The Tea Planter's Wife

The Tea Planter's Wife

Summary(via Goodreads): Nineteen-year-old Gwendolyn Hooper is newly married to a rich and charming widower, eager to join him on his tea plantation, determined to be the perfect wife and mother. But life in Ceylon is not what Gwen expected. The plantation workers are resentful, the neighbours treacherous. And there are clues to the past - a dusty trunk of dresses, an overgrown gravestone in the grounds - that her husband refuses to discuss. Just as Gwen finds her feet, disaster strikes. She faces a terrible choice, hiding the truth from almost everyone, but a secret this big can't stay buried forever . . .

Modern Day Tea Plantation Workers

Review (4/5 stars): I picked this book up while travelling through Sri Lanka, which was the best way to read it.  As the main character was discovering a whole new and exciting world, so was I!

The book is beautifully written and easily paints every scene for you.  I felt like almost every character was intriguing enough that each of them probably could've carried their own novel.

My only frustration is that so much of the story relies on the premise that no one is willing to actually speak to one another about what is bothering them.  Each time someone is finally confronted about their strange behaviour they usually run out of the room, and the person who asked the question simply shrugs their shoulder and says something akin to "oh well".  However without all that, the story would've wrapped up very quickly.

The book transports you to another time and place which made it thoroughly enjoyable.  I recommend this to anyone who has been or wants to visit Sri Lanka or enjoys the the colonial era.

Modern Tea Process - Sri Lanka

If this book sounds intriguing to you, I also highly recommend The Flower Boy.  You can see the review here.

And if you want to see more of Ceylon, or as we know it, Sri Lanka, you can go here, or visit my Instagram page.

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