The perfect beach read about a large family in chaos

 

5 stars

The Homemade God has the perfect holiday/beach vibe going into summer, so is well timed. And what a cracking story to enjoy. The Kemp siblings and their daddy issues bring with them a wide scope of emotional drama as father Vic, an artist, is transformed at the hands of a new, much younger woman in his life. Made more ominous as Bella-Mae, the new woman, is rather illusive and none of the four have met her yet, sparking rumours and considerable concern among Vic's children.

Netta, Susan, Goose and Iris are Vic's kids. All grown and fully formed with lives and characters of their own. I was instantly captivated by them. Their easy manner with each other and their set roles within the family hierarchy made me long for a bigger family. Sure, plenty of negatives as everyone knows everything about each other but the warmth of love and understanding shared among them made them delightful as they schemed to figure out what was happening with Vic and Vic's new masterpiece.

What struck me most was the fact that the book unfolded in an entirely unexpected fashion. When a crisis occurs and all siblings are drawn to the family island in Orta, Italy I had plenty of assumptions but all were wrong. The direction the book headed was more insightful and authentic. I loved it, felt touched by it, and am so pleased I read this during a heat wave. If only I had been by a beautiful Italian lake, as they were. Beautifully written, interesting characters, amazing dynamic. Great fun.