A review by paulasnotsosecretdiary
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Hamnet is a beautifully written fictionalized story of Shakespeare's life and that of his wife and family. Although little history exists about his wife and children, the author creates a rich sense of the daily life of each, and how tragedy impacts them all. Although the book became a must-read during the pandemic as a primer for how to navigate through grief, Hamnet is a strong enough work to stand outside that context. One of the shortcomings of the edition I read is the lack of trigger warnings; there is physical and emotional abuse depicted as well as the death of a child. 
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