The Audrey Hepburn Estate- A Novel by Brenda Janowitz
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Web ID: 16778437strong female lead
Emma, Leo, and Harry grow up in the house referred to as "the Audrey Hepburn Estate", even though Audrey Hepburn never lived there. Harry is the grandson of the owner, and Leo and Emma are children of the driver and the maid/house manager, respectively. As they pal around together, they become a close trio, with Emma always imagining that she and Harry would end up together. Years after college, Emma discovers that the house is set to be razed and a new development is to be built. Trying to save her memories, she vows to fight to save the house. But as she becomes involved in the process, she discovers hidden family secrets that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. I've read several books from this author, but this one is my favorite by far. Great story - I couldn't put this one down! Highly recommend!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not for Me
Intriguing premise but the story was just OK. The connection to Audrey Hepburn is a stretch despite the author’s many attempts to draw her into the story. I did find the WWII angle interesting but agree with another reviewer that the timeline is off; there is no way this could be set in present day, be in their 30s, and still have parents who served in WWII (currently, the children of those who served in Vietnam are in their 40s and 50s). The characters were barely likeable, particularly Emma. This would have been better had more emphasis been placed on the WWII aspect instead of the love triangle.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
For Fans of Audrey Hepburn
The Audrey Hepburn Estate is a dual-timeline historical fiction that draws heavily on both Audrey Hepburn’s story and Sabrina, a movie she starred in. Author Brenda Jonowitz is clearly a fan of both and her book and author notes will appeal to like-minded readers. The premise that Emma, who grew up on the estate as the house manager’s daughter, wants to desperately save the once-grand house from demolition is a great foundation for the historical aspects of the novel. The author’s research is evident in her incorporation of WWII information. The idea that grown-up and successful Emma still can’t figure out which of the two boys she grew up with is the good guy drove me crazy. There are solid secondary characters who bring a lot to the story, especially in the form of showing Emma that she needs to let go of her childhood fantasy of becoming the grand dame of the “Audrey Hepburn Estate”. A clean, light story that would be good as a beach/vacation read.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great story!
Audrey Hepburn is grace, beauty, talented actress with a philanthropic heart. The estate in question is named after the actress due to its resemblance to the estate in Hepburn’s hit, Sabrina. Many nods to Hepburn and her career and life in this story. Unfortunate for me, who hasn’t seen many of Hepburn’s movies, I didn’t realize these nods till I read the Author’s note at the end. But, it diminish my feelings on the book, but might just trigger a movie marathon. Dual timeline. Emma grew up with her parents and has two best friends who also live on the estate. Many memories both good and bad. Fast forward to current day and trying to save the place she loves while being confronted with sins of the past. Can she forgive, forget? She finds more secrets than she knew existed and tries to find out the truth. Introduced me to Operation Paperclip, which I found intriguing and yes, I had to goggle it. Ironically, my next read delves into this little know (at least to me) part of our history on a deeper level. Enjoyable, great story and writing. Loved the characters and it was great to watch their development. So much more than I expected. Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not just for Audrey Hepburn fans
Coming in April 2023, The Audrey Hepburn Estate by Brenda Janowitz is a must read for fans of Audrey Hepburn and the movie Sabrina. Emma Jansen returns to the estate of her childhood when she learns of its planned demolition, which was the rumored inspiration for the Larrabee home in Sabrina. She can’t imagine her beautiful home as a planned high end condo community. Surely she can change the developer’s mind. After all, he grew up there, too. Before she knows it, Emma is caught up between two childhood loves, overwhelming memories, and a long-buried family mystery that could devastate everything she ever knew and believed. Brenda Janowitz has crafted a well-written, modern day tribute to the life and career of Audrey Hepburn. Rife with Easter eggs celebrating Audrey’s elegance and intelligence, this is a story of learning to use one’s past to become stronger by acknowledging the bad with the good and letting go of past dreams to make room for a brighter future. I was very much looking forward to this book as I grew up a fan of Audrey Hepburn. I spent a great deal of time watching all her movies and reading several biographies. This story has certainly done her justice. However, you don’t have to be a fan of Ms. Hepburn to enjoy this book. It’s a contemporary fiction that will capture your attention right away and keep you engaged until the end. The storytelling successfully balances the past and present while moving at an appropriate pace. It leaves the reader satisfied with the conclusion and cheering for the characters. In the wise words of Ms. Hepburn, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.” In my opinion, the next best thing to hold onto is a good book. Don’t let this one pass by
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com