It is rare I cannot find the words to describe a book but this is one of those occasions. The book felt slow but in the perfect way the detailed descriptions, the lyrical writing it was pure poetry of a story and one that I couldnt put down. All I can say is read this masterpiece of a book it is up there with my favourite reads of all time.

Having read Maggie o'Farrell before in 'I am, I am , I am ', Hamnet is not at all what I expected from her writing. This piece of historical fiction was written in such a careful, curated way that I truly felt I was present in the story. Maggie's eye for detail is unsurpassed. I can honestly say this is the best novel I have read this year. Yes it is sad when Shakespeare loses his son, but it is also poignant and beautiful. Maggie has put so much emotion into her writing. She must be a genius. Now I have a need to visit Stratford and visit all these homes of Shakespeare and his wife Agnes. Many thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy to review. I would highly recommend the book.

This is one of those novels which stays with you because of its beautiful writing. The story is about grief and family . The family seem ordinary and yet it is Shakespeare's family tragedy we are shown. Agnes is a character whom I will not forget. Her strength and love are so deftly and tenderly drawn. O'Farrell writes so movingly and convincingly. The story of how the plague journeys from Aleppo to Stratford had deep resonance in this pandemic and reminds the reader that though we are 300 odd years apart from her characters, we are just as vulnerable to loss. A stunning, gorgeous read and my favourite book of the year.

In this emotive historical yarn, O’Farrell reconstructs the life and death of Shakespeare’s son, Hamnet. Four years after his son's passing, he would write one of his most famous plays: Hamlet. Hamnet is a haunting gem of a book. O’Farrell captures the experience of grief in an utterly beguiling way, each chapter revolving around the moments of Hamnet’s birth – the courtship of his parents, the bloody confusion of his delivery – and his eventual death. It’s a heartbreaking fusion, told mostly through the eyes of his mother, Agnes, as she looks back on how Hamnet came to be, how he came to perish, and grapples with how to survive in a world without him in it. Motherhood is a poignant theme, meticulously unpeeled with the unravelling tragedy, and I loved how it contrasted with how the character of Shakespeare – though he is only referred to as ‘father’ or ‘husband’ in the novel - processed his only son’s death: writing. This is a story that will linger long after you’ve read the last page and is a beautiful tribute to the human condition. The language is so evocative, the theme so universal, that it feels ageless. O’Farrell really has crafted something special with this book, dare I say a future classic, and I urge everyone to read it as soon as possible!

A beautiful Waterstones edition complements the quality of Maggie's book. The prose is a delight. The story has so many different tones and wonderfully worked descriptions - seeped with the English countryside and its wildlife. Each character in this expertly wrought story finds a place in the heart. I was in tears by the end. One of those rare books that will live long in the memory.