PLOT & PACING:
Told in dual timelines, the story follows Nella and Eliza in 1791 London—one a secret apothecary serving wronged women, the other a curious young girl caught in a growing web—and Caroline in present-day London, reeling from personal betrayal and unfulfilled dreams. The pacing is tight and purposeful across both timelines, with each chapter weaving tension, revelation, and emotional weight without dragging.

CHARACTER & VOICE:
Each woman has her own quiet fire. Nella is hardened but aching. Eliza is wide-eyed and determined. Caroline is questioning everything, and her unraveling is one of the book’s most relatable arcs. You’ll root for them all—for different reasons, in different ways. Their voices are distinct, authentic, and compelling.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE:
Sarah Penner’s writing is transportive. Whether you’re in a cramped backroom of an apothecary shop or wandering the banks of the Thames, the setting feels immersive without being over-described. The tone strikes a balance between wistful and sharp, grounded in emotional realism with a hint of the magical.

THEMES & DEPTH:
The novel explores how dreams are deferred—by circumstance, by society, by fear—and how easily a life that looks “perfect” from the outside can feel hollow. It’s about what happens when women support each other, when they choose boldness over silence, and when they step out of the lives they’ve settled for to pursue the ones they want. And also? It’s about poisoning the patriarchy. Which is just fun.

PERSONAL TAKE:
This was a total win for me. I loved the balance between history and present day, and how each storyline reflected different facets of the same truth: that you don’t have to stay stuck. It’s feminist lit that doesn’t feel preachy—just powerful. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s ever wondered if they gave up too much to fit someone else’s mold. I want all the women in my life to read this and feel the freedom to pursue a life they’re proud to have.