The Hand that First Held Mine unfolds via a dual timeline. In the 1950s the main character is Lexie Sinclair, a slightly rebellious and unconventional young woman who flees her small town for London and a relationship with the enigmatic and much older Innes Kent, whom she'd only briefly met once. She goes on to forge a career for herself at the intersection of art and journalism before tragically drowning. The more contemporary timeline features Elina and Ted, who are having difficulty adjusting to new parenthood. She endured a very difficult delivery and is struggling to balance her role as a mother with her career as an artist. Ted meanwhile becomes increasingly troubled by flashbacks to his childhood, memories that conflict with what he's been told and what he thought he knew about his early years. Lexie was a fabulous character. I always love a woman who lives her life on her terms and refuses to be limited by the men in her life. I liked the way O'Farrell shone a light on the challenges women can face in the post-partum period and the emotional and psychological toll of not knowing the truth about one's origins and identities. l liked the parallels O'Farrell developed between Lexie and Elina - art, fashion, difficulties balancing career and motherhood - and I enjoyed the voice of the omniscient narrator, especially when it came to foreshadowing. I did find the historical storyline more compelling than the contemporary one, and had some issues with the backstory of Innes Kent perhaps being used to excuse some of his behaviour, but overall this was a book that I enjoyed.