Under The Hickory Tree

A gripping tale of family secrets I was sent and advance copy of “Under the Hickory Tree “, the first novel by the author Jo Chinn… There is a family tree shown at the beginning of the novel and I will mention the importance of this at the end of my review … The setting initially is in the Welsh Valleys where we are introduced to a young girl named Lowri whose life is suddenly changed forever by a series of family hardship and tragedy .. Lowri’s story then sets the scene for the other characters to intertwine and their stories unfold. A chance meeting decades later and in another country leads to family secrets , long buried being raised but also explained .. The tale is told over 2 Continents and a family ,who although fractured must pull together if they are all to find the answers they are seeking . Lowri is at the beginning of the novel and also at the end .. The author describes her so well you can almost picture her in your mind as she grows from a young girl to adulthood to become a family Matriarch.. I enjoyed this book and as I said there is the family tree that readers can refer to . If I have one criticism and it’s only a minor one , it would be that there are so many complex characters and I did have to check every so often who was who and what relationship .. anyone reading the book and perhaps leaving it for a while and then taking up the story would have to refresh their memory , but it doesn’t detract from a great story and for a debut novel its very well written .… A must for a holiday read or perhaps a library book club …

This is a proper Saga, the characters travel the world, running away from one tragedy, straight into the tangled web of another. But the innate goodness of Bryn shines through, leading to love and the founding of his own wonderful family, only for another wrong turn to take the story back to where it all started, ultimately bringing his two families to a dramatic climax. There are so many strong characters that you have to concentrate to try and keep track of them, but it is definitely worth doing so. This is helped by the family trees at the front of the book. The plot is amazing, so full of twists and turns, I couldn’t put it down. It touches on many aspects of life in Southern America in the 60’s. I don’t usually like stories that jump about but I was ok with it, other than wanting to know more about what happened after the central crisis. But then I always want to know what the characters do the next day when I get to the end. I liked the writer’s style and attention to detail, which really brought the situations to life for me, especially towards the end which is an area I have some knowledge of. I read this book as an advanced reading copy, in exchange for an honest review. I have already recommended it, to my friend’s book club. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a really good plot, with intrigue and romance thrown in for good measure.

Under the Hickory Tree is a beautifully crafted debut novel by Jo Chinn, telling the moving story of a family whose lives span two continents- Wales and America. From the first page, Jo’s flowing style draws the reader into a rich tapestry of family, heritage and belonging. As someone who is Welsh myself, I found the passages describing life in Wales to be especially evocative. Jo captures the quiet strength and harshness of Welsh life with authenticity and tenderness. The novel is easy to read and I found myself absorbed finishing it in a few sittings. While the storyline moves between Wales and America, the shifts in settings and time are seamless. The descriptions and characters felt genuinely ‘lived in’ and their hopes and struggles expertly told. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and very much look forward to what Jo writes next.

The pleasure was entirely mine to obtain an advance copy of Jo Chinn’s debut novel, Under the Hickory Tree. A dramatic family tale unfolds in the Welsh Valleys and migrates to America. The story comes together in a satisfying circle, but is not without its casualties. The author has skilfully presented this complex sequence of events as an easy to follow page turner. Helpful family tree reference pages cleverly support the reader without spoiling any of the unpredictable plot twists. Belt in for a truly believable compilation of virtually unbelievable events. A continuous cascade of turn-taking, pushing the reader to the edge of their seat in anticipation of the next dramatic development. A captivating story of two halves, comfortably paced and containing equal enthral. Expertly researched and credibly set at multiple locations across decades in time. There really is something for every reader to connect with here. My disappointment at the end was based wholly on the knowledge that I would miss the characters. The perfect binge read for book clubs and holidays.