A Legacy of Secrets (Lulu Taylor)

The publisher’s summary

Flick Templeton seems to have it all: money, a renowned family name, brains and talent. But her wealth and status seem an obstacle to the real love she longs for. Guided by passion, she seeks her soulmate while finding her own path – but will the legendary family curse of tragedy and loss always thwart her?

Etta, Flick’s daughter, inherits her own share of the family blessings along with its darkness. Growing up, she is pulled between caring for her mother and finding her own identity. As Etta unravels the threads of Flick’s secrets, she starts to learn the truth about who she really is . . .

But can Flick and Etta ever break truly free from the shadows of a painful past, and the curse that seems to hang over every generation of their family?

My reading review

This was the first time I read a Lulu Taylor novel, and it was a good discovery.
I like stories that run through different generations and this one takes place in the 50’s, 70’s and 90’s. The main characters are strong women. The grandmother, Gloria, is very unlikeable. She is eccentric, selfish and has been a toxic mother to Felicity, Flick, who has struggled all her life to escape Gloria’s influence while always hoping for validation. Etta, Flick’s daughter, still feels the ripple effects of her grandmother’s attitude, but she is able to move on and get the freedom her mother could not.
These women also all have quite dysfunctional relationships with men who are almost all narcissistic or have mental health issues. One stands out in the middle of it all, Robert, who plays a central and healing role in the story.
This is a story that tests the reader because it keeps moving between different years and gradually revealing the full picture. But I really enjoyed the family drama, the character’s strength, the reflection about women’s life and role through the 40 years of the book, the power of secrets and unspoken thoughts, and the joy found at the end through the sadness.
I very much enjoyed this novel and I am looking forward to reading Lulu Taylor again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan MacMillan for giving me a copy of this book.