I’m excited to share my first book review of 2023! This year I’ve signed up to the Goodreads 2023 Reading Challenge and set myself a target of reading 35 books. This is slightly less than last year but hopefully more achievable – as I didn’t reach my target last year. I’ve noticed the books I read with the kids are longer and we just don’t have time to read as much as we used to when they were little.

Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi

She’s been painted out of history…until now

Who tells her story?

In 1890, Vincent Van Gogh dies penniless, unknown, a man tortured by his own mind.

Eleven years later his work is exhibited in Paris and his unparalleled talent finally recognised. The tireless efforts of one woman gave the world one of its greatest creative minds.

But twenty-eight year old Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent’s sister-in-law and the keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, has, until now, been written out of history. This beautiful, moving novel finally gives this extraordinary woman a voice…

What did I think of Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi?

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and as soon as I saw the blurb on NetGalley I knew it would be a book I would enjoy. I wasn’t wrong and devoured this book in a few weeks. The book is told from the view of Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, who married Vincent Van Gogh’s brother. I had not heard of her until I read this book but she left behind a huge volume of letters and correspondence, which the author drew upon to create this book. Although the book is based on many facts, it is also a work of fiction so some parts of the story have been re-told or re-imagined.

I loved the story and the author has a gift for transporting you to the elegant streets of Paris. I didn’t know much about Vincent Van Gogh until I read this book and it’s made me want to seek out his works of art and find out more about him. I do love a good story and this is a great work, and a brilliant tale of a woman on a mission.

Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi will be published on 30th January 2023. Thanks to NetGalley for a review copy.