Playing Grace

by Hazel Osmond

[Leah]

When Hazel Osmond asked me if I’d like to review her new novel Playing Grace, it was a definite for me. I had previously spotted the novel on Amazon, and I loved the sound of it, and I really, really liked the sepia-toned cover with the pinky purple font. As soon as it arrived, I whacked it straight to the top of my TBR pile and with a beautiful day off ahead of me, I knew Hazel’s novel was just the ticket to fill my day, and it was a brilliant read.

Playing Grace is set in the art-world, something that isn’t really my forte, something that doesn’t necessarily interest me, although I do know of Van Gogh, and Monet (I actually LOVE Monet’s water-lily paintings and vividly remember copying one of his paintings in year 5 or year 6, though mine was probably awful). Thankfully, despite art not being anything that usually interests me, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Grace’s job, and learning more about the art world in general. I’m also a massive fan of novels where someone’s ordinary, organised world is thrown into chaos by the arrival of someone else; in this case, Grace’s neat life being thrown into absolute chaos by the arrival of Tate, to cater to a new audience of art lovers, who prefer the more modern stuff, at the tour place where Grace works. Grace has good reasons to be straight and ordered, she has secrets she’s never told anyone before, but could Tate be the person she finally confesses all to?

I thoroughly enjoyed Playing Grace, she’s the author of two previous novels before Playing Grace, both of which are in fact on my shelf, but I haven’t yet had chance to read them, something I will rectify soon, for definite. I really enjoyed the banter between Grace and Tate, the way Tate wanted to bring Grace out of herself, as he seemed to see a Grace no one else could see, something Grace has kept hidden for so long. I was so eager to see that Grace come out, because the buttoned-up Grace was, perhaps, a bit of a snob, at times. I wished she had been more willing to give Tate a chance. I really liked Grace’s co-worker Gilbert, and her boss Alistair. I very much liked learning more about Gilbert’s sister, Violet, she has some massive issues, and I really liked how Gilbert was willing to look after her, and how Grace was happy to see her, and go and chat to her. Grace’s family, mind you, are nuts. Her mother and sisters are all quite airy-fairy, hippy-like, and I’m glad that they weren’t featured as much as they could have been because that’s definitely something I can’t get on board with.

I really liked Playing Grace, I enjoyed how Tate’s playfulness drew Grace nuts, and how he was determined to break down her walls and see the real Grace. I enjoyed getting to know all of the other characters, even the clumsy, mysterious Alistair, who is hiding his own secrets, secrets that I eventually guessed! Hazel Osmond is a brilliant writer and really managed to bring the art-world to life, and I really enjoyed learning more about something that hasn’t always been top of my interests. I’d definitely recommend reading Playing Grace, I’m so looking forward to reading Hazel’s other novels, as I think she’s a really great storyteller. I can’t wait for her next book, and I really loved Tate, he really made the book sparkle!