Elizabeth Hardinger’s All the Forgivenesses is a quietly powerful coming-of-age novel that follows Bertie Winslow, a young woman fighting for stability and dignity in the face of relentless hardship. As she navigates family turmoil, poverty, and the narrow expectations placed on women of her era, Bertie slowly learns to define her own worth and her own future.
Hardinger’s portrait of early-20th-century hardscrabble life is vivid and unvarnished. Every character carries flaws and burdens, some heavier than others. Their complexity makes the world feel lived-in and painfully real. The lone exception is Sam, Bertie’s gentle and steadfast eventual husband, whose decency offers a welcome thread of hope. Through it all, Bertie’s resilience drives the story; watching her grow, stumble, and rise again is what makes the novel so affecting. I found myself genuinely rooting for her to claim some measure of happiness.
With its rich sense of place, layered emotional stakes, and themes of survival, forgiveness, and self-determination, All the Forgivenesses is an excellent pick for historical fiction fans and an especially strong choice for book clubs looking for a story with plenty to discuss. My book club read this last month. Everyone liked it. We had a wonderful discussion about the time period, generational trauma, and the responsibilities placed on Bertie at a young age. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
QOTD: What’s a historical fiction novel that stayed with you long after you finished it?
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