I Couldn't Love You More: A Novel

This is a lovely, though largely melancholic, historical novel about the bonds formed and broken between mothers and daughters. It follows three generations of women, their penchant for falling in love with deeply flawed men, and the pain that brings to their lives.The story is set in London and Ireland beginning around WWII, and the author does an excellent of job of framing the time and place with elegant description. She delves deep into the minds of her characters, which stirred in me a wide range of emotions – from heartache and compassion, to disappointment and frustration. Aside from a couple of secondary characters, all the men in the story were narcissistic cads: charming, handsome, self-absorbed, liars. And it was the women in their lives – wives, lovers, daughters -- who paid a hefty price for their behavior.While story is rife with heartbreaking moments (and times I wanted to grab hold of the characters and shake some sense into them), it is also filled with beauty and ultimately ends with a sense of brightness and redemption. I marked many sentences and passages that were powerful, evocative and beautifully constructed. This is a book I will study to raise the bar for my own writing. (4.5 stars, rounded up)

The book was difficult for me to follow at first and it took a while to figure out the story. It is a sad story and I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected

Rotating chapters of Aoife, Rosaleen, and Kate, it took me well into the book before I warmed up to each of the characters to the point that I cared about them. Saving factors were the well written complicated relationships of real life situations. And, I always like an ending that wraps things up pleasantly.

Wonderful read 📚 a compelling, well written novel which was both thought provoking and enjoyable. A wonderful look at mother daughter relationships

Loved this, loved the characters.

4.5/5⭐️This is not a lighthearted read, but it is wonderful. While it started a bit slow for me, and I had to adjust to the author’s style, it was worth it. And it’s one of those stories that will stay with me awhile.Told in alternating chapters featuring 3 interrelated women: Aiofe (WW2 London); Rosaleen (1960s Ireland); and Kate (1990s Ireland). There are so many themes/issues here: being bound by society’s/church’s standards; love, but at what price to self; and the strength and resilience of WOMEN in desperate/despairing circumstances…and in these instances, those circumstances were brought on by the men in their lives.Both profound and poignant, as well as heart rendering sad and insightful, it also touches on the randomness of meetings in this life and missed opportunities.Recommended (as well as tissues).My sincere thanks to #NetGalley and #Ecco for providing me the free early arc for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

A stunning, resonant novel about the love, hate, promises and betrayals that link there generations of women in a haunting, powerful narrative. Women of all ages will recognize themselves in these brilliantly observed characters because the emotions, if not the context or situation, are so authentically rendered .

I’m having a hard time getting into this book. I was excited to read it based on the presale synopsis. On a regular, I read inspirational historical women led novels. I read a novel every week and I’ve had this book a month and can’t surpass a chapter every other week.

It wasn't particularly well-written or plausible. Would not recommend it.

A fabulous book.

This is a lovely, deeply emotional novel focusing on strong young women, a mother and daughter, and their experiences of love and loss, as they find their home in this world. I read it straight through, as it told the story of three generations of women, and the way in which their society's expectations of women shaped their lives. It has a very satisfying ending. It's a beautifully written novel. I also loved Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud, and this novel reminds me to read more of her work.

Still confused as to how all the characters are related after reading 50% of book. Not a fan of the characters or style of writing and difficult to determine theme.

An engrossing read once in it