Part 1 was lovely - if the whole book had been like that, it would have been 5 stars. Wonderful characters, quirky but still believable, with relationships that felt both loving and exasperated, real in a way that a lot of books don't manage.

Part 2 was unremarkable, but a fine middle part to a book. If it had bridged to a stronger ending, I would have thought it was just fine.

Part 3 read like a Nicholas Sparks novel. If that's your thing, you might enjoy it, but it was so different from the beginning of the book that I'm not sure anyone who liked the end would have stuck out through the beginning.

Part 1 was lovely - if the whole book had been like that, it would have been 5 stars. Wonderful characters, quirky but still believable, with relationships that felt both loving and exasperated, real in a way that a lot of books don't manage.

Part 2 was unremarkable, but a fine middle part to a book. If it had bridged to a stronger ending, I would have thought it was just fine.

Part 3 read like a Nicholas Sparks novel. If that's your thing, you might enjoy it, but it was so different from the beginning of the book that I'm not sure anyone who liked the end would have stuck out through the beginning.

Once again Monica McInerney has woven a wonderful story together with unique, well developed characters. I always love getting to know the people in her books and this was not an exception.

I expected a long family saga from this author
But found the characters were very one dimensional. Charlotte & Audrey were both annoying and had no other characteristics
Spencer was troublesome
Hope added no value to the story except as an excuse for the return
Henry was unbelievable
Also found the missing letters etc very contrived
Agreed with other reviewers that it was overlong

Really enjoyed this audiobook all of it just works.

3.5 stars. Did not really grab me. Was good but not what I was hoping for.

I read the audiobook version of this novel and couldn't put it down....well, press stop actually. I loved every twist in the tale, loved the character development and the storyline, and the settings all mean something to me! Of all the few places I've been in the world, I'd been to all the ones featured in this book. Most of all, the setting of the Templeton's home is actually my favourite town in my home state! When I heard that, I was so pleased and it made me love the book even more. Five stars for this one and I've been recommending it.

Monica McInerney writes good, solid books usually combining families in various locations with a bit of romance and drama. In this, At Home With the Templetons doesn’t fail to disappoint. It’s a good book recommendation for your grandmother, mother or sister.

The Templetons arrive from England to country Victoria, Australia and take up residence at the family ‘colonial mansion’. Each weekend, the family dresses up in period costume and opens the house to strangers to relive the gold rush era. There are just a few problems with this:
- Most of the Templeton children don’t want to do the tours
- Their aunt is an alcoholic and often insults the visitors
- The kids do some wacky things (such as underage driving)
- The fellow townspeople think they are attention seekers
The book follows the four children (Charlotte, Audrey, Spencer and in particular, Gracie) as they grow up in this environment. Spencer befriends Tom Donovan and Gracie her mother Nina. Nina is wary of getting involved with the Templetons but their paths meet consistently. So when the Templetons must return to England, Nina takes over as caretaker of Templeton Hall.

Many years are then covered in a series of letters, faxes and emails. Gracie grows up and the Templetons and Donovans are entwined again, with dramatic results, arguments and dramas. Will it have a happy ending? I’ll let you work that one out.

I found the character of Hope (the alcoholic aunt) quite annoying due to her drunken stupidity, but fortunately she is less involved in the later sections of the book. I also thought it was a bit strange for Gracie to lose her drive completely after the Event and be so directionless for years after, but I suppose that’s what gave the book its last 200 pages.

The book is well written and an easy read, good for summer holidays.

Very enjoyable holiday read. Could have been slightly shorter I reckon but kept my interest.