“She’d decided when she hit seventy that she didn’t have enough life left to make her own puff pastry, and the ready-rolled packets stared back at her as if full of accusations.”
Seventy-two year old Grace lives alone in her quiet life and is perfectly fine, although hearing a little more often from her daughter and granddaughter would be nice. She has her health, her friends, her octogenarian yoga (however reluctantly attended) and most of all, her weekly club where she creates exquisite, miniature train sets.
When unexpected circumstances bring Grace’s estranged daughter, Amelia, and granddaughter, Charlotte, to live in her home, all the messy, complicated feelings from their past, which drove this family apart, start to emerge. Now, living under the same roof, the more Grace gets to know her granddaughter, the more she adores her.
Even so, it will take a school mystery, an exquisite miniature railway, and some brave decisions to help them each find not only themselves, but also each other. Grace is about to discover that although opening her heart again may be painful, in the end it’s the only thing that makes life worth living.
I’d been drawn to Eleanor Ray’s debut novel Everything is Beautiful on NetGalley, first because of it’s gorgeous cover, and then the blurb. Three years later it still remains one of my most favourite books. I was waiting for her next as an ardent fan ever since she announced it in Spring 2023, and was grateful to receive this ARC from the author and publisher.
The Art of Belonging is an emotionally healing novel about infusing new life in relationships. It is about family, friendship, and standing in solidarity with those who matter to you.
Grace has settled her life around her activities and limited social circle. Yet, she longs to hear from her daughter. As Grace, Amelia and Charlotte are introduced to the reader, one begins to understand their points of view and how their differences have created an ever-widening gap in their relationships.
When they come to live together, Grace, conscious of her shortcomings, puts in extra effort to make them feel welcome. Nonetheless, ties that severed long ago cannot be mended in a day. With everything going on in their individual lives, the strains reappear soon enough. Grace, however, is able to bond easier with Charlotte than with Amelia.
I thought Charlotte was a wonderful character in this story. As she struggles to settle into a new home and school, she chances upon an unusual friend. That leads her on the path to a mystery she is determined to solve. Eventually, Charlotte ends up being the one around whom everything starts to revolve.
My favourite character, however, was Sammy, Charlotte’s new friend at school. I loved his enthusiasm and conviction in everything he does. I absolutely adored his charm and playfulness, and his willingness to trust this new friend he discovers.
The chaotic bonds that barely hold a family are put to test when two eager minds set off on the hunt for a missing teacher. As everyone deals with the after-effects, it pushes them to revisit the events that drove them apart in the first place.
Eleanor Ray has this knack of blending heart-warming, uplit fiction with a riveting mystery that adds layers to the central story and brings unexpected twists.
Perhaps another important reason I seem to love the author’s books so much is because her stories also include an important focus on some form of creative activity. Here, Grace, a former aeronautical engineer, builds miniature scale models of trains. This activity is what gives her an inroad to communicating with her family as they begin to realise that each person processes pain and grief differently. And it becomes even more important to recognise that need, give each other the space and understanding.
A story that recognises the messy, complex family dynamics and the tangled differences that come with it, The Art of Belonging is a beautiful, captivating read, with characters you come to cherish.
The Art of Belonging by Eleanor Ray. Due to be published on 15th Feb 2024 by Piatkus Books, an imprint of Little, Brown Book Group UK. This ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group.
Book 2 of 2024.
Aquamarine Flavours Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟.
Available on Amazon*.
About the Author: Eleanor Ray has an MA in English Literature from Edinburgh Univhttps://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/the-art-of-belonging-by-eleanor-ray-book-reviewersity and works in marketing. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.
*Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link which means, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Aquamarine Flavours 
Neatly written, Ashima!
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Thanks!
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