Reviewed by Emma Crowley
Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.
When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .
Many thanks to Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley for my copy of The Forest Hideaway to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
I’ve been a fan of Sharon Gosling’s writing since her first foray into adult fiction with The Lighthouse Bookshop, a book which will always have a place in my top books ever. It was simply phenomenal and it’s one that I must reread at some stage (I say at some stage because with so many new books coming out that I wish to read rereading moves down on my reading priority list). Now comes a new book, The Forest Hideaway, which has the most gorgeous, inviting cover perfect for these last few days of summer as we then slip into autumnal mode. This is a lovely, relaxing read about fresh starts with a wonderful and magical woodland setting with both the woods and the castle that feature almost becoming characters themselves in the story. The pacing of the story is perfect. It’s not action packed with shocks and twists and turns at every corner because it didn’t need that at all. Instead, there is a lovely, leisurely tempo where we get to know the characters, their strengths and weaknesses and how they all connect through a beautifully written story all centred around Gair castle.
There are two main characters Saskia and Owen with several more minor characters who over time do have their own significant roles to play. But it is Saskia and Owen that the plot weaves and entangles itself around and I found them both equally as intriguing as the other. There are many differences between them but also striking similarities and as they work together to restore the castle, connections begin to appear although these are tested and thwarted at several points. The pair don’t get off to the best of starts upon their initial encounter with Saskia arriving late to their first meeting to formulate plans for the restoration of Gair castle. Initially, Saskia gave the impression of a well-heeled, money laden young girl who picked the castle hidden in the forest on a whim. A project that would pass some time for her. That was the impression that she wished to give as so many builders had declined to take on such an imposing project. She wanted Owen to think that she had everything together and that her ambitious architectural plans could be pulled off whilst remaining sympathetic to the history of the castle and the surrounding environment.
Owen himself is in a bit of a bind. His marriage is to Tasha is very unstable but he wants to keep pressing on for the sake of his little girl Hannah. Finances aren’t good and he knows that if he took this job then that would be one element of stress alleviated from his life. Finding Saskia so unorganised and unreliable he questions whether taking on such a challenge is the right thing to do but he decides to forge ahead with it.His marriage ends and he finds himself staying with a workmate but beginning work on the castle with his team he slowly starts to get to know Saskia better and discovers there is a lot more hidden beneath the surface than what she first portrayed to him.
Saskia has a history, both her personal and family life have been through the ringer and she is doing her best to remain stable and focused. To continue on with this quest/journey of hers. The reader wonders what has her so driven that she will do anything to overcome any obstacle placed in her path? She has spent several years meticulously meeting all planning requirements and designing something in line with where the castle is but yet there are those out to get her who feel Gair castle should be left the way it is. I wondered why she doesn’t give up but it’s during the course of the book that Saskia reveals titbits about herself and as these are revealed to the reader, Owen too gets to know the real her although I always felt there were certain things she was never going to disclose about herself until she felt fully confident in Owen.
Saskia came from a privileged background but as she knows herself her trajectory took a different path that led to heartbreak, isolation , anxiety and alienation. When we learn the true extent of her trauma and why Gair means so much to her we see the real Saskia starting to emerge and I came to admire her spirit, determination and why her little cabin with her dog was her safe space and nest whilst Gair was rebuilt. That’s all she had and all she wanted and if her plans couldn’t come to fruition her attempts to preserve the past and construct a new future would utterly fail. Would she be strong enough to survive that? Her connection to Gair and the forest around it where strange things happen according to local folklore unfolded very well at just the right junctures in the story. It wasn’t too dominant nor was her up and down relationship/working friendship with Owen. This was all subtly under played and instead the forest, nature, history and becoming one with the world were allowed to come to the fore and were explored in an interesting and visceral way.
I adored the scenes set in the forest. Saskia seemed very much at one with nature and was so in tune with the land she had bought. It was her haven and she wished to prove to all concerned especially those who were determined to see construction on the castle halted that nature and humanity can live alongside one another in harmony and could thrive in the same space. There is a prime example of this when a discovery is made and initially I thought oh the author is hinting at some sort of magical realism and I hate that kind of thing having to believe in something that is not real or there is no concrete evidence provided. I am being purposefully vague here as I do not wish to ruin this element of the book. But given what I have just said I was so relieved that this didn’t turn out to be the case and in fact this subplot was so touching and proved a pivotal turning point in the story. It didn’t seem off track or just plonked in the book for the sake of it instead it highlighted the themes being explored in a realistic and heartrending way.
The last quarter or so of the book the pace picked up slightly and I was all for it. Given I said there wasn’t huge amounts of twists and turns there were a few towards the end but they all worked brilliantly. Yet, things weren’t rushed and Saskia and the setting continued to share their story in a real and engaging way. Reconciling with the past and discovering things mean moving on can begin to occur but does she want elements of the past still present in her future or will she take what she has met with learned in the present into a new and exciting future? Will Owen be by her side or is there too many reservations, misunderstandings and confrontations be too much to overcome? Will the forest and the castle work their magic? You’ll have to read this wonderful book to discover the answers and so much more.
The Lighthouse Bookshop will forever be my favourite Sharon Gosling novel and I really don’t think anything will change that but The Forest Hideaway has coming roaring up to take second place. It’s a fabulous, cosy read that I hope finds its way too many readers both old and new. The strong sense of place combined with characters that you connect with and root for make this a compelling story you will readily lose yourself in.
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