Happy Friday! Can you believe it’s March already? The days are starting to get longer, and I’m looking forward to when it’s warm enough to read outside!

Today I’m joining the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books, where participants share the first line from a nearby book. This week I’m featuring The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli – keep reading for the first line and my review!

Concord, Massachusetts

July 1995

“Thirteen isn’t quite grown-up, but it’s old enough for a girl to realize that hope can be a dangerous thing.”

The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli

The Basics

Title: The Orchard House

Author: Heidi Chiavaroli

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Genre: Women’s Fiction

From the Back Cover: Two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and search for a place to belong.

2001
Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything.

1865
While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear.

2019
After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! I’m not all that familiar with Louisa May Alcott; I watched the movie Little Women a long time ago, but I’ve never read any of her books. I loved The Tea Chest, Heidi’s last book, so thought I would give this one a try. I’m so glad I did!

Although the connection to Louisa May Alcott isn’t what drew me in, the beautiful writing and storytelling had me quickly invested in both Taylor and Johanna’s timelines. Taylor’s powerful story of betrayal, forgiveness, and learning the meaning of family was beautifully tied in with Johanna’s story, and I loved how the historical and present-day timelines came together in the end. Heidi Chiavaroli’s beautiful writing style and excellent storytelling ability make this a captivating novel! I would recommend The Orchard House for fans of historical and women’s fiction, especially fans of Rachel Hauck and Erin Bartels.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.