I thoroughly enjoyed Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth.
As a child, Mabel’s story is quietly heartbreaking. Her father’s coldness toward her—whether rooted in the tragedy surrounding her sister’s polio or something deeper—creates a painful sense of rejection from the start. Her mother clearly loves her, yet that love never quite outweighs loyalty to a husband willing to betray their family. And then there is the teacher, whose exploitation of a vulnerable girl is especially difficult to read. These early experiences leave a lasting mark.
What I loved most was Mabel as an adult. Her interactions with Persephone and Nugget are pure curmudgeonly gold—gruff, protective, and often hilarious—yet they clearly come from someone who has learned the hard way to guard her heart. She is quirky and funny, but you can still feel the weight of that damaged childhood in everything she does.
The ending is sad, and yet… it feels earned. A memorable, character-driven read that stays with you. Rating: 4/5 stars
