Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest magical book by Alice Hoffman - 5 stars!
Ivy is pregnant and alone, and her parents offer no help, so she ends up meeting a stranger heading to a commune that is supposed to be all about peace and love. But, of course, that's not the reality. The leader, Joel, becomes infatuated with Ivy and marries her. When Mia is born, she is sent to the nursery because the children belong to all. But Ivy and Mia nurture their bond when they can, including their love of books, which are forbidden. When Mia is at her lowest, Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter, saves her. The story then goes back in time to Hawthorne's life in Salem, MA.
I am always transported by Alice Hoffman's gorgeous writing, and this book was no exception. I loved the theme that books are magical. There are also the recurrent themes of women's place in both timelines and the control they have over their bodies and destinies. It's about family - both the ones we are born into and the ones we create - and always love and magic. Another wonderful world created by this author - don't skip the author note!
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