Absolutely loved this book. My first fiction for a while and it was such a treat. Utterly heartbreaking, made me cry a few times. Really enjoyed the way it was split between the time periods, very cleverly written.

I really enjoyed this book. It was moving and really gripped me. Although it was set in 16th and 17th centuries it has relevance to today. I recommend it.

Could not put it down. What a wonderful story, beautifully written. This will go on my ‘to read again’ shelf.

As someone who has lived in Stratford upon Avon and not far from Anne Hathaway’s cottage, and now living in another country separated by the English Channel and covid restrictions, and missing home and my family so much , the book Hamnet transported me to the familiar streets of a much loved town and it’s surrounding countryside. The characters and places are so well described, I felt at home wandering through Maggie O’Farrell’s storytelling. A lovely insight into the private life of William Shakespeare, his family and that of the Hathaways. The sense of loss Hamnet’s family feel is so vividly expressed. Truly heartbreaking. I was so absorbed in this book I felt bereft as I realized I had read the last sentence and turned the last page.

As much as I’ve enjoyed O’Farrell’s writing over the years, I think this is her best yet. She manages to combine fiction with history without confusing the two. Her characters are vivid, and her descriptions of the plague (especially when being read during Covid!) are poignant. Read this book!