Summerset Abbey - T.J. Brown

Hi!

Here's my review for Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown

Short description

1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society in this stunning series starter that fans of Downton Abbey will love.

Rowena Buxton

Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under their uncle’s guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey. Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the “underclass” in this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive social circle of aristocratic “rebels,” Rowena must decide where her true passions—and loyalties—lie.

Victoria Buxton

Frail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most unladylike wish is not her only secret—Victoria has stumbled upon a family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever...

Prudence Tate

Prudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess’s daughter, and to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her true place in society—as lady’s maid to her beloved “sisters.” But Pru doesn’t belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls. And when a young lord catches her eye, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly carve out a place for herself at Summerset Abbey.

My opinion

I have very mixed feelings about this book. I loved the idea of it with Prude, Rowena and Victoria. I mean although that it takes place in the past, it’s still very modern day. Prude not fitting in anywhere, how many young people feel that way nowadays? It was also great that the author did use different perspectives in the book so you could see the story through different eyes (you judge fairer about some characters). But because the book had different perspectives it was harder to connect with the characters. One moment I could connect with them but the other moment I lost them completely. Something else that bothered me while reading the book was that the story sometimes seemed a bit rushed. On some small details the author could go on forever, but on some major aspects of the book she hardly spend a word.  Like with the love live of Prude. She hardly talked to the boy in the book, but then at the end she was suddenly married. And I was thinking when did this happen. Of course you could have seen it coming, but still it came out of nowhere. So I would had loved it when Prude and the boy had more time alone in the book. But other than that it was a very good book. But like I said in the beginning I have mixed feelings, because this book could be better than it was now. I hope that the next book will be better, because I really want to read it.  

Eiffeltowers



Extra
Author: T.J. Brown
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publishing Date: January 15th 2013
Pages: 288
Sequel: A Bloom in Winter (Summerset Abbey #2) (Publishing date: March 5th 2013)

See you later xx
El