The Book of Hidden Wonders

Romilly lives with her father in a crumbling mansion on the coast of Suffolk, England. Her father creates a series of children's books featuring Romilly as the main character, which become famous around the world. The books contain clues and riddles that readers try to decode, believing they lead to hidden treasures. As Romilly grows up, she starts to realize the books may hold secrets about her own family history and her absent mother. Through photographs, drawings, and passages from the fictional children's books, the story moves between Romilly's childhood in the 1980s and her present-day quest to understand the truth. The remote coastal setting and decaying house become central elements as mysteries surface. The narrative explores themes of memory, imagination, and how stories shape our understanding of both truth and identity. This tale considers what happens when private family moments become public mythology.

Readers note the book's atmospheric descriptions of the English countryside and the complex father-daughter relationship. They highlight Crosby's writing style as lyrical and immersive. Positives: - Vivid setting descriptions that transport readers - Strong character development of Romilly - Mystery elements that maintain interest - Handles dark themes with sensitivity Negatives: - Plot pacing drags in middle sections - Some find the ending unsatisfying or unclear - Several readers mention confusion about time periods - Supporting characters lack depth Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 Reader quotes: "Beautiful prose but the story meandered too much" - Goodreads reviewer "Magical and haunting but the ending left too many questions" - Amazon reviewer "Like stepping into a dark fairy tale, but pacing issues in the middle" - NetGalley reviewer

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🌟 The book's protagonist, Romilly, lives in a crumbling mansion with her photographer father who publishes children's books featuring hidden clues about their life. 📚 Author Polly Crosby wrote much of the novel while battling cancer, drawing on her own experiences of illness to inform the story's themes of resilience and hope. 🏰 The setting was inspired by the grand houses of East Anglia, England, where Crosby grew up, particularly those that fell into decline after World War II. 🎨 The story weaves together elements of photography, treasure hunting, and fairy tales, creating a multi-layered narrative that appeals to both adult and young adult readers. 📷 The author conducted extensive research into vintage photography techniques to accurately portray the father's darkroom work and the atmospheric qualities of old photographs.