A heartbroken woman stumbled upon a diary and steps into the life of its anonymous author.
In her twenties, Emily Wilson was on top of the world: she had a bestselling novel, a husband plucked from the pages of GQ, and a one-way ticket to happily ever after.
Ten years later, the tide has turned on Emily’s good fortune. So when her great-aunt Bee invites her to spend the month of March on Bainbridge Island in Washington State, Emily accepts, longing to be healed by the sea. Researching her next book, Emily discovers a red velvet diary, dated 1943, whose contents reveal startling connections to her own life.
A mesmerizing debut with an idyllic setting and intriguing dual story line,The Violets of March announces Sarah Jio as a writer to watch.
I read this book in less than 24 hours because it had that powerful a hold on me. It is exactly what a novel should be; beautifully written with real characters that come to life on the page, an intriguing plot and an element of mystery to keep you hooked. THE VIOLETS OF MARCH is Sarah Jio‘s debut novel and she has done an impeccable job right out of the gate. Emily Wilson’s life is falling apart so she decides to take a much needed break and retreat to her aunt’s home on idyllic Bainbridge Island for one month to mentally sort out her life. While there she discovers a diary, dated 1943, and immediately begins to unravel the mysteries found within the pages of the past. Jio seamlessly weaves two stories, that of present-day Emily and the mysterious Esther from 1943, into one satisfying, poignant and captivating novel that explores the meaning and power of love, the ties that bind us and the choices we make in pursuit of happiness. I loved this book and look forward to future novels from this amazingly talented new voice in women’s fiction.
RELEASE DATE: April 26, 2011
I read mine in one sitting too. I could not put it down.