When approaching a new novel by Keith Stuart I’ve learnt to expect the unexpected! He’s a writer who continually explores style, themes and characters – and this is true for his recent release of ‘Love is a Curse’.
The novel immediately throws us into a world where the supernatural has dominated the lives of four generations of women of the same family. For nearly a hundred and fifty years they have lived under the curse – their lives have all been touched by it, as its youngest member, fifteen-year-old Camilla Piper is soon to discover on her aunt’s deathbed. Lorna’s last words to her niece are to warn her young Cammy: ‘Just don’t fall in love!’ All the women in the family are destined to lose the ones with whom they fall in love.
Ten years later, Cammy is still unsure of what to make of the declaration. While her sister and mother are quite normal, Cammy always feels lost and like an outsider, she is a goth just like her aunt was, and she is a little-known jewellery designer.
The arts are a critical key element within the novel, especially that of Lorna who was a world-famous artist in her time working together for a while with an equally renowned digital and robotics artist.
As an adult Cammy moves into her aunt’s old place of St. Cyprian’s Church in a small village in Somerset. It is not long before an overwhelming sense of doom falls upon Cammy, a constant feeling of being watched, smelling her aunt’s favourite perfume. She also learns about the horrific fire started by a woman in the late 1800s. A pivotal event, the fire destroyed the manor House nearby, and it turns out later that the woman was related to the family.
One day, just after Cammy declares her love to her new boyfriend during a call as he is driving, Ben crashes for no reason into a tree and is severely injured.
Cammy is convinced the curse is real and she starts to accept that she may never be able to love yet she feels compelled to delve into the past to discover more.
‘Love is a Curse’ becomes a superbly crafted paranormal investigative novel with a deep dark sense of foreboding prevailing throughout. Pathetic fallacy is used to great effect throughout the novel as furious gales and thunderstorms wreak havoc around the church and countryside. The church itself almost becomes a main character in its own right, its spooky and eerie atmosphere heightening the sense of the supernatural.
To help build up the stark threatening tension and mystery the author expertly employs a variety of elaborate narrative techniques including the main first-person POV of Cammy, but also the loving and heartbreaking love letters between her great-grandparents in World War I, her grandmother’s journal revealing a shocking (for the time) love story as well as articles and paintings. The author catches the sense of each era perfectly.
As Cammy gains knowledge of each sorrow endured over the decades a sense of inevitability takes hold over her and leads Cammy to take dramatic actions.
The true tour de force of the novel is how Keith Stuart gradually, and then with increasing dramatic impetus, reveals the truth behind the curse.
Reading furiously at times I had to come up for fresh air. Here his expertise as a storyteller comes to the fore – his characters not only wind their way into our hearts, but the wisdom learned along the way becomes part of the reader’s heart and soul. It is a long time since I have underlined so many paragraphs in a book!
It is refreshing to read a book with so many resilient, strong and determined female protagonists, who experience extraordinary and life-changing events yet discover the strength to find the truth and overcome them. It is a joy to read a book where the paranormal and every day are interwoven centred on a convincing and engaging set of characters.
‘Love is a Curse’ is a hugely enjoyable fourth book by Keith Stuart and I look forward to seeing where his imagination will take him next!
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and impartial review.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Publication Date: 25th April 2024
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group / Sphere
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction, Romance
Available: AMAZON UK Hopefully it will soon be released in U.S
Annika Perry 
Excellent review, Annika💜
I think Generational curses are sometimes real. Very hard to break those cycles but they are definitely breakable.
Jude, thank you so much and interesting comment about breaking those curses! Yes, in this book it was breakable but not easily done at all! They make a gripping fictional story but in real life imagine very tough times.
Great review!!
Thank you so much, Ana! 😀🙏
Dear Annika
thanks for your the great review.
We like your review but we wouldn’t enjoy a novel like this one. Isn’t it too mainstream. As an editor Klausbernd gets all the time novels full of female protagonists, with a bit of supernatural and a family story – that’s just in. But you have to be Margret Atwood to make a readable novel from such a plot.
Nevertheless, we like you review.
Wishing you a wonderful week
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
That’s wonderful and thank you so much! 😀 Yes, this is more main stream and not the literary fiction of Atwood et al – and I can see how not to everyone’s tastes. I’m eclectic in my reading and enjoy lots of genres. I think you recommended Norwegian Wood to me last year and finally got round to reading it! Truly incredible and mesmerising- a book I will not forget! Thank you for the suggestion and also for your lovely comment here! Happy Reading! 📚😀
Thanks for this review, Annika. I enjoyed reading your insights. Hugs.
Bless, thank you so much, Teagan! I always hope to do justice to a book when I review it! 😀🙏
What a great review, and yes, you know how I like a little magic/paranormal in my stories, whether I write them or someone else. I’m curious why you gave these one 4 stars instead of 5? I tried to order it for my Kindle, but not available in US yet. Therefore, I ordered The Frequency of Us, which I found your earlier review. You gave that book 5 stars. 🙂
Pam, thank you so much and it’s wonderful that you enjoyed my review so much as to seek out the book. It is frustrating as only later do I find out that the book isn’t available in the US but hopefully not too long until it is published there. The Frequency of Us is superb and just that bit more tightly written than this one – hence the four stars for Love is a Curse. Hope you’re doing well and getting free time for reading! xx
Not enough free time for reading – but with reading – there’s NEVER enough time. 🙂 xo
Lovely review. Makes me want to read this. ✨
Thank you so much, Anoushka! 😀
You wrote a terrific review, Annika.
It does sound like an intriguing story. I like the part about your underlining. I do that too, if I read an actual book, and it doesn’t belong to the library.
OMG! I just realized I can highlight sentences in my Ebooks. Egads, I’ve been doing things the hard way!
Thank you so much for the wonderful review, and leading me to this handy realization!
Resa, you have me chuckling away at your reaction at finding out about highlighting on ebooks! 😀 This is just the joy of discovery I felt when I realised about digital highlighting! It’s a godsend and enjoy this new form of underlining! I’m so glad you enjoyed my review and it is very much an intriguing captivating story! Happy Reading (& highlighting!) xx
It was the high light of my day! 🤭
Loving the pun, Resa! 😀😀Xx
😀xxx
Thank you for the review!
It’s great to share about the book here, Ernie! 😀
The cover is eye-catching. I’ve read a few books now where the magic flows through generations of the same family. It can be a blessing or a curse.
This sounds like a poignant story, Annika. I’m adding it to my wishlist.
Jacquie, thank you so much for your interesting comment and glad my review has piqued your interest.
It is a beautiful cover, Jacquie and very striking indeed! I have noticed there is another book (by Kristin Hannah) coming out with a similar red background theme. These epic stories across generations are compelling and I agree, can either be a blessing or a curse! Hopefully not cursed to the extent here! Happy Reading! 😀📕
I believe you mean The Women by Kristin Hannah. It’s heartbreaking but so good!
I love her books and look forward to reading it even more after your thoughts about it.
Thank you so much for your precious review. This seems to be a book worth reading📖
Luisa, thank you so much for your lovely words and a book I thoroughly enjoyed! 😀🙏
You’re more than welcome 🙏🌸
Another review with such insight that makes me want to read the book.
Georgina, that’s lovely to hear! Thank you! 😀
Hope you had a great launch the other week. After nearly a month with barely any functional broadband and working from my iPad, the providers finally discovered not one, but two major faults … all up and working properly again! 😀
That’s good. These issues take their time. And getting through to talk to them!
Another brilliant review, Annika. I’m not a super fan of the paranormal but resilient, strong and determined female protagonists are my thing. I’ll keep this book in mind. Who knows, I might decide to give it a try!
Khaya, lovely to see your comment and thank you so much! This is definitely also very much rooted in reality and the everyday so not full-on paranormal – I don’t usually read books like that either! I’m so glad you liked my review – that’s great! xx
I’ve read a lot of stuff by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and other authors of that genre. Dean Koontz usually has some sort of love angle, and also a dog, lol. Sounds interesting, thanks for another great review! 🙂
I’m smiling at your comment and when you mention Dean Koontz and the dog, well enough said! He’s on to a winning formula! 😀😀 I’ve never read any of his books but from your description definitely something that may interest me so I will check out some of his books. Love is a Curse is not in the same league of frightening paranormal as the Stephen King books I’ve read – the mixture of the supernatural with the everyday works brilliantly here. Many thanks for your interest and comment!
Great book review, Annika. It pulled me right along. I particularly liked your description of the church, “almost becomes a main character in its own right, its spooky and eerie atmosphere heightening the sense of the supernatural.” It really does sound like Stuart uses every avenue available in creating a scary atmosphere.
Curt, I love that you picked out the church because it plays such a pivotal part of the book and features in many of the most dramatic storylines – definitely a hint of personification here. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and glad my review pulled you in! 😀
Hi, Annika. Sorry I am late here. Peggy and I are driving across the US and not a lot of time for the blog. The church just felt scary…
Happy Travels to you both, sounds wonderful! 😀😀😀
Thanks, Annika. We love to wander. We are crossing the Rocky Mountains now. Incredible snow.
Sounds like a very interesting book! I love stories that weave the supernatural into everyday living in a way that is truly believable. (I avoid science fiction because they usually take a fantasy setting and just stick regular people in the middle of it, which I find boring.) Thanks for the review!
Ann, first, I am taken with your description of science fiction and realise how right you are! As a younger reader I was addicted to sci-fi books but now do find them boring and probably for the reason you mention. Maybe one becomes more a discerning reader with time?
From your comment here I definitely think Love is a Curse is a book that you would enjoy very much; the two worlds are intrinsically interwoven, delightfully so!
Hi Annika
thanks for your review. It seems to be a book worth reading or is it more chicklit?
Anyway, we’ll have a look at it.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Many thanks for your comment and I’m glad my review has intrigued you. In my opinion it is definitely not chick-lit rather, as the publisher says, general fiction with historical and romantic elements running throughout (obviously so, from the title!) Enjoy checking out the book! 😀
Thanks for sharing this idea Anita
Anita, a delight to share my review of ‘Love is a Curse’ here! 😀
Thanks 👍
Hi Annika, this is a wonderful and interesting sounding story. Being cursed in love is a dreadful prospect and now I am very curious as to how this all works out in the end. It’s lovely to see one of your in-depth and beautifully written reviews.
Robbie, exactly! Poor Cammy is on the cusp of adulthood when she hears this frightening and confusing curse! The more she later delves into the family history of the curse the more confusing it becomes – for a while until gradually the full truth is revealed and dramatically so! Thank you so much for your lovely comment and your kind words, Robbie, they mean a lot to me.
It is my pleasure and entirely true 🦋🩵
This looks like a really wonderful fun read. Thanks for sharing it with us. Love can be a curse alright.. lol 😂
Haha! 😀 Cindy, your last sentence is exactly what I thought on seeing the title for the first time! 😀 I’m sure most of us have experienced that emotion at some time in our lives! The book is a gripping and enthralling read with a superb ending!
hahahah…. That is gripping in and of itself and it sounds like it did just that through the entire read! Mission accomplished and i always like happy endings💓
Oooh. I didn’t know you were an underliner, Annika. I am too! It’s a way of reinforcing and remembering great writing. This book sounds wonderful and I liked that you were furiously reading and having to come up for air. What a great recommendation. My kindle is absolutely gorged, but I’m going to check this one out. Thanks for the awesome review!
Wow! Diana, thank you so much! It means so much to be that you enjoyed my review so much!
I love the way you say about us being ‘underliners’ – and this sounds like a secret society in its own right! 😀 Ever since school I’ve read with pencil in hand, underlining away, at times noting down on paper. I’m just getting used to highlighting on Kindle and enjoying this new form of ‘underlining’! A new way of reinforcing one’s reading and keeping a record.
At one stage I realised I was reading so intently I’d forgotten to breathe – literally having to look away and remember to breathe! Hopefully it won’t be too long until this is available in the US. Happy Reading & reviewing, Diana! Xx
LOL. I can relate to “forgetting to breathe.” All of a sudden I have to gasp. 😀 That’s another great boost for the book.
Yes, it’s a secret society since many readers would be horrified to know that we write in our books. But it’s so much fun to find a passage that me want to savor and somehow keep, and underlining does that.
A thorough and engaging review Annika, it definitely makes me want to read the book.
Andrea, thank you so much and I’m glad my review has piqued your interest. Enjoy if you have a chance to read it!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful and meticulous review! It sounds like a page turner.
Esther, thank you so much for your lovely comment and yes, definitely a ‘page-turner’! One of those that at stages had me reading late into the night! 😀
You’re welcome! Yes, books like that will keep me up way into the early hours.
Oooh, this does sound brilliant!! A fabulous post. So good to see you back! ❤️
Charley, it is terrific and one I think you would enjoy too! So glad you enjoyed my review and lovely to chat about books here! xx❤️
I always love your reviews and your content. I miss you terribly when you’re not around! ❤️
💕🙏
It sounds like a very suspenseful book with a unique premise. It is nice that the author is exploring “style, themes and characters”, you get something new with every new book. Your review was very well written, informative and a pleasure to read.
Thomas, thank you so much for your thoughtful and perceptive comment! 🙏 It means a lot to me and I try to be as informative as possible without giving too much away. I genuinely am intrigued by the variety of this author’s books and love how he manages to surprise the reader each time!
Yes giving your readers something different with every book is definitely an asset
It doesn’t sound like a book I would normally read, Annika, but your recommendations are usually excellent, so I might be tempted. Thank you for this very detailed review.
Jo, thank you so much for your great comment and interest. 😀 I can well see this is not a book that would interest everyone and that is why it is wonderful with so many genres of books! This is one definitely not easy to slot into just one though! Hope you’re having a lovely start the week! Xx
Gaining wisdom from reading a novel. That is quite an endorsement!
Definitely, Betsy, and towards the end I made so many highlights to save for my quotation file! A very rewarding read indeed.
Nice!
Because of your review, I’ve made note of this book and author. I’d never heard of him before. I’m reading a quality novel: The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, by Rachel Joyce.
Neil, that’s great and I think his ‘The Frequency of Us’, which is superb, is available in the US. I’m so glad you’re interested in his books. Oh, Rachel Joyce is one of my favourite authors and this is her best book. There are also two more in this series which are very special too. Enjoy! 😀
Sounds like a winner!
Absolutely, Liz! 😀 I’d be surprised if it doesn’t do well!
This definitely looks like my kind of book! 😀 I hope you’re having a great day!
That’s great, Kymber and hopefully not too long until it is published in the US. Thank you, I’ve had a lovely day and soon time for bed!
What a beautifully written review, Annika! Thank you for sharing this with us.
Donna, that is so kind, thank you so much and I’m enjoying sharing my review and about the book here! Xx
Wow! This sounds SO good, Annika. Thank you for sharing it. I’ll keep a lookout for it in the U.S.
Aww, Jan, thank you so much and wonderful that you enjoyed my review. Two of his three books are already in the US so hopefully won’t be too long until this is available as well!
Your book reviews are also so intriguing and draw a reader into wanting to read the book. Great job. Supernatural interwoven with the natural sounds really good.
Lori, warmest thanks for your lovely comment and that’s great to know! I always want to intrigue but not say too much at the same time! The unusual combination of the paranormal and the normal world works brilliantly and is perfectly balanced!
Annika, very enticing book review. Now I want to read this book.
Pat, that’s great and I’m hoping it will be available soon for you across the pond! Thank you so much!
🤞🤞🤞
Great review. It’s always good to read a book that thrusts you right in and where you never know where it’s going to take you. It sounds interesting.
Esther, thank you so much! 🙏 The deeper I found myself in the story I was just hoping the ending wouldn’t disappoint as I couldn’t imagine how it would finish. I need not have worried – a gifted and dramatic finale with a gentle final epilogue. Perfect!
Absolutely! You can’t ask for more than that.
You’ve written a powerful and intriguing review to match what sounds like a powerful book. Thanks Annika..
Brad, it’s great you think so and thank you so much! There was so much I wanted to say but it would be easy to give too much away!
It’s a great review that makes me curious even though it’s not a genre I read much.
I can definitely understand that this is not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’ as us Brits say! 😀 What genre of books do you like best?
I used to read a lot of self-help and gave it up. These days I read mostly mystery, sci-fi, and romance with an occasional serious book.
Sounds an interesting and balanced combination, Brad!
Thanks, what do you read?
Like you, a mixture of genres – literary novels, romance, autobiographies at times, translated general fiction, some fantasy and a fix of apocalyptic ones!
Nice!
You really make this sound good, Annika–“Reading furiously at times I had to come up for fresh air”. Wow!
It’s true, Jacqui! 😀 It is rare I will read past midnight but I just couldn’t stop – far to intensive and exciting!
A splendid review of this book which is having a curse on the family members who fall in love. Great, Annika.
Kamal, exactly! It is an interesting concept for a book and the novel is multi-layered as it is across so many different eras. Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
You are most welcome Annika. Yes I completely agree with you a great idea for a book. Thanks.
Well Annika, you’ve sparked my interest with this wonderful review. I should check out his other books too. 😊
Jennifer, thank you so much and I’m glad to have sparked your interest! A good one to start with is probably ‘The Frequency of Us’ which I think is available for you and a book I reviewed some years ago – it is terrific and especially if you enjoy stories with a touch of time-slip!
Sounds good. I will have a look. 🙂
Wow friend. What a spectacular review. Intriguing. Thanks for sharing. So cool of you xoxo 🤗
Selma, bless! 🙏Thank you so much for your kind words and it means a lot that you enjoyed my review so much! I always want to do justice to a book yet give a a true flavour it. xx
“ Don’t fall in love “ is the warning to young Cammy. Sounds sinister and restricting for a life newly starting out.
Annika, you are just a superb reviewer and always catch my attention and curiosity. Half way through I felt I can’t read this, it sounds too dark.
As my young daughter used to ask “ Is it scary” .
A your review goes on I feel that surely Keith Stuart must have some positive ending for us. Love is strong, remember. Even if the paranormal brings darkness.
so , thank you and I hope it isn’t “ too scary” as I intend to read it. Maybe on holiday in the sunshine. 🤗.
miriam
Miriam, your lovely comment has me smiling! 😀 No, it isn’t too scary at all – rather a great sense of tension and the unexpected. There are some very dramatic scenes so reading in the sunshine during your holiday might be the ticket! 😀
Yes, I think Cammy’s heart must have sunk when she heart her aunt’s dying words – at an age when romance usually begins she is warned never to love anyone!
How true that love is strong and this is one of the main themes of the book and towards the end there are exceptional sentences reinforcing this point. The ending is superb and I am impressed how Keith Stuart pulls all the various threads spanning decades together so exactly!
Happy Reading and wishing you a wonderful holiday! xx💕
I haven’t read a book with paranormal elements for many years – I think a Stephen King novel may have been the last time – but I like your review and the fact that there are strong female characters. Thanks for the introduction. Cheers.
Lynette, I remember reading some of Stephen King as a teenager and this is definitely paranormal-lite in comparison! The paranormal woven throughout the book but very much in the real world as well – the constant sense of foreboding and strange events powerfully explored throughout! Yes, it is unusual to have such a strong set of female protagonists and the author captures their hearts, emotions and thoughts brilliantly! Many thanks for your interest and great comment. xx
An excellent review, Annika!
Joanna
Joanna, many thanks and so glad you think so! 😀
You are more than welcome, Annika!
Joanna
Great post 🌹
Thank you so much, Satyam! 😀🙏