That Summer by Lauren Willig
The story is told through alternating periods of 1849 and 2009, featuring two different protagonists. The 1849 storyline follows Imogen Grantham, while the 2009 storyline revolves around Julia Conley. Their stories intersect in England, as Julia inherits a house called Herne Hill from a relative she can only vaguely recall, which happens to be the place where Imogen arrives as a new bride to live with her husband, Arthur.
Julia lives in Manhattan, where she recently lost her job at a financial institution. Her father and stepmother also live there, as her father is a respected surgeon. Julia has a strained relationship with her father due to his disapproval of her career choice; he had hoped she would become a doctor. Additionally, the specter of Julia's deceased mother looms over their family, as Julia has very few memories of her, and her father has not provided a clear picture of why they hurriedly left England after her mother's death. Julia has inherited a property called Herne Hill from her great aunt and seeks her father's input about it. When he is uncooperative, Julia decides to travel to England to inspect the property and sell it. This trip leads Julia to not only reconnect with relatives but also to meet a man whom she finds herself drawn to.
In 1839, a young woman named Imogen is faced with her father's illness and his desire to see her married before he passes away. A buyer, Arthur Grantham, comes to assess her father's valuable antiquity, the Book of Hours, and ends up marrying Imogen after purchasing the book. Imogen is initially excited about her new life with Arthur, but she soon realizes that her life with him is not what she expected. Her days become dull and mundane until a group of visiting painters arrives, and Arthur requests a painting from one of them. Imogen's life is about to take an unexpected turn.
"That Summer" is a beautifully crafted story that seamlessly moves between different periods to tell the stories of both women. I was moved to tears by the end of this book. Lauren Willig continues to write captivating books.
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