I really wanted to like this but I have to say I found it underwhelming.
I usually love Maggie O'Farrell's prose, but found the writing in this serviceable rather than inspired. I felt the pacing was off, and even though it isn't a particularly long book, it really dragged in places.
Overall, I found so many of the important story elements implausible (like the character Jacopo and his entire subplot). And that ending! It was telegraphed early on, so I could guess what would happen, but I still found it unbelievable, and hated how the book cuts off with no real emotional resolution.
It's a bit mean to say this, but I feel like I've just read a Tracey Chevalier novel instead.
I wonder if she was under a lot of pressure to rush this out after the success of (the brilliant) Hamnet?