The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris

Sometimes you read a book and you don’t like it. Sometimes you read a book and you do like it, or even love it. And then there are the times when you read a book and it is everything you need at that precise moment in time. For me, The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton by Anstey Harris has been that book.

Grace Atherton’s world revolves entirely around her partner of eight years, David. Then, one day an unexpected event causes her world to spiral out of control and she is left broken hearted. Left to pick up the pieces, she is bolstered by the friendship of an eighty year old man and a tough talking teenage girl. The unlikely trio set about the task of putting Grace and her life back together again.

Music dominates this novel, becoming a major character itself and mirroring Grace and her state of mind throughout. Ever present, it is conveyed with such love and affection that it often left my spine tingling. Although I love music, I don’t know very much about classical music, but through the author’s writing I felt that my mind’s ear was listening to it, the description is sensually stunning and goose bump inducing. I’ll admit that initially I thought that these were the sections that I would skim through, but they quickly became a highlight for me, the beauty of description leaving me almost breathless in awe.

Told throughout in the first person by Grace, we see the world as she sees it, and it becomes quite clear that her world view is somewhat skewed by the events of her life to date. Grace is a flawed character but utterly relatable. She made me want to scream and shout at her, cry with her but always cheer for her. Her journey within the novel was a joy to read and the ending left me with a feeling a immense fulfillment and satisfaction.

Her friends, Mr Williams and Nadia are wonderful supporting characters and the relationship between the three, although unorthodox is lovely. If I could have asked for one more thing from this novel, it would have been more time for these characters, I just could not get enough of them.

There is so much more I would love to say, but I can’t for fear of inadvertently letting slip a nugget of a spoiler. Suffice to say, I highly, highly recommend.

The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is about knowing the value of your own self worth, having the courage to open up to possibilities and becoming who you’re meant to be. Pure class.

Synopsis

For fans of The Keeper of Lost Things, The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton is the story of a woman who has her heart broken, but then puts it back together again in the most uplifting and exquisite way.

Between the simple melody of running her violin shop and the full-blown orchestra of her romantic interludes in Paris with David, her devoted partner of eight years, Grace Atherton has always set her life to music.

Her world revolves entirely around David, for Grace’s own secrets have kept everyone else at bay. Until, suddenly and shockingly, one act tips Grace’s life upside down, and the music seems to stop.

It takes a vivacious old man and a straight-talking teenager to kickstart a new chapter for Grace. In the process, she learns that she is not as alone in the world as she had once thought, that no mistake is insurmountable, and that the quiet moments in life can be something to shout about……

*I received an ebook arc of this novel via Netgalley. The decision to read was my own and this review forms my honest opinion. I enjoyed the novel so much that I have pre-ordered the book to arrive on publication day.