The Keeper of Happy Endings

I loved the story... I just finished it and am in tears. There's so much to say about the story:

First, I must say it starts somehow slow, like I didn't understand why so much backstory for both Rory and Soline... but then halfway I realized Davis builds a backstory that actually adds to the present of the characters, and it unravels in the last quarter of the book, like every single detail of those backstories come to importance when Anson is found alive and then when Rory discovers that Hux is alive too. I really enjoyed that, even the glass of wine Soline and Anson had on their first date is brought as a detail when Anson tells Soline he doesn't drink anymore and she answers that he wasn't much of a drinker back then either.

The build up for the story is very well written, I felt every single flinch, rage, fear, joy, heartache, accomplishment and pride... I grew to dislike Owen with all my heart and still cannot forgive him even if what he did was because he wanted what he thought was best for Anson.

And Camilla wasn't my favorite either, but then I got to understand why Camilla is the way she is and saw how she redeemed herself to Rory once she filled that emptiness she had by finding out Soline was her biological mother... such a masterpiece...

Character development felt so natural, realistic and also relatable, how Rory starts to feel confident of her work and standing for what she wants in life even if she's broken, how Soline overcomes her wish for solitude by opening to Rory and ending up attending her gallery's opening night, Camilla's joy to have a loving mother and therefore becoming one herself, Anson's brokenness after the war plus being deceived into an unhappy life by his father...

I also must be honest, I saw the grand revelation of Camilla being Soline's daughter coming from a mile away, but for the first time in having that not-surprised-for-this-revelation thing and the “late period” trope I actually wasn't disappointed nor did it ruin the book for me, on the contrary: I was expectant to see how it would be revealed and the waiting was very enjoyable.

The only thing I would say felt incomplete and maybe rushed was the ending, like, Hux is alive and what happens next...? You move forward some months and the wedding is happening? How did they find him? Why was he kidnapped (or no reason at all? That is also valid)? At least what was his reaction when he saw a new Rory fulfilling her dreams? There were obvious struggles when he got back home whichprobablyy would have made the ending more complex and also losing focus of what the author wanted to say, it was not his story the central point... although one of the main conflicts (the gallery) was influenced by him... I think it is a story for another time, yet a story worth telling.

Sorry for the long review, it is so much but at the same time it is so good I want to thank the author for this story, it has become one of my favorite books and reminds me so much of “The Things We Leave Unfinished” by Rebecca Yarros.

Despite the fact that I truly dislike stories that jump back and forth in time and are written from different people’s viewpoints, I loved this book. From the beginning, it drew me in, so much so that when I got close to the end, I had to finish it before going to bed. The plot has some twists and turns that are intriguing, but there’s always a sense of what’s coming, as well. The path to happy endings isn’t always straight, but for some, the magick works. Fun read!

3.5
This was interesting. It was well written with an ok plot and thought provoking themes, but I can't help but wonder why we always romanticize the Second World War.

Blend Of Historical And Women's Fiction That Leaves The Room Dusty Through Its Final Quarter. This was an excellent blend of historical fiction on one end and a “current” (mid-80s) timeline women's fiction tale on the other. Not quite an either/ or thing, but both play well with each other (and most of the historical stuff is done by the 2/3 point or so). Just be prepared for a VERY dusty read through the back quarter of the book, where Davis does an excellent job of revealing things but then letting them play out in a more natural setting and timeframe than other authors may have done. The book starts off with a lot of The Giver type vibes before becoming something so much more than that work ever intended to be - but the fact that it even feels similar to that award winning book speaks to just how well Davis crafts her story here. Very much recommended.