Where We Belong by Anstey Harris

When I read The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton, I knew immediately that Harris was a truly special author, so to get my hands on a proof of her next book was beyond an honour, I felt like I’d hit the jackpot!

Where We Belong takes us to a charming but desperately dilapidated museum in the countryside. Cate and her son; Leo, have come to stay in an apartment above the museum rooms during the summer while they find their footing after a few years of unbearable sadness and rotten luck. Whilst Ms Buchan makes it clear from the very first phone call that their arrival is of great inconvenience, Cate and Leo have every right to be there, as Leo is the heir to the entire museum and its grounds.

With the board of trustees pushing to sell, Ms Buchan seems to bristle when Cate enquires about anything within the museum, because she fears Cate and Leo will want to cash out on the place too. But she’s got it all wrong because the magic she feels within the rooms is felt by Cate and Leo too. So how do you save a large, crumbling museum with no money coming in and no regular visitors?

Well you’ll have to read the story to find out!

All of the above tries to summarise the charming and light hearted aspects of this book but don’t go into this book thinking this is all you will get, because there are complex emotions at work throughout this story, and Cate; in particular, is haunted by them.

When her thoughts begin to drift to her grief and guilt, Harris pulls the reader into the past to explain what Cate has been dealing with over the years – these chapters were powerful, engrossing but unbelievably somber at times. The balance between the past and the present, desperation and hope, sorrow and charm, is exceptionally delivered through this delightful and endearing story.

Where We Belong is out TODAY in hardback and eBook versions from Simon & Schuster, many thanks to SJ and the entire #TeamBATC for gifting me an early copy and allowing me to discuss this book at length with them all over twitter!

Until next time, stay safe, Chloé x