-wife, Meadow, and his current girlfriend, Norah, are all dealing with his sudden (and somewhat mysterious) death. Actually, none of them are dealing with it! They are broken over their loss.
What the author does so well is create characters who are so multidimensional that they feel like real people you know. The family dynamics, conversations between mother and daughter, every scene is one the reader can easily place themselves in.
The author does a fantastic job of the character creation with Augustus, a man who is dead through the whole book, yet feels very much alive to the reader. A man who made too many mistakes with the ones he loves, yet you can't help but feel that magnetic pull to his character - again, even though he is no longer alive in the story!
I love her books, her characters, her don't-take-the-easy-way-out plots, and thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this thought-provoking story.
What the author does so well is create characters who are so multidimensional that they feel like real people you know. The family dynamics, conversations between mother and daughter, every scene is one the reader can easily place themselves in.
The author does a fantastic job of the character creation with Augustus, a man who is dead through the whole book, yet feels very much alive to the reader. A man who made too many mistakes with the ones he loves, yet you can't help but feel that magnetic pull to his character - again, even though he is no longer alive in the story!
I love her books, her characters, her don't-take-the-easy-way-out plots, and thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this thought-provoking story.
July 19, 2022
This Place of Wonder deals with the death of a well known chef who really shone in that world and how the four main women in his life deal with the impact of it on their lives and their interactions as a result.
Barbara O'Neal's writing is a notch above most for me. Her character development in her books that seem to be rich with women is superb. Her descriptive writing puts you right into the scenes and makes it so that you can't resist suffering the lows of her characters as well as the highs. This story certainly can't be described as action packed or a page turner--it's more like swaddling yourself in a warm blanket on a chilly night. It's soft and gentle, even with the issues of death, cheating and alcoholism that are present. It's like having a wine filled evening with your best friends and going home completely emotionally satisfied.
Thanks to those tagged for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Barbara O'Neal's writing is a notch above most for me. Her character development in her books that seem to be rich with women is superb. Her descriptive writing puts you right into the scenes and makes it so that you can't resist suffering the lows of her characters as well as the highs. This story certainly can't be described as action packed or a page turner--it's more like swaddling yourself in a warm blanket on a chilly night. It's soft and gentle, even with the issues of death, cheating and alcoholism that are present. It's like having a wine filled evening with your best friends and going home completely emotionally satisfied.
Thanks to those tagged for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 7, 2022
Augustus Beauvais is dead. The charismatic, bigger than life Adonis has died and left four amazing women (his ex-wife, daughter, stepdaughter, and his new, very young girlfriend) to mourn his loss, sort through their complicated histories, and find a way forward. There's also glorious food, romance, and a bit of mystery.
I loved everything about This Place of Wonder.
I loved each of the fully developed characters and the coastal setting. I loved the story and I loved the writing. This is my first Barbara O'Neal read and lucky for me I have four more of her novels sitting on my shelf.
4 1/2 stars. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary drc via Netgalley. Tentative publication July 19, 2022.
I loved everything about This Place of Wonder.
I loved each of the fully developed characters and the coastal setting. I loved the story and I loved the writing. This is my first Barbara O'Neal read and lucky for me I have four more of her novels sitting on my shelf.
4 1/2 stars. Highly recommend.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary drc via Netgalley. Tentative publication July 19, 2022.
May 18, 2024
3,5⭐️/5⭐️
February 27, 2022
I read this book as an arc, and sadly, it was not a book for me.
The plot is a multi-POV story telling of how 60-ish-year-old man named Augustus affected the lives of many women, Meadow, Maya, Rory, Norah. He was a ladies man, and died of what seems to be a heart attack.
My thoughts during the read:
“There’s amazing imagery and play on words.”
“This wasn’t getting interesting until 60% in”
“I want to DNF this book if it weren’t for men receiving it as an arc”
“This book is for grandmas”
—> I proceed to look up the author, who is in her 60s (no offense about the old grams thought)
“No wonder this book isn’t for me… and it’s my fault for not researching further into the book and author”
Although I’m glad I finished the read, I felt like I really read a whole bunch of nothing. Seems harsh but ultimately it was a bittersweet ending that I might’ve enjoyed much more if I were the intended demographic.
The plot is a multi-POV story telling of how 60-ish-year-old man named Augustus affected the lives of many women, Meadow, Maya, Rory, Norah. He was a ladies man, and died of what seems to be a heart attack.
My thoughts during the read:
“There’s amazing imagery and play on words.”
“This wasn’t getting interesting until 60% in”
“I want to DNF this book if it weren’t for men receiving it as an arc”
“This book is for grandmas”
—> I proceed to look up the author, who is in her 60s (no offense about the old grams thought)
“No wonder this book isn’t for me… and it’s my fault for not researching further into the book and author”
Although I’m glad I finished the read, I felt like I really read a whole bunch of nothing. Seems harsh but ultimately it was a bittersweet ending that I might’ve enjoyed much more if I were the intended demographic.
December 22, 2022
I found this book on Kindle Unlimited and went in blindly. This is the first book I have ever read by this author.
Even if I don't like a book, I usually get something out of it, even if it's just the pure, simple pleasure of experiencing a page turning thrill. However, there were so many moments I wanted to give up on this one. I simply could not get into it.
I found the female characters to be really trite. Their main focus, and as a result our main focus, was this narcissistic, womanizing male character. Why are we suppose to even care about this bombastic, sleazeball of a character? The woman are all obsessed with him because he's what? Decent at sex? Is the bar really that low?
He lacked depth, which made me not care about him, making it hard to empathize with the readers who seemed to fawn over him, even after he continuously cheated. Not once was there any real connection between him and the female characters who were so unrealistically committed to him. Not an ounce of interesting or intellectually stimulating dialogue.
Even if I don't like a book, I usually get something out of it, even if it's just the pure, simple pleasure of experiencing a page turning thrill. However, there were so many moments I wanted to give up on this one. I simply could not get into it.
I found the female characters to be really trite. Their main focus, and as a result our main focus, was this narcissistic, womanizing male character. Why are we suppose to even care about this bombastic, sleazeball of a character? The woman are all obsessed with him because he's what? Decent at sex? Is the bar really that low?
He lacked depth, which made me not care about him, making it hard to empathize with the readers who seemed to fawn over him, even after he continuously cheated. Not once was there any real connection between him and the female characters who were so unrealistically committed to him. Not an ounce of interesting or intellectually stimulating dialogue.
July 18, 2022
I can’t think of any author more skilled at writing complex, twisted relationships and difficult circumstance than Barbara O’Neal, and this book epitomizes all of those things. In this brilliant, emotional, layered novel, we hear from three women who loved the same man—his ex-wife, his newly-sober daughter, and his latest lover. When Augustus dies unexpectedly, it leaves them reeling with grief, regret, uncertainty, and doubt. All three women stir up a swirl of emotions, as they grapple with his loss, reconcile their guilt, and look for a path to move forward. Their lives are entwined in so many complicated and messy ways, and all of their relationships are a reflection of that. I was fully immersed in their lives, wanting to uncover their pasts and their secrets, turning pages to stay up with their present, and hoping for them all to find peace and healing in their future.
March 3, 2023
Augustus Beauvais (Boo-vay), a famed chef, suddenly dies. He leaves behind four women who mourn him in different ways:
Meadow Beauvais - who he divorced 8 years before.
Maya Beauvais- his daughter with his first wife
Rory (Aurora) - Meadow's daughter from a previous liaison
Norah - his latest girlfriend
Augustus was extremely charismatic, but a womanizer. I found nothing to mourn about him at all. But I did end up understanding why the four ladies felt the way they did.
The book was an extremely slow starter for me. Would have given up if it had not been a book club selection. In the final analysis, the story did get better.
Meeting to discuss 2/23. Will add in any relevant comments.
3.5 stars
Meadow Beauvais - who he divorced 8 years before.
Maya Beauvais- his daughter with his first wife
Rory (Aurora) - Meadow's daughter from a previous liaison
Norah - his latest girlfriend
Augustus was extremely charismatic, but a womanizer. I found nothing to mourn about him at all. But I did end up understanding why the four ladies felt the way they did.
The book was an extremely slow starter for me. Would have given up if it had not been a book club selection. In the final analysis, the story did get better.
Meeting to discuss 2/23. Will add in any relevant comments.
3.5 stars
December 2, 2022
Another wonderful novel by Barbara O'Neal!
This Place Of Wonder is the emotional story of four women (Meadow, Maya, Rory & Norah) whom each grieve the loss of Augusta in their own way. Each character's story is interwoven with each others giving us a heartfelt story of love, loss and healing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
This Place Of Wonder is the emotional story of four women (Meadow, Maya, Rory & Norah) whom each grieve the loss of Augusta in their own way. Each character's story is interwoven with each others giving us a heartfelt story of love, loss and healing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
October 15, 2025
4.5⭐️ I loved this!!! The author captured every character and their complex relationships perfectly + the setting being in SB/ Ojai made me so nostalgic 🥹 tears were shed. Would definitely recommend if you want a feel good, grounding & raw read!
August 1, 2022
This is a heartfelt story of 4 strong women (ex-wife, 2 daughters, and a girlfriend) finding their way after the sudden death of Augustus, the man they loved. It’s also a story about love and betrayal, facing the past, forgiveness, and healing. Each of them comes from a damaged past and as we hear their stories, secrets, and good intentions we start understanding the decisions made in their life and the connection they have with each other. The story mainly centers around the daughter Maya who is a struggling alcoholic. It’s hard to like Augustus as he’s caused so much pain to these women and difficult to understand why they still love him so much. However, I felt a great deal of empathy for what they all had to do to survive. Overall the characters were very well developed, but the story moves at a slow pace. They do throw some mystery in there, but it’s mainly about their complex relationships and moving forward. The beautiful California coastal setting really adds to the story and I thought the ending wrapped things up nicely. For me this was 4 Stars.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy!
July 21, 2022
This Place of Wonder is a character-driven tale about four women who are bound together in their grief over the death of Augustus Beauvais, a well-known and gregarious chef and chronic womanizer who was influential in all their lives.
These women in Augustus' life were his daughters Maya and Rory, his ex-wife Meadow, and his girlfriend Norah. The four women are well-drawn, each with their own pasts and struggles as they navigate through their grief and the issues, they bring into this non-traditional family dynamic.
I enjoyed how O'Neal slowly reveals the backstories of these characters and while there is a bit of a lull in the middle, the added mysteries, and my desire to get to know these four women better kept me turning the pages. It wasn't as emotional as I had expected (I'm a hard tear duct to crack), but I think the topics (addiction, family dysfunction, grief, philandering) and Augustus' complicated bond with each of these women would make great fodder for book club discussion. I didn't like the man, but I could also see why people were drawn to him.
This was slower burn, character-driven read that showcases four strong women and explores the complexities of relationships, long-held secrets, and loss. The addition of beautiful descriptions of the setting and the mysteries made the story that much better. This was my first book by Barbara O'Neal, and I look forward to reading more of her back list.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to TLC Book Clubs and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
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