This Family is the second novel from Kate Sawyer, following 2021’s The Stranding. This one is firmly set in the world we know, and is almost entirely located in one house.
Mary is getting married, and all of her children and family have gathered around her to support her special day. As well as set up the house, which is where the reception’s being held. Other changes are happening too – the house is being sold, babies are being born and the family are moving on.
The chapters are told from many different points of view, encompassing the four daughters as well as Mary. Generations of women are present, from mother in law to mother to daughter – and on to the next set of cousins. This works well as it builds a rich tapestry of interaction, of bad blood and history, between primarily the three younger women, but also their friends and partners. Every family has history – events fondly remembered and some which mean certain subjects are avoided at Christmas. Or games – like Monopoly, for example.
Unravelling the relationships is a key plot device, and Sawyer manages this well. It took me a while to really cement who’s who, but the mystery of the connections is part of the fun. Second guessing what happened with who, why those people aren’t talking and ultimately projecting your judgement on the outcome.
The chapters hop about in time and location, and the gaps are covered gradually as we get closer to the end of the book. This keeps it fresh and exciting to read, albeit slightly complex at times to keep the timelines straight.
I enjoyed reading this, but I have to say I found it hard to connect with the characters in a deep and meaningful way. It would work well as a play, or a TV series, and reminded me of a fairly standard Joanna Trollope book – maybe Mum & Dad. Recommended for readers who enjoy stories centred around family history and the future we’re walking into.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Staughton for the DRC.
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