This book was almost a DNF, but I made myself continue reading to get to the end. The twist of Edith actually being Ines was the only redeeming quality of this book. The characters were all completely unlikeable. Michel, who seemingly loved Ines after a whirlwind courtship, suddenly loses interest and is cold to her, with little explanation as to why. We know that once the occupation begins, he dislikes her for her “head in the clouds” view of the war, but before that? And then later we find out he’s loved Celine all along, but obviously didn’t consider this when bringing a wife home. Ines, as much as I disliked her, was brought to the vineyard under the false pretense that her husband loved her. The only time I truly felt sorry for her was during Michel’s complete disdain for her. Otherwise, I found her to be childish, whiny, and reckless. Theo was such a bland character, I could hardly even feel sorry for him. And Grandma Edith? She speaks down to her granddaughter and treats her like she’s an idiot, yet we’re led to believe that Liv’s time in Paris with her grandmother growing up were some of the best of her life? I fully understand that Grandma Edith led a life of regret that probably made her bitter and unhappy, but she shows very little tenderness for her granddaughter, who she proclaims to love. I understand that there are real people in this world with the characteristics and temperaments of all the character in this book, but they did very little to make any of the characters relatable or make me want to finish their stories.

I had such high hopes for this book after “The Book of Lost Names” by Harmel, but this one was so unlikeable and hard to even get to the end.