BOOK BRIEF

Love and Ruin

Paula McLain
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Love and Ruin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

Book Brief

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Paula McLain

Love and Ruin

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

389

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Europe • 1930s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain follows journalist Martha Gellhorn as she encounters Ernest Hemingway during the Spanish Civil War. Gellhorn's ambitions lead her to confront love, career challenges, and personal sacrifices. The novel explores themes of passion, independence, and resilience amidst the backdrop of war and historical change.

Reviews & Readership

4.1

31,030 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain has been widely praised for its rich historical detail and compelling portrayal of Martha Gellhorn's passionate relationship with Ernest Hemingway. However, some critics feel the pacing drags and character development of Gellhorn could be deeper. Overall, McLain's evocative writing captivates readers, making this historical novel well worth the read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Love and Ruin?

Readers who appreciate historical fiction with strong, complex female protagonists, as found in Paula McLain's The Paris Wife or Martha Hall Kelly's Lilac Girls, will enjoy Love and Ruin. Fans of Ernest Hemingway and mid-20th-century settings will also find this novel captivating.

4.1

31,030 ratings

72%

Loved it

21%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

389

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Europe • 1930s

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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