An emotional exploration of the frayed bond between a father and daughter…and what it takes to mend it.After Sara’s father, famous sculptor Thomas “TR” Harlow, is badly injured in a fire, she’s suddenly forced to care for a man who is more of a stranger than a parent. Once known as his muse, Sara long ago lost her father to his desire to live the celebrity life.Now TR’s abrasive and unpredictable … abrasive and unpredictable presence in her home is reopening old wounds—and causing the rift in her already-strained marriage to deepen. As her young son begins bonding with the grandfather he never knew, Sara must decide if she can find it within herself to forgive the man who broke her heart all those years ago. Will she walk away from a chance to rebuild what was lost, or will she find, by bringing her father back to health, that healing can come in many forms?
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This is the kind of book you want to own. It’s about family and forgiveness there is simplicity and elegance to this story, this is the kind of book you read at the beach with no interruptions. It keeps you rooted to your beach towel long after the sun goes down.
I was gifted this book by the author. Nicole, thank you for an afternoon of joy.
Sara has spent her life trying to forget her father who left her when she was young, and, she feels, never looked back. She has built a life for herself, and she is happy. Well, almost happy. Her husband seems a little distant, and as she ponders this, the last thing she expects is someone trying to reach her about her father. Her father needs her, and just maybe she can get the answers she is looking for. Family, anger, secrets, forgiveness, and, above all, second chances. Sara and TR must work through the past and TR’s pride if there is any chance for them to have a future as a family.
This was an enjoyable story. Sara is a relatable character, TR is definitely a hard one to like, Charlie isn’t very present, and Sam is adorable. This is definitely Sara’s journey, and I enjoyed the way the author wove her story, especially weaving in TR’s point of view.
As a new author to me, I will definitely be looking for more of Nicole Meier’s work.
#GirlMadeofClay #NicoleMeier #LakeUnion
An emotionally resonant exploration of second chances and the cost of healing of old wounds, The Girl Made of Clay examines how easily the people we love can become strangers to us, as well as those particular desires—for connection, fulfillment, intimacy—that we shuffle to the background. An engaging and thoroughly satisfying read.
An entertaining and emotional book with the possibility of trying to make amends after many years of being torn apart. A tragedy happens to be the catalyst to set this all into motion. It was a well written book which flowed easily.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy.
A journey of abandonment, restoration and trying to forgive. Beautifully told story of Sarah’s relationship surrounding her father and the strain in her marriage.
Very great read
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in return for honest review. This book took me a while to read not because it was a bad read or didn’t interest me. But it bought me back. I don’t have a relationship with my father. And I am okay with that. Sara is a 40 year old woman who has a family of her own. But she gets a call from the hospital that her father had been burned badly. And that she needed to take care of him. This book takes you through Sara journey with her father and things that he is keeping from her. And about her marriage. Amazing book about family and forgiveness. I recommend this book. Thank you Goodreads again
This was my first time reading a book by this author. I very much enjoyed this story. It was heartfelt and beautiful.
With luminous prose and an artfully crafted storyline, Nicole Meier’s new novel is not to be missed. The Girl Made of Clay is a moving examination of the limits of familial obligations—and the unexpected rewards of opening up your heart to someone who may not deserve it.
With Girl Made of Clay, Nicole Meier has created a moving story of a woman’s journey from anger to forgiveness, as she is forced to confront the mysterious father who abandoned her when she was a child and the husband who is spending far too much time away from home. Filled with characters you won’t be able to forget, this is an inspiring tale of a woman facing the past and learning what it means to love.
I really enjoyed the tough emotions that were portrayed in this novel! Sarah finds out that her father has been injured in a house fire. She hasn’t seen her father since she was a young girl. She allows him to come to her house to help him with his injuries. This creates many difficult situations with Sarah, as well as with her husband and her young son. The story is an intricate exploration of the relationship between a child and their long estranged parent. It also explores the relationship of a marriage. Old wounds and misunderstandings come to the surface for everyone involved as time goes on. Sarah discovers more secrets about her father as well. Sarah has to fight with her feelings that she has held on to for so many years.
Sara is the product of a fractured family, as she grew up, parenting her mother and wondering what she did to make her father, TR, disappear from her life. She married Charlie, a stable influence in her life. But their marriage is breaking down with his absences and seemingly disinterest in her and their son, Sam.
As she intervenes, reluctantly to nurse her father after an accident, she can’t seem to move past her emotions. It’s a lesson in the need to forgive, in order to fix broken relationships. Interesting, flawed characters, that will keep you guessing as to how she can come out of this. I received this ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union publishers. A good read.
“Sometimes folks don’t know what they’re doing until it’s too late.”
When TR’s house is ruined in a fire, he finds himself in the hospital with serious injuries.
He needs to find a person and place to live who willhelp care for him.
Can Sara give her father shelter and that care? Why should she? Sara has not heard from him in so many years. Sara has her own family that barely knows of this man.
Can she find forgiveness for the years he has been gone from her life?
How will they all move forward to rekindle their relationship and heal their family?
A wonderfully written book of family, truth and forgiveness. Well done!
Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for this book. My review is mine and does not reflect the fact that I was given a copy.
This book was ok. It was very good in parts but in others I just had a hard time connecting. I do not understand how Sara could or should feel obligated to take care of a man who had not been there for her for the better part of her life. I know she wanted answers and closure. I can personally relate to that. TR was a big jerk to everyone. He was hard to like because of the way he treated people and the way he acted to Sara’s husband, Charlie. Charlie was no better in that he treated Sara like she was stupid for wanting to know her dad and brother, who she never knew existed. TR, Sara’s dad left when she was young. He left her with a very unstable mother and he knew she was unstable. There is no excuse for that. Why didn’t he just take her with him or get her mother help. He sure had the money. Why did TR think Sara owed him anything, much less help or forgiveness, when all he did was lie to her at every turn. Charlie, Sara’s husband should have been more understanding and though in ways I didn’t blame him either. They already had some problems before TR came but his attitude and not even trying to get to know TR was uncalled for on every level. I wanted to like Charlie and TR but both were jerks. My own dad left when I was almost six years old and I didn’t see him until I was 22 and married with a new baby. Then it was another 17 years before him and the woman he left for moved back to this area. He actually didn’t expect to just be welcomed with open arms. He asked for forgiveness for leaving me with a crazy mother who not only was abusive but let her sick husband moleste me. It took a while to forgive my dad but he was remorseful for what he did. TR was not until almost the end.
This book was told from Sara and TR’s points of view. I think it was an ok read. It could have been better but it was not the worse book I’ve ever read either. It seemed to go on a bit to much in some area and was predictable in areas. But overall it was a fairly good story. The ending was predictable and part of it was good. I truly did want to love this book but I have to be honest. It was just ok to me. I will read more by this author. I think Nicole Meier will be a good author to read. It was just parts of this book that I was disappointed in.
I gave it a 3.5 stars though all that it will show is 3. I’m sure a lot of people will like this book and from the reviews I did read there are lots who love it and lots who feel kind of the way I do. Give it a chance as you may love it.
Overall, I liked this book. I found it to be a bit slow moving at times, but I enjoyed how it all came together at the end. I felt bad for the main character, Sara, as the men in her life keep leaving her – first her father, TR, when the fame goes to his head and then her husband, a pilot who is constantly taking extra shifts and jetting off (literally) leaving her to handle all the household tasks and take care of their young son. Even though her father left her, she steps up and takes him in to help him recover after a serious fire. I thought the author did a good job with the progression in the relationship between Sara and her father. This was definitely a worthwhile read.
The Girl Made of Clay delves into familial relationships, such as those between husband and wife, parent and child, siblings, and the father/daughter relationship. Sara’s once estranged father has a secret that she is determined to unravel. Various relationship missteps come to a head and Sara is forced to accept the circumstances her father has brought upon her, or distance herself from him altogether.