The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell - 4 stars

[Joy D]

The Hand That First Held Mine by Maggie O'Farrell - 4* - My Review

The Hand That First Held Mine alternates between two narratives separated by decades. In 1950s London, Lexie Sinclair leaves her family home and transforms herself into a magazine editor while conducting an affair with artist Innes Kent. In the present day, new mother Elina struggles in the aftermath of a traumatic birth while her partner Ted experiences memories that seem to belong to someone else. The connection between these timelines is concealed until late in the story.

Main topics include motherhood, ambition, and identity. I enjoyed the depiction of Lexie as fiercely independent at a time when there were significant limitations placed on women. The present-day sections feel weaker by comparison. The revelation that links the timelines is an emotional high point, though some readers will no doubt figure out the connection beforehand. Maggie O’Farrell is one of my favorite authors. Her books are always well-written and well-constructed.