Ellie and the Harpmaker

by Hazel Prior

A rich, heartwarming and charming debut novel that reminds us that sometimes you find love in the most unexpected places.

Dan Hollis lives a happy, solitary life carving exquisite Celtic harps in his barn in the countryside of the English moors. Here he can be himself, away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right or completely understand.

On the anniversary of her beloved father’s death, Ellie Jacobs takes a walk in the woods and comes across Dan’s barn. She is enchanted by his collection. Dan gives her a harp made of cherrywood to match her cherry socks. He stores it for her, ready for whenever she’d like to take lessons.

Ellie begins visiting Dan almost daily and quickly learns that he isn’t like other people. He makes her sandwiches precisely cut into triangles and repeatedly counts the (seventeen) steps of the wooden staircase to the upstairs practice room. Ellie soon realizes Dan isn’t just different; in many ways, his world is better, and he gives her a fresh perspective on her own life.

• ISBN10: 1984803786
• ISBN13: 9781984803788
• Publish Date: 6 August 2019 (first published 2 May 2019)
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Berkley Publishing Corporation,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781984803788

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

While wandering through the woods, Ellie happened upon the Harp Barn and Dan. He was compelled to gift her a harp in order to help her complete a task on her to-do before 40 list, and from there, a friendship was born.

This was a very sweet and charming story. I adored the setting, the harps, and Dan and Ellie.

Both characters seemed sort of lonely. Dan chose to live alone in the woods, making his harps, but Ellie appeared to be stuck in her life. Her husband kept a roof over her head, but his love was conditional and he kept her isolated from others.

The more I learned about Ellie, the more my heart ached for her. She suffered from emotional abuse throughout her life, and was convinced that she didn't deserve better. She would talk herself out of seeing her marriage for what it really was, and constantly put off her wants and desires for those of her husband's. I was very pleased to see Ellie take a chance and begin learning to play the harp in secret, though as the secrets piled up, things got precarious.

Dan was such a big-hearted and wonderful man! He didn't give his love and kindness away willy-nilly, but when he loved someone, he did so with his whole heart. He showed so much kindness to Ellie, and I was happy to see it, because this woman was thirsting for some positive human interaction. His love for his home and his craft was wonderful too, and I really enjoyed learning about both.

Though I would call this book quietly beautiful, the author also threw in some twists and turns to keep us on our toes. I wasn't sure about one of the major reveals, but I ended up really loving the way Prior let it all play out.

Overall: A wonderful story about friendship, seeing yourself through the eyes of others, and opening yourself to new possibilities.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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