Hamnet was not the book I expected it to be but I am so glad I read it. As you may know it is the story of Shakespeare’s family. In the beginning of the novel, we have alternating timelines to show us Shakespeare’s current family and how the family came to be. There is attention to Shakespeare’s childhood (cw: abuse) and then how he met and fell in love with his wife and Agnes. as the story continues, much of the attention shifts to Agnes, and we are told in beautiful detail her experiences with pregnancy and childbirth (cw: traumatic birth, infant health). 

As the cover indicates, this is a story of the plague. When the plague comes for this family, the results are devastating and unexpected. As their grief unfolds, Agnes and Shakespeare handle their emotions in very different ways and their relationship is in peril.

The end of this novel is truly beautiful and is what brought the whole thing together for me. I don’t think I could describe it and do it justice,  much less do so without ruining some of the enjoyment for you as a future reader. If you feel ready for a character focused story with sadness and loss, this is a lovely read.