The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh - Book Review

The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh

Publication Date: 04th August 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: Heartwarming but slow 

*****

The Glen Carrick House in Scotland has a family of a widowed mother and her three sons. Eighty-eight-year-old Mimi lives in her past as a carefree dancer and stage performer. Her sons, Finlay, Angus, and Hamish, love her to bits but are dealing with issues of their own. 

Jess Oliver, a fifty-nine-year-old, is on a short trip to Scotland. Her new house is under renovation, and life has offered her another chance to live to the fullest after her amicable divorce. She is mesmerized by the beauty of Scotland and loves it there. 

When life brings Jess and Mimi together, it is a chance for both of them to look at the future instead of focusing on the past. With Isabella, Heather, and others playing their part, can the women make the most of their future? 

The story comes in the third person POV. 

What I Like: 

The book mainly deals with family, relationships, and emotions. Aspects like love, loss, grief, past, happiness, freedom, etc., are an integral part of the plot. Scotland is a part of the story, and some descriptions are lovely. 

The two main ladies, Mimi and Jess, are well-etched. They are strong yet vulnerable and beautiful in different ways. The men aren’t fully etched, but Angus is well-developed of them all. 

I love how the sons absolutely love their mother. They have loads of issues in their lives and have different coping mechanisms. But when it comes to Mimi, they do everything they can to keep her happy. Indulging in her eccentricities is not at all easy, but they do it because they love her. 

Jess’s role in The Glen Carrick House grows from being a caregiver to a part of the family because of her genuine admiration and affection for Mimi. The relationship between the men and Jess is presented wonderfully. It doesn’t feel awkward or weird at any point. 

What Didn’t Work for Me: 

The book is quite heavy despite the antics of Mimi and Isabella. It’s not something as light or cheerful as the cover suggests. It’s not overwhelming but is still heavy. 

The pacing is slow and drags in some places. There’s some repetition, too, probably because Mimi loves to talk about her past. It sometimes feels like the story is going nowhere.

I’m not sure if the title fits the story. The alliteration sure caught my attention and is the reason I requested the book. But after reading the story, it doesn’t seem enough somehow. Not a major issue, considering I make a mess of my story titles. 

To sum up, The Highland Hens is a heartwarming book about second chances, love, life, friendships, family, and self-love. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. 

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