Claire van Ryn

Allira writes for a Tasmanian newspaper, and during a visit to a local nursing home she meets Nora—an elderly resident without family, living with dementia, and tenderly caring for a doll as though it were her own baby. A touching friendship blossoms between them, and as they grow closer, long-buried secrets gently unfold.

"The Secrets of the Huon Wren" alternates between 2019 and 1953, when Nora is a vibrant fifteen-year-old helping her father with his undertaker’s business. In the show more shadows of the Great Western Tiers, she sews coffin linings while her father crafts the coffins from beautiful Tasmanian timbers.

I loved this book. The stunning front cover first drew me in, but I quickly discovered a story filled with real heart and depth. The characters were wonderfully developed, most of them instantly likeable, and the writing was truly beautiful. Claire van Ryn’s imagery and lyrical descriptions of the Tasmanian landscape gave the novel a powerful sense of time and place. From the first page, I was captivated.

Nora’s story broke my heart, not only for the young girl she once was but for the elderly woman she had become. I also admired Allira’s compassion and the tenderness she showed Nora. Both women had endured unimaginable loss, and I never guessed how their stories would intertwine until the very end, but I loved the way the author brought them together.

Exploring themes of loss, dementia, friendship, and love, this novel is filled with moving moments that will stay with me for a long time. For a debut, "The Secrets of the Huon Wren" is truly impressive, and I look forward to reading more from Claire van Ryn. Bravo! show less