The Life She Was Given

When I first saw the description for this book, I was worried about it being too reminiscent of Water for Elephants. When I got started, I felt more and more it was unique in and of itself...but I will say as the plot develops and the main character, Lilly, ages, it does become more like that book than I would have liked, except more depressing.

This story is emotionally draining from beginning to end...the brief moments of happiness barely last long enough to contrast with the darkness, and the continued trauma faced by Lilly throughout her life will leave you emotionally drained. This makes this book very compelling and hard to put down. It's a heartbreak you must see through.

My main reason for the down ranking is the secondary plot featuring Julia Blackwood, a young woman discovering things about her past. Her story never competes with Lilly's plot. All of the material was there, but Lilly was the soul. Julia's soul is never really seen so much as described. I never felt her character the same way you do Lilly. With a dual story book, that can really bog down the reading. Luckily, the chapters are relatively short so too much too mine is never really spent, at once, with either character.

I would recommend this novel but not for reading on a bad day...unless you want to end up in a fetal position with a bottle of wine as the book winds down.

I have loved Ellen's previous books & was very excited to read her newest. I should have been mentally forewarned that there would be circus animal abuse due to the subject but hoped for better with Ellen's writing. OMG, the written abuse was awful, a big part of the end of the story & totally unnecessary to the book. I understand that it was a part of history but not needed to complete it. The human ending was enough. I'm a visual reader, I see scenes in a book as I'm reading it. Now, when I doze off on my sofa, I keep visualizing the elephant killing.Very sad to say, I don't think I'll be reading Ellen again.

Confused - is this a book for adults? I found the writing to be very amateurish, more like a middle school child would write a novel. Some sentences were repeated over and over in the course of a few pages. How many times did I have to read that Lilly was having trouble breathing? Thought the premise of book was great but was sorely disappointed in final product. Ending was stupid and depressing too.

I only made it to page 49. This book is one of the saddest, depressing books I've ever read. Even flipping thru I was hoping to find something that would make me feel like - if I could just get past this poor little girl I would try to continue. Didn't happen. If you like reading books about mistreatment of children and animals then this is the book. I DO NOT RECOMMEND!

Of all the Ellie Wiseman books I've read, this one has the most disturbing subject matter. I ordered it because I had loved her previous books, but this one I cannot recommend, and do not want to donate it. It is headed for the trash barrel.

The storyline is interesting, and the book appeals to reading groups/bookclubs because it has two main female characters, and is a period piece and (to some extent, human interest piece). Since birth, Lilly's been kept in the attic of a huge mansion many for years, where no one can see her, because, according to her [never-explained-as-to-why] cruel and religious mother, she is an abomination. She is told to pray and read the Bible, and will go to hell if she disobeys the parents. YES you did read a book just like this already, called Flowers in the Attic! Minus three other sibling roomies, hot tar shampoos, and incest. And the father is alive--he brings Lily toys and books and shows love, though for whatever reason doesn't stand up to his cruel wife and allows Lily to be a prisoner (wife must have his balls in a box or something). Then just like that, she is sold to the cruelest of cruel, law-breaking empathy-free, circus owners. Eventually she is drawn to the circus animals, all who take a unique shine and trust to her. She makes good friends with Cole the animal trainer. The two eventually fall in love and train the elephants together. Until horrific events cut things just like that. Oh, and there's another daughter in alternating chapters, Julia, but she's a bit on the boring side. That part is more "Nancy Drew and the Secret of the old Blackwood Manor Attic". The plot has lots of substance holes, there's way more telling than showing, as well as implying but no follow-through. Then the ending--the ENDING--was one big WTF. Be prepared to hate the ending. Another reader called this Pity Porn. I am copying that!

As a fan of Water for Elephants and The Night Circus, this book sounded like a great read. Another circus novel, but more focused on the sideshow aspect.
Don't waste your time and money. This book is poorly thought out and many of the circus elements are very similar to the plot points in Water for Elephants. Almost to the point that I felt they were lifted from that book and changed ever so slightly as to avoid comparison.
This book gets increasingly depressing too and conclusion is just not satisfying.
Water for Elephants is a must read and portrays a truer depiction of circus life in the 1930's. The Night Circus is beautiful , dreamlike, fantasy of a circus and has a satisfying end.
Both of those books are worth every penny.

This story was so much more than I expected. Told from the perspectives of Lilly in the 1930s and Julia in the 1950s. Lilly Blackwood, an albino girl, was sold to the circus by her mother during the depression. Lilly did not know why her mother did not love her and why her father did nothing to help. She was told she was horrendous looking and if she was out in public, people would do terrible things to her. Her part of the story describes her life in the circus. It was not all smiles and laughs. She was purchased from her mother by the owner of the Side Show and he treated her terribly. She was beaten, ridiculed and almost raped. Julia Blackwood, born almost 2 decades later, was also treated poorly by her mother until she could no longer stand it and ran away from home. Her father had already died and her mother blamed her for it. When she finally gets word that her mother has died, she returns to Blackwood Manor with mixed feelings. Once there, she realized that she needs to find out what went wrong with her family. She begins to explore and uncover secrets.

There are many themes in this book. The first is the idea of freaks, albinism was treated very differently in the past. We now have much more tolerance for people born with defects, however it is not as good as it should be. The theme of animal cruelty also resonates throughout Lilly's section when she is talking about the circus. There is also some religious fanaticism and both child abuse and abuse of women. Sections of the book require a strong stomach. This is the first book I have read by this author and I was not disappointed. The characters were well developed and the scenes were descriptive, but not overly so. There are many parts of this book based on real situations, which makes it even more thought provoking. Overall, this was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, reading about circuses, family drama etc. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Wow.

I started this book yesterday and found it almost impossible to put down!!

This book follows the stories of Lilly and Julia and each chapter is told from one of their points of views - Lilly's story taking place about 20 years before Julia's story starts. Lilly's story takes place over the span of many years while Julia's is condensed into a shorter amount of time.

Lilly's story is the one that really gripped me and drew me in. A bit Flowers in the Attic, a bit Waters for Elephants - it was SO good. I felt personally it fell apart a bit at the end though which was disappointing after the whole lead up.

Julia's story I felt was almost either not done enough or too much. I feel that her parts could have been either condensed or expanded and what we got was a bit of a weird middle piece? I still enjoyed it but I wished we knew a bit more about some aspects of her story.

Overall this story is gripping and fascinating and I definitely recommend it!

When I first heard of this book (at a Random House book promotion at the local library where I got an advanced reader’s copy free. Thanks RH, sorry I have very little nice to say) I thought it was probably a cheap take off of Water for Elephants. There was that, of course, the vulnerable and somewhat clueless protaganist, the justified preference of animal company over human, the violent and evil owners, the parental loss and the depression era circus train.

The book was even worse than I expected. The plot was self-consciously cruel with unnecessary violence both physical and mental, as if the author thought we were reading for melodrama rather than story–a first novel sort of error. On top of this the plot twists are easily spotted and simplistic, in spite of the fact they are contrived and not real life probable. I am bored with the stock stereotype of Vicious Christian from the left. In this book it was particularly nauseating probably because there was no character development beyond that.

Thanks for the free book Random House, but sadly it was worth even less than I paid.

I received this book from a niece who read it for a book club. She liked it apparently but I cannot recommend it. I research and write professionally.
I am surprised that this book rated high overall. Like other unimpressed readers, I felt it borrowed tone and concepts from Like Water for Elephants but was not written nearly as well in both plot development and basic description. It needs much better editing. So much repetition of the main characters' sentiments to the point I was skimming paragraphs in places thinking yawdy yawdy yaw to get to where the plot picked up again. The book should be tighter but also the descriptions and dialogue felt superficial in places, not plausible. I'm like others, not a fan of gratuitous violence to animals which I felt at play here to really pound home a subplot against circus act violence. As much as I appreciate that message, the way it was told here was not integral to the story and took every bit of will power to read to the end because of it. I read it over three days sick in bed on vacation, still the suspense aspects felt repetitive and dragged. I bumped it up to two stars bc I nevertheless appreciate the research involved and passion. Moments of character development were ok.
I am leaving book at friends island home. Maybe others will appreciate it since I don't throw books away. But no way is this book a 4 or 5 even given difference of opinion.

THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN does not disappoint. This book alternates chapters between two characters, two story lines that have you on the end of your seat until the very last page. It is an emotional read, concerning a young girl who was abusively mistreated because she was different. Her mother sold her to the circus life at a young age, and the story is how Lilly rises above it all to try to have a happy life. The other story line is about a family member who is trying to figure out her life after acquiring the ownership of Blackwood Manor, the home of her strict, unhappy childhood. I have to say that the brilliant story-telling, genius character development, and intense social issues in the 1930's make this for a top notch read.

You will want to weep, fight for, and root for the main characters as they conquer adversity. Lilly and Julia are the main characters in the book, and you will come to know and love them like I did. There is so much to say about this book and it will also make for a great BOOK CLUB selection. Oh, the topics the group will be wanting to discuss.

I thank you Ellen Marie Wiseman for writing such a brilliant novel of controversial life issues. Your insight into circus life, animal cruelty, and child abuse make this story one that all will want to read. It is definitely a page turner that readers will not be able to put down.

I loved it, and would give it a 20/10...it is that well written.

This book was a rip-roaring page turner from the start.

Lilly is a little girl who thinks her mother's mundane cruelty her father's guilt-ridden overcompensation are ordinary life in her room on the attic level of her parents' sprawling Victorian New England farm home, Blackwood Manor.

Julia survived a childhood of mingled neglect and abuse with a dose of haphazard affection. She now lives a half-life of waitressing in a city diner to make rent for her and her boyfriend, washing up for work in a corner grocery store restroom and only keeping track of her shifts most of the time.

Their worlds intersect when Julia is confronted by a private investigator who informs her she has inherited her parents' farm and house.

Julia turns over operations of the estate to a caretaker, but her mother's will stipulates she must reside at Blackwood Manor to remain benefactor to the family fortune.

In her exploration of her childhood home -- much of which was off-limits when she was a child -- Julia discovers a trove of photographs that lead her to details of a strange girl -- Lilly's -- life as a circus "freak" after she was sold off and left to fate because of her extraordinary appearance.

The alternating viewpoints keep readers engaged and excited for the next revelation in Julia's and Lilly's lives.

Ellen Marie Wiseman's signature intuitive, visceral storytelling and her on-fire plots keep you up way past your bedtime with pacing that rivals most thrillers.

Let me start by saying I truly loved this book. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. It kept me glued to my kindle into the wee hours of the night because I HAD to finish reading it. This amazing book tells the story of Lilly and Julia who both lived at Blackwood Manor more than 2 decades apart. Lilly was considered a "monster" by her parents and kept in an attic hidden from the world. In 1931, when she was 9 years old, she saw the lights of the carnival through her attic window. Little did Lilly know that night would change her life forever. Julia had ran away from her unloving and strict parents when she was 15 years old. While supporting her no good boyfriend a lawyer comes into the diner she works and informs her that her mother died and she is now the owner of Blackwood Manor. Julia goes home and there she finds many family secrets that she needs to uncover the truth about. It is an amazing story of 2 strong women who after devastating childhoods become strong, independent, and extraordinary women. I loved this book and the characters are ones that will stay with you forever. Thank you so very much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for providing me an ARC in return for an honest review.

What a wonderful book!

This book is told in alternating points of view, following Lilly Blackwood in the early 30s and Julia Blackwood in the mid 50s. Lilly was kept in the attic by her parents because something horrible was wrong with her (I picked up on what it was fairly quickly) and she told she would terrify people. She had no one except her cat, Abby, to talk to as her parents rarely visited.

Then late one night, Lilly's mother comes for her and sells her to circus. Her life is forever changed after that.

Julia ran away from home when she was a teenager, unable to deal with her parents anymore. Now she works in a diner and lives with her horrible boyfriend. Her life all changes when she finds out her mother has died.

How are Julia and Lilly related? Does Lilly scare even those in the "freak" show or had her mother lied to her all her life? What secrets will Julia find in the family home?

Wiseman weaves a wonderful tale that will kept you enthralled. Her insight into the circus life is amazing and (almost) made me want to run away to join one (but not really).

Some of the saddest moments involve animals so be aware of that if you are sensitive to that kind of thing. I wasn't prepared and some moments were upsetting.

I really enjoyed this novel and can't wait to read more of Wisemans work.

3.5-4 stars

The Life She Was Given is one of the saddest books that I have read in a long while. The book is beautifully written, but I had a hard time reading portions of it because the story line is so depressing. The Life She Was Given is written in a dual timeline format. Lilly’s story takes place mainly in the 1930’s, and Julia lives in the 1950’s. Having children of my own, I found it so disheartening to read about the parents that raised Lilly and Julia. With respect to Lilly, I do not want to spoil the story so I will simply say that I had hoped for a different ending for her. She encountered way more than her fair share of cruel people in her lifetime. I liked the story involving Julia a lot better and was pleased with the resolution of her story. I was very glad to read this book because I had heard so many good things about it, but it very much weighed heavy on my heart. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished this today and all I can say is WOW! This is the first book I've read by Ellen Marie Wiseman and it won't be the last. Very suspenseful, yet very sad at times as we developed a relationship with Lilly, the main character. It's a very descriptive read, with details that make you feel as if you're right there beside her as she moves on with her life as it was given to her. I've only been to the circus once in my life, and now that Barnum and Bailey's has been shuttered I fear the mystique of the Circus and the atmosphere that accompanied it will be lost to so many, though I'm hugely opposed to animal cruelty. The back and forth between 2 time periods and 2 female characters was very interesting, and the ending honestly was one I didn't expect. A bittersweet read about a girl thrust into a life she didn't deserve.

This book was horribly written. "It was all she could do to...." and "It seemed like forever since..." appear to be a couple of this author's favorites phrases, according to the number of times she uses them. Someone else said in their review that this was like a sophomoric attempt at combining Flowers in the Attic & Water for Elephants. I agree whole-heartedly with that assessment!

Julia's character can use up half a page posing questions to herself, "How long had it been? A week? A month? A year?"
There are typos throughout the book, the most memorable being when the family name inexplicably changed from Blackwood to Blackstone for one page.
Lilly's last chapter feels like it was written for an old-timey low budget horror film. I can visualize the fade-to-black as she is left in her bed, paralyzed, screaming for her kidnapped daughter, and the attic door clicks shut and locks for the last time.
Then Julia's last chapter is rushed and ridiculously serene. It's like the author got tired of writing, and decided to remove all signs of tragedy and wrap it up with a pretty picture of baby horses. What?!

I've read several books by Wiseman and enjoyed them all. Sadly, this is the one I've liked least so far. It's not that it's badly written (although I have serious issues with the end), it's the subject matter. If you have issues with violence against animals, you're not going to enjoy this. I knew going in that whenever you deal with a circus, there's the potential for this problem, but I was rather unprepared for the level of detail. This book also deals with violence against children, slavery (of sorts), rape, domestic abuse and an incredibly appalling level of child abuse.

The other main issue for me was the ending. I don't need everything tied up with a nice bow, but I wasn't prepared for the abrupt end and lack of closure. While it makes sense given what happens to the two narrators, I didn't care for it. SPOILERS

I wanted to know what happened to Cole. What happened to the circus itself. To Glory. To the twins. And I felt the fire was unnecessary (and it contributed to my frustration about the lack of details at the end). How did Lilly meet her end?

Overall, I really like Wiseman's work and will gladly read the rest of her works. This one was just not one I enjoyed.

By Melissa Amster

On a summer evening in 1931, Lilly Blackwood glimpses circus lights from the grimy window of her attic bedroom. Lilly isn’t allowed to explore the meadows around Blackwood Manor. She’s never even ventured beyond her narrow room. Momma insists it’s for Lilly’s own protection, that people would be afraid if they saw her. But on this unforgettable night, Lilly is taken outside for the first time—and sold to the circus sideshow.

More than two decades later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood has inherited her parents’ estate and horse farm. For Julia, home was an unhappy place full of strict rules and forbidden rooms, and she hopes that returning might erase those painful memories. Instead, she becomes immersed in a mystery involving a hidden attic room and photos of circus scenes featuring a striking young girl.

At first, The Barlow Brothers’ Circus is just another prison for Lilly. But in this rag-tag, sometimes brutal world, Lilly discovers strength, friendship, and a rare affinity for animals. Soon, thanks to elephants Pepper and JoJo and their handler, Cole, Lilly is no longer a sideshow spectacle but the circus’s biggest attraction. . .until tragedy and cruelty collide. It will fall to Julia to learn the truth about Lilly’s fate and her family’s shocking betrayal, and find a way to make Blackwood Manor into a place of healing at last.

Moving between Julia and Lilly’s stories, Ellen Marie Wiseman portrays two extraordinary, very different women in a novel that, while tender and heartbreaking, offers moments of joy and indomitable hope. (Synopsis courtesy of the store.)

It's been a while since I've had a book hangover, but The Life She Was Given made me remember what that feels like. I had a bunch of different emotions wreaking havoc on me afterward and one of the biggest ones was sadness that it was over. While the subject matter of this novel was heavy and sometimes disturbing, I just couldn't put it down, but I also didn't want it to end.

Lilly and Julia were such kind and sympathetic characters, even after growing up with such a heartless and cruel mother. Some parts of the story made me think of a V.C. Andrews novel, such as living in the attic of a big house and having a mother who cared more about what the Bible said than about her own daughter's feelings. (I also remember a minor character in one of the books being sold to a circus.) Things were also difficult for Lilly at the circus, even though she did have some friends to help her out.

I do want to warn readers about the heavy and disturbing parts. It involves both child and animal abuse. I don't want to give away too much more, but those are definitely the core issues that take place throughout the novel. If you can handle Water for Elephants, you should be able to handle this one too. I could easily visualize a lot of what was happening and all the characters. Ellen's descriptions were simplistic enough to paint a picture without taking away from the action.

Despite all that, I just couldn't get enough of this novel. I read most of it in one sitting and just didn't want to put it down to get back to real life. Ellen Marie Wiseman tells a haunting and compelling story that will leave readers reeling for a long time to come. As this is only the second book of Ellen's that I've read, I definitely want to check out her others now.

Some casting ideas for Hollywood's consideration:
Lilly (teen/young adult): Michelle Bergh
Julia: Sierra McCormick
Cole: Cayden Boyd
Merrick: Chace Crawford
Fletcher: Alden Ehrenreich
Glory: Tuppence Middleton

I love strong female characters, but I can't stand formulaic women's fiction. That's sometimes a tall order when I'm choosing a contemporary fiction read. But I found it in The Life She Was Given. I will note that not everyone will love this story due to aspects of abuse (animal abuse, child abuse, and sexual abuse). As a matter of fact, I'm sure that some people will hate it because of these topics, but the strength of the characters in spite of their abuses and the harsh realities of humanity are what really made me love this book. I predicted this story would be Like Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus meets The Museum of Extraordinary Things and I was right. Plus, throw in a little Flowers in the Attic. This book is raw and different and unexpected. I loved that it wasn't "safe". If I had a complaint, I would say it is the title. It's just not the right fit. I would have liked something less passive and more attention grabbing.

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Source: Natgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

It’s not often I get to the end of a book and must really think about if I liked it or not. I can’t honestly say I liked Ellen Marie Wiseman’s The Life She Was Given, but I can say I appreciated so much about it that I am able to genuinely award this book a very solid four-star rating.

From beginning to end, this book is the twisted and sad story of a family warped by fear, religious extremes, hatred, and ignorance. Lily Blackwood is just ten years old when she’s forced to leave her family and join the circus. As one of the so-called “freaks,” it is Lily’s job to awe and amaze circus goers with her otherness, but at ten years old, all she really understands is having been abandoned by the only two people she has ever known in her entire life, her parents. Lily’s first months and years with the circus are marked by moments of pure terror, fear for her life, and only a few moments of true happiness. Sadly, this cycle will be never-ending and not truly understood by another human being until nearly two decades later when another family member uncovers the truth of Lily Blackwood’s life.

When Julia Blackwood returns to Blackwood Manor, it is under a cloud of despair. Her parents are both dead (though not particularly missed) and the home she has inherited is marred by years upon years of bad memories. In so many ways, the house feels haunted and as Julia begins picking her way through the rooms, many of which she was never allowed in, she discovers a whole host of evil and awful secrets kept from her by her deceased parents. With little in the way of answers, Julia turns to the Manor’s farm hand to help he unravel the mystery of her home and family. What Julia discovers brings to mind the old adage, ignorance is bliss.

As Lily and Julia’s stories unfold, it brings them ever closer to colliding. As the past hurtles toward the present, Julia is faced with some very difficult decisions about her future and the future of the seemingly cursed Blackwood Manor.

The Bottom Line: As this was my first Ellen Marie Wiseman book, I wasn’t precisely sure what to expect. I can’t say I enjoyed this book as the plot is just so dark and twisted and filled with so much tragedy and precious few moments of happiness. There is actually one scene I couldn’t even read ☹ What I did like is the craftsmanship involved in the writing of this book and the ability, on the part of the author, to let this tremendously sad tale be just that, a tremendously sad tale. Wiseman makes no attempt to make this something more than what it is, to take generations of anger and hurt, ignorance and fear and make them all suddenly disappear with the revelation of the secrets. In all, I found this book both disturbing and unsettling in the best way possible and immediately went to the store and bought two other of Wiseman’s books, The Plum Tree and What She Left Behind.

Born with what some would call an anomaly or defect, Lilly is locked in an attic until her mother sells her to a circus sideshow. In the 1930s, those who were deemed different or deformed were often considered monsters. Many were ashamed that their child was different or not normal. PT Barnum was the first, I believe, to gather together these societal misfits and put them on display. For some, the circus life was all they knew and for others it was a horrific ordeal. Lilly's experiences in the circus aren't easy to read and abuse was rampant, but she found a life and love there as well. She tried to make the most of the life she was given as long as she was able to.

Julia's life mirrors Lilly's in some ways and as she discovers more about who the mysterious young girl in the photos is, she learns about her own strengths and who she is.

Some books are easy to read, enjoyed and then forgotten. Other books are difficult and you have to muddle your way through them and force yourself to continue. And then there are books that tug at your heartstrings and make you think and ponder as you continue reading what should simply be defined as plot and characters, but what is really a study of life and human behavior.

While mostly Lilly's story, the movement between both women's experiences strengthens their bond and enriches the novel. At times heart-wrenching, this is not always an easy story to read, but it is compelling and begs the reader to continue.

The story isn't inherently happy, but there are moments of hope and the title is appropriate for both Lilly and Julia. There is a mildly graphic instance of animal abuse that is central to a plot in the story.

I received an advanced reader's edition of this book in exchange for an honest review and finished it at about one in the morning. It was hard to put down. Please be aware that "The Life She Was Given" by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a somewhat dark novel that deals with disturbing topics and may or may not be upsetting to some readers. This isn't uncommon for the author. In all of her books, Wiseman has tackled issues from the past which are uncomfortable to acknowledge.

Lily Blackwood is nine years old in 1931. She's the first character introduced as the novel begins, has spent her entire life in a locked, attic room, and fears the cruel and abusive mother who keeps her there. Told by the woman that she's an abomination and a monster, Lily's only sources of kindness or joy come from her father (when he's around) or cat, Abby. Young Lily longs to experience life "outside", especially when a circus sets up within view of her tiny, locked and barred window.

Julia Blackwood has run away from home when we're introduced to her. It's 1956, and she's struggling to get by away from the horse farm she grew up on in upstate New York. The same horse farm young Lily was imprisoned at. But at this point, Julia knows nothing about Lily, believing she's the only child of older parents. Her mother is a cold, angry, demanding woman, and her recently deceased father essentially drank himself to death. Julia's mother blames her for the man's death, and Julia does, too. Unexpectedly, a private investigator hired by her family's attorney finds her in Long Island and hands Julia an envelope that will change her life.

The novel alternates between Lily's story and Julia's. It's pace is a bit slow, yet I found myself drawn into each of their experiences as drawn by the author. It wasn't difficult to predict early on how their stories might converge and/or the book end. Still, Wiseman skillfully develops each character--along with a myriad of secondary characters--bringing circus life in the 1930s into focus while simultaneously depicting nuances of independence among ghosts of the past for a young woman in the 1950s. Abuse is the novel's central theme. It encompasses verbal abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse... the abuse of children, women and animals... all often overlooked during those time periods. "The Life She Was Given" also deals with the shameful subject of how those born different were regularly treated by earlier generations. It isn't pretty, and today's society would find it repugnant.

All of that said, I found actions & dialog by characters throughout the book to be written too much like 2017. It's tricky for an author to understand/express nuances of language, attitudes and etiquette from decades ago. It's an all too common mistake to lay modern life like a sheet of tracing paper over the past in an effort to make a story relate-able to readers. In her earlier novels, "The Plum Tree" and "Coal River", Wiseman avoided that problem deftly. Here, not so well. Also, at some points, animal cruelty becomes overriding and I lost connection to the characters for awhile. It went beyond what I felt strictly necessary for the author to make her point. "The Life She Was Given" is a solid 4 stars for me, but it isn't a feel good novel in any way.

THIS BOOK, OMG!

Lilly was born an albino in the early 1930s during the depression to a family that was fairly well off during that time, the family owned Blackwood Manor and horse farm. Lilly’s mother kept her locked up in the attic until Lilly was ten years old before selling her to the Circus where she became a member of the “freak show”. All the time Lilly was locked up in the attic, hidden away from the outside world, her mother told her she was a monster and an abomination. Her mother was a religious fanatic and kept Bibles in Lilly’s tiny attic room and made her pray and read scripture devoutly. It’s hard to say if her mother was always this way with religion, or if she became that way after Lily was born, it doesn’t really say in the book, i’m guessing maybe after the birth of Lily, because, after having eight miscarriages, her mother vowed to sell her soul to the devil for a baby, and after Lilly was born with her condition, her mother believed it was because of the deal she made with the devil. Through the happenings of Lilly’s tragic and sad life it would seem like Lilly was absolutely a cursed child no doubt.

In the second chapter we meet Julia an eighteen year old girl in the 1950s. She is a struggling, barely getting by waitress in a little diner, she is not sure if she is going to have a meal that night or be able to pay her rent for the apartment she and her abusive boyfriend are living in. A private investigator shows up to the diner one night with a letter, informing Julia that she has inherited her childhood home, the home that she ran away from two years prior, is now hers. Her mother has passed and left the Blackwood Manor to her. Arriving at the creepy and possibly haunted manor, she discovers a disturbing secret that she is determined to get to the bottom of. From here bombshell after bombshell is dropped, right to the very last page. A few times I actually gasped and whispered “oh my gosh.”

I enjoyed this book immensely, this story has stuck in my mind, it really had an impact on me. The author really did a wonderful job with her research of that time period, and took some actual true events from history and weaved them into this unique skin crawling story. Knowing that a lot of the story was inspired by actual events makes this story that much more gripping.

One of the old adages, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going, or it is better to run away and join the circus. After reading Ellen Marie Wiseman’s thought provoking and at times heartfelt story The Life She Was Given, one may reconsider joining the circus or taking any metaphor that is as old as time and wishing that everywhere is better than what is in front of one’s eyes. The story carries that sentiment as well as others.

The book is twofold and centers upon the life of Lilly Blackwood and her past but also alternates with the present of Coralline Blackwood and her daughter 19-year-old Julia Blackwood being told that she has inherited her parents’ estate and farm at Blackwood Manor. The story begins with bits and pieces of Lilly’s childhood and adolescence and the mysteries of her own life growing up in a most unique environment – confined to her parent’s attic and later a part of their circus act of the Barlow Brother’s Circus. The most fascinating element and interactions are with the circus staff, especially Glory that helped Lilly come to an understanding of who she was, a beautiful and unique girl and quite the opposite of how her mother would describe – an abomination and a monster. Years later, the life that Lilly lived and the experiences with her mother Cora and father and other entanglements involving circus hands Cole and Merrick will reveal themselves that offer hints of why Lilly was treated in a way one cannot imagine despite how her parents were overprotective; they tried to provide a normal of life as best they could, filled her life with the most creative environment of fantasy and imagination, and with the attic decorated during the most festive seasons. Lilly came to enjoy the setting of exotic of elephants and giraffes, and coming to like places in the world such as Africa. However, underneath the surface, questions arose that Lilly began to ask that showed detachment and isolation, especially questions to why her mother and father were so distant and kept her in the attic. Her life reveals itself years later after 1956 and when Julia gains ownership of the farm and staff farm manager Claude Miller and Veterinarian Fletcher Reid. Things begin to unravel of secrets and mysteries surrounding who is exactly is Lilly Blackwood, but are the mysteries solved? Not exactly, one must read every chapter down to the last to find out. Many a twist and turn in every page.

The Life She Was Given is classic storytelling that may have readers’ minds reeling of wanting to know more what is in the next chapter. Lilly’s life was enclosed within the life of the circus and as character Glory lamented, it was a family and each member took care of its own. But when that life ended Julia finds out what that life really meant that hits close to home. There are subtle comparisons of the storyline to writers of the genre of American Gothic -- Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and slightly Stephen King.

Circus themed books are a hit or miss for me so I was slightly wary when starting this book. It had received some great reviews from my Goodreads friends and so I thought I’d give it a go.

The novel is told from two points of view. We first meet Lilly, in the early 1930’s. who is a little girl living locked in an attic for 10 years with nothing known of the outside world except what she reads in books and the little that she can see out of her window. She was told over and over throughout her life that she was an abomination, that if anyone saw her they would be frightened of her and maybe do her harm. “Lilly didn’t know what an abomination was, but is wounded bad. Her shoulders dropped and she sighed in the stillness of her room”.

She never had a mirror in her room but only saw a vague image of herself when it was dark outside and she saw her reflection in the window of her small room. Her mother is a religious fanatic who thinks that Lilly’s “condition” is her punishment for wishing so desperately for a child that she would sell her soul to the devil. Her father is a spineless man who does nothing to help Lilly, he instead escapes into alcohol.

When Lilly is age 10 the circus comes to town and her mother does what is almost incredible to believe, she sells her daughter to the circus. It is finally here that Lilly understands about her “condition” and makes friends and enemies among the circus people. Her story is a wonder to read and I kept wanting to get back to her story when I was reading Julia’s chapters.

We then meet Julia who is an 18 year old living in the early 1950’s. She ran away from a suffocating home environment when she was very young and is now struggling to make a life, working in a diner and living with an abusive boyfriend. She is astonished when a knock at the door brings her the news that her estranged parents have left their entire estate, Blackwood Manor, that home that she fled, to her, along with all of their assets, it is quite a fortune. She isn’t sure if she wants to return but feels that it has to be better than her current situation.

She finds that she has not only inherited Blackwood Manor but a family mystery which she is determined to solve. Through a lot of sleuthing and discovery Julia finds out the truth about the sister whom she was told had died and all of the astonishing things that had transpired while she was growing up and living in the same house. “She went into the dormer and tried to look out. She imagined a little girl, her sister, standing where she stood, looking out and wondering what else lay beyond this grimy window. Goose bumps rose on her arms. The longer she was in the room, the more nauseous she felt. Maybe there weren’t rats in the attic after all. Maybe it was her sister all along, making the noises in the ceilings and walls. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.”

I found the writing to be very good, descriptive and rich in verse describing some incredible people. Some so self involved and evil they are hard to comprehend and others so kind, forgiving and loving that they make the world shine. The history of Blackwood Manor makes for a very interesting read and I don’t think that you will be disappointed. The fact that some of the book is based on actual fact makes the story so much more incredible.

I was given an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss.

Blackwood Manor is the center point of the action for this dual-timeline story: set in both the 1930’’s and the 1950’s, the manor, the attic room and the struggle to find one’s place in the world all combine to build a story that is rich in gothic feel and surprising moments. Alternating points of view come with each chapter: we start with Lily’s story. Born an albino after her mother’s many miscarriages in the 1930’s: she was a prisoner in her own home: shut into a tiny attic room with no visitors save her mother. Purportedly to ‘keep her safe’, Lily’s mother is extreme and prone to words like monster and abomination when speaking with her, but juxtapose that with her fanaticism and religious fervor, and perhaps a touch of guilt or self-recrimination for bringing such a ‘different’ child into the world. To rid herself of the curse and burden, at ten, Lily is sold to a traveling circus to become a headliner in the freak show.

Fast forward twenty-ish years to meet Julia, now 18 and working in a restaurant after having left home years earlier. She’s never quite felt as if she was loved or fit in, and things are tough, including her falling in with an abusive man. She’s living hand to mouth, never certain that food will be on the table, or the rent will be paid when she is handed a chance at a way out. A private investigator found her to deliver some news: her mother is dead and Julia is now the owner of Blackwood Manor, her family home.

The story winds between these two – showing their own struggles with finding a place in the world to feel safe and loved, and their own issues with abusive or neglected pasts. Each new revelation from the girls brings a moment of pause: truly horrible situations yet they survived, and always looked for another day, another moment, a reason to hope. But the story quickly adds a third character, that of the manor house itself. Abandoned and aging, Julia’s discovery of a mystery and secret within its walls, the dank and removed attic room and her need to expose all of the darkness to the light and hopefully move forward keep the story engaging and intriguing, with a series of questions situations and answers that drop like petals from a flower.

There is a feel (and I say feel in the most general sense) that a reader will want to connect this to another title and say it’s like This or That – but those connections are the most basic (circuses, attics) and here is where I think Wiseman excels: her writing is evocative and laden with emotion. The prose flows smoothly, allowing each moment of discovery to stand on its own and be explored: from the character’s viewpoint and as a reader. You want to savor these moments as you are placing the pieces of the puzzle together: never quite certain just how moments will relate until the last pages. As an introduction to Wiseman’s work, this was a great one, and the ending here couldn’t have been more perfect.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

As I read The Life She Was Given I couldn't help but be remind of V C Andrews and then I read in the the back of the book that the author had been influenced by Andrews. The book was immensely entertaining though over the top at times. The melodrama meter was running high yet t was impossible to not care for the two main characters Lily and Julia. The book alternates between each girl's point of view and Wiseman gave just enough to keep you reading but there were times I felt frustrated with the back forth though it sure kept me flipping the pages.

I'm not a big circus fan for the same reason the author illustrates but i still found reading about the behind the scenes insights through Lily's eyes. I want to say if you love animals you'll love this book but the exploitation was horrendous so maybe you won't love the book. The characters were very vivid.

It was 1931 and Lilly Blackwood had spent her entire short life in the attic bedroom of her parent’s house. Never allowed outside or even downstairs in case “someone saw her” - she was told by her Momma that she was an abomination. But things changed the night her Momma took her across the paddock of their land to the lights and tents of a circus which had arrived only a couple of days previously. The sights and sounds, even the smells, were frightening to Lilly – the sky big and vast. She had no idea “outside” would be like that. And when her Momma left her with the horrible man after taking money from him – and walked away, ten-year-old Lilly was devastated…

Over twenty years later, nineteen-year-old Julia Blackwood was living rough – her waitress job only just paid the rent but she had nothing left over for food. Julia had run away from home three years previously, after finally having enough of her cruel and vindictive mother. When she was notified that she had inherited her parent’s estate, she was unsure if she wanted to return. But knowing her mother would no longer be at the house made the decision easier…

Julia’s return to her childhood home brought back distressing memories for her – but when she found evidence of a mystery surrounding a circus and a young girl, Julia’s interest was piqued. What did the deep, dark secrets hide that she felt were right there? Who was this beautiful young woman? And what was hidden in the depths of the old house and its locked rooms?

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman is an amazing, emotional, heart rending story of two young women and the traumatic and hopeless lives they both lived. It’s a story of evil and hope – of fleeting happiness and dark despair. And it’s a story unlike any I’ve ever read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it! My first by this author, and it won’t be my last. A most highly recommended tale. (The cover is perfect - eye catching and just right!)

Set in the 20th century, this very emotional tale weaves together the stories of two women. Alternately we follow Lilly Blackwood, a young albino girl who has been kept in a secret attic room most of her life till one day her mom sold her to a traveling circus freak show. Once there we are in the circus world, with all the good and bad. We jump two decades later, with Julia Blackwood returning to the family farm where she will soon discover the attic’s dark secrets ….

The story is very touching as we slowly discover the disturbing and frightening things done to Lilly and the kind of life she had hidden away in an attic for years and how she must have felt to be sold by someone she loved to an unscrupulous man running a circus. Undeniably Ms. Wiseman did extensive research to recreate the circus life, its slang, performers and their superstitions, animals training and shows, their behaviours including noises and most of all, how the freak shows was run and how important and lucrative this sideshow was, not forgetting the presence of fraudulent medium star performer who was the highlight in many ways. In graphic scenes, the story also explores how the circus animals were treated or mistreated.

The story overlaps with Julia taking over her family’s horse business and slowly the secret that binds the two lies at the heart of the tragedy…..Moving between Lilly’s and Julia stories the authors has portrayed two extraordinary and very different women with exceptional life filled with family secrets, tragedy, hope and joy. Their stories displayed a mix of emotions that can possibly drain some readers. Both characters are compelling as well as the myriad of vivid secondary players even the evil ones. All roles were played perfectly.

This engrossing tale is written in short chapters using contemporary language and keeps a steady pace throughout. “The Life She Was Given” is a page tuner almost impossible to put down.

I received this review copy from the publisher via Netgalleys

THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN was a very good use of my reading time. I was dying to read this book as I'm fascinated with stories of the circus so thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. This is the story of a girl sold to the circus by her mother and another girl who runs away from her mother. Told from both perspectives in alternating chapters, Wiseman captures the complexity of girls coming of age who must look to themselves for guidance as they can't get it from their parents. The plot of this story is so engaging and the visuals are sharp and concise. You can smell the peanuts and taste the tears. I loved every word and every plot twist. I really thought I knew how the novel would end and was completely wrong. Wiseman delivers characters you raise in your heart and a story your mind will never forget.

Another well-written and creative offering from Ellen Marie Wiseman, full of suspense and showcasing both the best and worst of human beings.

There are two main characters - Lilly and Julia, whose histories are both connected to Blackwood Manor, a horse farm whose owners have hidden many secrets over the years. During the middle of the Depression, Lilly is born with a distinctive appearance that her mother believes indicates the child is “marked by the devil.” And so begins her parents’ elaborate efforts to hide her from society, until Lilly’s mother decides Lilly must leave Blackwood Manor permanently.

A generation later, Julia is living a bare existence as a runaway, when she suddenly inherits Blackwood Manor. She goes there to decide if she wants to live there, and quickly gets wrapped up in all the secrets.

Another thing that ties Julia and Lilly together is their uncanny ability to relate to animals.

I can’t describe the book much more without risking spoilers - but I will say the book is full of the morals and sensibilities of another era — where cruelty to people and animals could be the centerpiece of a profit making venture and people paid money to gawk at physical deformities. It’s not an easy read. The book is full of horrors committed by people against other people and animals. But it’s also difficult to put down.

I am rating The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman 5 stars because it's been a while since I have been completely moved by a story. It is the heartbreaking story of a little girl who was never given a chance and had the worst luck in life.

I was hooked into the story line from the start. The story had dual point of views that I felt easily transitioned from one to the other. The reader is taken through Lilly's life as she struggles with everything thrown at her and you keep reading, waiting for her to get her happy ending. At the same time Julie doesn't really know where she stands in life and learns her family has more than a few secrets hidden in thier past.

This book shows the ugly side of circus life in the 1930s. The violence and animal abuse are gut wrenching to read and very descriptive. The animals were as important as some of the main characters and I fell in love with them all.

Overall this book hurt my soul. It was beautiful and heartbreaking and I am so glad that I read it.

Lilly has been living in her families attic for her whole life. It is 1931 and all she knows is what she can see out her small window and her books that her father brings her when he can. Her mother says she is an abomination and would scare people if she were allowed out. On the eve of her 10th birthday, her father is out of town. Her mother makes a rare appearance in the attic and tells Lilly that she must hurry, she is going to a special show just for her at a circus across their property. Lilly is frightened of everything, the world outside is so large! Lilly is wishing she could just go back to her attic room and especially after her mother sells her to the circus.

Nineteen years later, Julia, who ran away from her mother a couple of years ago, is found by a private detective and told she has inherited the family farm after her parents death. She goes back home to find there are many secrets surrounding her family that she knew nothing about, such as having an older sister.

This is a well written book that brings the story to life. You have rollercoaster emotions going through it and can't wait to see how it turns out, it brought tears to my eyes more than once. There is human as well as animal abuse in the story so if you don't like those types of books, you should skip this one. I love circus stories anyway but Wiseman brings out the family aspect and how everyone sticks together.

Wow, this book was riveting all the way through. I don't normally like when a book switches pov with every chapter, but it worked perfectly in this case, allowing a perfect build-up to the conclusion. I loved all the characters, elephants included, and I loved the air of mystery that keeps you guessing as to how it all ends up. I'll admit it did not end the way I had initially thought it would, but I did guess right with regards to some aspects of the conclusion. I had recommended this to my mother in law when I was halfway through it, but now I'm not sure because it gets cree-py at the end! The book begins with gross child neglect and cruelty but moves into animal cruelty and then back to all around cruelty and messed up people!!! Be prepared for a multitude of emotions.

I loved this story! Parallel stories of Lillie Blackwood and Julia Blackwood, both raised in an unloving environment, by a cold cruel mother and a weak, alcoholic father. As a child, Lillie is kept locked in a small attic room, told that she is a monster and would frighten anyone seeing her, while viewing the world from a barred window, At age 9, her mother sells her to traveling circus that visits the area, and she becomes part of the freak side show, never to return to her abusive home.
Lillie Blackwood is raised, never understanding why she is unloved by her parents, until she leaves at age 18, in an attempt to find some happiness on her own. She learns of her parents death and that she must return to the home, to claim her inheritance, and hopefully discover the mysteries of Blackwood Manor and the story of Lillie!
Spectacular writing, with vivid descriptions of a thriving horse farm, as well as a child, growing up with her unconventional circus family, climaxing with the truth regarding the bond between Lillie and Julia. You won’t be disappointed!

Every once in awhile you find an author....that you wait with anticipation for their next book.........hoping that it will live up to what you have come to expect with the other books you have read.
Well I have found that author, Ellen Marie Wisemen. From the First Book I read......THE PLUM TREE....to all the others I have never been disappointed.

The Life She Was Given is Ellen Marie's latest book and it does not disappoint.

Lilly and Julia are two of the main characters and the life they have been given is very jam packed with a beautiful story. Each chapter about each of their lives, gives a great picture of what is happening around them...........from the setting, the sounds and smells...the book comes alive before your eyes. There are no boring spots to the book...............each page pulls you further and further into their lives...two girls on what you might think are on different paths. Little did I know how they would be intertwined. Lilly's life at Blackwood Manor and then the circus are very well written, you feel like you are right there. Julia returning to Blackwood Manor is spellbinding and creepy at the same time.

This book is a page turner................one you don't want to put down. I have rated it *5 Stars but it is so much more!

The book is well written and kept my attention until its ending which left me depressed, disappointed, and not at all what I was expecting. The ending spoiled all the enjoyment I had while reading everything that came before it. It felt like a quick solution to ending the story. Depressing.

What a beautiful, heart-breaking and heart-warming story. Tissues are a must, but you will fall in love with the two female leads: strong, capable women whose actions rise above horrific circumstances over which they have no control. I'm a huge fan of Ellen Marie Wiseman's books, but this might be my favorite. The characters, the historical detail of life in a Depression-era traveling circus, the world of elephants, the darkest of family secrets, and ultimately, the redemption … all make this a gripping page-turner. I have no doubt THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN will be a hot favorite with book clubs.

I received an advanced reader copy of the book from the author and the publisher in return for an honest review.

really loved this novel.
But before I say more, first confession. I don't like circus. I don't like animals in cages, being tortured. I don't like zoos and aquariums.
But even though the story is about circus, I did love this novel. I liked Lilly for being so loving and compassionate.
This novel is beautiful, but also heart-wrenching. It was hard to read how her own parents turned against her after she was born. How they made her feel as monster, when in fact she was beautiful albino girl.

Synopsis:
Lilly Blackwood was living in the attic all her life. She was 9 years old, when she spotted circus through her small window. Next night her mother came and took her there. She sold her little daughter, that was kept secret for all those years. Only because she was albino. Her own mother decided that her place is among freaks in circus.

Years later Julia Blackwood inherited her parents estate. There she learned about her dark family secrets.

This is such a great novel. Even though there are so many heartbreaking moments, the story also gives a hope. I highly recommend it!

I have read all of Ellen Marie Wiseman’s novels so when I heard her newest book, The Life She Was Given, was being published I was excited and anxious to get my hands on a copy. I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest review.
Lilly is a ten year old girl whose mother has kept her prisoner in their attic because she was born “different”. When she is ten years old her horrible mother finally takes her out, only to sell her to the circus. Her life in the circus was difficult but she was finally surrounded by some people who cared about her. There is another character in this book and her name is Julia and she also grew up in the same house, decades after Lilly. She was not a prisoner in the attic but she was unfortunately raised by the same loveless woman who sold Lily to the circus. There are secrets and a mystery that unfold as you read this interesting historical fiction noveI. I was swept up in the story from the beginning and loved every minute of reading. I am giving this book a 5 star rating.

Lily Blackwood lives in the attic of Blackwood Manor, he parents never allowing her access to the outside world. But a circus visiting town will change the course of her life. Over twenty years later, Julia Blackwood runs away from Blackwood Manor and her controlling mother, only to discover that, at her lowest point, bathing in the sink of a gas station, her mother has died and left her the house which was never a home. Now Julia must make decisions about the race horses in the barn, and find the answer to why her father drank so much every night until he finally died drunk driving. What made her mother so cold and why did her father seem so sad and guilty? What secrets hide in this house, with pictures of an old circus and a ring of keys to rooms she’s never entered? The Life She Was Given is enthralling and tragic, evoking pity and sympathy for both children and animals, and the choices others thrust upon the innocent. For similar readings, discussion questions, or a themed recipe for White Almond Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting, visit Hub Pages.

A hauntingly beautiful, yet devastating, story. In The Life She Was Given, Ellen Marie Wiseman transports the reader back in time to circus life in the 1930s. A young girl, Lilly, is ripped from the only life she has known, thrust into the harsh realities of performing in the circus sideshow. Through the years, she learns to overcome many obstacles and finds love in a young man and in performing with her cherished elephants. Fast forward two decades to the life of Julia, a young woman who has inherited her parents’ estate. She uncovers secrets her parents have stashed away, including articles about a circus performer. The mystery splendidly unfolds, revealing the correlations between the two girls’ lives. Wiseman’s writing pulls the reader wholly and deeply into the story and reflects between the two storylines seamlessly. This book will go down as one of my favorites of all time, and I would not be surprised it becomes a classic to future generations.

The Life She Was Given is a frustrating and sad story about a young girl who is forced to stay in her parent's attack and then she is sold off to the circus. The author's descriptions of the 'Freak Show' characters and their lifestyle is vivid and shocking. The young girl, Lilly faces unimaginable abuse, yet she still manages to have a deep compassion, especially for animals. The author alternates between the story of Lilly and the story of Julia, another young girl who faced the cruelty of her parents. After the death of her parents, Julia begins to unravel a mystery about a sister who died, but she struggles to make sense of the clues she discovers. I really enjoyed this book, and the only reason I am giving it 4 stars is because the ending felt awkward, the resolution dragged on and left the reader with so many unanswered questions. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction.

Maybe this is not my favorite genre but I've read plenty of books in it that have captured my attention. The story was predictable by the fourth chapter. The author used very modern language which made it hard to remember this was in the 30s and 50s. This was a recommendation by a friend and i regret the money spent. The characters weren't flat just predictable as was the story. The writing was good and the story moved along ok...I wish there would have been more excitement and some unexpected twist but it just wont be a memorable read.

You can debate the ending with yourself or others but you can't deny that this is a great novel. Wiseman has created two wonderful characters in Lily and Julie; the alternating chapters tell the story. She also clearly spent a lot of time researching circus life in the 30s to 50s- the images are so vivid. The animals become characters in their own right. This is a thought provoking tale about how one can take a bad event and turn it into a good life. Lots of emotion, lots of love- thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This could be characterized loosely as women's fiction or historical fiction but at root it's just an excellent read.

Flowers in the Attic meets Snow White meets Water For Elephants. A young girl is locked away in the attic due to a deformity that leads to her mother hating her. So much so that she actually sells her own daughter to the circus. As Lilly struggles to adapt to her new life and make the best of it, we are also getting the story of her "sister" twenty some years later. The evil mother has died and left everything to Julia, who now cones back home to pick up the pieces. After finding the hidden room in the attic she begins to put the pieces together of how wicked her "mother" was and the truth of her "sister".

This book was beautifully written and so heartbreaking. How can a mother be so awful to her own child?? That is all I kept asking myself throughout the book and the further I got the worse this mother became. Lilly never let her tough luck break her spirit and despite all the times she was knocked down so still managed to create a great life for herself until it was suddenly all ripped away from her.

I will despise the mother in this story for a very long time.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for my copy of this great book.

I've learned a bit about history in every book by this author. Told from two different eras, Lilly's in the 1930's, and Julia's in the 1950's, the story delves into the struggles both girls face with family secrets and making their way on their own in life.

This novel was as heart-wrenching as Ellen's other books but I really struggled with the way Lilly's parents treated her. The poor girl went from being a prisoner in her own home to a prisoner in the circus.
I was happy she found love and acceptance there--two things she never received at home.

The story will make you think about how we treat people who are "different". The history of circus life was eye-opening for me and I can only hope it has improved over the years. Another great historical fiction book by this author!

I'm fine with reading a depressing novel. But this was just brutal. There was no redemption or relief for our main character. The animal cruelty was brutal. I understand that all this happened in the past; I'm not that naive. But still. Sometimes I just want to read for pleasure. This book was not pleasurable.

Okay, maybe this was something that people did way back when. I know my mom would threaten to sell us to the circus when we were kids (but only when we were terrible). I didn't think anyone ever really did that.....until I read this book.

Lilly is a girl who, according to her parents, is "a monster, an abomination". And so she ends up in the circus.

This story follows her throughout the years and also follows that of another girl, almost 20 years later.

Good story and quick to read. I figured everything out early on, but still enjoyed how the story unfolded. It's definitely worth your time to read this book!

Fantastic book! I was really looking forward to this one and I finally got a copy of the ARC through the publisher and NetGalley, I was not disappointed at all. It was a very engaging story that made me hate to put the book down to do things one must do in life. If it had been possible, I would have loved to read this in a couple sittings, but that's not realistic for me unfortunately. The characters are well-developed and the plot is told in two points of view from Lilly in the 1930s and Julia in the 1950s. There is a brief instance of animal cruelty, but it is an integral part of the story. I highly recommend this book and although, I have read one of her previous books and gave that one also 5 stars and I look forward to getting a chance to red her other 2 as well. I will look forward to any of her future books.

It was hard for me to decide how many stars to give this book. On the one hand it was written well and was a good if not depressing story. On the other hand it was an extremely depressing story and so very very hard to read at times. *SPOILER* - as a lover of animals and especially elephants, I could not read the parts about Pepper. I am not stupid - I know what happened and still does to animals in zoos and circuses especially in that time period, but I was having such a hard time with it. As for the main character, she too was written in such a harsh way, not the personality but what she goes through. When I finished the book, I was glad, because I really could not take anymore sorrowful, bleak, crushing writing. Again, this is how I feel. I am sure there are people who are not as emotional as I am about certain subjects.

I almost laughed when I read the 1star reviews all crying in the corner because the book made them sad and in their privileged little lives they've never had to feel the very real non-sensical cruelty of prejudice and hyper-religion. Yes, it's disturbing. As is real life if you've ever had to step out into it. So much of what happens to the circus performers and animals the author actually used from real-life historical examples. It was called The Depression, people, and yet you're surprised that it was all so..."depressing"? Okayyy...That is how people and animals were treated in that era and in ways, still are. (It's just now, 80 years into their future, becoming illegal to use elephants in the circus!) That's what I appreciated about the book and what I think makes other people whine about it; because deep down they know that rape, extreme child abuse, animal torture, and forms of slavery in America are all alive and well. This isn't a Disney story about an outcast who becomes a princess just because she wishes so damn hard to be. And it's not a feel good story about an outcast who claws her way to the top because she works so hard to get there. This is a chilling story about how no matter how hard someone tries to change their life course there are cruel and evil people out there who spend their energy mercilessly controlling the lives of others and for many unfortunate people on this planet (the majority, actually) they can't ever rise above that domination unless or until the evil people are removed. The villains in this story, just like in life, find ways in their demented minds to justify their prejudice and abuse. Even though I saw from the get-go what the "twist" was, I still couldn't put it down until I finished the book entirely because I wanted to hear how the characters found out and what their reactions would be since they didn't see it coming. The ending left me with a lot of theories and philosophies on life to mull over and re-evaluate and it urged me to discover actual carnie and freak show facts that I didn't previously know about (like "Murderous Mary" the Asian Elephant of 1916). The story was so real, teeter tottering between sweet and bitter that cotton candy and absinthe seemed to take turns flowing from every other page. If you like "Carnivale", "Freakshow" and tamer Stephen King or Ray Bradbury ("Something Wicked This Way Comes") then this is for you. If you are expecting a collision of "Cinderella", "Dumbo", and "Water for Elephants" then this is not for you and you should seriously question your need for and belief in "happy endings." The double ending with all the symbolisms was very Bronte in feel to me, and it left me feeling full and hit every emotion along the spectrum from horror to hope. I'm not usually one to enjoy a book-based movie; but I've got to say that I hope there's a movie made of this story and soon (and that it sticks nearly verbatim to the book)! I wished there could've been black and white photographs included in the binding that represented the photos described in the story. I haven't read any of her other works, but I will now.

This is one of those books in the style of alternating between one character and then another. I enjoyed the storyline of both characters and never got temper to skip chapters and read ahead in one character only like I sometimes do. I only have it three stars because sometimes it read like a teen book, giving explanations of review when it wasn't needed,; and by the time the character caught on to the twist that was happening in the story, it was already long obvious to the reader. It also was a little too bleeding heart for me.

I have waited for this author to release this book, but this book was really sad. This is one of my favorite authors as I loved the books she first wrote. However, this book was about a girl that lived in an attic, and then was sold to the circus by her mother. I enjoyed reading how she met Glory, and was glad someone was there for her, but I thought too much time was spent on the animals in the circus, and a very sad ending. I was somewhat frustrated with this book as I enjoyed it to begin with, but then as it moved on it just got sadder. I will not give up on her, but this is definitely not as good as her first books were. What She Left Behind was one of the best books I have ever read. Hopefully, her next book will get back on track with a better story line!

As a fan of circuses, side shows, and secrets, this book covered all the bases in a page turning manner. It was a mix of geek love, water for elephants and flowers in the attic. Heart warming, engaging, disturbing, and a true page turner. I also loved how the book was similar to an Erik Larson novel where each chapter focused on a particular story. I kept reading and reading because I was so curious what unfolded next for the two main characters.
The author did an incredible job with playing with the reader's emotions, helping you feel the grit of a circus, and showing off the beauty of an elephant.
I consider this book a keeper for my shelves.

Lilly had been locked away in her parents attic since birth. When the circus sets up nearby, her mother sells her to the circus, determined to send her "monster" child away. Over twenty years later, Julia inherits her parents estate and horse farm. When she finds a hidden attic room and a handful of circus photos, she begins to investigate, slowly unraveling her family's secrets.

This was an absolutely fascinating book. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm leaving my synopsis a bit vague. The alternating storylines between Lilly and Julia worked extremely well. The stories unraveled at a quick pace, the plot interesting from beginning to end. Overall, highly recommended.

I do not know where to start with this review. Wait, yes I do.....
1. Go buy this book or get it from the library and add it to your "to-read" list
2. Get a box of tissue handy for the hard truths you will face in this book.
3. Read it!!!!!!

Chilling, powerful, mesmerizing, disturbing, heart wrenching, emotional, beautiful at times, thought provoking!! Did I cover the areas this book will take you? I loved how the entire book is told from two perspectives, and how the author makes those perspectives collide at the end left me breathless. 
This book will not disappoint. And now I have a new author to explore more of her books. Beautifully written.

This is my first book by Ellen Marie Wiseman but it definitely won't be the last. What an incredible story written with such beautiful detail. I was quickly drawn into this beautiful, heart-breaking and heart-warming story. It's a story I won't soon forget. My next task is to search out all Ms. Wiseman's previous works and add them to my TBR list. Six stars? May I?

A very special thank you to NetGalley, Kensington Books and Ms. Wiseman for an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a crazy one. It reminded me a lot of the Flowers in the Attic books -- just due to the over-the-top nature of the circumstances and characters. And there's a reason why very extreme and over-the-top stories are popular, and this is a classic of that sort -- eye-popping, page-turning melodrama. The writing isn't especially graphic, although people who are very sensitive to stories about abuse (animal, child and sexual), might want to avoid this one. But for me, although I enjoyed the story, it was so very over-the-top that I didn't connect enough to the characters to become emotionally invested in their various fates.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
The Life She Was Given is a gorgeous novel! Alternating chapters tell Lilly's and Julia's stories. Lilly was a young girl who hadn't left her attic room until one night when her mother took her to the circus and sold her to the sideshow. Julia is down on her luck when the attorney for her parents' estate finds her and she returns to Blackwood Manor, the childhood home she ran away from. Julia discovers that there are many secrets hiding in the old manor. The most mysterious is the empty attic bedroom.
The weaving together of Lilly's and Julia's stories is very skillful. I I loved The Life She Was Given - I read it in one sitting.

I have really enjoyed the other two books I have read by Ms. Wiseman and this one was no different. It is a dual story line. In one, there is an albino girl who is kept locked in the attic because her parents are embarrassed by her condition. She makes her way to the circus and lives most of her life as a performer. The parts about her work with the circus elephants were some of the most sweet and at the same time heart wrenching parts of the book. In the other story line there is a woman who is called back to her parents home to collect her inheritance after they have both passes away. It is a horse farm and she is left to discover what her parent's lives were about and how her past was wrapped up in the farm.

I really enjoyed this book and the characters. It was not one that kept me guessing a lot but it was such a good story. As I have said, I have read two other books by Ellen Marie Wiseman and enjoyed them, particularly What She Left Behind just a bit more, but I would definitely recommend this boo to others.

Another amazing story from Ms.Wiseman. She weaves a sad tale of the Blackwood family in 2 timelines. Daughter Lily is sent off by her mentally ill mother to live with the circus in 1931, because she feels Lily is a freak and not fit to live with regular people. Lily struggles to accept what has happened to her, but eventually makes a new family among the circus performers. 1950's brings us the story of Julia Blackwood, who is called home upon the death of her mother to inherit the Blackwood home and farm. Julia stumbles across evidence of a big family secret in the house which leads her to believe she may have had a sister. It was very different story than I've ever read.

Why do we rebel out of out coherent loving and understanding families? The answer lies in many cases when one member or more discovers the DIFFERENCE he or she has. and when the family can't adjust to this difference action must be taken by the individual to defend the integrity of his/her self, well-being and consequently the a prosperous FUTURE. this is the only way to protect against vicious cycles from happening by other individuals within the family carrying inside them the "Torch of ignorance!" trying to stop this DIFFERENT persona from venturing into what God created it to become.

I haven't the foggiest idea but books that deal with circus life intrigue me - In my early years I did want to be a trapeze artist! This book by Ellen Marie Wiseman hits the mark on all accounts. It has a sumptuous plot that is balanced with horror and also tenderness. I loved the story-line of Lilly with all the heart-breaking things she had to endure. Reading this book will be a story and characters that you won't soon forget. If you enjoyed "Water for Elephants", then I think you would enjoy this. A solid 4 star.

I’d say 4.5. The book really kept me reading. I liked both girls a lot. Spoiler: Don’t know why I didn’t realize Julia was Lily’s daughter. Except I did NOT expect Lily to die that way after so much sorrow with only a brief few years of joy. But my main problem is how the father could be so guilt ridden and full of love for Lily that he could let that attic happen either time. Are you kidding me? Tell the darn mom no, no, no from the minute Lily was born. Of course there wouldn’t have been a story. But still! Also I’ve read a lot in the reviews about the cruelty to animals (and it was awful), but the cruelty to people was just as bad. For some this is life and it makes me very sad.

Very sad and depressing book. At the same time it was a well written story. I felt so strongly for Lilly. No matter what happened it seemed she was always given a raw deal. The story of the circus and how Lilly came to work there was very interesting. It also had the story of Julia in which both stories tie in together. I would've given it 4 stars if the ending didn't feel so vague. It was satisfying all the way through the book but at the end I felt it could've tied together better. All in all I highly recommend the book only if you can handle a sad read.

I thought this was a good book. I knew where the author was going with Pepper the elephant. Spoil alert ****** there was a story of the elephant Mary that came to the same demise as Pepper. People back in the day put their children in insane asylums if they had defects. This story just showed how animals have suffered abuse as well as children. I thought she told a great story. We need to be aware of how elephants have suffered in circuses...etc. this story showed that people have souls, feelings, want to be loved...just because they are different on the outside does not mean they are different on the inside! Yes, it’s hard to read the abuses but the story shows the tenderness....

I started reading this book because I have always liked going to the circus and find it interesting. I wasn't really sure what to expect out of this book. I liked how the story unfolded between the two generations. This book was hard to put down and contained lots of mystery along with being a very emotional read. The characters were very well developed. In the beginning of a few chapters I felt like it had jumped to far ahead this made me feel as if i had missed out on something. This was the first book by this author that I have read but I hope to read more by her if they are as emotional as this story was. I thought it was a pretty great story.

This book is honestly one of the most horribly, gut-wrenchingly depressing novels I've ever read. I love a book that jerks on the heartstrings but this one is just irredeemably awful. I rarely regret reading a book but this one was just... I honestly want to trash this novel so I'm not responsible for anyone else reading it :(

This review will also be published on Books, INK

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with the circus and judging by recent bestsellers like Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, I am not alone. When I go the circus with my family, my husband and two boys are filled with joy, smiles lighting up their faces through the whole show, while my experience is more mixed. Though I do enjoy some of the animal acts, and I am in awe of the contortionists and acrobats, my mind always wanders to questions about goings on behind the scene. What is it like to live life on the road? Is there drama between the performers and the crew? Are the animals well cared for and treated with kindness?
The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman explores these questions and so much more. The novel alternates between the stories of Lilly Blackwood and her younger sister, Julia Blackwood. In 1931, Lilly is nine-years-old and lives her life locked away in the attic of her parents’ home, with only her beloved cat for company. Because she is albino, her parents have kept her a secret since her birth. Late one night, Lilly’s mother takes her out of the house under the cover of darkness and sells her to the Barlow Brothers’ circus. Initially Lilly is terrified by this foreign world, but as the years pass, the other members of the circus develop into a family much warmer and more supportive than her family of origin. Glory, the tattooed woman, becomes a surrogate mother and Cole, the elephant handler, a trusted friend. The elephants also become members of her family as Lilly begins performing with the them, leaving her days of being a sideshow freak behind her.
Meanwhile, in 1956, Julia Blackwood is eighteen and has been estranged from her cold, uncaring mother since her father’s sudden death. When her mother dies, Julia inherits her parents’ horse farm and estate. When she first returns to her childhood home, she finds it hard to imagine living in the country by herself, but as the days pass, she finds solace and comfort in caring for the horses. Spending time exploring her parents’ estate, she finds old papers, photographs and secret corners of the house. The unexpected things she discovers make her question who she is and where she really comes from.
Wiseman does an impeccable job with her research about the circus, making every moment feel authentic and believable, the details and descriptions so well done that I could almost smell the popcorn, sweat and elephant dung. The alternating perspectives and the intriguing ways the two stories intersect makes the novel move quickly to its satisfying conclusion. Stories about the circus will always pique my interest, and The Life She Was Given does not disappoint. Next up, The Greatest Showman, a musical biopic about Barnum starring Hugh Jackman, coming out from 20th Century Fox on Christmas Day. My family had the incredible honor of spending a day on the movie set a few months ago, and this film is definitely not one to miss.

It's taken me more than a week to come up with the words that can accurately describe this book and the way it made me feel, without scaring other readers away... because it's definitely MUST READ! I was immediately drawn in, needing to know about Lily, and poor hand of life she'd been dealt, and how Julia fit into to it all, how did these women connect? I could not put this book down... and when I had to, I was desperately wishing I could get back to it. Very few books take my breath away, and keep me thinking about them for days... but this was one of them! The first book I've read by Ellen Marie Wiseman, and I immediately went to buy more and borrow from library!

When a story draws you in from the beginning, you know it's going to be a great book. A dual perspective story with good character development that draws in the reader.  I  found myself connecting  with both characters, although I think Lilly's story was a little more interesting.  A historical fiction novel reminiscent of Water for Elephants, but WAY better.  Warning: There is some dark and disturbing content in this book. Even I felt myself  shuddering with horror at times. This  story will definitely tug at the heartstrings and leave a lasting impression. I would not hesitate to recommend this one.

I really enjoyed this author's previous books, but this one was just awful! I agree with the other reviewers that this is not the book for animal lovers---I could not read the part about Pepper, either. I was even upset about the main character's beloved cat, Abby. But what happened to humans in the story was also bleak and terrible, without any ray of light or hope. her book, The Plum Tree, about the Nazi devastation in WW II was excellent, but this book had no redeeming features.

I adore all of Ellen Marie Wiseman's novels, but THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN is my new favorite. This gifted writer has a way of transporting the reader to the setting of her novels, in this case, the richly detailed circus of the 1930s. Fans of WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND will adore this book, which also has dual points of view and timelines, as well as two wonderful, captivating, and resilient main characters. Beautifully written, with a story that drew me in from the very first page, this book is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and each page is a joy to read. I highly recommend this book!

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Written in dual timelines, Lilly Blackwood (1930) age 10, is sold to the circus by her mother who says she is damaged and an abomination. Current day, Julia Blackwood inherits her family estates after her parents die. Along with the estate is a horse farm and many deep, dark secrets that threaten to consume Julia.

Wow, good book! I've read a couple of the author's books and have greatly enjoyed them. Well written, interesting characters, and simply said, just a plain good story.

I could not endure the horrible writing. Unrealistic characters and underdeveloped story lines. You can literally skip pages and pages of drivel and get the gist of the " story. " Her other book, What She Left Behind , was better, but only slightly. Had to read them for Book Club, otherwise would not have continued past 50 pages.

Just finished this Gem. I never even thought I would be interested in Circus theme books this is my second book I've read (about Circuses) and I loved it. The moment I opened this book I was pulled in and could not put it down until I finished the last page. This story is told over decades in the 1931 you meet 9 year old Lilly who has been locked up in her parents attic since birth because she was born different she was born Albino. Then in 1956 we meet Julia who has to get away from her religious mother after her father's death. This story interlocks while taking you on a emotional, heartbreaking and grief filled journey. This book is a must read. If you liked "Water for Elephants" you will definitely want to pick up this book. A MUST Read!! Ellen Marie Wiseman did a awesome job telling this story.

I really enjoyed this book, it was the first I had read by this author. I found it fast reading and enjoyed the two separate stories about the two main characters. It was disturbing and yet interesting to learn about how life was in the circus in the 1930's. Especially with how many people feel about them today. I think the ending was a too hurried, but that's the only complaint I have about this book. After I finished the book, I went and looked for other books that this author had written and did order one of her earlier books.

Right out of the gate it grips you. You have no choice but to either keep reading or think about what you read & what's to come. I read the advanced readers edition weeks and weeks ago, but still have it rolling around in my mind. Early in the novel, as your heart is already connected to Lilly, she reminds herself why she is not allowed to eat with her mommy & daddy. I remember looking up at my husband with my mouth agape, eyes welled, & my breathe gone. I just wanted to hold this little girl.
Deeper in when you are seeing the inside of circus life & the life Lilly was given~that heart you gave her early on? Wrenched. I will admit, there were parts that were hard for me to get past. I have a animal sensitivity that borders ridiculous. Just thinking about the elephants gives me a lump in my throat. Such a beautiful creature & as Ellen reminds us of the inhumane history of the big tent, your emotions will be reeling at a new level.
Then there's Julia. An entirely different life Ellen has given throughout the novel. The connection between the two girls, if any, keeps you on the edge of the page.
Truly a must read. Thanks, Ellen, for, not only a Goodreads, but an absolute GREATreads.

Heartbreaking, shocking, riveting are the words to describe this book. I couldn't put it down! I was in the Ringling Circus and worked around elephants; I had friends killed by elephants...I hate bull hooks and the way some of the elephants were treated. But they were also loved, the way Lilly loved Pepper. What a heart wrenching book.

Ellen Wiseman has written another page-turner that may send readers to the depths and heights of emotions. This book of secrets, hardships, child abuse, and family neglect is told by the two main characters Lily and Julia. Their relationship is not revealed until the last chapter. The main settings for the book are a circus and a multi-storied mansion with secret passageways and rooms. Freak shows, locked attics, and misunderstood birth defects are components of this emotional read.

This was my first time reading this author and I have found a new favorite! I loved and rooted for Lilly and Julia and waited patiently to see how their stories were connected. You know you’ve fallen into a great read when you are sobbing and find yourself trying to contact the author to show appreciation for her story. While there were some things very hard to read that happened in the book, I loved the way all things worked together to wrap up a brilliant read.

I rated this fantastic novel 5 stars because I was so caught up in the emotional ups and downs of the story, and the beautiful writing, that I could not put the book down. I loved Lilly, Cole, Glory and many of the wonderful characters who populated the circus, as much as I hated Momma, Poppa, Merick and Barlow. Wiseman described the abuse suffered by the humans and animals in the story so well that I felt their grief, agony, pain, and anger. Wonderful, unforgettable book.

Not one of my favorite Wiseman books. It's hard to say why I didn't love it. I felt like it was hard to get to know the characters, and because of that it was difficult to care about them. The story was terribly sad in a lot of places, and anything to do with animal abuse really eats at my heart. It took me an entire week to finish this book, which is a giveaway that I wasn't that into it. I did enjoy her other books quite a lot, so I'll continue to read further novels by Ellen Wiseman.

The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in mid-July.

A tale of two Blackwoods, if you will - Lilly, a fairly pale young lady is sold to the circus in 1930s, while Julia is willed the estate and horse ranch after her parents' death in 1956. Each are given their own chapters, crises, and leading men, but only Julia finds a key to her father's desk to unlock a drawer and a secret from her family's past.

A difficult topic, exquisitely written.
Although I needed tissues during this story, I came away with a strong feeling of "Love yourself and forgive those who cannot, for they cannot love themselves."
I enjoyed how each chapter was told from Lily's story and then back to Julia's story.
The heartbreak, anger and sadness I felt as I continued on through the book, made me love this wonderful novel!
I read it in 2 days and it will stay with me a long time!

Young LIlly has been confined to her attic room her whole short life. she longs for freedom and is fascinated by the circus lights she spies from her window. It is a surprise when her uber religious, cruel, control freak mother tells her they are going to the circus. Sadly, this is not to be a fun outing. Her mother sells her to the circus sideshow. Lilly may be different on the outside but she is both strong and resilient. Despite brutality and cruelty, she finds friendship, and love and develops a passion for elephants. but tragedy returns her to the prison of her birth. LIlly's Depression era story converges with that of Julia blackwood. A runaway, she returns to take over her dead parent's estate and horse farm. She investigates the mysterious attic room and memorabilia of a circus performer. She slowly uncovers her family's deepest, darkest secret and her connection to Lilly.

This is an engrossing tale. Of the two Lilly's Depression era story was stronger than Julia's. Julia seemed a tad too contemporary for the fifties the circus/freak show life is unpalatable and no details, including animal abuse, are spared. Julia's life feel flat in comparison and not especially convincing. the parents are one dimensional. The mother is is a cruel nut job and the fathe weak willed. reminiscent of both FLowers in the Attic and Water for elephants, this book is memorable and absorbing.

I'm generally not one for warning labels, but this book absolutely should have one. Cruelty to animals, cruelty to children, rape--the list goes on. The abuse was genuinely disturbing. I wouldn't have picked them up if I'd known.

I thought this book was just okay. While it has a compelling storyline, I found a lot of the book monotonous, with limited character development, and a predictable ending. Some of the wording and terms used were off for both time periods (like messy bun).

A heartbreaking story of a young girl sold to the circus, by her mother who looked at her daughter’s “aberration” as a sin. Life in a circus wasn’t easy, in fact, it could be downright scary, but Lilly discovers that the circus family is family and she found support and love as well as hard work. I was hoping for a fairy-tale ending, but I appreciate an author who writes honestly.

I have enjoyed all of her books and I think this one is right up there with the others. There is an ending I never thought of. I love books that do that for me, make me think and then be surprised that I did not come up with it. The story goes through the lives of two women from birth to current. Every other chapter is one or the other. Would I buy this book again, yes. Will I share how good it was? yes. Will I share the ending? Nope.

This story captivated me from its first words. The story of Lilly a little girl hidden away in the attic by her parents for 10 years until she is sold to a circus freakshow. Julia returning home after years of estrangement; her mother is dead & there is a mansion of secrets to uncover. As we wind between these 2 women & learn the ties that bind them, we watch stories of abuse, of cruelty, but also of love & hope. I couldn't look away & I didn't want to.

This book is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. It is hard to believe the positive reviews. The book contains graphic scenes of animal and child abuse. Do not waste your time and money on this book.

Hoped for historical fiction but this is not in that category. Long boring slow amaturist All the good reviews kept me reading but I cannot say I liked any part of it. Hated all characters, setting was never clear and ending was a trick.

Book was well written. Examined the treatment of a child born to a family. The family considered themselves as religious, but because the child was not considered "normal" by them, they mistreated the child in unimaginable ways. This was a demonstration of how some people hold themselves out to be one thing, but in private they are something very different.

“The Life She Was Given” is the best book I have read in a long time. I was absolutely mesmerized from the beginning to the very end. The book is very absorbing and fascinating with the horse farm culture, the circus culture, the USA of the 1930's that allowed freak shows to exist.
What impressed me was the research the author obviously did on carnivals, the people of the freak shows, the carnival animals, and racing horses and breeding horses. I learned some info that I did not know, and not being a horse owner............I never would have known these facts without reading this book.
The author has an excellent mastery of the English language and fantastic, descriptive sentences. Which place you right “in the middle of the action” in the book.
A very enjoyable read, and if you like VC Andrews, you will love this book even more. The book has a dark side, and is much deeper, and lots of twists and turns that are much more believable than a VC Andrews book.

I love this book! I had no expectations, no previous knowledge, almost didn't read it just because of the cover. I know that's shallow, ugh! This brilliantly written tale of abandonment and a life of a little girl that she did not choose is thought provoking, heartbreaking, and full of twists. I can't quit thinking about it. Such a unique, interesting, sad, amazing read. I can't even begin to summarize this wonderful book. If you're looking for different, here it is. Reader beware, tissue is needed. I highly recommend this wonderfully written novel. It's now on my favorite list. Wow!

The story ending made for a very slick, clever resolution. But the feeling of sadness will stay with me. In the scary, uncertain world we live in it is disappointing that you have chosen such a cruel resolution. I will definitely avoid any other of your works.

Ellen Wiseman's books are so good. Only problem I have is that I can't put them down. I find myself staying up later that usual just to finish another chapter. I usually read them within a day or two. This book made me do the same! I couldnt stop reading. It didn't disappoint! It was similar to "What She Left Behind" in that there were two stories and two timelines. I love how she made the two stories come together! This is definitely one of my favorites!

This book was given to me as a gift. The way that it was written grabbed my attention quickly. The chapters alternate from one about Lily to one about Julia throughout the book which kept me anxious to see what was going to happen to each character and how their lives might connect. The subject was of interest to me since I remember the early years when it was common for a circus to come to town. Back then those who seemingly weren't accepted by the general population found themselves on display in what were called "freak shows." Lily, through no fault of her own, ends up in such a setting. This was the first of the author's books that I have read, but I plan to purchase one of her other books because I enjoy historical fiction, and I think she is a gifted writer.

New disclaimer due to new the store rules: I was gifted a free electronic copy of this book, via Netgalley, by the publisher. I am not obligated, nor being forced, to post a review – I am doing it of my own free will as I enjoy reviewing.

On advice from the store, and based on their emailed reply I can say – “My review is given voluntarily and the Author/publisher does not require a review in exchange for the book, or attempt to influence my review.”

I would like to thank Kensington Books for granting my wish and allowing me to read an electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley, in exchange for an open and honest review.

Wow! What a book! I mean, seriously addictive and so full of emotions! As some people know, I’m not usually a fan of Literary Fiction but I sometimes get in the mood to give it another go and hope the book I read is worth it. ‘The Life She Was Given’ was definitely worth it! I want to go on about how certain areas of the book made me feel, but I am concerned mentioning them would be one great big spoiler…

So I will just say some of the full circle moments were heart aching and so well written I needed a tissue! I am not a crier! Well, except for those animal ads, you know the ones. ;-)

But, yes, this was a brilliantly well-written tale told in two halves about the one family. Parts of it set in the 1930’s and parts of it set in the 1950’s and - although I’m not an expert - I do feel some good, solid research went into writing in both eras and in both locations - one a manor house/ horse farm, and the other a travelling circus.

The stories are woven so well together, linking in subtle ways that the story runs seamlessly. Sometimes when you get two different stories running in the same book they are very disjointed and hodge podge. Not in ‘The Life She Was Given’. No - seamless writing!

What can I say about ‘The Life She Was Given’ without giving anything away? Well, it is a very emotional journey through both eras, the characters are well written and I found myself connecting with them to enjoy the ride (even through the sad bits) and boy was it addictive! My kids were told to fend for themselves on Saturday (they are 12, 10 and 8 so can do the basics) as I simply HAD to keep reading!

The only issues I found with this book - and it has absolutely nothing to do with the author, which is why I didn’t mark it down in my score - is that the eBook formatting was blocky and jumbled in places. New paragraphs starting mid-sentence, the title and page number of the book appearing mid page… EBook formatting can be a pain at times and one little glitch and cause a whole series of issues… But as it was an ARC I read I merely assumed that Kensington Books would have it all sorted and that the final version will be perfect.

Would I recommend this book to others?

Yes I would. Lovers of historical fiction and literary fiction, even women’s fiction, are going to enjoy ‘The Life She Was Given’. I was raving over it so much my 12 year old wants to have a read… but I feel - despite her above average levels of maturity and intelligence - that I wouldn’t recommend it to her. Yes teen girls like to adventure into this genre but their raw, developing emotions might get a little too hurt in reading this. It’s not a horror book or a completely sad tale… but there are moments where you may want to just put the book down for a moment and hug the cat or child or something.

Would I buy this book for myself?

Tough call. I mean, I did love it and am still walking off the book hangover it’s given me. But my underlying aversion to literary fiction does make me baulk at going out and buying my own copy. What a miser I am being! It is an amazingly heart felt and emotional roller coaster of a book - wow I can’t believe I was just that corny - but, yeah, some books touch you in such a way they are better as library books than ones you personally own.

As in, they are kept offsite and away from you, but you have access to them when you want to feel the way they make you feel… does that make sense? No, no I don’t think it does! But it’s how I feel. Love the book, not too sure I would want to possess it as it needs to be free. LOL! Ignore me, it’s Monday and my Crio Brü mug is in the wash.

In summary: A brilliant, well-written literary fiction that is going to tug at the heart strings while keeping you wanting more. Highly recommend.

This percolates nicely then takes you over the cliff! I love books set in carnivals; Nightmare Alley, Traveling Vampire Show, Something Wicked this Way Comes......This is right in there with them. I will read her again!!! BRAVO

This peek inside the lives of those that are different from the majority is very touching. Sometimes what others see as freaks of nature are actually just a different shade of its beauty. Be prepared there is heartbreak and violence here, but there is also love and self discovery. A beautiful book.

I have read all of Ellen Marie Wiseman's books and she never disappoints. Her research is phenominal and historical novels are my favorite and once I start one of her books, I can't put it down. This one was no exception! I'd give her 10 stars if I could. Thank you, Ellen for your wonderful and informative stories! I look forward to your next book!

What an amazing book. The cover was intriguing as well as the title so I dove in and gave it a try. I was not disappointed. This book has just the right amount of everything. It captured my attention from the first chapter and never let go. The character Lily through cruelty and tragedy becomes a strong vital woman. Her ancestor who shares the other half of the story also shares the same strength of character. Bouncing between present day and the past; the author gives us a look into the life of circus people and the life of a special little girl.

The Life She Was Given is a riveting and heart wrenching tale and is not for the faint of heart. I had all the feels reading this book - it was terrifying and soulful, heartfelt and heartbreaking! Two girls, treated equally unloved, mistreated, and unworthy of their parents love. Will they be able to overcome their horrific childhoods and bounce back to find peace and happiness? What an incredible journey. Definitely a book to remember. Thank you Ellen Marie Wiseman

It’s sort of like Flowers in the AtticFlowers in the Attic meets Water for Elephants: A Novel. Wiseman deftly interweaves the women’s stories in an easy-to-follow and thoughtful manner. Guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.

I really liked this book for the first 3/4. Loved the good characters, hated the villains But then around Chapter 30, it took a really dark turn. I could not finish the book. I can stomach people hurting each other. However, when an animal is brutalized, I am done.

I walked away from the book over 24 hours ago and am still angry and depressed. Maybe that was the point and I wasn't sophisticated enough, but I read for entertainment. If I wanted to be this angry and depressed, I would watch the news..

A mother sells her albino daughter to the circus in the early 1930's. This is a gripping story. It is very graphic and depressing but extremely well written. Lots of information about the circus and cruelty to both man and animals

Uhhhhhmmmm. I have a lot of feelings. This book was a page turner. I finished it in just a couple of days and at times struggled to put it down. As others have stated, the writing is good, the characters are excellent. The story line is gripping. But the end is...awful. It’s AWFUL. I can’t decide if i regret reading it or not. If you don’t mind a heart ripping ending, go for it.

WARNINGS; do not read if any of the follow are literary deal breakers
Animal abuse
Child abuse
Clowns?
Sexual assault.

Such an emotional and gut wrenching story. Parts of it were hard to read. But, so well written, very colourful and believable characters. There were 2 concurrent stories about 20 years apart. You knew from the beginning that they would come together, you just had to wait to see how. To be honest, I did figure out the twist at about the 3/4 mark but that did not detract from the story. There were still details to be revealed and at that point I was completely committed.
I was so drawn into the story that when I finished late, late last night, I was awake thinking about it for hours.

I did notice a few editing errors-one where Lilly was spelled Lill, and a few other spots where the a word was typed in twice. Otherwise, I loved this book. I love the fact that there are diverse characters who are not afraid to be uniquie. I would definitely read more Ellen Wiseman

I originally picked this book up while reading a dry nonfiction. It was suppose to be a reward for each chapter I finished. I could. Not put the book down. Luke a train wreck you just have to keep on reading as in your head you scream at the parents. Wonderfully written tale.

I often wonder where authors get their ideas. Imaginations are incredible as is this story.
I could't believe some of the negative reviews. This was a great book. Well written filled with compassion.
I have recommended to several of my friends and hope to have it included in book club.

This ,in my opinion, is very strange writing and how she writes about the girl in the attic and then connects it with a story about the circus is quite bizarre. That being said, the story was captivating and I had a hard time putting it down.

Please run far away from this book. It will scar you. I give this negative 50 stars. It is like having some clean part of your soul drowned and stained in blood. It is Foul. Once you read it you can't erase it.
There is nothing here that helps you redeem the writer's decision to write of the most grotesque scenarios. To take talent and create this monstrous story is as ugly as what the "parents" do in the story. There is nothing here to make the horrible pain redeemed or bearable. It makes you wish the world would just cease to exist to end the grotesque suffering all around us. She made this as ugly as she could. You, her readers are expected to pay the price of having these images in your minds for the rest of your lives. Ms. Wiserman, what are you doing? I have never ever written a bad review but this is a darkness you have sent out into the world.

Having read all of Ellen's books, I must say this book was interesting the way she wrote about the two main characters alternately chapter to chapter. Besides the main plot of the suffering of the little girl, you also get an in depth view and description of life within the circus in the 30s and 40s. The last half of the book was when it became impossible to put down. The revelations of the mysteries within the book were not happy endings. There were also some horrible, unbelievable events in the book that were difficult to read and understand how some humans can be so cruel. It was definitely an emotional novel.

This book tackled a lot of different issues. From child abuse, animal cruelty to a love story. The two stories of Lilly and Julia's life weaved together perfectly. It was a book where I gasped at, cheered on the characters and cried. This is the second nd book by Wiseman i have read (first was about the asylum) and I can't wait to read her other novels.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it was not this story! I had to keep reading to find out what happened next! Very well written, well developed characters! I would recommend to those who are love a goog story!

I just finished this book and absolutely loved it. Although I thought I guessed where it was going about halfway through, I had to wait until the very end to find out if I was right. It's the story of an albino girl in the 1930's who mother sold her to the circus because she was "an abomination" and also the story of another girl in the mid 1950's, so it toggles back and forth between the two girls. Ellen Marie Wiseman writes with compassion and such vivid descriptions that you almost feel you're watching a movie instead of reading a book.

With every book I become more of a fan of Ellen's stories. She writes in a way that a reader can easily visualize the scenes. While this story has disturbing images, it's the idea that these types of things really did happen to people (and still do, in some parts of this world). It can be disheartening that humans can be so inhumane to people and animals. Thank you, Ellen, for your hard work - your fans look forward to each new effort!

As with her first three books, I had to keep reading. I just couldn't put it down. Sometimes I was tempted to skip a chapter so I could find out what came next with Julia or with Lilly. And as usual for Ellen's books, I read too fast. Then after a few weeks I will go back and absorb what I raced over!
Ellen is a fantastic author! I feel lucky that we live so close together that I can get to see her at book signings quite often.

Just finished “The Life She Was Given” by Ellen Marie Wiseman.

I don’t give 5 stars easily but this one deserves all of them. Like all of her books, this one is gut wrenching. I couldn’t go to sleep without reading more, feeling like I needed to get Lilly, Pepper and Jojo to safety. I failed. My eyes are bloodshot and my heart is heavy but this story will stay with me. ?

This book was one I couldn’t put down. Even though Lilly’s life was so unfair and full of sadness, it was interesting to read about the carney life people endured. I was surprised at the ending but wished Julia could have met her parents.

I read the plum tree and what she left behind both very good especially the plum tree.
This book was cruel from start to finish. The only reason I finished it was to find out if things worked out for Julia. Would not recommend it to friends.
Sorry

I loved this book! Talk about feeling a wide range of emotions! It was touching, joyful, heartbreaking and at times horrifying. I swear I read one scene with one eye closed! I felt the character Lilly jump from the page, I swore she was real. Reading about the circus was mesmerizing. And my big takeaway from this story: Wow people can be cruel! It's a page turner with all the feels.

This story is not for the faint of heart, as it has some heart wrenching scenes. But I will whole heartedly recommend it as a beautifully told and touching novel that you will be drawn into and be unable to put it down or forget. It has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book ! The ending was a surprise , it was sad in many ways but I feel it was the reality of the day. I have read all of Ellen Marie Wisemans books, have enjoyed all of them and learned a lot from each one. Her research is amazing . Looking forward to her next book .

From the opening sentence through last word, Wiseman has written a book that I, almost literally, could not put down. At times wrenching and always mesmerizing this is Wiseman’s best so far. If there were more than 5 stars available, this book would have them!

A little less than four overall. So easy to get sucked into it, and hard to pull away from. Moved quickly, almost to the point of not feeling entirely developed..there could have been more. You will feel for these characters..if you are soft like I am, you may cry your eyes out...

This book was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I couldn’t put it down. You get extremely attached to the characters and their stories. The ending wasn’t exactly happy but it was unexpected. I thuroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. People seem to be upset about the animal cruelty...but unfortunately that is a reality. READ THIS BOOK!

A good friend lent this book to me and trust me, once I started reading it, I could not put it down! Its a good thing that I am retired because I did not do much of anything in the past 24 hours but grab the book and read. Fantastic story, I loved it!!

This was a well written story that grabbed your attention and held it throughout the book. The ending was kind of a surprise but it made sense after reading the entire story. The characters were colorful and you liked most of them but disliked many of them.

"The Life She Was Given" touched my soul. I was attending our State Fair, when I came upon a circus tent. It was the same color as the one on the cover of the book. My friend asked if I wanted to go in, and the chills ran up my arms, as it made me remember the book. After meeting the author, I can see how she puts herself into her characters with perfection. It was probably one of the best books I have ever read.

Being fascinated by freak show/circus related things...I was drawn to this book with one glance at the cover. After reading what it was about I had to have it and give it a shot. I was NOT disappointed. I loved the 2 stories that this book tells and how they connect. GREAT BOOK!! Well worth the read. I can't wait to read another book by this author!!

Ellen never disappoints, and this new novel is no different. Ellen held a signing at the Cape Vincent Library last evening with a packed crown attending. Everyone is in agreement that this might be her very best, although What She Left Behind will be hard to beat. GREAT historical fiction...not to be missed.

The Life She was given is one of a kind read. It is tragic and wonderful all at the same time. It was very sad as human and animal cruelty where involve in the story. I do have to say that it kept my interest from page one to the end. My honest review for the book

What an amazing story! I am not even sure what to say about it, there are so many conflicting emotions! I have recommended it to all of my friends and have begged them to read it so that I can talk about it with someone. This one has a permanent place on my bookshelf!

This was a great story! I could hardly put it down because I wanted to know what life was going to be like for Lilly. Insights into circus life was a bonus. Heart-wrenching and mysterious. Ellen Marie is a fantastic writer! I'm just starting to read "What She Left Behind" and it has already grabbed me!

Another great book by Ellen Marie Wiseman! One of the best books I have ever read! It will not disappoint. Stayed up until midnight reading the first evening I read. Finished it at 2:00 am the second night. Great character development that quickly endeared you to a character or caused you to dislike them. Five stars all the way!

I enjoyed this book. The circus aspect was very interesting and not something I have read about before. The relationship with the elephants the characters had was heartwrenching at times. I also liked how it was written from two character's perspectives.

The animals in this story were given human characteristics,e.g elephants crying real tears. The characters in the book treated family members like animals, and anImals like family members. A good book for PETA members.

I loved this book in that it was a little different from What She Left Behind, the other book I've read by Wiseman. Her descriptions are great and the detail used to bring the circus to life truly created a picture in my mind. Great read and a fantastic twist at the end!

I was immediately pulled in by this book. My heart was aching from chapter to chapter. I couldn't put it down. The characters were so alive, the settings real. My opinion this should be a major motion picture.

Another excellent written book by Ms. Wiseman. Her books draw a reader into her story from the first chapter, and you enjoy it until the end. A woman with a God-given talent to entertain us through her works. Awaiting her next work!

Excellent story. What a heart felt tough subject that was beautifully written. Loved everything about the book even the look and feel of the book is remarkable! Can't wait to read all of Ellen's other books!

I absolutely loved this book from the very first page until the last word. It's a beautiful and sad book at the same time. Set aside some time to savor this book because once you start reading you won't want to stop until the last word. Easily one of my favorite books this year. It will have a spot on my keeper bookcase.

This book is both horrifying and terrific. It shows the best and worst of what people are. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction. I would not recommend it for younger people because it is pretty graphic.

Loved this book. Felt very involved with the characters and could imagine being right there. Amazing outline and intertwined stories. The detail and imagery was spot on. Wonderful author, lovely book.

This book was amazing.. I wish I could’ve read it faster but when I did I would read a few chapters at a time. Interesting but unfortunately heart breaking and sadly there wasn’t really a happy ending :(

This book was excellent though not as good as Ellen's previous books. The circus part dragged on a bit, however, the book was still excellent and I was unprepared for the ending. I never put it together. Excellent job.

Reminded me of water for elephants except for it's seem to be a little bit more tense and somewhat morbid. It was a good book and well written it's just not a cup of tea for everybody. I would recommend trying it for yourself to see what your take is on it for me it was just a little too dark

Amazing book. Couldn’t put it down, didn’t want it to end . Finished it 24 hrs...it’s a heartbreaking story and you really feel each characters pain, especially Pepper n JoJo, my heart broke for them.

Ellen Marie Wiseman has yet again touched my heart with her storytelling. I loved the characters, the mystery, the setting. I've enjoyed the previous books I've read by this author and this is another great story. Must read!

Truly enjoyed the latest novel by Ellen Marie Wiseman. I couldn't put it down and was completely surprised at the ending. I love the way she writes historical fiction and usually the places she incorporates into her novels are places I am familiar with. I had the privilege of having Ellen signed my book at our local mall. I highly recommend all her novels. I especially liked What She Left Behind.

If you want to read a book that you just cannot put down, read " The Life She Was Given." As I was reading this book I found myself immersed into the story, I became a part of it. You feel the raw emotions of the characters and you understand what they're feeling. Do yourself a favor and read, The Life She Was Given.

I don't often read a book in one sitting, but this story was so compelling that I finished it in one day. I give this a five star rating, because it was one of the best books I've read in a while. I work in a library, and will be recommending this book to my patrons. You can go wrong - this is definitely a MUST READ!

This book trounced all over my heart! What an incredible story written with such beautiful detail. I have said this before but Ellen Marie Wiseman writes about the hard stuff with such grace! This book is beyond five stars!