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Average rating4
For fans of Alice Hoffman and Kate Morton, The White Hare is a spellbinding novel about mothers and daughters finding a new home for themselves, the secrets they try to bury, and the local legends that may change their lives. In the far west of Cornwall lies the White Valley, which cuts deeply through bluebell woods down to the sea at White Cove. The valley has a long and bloody history, laced with folklore, and in it sits a house above the beach that has lain neglected since the war. It comes with a reputation and a strange atmosphere, which is why mother and daughter Magdalena and Mila manage to acquire it so cheaply in the fateful summer of 1954. Magda has grand plans to restore the house to its former glory as a venue for glittering parties, where the rich and celebrated gathered for cocktails and for bracing walks along the coast. Her grown daughter, Mila, just wants to escape the scandal in her past and make a safe and happy home for her little girl, Janey, a solitary, precocious child blessed with a vivid imagination, much of which she pours into stories about her magical plush toy, Rabbit. But Janey’s rabbit isn’t the only magical being around. Legend has it that an enchanted white hare may be seen running through the woods. Is it an ill omen or a blessing? As Mila, her mother, and her young daughter adjust to life in this mysterious place, they will have to reckon with their own pasts and with the secrets that have been haunting the White Valley for decades.
Reviews with the most likes.
⭐⭐⭐ – Lovely cover on this one!
This one was pretty middle of the road for me. The author did a beautiful job making the story very atmospheric and magical. I loved the secondary characters as well. The mother and daughter relationship was well explored and Janey was a delight. What brought the rating down for me was how slow and wordy the story was. I found myself bored and had difficulty staying in the story. I think it probably could have benefitted from a good edit to tighten up the story a little. Just my 2 cents!
Sometimes a slower, atmospheric read is what's needed. Nothing chaotic or bloody...just a good story with full characters and a burst of momentum.
The White Hare is a tragic, yet beautiful story. Family can be complex and secretive and this journey pulls you into the realm of mother-daughter relationships. The author does a great job with this and I was engaged from the beginning.
I love the ending, and the closure it gave me too. The characters are wonderful, even when difficult (you have to read this to understand) and I fell in love with them all.
Highly recommend this one when you need a book to get lost in, that is for savoring and fully enjoying.
I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.