3.5 stars

Charlotte knew she was different. She was happy in her father’s stationery store and had no dreams of marriage or motherhood. When Flora Dalton walked into the shop one day, Charlotte couldn’t help but be mesmerized by her. 

However, women had many restrictions and social norms defining their lives. When a devastating event led to Charlotte’s grief, she was shifted to the Kew Lunatic Asylum for her own safety. Soon, Charlotte realized that the many women in this place were not lunatics but were declared to be for whatever reasons. 

Charlotte is determined to get away from the place and create a future she wants. Can she do it? Will they let her? 

The story comes in Charlotte’s third-person POV. 

The book is 416 pages long and has a super slow start. The lengthy chapters and the writing style further weigh down the pace. The overall pacing is uneven, making it seem like a much longer read. 

The scenes at the asylum are definitely better handled. There’s detail, but not so much that it feels like misery porn. There are many characters, but the women manage to retain their individuality. The blend of hope, fear, trauma, healing, etc., works well. Even when nothing seems to happen, we know there’s some change in the characters. 

While I liked a few (later) scenes between Flora and Charlotte, some of them were way too dramatic. Combined with the historical setting and the writing style, I couldn’t help but compare it with the black-and-white periodic dramas with OTT dialogues and actions. It doesn’t help that Flora feels surreal in many instances. 

There’s also quite a lot of repetition about Charlotte being plain and different and Flora being beautiful. I get it. I don’t need so many reminders! 

The last section is pretty solid and has the most action. Charlotte and Flora also grow up a little, which makes their interactions more relatable. And oh, the romance is slow burn and fade-to-black. 

The ending is positive and hopeful. Not a perfect HEA (which would have been odd), but the kind of conclusion to call it a bittersweet and heartwarming read. 

To summarize, House of Longing has some worthy themes and touches upon important topics. However, it could have been around 30 pages shorter and crisper to be more impactful. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Text Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #HouseOfLonging