Overview

For readers who love multi-genre, multi-generational stories of quiet revelations-set in Devon and Brighton, and brimming with warmth, wit, and emotional depth. Beneath the surface of every family lies a story untold. Spanning eight decades and four generations, Mute Swans is a deeply human, thoughtful novel about love, loss, and second chances. In 2005, as her mother's dementia progresses, Miriam is handed a memory journal that will unravel the romantic myth of her parents' love story-and shake the foundations of her own. Caught between her duty to a crumbling marriage and the buried truths of her family's past, she begins to uncover what was hidden, what was lost, and what still might be found. As her daughters face their own defining moments, Miriam is forced to question everything: her marriage to the rigid and judgmental Michael, her understanding of her parents' seemingly enduring bond, and the legacy of emotional silence that runs through the women in her family. From a runaway sister in the swinging sixties to an unexpected later-in-life romance with a climate scientist, Miriam's journey is shaped by painful revelations-and by love both lost and won. Set against the backdrop of a changing British society and the kind of royal milestones that once united a nation, Mute Swans explores the fragility of memory and the quiet power of forgiveness. It is a poignant, character-driven story of love in its many forms-messy, imperfect, enduring-and a reminder that it's never too late to uncover the truth. Perfect for readers of Joanna Trollope, Elizabeth Strout, and Anne Tyler. Recommended for readers aged 16 and above due to adult themes and relationship content. Jenny-Anne Fennell's debut novel marks the beginning of a distinctive new voice in contemporary British fiction-an exploration of how the past we inherit shapes the love we dare to claim.

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9781919171616

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Reviews

In Mute Swans, Miriam's story is told with unflinching honesty, and Jenny-Anne Fennell reveals herself as a powerful, empathetic and original novelist. She knows what makes families tick, but more than this, she understands women and their quiet - and often unsung strength. As everyone knows, families are chaotic, flawed, tender, crazy, devoted, outrageous and loving. This novel - like the people at its heart - is all these things and more and tells a story that pulls you in and won't let go, even after you've turned the last page. PETER BENSON, The Levels

Author Information

Jenny-Anne Fennell won her first writing prize in a regional competition at primary school. Her life has followed many paths since, but her love of literature has always accompanied her. She has worked in a library, taught in primary and secondary schools, and supported pupils as a home tutor. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Exeter, which she achieved as a mature student. The first draft of Mute Swans began life as her dissertation. She lives in Devon, where she enjoys writing, crafting and spending time with her family.Mute Swans is her debut novel.

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