4.5 stars.

Oh my, Maggie O'Farrell has a way with words. The writing in this book is GORGEOUS.

A historical fiction with a heavy literary feel, Hamnet does move at a bit of a languid pace and is more character-centered than plot-centered, but the atmospheric description is beautiful. Granted, there is a bit of magical realism tossed in with the historical fact, but I still very much appreciated this view of the life of William Shakespeare's family and the tragic loss of his young son.

I loved the fact that the entire story was from Agnes's point of view and that Shakespeare himself is in fact never mentioned by name. It's a clever, quirky little stylistic choice that redrew the lines of focus and made it a much more emotional read rather than simply a historical tale. With regard to this content, it has to be said that the title is a bit abstract. Hamnet is indeed a part of the tale and his death is crucial to the plot, but the whole of the novel is primarily focused on Agnes, her coming-of-age, and her experiences as a woman, wife, and mother. But let's be honest...a book titled Hamnet was always going to get more attention than one titled Agnes.

There were a few holes in the plot and some questions that went unanswered, but the emotional journey was well-investigated. The effects of the event on Agnes and her two daughters, in particular Hamnet's twin Judith, were explored in a way that was gut-wrenching and really made me feel the helplessness that they must have endured over the situation.

Though I did indeed LOVE the prose, I will admit that there were times when it felt a little overdone and made the story drag a bit. But it was just so darned pretty. That being said, if you don't like lyrical writing, this book will likely drive you crazy. If you do enjoy a flowing linguistic style, Hamnet may be just what you've been looking for.