Alice is staying with her grandparents in the countryside, it sounds idyllic, except her grandmother is strict, dismissive and doesn’t seem to care for her; and her grandfather is ill. To make the time more enjoyable her mother; Selina, sends letters and clues for Alice to go on a treasure hunt that reveals a precious memento and a trip down memory lane.
Flipping from the present time to the past, Selina’s younger years are brought to life through a dazzlingly, colourful description of the roaring 20s. The London streets, the music and the joy of youngsters enjoying themselves are so vividly portrayed, it was hard not to have the chapters playing out in your head like a movie.
When I first heard of this book, fellow reviewers had commented how it brought tears to their eyes and I was very curious of how that had happened when there is so much hope, joy and love poured into these pages… and then I turned a page to discover the twist, and I’ll be honest I started tearing up to.
It seems boring to comment that a book was beautifully structured, as you’d think that all books would meet this criteria but there’s something extra special about the way Grey has strung this story together, it fits together so perfectly and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster through highs and lows.
The entire plot was immersive and Grey’s ability to cut across time and inhabit the emotions and feelings of both a young, shy girl and a confident, carefree young lady… created such a rounded and grounded feel to the story.
The Glittering Hour was extremely cathartic and I finished this story feeling content and craving another story from Grey.
In two words: Exquisite and Beautiful.
The Glittering Hour is out now in paperback and eBook versions from Simon & Schuster.
Until next time, Chloé x
Reviews by Chloé 